Mouth of the Umatilla report

Well some of you noticed the Coho I put up for AOTY on Thurs.  I didn't post a report on that fish so I figured I better do one on today's fishing.  I started fishing shortly after six and about ten casts into it I hooked and landed a Coho buck.  I quickly strung him up and marked him on the tag to get back to fishing.  15 to 20 minutes later I hooked another fish fought it up to the kayak and saw it was another Coho but this one was a hen.  Now it was decision time I could tag out in less then a half hour of fishing or I could throw it back and keep fishing.  Usually it's easy because I would way rather fish than go home but I really need to resupply my egg stock for springer fishing, and the ones in this fishes belly would do nicely.  Reluctantly I let the fish swim free because I want a chinook for AOTY purposes and I was hoping today was the day to get one.  Well a short while later it paid off my Chinook dreams came true, unfortunately they came true in the form of a 15 inch mini-jack   Usually this little guy would have been quickly shook off the hook but just in case something happens I figured I should measure him and get the pictures.  Well unfortunately for him he wouldn't hold still for a picture and he paid the ultimate price for his unwillingness to pose for the shot.  After that things slowed down considerably and I started second guessing my decision to throw back my second fish.  Then around 9 o'clock I had another hook up.  Instantly this fish started tearing line and my thoughts went right to chinook.  My hopes were dashed when the fish started doing cartwheels across the top of the water.  Very cool but also very un Chinook like.  After what was a very respectable battle I brought another Coho hen to the net.  I may be slow but I ain't dumb and there was no way I was throwing another hen back so my day was done.  There is still lot's of time to catch a Chinook but I was hoping to catch a nice one before they get to ugly.  Oh well boots are worth points too right

Nice catch!

Good job EO! I tried for keeper today but the wind blew me off the water in a little over an hour. Just as I started paddling back, a nice coho jumped about 4ft off my bow, as if to say, LOSER!

Nice bit of fishing there EO!  That hen looks like she's about ready to pop.  I'll bet you got some nice skeins out of here.
I guess you weren't kidding about the sprint to the finnish.