Tillamook weekend report - maiden voyage

   Well, the stupid cold snap finally broke this weekend, and I was able to get out of the house and on the water. I've spent the last few weeks getting my new T13 that I picked up from Alkasazi rigged up and ready, paddling around my local lake and T bay, and I figured I was ready for some moving water. Floated the Trask on Friday from the 101 launch to 5th st., about a five mile stretch, a good part of it tidewater. Absolutely gorgeous sunny day, crystal clear water, tons of birds, everything melting and dripping and shining in the sun. Found two spots where the river was still frozen all the way across although it was starting to crack apart. At the first spot, I almost turned around and paddled back to a little dock I had seen upriver a little ways, but decided to nose into the ice. It gave way pretty easily, I was able to break the ice with my paddle and kinda scoot through. The only live fish I saw were a couple trout here and there, lots and lots of carcasses though which is awesome to see, one hen that probally went 50+ lbs. in her prime.
   Took Saturday off, then went out and caught the last hour of the incoming tide Sunday morning on Netarts bay. Two rings and one pot for an hour yielded 3 keepers, one huge 8"er. Really it was only two rings, as a seal must have cleaned the Coho carcass out of my trap right away. The trap came up empty with one corner pushed in, oh well should have used chicken I guess. There were only four or five other boats out, the ones I talked to did about the same as I did. On the way home I saw someone with a yellow fish and dive at Oceanside, was that anybody here? It looked like an awesome day to be out on the ocean, but not for me just yet.
   With a big storm coming in Monday night and lots of rain, I figured I had better get out there while I could so I hit the Wilson early Monday morning and floated mills bridge to Sollie. Low, clear water and not many fish. I hooked into a nasty old chinook, sores on his back and all. I have no idea why he hit my spoon, I've never had a fish that dark hit hardware before. Nothing shiny for me, but I did see one bankie with a nice chrome winter. Pulled my kayak out just as the rain started falling in earnest.
   It was an awesome weekend, even though the catching wasn't. The drift anchor I made worked beautifully, many thanks to all on this board who posted pics and ideas of their drift setups, that was a ton of help.
Jonah

Sounds like a great weekend!  Glad your drift anchor worked for you.

The yellow F-n-D I'm guessing was PelagicPaddler. 

-Spot-

  no fish there, these are not the Droids you're looking for... move along, nothing to see here