Area 10 Chinook 8/17

It was first light and I was set up and ready to go when I realized I forgot my net. I guess in hindsight I should have gone home for the net but I'd have to repack my gear, go home, come back, and setup again. Time was just right so I just got on the water.

As I was pedaling out I kept telling myself, if I hook one I'll have to tire it 'til it's near belly up, let 'er run.

An hour into it I get a good takedown and strip off 6 feet of line. She was still there and took a good first run. I let 'er really go cranked her in and let her run 3-4 more times. I pulled her all the way back in to see how she looked... another 20#r. Sh*t! It was the first time I was really hoping for a mediocre fish so I wouldn't be mad if she got off. So I let her run and run again. Finally she was sputtering and kept very quiet. I pulled her alongside the yak and quietly slipped my hand into the water behind her and grabbed her tail. A little of a shake and then in one motion tightened my grip, lifted, and slipped her into my yak.

It's gonna be really hard to top that one.

Z

It didn't happen if there is no video.   

-Allen

It didn't happen if there is no video.   

-Allen

I know right? I kind of keep calling BS on myself like, that didn't happen. It was a surreal experience.

Z

You are simply on Fire my friend!

Let me borrow some of that mojo!!! 

Another One!?! You da Man!

So, were you mooching or working the Green/Yellow PW Dart?

Another One!?! You da Man!

So, were you mooching or working the Green/Yellow PW Dart?

It's been awesome. The first light bite has been on everyday. Mooching green label cut plug herring.

Z

You are simply on Fire my friend!

Let me borrow some of that mojo!!! 

Like you need Salmon mojo!

I need the Salmon Mojo....

Your net dilemma made me think of a question I've been meaning to ask.

I'm still pretty new to the kayak fishing thing. I've fished out of a canoe for years, and most of my experience in keeping fish, even big lake trout, was to stringer them over the side. Obviously a little different with the salt and associated critters around.

What do most people do for keeping a king or coho out in the sound while continuing to fish? I've seen different contraptions (fish bags, etc) for sale, but wondered what others did?

The two common methods are:

"katch kooler" or similar device, which is an insulated zippered bag
or
burlap sack, splashed with water every couple minutes

That makes sense...I'll probably hold off on the zippered bag until next summer.

I tried something similar with the burlap bag last summer with the pinks but never found a great place to put it. Most guys put it between their legs or strap it somewhere?  Is it worth trying to bleed them out before you get to shore or just bonk 'em and store for later?

Good problem to have, I guess.

bonk and bleed = best tasting fish/

That makes sense...I'll probably hold off on the zippered bag until next summer.

I tried something similar with the burlap bag last summer with the pinks but never found a great place to put it. Most guys put it between their legs or strap it somewhere?  Is it worth trying to bleed them out before you get to shore or just bonk 'em and store for later?

Bleed them immediately.  One nice thing about Puget Sound is a relative lack of dangerous sharks, so at worst the blood in the water might attract a sea lion or seal.  The Silver Horde KatchKooler is not particularly expensive.  I keep mine bungeed over the front hatch.

Do you keep ice in it???

Do you keep ice in it???

Generally I use 4 small blue ice packs, but I've also used ice when away from home and freezer.  Works fine.  Ice lasted all day on Moses Lake in the warm spring.

Keeping a cooler w/ ice onboard is a great recipe for a skunk. Almost as bad as a banana IMO. 

Z