2008 » September » 16

I’ll be left with some fond memories, no doubt, from this brief but bad ass little fishery that is Columbia River Summer King fishing.

It’s been a pleasure to have new anglers in the group that are teaching others that of which you know about. That’s what AAA is supposed to be all about. Sharing stories, pictures and information that helps your brothers in arms have success as well.

I’m humbled by both LR and DD and look forward to sharing anything I can with you guys as well. I’ll drag your asses out onto a river bank yet.

This short King season marked the most insane thing I have ever seen while Chinook fishing. I mean it’s not quite as extreme as the little Laotian dude back in 2005 who drove up to the gravel bar on the Guide Shop hole there…….threw his rig into park……ran down into the Wilson River and dragged out a decaying Salmon carcass from about two feet of water…turned and threw it in his SUV….jumped into the driver seat…and away he went…but it’s close: This story goes like this…..

We were fishing on anchor below Chinook Landing on opening day. Slow day….I dropped one off the side of the boat…..you know, pretty normal scene.

Anyway, this boat three boats in on the line hooks up, throws their rope and idles away to land the fish. We could tell pretty quick that he had a curly tail on there and everyone was locked on waiting for the drama to unfold. And unfold it did! I’ve never seen a King do this but his fish came up to the surface at full speed and began to porpoise circularly around the boat…all the while his poor bastard pal trying to get the net ready was beside himself. There he was about to get clothes lined by his homeboy’s line. At least he was in a life vest. Cheesus.

So this fish begins to speed up as it curls around to the front of the boat and somehow the guy playing this thing looses his balance and pretty much his rod too! He has the rod barely in his grips and by the very butt of it….all at the same time he clothes lines his Pal while flinging himself through the entry way into the bow of the boat, crashing across seats (this dude was a big guy too) until finally the fish finished it’s breach and had curled back to deeper water. About that time and just we everyone expected this guy’s rod to go flying into the river and him flying to urgent care…he came up with the rod and subsequently very quickly the fish. Everyone stood and clapped. He held up this SLAB and flexed his muscles. It was completely bad ass.

This was also an epic season for B Dog who had the Bambino curse lifted from his angling aura. I believe he’s going to post a story about his fight so I won’t ruin it, but you must know that he landed that 20lb HOT King ON ANCHOR and with a Curado..and on ten ounces. Totally killed it. No horsing..all smart fish fighting. I pulled my usual stellar net job as I continue to be one of the top netters in the NW (inside joke about Bill Walton).

It was a reunion for Short to Pacific NW Salmon fishing again after living in Montana for over a decade. He’s up in the Puget Sound now and learning that fishery. I look forward to coming on up whenever you say so Shorty! Congrats on your 30plus Up River Bright. Epic fish and even a more epic ass kicking by you on that 10 and a half foot stick. DD even mentioned how great you played that thing. “Like a pro.” Great job.

I guess if there were an award handed out for this two week season it wouldn’t go to Nook or myself for getting our Kings….or to Pops for his six trip effort to bag a Nookie….not to Lobes for his streak buster….not even for Dusty’s girlfriend for putting up with me….not to Tone, Jed, DD or any of his buddies (okay well maybe it would go to Todd for the most Salmon……but for the purpose of this story….lol..

No, the award of the season goes to LipRipper for his Freak of Nature Steelhead. I mean are you freaking kidding me? I think Big Tone described the fish best when he said to me last night, catching up on reports “Oh my Gwad guy, that Steelhead’s head is like five regular Steelhead heads…..”LOL…effing brilliant.