All year, I look forward to a few hike/bike-in programs for coho and chinook that are very close to home. One in particular was cut off from me due to the section of Columbia being closed for most of September due to some management SNAFUs.
So for the opener Saturday, I packed in my favorite spinner casting rod along with my ECHO Boost Beach 8wt to hopefully find some comfy salmon that had been hanging out all month without harassment.
Even before we started fishing, we could tell there were fish everywhere. As we waded out, we were blowing up schools of dozens or more fish. It was so awesome to see, and part of what makes this particular spot so special. I can't go in to super detailed descriptions to protect the spot a bit, but man... It is a fun place to just hang out and watch things happen.
For the first hour or more, we totally blanked casting spinners. I knew we had biters around, so went through four spinner changes until one finally clicked. Second cast on my big white/orange hoochie spinner and it was game on. Had a very tough battle with a coho that ran straight at me, then ran literal circles around me. Finally got it to hand and gave it the ol dispatch treatment. It was a sloppy clip, but a clipped adipose nonetheless.
The next hour or so I proceeded to hook and land 4 more fish, losing 3, and tossing a few wilds back. Decided it was time to bust out the ol fly pole.
Welp, that didn't work. Tried a few fly colors, different retrieves, etc etc. 110% ignored, no shits given. So went back to the dirtbag rod to finish punching my limit out.
I let my two friends use my magic spinners and they hooked/landed a fair number themselves, including a nice mid teener upriver bright chinook. Can't share those photos unfortunately as they give too much away about our location.
Anyways, a great morning in one of my favorite places. Hopefully I get to sneak in a few more outings there before it's all over.
So for the opener Saturday, I packed in my favorite spinner casting rod along with my ECHO Boost Beach 8wt to hopefully find some comfy salmon that had been hanging out all month without harassment.
Even before we started fishing, we could tell there were fish everywhere. As we waded out, we were blowing up schools of dozens or more fish. It was so awesome to see, and part of what makes this particular spot so special. I can't go in to super detailed descriptions to protect the spot a bit, but man... It is a fun place to just hang out and watch things happen.
For the first hour or more, we totally blanked casting spinners. I knew we had biters around, so went through four spinner changes until one finally clicked. Second cast on my big white/orange hoochie spinner and it was game on. Had a very tough battle with a coho that ran straight at me, then ran literal circles around me. Finally got it to hand and gave it the ol dispatch treatment. It was a sloppy clip, but a clipped adipose nonetheless.
The next hour or so I proceeded to hook and land 4 more fish, losing 3, and tossing a few wilds back. Decided it was time to bust out the ol fly pole.
Welp, that didn't work. Tried a few fly colors, different retrieves, etc etc. 110% ignored, no shits given. So went back to the dirtbag rod to finish punching my limit out.
I let my two friends use my magic spinners and they hooked/landed a fair number themselves, including a nice mid teener upriver bright chinook. Can't share those photos unfortunately as they give too much away about our location.
Anyways, a great morning in one of my favorite places. Hopefully I get to sneak in a few more outings there before it's all over.