The thing about salmon fishing is “sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t.” You have to get out there every chance you get and hope it’s your day. Sure, there is skill involved, but to be a good fisherman, you also have to be lucky. I think today I got a little bit lucky.
Got up at 4AM to check the wind and it did not look good. Rain storms in the area as well. The weather conditions here are so variable and they can change quickly, it can be tough to call. Rain and wind; back to bed. Woke later to rain, but not as much wind. Checked the computer a few times and decided to sit in the wind and rain in the kayak instead of sitting in front of the computer. It was borderline weather conditions for kayak fishing on the Columbia River, but the weather and water are warm so it’s not as serious as it will be a month from now. I was hoping to get an hour or two of fishing in before it blew out. It was a little windy, but nothing to keep me from trying for that big salmon.
I caught a few native salmon on the last trip that were released, I was hoping for the first keeper of the season. At first, there wasn’t much action until I got a solid hit. I could tell right away that it was a good fish. The fish towed the kayak towards the main channel, the drag on the fishing reel getting a good workout. After about fifteen minutes and covering at least a quarter mile of the river, into the wind, I managed to get a big Chinook salmon into the landing net.
It was a nice Chinook salmon, about twenty five pounds. The last salmon in the freezer got used over the past Labor Day holiday weekend, so fresh salmon in the house is always a happy day.
I’m glad I decided to take a chance and get out there. Sometimes it will go your way, sometimes it won’t. Like we say in the fishing business, if you don’t have a line in the water, there is a 100% chance you will not catch a fish.