Salmon Roller-Coaster Ride
Fall Salmon Run 2010
It was one of those late nights on our 2009 fall fishing trip, about 3:00 in the morning, the stars were out and the fishing had slowed down, it was about 45 degrees so the night had a bit of a chill. We were getting very few hits so I started doing some scouting. I walked over to this log jamb and pointed my headlamp in and I seen a big male King. I thought “he is going to be mine”, this one is going on the grill, he is in a no win situation. I started casting and within a couple of cast I had him, and I had him good, he wasn’t getting away, no not this one.
Well, with were he was I worked him up on the gravel maybe into two foot of water, as I looked down, I thought I'll just reach down and grab him by the tail. Now that would be a great ending to a good night. When I went to reach down, it was a little deeper then I thought and in I went, right on top of that big old King. I tried to wrap my arms around him and boy did he take off. Soaking wet and rod still in hand I wouldn't let him go and down the river we went. From deep to shallow, from shallow to deep, from fast to slow, from slow to fast.
After about 200 yards he started to tire out as did I. I yelled to my brother-n-law nicknamed "hookup" to get the net, and the net he did get. He jumped in and chased that big old Salmon down the river with me and in no time, he had him half in the net and half out, when he yelled out he’s a big one. About that time that big old King jumped out of the net and gave hook-up a big old kiss right on the lips, turned around and took a dive right between his legs, did an about face and wrapped himself around his leg and broke the line off and into the night he went. Well I will tell you, although I was soaking wet and it was 3:00 in the morning, the adrenaline was pumping and I was a smiling, the ride was definitely worth it. That is why I named this story the Salmon Roller coaster ride. If you want to really test your spirit, then go out after a big king, with a fly rod and 10lb. test in the middle of a star lit night, and hang on for the ride of your life!!
