Chinook Near the Surf - Chinook Winds - Clackamas Golf - and Angels?

[Deleted User]

We just got back yesterday (Friday) from a week at the coast, and I have some interesting things to share. First off, since the coho season down along the coast of Oregon has closed, you should think about this ... chinook fishing often can get hot in 30' to 40' deep water just out from the breaking surf along the coast. This isn't a very safe place to fish, but it is occassionally full of fall chinook migrating and feeding their way in close on their way toward their river of return. I remember several years ago limiting the boat on chinook a few times just a couple hundred feet out from the breakers about 3 miles or so north of Depot Bay. Since downgrading to a smaller boat I haven't tried it for quite awhile. While we were staying at my brother's family beach house near Lincoln City I glassed 3 commercial trollers (not trawlers) catching fish just off the surf. I couldn't keep the bino's steady enough to see if they were chinook, but they were trolling with outriggers (A-arm booms with several lines out each side) so I think they were salmon. Anyway, on a calm and careful day you can do very well trolling in real close like that - especially this summer when the schools are more numerous. ...

Some other interesting and very unusual things happened on Thursday evening while we were down there, and on this Saturday morning, that some of you may be interested in. I am not a believer in the supernatural at all - but I am currently a little more open minded to possibilities after reading some stories and experiencing these unusual occurances. Below is a story sent to me recently by a prominent member of the Piscatorial BB - followed by a letter I sent to him moments ago. And before you read these I want you to know that I haven't gone whacko since losing my brother recently, I am doing fine ... wait a sec, I was already whacko images/icons/smile.gif images/icons/wink.gif .

This man told me the story of losing his mother and also his 12 year old golden retriever dog near the same time. Soon after, he and his wife saw "angel" images of his mother and dog in an evergreen tree
after this passing. Since they were astounded and didn't think anyone would believe them they took several photos of this occurance - a copy of which he sent to me via e-mail attachment. It's an amazing story and picture! It opens one's mind a bit. (I won't post who the person is or the pic - he would have to do that if he prefers). ... Below is my true story letter sent to him moments ago:

"Hi ***.
Because of your e-mail to me titled 'Have faith', in which you told me the stories of the angels in the tree, I feel compelled to tell you what's happened since my brother passed on. I'm not a strong believer in these types of phenomenon, despite hearing of many like stories; but I now have an open mind to it. ... Since Gary left us, 3 very unusual things have happened to my immediate family and I in recent days. We were at the coast this week staying at his beach house during my son's 2 day golf tournament, and my wife and I went in to play the slot machines at the Chinook Winds Casino for 1 hour and 20 minutes. In that time both my wife and I hit jackpots on slot machines. Neither of us had ever experienced that before in playing them many times; not even close! They weren't big winnings because they were on the nickle machines - 2,500 nickles for me and 1,150 nickles for my wife; $182.50 combined. But they definitely were very big odds against hitting 2 jackpots together in just over an hour! On slots yet. Gary's accident was at the town of Jackpot Nevada. ... Do I think these were co-incidence? Yes. But now I don't know they were. ... Then this morning my son and I won 1st place in the OGA Parent/Junior Golf Tournament at Sah-Hah-Lee Golf Club near the Clackamas River. All these things are unprecidented; and quite remarkable considering that I am a very inconsistent golfer and my son is only slightly better than average scoring in the Oregon Junior's OGA summer tournaments. Co-incidence? To me it's very likely - but I am now open minded about unexplainable events. If my bro is up there somewhere pulling some strings for me I hope he remembers I need a lot of good eggs this fall; I am about on empty. images/icons/smile.gif

I just wanted you to hear these true stories for sharing yours with me. Take care ***. - Steve (RT)"

Are there other stories about this type phenomenon? And/or about chinook fishing near the surf? Thanks.

RT

[ 07-21-2001: Message edited by: RT ]

[siletzsal]

Steve,
Read your story with interest.Thought I'd pass along one that happened to my wife & I two years ago,this September.
It was two days before my son and I were to leave for our annual fishing trip to the Siletz. We were towing a newly purchased boat home from Centralia,when the carphone rang. It was my wife,telling me her father had suddenly passed away.Needless to say,I cancelled our trip. Plans were made to meet her mom at the cemetary on that Saturday to make all the arrangements necessary.
As you can imagine, my wife was quite distraught.On the way home, I tried to console her by telling her that now he is in a better place and that I'm sure that he and my father were together,taking care of one another.
Well,as we drove home I pulled into a DQ for a soft cone,as it was quite hot and we hadn't eaten in a day and a half. While in the drive through our car was starting to overheat(bad thermo).Three cars ahead of us and no one behind,I decided to back out of the drive through and park the car. When I returned my wife was in tears.I tried to console her and she just pointed to the very dusty window van that had pulled up next to us while I was inside.Written in the dust on a large side window were the words
"Gabby,I will miss you." My wifes name is Gabriele and the only person that called her "gabby" was her dad.The hair on the back of my neck stood strait. We both just sat ther and cried. As I backed out to leave I looked at the license plate to see where it was from and it was from Washington.The first three letters of the plate were AKA.Those are my fathers initials. Coincidence,Fate,supernatural.I don't know.I just know we both cried all the way home with a little smile on our faces images/icons/smile.gif -Don

[Deleted User]

Great story Don! Erie. Thanks for sharing it. ...

In this same thread on Bob's board, Sinker from Graham, WA mentions that he saw big commercial crab pots/bouys just out from the breakers near a little beach north of Oceanside, OR. Of course there are lots of keeper crab in close to shore but I haven't seen many crab bouy's in that close. Maybe it was during a mild tide that wouldn't move the pots out to deeper water? I know the beach likely refered to; a very secluded one with marginal access. It's beautiful there between the land points, with that big rock toward the south end. And you can see the Cape Mears lighthouse just to the north of it. That would be a great place to fish for 'nooks if the Netart's Bay bar were easier to cross! Another place I've come close to crossing is the Salmon River bar just north of Lincoln City; but I couldn't get my buddies to sled over it with me. There is another huge rock and some shelves just a few hundred yards off the mouth of the river there that gives it a little protection from the open swells. And the 'nooks should be congregating there soon. Has anyone ever crossed this bar on the upper half of the tide to fish this unique area? I just know it's a great saltwater chinook fishing prospect. I would be glad to drive out there ... in any of your V-sleds images/icons/grin.gif . At your own risk images/icons/wink.gif .

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RT
"Surf Trolling Guide Service"

[sinker]

That's the beach RT. Really neat little beach. Used to get tons of agates there. Last time we were there it was mostly sand. Used to be mostly rocks. Kinda funny how the ocean works.

As far as your stories go, this shows you how little we know about the "big picture". It's good to see you've opened your mind up through this. It's hard to see sometimes but there's always something good to come out of everything. In this case you've got a more open mind.
Personally I don't believe the bible, nor any religious teachings. But I firmly believe in these happenings. You'll find people from both sides of the fence (religious and atheist) on this one believing that these things happened to you. Again, it shows you how little we truly know.
Then again, do we want to know????

[Deleted User]

Sinker, I agree many religious and non-religious people will believe these type of stories. And even though I lean toward co-incidence in the case of my stories I won't let them go. More like stories may change my logics based thinking. As for them believing mine, the tourney results are posted at the Sah-hah-lee pro shop (and I'm more often a hack than a real player) but when we cashed in our winning slot receipts at the CW cashier they just gave us cash and we didn't have to sign anything - but I promise you that the 2 jackpots happened! However, I didn't mention that I lost about $30 playing blackjack for only about 15 minutes. I got dealt 14 or 15 or 16 too many times and tried letting the dealer break out, but he didn't. That's blackjack. Slots are a different thing though - they are a losing proposition a majority of the time and jackpots are rare.

[ 07-22-2001: Message edited by: RT ]

[Deleted User]

I have to mention that while it's true there are chinook in close to the surf you shouldthink twice before fishing near the breakers. You don't want to become an angel yet. This is a very unpredictable area with sneaker waves that can happen unexpectedly and quickly that can roll a boat right over. Same thing about running bars wihout jettys. They are very unpredictable and dangerous. Even ones with jettys like the Nehalem Bay bar has turned many boats upside down. Be careful out there! Frog