Danno
07-27-2009, 12:22 PM
My Dad passed last week at the age of 87. He was what I call a casual fisherman. He never pursued the hobby with much vigor but never turned down a seat with a family friend, Jack. Jack was a life long sport fisherman that lived in Seattle and some 50 years ago, bought waterfront property on Hood Canal, just south of Seabeck. They still own this wonderful slice of earth.
This story comes from my Mom. I had never heard it before.
Sometime before Jack bought that Hood Canal property, he and my Dad decided to go fishing out on the canal. They left the evening before because of the time needed to get out there. Ferry service was probably a lot different back then and I don't think the Tacoma Narrows bridge was built. They had made this trip on a regular basis and in order to preserve cash for a motel, they would just climb into a structure designed to hold bulk newspaper deliveries and catch a few winks before heading out.
They fished for salmon as always and eventually Jack's line was hit hard. Upon reeling in the fish, Jack realized that this fish was the biggest he had ever caught. It must have been big because Jack fished a lot and we're talking a time frame of 1920 and on. Apparently, they gaffed the Salmon in those days and my Dad was manning the gaff. He performed his duties well and landed the fish for Jack. In Jack's astonishment of the size of the fish he quipped that it was a good thing that my Dad properly gaffed and landed the fish or he would have had to walk home.
My parents hauled our family to So Cal in 1963 but I did spend a few weeks of many of my summers on Jack's beach on Hood Canal. I caught my first salmon there. Once I graduated high school, I stopped going until I moved to Oregon and then I had the chance to take my family there.
Jack passed a few years ago and his ashes were layed to rest in the waters just off of his beach property. My parent's wishes are the same. My family will be up there in a few weeks to honor that request.
Thanks Dad for introducing me to fishing. I will always remember those days fishing with you and Jack on Hood Canal.
This story comes from my Mom. I had never heard it before.
Sometime before Jack bought that Hood Canal property, he and my Dad decided to go fishing out on the canal. They left the evening before because of the time needed to get out there. Ferry service was probably a lot different back then and I don't think the Tacoma Narrows bridge was built. They had made this trip on a regular basis and in order to preserve cash for a motel, they would just climb into a structure designed to hold bulk newspaper deliveries and catch a few winks before heading out.
They fished for salmon as always and eventually Jack's line was hit hard. Upon reeling in the fish, Jack realized that this fish was the biggest he had ever caught. It must have been big because Jack fished a lot and we're talking a time frame of 1920 and on. Apparently, they gaffed the Salmon in those days and my Dad was manning the gaff. He performed his duties well and landed the fish for Jack. In Jack's astonishment of the size of the fish he quipped that it was a good thing that my Dad properly gaffed and landed the fish or he would have had to walk home.
My parents hauled our family to So Cal in 1963 but I did spend a few weeks of many of my summers on Jack's beach on Hood Canal. I caught my first salmon there. Once I graduated high school, I stopped going until I moved to Oregon and then I had the chance to take my family there.
Jack passed a few years ago and his ashes were layed to rest in the waters just off of his beach property. My parent's wishes are the same. My family will be up there in a few weeks to honor that request.
Thanks Dad for introducing me to fishing. I will always remember those days fishing with you and Jack on Hood Canal.