Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07

ODSKid · 07-23-2007, 10:56 PM

Hello, Everyone! I just thought I'd share with you my unbelievable bass fishing trip that I went on Saturday in the Willy.

A good friend of mine that I've known for awhile but have never gone fishing with wanted to take me fishing for once, and said that he had been going down to the Willy and fishing for Bass over the past few days, and had caught some nice fish (don't worry - we're not keeping them

).
So I thought what the heck, and met him over at his house in St. Johns at around noon or so, and we walked the short 4-5 block distance down to the stretch of river near his house, which is right practically underneath the Railroad bridge near the St. Johns bridge.

The fishing was a bit dismal for the first hour or so - my friend only catching one Smallie, and I was skunked. But that soon changed. As we sat there talking, I was throwing a small 3'' plastic Shad Dart - it had a black back with a silvery-grey underside, and had silver glitter along its sides. It looked like this:

I was using this on a 7'0 Ultra Light rod by Lamiglas (the "Guides Choice" ones you can get at Joes), with a Abu Garcia Cardinal reel, one of the newer models, with 8 lb. Stren line.
All of a sudden, the rod bends slowly, then I quickly set the hook, and I knew that I had hooked into something BIG. The fish immediately turned and took off, swimming profusely and making my reel sing. I did all that I could do, maintaining the rod at a strong yet flexible position, keeping the tip high, and just letting him run. My friend is standing next to me saying "Wow! That thing is HUGE!"
The fish ran out a LONG ways, and as it slowed down, I quickly tightened my drag a bit and slowly pulled against the fish, trying to get it to turn around. It obeyed, and as it swam inward, I reeled in with it, trying to coax it towards the bank.
But after it got about 10 feet from the shore, staying about a foot or two below water so that I couldn't see it, ZING! It takes off again, this time not going so far before slowing down. I gently pulled its head towards my direction again, trying to coax it in again. But only after reeling in a few yards did it take off yet again, making my reel wail as I continued to play the fish. Finally, it took one leap out of the water, revealing its silvery color to my eyes as it splashed its head against the water. "Looks like a carp to me, but I can't tell from here..." I say to my friend calmly. "No way, man! That's no carp! That looks like a salmon or something!" I doubted him, just because I didn't have much of a reason to believe that I would be hooked onto a Salmon at this time of the year, on a bass lure. Especially one with the silver color that this one had.
But sure enough... after its magnificent leap from the water, it seemed tired, which made it easy to pull it towards shore one last time. It surfaced on top of the water, and slowly glided towards the bank. As my friend got close to get ready to grab it... "Sure enough! Its a bloody Salmon!" I looked down at it, seeing its silvery back reflect light into my eyes: a most illustrious light. I looked frantically between it's dorsal and its tail, looking for another fin inbetween... but it did not exist! It was true: I had caught a Hatchery Chinook, using a friggin' Bass lure of all things! It seemed unbelievable to me.
So I snapped some photos of it, and decided to share it with you all.

It topped out at just under 12 pounds. Not a monster, but a nice fish, to say the least!
I gladly put it under my tag as my first Chinook (well, first fish on my tag at all) of 2007.

This remains to be one of the most remarkable - and most shocking - catches of my life. And I hope in the future there will be more!
Hope you enjoyed the story.
~Teddy, AKA Twise95

*These pictures were taken with my Camera Phone!*

(PS- I posted this in the Trout (accidentally

) and the Bass forums, and was told this should be put in the community page as well. Hope you community forum-goers like it. Thanks)

David Johnson · 07-23-2007, 11:16 PM

So cool

Your not the first to hook into a chinook on bass jigs in the Willamette but it's an awesome bonus.

Matthewc · 07-23-2007, 11:19 PM

Awsome !!! glad the wire hook did not bend on ya......

p

Mr. Sturgeon14 · 07-23-2007, 11:20 PM

wow what a surprise! i did something similar but in OC and i lost the fish. good job on getting a nice salmon

BCF · 07-24-2007, 04:33 AM

That is really a great story. Thanks for sharing it with the board. I have caught a Clackamas springer as late as the 27th of July in the mouth of the Clack....but it was on Salmon gear. That must have felt fantastic.

Well done,
BCF

Thumper · 07-24-2007, 07:24 AM

How cool!!! Congratulations.

julezilla · 07-24-2007, 07:29 AM

Nice catch, and way to go!!! That's awesome!

DTSportsman · 07-24-2007, 07:36 AM

Nice job, you'll tell that story for the rest of your life.

Riverkeeper · 07-24-2007, 07:41 AM

Nice fish, that's one of those times in life when you just have to think "ok that was a total freebie....but I'll take it!"

I've caught lots of incidental bass on my salmon gear in that area , and somehow it just isn't the same...

RODACTION · 07-24-2007, 07:46 AM

Again.....nice work !!!

Fishinisbelievin · 07-24-2007, 08:05 AM

Congratulations on your catch. Thanks for sharing this memorable experience.

CATCH AND EAT · 07-24-2007, 08:58 AM

Now that is a way cool report. Gotta love it when things like this happen.

Siwash · 07-24-2007, 09:07 AM

Nice job!

My Dad and I have hooked a few salmon while targeting smallies on the lower Umpqua before. Coho, we've been able to land; Chinook, we got smoked....

STRUTTIN-1 · 07-24-2007, 12:58 PM

Niiiiiiiice.

Bigmaverick · 07-24-2007, 01:31 PM

Nice work!!!

SteelheadBum2 · 07-24-2007, 01:42 PM

Awesome!

Fossil · 07-24-2007, 02:00 PM

That's what great about fishing. Not knowing what your going to get. Nice job.

FastAction · 07-24-2007, 02:57 PM

That looks like a swim bait, your lucky you didn't hook into an albacore tuna!

Walleyed · 07-24-2007, 05:19 PM

That's It, I'm going bass fishing

DAB · 07-24-2007, 05:28 PM

Very nice fishie, and on a bass thing-a- magig.

Me I do it just the other way, trolling a hearing on the Willy for springers and catch a bass.

DAB

IDWITHELD · 07-24-2007, 07:25 PM

Wicked smart!

Hooked up · 07-24-2007, 07:37 PM

Great story! Congrats!

Dave G · 07-24-2007, 08:58 PM

Cool, I need to take up bass fishing.

ODSKid · 07-25-2007, 12:24 AM

Thanks for all of the great comments, guys.
I hear you about catching bass on salmon gear as "not being the same..." Lol reminds me of when I went Walleye fishing in the Gorge near Rufus with my aunt, and she hooked into something HUGE - fought it for about 30 minutes, pullin' like a Walleye (those who know what I'm talking about... basically feel's like a big LOG) up until it came to the boat. 50'' Keeper Sturgeon! Out of season, though... not as lucky as I was with this 'Nook. I guess it runs in my family? Haha!

alwayscooking · 07-25-2007, 01:47 PM

Awesome story! You're a great writer! Thank you for the details. It was very interesting to hear about it.

Cutting Point · 07-25-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAB

Very nice fishie, and on a bass thing-a- magig.

Me I do it just the other way, trolling a hearing on the Willy for springers and catch a bass.

DAB

I'm with DAB. I was going to say the same thing. Nice Job.

fishhog1 · 07-25-2007, 05:48 PM

T, you need to call Bill Monroe ASAP and get your story in the O.
That story and your photo will sell lots of newspapers.
This has to be the greatest post I have seen all year, thanks for sharing....YOU ROCK DUDE!!!!! fh1

ODSKid · 07-26-2007, 07:57 PM

Hey everybody,
If you read the Outdoor Report in today's Oregonian, you'll see my fish in there! Just a simple summary, but I love it!
Thanks (Bill?)!
I'm a happy angler indeed.

07-23-2007, 10:56 PM	#1
ODSKid Chromer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland / Corvallis, OR Posts: 898	Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Hello, Everyone! I just thought I'd share with you my unbelievable bass fishing trip that I went on Saturday in the Willy. A good friend of mine that I've known for awhile but have never gone fishing with wanted to take me fishing for once, and said that he had been going down to the Willy and fishing for Bass over the past few days, and had caught some nice fish (don't worry - we're not keeping them ). So I thought what the heck, and met him over at his house in St. Johns at around noon or so, and we walked the short 4-5 block distance down to the stretch of river near his house, which is right practically underneath the Railroad bridge near the St. Johns bridge. The fishing was a bit dismal for the first hour or so - my friend only catching one Smallie, and I was skunked. But that soon changed. As we sat there talking, I was throwing a small 3'' plastic Shad Dart - it had a black back with a silvery-grey underside, and had silver glitter along its sides. It looked like this: I was using this on a 7'0 Ultra Light rod by Lamiglas (the "Guides Choice" ones you can get at Joes), with a Abu Garcia Cardinal reel, one of the newer models, with 8 lb. Stren line. All of a sudden, the rod bends slowly, then I quickly set the hook, and I knew that I had hooked into something BIG. The fish immediately turned and took off, swimming profusely and making my reel sing. I did all that I could do, maintaining the rod at a strong yet flexible position, keeping the tip high, and just letting him run. My friend is standing next to me saying "Wow! That thing is HUGE!" The fish ran out a LONG ways, and as it slowed down, I quickly tightened my drag a bit and slowly pulled against the fish, trying to get it to turn around. It obeyed, and as it swam inward, I reeled in with it, trying to coax it towards the bank. But after it got about 10 feet from the shore, staying about a foot or two below water so that I couldn't see it, ZING! It takes off again, this time not going so far before slowing down. I gently pulled its head towards my direction again, trying to coax it in again. But only after reeling in a few yards did it take off yet again, making my reel wail as I continued to play the fish. Finally, it took one leap out of the water, revealing its silvery color to my eyes as it splashed its head against the water. "Looks like a carp to me, but I can't tell from here..." I say to my friend calmly. "No way, man! That's no carp! That looks like a salmon or something!" I doubted him, just because I didn't have much of a reason to believe that I would be hooked onto a Salmon at this time of the year, on a bass lure. Especially one with the silver color that this one had. But sure enough... after its magnificent leap from the water, it seemed tired, which made it easy to pull it towards shore one last time. It surfaced on top of the water, and slowly glided towards the bank. As my friend got close to get ready to grab it... "Sure enough! Its a bloody Salmon!" I looked down at it, seeing its silvery back reflect light into my eyes: a most illustrious light. I looked frantically between it's dorsal and its tail, looking for another fin inbetween... but it did not exist! It was true: I had caught a Hatchery Chinook, using a friggin' Bass lure of all things! It seemed unbelievable to me. So I snapped some photos of it, and decided to share it with you all. It topped out at just under 12 pounds. Not a monster, but a nice fish, to say the least! I gladly put it under my tag as my first Chinook (well, first fish on my tag at all) of 2007. This remains to be one of the most remarkable - and most shocking - catches of my life. And I hope in the future there will be more! Hope you enjoyed the story. ~Teddy, AKA Twise95 These pictures were taken with my Camera Phone! (PS- I posted this in the Trout (accidentally ) and the Bass forums, and was told this should be put in the community page as well. Hope you community forum-goers like it. Thanks) __________________ OSU Class of 2012 GO BEAVS! AKA Twise95 . . . I think Outdoor School will save the world. Last edited by ODSKid; 07-23-2007 at 10:57 PM.

07-23-2007, 11:16 PM	#2
David Johnson King Salmon Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Oregon Coast Posts: 6,675	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 So cool Your not the first to hook into a chinook on bass jigs in the Willamette but it's an awesome bonus. __________________ NOW BOOKING SUMMER STEEL, OCEAN SALMON, B10 AND FALL CHINOOK! Fishing Reports Here! www.davidjohnsonsguideservice.com fishermand@aol.com 503-201-4292

07-23-2007, 11:19 PM	#3
Matthewc Ifish Nate Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Oregon Posts: 2,368	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Awsome !!! glad the wire hook did not bend on ya......p __________________ Matthew Clark Fighting over the fish will only serve to divert us from our common goal. Team SSSF Team Lamiglas R&B Lure Co. Pro Staff

07-23-2007, 11:20 PM	#4
Mr. Sturgeon14 Tuna! Join Date: May 2006 Location: portland oregon Posts: 1,175	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 wow what a surprise! i did something similar but in OC and i lost the fish. good job on getting a nice salmon __________________ "adipose= release or may streamside litter meet your mouthhole!"

07-24-2007, 04:33 AM	#5
BCF Ifish Nate Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: West Linn Posts: 3,359	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 That is really a great story. Thanks for sharing it with the board. I have caught a Clackamas springer as late as the 27th of July in the mouth of the Clack....but it was on Salmon gear. That must have felt fantastic. Well done, BCF __________________ What's so funny about peace, love, and understanding?

07-24-2007, 07:24 AM	#6
Thumper King Salmon Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 8,868	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 How cool!!! Congratulations. __________________ Jack Please join CCA. It took 140 years to make this mess. Together we will turn it around. Please join us.

07-24-2007, 07:29 AM	#7
julezilla Tuna! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 1,344	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Nice catch, and way to go!!! That's awesome!

07-24-2007, 07:36 AM	#8
DTSportsman Tuna! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oregon City Posts: 1,949	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Nice job, you'll tell that story for the rest of your life. __________________ Acts 10:10-15, Romans 10:9 Habakkuk 3:19 (New King James Version) 19 The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

07-24-2007, 07:41 AM	#9
Riverkeeper Ichthyomaniac Join Date: May 2003 Location: Here and There Posts: 2,839	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Nice fish, that's one of those times in life when you just have to think "ok that was a total freebie....but I'll take it!" I've caught lots of incidental bass on my salmon gear in that area , and somehow it just isn't the same... __________________

07-24-2007, 07:46 AM	#10
RODACTION King Salmon Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 5,079	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Again.....nice work !!! __________________ North River Mafia....Trapper chapter North River Mafia....Scout chapter

07-24-2007, 08:05 AM	#11
Fishinisbelievin Steelhead Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Aurora, Oregon Posts: 144	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Congratulations on your catch. Thanks for sharing this memorable experience. __________________ The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but obtainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. - John Buchan

07-24-2007, 08:58 AM	#12
CATCH AND EAT King Salmon Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 21,016	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Now that is a way cool report. Gotta love it when things like this happen. __________________ SHUT UP AND FISH! If you don't like the weather just wait 5 minutes.

07-24-2007, 09:07 AM	#13
Siwash Tuna! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 1,959	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Nice job! My Dad and I have hooked a few salmon while targeting smallies on the lower Umpqua before. Coho, we've been able to land; Chinook, we got smoked.... __________________ "Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not some farcical aquatic ceremony..."

07-24-2007, 12:58 PM	#14
STRUTTIN-1 Tuna! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Forest Grove Posts: 1,823	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Niiiiiiiice. __________________ "It is better to catch and release than to not catch at all" !!!!! Just one more cast... "One more" "One more" "Just one more" I promise just one more.

07-24-2007, 01:31 PM	#15
Bigmaverick Tuna! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Newport Posts: 1,132	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Nice work!!!

07-24-2007, 01:42 PM	#16
SteelheadBum2 Tuna! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: West Linn, Oregon Posts: 1,793	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Awesome! __________________ Life, liberty and the pursuit of steelhead

07-24-2007, 02:00 PM	#17
Fossil Chromer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 596	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 That's what great about fishing. Not knowing what your going to get. Nice job. __________________ "Don't tell me it can't be done, just tell me "you" can't do it.

07-24-2007, 02:57 PM	#18
FastAction Ifish Nate Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Beaverton-Aloha Posts: 3,006	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 That looks like a swim bait, your lucky you didn't hook into an albacore tuna! __________________ "No more reports from this kid"

07-24-2007, 05:19 PM	#19
Walleyed Chromer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Milwaukie Or Posts: 535	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 That's It, I'm going bass fishing __________________ Life is but memories Take time to make them happen!!!

07-24-2007, 05:28 PM	#20
DAB King Salmon Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sandy Oregon Posts: 5,236	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Very nice fishie, and on a bass thing-a- magig. Me I do it just the other way, trolling a hearing on the Willy for springers and catch a bass. DAB __________________ Team WE GOT DYN-O-MITE John Chapter 3 Verse 16 Grandpa Don, not an old model but a clasic. AT MY AGE I DON'T EVEN BUY GREEN BANANAS Once a PARENT always a PARENT WB7SRR just another ham radio dweeb General class

07-24-2007, 07:25 PM	#21
IDWITHELD Ifish Nate Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Beaverton OR Posts: 2,949	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Wicked smart! __________________ Practice Catch and Release on All Sizes of Sturgeon Proud member of CCA & Fish First!

07-24-2007, 07:37 PM	#22
Hooked up Tuna! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oregon City, OR Posts: 1,275	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Great story! Congrats! __________________

07-24-2007, 08:58 PM	#23
Dave G King Salmon Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Jefferson Posts: 15,628	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Cool, I need to take up bass fishing. __________________ If it can't be Salmon, I'll take Halibut!!!

07-25-2007, 12:24 AM	#24
ODSKid Chromer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland / Corvallis, OR Posts: 898	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Thanks for all of the great comments, guys. I hear you about catching bass on salmon gear as "not being the same..." Lol reminds me of when I went Walleye fishing in the Gorge near Rufus with my aunt, and she hooked into something HUGE - fought it for about 30 minutes, pullin' like a Walleye (those who know what I'm talking about... basically feel's like a big LOG) up until it came to the boat. 50'' Keeper Sturgeon! Out of season, though... not as lucky as I was with this 'Nook. I guess it runs in my family? Haha! __________________ OSU Class of 2012 GO BEAVS! AKA Twise95 . . . I think Outdoor School will save the world.

07-25-2007, 01:47 PM	#25
alwayscooking Cutthroat Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 36	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Awesome story! You're a great writer! Thank you for the details. It was very interesting to hear about it. __________________ ~Keep your fins wet!~

07-25-2007, 05:48 PM	#27
fishhog1 Steelhead Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Maplewood 97219 Posts: 254	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 T, you need to call Bill Monroe ASAP and get your story in the O. That story and your photo will sell lots of newspapers. This has to be the greatest post I have seen all year, thanks for sharing....YOU ROCK DUDE!!!!! fh1

07-26-2007, 07:57 PM	#28
ODSKid Chromer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland / Corvallis, OR Posts: 898	Re: Unbelievable Willy Report - 7/21/07 Hey everybody, If you read the Outdoor Report in today's Oregonian, you'll see my fish in there! Just a simple summary, but I love it! Thanks (Bill?)! I'm a happy angler indeed. __________________ OSU Class of 2012 GO BEAVS! AKA Twise95 . . . I think Outdoor School will save the world.

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