New member finally does his intro!

skrimmy · 09-09-2002, 12:23 PM

Well, I managed to dodge the intro long enough to make it from "fry" to "cutthroat" but it's time I post up and take care of that! With the Tillamook Fall Chinook season fast approaching and the forecast for a banner year, I don't want to wreck my karma by not following protocol here! So, here's my most memorable fishing adventure, I doubt I'll ever top it. Matter of fact, I don't want to!

Growing up in California (don't beat me up for that, it wasn't my choice!) I started fishing in my early teens. I finally got my Dad interested enough after a few years to that we made our first fishing trek together, a Salmon fishing trip to the mouth of the Klamath River, back when it was a hot place to fish. From there on, he was hooked. We fished every week for some kind of fish. Fished on the pier for perch, trout and bass in local lakes, charter boats for rock fish. But every year, we spent at least two weeks Salmon and Steelhead fishing up in Northern Ca.

Time went on, and while raising my own family we continued fishing. Life and good choices finally had me living in paradise - Oregon. Shortly therafter Dad took ill and was diagnosed as terminal. That sucked. But he still loved fishing, and came up for an extended visit and to fish.

It was Fall and I had heard about the great fishing in Tillamook and what a banner year it was having. We went to GI Joe's and bought him a $39 rod and spinning reel Salmon Combo.
So we hopped in the car and drove down one Saturday afternoon to give it a try. We went to the infamous Hospital Hole on the lower Trask to try our hand at bank fishing. Dang, we got there in the afternoon, the wind was blowing, and the bite was already pretty much over but there were a lot of fish that had been caught!

I told Dad that I'd check it out the next morning and if fishing and the weather were better, I'd come back home, pick him up and try it again. He didn't want to get up that early as the cold really zapped him being ill and all. I went down the next morning, and fishing was great! Out of 4 hooked, I managed to land one - a 38 pounder. I headed home to pick up Pop. We got back down and it was mid afternoon, but the wind wasn't blowing this time and he was excited.

We fished for about 15 minutes and Dad hollers Fish On! Yeehaw, it took off on one heck of a run. He fought that thing for about 5 minutes, but got tired and wanted me to take the rod. Pressure, I can't lose Dad's fish! We got our first look at it and it looked pretty dang BIG! Folks were great, they pulled their lines in and let us have all the room we needed. We needed it too as that hog made two hard runs up river, and two down river. A half hour later and one heck of a good samaritan netted that thing for me on the sand bar on the lower end of the hole. That fish beat the snot out of that cheap rod and reel! Matter of fact, that turned out to be the only fish that rod ever caught. We headed home, stopping in town to weigh the beast, it was 48inches and 55 pounds! (still got the pics if anyone wants "proof!) What I remember most was the smile on Pops face all the way home and while he watched me clean that fish!

Dad passed away a few months later, and I went three years before I landed another Chinook! I've since then took care of that dry spell and have generally have pretty good luck down there each year. I continued to be a "bankee" for years and still fish Hospital Hole at least once a year. Even still, I haven't landed anything over 40lbs since then.

Last year was a good year down there, I fish with a good buddy in his boat and it's our yearly ritual. I can't wait, it's almost that time again!! See you all down there.

[ 09-09-2002, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: skrimmy ]

TundraIII · 09-09-2002, 01:04 PM

Nice story :smile:

5-Cents · 09-09-2002, 01:13 PM

Good story and welcome.

KingFisher85 · 09-09-2002, 01:14 PM

Nice story and welcome

sounds like you got one nice hog salmon, you should post the pictures on the site.
Sorry to hear about your dad passing away :depressed:

Slowpie · 09-09-2002, 01:23 PM

Wonderful story, skrimmy, and welcome from a "fry". I remember accompanying my husband on his last steelhead fishing trip before he died of lung cancer - wish he could have hooked a big one! :depressed: We had a pretty good day and were both glad that he got the chance to fish that one last time. You shared a very special day with your father and obviously, will never forget it!
Barb

crabbait · 09-09-2002, 01:42 PM

Welcome aboard, skrimmy, you sneaky devil. How did you hear about ifish?

k9jeff · 09-09-2002, 01:45 PM

welcome to the site,,,, :grin:

skrimmy · 09-09-2002, 02:16 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome! Crabbait, I actually first learned from a fishing buddy about the site when it first started. I visited every so often for a while, but it was a couple months ago when I looked high and low for some Columbia bar and bouy reports that I came back to it. I found the links here that I needed to get reports and along the way found the discussion board. It certainly has to be one of the top fishing sites on the net! A great job done by all involved. I sent Jen a message this morning asking where I can visit when we come down for our annual Nook pilgrimage in a few weeks. 10 days of heaven, I can't wait. Gotta get hats and decals for da boat and make a "donation" to the cause. Rather do it in person than through the mail!