First Post (Happy Thanksgiving)

[snake2]

Hello everyone! I have been an avid Salmon/Steelhead fisherman for the last 19 years. My mother says "an obsessed fisherman is more like it." I was born and raised in the Milwaukie area fishing the local rivers as well as many coastal streams. I fish out of an all red 23' Alumaweld Super Vee Pro and am on the water every weekend that I possibly can. My fishtale begins last Springer season on the Willamette River.
I sell fresh fruits and vegetables for a living for a major independent wholesaler and have an extensive customer base. As most sales related relationships...my customers and I have one thing in common besides produce...we all fish!!! This works out good for me because there is no better way to bond with a customer than a nice day out on the water During the work week of course! Anyway, I had 5 customers in the boat trolling herring in the downtown area on this particular trip. By 2:00p.m. we had boated 9 fish in which, 2 of them had to be released because some hatchery worker forgot to completely cut off the adipose fin. (Chads as many of us refer them to.) So with 7 in the box, everyone decided to call it a day. But I hadn't had enough. It was my turn to fish for me without having to hand off the rod. I then called, my now x-wife, at work and told her to meet me at the Milwaukie boat ramp. While she was in transit, I trolled over to the shelf to make a pass before she got there. As I am putting my herring out with a diver/flasher set up, I hear the voice of an older gentleman yelling something to me from his boat (which was a good 25yds away. He yells, "Don't waste your time with herring son...It's a prawn/spinner show up here!" No sooner than I set my rod in it's holder, "BAM" the fish hits, buries the tip into the water, and line is ripping off of my reel. "Oh my goodness..Your pole!...Grab your pole!" that same gentleman yells over to me in an uproar. The fish was on so I left the rod in the holder for a quick second while I extended my net handle...killed my kicker motor...grabbed my rod and floated slowly downstream with one hot fish. After landing the fish, I ran back up river...re-baited my rod, and dropped her back in the drink. "I see you got lucky and "snaked" one of my fish right out from under my nose!" The older gentleman yells over to me. I just smile at him as I troll on by. "I bet you can't "snake" two of them out of my river....beginners luck!" he says. Well just as he said that I was thinking to myself, "I wonder where my wife is?" as I was looking toward the boat ramp. Right then I hear that beautiful sound of line peeling off of my reel. You all know the sound...not that of a clicker...but the crackling of mono peeling off your reel at Mach 1 speed. As I hook the fish, my sheer excitement was interrupted by my wife yelling, "Honey...I thought you would have waited for me!!" and "Dang Nabbit, he "snaked" two...right in front of my eyes!!" The older gentleman yells towards me. Here I am, supposed to be enjoying the fight that we all put in so many hours for and I have two disgruntled people yelling at me. I have seen the older gentleman on the river from time to time and he still refers to me as "snake2" which is why I chose this name. And as for my wife...we divorced 9 months later on the grounds of my natural chemical dependence...ADRENALIN! My name is "snake2"...and I am a fish-a-holic! Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

[graybeard]

Good Morning and Happy Thanksgiving, Snake2. I enjoyed reading your story. Welcome aboard Ifish.

[Jennie@ifish]

This new member story thing is great. I can't wait to click on new members just for this reason, now!
:smile:
Thanks, and welcome to ifish. Great story!
J

[Born to Fish]

Snake2....great story! Welcome to the group. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[Lockjaw]

welcome Snake2 . I like yoiur story , fishing herring is the best :grin: Happy Thanksgiving

L J

[Artwo]

Welcome Snake2, glad to have you join us.

JK

[slamin salmon]

Great story! One of the best I've read. Being a part time bank maggot (soninlaw has boat) I know how the old boy feels, What a minute I am an old boy. Just part of fishing. I hear guys yelling at boaters from the bank. Telling them they have the hole river to fish and to go away. It's never been a problem when people know how to fish around others. I know there are jerks on both side but you just have to live with it. It's better than a gun fight at high noon. Some people should just stay home! Thanks again for the story and happy Turk day. Slamin Salmon [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[fishbait]

Hi Snake2. Most of us here have also been in treatment for our addiction. We find time on the river helps. Don't ya just love it when the adrenelan from a big hog actually makes your legs shake....... Welcome.

[KingFisher85]

Welcome to ifish snake2
I like the story and how you came up with your name. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[ragjr]

Good story. welcome aboard

Ray

[crabbait]

Good story, snake2. Sounds like you earned your moniker!

[Stz ll]

Great story.

Welcome aboard.

Pete

[steelheadslayer]

Welcome snake2, while fighting my 'addiction' I've become dependent on the cure. My wife says I just won't ever win this battle. Great story. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]