another overdue fish story

fishindogs · 01-03-2004, 10:14 AM

Hi folks, I guess its time for my mandantory fish story.

The story is about catching my first Fall Chinook on the Nestucca. It was in ?September? of 74, and I was living paycheck to paycheck. Because I had no extra money for fishing tackle, I had only one spinner (a green sneak) and the bail of my spinning reel was about 2/3 full (probably cheap line too). But the day was warm and beautiful, and the river was low and full of nice fish.

My brother stayed in the hole where we started, and I worked my way upstream across a long, VERY slippery riffle to fish another hole. After casting a few times, the spinner stopped on a snag. This upset me, because I had no more spinners and figured I would have to try to swim to retrieve the lure. However, soon the "snag" started to slowly shake its head, and I knew that I had finally hooked a chinook. The fish fought for a few minutes in the hole, but then decided that Nestucca Bay was a kinder,gentler place and started heading downstream, FAST. I started in pursuit, but watched in horror as the line was stripping from my reel. With only a few winds of line still showing on the bail, I increased the drag to try to slow the fish and literally ran across that long, shallow, mossy, slippery riffle in pursuit. (My brother was laughing so hard he almost fell down). The pressure of the fish pulling on my rod as I ran must have added to my stability, because somehow I did not fall down and managed to keep the fish from snapping the line.

After catching up with the fish (and my useless brother) in the lower hole the fish promptly swam into a downed tree and snagged my line.
After cursing the fish and my brother, I decided to swim for the lure so the fishing day wouldn't end so soon. Luckily, the water wasn't TOO cold and it was a beautiful Oregon day. I entered the water by the snag with my rod and reel waded/dogpaddled to the snag, following my line. When I got to the snag, I ducked my head under the clear water and followed the line to the spinner. To my surprise, I ended up face to face with an angry Chinook with my spinner still in her mouth. After seeing me, she decided to leave the snag and go back upstream. So then I was dogpaddling in the middle of a 10'+ hole, trying to fight the fish and not drown (brother again laughing hysterically on the bank). Eventually, after making it back to shore,I finally landed my first chinook, a nice 20# hen.

Today, I try to keep my reels full of line (good line), and take more than one lure fishing.

I hope you enjoy my intro fish story, and thanks for all of the great ifish discussions.

Pickles · 01-03-2004, 10:24 AM

Great story, and you were hardly overdue compared to me!

DownTime · 01-03-2004, 10:49 AM

Fishindogs;You really wanted that fish bad.Isn't it amazing how things change as we get older!Welcome

JB

fishindogs · 01-03-2004, 03:27 PM

Downtime,
Speak for yourself, I still want those fish bad! (and hate loosing lures).

DownTime · 01-03-2004, 04:23 PM

So many fish,so little time!

:smile:

Beerbelly · 01-03-2004, 05:26 PM

WELCOME It sounds that your brother has a sense of humor. :grin:

Fish'n'Chips · 01-03-2004, 06:02 PM

Great story

FishFearMe · 01-03-2004, 06:06 PM

Thats a lot of work for a fish. Sounds like a fun fight. Welcome

fishindogs · 01-03-2004, 06:37 PM

Beerbellyfisher,
Yup, my brother has a good sense of humor. But earlier that year it was me who had the laugh. He had decided that he could catch salmon/steelhead on a zebco 404. His reasoning was that they catch BIG catfish in the midwest on these rigs, so salmon should be no problem.
We were casting all afternoon on the Nestucca when something BIG finally hit his spoon. The fish headed upstream,fast, but all the zebco could do was make a screaming noise like a transmission thrown into park while the car is going down the road. The fish never even slowed down. After the line snapped, he glared at me, threw the rod in the truck, and headed to the Hebo bait shop to buy a (expensive) new rig.
It is one of my favorite stories to tell to his friends. I don't think its one of his favorites though.

Day Late · 01-03-2004, 11:01 PM

A great story!

Thanks!

Day Late

traskriverhouse · 01-04-2004, 05:02 AM

Thanks for the story.

Beerbelly · 01-04-2004, 08:42 AM

fishindogs It sounds like if I went fishing with you and your brother I should take a video camera to record the show if I could stop laughing :grin:

Stz ll · 01-04-2004, 09:06 AM

Great story.

Welcome aboard!!

kayakfisher · 01-04-2004, 09:35 AM

That is about the best catch story I have ever read...that is precisely my style of outdoorsy activity. This is the stuff of brotherhood memories...and laughs for years to come.

It looks like you don't have a boat(per your profile)...send me a pm if you like and we will try to get you out sometime in our boat.

Also if you like kayak fishing...that is also my favorite way to get out...

m.

fishindogs · 01-04-2004, 10:50 AM

Kayakfisher,
Thanks, and I definitely do like kayaking/fishing. However, I use my cheap inflatable kayak mostly as a method of transportation between bank fishing spots (and a way to take my dog with me...he LOVES to fish).