Short version:
Sunny HOT day
Fished the incoming tide
Plenty of fish jumping
Pulled plugs, achored up and cast/retrieved Dick Nites
2 hits on plugs (both whack & gone)
No love on the Dick Nites
Saw only 1 hookup all day (DR/Flasher, not sure of the lure)
Heard of 2 other boats that said they got one each

Long Version:
The father of one of my kid's friends had been asking to go fishing for awhile so decided today was the day. I had heard there were coho in the Duwamish so decided that was our best shot. I knew with 2 five year olds, a dad that had never fished before and my wife (who could care less about fishing) I wasn't going to get to fish much myself so for me it was an exploratory mission as well as a change to test out some of the latest "gringo-ized" mods on the sled.

We packed up the usual gear along with sun-brella's, BBQ, hot dogs, snacks & kiddie poles and off we went. We launched below the 1st Ave bridge right at low tide (10am-ish) and saw fish jumping right away.

The 1st thing the kids (and I think dad) wanted to do was "go fast", so after a brief "rules of the boat" talk with the kids I cranked up the Willie and bombed up to the new South Park bridge. Once on the upstream side we put down three lines and pulled plugs up to the power lines. We got one good hit, but it was gone before I could even grab the rod.
By the time we got to the power lines the kids were ready for casting so we anchored up before the Beoing bridge across river from the pilings (there was someone else on the piling side), put up the sun umbralla (test mod #1 success), got the kids casting thier barbie poles (no lure, just casting weights) and dad set up and showed him how to cast.

For the next hour it was cast, retrieve, untangle kid's lines, untangle dad's line, repeat which means I got maybe 3 casts in before I was informed it was time to fire up the BBQ. I set up the casting platform/BBQ table (test mod #2 success), fired up the grill, threw hotdogs on, untangled line, snuck a cast in, turned the dogs, untangled more line,.. you get the picture..

After lunch we were one kiddie pole down (not sure how they did it but there was no recovering from the line tangle that was handed to me). So they settled into taking turns 1 with the pole casting and other with a little trout net netting the fish they "caught" (and some bickering about who's turn it was for what). Thank god my wife was there as she was able to referee the kids and give dad & I a chance to give a serious try casting Dick Nites for an hour or so.

Before we knew it it was getting to be late afternoon so we trolled 2 lines of plugs back downstream to the South Park Bridge during which time the kids discovered their voices echoed (anyone that passed the Black Wille boat with the 2 screeming kids on the bow - my apologies). We did get one of the plugs smacked hard on the way back (again, gone before I could touch the rod) and saw a boat hook-fight & lose a fish off a DR trolling upstream by us..

We packed up at the South Park bridge and bombed back down to the ramp, loaded everything up and the kids were sound asleep before we even got to I-5. Got home, parked the boat, put away the gear, sat out on the deck and had a much needed, much deserved beer.

snatchinglips

9/8/2014 10:16:00 AM

My fellow fisherman I am assuming that your plugs have the hooks that came with the plug and if they are they are too small and you will lose lots of fish because if it. If you a re allowed treble hooks on that river change them to a #2 on the back and #3 in the front. That has better results.

BentRod

9/8/2014 10:41:00 AM

That sounds like a text book day with the family on the water! Thanks for the laugh. Hope you find some Coho on the next trip out. :)

Gringo Pescador

9/8/2014 11:15:00 AM

snatchinglips - thanks for the tip, I swap the trebles on all my coho plugs - 4 bead chain to a siwash off the front and no rear hook.
BentRod - It was a fun day - you just have to resign to it being a boat ride and not a fishing trip and roll with it. Would have been nice to have gotten a fish or two, but next time. Honestly I am already excited for next year - my daughter will be 6, a little more patience, a little more coordination, a year's worth of casting practise and a pink year :)

BentRod

9/8/2014 11:53:00 AM

At least you know it's making memories that will last a lifetime. Always fun to look back and laugh.

Goldrigger1

9/8/2014 12:48:00 PM

Gringo, you are one patient guy. I've had so many employees and students it is hard for me to train anyone again. I still take the grandkids out and am nice and patient. However, no yelling or crying. They agree to be nice to grandpa.

Bank drifter

9/8/2014 12:57:00 PM

Only one beer? Upriver a mile few were caught from the bank that Am but earlier-none by me, but one hit and run on a copper BC

snatchinglips

9/8/2014 2:25:00 PM

I understand having fishing with the kid. I have a son who is 5 and he slowly getting more patient. I bought a Wooldridge so I could take him with me. As you said we look forward to sending that time with our kids and hope they love fishing like we do

knotabassturd

9/8/2014 4:08:00 PM

LOL GP nothing like a full day of work on a day off :P. Thanx for the report, better luck (and maybe a little more relaxed fun) next time.

salmonbarry

9/8/2014 8:42:00 PM

Sounds like a great day to me~ at least you have boys! I did that when my kids were younger but with 5 daughters, stuck to fishing from the bank where they could play when they got bored! How was that boat launch at low tide? It can be pretty slick I know when it's low..

Gringo Pescador

9/8/2014 9:05:00 PM

Mine a girl SB but she's as gung-ho as any boy her age. You are right about that ramp. It is steep and can be slick as ice at low tide if it is wet. It was pretty dry and I was only pulling the trailer out (but I still put it in 4wd figuring I got it, I might as well use it). It was near high tide when we pulled out. Not nearly as big a deal.

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