My wife and I hit the water around 6:30 am around Irrigon area. Anchored up not too far from a friend that was already anchored. He and his buddy caught several oversize and one keeper. We fished all day without catching, UNTIL about 6 pm, when the excitement hit (literally). BIG BIG fish on!! Long story short, we fought the fish while following it around the river with the kicker motor for almost 3 hours. The fish won!! We ended up cutting the line because on top of the 20 mph winds and very rough water by that time, it was getting dark.
My wife got to see it one time right after hooking it, while I was untying the anchor from the boat so we could follow it. She called it Shamoo, haha. She was bummed that I didn't get to see how big it was and that we couldn't get it to the boat, but it was a very memorable experience to have a BEAST like that on the line.
We ruined the rod in the process - going back this weekend to go after that big boy again with a bigger gun (well not a gun, but the phrase fits). Bigger rod and bigger reel!
My biggest fish to the boat prior to this day was an 8' last summer. We don't know how big this one was but guessing in the teens (ft). Wow, is what sums it up best.

---