MCB (Mid Channel Bank) Opener, need I say more. I’m skipping over a 3 or 4 rated Baker Lake report to get this one posted. I have been fishing MCB since I was a teenager; back then there were 2 or 3 fish limits, we fished it all summer long and quotas were not an issue. The MCB opener is still my very favorite opener and eagerly anticipated each year. Last year, due to family obligations and work MCB quota’d out before I was able to get out. I think that I was actually sick to my stomach when I heard the encounters had reached the quota and it was closing. This year I was not going to miss it.

I picked up my fishing buddy and made the drive to Keystone during the wee hours and had the boat wet by 4:30 Sunday morning, the opener. Even arriving at 4:00 we found the trailer parking full and had to get creative with our trailer parking. To that note; don’t leave anything visible in your rig, we did see a few rigs or parked cars with their windows broken out. Anyway, underway in the dark we put together our game plan. Unfortunately, we misread the tide chart and flip-flopped the tides. As a result we started at the wrong end of the bar and battled a tide rip for an hour before we double checked the tides. Hmmm, you don’t say… We pulled the gear and we set up by Point Wilson for our run with the tide.

Shortly after we settled in to our troll one of the clips releases and it was fish on. But wait its not fighting, oh bother a dogfish on a spoon at 3 mph. From that point we keep working my line, bouncing the 12 pound balls off the bottom every few minutes waiting for a fish to come out and play.

Our wait was not a long one, Tony being the guest fisherman was first up to bat. The clip pops and while in capable hands a serious fish is headed out of town. I clear the gear and slow the kicker to just keep the boat ahead of the fish. While Tony is in a tug of war with the fish I am getting the net ready when the other rod goes off. Holy crap a double! Tony’s fish is still taking line so I put the screws to my fish and after an extend slugfest I slide the net under a 20# + fish. Oh crap, too many fins, this one was posing for pictures and would swim free. Tony was still fighting his fish so I finished extending the net and made a course correction so we were headed out of traffic. Maybe 10 minutes later I was able to slide the net under a monster chinook but unfortunately the fish also had too many fins. Too many fins or not, our aquatic nemesis had defended its title, "King Salmon". It was an honor to have encountered the majestic beast which we estimate was at 35#s +. As with the previous fish, it was safely released and while fishing just a short time with two incredible fish we were off to a good start.

We released multiple other fish that either had too many fins or were under the 22” minimum size limit before we kept two hatchery chinook going about 14 pounds and 17 pounds. Although we could have kept fishing for humpies, our day was done. With the memories still settling in we stowed the gear and got ready for the run back into the launch before 11:30.

Although I look at the MCB fishery as a bit of a technical fishery it can be simple. Everyone needs to find their favorite lane trolling lane but once you’re on it drag 11” a Red Racer flasher and a 3.5” Herring Aide or Cookies and Cream spoon. Try to maintain the downrigger cable angle at around 60-70 degrees. My favorite troll on MCB is in 100-110 feet of water while bouncing the balls off the bottom every now and then. I run the gear 20’ behind the clip and 42” 30# leader on my spoons. I lather the spoons up with sardine, anchovy or herring scent.

Our MCB experience today was one for the record books. Good weather, company and incredible fishing! For me Mid Channel bank is a very special fishery and I can’t wait to get back out there!

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