I don’t know what it is about this years coho run that has me so worked up. MUST CATCH FISH. Limited time engagement. It was tough to wait out the tribal net days. I did get out way upriver for a bit on Tuesday and found fish but could not figure them out. Virgin ground for me so that’s always cool.
Had to work this morning but made it home for late lunch/dog duty. Neighbor was walking by and mentioned he was able to stumble into a silver this morning. That pretty much made up my mind, made the run down by SW, river is up a bit.
Went ahead and waded out, tried a 1/4 oz and a DN but just wasn’t fishing right. Move up into more current and put more lead on. I think I had been fishing an hour and no gear lost yet. Hooked into a brute! Just like the one that schooled me early September! Man he was strong, I think there were 4 separate runs. So strong that I once again thought it was a random foul hook or he had become wrapped in my line. 3500 reel...At one point he came right at me, I have had this happen before, but never as fast and direct as this guy. I was reeling as fast as I could but hadn’t caught up yet, cardinal sin of slack in the line...thought he was gone for sure, but I got him! Same funky chicken dance for me on the way out of the water, had to go twice as far today through slack water. Good thing he was so tuckered out, one more run and might have been gone, hook was bent out a bit. I’m amazed at the size fish these DN’s can take. I had to scoop this fish up and toss him up on the bank, just an awkward spot. Bonked him on the head with a rock so hard the rock broke! I guess I wasn’t going to let this one slip away. Nice 8+ coho hook nose buck with a touch of color. Couldn’t be happier, great day. I fished for a bit after and tagged into another one but snapped off quick, whole rig gone. Yeah yeah I should have retied my gear. Damn I’ve learned these lessons before.
I made it home before the school bus dropped the kids, and I even had time to put Mondays fish on the smoker. WHAT A DAY!

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