Wow, best day ever on Lake Quinault even though I only took one fish home. It was my birthday so the fish gods gave me not two but three great gifts 2 being fish and the 3rd being a lovely wife who loves to fish. Melanie on the other hand took 2 with one being a beautiful dolly of about 3 1/2 lbs. and a smaller one of a lb. or 2. Her big Dolly put up quite a scrap. My Dolly was smaller. Lost a few trout that flew and threw hooks, one was really a nice fish.
But the big news were the 2 fish I released, one being a steelhead of about 10 or 12 lbs. although this shot doesn't show the thickness of the fish. The other was a gorgeous spring king hen bound for the upper river, at least 20 lbs., superthick! Steelhead came in easy, hooked it trolling shallow, took a quick shot released it over the side. Bigger fish was 15 ft. down on downrigger, put up a great fight, felt at one point that I really wasn't in charge, but put a little more pressure on rod. Fight was more then 10 minutes on a lamiglass kiokanee rod with tiny c3 abu reel. 12 lb. leader, bent the hook,(Matsuo sycle hook) got out of canoe to release, net was too small for this lady. Good hooking on both fish, although steelhead was a little tough getting hook out as it went ballistic at the boat. Could have done that while I was reeling it in, but my 1st steelhead trolling in this lake, I can't complain. Prob. post spawn. Regs require all salmon and steelhead to be released here but as these were both wild fish, I would have had to release them in most state waters anyway. Memories CAN be kept, at least "till memory goes, glad we got good photos. Quit a little early as the wind picked up and I wanted to hike the Falls Creek trail and get some leg work in.
For all the time we've put into this lake over the last 14 years or so these are only the 4th and 5th large salmon (and the one steelhead) that we have caught and released. Odds are long, but oh, boy, when you hook these fish on light gear it's a hoot and a half! Eagles were out making for some pleasant company, only saw 3 or 4 boats out all morning, a few folks fishing frm shore. tight lines to all, bob r
