What an epic day of fishing and catching on the Snohomish!!
So once again it was time for our annual trip with my friends east coast cousin Nick to try and get him another limit of salmon. Last year we killed them on the Lewis with a limit of kings by noon. Now with the recent weather and river conditions we warned him this year we may get the same results so don't get disappointed if we only get a few fish today.
Originally we were planning of fishing the Humptulips but our guide thought we would have a better chance of getting some quality fish if we hit the Snohomish so we met at Cady park boat launch at 7am and started up river in the dark. As we approached Douglas bar he thought he saw a good seam to anchor up and fish through the outgoing tide and we would be in a good position also to fish on the incoming as well. After a couple of attempts with the anchor to get us in the spot he wanted us, it was time to get to business!
Now Preston and I have some experience casting and drifting eggs but Nick was pretty new but was a good learner and soon had it down so we took turns casting and didn't have too many wrap arounds. The guide was using a bobber with eggs off the back of the boat so here we go! After a few drifts I had a nice take down but pulled up too soon and missed him. Next it was bobber down for the guide so he handed the Rod off to Nick for his 1st salmon of the day~ It was great watching him reel it in the excitement he had to get a chance at another fantastic Pacific northwest salmon~
Next it was my turn and landed a big, off colored hen that put up a heck of a fight and not too long after the guide hooked a 3rd and it was Preston's turn with a nice chrome hooked nosed buck. I was beginning to think this was going to be one of those days where the guide hooks all the fish and we just reel them in but boy was I wrong!
By 10am the tide started running in and as I let my eggs drift down to where I had a good feeling there was some fish holding I got a tug-tug but waited a minute this time ( boy that's hard to do) and then slammed it home and it was fish on! This one torpedoed up river and made some screaming runs trying it's best to get wrapped around some snags but managed to keep it clear and netted another chrome beauty. We landed a few more and now it was about 11:30 and the bite was slowing down so we took a break and cooked up some breakfast burrito's on board.
By 2pm we had 11 coho's in the live well and I said we should give it 10 more minutes~ no sooner did those words come out of my mouth when my rod nearly got ripped out of my hands as I had the most vicious take down of any coho I have caught in my life and this fish went ballistic doing cartwheels in the air and bulleting upstream. Unfortunately Preston did not have time to get line out of the way and we got tangled and I thought for sure I was going to lose this fish. But he just opened his bail and stayed with me while I fought the fish in and we actually were able to net it without a major disaster~ and what a fish! The brightest of the day and way to round out the full boat limit!
I have to say my 1st experience in a boat on the Snohomish was a fantastic experience and look forward to trying some of the bank spots I checked out as we made our way back in. I am off to CA until Tuesday and then hope to over to Chico creek next week and chase some chums!
See you on the water!
