A dying breed

[chromage]

It started off in June hearing of all the alewives out in Lake Michigan. I could only imagine the huge kings I was going to see this year in the river. It seemed like just yesterday that I was in search of chrome salmon in the rivers in July. Where you had to hike miles upon miles to find these fresh fish from the great lakes. Many trips were made and only a few fish hooked. One day of 12 hours of casting and only 3 kings king caught all night. East winds made fishing just right, but of coarse I missed them always by a day or so due to work, something that stop my fishing majorly. Unlike last year when it wasn’t hard to catch a king off the pier heads due to east winds continue.

Then it was middle of August and decent run of kings have not shown up. Yes, the boats were killing them, but where were the numbers. There was few showing up but not many with the inches of rain we were getting.

Then in August when I walked down to the river expecting nothing and seeing a river choked full of kings. Yes, the run was on! The next day limiting out and then labor day hooking so many fish and praying another fish wouldn’t attack the bait. Man, it took a ton of time to learn where these early king hang out. It took a ton of time and gas money to learn about these early run kings. Also, understanding the winds and temps that these fish like took a major toll on my gas bill.

And now here we are. Nasty white tailed kings on the side of shore meaning the end of the cycle. It’s sad but you can only go back and think of all the great memories of this salmon season. Or the one that got away.

My season ended this past weekend which is really early for me. I always fish kings til the end but have image of silver torpedoes swimming around in my head rather then sick fugley looking kings. Of coarse you can’t forget the white tails in the woods. My weekend was spent on a river I enjoy fishing. I don’t know if it’s the people or the fish. I tend to think it’s the people I fish with because of all the fun we had. Anyways, fishing was tough this week. I did end up with 14 or so but the bite was tough. It took some switching from some of my fav. techniques to micro size bait and flies and bottom bouncing. Something I don’t do a ton.. Spawn tied in white and little glue eggs work efficient. It helped me get the spawn I needed for this coming steelie season. I landed a few 18 lbers and my buddy ended up with a huge 23-25 lb salmon.

Couple high lights from this weekend was chucking and ducking and having dead weight on the hook. Then nothing, and then a head shaking. After a several minute fight I relized I had a huge hen on that had already been caught. It still had the stringer through it’s mouth.

Then the guy across river who was trying to catch kings legally. However, he kept foul hooking them. The guy next to him advised him he needed 40 lb line to catch salmon. Now I am not a person that likes to butt into other people’s buissness but having a snagger tell someone they need to go up in line, I had to say something. I then let the whole river know that you don’t need anything over 12 lb line to catch these kings. The guy was curious and I helped him out with timing and techniques. The snagger I think was pretty embarrassed and kept his mouth shut. He ended up hooking a fair hooked fish but it broke his cheap line he had. I can only hope he takes my advice and get some better line and keeps trying to hook these fish legally.

Now I didn’t land any giants this year like I thought I was going to but I honestly can say the size was def. up this year. Unlike last year where it took half the season to get an 18lber, it only took one trip off the pier to land a 17 lber. Yes, the average was up, and that’s what I wanted to see.

I can only wait and dream of the next trip I make out into Lake Michigan next summer. The freight trains and the all night fishing. Will the fish be even bigger then this year, or will they be back to small bodies, big head. We can only wait and see, but until then, IT’S STEELHEAD TIME!!!

[billkay]

Re: A dying breed

It can get addicting, no doubt. Are you further north? I've spent a lot of time fishing between New Buffalo and Chicago.

[chromage]

Re: A dying breed

way farthur north. between whitehall and traverse