This was definitely an interesting & fun weekend.
The group of guys we were fishing with were early risers - wake up around 4 to 4:30AM, so we can be at the spots by 5:30 before anyone else beats us there. :shock: I don't remember the last time I was awake at 4 AM. You can't legally fish until daylight, so when we get to the spot, we just hang out, prep gear, etc until around 7.
We went to a spot in on the Salmon river on Friday & Saturday. They tell me the river is higher and running faster then normal, but not to the point that it is too dangerous. It felt at least a little dangerous - I almost lost balance a few times. One of our guys did loose it and fall in, which just resulted in some hurt pride and wet clothing - otherwise he was fine.
Fishing was tough, they thought due to the high water. One in our group had 32 hookups that were lost, and only a couple actually netted. I managed one hookup day one after I got the basic technique, and a few more on day 2, but no fish.
On day 3, the flow of the water was predicted to drop, so we tried a different tributary that tends to trap fish when the water drops. At first, it did not seem to happen this time. It was overcast at first, but when the clouds cleared and the sun started coming out, it seems that the salmon woke up and started moving around, and we starting hooking them. Several of us got our limit of 3 fish by 1 PM. It was great action. These fish put on a hell of a fight. When you hook one, you can get them close, but when they see you or the net man, they take off and your drag screams. Then you have to try and stop them from getting down river into rapids without snapping the line, because if they do, your line is surely broken.
The gear my friend & I were using included Ugly Stick 9' fly rods, Shimano "Moocher" reels, and 15 lb. mono line. The bait was artificial salmon eggs.
Pictures will have to come later, as my camera wasn't working.
