Shelter cove 4/12

After putting in, 15 miles last Sat and only one hot fish lost at the yak, I decided to try and get some redemption and try some new tactics. Ditched the deep six for a sinker release, ditched the flasher for a dredge, and stuck on a green apex and hit the water as the sun was coming up with abking and pine mountain pete. There were some other ncka'ers (sorry fellas, brain mush has taken its toll and I cant remember your names, but it was a pleasure metting yall) at the campground that would hit the water later in the day. Great group of ncka'ers at the Cove, a harbinger of sorts.

Just over 5 hours and 11 miles (4 miles of cruising, 7miles of trolling, all gps confirmed for certain, ahem, doubters, putting the abkings estimate of 15 miles last weekend spot on) and I finally spilt blood, chrome blood, the best kind of first blood, on the Stealth. It took 3 fish to do it, well, 4 if you count last weekend. The first broke of at the boat because I didnt tie my own leader on the apex  . The second broke off because when changing the leader on the new apex I did not change the hook and it broke right below the eye, another fish lost at the boat  . So finally, on the third fish, with a new leader and quality hook, I an 8lbs (as measured with the lucid fish grip) beauties in the boat and bloodied the yak. Whew, pressure is off.

Switched from the apex to an FBR after the bite slowed and had three slammed baits with no hookups (2 came back with just heads and one as a sekeleton), so I think I will ditch the factory FBR hook setup for a slip rig. All in all Id say the dredge is a great addition to the arsenal.  Now I just need to figure out a cheap alternative to lead balls (half a beer can filled with nails and rockcrete with bailing wire ring?)

Anyway, nice fishing with you folks and bring on GS8!

Nice first chrome blood of the season. 

Nice Chrome report, glad to see you got your redemption!

Nice job!

What's a dredge?

http://www.redwoodcoastspreaderbars.com/product_p/dr_uvm.htm

Nice to see a beautiful salmon again. Way to go!

Does a dredge get tangled up a lot in the yak or while getting it down? 

Nice to see a beautiful salmon again. Way to go!

Does a dredge get tangled up a lot in the yak or while getting it down?

Surprisingly no. The hoochies are tied on with heavy test which resists tangling, and if it does you just run your fingers through it like hair. One of the reasons I switched from the deep six to sinker release was to make it easier to get down without tangling as well as fighting the fish. It is tough to watch money sink to the bottom of the sea, on a black

WTG, Matt!  That was an impressive slew of bites and hookups you got, and I'm seriously considering copying your m.o.!

I had a tough day - very few scratched baits and no hookups.  Getting out past  the Whistle before any powerboats with Wizz, I was hopeful for an early bite, but hours later it just wasn't working for me today.  I tried lots of different setups, saw several fish caught around me, and just have to be happy to have logged another 12 miles.   Salmon fishing can be brutal, and some days you have to accept defeat with appreciation for having gotten the miles in and put yourself in a spot to get one or two.  It can really make you question your presentation, speed, method of getting down, leader composition...etc., when you see others catching when you can't buy a hookup for hours.  It's actually pretty amazing that a great day can be just a few bites away from a hard skunk.

Can't wait to get back out there...