Smith Salmon

Whoa... I barely dodged another one of Sean's bullets! 

Don't worry too much Chuck...that may have been the last bullet in the clip.  The WAF is sOOOOOooo bottomed out its not funny.  But better to go down swinging than giving up.

BTW-I had forgotten just how breath taking the Smith is...an awesome place to get skunked.

Sean-

You are a maniac bro... Head up to the Smith not once but twice... damn... you must want it bad... really bad. Reading your post almost makes me want to head up there for a shot... almost. That must've been a total rush to have something like that pulling on your rod. I can only dream of having a salmon pull on me this season. What a year... Sorry to hear that it broke you off though. That's a bummer but, it makes a great story. Your time will come... but, in the meantime.......shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... listen real close... closer... clooooooooooser... do you hear it...? Yeah buddy... I'm still here... still breathing down your back... barely...

Freddie

Sean, Hang on bro, remember the last 20 minutes of BAMIII, you can still sneak up to Chuck E, and issue him a Whoopin, like he did to me...... 

PS Chuck E, you said your hunting, What kinda of blood are you spilling?

good story sean, how heavy was the line the first time and how heavy this time (I guess you got
no secrets left with WAF on fumes, but have you tried going negative,  ). only for
thrillseekers... 

also, I'll say it for abking. where's the pics?!?!?  .

J

Amazing fishing story and good trying. Hope you get WAF points back soon, so that you can have Chinook in line again. Thanks for the story.

J-I had 15# Maxima as a short leader to 30# spectra on a relatively short rod...it snapped like hair!  This time I had 100 feet of 15# Maxima to spectra on a long salmon whip.  It was almost impossible to break off when we got snagged.

Freddie-I am listening...but all I hear is the clock ticking and Chuck in first laughing at all of us because he's gonna beat us all with a little salmon!!! 

Sean, Hang on bro, remember the last 20 minutes of BAMIII, you can still sneak up to Chuck E, and issue him a Whoopin, like he did to me...... 

PS Chuck E, you said your hunting, What kinda of blood are you spilling?

A lot can happen in month, so I know I'm no way safe from the top contenders.

Andy, I've been hunting duck and pheasant lately, but would sure love to find a place to bowhunt pigs.  BigEyeDave and I were planning to hit up Lake Sonoma with our bows and kayaks, but I think they postponed pig hunting.

Sean,

I've never seen a salmon "gator roll." The ones I've caught in rivers usually just took off like a torpedo. Must be tough to even try to make a fish stop doing that.

With the large ones I have caught, I've just used the pole to make them stop by either lowering it and pulling against them. They hate it cuz it buries the hook even further in them. It makes them stop the long run and it usually makes them come to you for a bit. Learned that trick in Alaska and it works well. Got my 50lb hen to give up in less than five minutes, while my friend, who also had a 50 pounder and didn't know what to do subdude hie is a little over 45 minutes. He hooked it in the nose and it didn't like that.

Hopefully if you continually go and not draw down the WAF account, you'll get yours.

Sean great report, sorry about the result.  I wish I could have accompanied you but sadly the permission givith and the permission taketh away.  On a side note barbs were legal according to the regs on the Smith last year.

Great story Sean, you'll get em next time.  That fish must have been a pig.

Welcome to the Smith Sean... I used to hit it once or twice a year for about a decade. Used flies. We usually used 8lb maxima for our tippets. 10lb if the water's off color. With a flexible long rod, it's a real challenge to land those brutes. They are pure power, and on average it took around an hour to land a decent one and often times closer to two if it was a biggun. It's a pay your dues kinda place for sure. Often you get screwed by the weather, crowds, etc, but it's still worth it. Last year was my first attempt at the steelies and I got schooled. It has a way of keep making ya come back for more tho..

tick tick tick tick tick...

Sean-
That laugh you hear from Chucke is more of a nervous laugh... He's sweating bullets still. But, he's still the man to beat. That's for sure...

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick...

Nice play by play Mr. Sports Announcer.
Maybe it is time to break out the Islander gear on these big boys!
The ones that get away almost always make the best stories and this was a great one for sure.

I learn a little something every time I go, I will fish it differently next time and amybe one of these trips I'll get one of these things to the yak.  It is a challenge. 

Sean:

WOW...... talk about heart pumping!

I've only once done the river salmon thing.  Never ever seen or felt anything like it. That first slam just buries the rod and it STAYS down.  Bbesides being big, I think they turn sideways to the current which adds a whole other pressure.

sorry you missed that big one, thanks for the story.  Now I'm trying to figure out how I can get aay for some of that action.

man we need rain bad.

Allen