AOTW @ the Klamath - Video Added

That's right - Agony On The Water!  More on that later...   

The action that this report is based on will play out over the next several days with a video from me and much followup reporting of their own from the key participants who are still engaged in the battle that is AOTY!!   

Today I had the privelege of sharing time on the water with 5 of our best:  otobepelagic, HOLY TOLEDO, scwafish, jonesz, and, the current salmon KING, mako1.  I respect the whole, "I'll let them tell their stories" idea, BUT(!)...  there have been some big salmon caught!   

I spoke to Allen last night and made a plan to meet up.  I got up just after 4AM and headed north, arriving in camp around 5:45.  Sean had arrived in the night, and Patrick, Allen, Glen and Juan had all found success on Thursday - I WILL let them tell those stories, as there was some sweet glory had and I wasn't lucky enough to have witnessed it!  We headed up river at daybreak and got on the water.  Anticipating the difficulty of catching a fish in my 6 hour window, I was eager to get to fishing.  I paddled up into the hole following Allen's generous guidance of where the action had been the night before.  The morning mist and shear power of the Klamath were comforting reminders of our place in this awesome wilderness and how lucky we are to be out playing on it - kayaks are F*$%ing awesome!     The guys quickly filled in behind me and up ahead of me as I got settled on a hole with Allen and Juan for a while, then was lucky to be by Sean when he hooked up a couple of hot fish - the first one broke him off, which sucked, but it was a sign of life.  There were lots of big rollers and splashers by then, an hour or more in to the action.  We were all fishing Little Cleos on a slow retrieve.  I got a fish on for about 2 seconds - long enough to feel a couple of head shakes and then POP!  It kept me on it and excited.  I got 3 more hits during the day's casting, but no hookups.  Sean went on to hookup long-term - 5 minute fight or so and lost it at net.  Bummed but not crushed, he continued on and later hooked up a total hotrod that leaped at least 6' out of the water before coming so unbuttoned!  He had the hot stick but also the AGONY of losing fish - he handled it like the man he is.  Solid, Sean, very solid.     Others had hits here and there and Allen actually had the long fight of the day which came unbuttoned down below him before he could get it up to the surface - he also took the AGONY like a man.   

I fished with Glen for a while along a beautiful rock wall, in the sun, with big salmon rolling within 20-200' of us.  The place is off the hook.  We all fished it hard until after midday and the wind picked up.  Juan seemed to pick that up on radar and got out of there right before the rest of us except jonesz/Glen who stayed up and hopefully hooked up.  I caught a burger with Patrick, Allen and Sean before hitting the road back home to get to a special dinner (pretty bummed that I couldn't stay for the evening bite...     but stoked to have gotten out with the guys.   ).

Of course I was determined and would have loved to have bagged a salmon today, but I've got to say I'm very content that the highlight of my day was witnessing something that is a few levels beyond just camaraderie.  Hanging with 4 out of the top 5 competitors in AOTY and seeing them focusing on enjoying and sharing the experience was a great affirmation of what this club is all about.   

I know for a fact that 3 of the top 5 AOTY scores are effectively already changed due to salmon caught - I predict the 4th will change too, and a new leader may be imminent!   

Thanks for the tease.  I look forward to seeing the final results.

Brian

Great post Eric.Sean said he was going up there to catch a salmon to possibly clinch.It sounds like he had good action. With his monster halibut in the books a big salmon might do it. Beautiful pics. Are you going back up? Give a shout. Its a long drive from down here but to catch a salmon somewhere in Cal would be cool.

Are you going back up? Give a shout.

I wish I was!  Too busy at home and work right now, but I'm saving WAF for a hopeful next trip within a week...

Eric; nother great report.  Where were you guys fishing?  is that the area around Orland? 

Jim

Great report Abking and of course, awesome pictures once again.

Jedmo

Jim, we were on the lower river, just a couple miles above tidal influences, so the fish were fresh!
I arrived home last night, beat but happy after a successful run on the Klamath. This time I had company to share the fun. I'm so glad the guys made it up! Jonesz got 2 nice fish within the first couple hours on the water! I was also treated to seeing Patrick hook and land a fish, then a half hour later him commenting on how he was still shaking. I hear you brother!
I timed my trip with the thought of boat pressure and nets in mind, and I think I hit it on the head. The only day I didn't hook a fish was on the last morning when I was due to leave. Hooking and losing fish was a blast in itself, as Sean and the rest of the crew will now surely attest to.
On my last morning I didn't hook anything but was treated to a sow and her cub right at the water's edge. I could here the little one grunting at mom. Pretty cool.
I ended up landing 3 fish, each one bigger than the last. All chrome, a #10, #21, and the last one not weighed, but it covered up the 21 pounder. The best fight by far was the 21. It took me close to a half hour to land, and it left me breathing hard with exertion and shaking with the thrill of it all. To top it off the scenery was pretty nice and the weather was off the hook, at times too warm and still.
I really enjoyed hooking big fish on nothing more than a little single lure on the end of my #8 line. Simple is beautiful, and effective sometimes.
Great fishing with you guys, I wish I could have hung around longer.

A couple more pics, Allen hooked up, scenery, the hog line.
The still water pics were taken between fish jumps. Damn fish kept messing up the shot.

Epic Guys....

 Epic....  

  and Congrats on a Very Successful trip.....

Great pics, Juan - no agony for you!   

Something I learned on this adventure, keep your kittens away from Patrick and Allen!

Wow!...nice fish Juan.  Great report and pics.

Al

Great reports guys. What kind of fish are those? I have not see anything like that in over a year. 

I am back...no salmon for me although I learned a lot andhad a great time with the crew.  The reason you have to LOVE NCKA and AOTY...the entire camp were contenders yet hanging out, sharing food, beer and info.

I hooked 4 fish.  The first snapped an 8# uni to uni in seconds, the 2nd I lost at the net, the 3rd jumped like a f'n dodo and spit the spoon and I landed the 4th...a wild coho...doh!!!!

I woke this am to a NASTY migrane and limped my a$$ home.  The spot was epic and the times were good. I will be back.

Jonesz fricking destroyed the place yesterday and I took the pic of the year...look at this!

Beeyootiful!!!!!!!