lucky Seventh trip for Salmon on the Sacramento 12/24/09

After only 6 very uneventful trips to the river, my seventh ended with a little excitement. I made it on the water by about noon, started marking fish, put on the silver and chartreuse 2 oz jig, and slipped it into the water.  The water has picked up  a little color since the last rains but is only a half a foot or so higher, still quite low and nice for the kayak.  I spotted several fish rolling at the surface, but I never got a positive ID on any.  Near the end of my second run through a very slow deep hole near Scotty's, after I let the jig drop the line goes tight, and bendo big time.  Wahooo I thought here we go, you should have seen my smile.  This fish pulled hard and promptly turned me the the kayak and took off upstream stripping out line.  I have never caught a salmon before, I had no idea what to expect.  It was clear to me that I was not in control, the speed at which the fish wanted to to upstream had me wondering what to do.  I settled in, made a decent effort at setting the hook, got on the pedals (hobie), and started to follow.  This will sound a little exaggerated, but fairly recently I switched to level winds and braid (both at the same time) and I'll be damned if my thumb  didn't get a little hot on the spool.  I let go with my thumb, completely surrendering to the fish, probably a mistake, because just then the line went slack.  I tried and tried to hook up again up and down the hole, but no luck.  With the clear skies it freezing here at night but its so nice out there around that 10:30 am to 2 pm slot, maybe I will try again, only a few days left.  That was exciting, they pull hard.  Zero for seven.

Aargh heartbreak! Braid can be VERY unforgiving, especially with barbless hooks. No stretch to keep the hook in if there is any slack in the line. I got used to it fishing rockies so it didnt hurt as much when I made mistakes.

Sorry about your loss fish.  Hope you got better luck next time.  Thanks for the report Chris.

 Keep on trying, you're on the right track. Go get 'em !

It's an addicting feeling - congrats.   

salmon in a yak are a blast!

atleast you got the fight


Mike

Shit! Thats gotta hurt. Well Merry Christmas anyway. Its good to know that you can hook em' sometimes too. Craig

A few more times getting the thumb hot and you'll have a callus,  then look out fish!!!!!!!!

Kris,I can see you out there again on sat and sun .... Maybe I'll join you next time. David

Truly heart breaking but that is what will make you go back for more. Goodluck on
your next trip.

Jedmo