GS9 - Super Long Report on Page 61 - NCKA Rules!

Fine looking crew there, Mike.  There's a lot of good people in NCKA - to know that good friends are lighting up the smiles over a couple beers a couple hundred miles away makes me smile too.  Good Times - see you guys soon.

i got a bullhorn if you need it Eric.

If you bring it I'll use it, Jack.  Thanks.   

I'm jacked up!!!  Look at that combo - light swell and almost no wind around Friday at midnight.  Tomorrow we get forecasts farther into Saturday, and as the next few days pass we'll see NWS/NOAA chime in. 

Get your self together.  Prepare for something epic, because it's going to be happening around you.

Now, let's talk about driving safely.  If you know someone who's coming for their first time please take a minute to reach out and encourage everyone to take it slow on the road.  Use low gears on the hills.  Don't underestimate sudden corners.  Pull over for locals.  Watch for idiot drivers coming around corners on the line...etc.

The excitement is building big time, and it's important to use that energy wisely.  Going to bed at night will get harder and harder over the next 5 days.  It's on!   

Next five days????  Hell I haven't slept for weeks just thinking about GS9!

B2Squid Horde.   

Sweet!

JTP69 needs to be adopted by a team. Anyone have room?

Today was the first good water at the Cove for almost two weeks.  I had the opportunity to get down there with a truckload of gear for the event that I'm storing at a friend's garage, so after I dropped that off by 630 or so I was off to the ramp for a salmon trolling session.  After this season started out strong with quite a few 15 pounders and a couple over 20 on opening day the bite has been tough at Shelter Cove, and the powerboat fleet has been pretty sparse in response. 

Today would be my seventh Cove trip since early April, with the previous six adding up to 86.5 miles for three fish and a shaker, and that's fine - I'm always thankful to be able to do what I'm doing.  I'm a stat guy, and the telling numbers to me regarding my trips this year was that I'd caught one fish each on my three trips without clients, and I'd caught no fish on three client trips, with one client fish.  I think that speaks to the fact that it can be harder to get someone else on a fish than to push hard and get one on my own.  It's also the case that the bite was really slow on my three client days with very few if any salmon caught by powerboats on those days.  It's been slow all around, with most fish since the opener being smaller grade and quite a few shakers.

Another sign that things are a bit off here on a weekend morning where it was flat for the first time in a while - I got to the ramp and prepped to launch with only one powerboater there, and that was my buddy who'd turned me on to garage space for my gear.  He got launched and I took my time, had a bowl of cereal and my bananas, and I launched just after 7 with just my buddy on the water other than some commies way outside.  The ocean was good, but it was just a bit unorganized from leftover slop after heavy winds just subsided yesterday.  The new thing today - as the ocean's so dynamic - was that the water from the moorings to the Bell and all the way out past the Whistle was dark brown like wood stain.  It was some kind of bloom from the upwelling, and that's a good thing because little things like krill will eat that, and other fish including salmon will eat krill.

I trolled the heavy brown bloom water that looked to have about 2' of viz, and I hoped it was "salmon water" - because you never know until you get a bite!  The only thing that was biting seemed to be the usual blacks, so soon I pulled my powerboat buddy up on the radio and we got together to troll out past the Whistle.  We finally found some greener and clearer water up north of the hotels and inside, so we worked the edge for a bit but nothing was doing.  Soon I saw another kayaker on the water, and as we got closer together I realized that it was Ed/Kayote.  We shared a warm greeting, and I was stoked to be in the company of a guy who I know to be an ace at the salmon game as well as a great all around kayaker and waterman.  We shared intell and trolled together as we BS'd - mostly about salmon trolling of course.   

We were doing circles and back and forths over some great marks in about 50' when finally I got picked up by what immediately felt like the real deal - lots of head shakes, and I could feel some strength behind them even though it didn't feel huge.  Got it heading toward me, lifted my rod high as I simultaneously turned on the vid and aimed it toward the netting-zone, and then continued horsing it toward me since it was allowing that.  Got it to the boat, confirmed it was a salmon and obviously legal, got the net out, expected the classic "screw you I'm outa here" reaction, but it didn't happen!  Got it in the net first try - then it got all agitated and basically de-scaled itself in the net.  (stat of the moment - 4 fish now in 100.5 miles trolling over 7 trips)

It was nice to get one in the bag - especially since, again, it was a slow day for the powerboats with a only a few fish announced, and those were several miles away.  Later one of the few powerboat fish on the radio was at 180 feet.  ON THE WIRE!!   

We were hopeful for more bites, and we did get a few potential strikes, but the morning ended with no more confirmed hookups.  As we trolled on into the early afternoon Ed and I hung close and enjoyed each other's company as we worked our spots and watched for signs around us.  The water did get nicer and the mild south and SE breeze died down to basically nothing.  It was a good day to be on the ocean with a good friend.  Either one of us could've gotten that fish, and the fact that the salmon game can be somewhat random was a big topic of our discussions today. 

Ed and I agreed on this:  if you put out a good offering, of which there are a huge variety that will work, and you get it down and move it at an appropriate speed - sometimes slow, sometimes faster - anyone can and will eventually get bit.  It's a numbers game, and everything you do to increase your odds will make you a "better" fisherman.  The biggest factor other than just having a good presentation is TIME.

Ed's on an extended pre-fishin' mission!  Camping out and living the life.  He bailed around 130, as I was doing one last lap at the Bell.  Good luck between now and next Thursday when I'll be back, Bro.   

Saw Pete/PineMtn as I approached the Bell - he had to work in the morning, so he was just getting on the water around 145 and had seen Ed and my buddy Terry at the ramp.  He gave me a yell, and we diverted toward each other for a greet-n-grin, visiting together for a bit before heading our separate ways.  On a different day I probably would've stayed and fished a couple more hours with my good bro Pete, but I've got important happenings coming up soon.  GS is on my mind all the time, and I'm determined to make it turn out as great as I can.  This report is a little part of that, so thanks for reading.

Thanks also for being a part of what I'm doing out there.  The guiding and the reporting here and a few other places on the web are a very special part of my life, and that's what I want to celebrate with everyone at the big gig next week.  Choosing to pursue challenge and adventure in the outdoors is an important part of all of our lives, and my intent this year with minimal promotion was to attract only those who know the vibe and who appreciate the energy.

I'm looking forward to seeing everybody soon.   

Really looking forward to fishing with you on Friday, Eric.  So many times I've been out fishing, not catching and wondering IF I am doing it all wrong or just that it's not a catching day.  This trip will teach me the skills, confirm and correct my technique and just maybe get rewarded with a bite. 
Hoping that the conditions are going to be good on Friday and Saturday!

Nice report! Was waiting to hear the latest at the Cove! Can't wait!

Nice report Eric. thanks anyone know how the crabbing will/should be this time of year at the cove?

The crabbing sux for males.   There is no shame in keeping big females cause they don't produce much if any after they reach a certain size.  1 male per a pot is what lots of commies have been getting.

my intent this year with minimal promotion was to attract only those who know the vibe and who appreciate the energy.

Dude! I'm so ready for this. Looking forward to seeing you brother and hopefully having a beer when you have time to breath 

Antonio, I have a cold one with your name on it at site 9 or 10.   Be sure and stop by.

Martin

Antonio, I have a cold one with your name on it at site 9 or 10.   Be sure and stop by.

Martin

Thanks Martin...I'll be hanging out right next to you with Luis in 11 

Antonio, I have a cold one with your name on it at site 9 or 10.   Be sure and stop by.

Martin

Good. I'll have a place to park. 

Thanks Martin...I'll be hanging out right next to you with Luis in 11 

Antonio, I have a cold one with your name on it at site 9 or 10.   Be sure and stop by.

Martin

Thanks Martin...I'll be hanging out right next to you with Luis in 11 

Good. I'll have a place to park. 

Global Mod doesn't even know how to use the quotes correctly......pathetic