Hey Sky-Guy...I caught your comment, "River fishing has more soul to it, more finess, and much more of a reward. If you fish the rivers on the right days after good autumn rains, you will get fresh fish that have just shot op the river, kinda like knowing when the good powder is going to fall and snowboarding the next day. I think I will start a new topic on this one...see main board," and I couldn't agree with you more. I couldn't find where you started a new topic about it though...so I thought I'd jump in.

Here's my feelings on the subject:

Hooked on Salmon

I love this time of year. Summer’s lush, green growth transforms into autumn’s multi-colored grand finale. A cool breeze carries red and yellow leaves that drift lazily down to the riverbank, awakening an instinct deep within me. I will add another season’s memories to my treasure chest. Autumn in Washington, for me, means river fishing for salmon!

The Trip

November’s sun-drenched, early morning fall colors dancing slowly in a barely perceptible breeze are the backdrop for my day on the Satsop River, west of Olympia. My favorite spot on the river is the middle of a lazy s-curve where a deep, powerful, backward swirling pool makes a good holding spot for salmon. While fishing alongside the river for two hours since daybreak, I have already counted several twenty pound-plus fish slowly breaking the surface of the clear, yet still darkly shaded water.

Experiencing one of those moments that everyone occasionally has, I realize everything is falling into place. The excitement rushes over me, because I know the action will soon begin.

Tightening my grip on the rod and reel, I cast to the same “sweet spot” I have aimed at all morning. Concentrating now, I watch the tip of the rod keep rhythmic track as the bait moves down river; I feel the weight bounce-bounce-bounce along the cobbled river-rock bottom. Hardly noticeable, the tip of the rod moves slightly downward and abandons its rhythm. Responding, I quickly lift the rod just a little, and the heavy surging resistance confirms my suspicion of a bite. Pulling back hard on the pole I firmly set the hook into a twenty-two-pound king salmon that immediately responds with a defiant headshake. Like a lassoed bull gone berserk, the big king begins a series of violent, powerful maneuvers ending in a final headlong one-hundred-yard run down river. By keeping the line tight while running down the riverbank, I manage to catch up to the played out salmon, leaving me short of breath and with shaking hands from the rush of adrenaline. Steadily, I maneuver the big “dime-bright” buck into slower moving shallow water, and finally, I pull him onto the bank.

Some people have numerous worldly possessions; I have all my wonderful memories of days spent on the river. Who is happier or wealthier I am not sure; however when I die—my treasure will travel with me.

[This message has been edited by SteelyBob (edited 09-24-2000).]

Well done Bob, first rate, really.

Nice bit of writing - felt like I was up on the bank watching it all happen!

SteelyBob,

Well put indeed. I meant to make a similar comment, but wouldnt have topped yours.

As a 28 year old that has been fishing for his entire life, I always rememeber my days on rivers from years back when I was a kid in much better detail than days on the salt. My Dad always took My brother and I fishing on weekends, and up on the river is where I was taught to fish with a pole that was three times my size ( still have it.)In retrospect, I always have loved those days in the mountains much more versus days out on the sound.

From a fishing perspective, I enjoy River fishing more than saltwater for many reasons. To begin with, the surroundings. Fishing has always ben a great escape for me and when on a river it immeadiately allows me to forget abut the rest of the world. We are all blessed to live in this great state, a I am sure many of you can easliy relate. Out on the saltwater it is beautiful as well, all the areas I've fished...the sound, San Juans, and Straits are beautiful, but it just doesnt beat your favorite river fishing spot, whether the fishing is good or bad.
The fishing does require more skill. Period. Depending on your target, there are many many ways to catch a fish under the various conditions that can exist. From drift fishing to plugging or spinning,from a boat or from the shore... accurate casting to the perfect part of the water with a flyrod...it all adds up to a much more spiritual experience for me.

Dont get me wrong, I am not knocking fishing the salt....I will be doing both as long as I live, but if ever given the choice, I choose the river. The saltwater for me is to only get my "fish on," if you will, when the river isnt in shape.

Well, to each his own, what are your thoughts?

Sky-Guy.

well sky-guy i may be one of the oddballs who prefer the salt. don't get me wrong, i love river fishing and the feel of the current tugging at my legs, but my love is the saltwater.

whether fishing the shallow shorelines inside puget sound or sitting 5-6 miles offshore in the pacific i can't think of a finer experience. maybe it's the sheer expanse of the water and the feeling of smallness among all of it. is river fishing more difficult, probably... but it's kind of comparing apples to oranges, especially for salmon. if the salmon were actively feeding in the rivers i'm sure the fishing would be much easier.

i think part of the saltwater thrill for me are the sights one doesn't often see on land. of course, the marine mammals such as whales, porpoises, sea otters, seals, and sea-lions are obvious. but the large number of birds are something i haven't seen on land. whether it's watching the cormerants, murres, and puffins chasing bait and the ever-present gulls flocking overhead. the gulls on the rocky islands they roost in all taking flight simutaniously when a bald eagle flies overhead. watching herring, candlefish, or krill being ravaged by feeding salmon and rockfish is another great sight. the beautiful sunrises and sunsets over a broad expanse of water. feeling blind in the everpresent summer fog banks. the gentle rocking of the boat by ocean swells. wondering how something as wierd looking as a sunfish can actually swim *g*

and then of course there's the actual fishing. the diversity of species and interests. whether it's lingcod, rockfish, halibut, cabezon, greenling, salmon, sea-run cutts... you never know what you might hook along the shorelines. the trigger for these fish is simple, hunger. as with river fishing, there's a diversity of techniques that all work. whether it's mooching, jigging, trolling, or fly-fishing. plus, nothing beats the taste of saltwater fare, imo.

and besides some of the terminal fisheries for salmon like hoodsport, us saltwater guys don't have to deal with snaggers *g*.

great topic guys, just thinking about why i prefer one over the other brings back such great memories of both fresh and saltwater fishing experiences.

cb

To all my saltwater fisherman friends...I didn't mean to belittle big water fishing by any means, I was just expressing my passion for river fishing. I fish every year in the sound with my sled (I HATE SALTWATER CLEANUP THOUGH!), primarily at the Pt. Defiance Zoo (pun intended as I weave through the masses of boats and dodge the boats that have fallen off their trailers laying on the launch ramp) and always do well with my flasher and hoochie. With out a doubt Puget Sound and the Ocean in general are awe inspiring and the power they wield can put the fear of God into any soul. The salt air and the views of the Olympics from Hood Canal are hard to beat. Thirty years ago my dad took me out to Westport several times for salmon fishing on charters and I'll never forget the impression that vast expanse of water left on me (when I wasn't hanging on to the toilet yelling BUICK!), which is why I pretty much just appreciate those offshore waters from the beach these days. Anyway, I'm glad we all have our passions and that we find joy and solace in the natural world around us.

It's the perfect time of year, and the perfect time of tide, and pilot whales have porpoised in your wake all the way to your favorite mooching spot. Just before you cut the motor, you notice a school of herring on the screen, right under you. You reach for your herring jig rod, and send those little gold hooks down , right on the edge of the tide rip.Woosh, what was that off the starboard? A big gray and her calf, have just blown, and gone back down. I sure hope she breaches. You bring your jig up, and it is filled with 6 inch beauties, nothing like a few livies to start the day. Suddenly just in front of you, gulls are coming in from all over, and diving birds are surfacing everywhere, with their beaks stuffed with herring, and you realize with a smile that you are drifting directly into a big newly forming herring ball. Quickly you bait up and slowly send your offering towards the bottom. Nothing, a little more line, nothing, suddenly at about 90 ft., you can't feel your lead anymore- reel-reel-reel, there he is! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, just as the first beams of morning sunlight start peeking over the mountains.

[This message has been edited by DanO (edited 09-25-2000).]

DanO...excellent story...I could hear the cackle of the terns and gulls as you reeled in on that big one!
Seems like we've got a few good stories going here...who's next?

Rivers inlet B.C Just got off the float plane.. stowed my gear and had a great meal of beef stroganoff.. Rush to the boats for my first salt water salmon fishing experiance. The sun is starting to drop and the rose colored sky is beautyfull. A light swell is coming in and the boat rocks in rythem with the waves. Its the perfect place at the perfect time. I am impressed, I am jacked, I am HERE !!! Looking down at the bait box filled with nice firm herring I get on odd feeling.. I look up at my buddy and it hits me like a freight train.. And I know without a doubt that in the next 5 seconds I am gonna PUKE.. Beef stroganoff becomes beef castaway with such power that it could have been measured in cfs much like a river flow.. again and again I chunder as if there was no end. Tears roll down my face as I beg to be taken back to the lodge ( or hit me in the head with the fish club and kill me) A 12 lb silver slams my herring.. I want to be happy.. I want to enjoy this.. I want to die.

Each morning at the morning wake up call I find taped to my door a small letter with drugs inside that do take care of the problem but render me a sleeping dozing mess...

Give me a great slot of holding water with the rythmic dipping of the oars as the plugs work in the sweet spot.. Rivers for me guys, thats the way it has to be.

B-RUN STEELY...unbelievable, I just read your story to my family and we're all rolling around on the floor laughing. I'm in your same boat...no sea legs on this fisherman. Have a great fall river season!