Yep I got tail wiped by a fish this weekend. Went looking for some silvers but when I got to the river all I saw was chum’s. Knowing 10lb line was a little light for chum I decided to fish anyway. I saw a nice little spot right next to the bank that looked really good but there was one guy fishing there. I watched for a little and noticed he was fishing the middle of the river so I asked if he mined if I fish here next to the bank. Then he gave me one of those looks as if I’m stupid or something and said go get them and laughed at me. I made my first cast of about ten feet (just past the point where I couldn’t see bottom) my lead made one tick and it was fish on for me and my turn to laugh. I continued to catch four more chums in the next hour “what a blast”! Then I hooked into the fish that put an end to my day. At first I thought I foul hooked a log or something this thing was just going down river. Then it stopped and started shaking its head so bad that it left my arms shaking. This fish was crazy it was all over the river doing jumps and flips and giving everyone the fin. After 15 min this fish didn’t slow down at all. Then it went out to the heavy current and took off down river. I knew then it was all over for me. I tried a few different techniques trying to get this fish to turn nothing worked it just took all my line and then there was the big snap of my line breaking. This fish had the markings of a silver but was just too big to be a silver. All in all I had a blast.

Hey Hairball, that sounds too much like what happened to me years ago on the Puyallup River. Those Humpys fight like the ****ens. That day it didn't matter what you threw at them they just slammed it.

Any comment from the other guy there?..*L*

what river?

I made the same mistake on Friday Hairball,I was low on line so I took the 20 off and respooled with 12 thinking I'll be targeting silvers,well I should have told that to the Kings I encountered...it was a bad case of woop-ass ,as soon as I got home I put the 20 back on too late for the 2 bruts I lost ...Oh well fish happends

------------------
Row Quietly and fish a Cataraft }<<(('>----<'))>>{
Release all Wild Fish

Thats why you carry 2 reels!, for me its a spinning reel with 10# and a baitcaster with 12# on it, and I may buy another with a 20# capability soon.

------------------
PETA = People eating tasty animals!

Charles

Schitzo I was fishing the skykomish and surprised to see that many chums in there already even black ones.

Heck I went looking for chums/silvers and missed them but ended up with a 4 lbs hatchery steelie.

I always carry a spare spool for my reels when I am out fishing. That way it only takes a few seconds to adapt to conditions and fish at any given moment. Considering the price of reels spare spools are the way to go!

Here's my chum story; Some years back my son, his friend and I hit the Nisqually. The friend hit a nice buck (over 15)and what a fight! It too nearly spooled him but he ended up winning out. Once up on the bank it was picture time. Great shot, early morning - the river - my son & his friend and this big old dog......when all of a sudden the fish gave one last kick and ended up right back in the river - breaking off the leader and all! Man those kids were sick....until about a 1/2 hr later when my son hit another nice fish, but not quite the fight. It turns out to be the same fish,leader and all! Well, as you guessed, before pictures this 'ol fish got a big wack or two on the 'ol noggin! Kids....nothin like takin a kid fishin

I once read an article on a way to stop a fish thats freight-training downstream. What you do is point your rod at 45 degree angle across and downstream, while maintaining pressure on the fish, then you stick the front 1/2 or so of your rod into the water(still maintaining pressure).

Now supposedly this technique will cause the fish to stop moving and comeback to you as you pull him up, much like a puppy on a chain. I guess the reason for thish is that the waters movement on the line cofuses the fish or something?

Never had the opportunity to try this, but read about it in I think STS a couple of years ago. Anyone used this technique or remember the article?

Fun Fishing
Josh

Hey screaminreelron, --- Glad you got your gear back. You were catching done for dogs. They ain't got much fight left once they are holding in their spawing ground. When you finally hook a hot one you'll be impressed.

FLYGUY, --- It doesn't matter what angle you hold your rod. As long as you put pressure on them they'll head the other way. If you can get below them they'll head up river.

If you free spool your line, I mean give them total slack, they will sometimes quit running and get back in the migrating upstream mode.

If you've got strong enough line you can often yank hard enough to point them upstream when they jump.

For the most part it is simply a tug of war and the stronger player wins.

Strong line rules for bank fishermen. - Plunker

I remember reading about it and I've tried it with a king salmon on my 7wt fly rod and he had me way into the end of my backing going downstream,so I had no choice but to grab onto the spool and snap my 6LB tippet; lots of fun though while it lasted. That techinque works, but not always as in this case with this king salmon.

Flyguy, I have used that rod dipping technique on fish running downriver and it worked great. It was like someone put on the brakes. I guess it won't always work but it is worth a try if you're losing a fish.

Been there done that lost...the fish someone forgot to tell the fish
A partner of mine swears by opening the bail or spool and releasing pressure on the fish,he refered to this as leading someone around genty by the lip as compared to pulling too hard and causing pain
If you have room to try this it might work ...we'll see

------------------
Row Quietly and fish a Cataraft }<<(('>----<'))>>{
Release all Wild Fish

i was wondering if anyone knows if there will b3e any season for chums on the nisqually/ green rivers? and what time do they start running and would also want info when the steelies on the puyallupwill be running, it seems i allways miss out on these runs...thanks for any info..**schitzo**

The chum are starting to stack up in the lower duwamish right now one good rain and they'll be in pretty heavy.

Tight lines

Kevin

Scitzo,
Yes there is a season for Chums on the Nisqually, it is open through the ens of January. They show around the end of November and the main part of the run is in mid to late December. Two years ago it was a HUGE run and last year it was so small that they closed it down early!!! Have'nt heard what this year is supposed to be like. I'm just wondering if the river will ever clear up!!! It has been a mud bowl for the past three weeks and does'nt show any signs of getting better.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff