Sorry we missed you Spinner! Our site was the one with the tent trailer, Brian, Fish, and Fllyfishy were the next one on the right!
Jonnyhook and I arrived Friday around 1:30, set up and headed for one of my favorite areas. On the third or fourth cast with a 3" pink thumper on a 1/8 oz jig head, bobber down! This fish was a relatively bright, but skinny fish, around 10 lbs that came off after a half hearted leap and barrel roll. We worked our way down another 50 feet or so, and bobber-down again! This was a nice native buck around 13 lbs that took a wild leap and a run before I could get the rod to Jon. Jon pumped it in near the shore when it turned and shot out again with another wild leap! Jon's eyes looked like saucers and he leaned waaayyy back when this happened. I had the line in one hand and was positioning the fish for a photo when it rolled and the barbless jig head came loose. I could have jumped on the dude, but we were releasing him anyway, so we waved good-by! Here is Jon fighting him (Jon didn't feel very well all weekend, thus the heavy armor and neckwear!):
We made it to the bottom of this hole, and then turned and worked our way up around a corner to some other holes. Jon ended up lying down on the beach, and when I passed him he asked if we could be done for the day. I told him I'd fish behind a couple of big rocks and we'd go. First big rock, nothing, second big rock, no bobber! As soon as I set the hook this dude peeled line like there was no tomorrow! Down past Jonnyhook, then there went dad, running by Jonnyhook! He kegged up in a large hole and let me finally drag him in. This was one strong, fast, nasty fish! After we got him to the shore, we seen this was true in more ways than one! His dorsal was nearly gone, and his mouth was a mess! None of this was fresh, so he must have grown up this way! Man, the nicknames this dude must have had in junior high! He measured out at 33 1/2 long, 16 girth. Here is a shot of both of us, similar faces, but you'll notice I'm smiling!
Here is a close-up of the mouth. The entire jaw was there, but it was turned at an angle, like clasping your hands holding a grasshopper is a good visual.
Fishcaddie and his son Shane joined us later that evening, and we hung around Brian's fire, it was a nice time! Saturday morning we left not real early, but obviously before 8:30, SF! We walked in to a different hole and there wasn't much happening. I caught an old hatchery fish about 8 lbs that didn't fight well until she saw Bruce. Some of those college girls used to do that as I recall! After a break in the metropolis of Forks, we hit the hole from Friday night and it was very slow also! I made sure Bruce had first water, since I had all the action so far, but he didn't scratch up anything. I managed to hook the worlds smallest clipped steelhead on a FirstCast jig. This little buck couldn't have weighed 2 lbs! No the 2 is not a misprint. I didn't take the time to measure, but my guess is 18-19 inches long, and a missing adipose!
Brian hung at our fire this night at all his other buddies were weary of the cold and slow conditions! We left Jonnyhook in bed this morning (Sunday), and just fished from the camp (with Brian!). I watched the master like a hawk! Yep, we both got skunked! I did learn a lot about fishing spoons and reading water and it was enjoyable fishing together! When we got back to camp, Jon was up and I snapped this photo of "Jonnyhook and the Man".
Looking forward to getting out there again next month! Brian I really enjoyed our time together, Fish, it was nice to see you again, Dean, it was nice meeting you, and Cal, it was nice meeting you as well (sounds like you need a better sleeping bag)
Jeff
