Peahead
Well-Known Member
After a slowish 3 hrs of fishing in afternoon on Sunday ( heard early flood before 1 pm was better) with only 3 hits, one good spring lost, a jack released and one 9 lb hatchery coho boxed, Monday was better.
I had 10 solid hook ups landing 4 plus at least 5 other hits that didn't hook up. Lost one around 20lbs after 45 min fight with Seal. Got seal and fish 10 feet from the boat and he dropped the fish at the surface but I just couldn't reel the dead fish fast enough. Now two seals, they swooped in instantly and it was over. Lost 5 other good hook ups but probably 3 of those were jacks ( and possible coho) and landed 3, one of which was a jack others small for cap chinook but respectable 14 and 11 lbs. The fish of the day was 1/2 of a double header and turned out to be a massive (chrome bright) wild coho. I almost s#it my pants when I saw this thing. The huge girth was amazing . It was an easy 18-19 lbs but I would not be surprised if it broke 20 lbs. I kept it and the net in the water when unhooking ...I got the stinger hook out of the bottom jaw but just then he thrashed and I felt the stinger hook go right through my finger and out the other side!...it was a "stinger" all right Treble still in the coho pulling on my hooked finger !! I managed to pop out the treble from the big hooked upper jaw of the fish and tailed it out of the net all while the stinger hook was through my finger and attached to the swinging flasher [:0]( looking after this wild coho was way more important !!) . I could barely lift this hog up out of the net! He bolted from my cradle instantly once lowered into the water again.... Thankfully the seals had already been fed a big old white spring. I pulled the hook out of my finger but amazingly it wasn't easy...even with barbless ( squeezed barb so a small bump is there) it took force to pull it out. Finger skin is tougher than you think !
Speaking of Wild Coho :
Just a reminder to all about the WILD SALMON RALLY - next Saturday 1pm at the Art Gallery.
I had 10 solid hook ups landing 4 plus at least 5 other hits that didn't hook up. Lost one around 20lbs after 45 min fight with Seal. Got seal and fish 10 feet from the boat and he dropped the fish at the surface but I just couldn't reel the dead fish fast enough. Now two seals, they swooped in instantly and it was over. Lost 5 other good hook ups but probably 3 of those were jacks ( and possible coho) and landed 3, one of which was a jack others small for cap chinook but respectable 14 and 11 lbs. The fish of the day was 1/2 of a double header and turned out to be a massive (chrome bright) wild coho. I almost s#it my pants when I saw this thing. The huge girth was amazing . It was an easy 18-19 lbs but I would not be surprised if it broke 20 lbs. I kept it and the net in the water when unhooking ...I got the stinger hook out of the bottom jaw but just then he thrashed and I felt the stinger hook go right through my finger and out the other side!...it was a "stinger" all right Treble still in the coho pulling on my hooked finger !! I managed to pop out the treble from the big hooked upper jaw of the fish and tailed it out of the net all while the stinger hook was through my finger and attached to the swinging flasher [:0]( looking after this wild coho was way more important !!) . I could barely lift this hog up out of the net! He bolted from my cradle instantly once lowered into the water again.... Thankfully the seals had already been fed a big old white spring. I pulled the hook out of my finger but amazingly it wasn't easy...even with barbless ( squeezed barb so a small bump is there) it took force to pull it out. Finger skin is tougher than you think !
Speaking of Wild Coho :
Just a reminder to all about the WILD SALMON RALLY - next Saturday 1pm at the Art Gallery.