Salmon Fishing- It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over...

June 20, 2008


By Dermot Maty

Needless to say it has been a tough year to be a salmon and a tough year to be a salmon pursuer. With the crazy weather, cold water, low counts, and seasonal closures one is easily led to believe that there is no Salmon Fishing in Oregon this year.

But, that is just not true!

Don’t believe me? Well just ask Gary and Sharon of Columbia County what they think.

Gary and his better half spent last Saturday testing out some new sunglasses by starting at the brilliant chrome reflection off the two beautiful Spring Chinook salmon they had just caught!

That’s right Salmon fishing is still here!

The eager couple headed out into the Tillamook Bay last Saturday under the care of their guide, Russ Morrow who specializes in chasing our wily salmon in the rivers and coastal waters of the north coast of Oregon.

According to Gary, here is how the trip started……

“Turn of the tide was middle of the night so we bided our time as the bay emptied and a low slack of -.5' approached.

Sure enough, an hour before low slack my rod gets bit – ...bite, bite, munch, munch......paaaaauuuussssssseeee.... THERE he’s back...yank, yank yank – FISH ON!”

Then later in the day……

“Later with the tide flowing in strongly Russ picks a new spot to try...first pass and FISH ON, this time on Sharon’s rod:”

If you have ever caught a Chinook before then those words most likely plucked an familiar sting in your fisherman’s heart.

If you haven’t been so lucky then find a guide and find some lodging and start strumming your own strings!

These fish are just beautiful and we in Oregon are so thankful to have such wonderful resources available to us. (as you can tell from the smiles on Gary and Sharon’s faces)

Photos by Gary Kish

Before you head out on your fishing adventure, please visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for current licenses and regulations. Please also check out our Oregon Fish Story and Guides and Packers section, for help in locating a fishing guide.

add to del.icio.us | digg this

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Newsletter

Sign up for news:


Add to Technorati Favorites


Order your free Travel Oregon magazine

Travel Oregon features unique travel ideas and information that can inspire your own Oregon adventure. And it's free!