It's Coho Time!
While I usually get out once or twice and try my hand for fall chinook, I typically find myself putting a little more time into fishing for coho when they show up before turning back to my beloved bass. I am not a fan of the ramp traffic, tight trolling lanes, and all the rest of it, but at the end of the day I am a Pacific Northwest boy, after all. I haven't gone out for Fall chinook at all this year, but the rumors of another strong (record-breaking???) coho run has gotten me a little more excited than usual. After bass, they are far and away my favorite fish to pursue.
After a gorgeous day this week floating the Clackamas with my brother and suffering through an obnoxiously large number of coho showing themselves and mouthing our bait without a single committed take, they had officially hooked me for the season.
So, naturally, I started paying closer attention. I had that Friday off, which meant the odds of a slightly less busy fishery were good if I chose the right spot. The coho numbers were looking equally as promising over the last few days, so it was a done deal. I had the spot in mind, and plans were solidified.
I was early enough to be the only boat at the ramp, but not for long (a paddleboarder actually "launched" before I did...). Others clearly had the same gameplan and before long I was joined by another 6 or 7 boats. Yet everyone was pretty friendly and seemed to know what they were doing. After dialing in my gear, speed and depth, I started exploring a bit further away from my typically trolling pattern. Twice my gear stopped the telltale pulsation that lets you know all is well, and bait checks uncovered the culprits: a tiny smallmouth and a perch. :/
And then about halfway through my troll downriver, I had a real takedown. My first coho of the season! A nice, bright 22" specimen that alone made the effort worth it.
My immediate thought was that I would fish back up to my original trolling area, then switch over to bass for a little bit before getting off the water before the heavy traffic and uncharacteristic heat. Right as I approached the fishing dock, another takedown.
This one was a real salmon. It was a bear to land alone, and I'm sure it looked both telling and hilarious to bystanders watching me try to get this fish in the boat alone--it had to be obvious that I don't do it too often!
And after that tiring experience and successful morning, I decided to get home and take care of these fish instead of switching over to bass. It's in the pictures, but for those wondering: 8 oz. of weight, all chrome 360 flasher, and a pink 2.5 SpinFish at about 20 feet did the trick. I also have tried not to give away too much info about the location, but before anyone brings it up: retention of wild fish is allowed where I was fishing. :) Good luck and get at it, everyone!