My folks were in town for a week and helped get the place cleaned up a bit. Last Wednesday, took my dad down to the Umpqua for salmon fishing and crabbing. We launched at Salmon harbor and went out to the jaws for the high tide. I was thinking about going to Reedsport but we wanted crab as well. About 2 minutes after getting our gear out my dad's rod buries and line is going out like crazy... FISH ON DAD!!!
He's getting on in years and can't get around too well, so I grab the rod and give it to him. I could tell it was a big nook and was worried he wouldn't be able to manage it.
One big run perpendicular to the boat, dad handles it well and brings it back. Still out of net shot.
Fish runs again, this time between another boat and their bait. I was thinking we're screwed the fish is going to get tangled in their stuff. Expected F bombs about fishing too close to the other boat, but they were super cool and reeled their gear in for us. We're good to go. We were getting pushed by the current into the South jetty rocks and the other boat said watch out for the rocks. THANKS! I got back on the kicker and got us out to the main channel.
Fish comes around and makes a turn around the boat, worried about cutting him off with the prop, but it's fine.
Dad is getting old and can't stand up in the swells, so he stays seated but the leader/flasher/bumper/rod is like 16 feet or more and the fish is staying well away from my boat. No prob, I pull out the extension handle on the net and hold it under the fish, dad drops the rod like a pro and the big nook is in the net bag!
One of my happiest moments getting the old man into a salt nook in my sled.
Messed around with untangling the fish and net, getting it tagged, and finally get it weighed and a pic. I was hoping for anything but I really wanted dad to get a 30+ since they are special.
The buck went 35" and 32#.
Good times with the man that got me into fishing in MN for bass and walleye and in the great lakes for salmon.
Payback time was awesome!
We didn't stop there even though I was entirely satisfied with the day already. We went outside the bar and landed two silvers and lost one other salmon (nook or silver I don't know). One of the silvers was huge like 15# or more? Fog rolled in and we hauled ass back into the bay with the rest of the fleet to get our 3 crab traps. Picked the biggest 12 crabs and met mom at the launch for the drive back to the EUG.
Life is good in OR.
nice fish so far guys! Making me drool and jealous ha ha
