lil' boat, big water, nice fish....

[L.W. Baxter]

I thought I would share some pictures of a trip the Boy and I took a couple weeks ago...down to the Columbia estuary for salmon, with the Swampscott dory we launched this spring...

But first, a word about safety... just so nobody chews me out... we went on the flood tide, stayed within short running distance of the mouth of the Skipanon River where we launched, watched the water and other boats diligently, and enjoyed a very calm and quiet morning... until after three hours of no bites, the Boy and I got a double hookup, and the best kind of mayhem ensued!....

Launching at first light...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid140/pfd5da946f9d641b5ea39d7f4e6d04d06/f6ee8a1e.jpg

Waking up...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid140/p5746b0854804c47b8ded050d57d01705/f6ee89e9.jpg

View of Astoria over the transom...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid140/pc770789d96ac958e975aef3541951355/f6ee89b3.jpg

Passing ship provoked some "shock and awe."

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid140/pa23e0c8aadb3d17445271cc775e8e085/f6ee8903.jpg

The Boy wrestles up a ~6 pound Coho!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid140/pf90b42a0f422160134024a6f268e22ca/f6ee8931.jpg

His first salmon, and a nice one!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid140/p7dc74067c0b1a9051dd27cc6b8383710/f6ee897a.jpg

--Lee

[martin schulz]

smile.gif

[htom]

Wow! What an wonder-filled experience for both of you.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Thanks for the post. Put a smile on my face ;)

[TimH]

The kid could have been bitten by that fish....shame shame..... :eek:

:D

[Donn]

Looks like the kid has been bitten.

[AngWood]

Triffick!

[martin schulz]

Originally posted by TimH:
The kid could have been bitten by that fish...I thought the Kid was the bait ;)

[Figment]

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!!!

:D

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

I love this place THANKS :D

[Bob Smalser]

Neat...

...and a nice Silver, too.

Amazing that they get that big in just a couple years at sea.

Bring him over some Nov-Dec and we'll walk the spawning streams and beaver pond nurseries where they spend their first year. Coho climb further in shorter distances than any other local salmon and are commonly found as high as 500' within the span of a few miles from the estuary.

[Tom M.]

:D :D

[Dave Williams]

Now that's how to bring a boy up to be a good man.

Good on you two!

[Big Red]

MMMM, Dinner :D

[L.W. Baxter]

Well, I'm glad folks appreciate a good day when they see one!

The Girl and I went earlier in mid-august, with similar successful results, but a dead camera battery... AArrgh! We saw some fantastic things, including a sea lion thrashing a fresh-killed salmon on the surface of the water just yards from our boat, (a touch unnerving, truth be told), with the seagulls divebombing the scraps every time he submerged, and scattering in a confusion of feathers at every explosive breaching!

Then my daughter caught her fish, an 18" coho, and the day was complete.

I was disconsolate about the camera, but the Girl shrugged it off. "I was there , Daddy. I saw it."

Indeed.

But the next time, I charged the #@*% battery before we left!

--Lee

[L.W. Baxter]

By the way, thanks for the offer, Bob S. We made a (too quick) run up your direction for the WB Fest on the 11th. Stopped to look for fish at some stream crossings, but the water was all muddied from the big storm. We camped just across from you, at Seal Rock. Neat campground, kind of spooky there with the rain dripping off the big trees...

Anyway, though pressed for time, we had to run up. As you may recall, I'm building a 26' Bartender (most of the frames assembled!), and there were a couple nice examples available for close inspection at the show.

As the Boy said toward the end of our fishing trip, "we need a boat we can stand up in." So, we're working on that.

[imported_Daniel]

Lee, cant think of a better way to spend a morning! :D

[Venchka]

Brings back fond memories of the best morning fishing dad & I ever had. And a tear. Thanks.

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[Hal Forsen]

I feel the same way....
HF

[stevenj]

awesome! great fishin' buddy you got there! smile.gif