Thanks Hunt WA! Got my first Salmon! Updated 8/22

[shadowless_nite]

I've lived here since the late 90s and never have caught a salmon. Thanks to all the advice posted on here about fishing for pinks I decided to give I a go! I know I know.... there are a million better fisheries near Vancouver etc etc. But honestly my skill level is virtually rock bottom when it comes to salmon and this seemed easy enough and was very encouraging to me and the wife when we first got here and seen people landing fish! I caught 2 and lost a few and unfortunately the wife lost one and had to give up due to her carpal tunnel bothering her wrists. I'd say it was worth the 2hr drive to catch my first salmon, get the wife in waders in the water trying to catch a fish and just the experience in general is definitely something to see!

THANKS EVERYONE ON HERE FO THE GUIDANCE!





Still need to get a good feel of what is a bite and what is the jig bouncing around, I need a better pole ( in an affordable non avid salmon fisherman price range), and bring a net next time.

[chester]

Looks like you had a fun trip.


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[Lucky1]

 
Sweet. Good job!

[bearpaw]

That's great, congrats! 

[Blacklab]

First of many

[wadu1]

Well done 

[Fl0und3rz]

Nice! How about comments on your tackle for other noobs?

[NW-GSP]

Congrats! You need to print those pictures and frame them.

[shadowless_nite]

Nice! How about comments on your tackle for other noobs?

I was using pink jig head with hoochie skirt and one of those marabou jigs as well with a about a 3ft leader and some small weights clipped on the swivel. Unfortunately neither pole I had was ideal but my smaller more responsive trout pole did the job compared to my bigger rod meant for casting into the columbia. But it's all I had at the moment to work with, I'll come better prepared next weekend! But for the most part I pretty much followed the advice posted in the link found in the "Puyallup pinks" thread on here.

[Okanagan]

shadowless_nite,
Thanks for the most enjoyable post I've seen in ages!  Straight and true and infectiously fun, it makes me grin.  Catch a bunch more!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Good work!

[dmv9]

Good job!!!!

[Ripper]

Good job!  Now you are hooked for life. For me this is what this forum is all about, helping each other be successful in the field. I'm looking forward to more posts from you in the near future.

[shadowless_nite]

Good job!  Now you are hooked for life. For me this is what this forum is all about, helping each other be successful in the field. I'm looking forward to more posts from you in the near future.

Yes, hooked for life now. Gonna go look at a more appropriate rod for salmon and steelhead fishing. And this site has been an immense help. I've always wanted to get into salmon fishing but all my friends that do usually have a schedule that never matches up and every time I've gone it's been slow and unsuccessful. With this site and links to all the articles and comments from real people not random Internet blogs and random reviews comments etc it really helped a lot and I definitely couldn't have done it without!

Thanks again everyone for the comments and encouragement!

[BABackcountryBwhntr]

Nice! You should fish Astoria w me on the 25th. I'll show you what fun a 20 plus lb king can be.

[GUscottie]

Congrats on catching some pinks. I love fishing for salmon and am going out tomorrow morning and probably (if the wife doesn't kill me) out Wed and Thurs as well for some Puyallup Pinks.

[Smokepole]

Nice job shadow.  Man, that water looks pretty milky, but still you scored some fish.  Way to go! 

[shadowless_nite]

Nice! You should fish Astoria w me on the 25th. I'll show you what fun a 20 plus lb king can be.

Man that sounds like a load of fun! If I didn't already set my vacation days to archery elk season next month I would totally take a day off and take you up on that offer! A friend of mine told me they're doing really well right now off the jetty at cape disappointment! If I didn't already plan to go up north this weekend I would be out there instead

[JJB11B]

Berkely IM8 8'6" rods go on sale for $70 at Bi mart fairly often

[DoubleJ]

I'll be at Clark's Creek at some point later this week.  There's a talented boy who plays soccer here in Shelton that is getting an opportunity to play big time soccer at Washington Premier in Puyallup.  After seeing the fish I saw today, I plan on dropping him off at the fields and hitting the creek and hoping to catch my first river salmon

[gotshot]

Great job.

[shadowless_nite]

Came up for a weekend of fishing,  only to limit out in less than 2 hours.  Me and a buddy caught both of limits and only for snagged up once and lost my jig. The new rod and gear definitely helped big time! Made it to breakfast before 10pm and went back for another round to get the wife on some fish. Decided to check the fruits and hole since my kids would be with me and that was a total joke. Went back to the same spot as the morning and she lost one but shortly after she was able to land her very first salmon today and I don't know who was happier her or me,  her dad will definitely be kicking himself in the butt for not coming up with us to see it.

I also managed to get some go pro video so I'll have to figure out  how to post it.

Me and my limit! There was no way I was going to throw back a legal fish after driving 2 hours. However I will be more picky tomorrow....



 My buddy with a nicer one he finished on. 

 

And my wife with her first which was better than most of mine!



Round 3 tomorrow! Hoping for all of us limit out!

[Smokepole]

Way to get'r done Shadow!  You been smoking your salmon?  One tip:  if you can figure a way to bring a small cooler with crushed ice down to your secret spot, them salmon will be a lot fresher when you get home.  Way to go getting your buddy & your wife into the action!   

[shadowless_nite]

Way to get'r done Shadow!  You been smoking your salmon?  One tip:  if you can figure a way to bring a small cooler with crushed ice down to your secret spot, them salmon will be a lot fresher when you get home.  Way to go getting your buddy & your wife into the action!   

Truck was parked right above the spot we were in and ready with ice. I let the fish live on the stringer then clean them up right before we take off. Have yet to smoke any. I think after this weekend I'll have enough to smoke a good batch!

[Smokepole]

Awesome.  Those will smoke up great. 

[TheHunt]

I'll be at Clark's Creek at some point later this week.  There's a talented boy who plays soccer here in Shelton that is getting an opportunity to play big time soccer at Washington Premier in Puyallup.  After seeing the fish I saw today, I plan on dropping him off at the fields and hitting the creek and hoping to catch my first river salmon

Just park at the soccer fields and cross the river and fish there.  Lots of people but you can also move away from them as well. 

[shadowless_nite]

I'll be at Clark's Creek at some point later this week.  There's a talented boy who plays soccer here in Shelton that is getting an opportunity to play big time soccer at Washington Premier in Puyallup.  After seeing the fish I saw today, I plan on dropping him off at the fields and hitting the creek and hoping to catch my first river salmon

Just park at the soccer fields and cross the river and fish there.  Lots of people but you can also move away from them as well.

Went over to the fruit stand hole there and I figured it would be a decent spot my kids could hang out while I tried to get my wife on fish. That place ended up being a joke. Garbage everywhere, lines tangled all over, stunk like rotting fish from people gutting up fish on the bank and just leaving the piles to rot with their trash. We gave it a go for about 1hr with no luck and getting snagged up or lines crossed and said screw that. Went back to our other spot we found and she got her first salmon ever as well with way less hassle to put up with. Luckily my buddy was with us to keep my kids occupied while my wife and I were fishing.