It's still a thrill, like the first time.

    Man what a fish, I've never had a fish leap like that one did and still stay on the line. It was a great fight when my brother was pitted against his second Chinook Salmon of the morning. From the minute it was hooked, it was a thrill. A thing of beauty exiting and entering the water with a loud slap. It was like a bucking bronco twisting and pulling to get free of the tether that held him. Three times we saw this monster of a fish clear the water and shake the fly rod violently.
    When she could not expel the hook, she began to scream line down the river. Taking more and more line against the tight drag of the reel. She pulled as Marvin followed downstream. Then she turned and swam up stream as Marvin reeled in the slack line. Dashing downstream again it looked like she would never tire. The tension of a twelve pound fish on 6 lb. test in strong current was not what I was thinking when I asked Marvin start reeling in.... and then she was gone. That's the way it is with Salmon fishing, you always remember the first one that got away.

Marvin hooked up one earlier and it also broke the 6 lb. leader. It's a challenge using lighter line than the fish you expect to catch. It was fun landing this one on light tackle.

I hooked up with another Chinook in the afternoon. It also spit the hook. I saw eight fisherman and only four other fish caught. The sun was out most of the day and the water was still lower than I like but clear and free of leaves. A great day to remember.

Thumbs Up for My Fishing Partner.

     October 7th was so nice, I was blessed with a chance to go fishing again. Kim and I took the truck up to the closest tributary near our house. It was about thirty minutes away, and we had to stop and get her a new fishing license. So it was around one o'clock in the afternoon by the time we splashed our split shot and line in the water. I had rigged Kim's fly rod up for salmon. I set mine up for small browns, and was not expecting to land a 10 lb. salmon on 4 lb. test. After searching the water I spied a large brown resting on the bottom of a deep pool. I tried two different wet flies without success. Then tried a small egg sack. Smaller rainbows started attacking it, which must have generated the Browns interest. A few more cast and he took the bait. I handed the rod to Kim and she calmly brought it to shore while I took some photos. Yup, a good picture of a brown trout and thumbs up to my partner.

                                             

Kim kept fishing in that area and caught two more small rainbow trout. We then walked down stream and came upon a female Chinook salmon. I used Kim's fly rod and hooked it. I then handed the rod back to Kim and she landed and released this one also. We fished a little while longer. Kim worked on her drifting technique and I caught two more eight inch rainbows in fast moving current.

                                         

We talked with other fishermen who were not so lucky. It was a good day to be out with my wife on a fall afternoon in the park.

2014 Salmon run

The 2014 Salmon season has officially arrived here in Rochester, NY.  September was one of the warmest and rainless months all year. The water had been very low the last few weeks, but that did not stop the annual fish migration. I've been hearing stories of many salmon in the Genesee River.  Although I do not fish this river, it means the smaller tribs will begin their salmon run. 

With the beginning of October upon us, I found time to show Nate where he could hook up with a fish or two. It was early Friday morning when we got into the stream. No waders were required as the water was still a bit warm. We walked down stream fishing each small hole as we went. Nate pulled out a few small rainbows as I watched for rising trout. I was geared up for salmon in case we came upon any. I was not having much success. We reached the last good spot and Nate picked out a 6 inch fingerling. I figured it was time to find another location. We back tracked and I stopped to fish a hole I had passed up earlier. Nothing came of it until Nate spotted movement up stream. I could not believe it. We had already covered this area and saw nothing earlier. But there they were... three Kings were driving through the low water. When they settled in along the far shore we had our opportunity. We both felt the adrenaline pumping just waiting for the inevitable. Nate hooked up for the first time and landed a male King Salmon. I took some phone pics as we admired his catch. It was a good day of fishing.

Now with the weekend rain and night temperatures down into the 30's, cold water will rise in the creeks. These inland creeks feed the Lake Ontario tributaries we all love to fish.