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.