Salmon, Broads & Beer

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stevedallas28 writes “fished all day in area 8-2 around elger bay. Lots of bait and lots of shakers. 1 fish “almost legal” nice day on the water but where are all the bigger fish? Good luck”

Qcove writes “We just returned from a fishing trip to Canada fishing the Johnstone Straights, we used Jim’s Break-A-Way flasher we purchased at the Outdoor Emporium & it is everything they said it was. You can truely fight the fish not the flasher.”

I received this e-mail from a friend and regular SBB reader, Charles Hampton. Fishing the Gulf backwaters of his native Texas a couple weeks ago, he came away not only with a big stringer of red drum and speckled trout, but also a storm story that blew me away. Enjoy!

– ed

READ MORE to hear my friend’s story about fishing, drinking … and survival …

Storm Story

- by Charles Hampton

Fished with a friend of mine I have known all my life (Intel officer in the Air Force). He is heading to Iraq next month and invited me down for the week to do nothing but fish.

You’ll like this: We only fished Baffin for about 4 hours when a storm from hell rolled in from the North like a freight train. We knew it was coming but said fuck it since we didn’t get to do this very often. I will send a pic of the front before blowing in. When we headed home we made it about two miles straight into a North wind of about 40-50 knots (no shit). Even in 3-8 feet of water there was a considerable chop. Temp dropped to about 50 in a matter of minutes.

There are house boats scattered all across Baffin bay and spoil islands all the way back with cabins on them (privately owned of course). We thought we would risk the run back (at least an hour from Baffin (making 25 knots at least) but opted to pull up to a house boat floating in about 2 feet of water. I was fine having brought a rain jacket and pants but the other guys were having hell. Ever felt rain hitting your face at 80 mph?

When we got on the porch of the house boat (uncovered but at least in the lee of the storm) I tried the door. Locked… Gave it a good forearm and busted out the door jam, and we were in like flyn.

We hadn’t been there ten minutes when we heard a boat pulling up with lightening everywhere and thundering, etc. I walked outside expecting the owner of the boat to pull up. There were four of us and I can tell you we weren’t moving. We didn’t give a fuck who owned the sumbitch.

Well, the guy pulls up in this nice skiff and I help him tie up to the floater (house boat). And I’ll be damned if out from behind the console comes his 14 year old daughter rapped in a torn up garbage bag and completely freaked out. Crying, shaking and everything. Well to top that off another daughter gets out from behind the console and she is only 10! This dude was in deep shit with two little girls way down south in that fucking storm. His wife would have his ass. Well, if that wasn’t enough out comes a two year old. No shit, he had all three of his daughters stuffed under the consoles like a bunch of meskins runnin’ from the INS. Well, by this time we are thinking this guy is a complete idiot for bringing these little girls down this far. We got them all off the boat and dried the poor dripping little girls with towels and wrapped them in blankets. We had just broke out the Penthouse and Playboys too. What a bummer. They were from 1989 but who cares. We had also just discovered a bottle of Bacardi 151 rum and a bottle of scotch. We only had about 6 beers left so if there was a need we had a plan.

Anyway, he had a cell phone and we called every 1/2 hour or so to the marina up north to get a weather report. We ended up staying on that boat for 3 1/2 hours longer until it calmed down just a little. We hit the water with a nice steady 35 knot wind blowing in our face and took off. He decided to do the same and we both hauled ass North. He ducked out early (20 min or so) to a place called Bird Island where he had his truck and trailer. We continued north for another 35-45 mins. Beat the shit out of us. Well, we made it and tailored the boat and went to our favorite seafood restaurant on the water next to the marina and had the best damn shrimp sandwich I have ever had and some coffee. Glad to have made it through that one.

Who gives a shit, we caught the hell out of the fish. Went two days later and hammered them again.

With most Marine Areas closed to blackmouth, it’s time to go looking for that honey that’ll make your Spring warmer, or that pint glass to swim in. But if you are still hard-up for fishing information and knowledge, look for our tackle reviews and rig recommendations each Thursday. When the Marine Areas open back up in a few weeks, expect the same quality weekly reports that you received each Thursday throughout this past blackmouth season.

In addition, continue to log on for periodic updates on proven methods for meeting babes and finding that perfect ale. I’m heading down to Fort Lauderdale, FL for a week – I heard there a few few cuties down there. Hope to bring back a wealth of knowledge to share with our Salmon, Broads and Beer readers.

Cheers!

- ed

It’s 6am. The lights come on. You’ve been dancing since sometime around midnight. Scanning the still full bar, you try and decide which group of tall beautiful blondes you should ask about an after-hours party.

You could be in any of a dozen clubs in Reykjavik, Iceland – perhaps the ultimate vacation destination. Contrary to the implication of the name, you’ll find Iceland anything but uninviting – both in the countryside and in the people.

You never even reach the second group of hot blondes…

Ok, so I just got back from a weekend in Iceland. All I really can say is “wow.” But, I’ll try and put some of the pieces together for the Salmon, Broads, & Beer reader….

Late night: Let’s start with what’s important… women. Before our trip out we checked out some of the premier news sites to get some guidance on the night life. The Washington Post helpfully provided:

“Find yourself a drunk chick and she’ll show you all the best places in town,” he said. This turned out to be easy, as a minute later a girl stumbling into the club off the street offered me the rest of her half-finished bottle of beer.

This sounded promising. We actually found that the decidedly slutty women loitering in front of the 10-11 (Iceland’s suspiciously similar version of the 7-11) were excellent sources of information about the best place for the night.

The quality of women in Iceland is no joke. They are absolutely beautiful. In the words of one of my distinguished compatriots – “I would charge that ass like a credit card.”

Most of the good places are clubs with a few standard bars thrown in. We spent quite a bit of time in Kapital, where the Portuguese owner, Martinez, helped things along nicely with a couple rounds of shots of the Icelandic brewed Brennivin. Brennivin is locally known as the “Black Death” which pretty much says it all. It’s also hard to not like a country in which standard bar equipment includes a stack of plastic cups at the door for “to-go” drinks. Of course, with drink prices approaching $20 per drink you really don’t want to leave any behind.

Easter was a bit odd as they take their holidays seriously in Iceland (at least as far as their club hours go). Friday bars were closed from midnight to midnight although you oddly could still get beer in the hotel and in restaurants (just not clubs). Then Saturday night the clubs shut down at 3am for Easter Sunday. Fortunately after hours parties are abundant. In contrast to most of my experiences in the states, your fellow Icelandic clubbers are more than happy to invite you along (particularly if you can provide some alcohol for the party).

Fishing: The one piece missing from our trip (somehow we were preoccupied with women and consumption). The fishing is supposed to be incredible with both Salmon and Trout action. Like everything else in Iceland, be prepared to shell out some dough. The river fishing is somehow controlled by the property owners along the banks. Getting a license to fish one rod on one of the best rivers for the day can be quite expensive. Each river is priced independently. All this can be a bit confusing – I’d definitely recommend doing some research before you arrive if you want to fish for something other than a hot blonde (Federation of Icelandic River Owners).

Outdoor Trips: There are tons of guided day trips in the Reykjavik area. Don’t be fooled and end up on a bus with 45 blue hairs – make sure you call Mountain Taxi where they have the baddest Ford Excursion known to man. Ask for Christian the owner and expert guide and definitely get the Excursion. When the “Taxi” shows up in front of your hotel, you might wonder “Is this thing just for show?” Don’t even think about it. You’ll go over terrain that could swallow European Mars rovers with ease – washed out roads, mud pits, rivers, and even onto Iceland’s second largest glacier. Add a little bit of Danish techno and you’ll feel like you’re right in the middle of a Ford Excursion commercial. Driving around on the glacier was a bit of an odd experience. Easter is a big holiday for Iceland and everyone heads to the glacier to drive around, kite ski (yes this is possible!), and reenact Mad Max on ice.

Lodging: We stayed at the Hotel Loftlei-ir which is just a bit outside downtown Reykjavik. It’s a fairly nice large hotel and being associated with Icelandair is often packaged with trips. Next time we’ll probably look for something right downtown – Wouldn’t want to waste 5 minutes in a taxi before spending 8 hours in a club. As for the Loftlei-ir, don’t expect too much from the rooms. The beds are small and seemed to have some peculiar characteristic which gave me a headache every morning (can you still call it morning if you get up at 2pm?). But, otherwise it was just fine. They have everything you need – hotel bar, mini-bar in the room, and a free breakfast with highly recommended pickled herring and 4 minute eggs (perfect for a stomach settling, I just got home at 8am breakfast).

Dining: The food in Iceland was very good – expensive, but good. Highly recommended is the Cafe Opera for an outstanding steak.

All right, I’m back off to detox…. For your next vacation, get to Iceland.

With our editor at sea for a few days, and our web-site manager off on a drunken foray to Iceland in search of tall, tame women, SBB will not be providing the usual weekly report until next week. Look for our next weekly report on Thursday, April 15th.

Until then, cheers, and keep your lines taut.

Most blackmouth appear to have wandered out to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The few remaining in MA8-2 and MA9 (and very few in MA11) are most probably a mix of straggling blackmouth and newly arrived spring kings; hence slow action, but action nonetheless with some nice sized fish. We are definitely in the midst of that annual transition known to many anglers as the Spring Doldrums, and I don’t expect the action to heat up with any consistency until the arrival of the first of the fall-run fish in late May or early June.

Oh well, Spring traditionally is the time for courtship and mating, right? Maybe I need to focus my attention there. Should next week’s report include babe-catches broken down by Marine Area? Let me think about it …

Read More for details on the fishing action in Marine Areas 5, 8-2, 9, and 11 …

Marine Area 5: The one area benefiting from the blackmouth migration, and small influx of spring-run fish, is Marine Area 5. Though the pressure has been “very, very light” according to Herb Balch, of Herb’s Motel in Sekiu (360-963-2346), guys that are going out are bringing back fish weighing between 10 and 15 pounds. Eagle Bay, Slip Point, and the Caves are the best bets. Standard flasher/squid combos as well as herring work well when trolled on the bottom between 80 and 200 feet down.

The Sekiu Salmon Derby takes place this coming weekend, and tickets may be purchased at Olson’s Resort in Sekiu.

Marine Area 8-2: “Spotty” says Capt. Gary Krein of All Star Charters in Everett (800-214-1595). “A dozen guys go out … half a dozen come back laughing [at the others]. You know how it goes.” Oh yes I do, Capt. Krein! And especially on the receiving end of the laughter as of late. Fish being taken are beauties: 27, 24, and 18 pound fish were hauled out over the past week. Most likely spring kings headed for the rivers. Troll flasher squid combos right off the bottom in 90 to 120 feet of water around Hat (Gedney) Island. Capt. Krein assesses that to be successful here, it’s not as much a matter of lure selection as it is one of just being in the right spot at the right time.

And speaking of springers headed for the rivers, Capt. Krein points out that some of the big fish taken around Hat may be Wallace River Hatchery fish returning to the Snohomish watershed. The hatchery, which has been releasing chinook for years, has been focusing more intently on producing early-summer run fish in recent years. Perhaps the 27 pounder was one of them. Chinook fishing opens on the upper reaches of the watershed (Stillaguamish/Skykomish) on June 15th.

Marine Area 9: “Really, really slow … slower than last week,” according to Captain Carl Nyman of Fish Finders Private Charters in Seattle (206-632-2611). And considering his quote from last week – “[it's] the worst blackmouth fishing I’ve seen in years” – I too would assess the situation in MA9 as pretty desparate. Though there are a few reports of some fish taken at Point No Point earlier in the week, Captain Nyman was skunked there on Tuesday after fishing the ebb for two hours. Some bait in the area at Possession Bar does hold some hope of fish appearing through the next week, but SBB concludes that most blackmouth are out in the Strait.

Marine Area 11: Action about as fast as a sloth in MA11. One report, however, of a 12 pounder taken off of the sawmill in Tacoma. Best report I’ve heard from down-south in over five weeks!

Could that be you?

After receiving several requests from Oregonians to provide the same type of weekly reports for Oregon that we do for Washington each Thursday, Salmon, Broads and Beer is finally taking action. We are looking to expand saltwater coverage of salmon fishing to Oregon, and are considering river reports as well. If you are interested in contributing, contact us by clicking on the “contact us” button to the left. Or, just feel free to submit a report as soon as you have some information.

Read More to see what Oregon Field Reporter, Fishing Tiger, has to say about spring king action down south …

Fishing Tiger writes:

Been buried under a car for days so the
eldest could trade it in on a new one; full warranty, they even change
the oil, so … reports from Gold Beach state that “it’s spotty.” Are
praying for rain!!! I’d figured the springers would be in the system
from the last storm, but in Grants Pass, it’s just rumors. I will say
the middle’s full of winter steelhead, being taken on every technique by
everyone. Heck, the bridge building crew in RR city have taken up
fishing after work! Anyway, I know the guy that took over the fish
cleaning station at Jot’s resort, talked to him straight from the beach
Monday plus I’m calling Gold Beach this morning to finalize my guide
ins., sooooooo … might take a trip this weekend, getting
hungry! They say it’s an aphrodesiac!!!! Hehehehehee. Talk to you
soon! I’d better go looking for some decent anchovies as well, clean up
some blades! Bye.

Thanks Tiger.

Mixed results from Marine Area to Marine Area. Whatever your favorite hole, once there it’ll be a good bet that you’ll have to work the fish out of it … if they’re there, that is.

One fish starting to show there in some areas is the Spring King. Some folks, such as SBB reader GutZ, are hitting the action early. Read our special report at the end of this week’s report to see what the excitement is about.

Read More to find out some of the best salmon prospects for this weekend and coming week in Marine Areas 5, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 11 and 13 …

Marine Area 5: With every weather condition from hail to rain to five minute shots of sun over the past week, fishing pressure has been “extremely light,” according to Herb Balch, of Herb’s Motel in Sekiu (360-963-2346). However, “Guys putting the time in [are] getting fish,” he says. A 22 pounder was taken five days ago. Though Eagle Bay and The Caves remain the most popular spots for blackmouth, Slip Point seems to promise the chance of the fateful fight of a lifetime … if you can beat the winds …

SBB strongly encourages the use of personal floatation devices.

Word on the street in Sekiu indicates expectations of a summer season similar to last year’s. In other words, slow on the Sound and fast off the “Beach.” Asked how it all affected Sekiu, Herb responded with the confident wisdom of an experienced Strait fisherman that knows they get the best of the Columbia, Frazier, and Puget Sound runs: “We don’t have many bad years here – only bad seasons set by the fisheries.” Poetic, Herb!

Marine Area 7: The Henry Island Derby yielded results about as clear as how to enter it. 27 pounder? That’s the word y’all. But according to what first-hand source? Wish we caught or saw this one, but SBB can’t be everywhere at once. For all we know, some dude wearing starched collars up to his ears started this one, adding 5 pounds with each ounce of perrier. Or maybe it’s legitimate. Either way, this is the only news that Justin, at H & H Anglers & Outfitters in Bellingham (360-733-2050) has heard of. Ahhh … the beauty and mystery of Marine Area 7.

My advice? Troll SE along the 15 fathom curve on the east side of Sinclair Island, with the ebb. Throw a Coyote spoon on alone, and along the bottom. See what happens. Good things here. Rock on!

Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2: Though the action tapered off with the start of the week, anglers fishing Hat Island nailed ‘em last weekend. Capt. Gary Krein, of All Star Charters in Everett (800-214-1595), saw a 24 and 15 pounder taken by friends, and took fish up to 12 pounds himself over the weekend. Though the south wind killed it on Tuesday for anglers not into rot gut and getting the crap beat out of them, this next weekend could be good. Or bad. Gary reminds us that “this is the last weekend for 8-1.” So if that’s your area, head to it. Fishing between Baby Island and Green Bank are the best bet, though the north end of Camano might be good for a fateful Springer.

Most logical choice, however, is Hat (in MA 8-2). Flasher/squid combos or cop-car Coyote spoons trolled in 90 to 140 feet of water within 20 feet of the bottom are great combinations for bringing food to the table.

Marine Area 9: Captain Carl Nyman, of Fish Finders Private Charters in Seattle (206-632-2611) wrapped this week up with what he describes as “the worst blackmouth fishing I have seen in years.” “It’s scratchy,” he says. Though he did okay over the weekend with three fish between 27 and 30 inches, the bite plummeted with the beginning of the week. Perhaps it’s the south winds that Captain Krein spoke of.

Whatever it is, bait continues to stack at Possession Bar. A couple of the fish that Captain Nyman took at the bar “were loaded with 6 to 7 inch herring inside.”

Maybe worth a trip? Reach deep within your soul to see if it is worth giving up a brew or a date. And if it is, troll the curve my man … troll the curve.

Snakelet writes “This winter, Point No Point has been inundated with downrigger fisherboats, and [SBB] tells us that “now is one of the few times that moochers are doing as well as the trollers.” Bullshit!!

Get a clue and learn how to mooch. Long leaders, light line. If you can’t, then head to Possession where you can hang with all the other gas wasters.”

SBB Editor’s Response: Snake, I appreciate your inspired response to last week’s report! Maybe worth an article: Trollers vs. Moochers. Are there any brew pubs in Kingston that I could base my research efforts out of? I hope that common interests in salmon, babes and brew will help moochers and trollers get along in the end.

Marine Area 11: “Still slow” says Gary, at Narrows Tackle in Tacoma (253-564-FISH). Yet an inflection in his voice pronounces the arrival of HOPE in these desperate parts. “They should be comin’ through.”

They?

Yes … They (read special report below).

SPECIAL REPORT: SPRING KINGS

Spring Kings. The excitement of the salt angler gone fresh. Though I stick to the crystal plunge, others refer to king salmon arriving early to their rivers of birth as the supreme species. Still bright, and holding the highest oil content of any ocean-to-river run fish, Butch of Coho Charters in Ilwaco (360-642-3333) describes them as the “prime rib of salmon.” Bar-b-qued, broiled, smoked … however you like it.

Smaller than their fall-run cousins, and better tasting if you prescribe to Butch’s taste. But still bigger than the average blackmouth. And hence why I bring them up … Spring Fever. Plus a 22 pounder in MA 5, a scant 25 in MA 8-2, and a 27 in MA 7. Resident fish? Possibly. Or perhaps some prime rib coming home.

On aspirations of nailing one, SBB Reader GutZ sent in the following report: GutZ writes “Curtis the Smurf, Barry and I got the 19′ Campion down to Pekins Ferry near the Mouth of the Lewis. We trolled cured blue herring around Sand Island for hours with Nada. We figure we were a little quick as the recoil spring on the kicker busted on the second pull. Our lucky friend Re’Becca got two with Pete the Plunker and BuX.

They’ll get here! Patience. Patience …”