Thought it was going on the wall. Back in the day the plan was that anything over 60 was going on the wall! We agreed to keep one fish each and release everything else unless it was over 60. We caught a 44 and a 48 then put the rods away except for 2-8 weight fly rods and islander MR2 reels. Caught a 55+ on the fly rod but it was no 60. We had NO control over those fish. It was a a blast. I will never forget those Rivers Inlet trips. Bucket moments, everyone of them. Me and my dad when my dad was younger than I am now. Now my dad is in a home with dementia, But he still remembers those trips...for now. Life is short, live it to the fullest. No regrets. I'm going back to Hakai next summer, I have 8 more beaches to hike to. Bucket lists are meant to be ticked off before you forget.LOL! 45 in the tail!!
Not to start a flame-fest here but in my experience, flashers sucks the fight right out of a salmon so I don’t use them. I understand why guides use them because time is money and they can’t have their clients screwing around with a fish and a long fight.
The guys who hook big fish in Rivers get those 30 - 45 minute fights because yes, the fish are on the bigger side, but mainly they get that fight because it’s them, a banana weight, and two hooks. Try just two hooks some time....that’s all I ever use...I’ve gone 30 - 45 minutes on several fish and it’s not because I baby them. It’s the gear I use and the principles of fluid dynamics you’re side-stepping when you hook a fish without a flasher.
This one was 45 minutes. I burned through half a tank of kicker gas chasing it. They take stunning amounts of line when they don’t feel a flasher. When you fish alone, you have to chase or lose your line. The next day I got another slab—-same thing. I was drenched with sweat when I finally got it in the net. Horse them and break them off, or do what you got to do to see what you got, and on the bigger fish, 30 minutes + comes and goes whether you want it to or not.
Some times the bite comes and goes with just that one fish...if things weren’t taking so long maybe you’d get another, but when they’re peeling off line like you just hooked the fender of a Suzuki Katana, sometimes that one fish will make your whole trip
That's why I switched to jigging!!-hook and an 80gm weight plus one tinny=FUN2 hooks, 4 oz weight, 9 pulls, one herring and hang on.
Set it and forget it? I don't know about that. I loosen it it off a bit and use the palm as a break pad. I think it gives you more control for an active fish at the boat. Ten minutes-15 minutes is my longest.I think that's just it. I fought a carp for 15 once on a snoopy rod. With the reels and rods being so good now there isn't even a need to palm a reel. Set it and forget it.
Totally agree about living to the fullest. You and your Dad were so lucky to share those great adventures together!Thought it was going on the wall. Back in the day the plan was that anything over 60 was going on the wall! We agreed to keep one fish each and release everything else unless it was over 60. We caught a 44 and a 48 then put the rods away except for 2-8 weight fly rods and islander MR2 reels. Caught a 55+ on the fly rod but it was no 60. We had NO control over those fish. It was a a blast. I will never forget those Rivers Inlet trips. Bucket moments, everyone of them. Me and my dad when my dad was younger than I am now. Now my dad is in a home with dementia, But he still remembers those trips...for now. Life is short, live it to the fullest. No regrets. I'm going back to Hakai next summer, I have 8 more beaches to big hike to. Bucket lists are meant to be ticked off before you forget.
Caught a 64 lb Chinook when at Peregrine Lodge back in 2004. It took 55 minutes. They said then bigger fish can take a minute/pound.Anyone ever actually time this? I've heard crazy numbers like 45 minutes. Even 15 minutes sounds bizarre to me though. I'd say the longest I've ever played a salmon is no more than 5 minutes, which felt like an eternity. Obviously Hali is different so just talking salmon here.
I like thatCaught a 64 lb Chinook when at Peregrine Lodge back in 2004. It took 55 minutes. They said then bigger fish can take a minute/pound.
35 minutes. It was timed. Rivers Inlet, 2015, Black Gold Lodge on the inside. 40 pounds. Cut plug, 6 ounce weight, just me and the tyee.
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A lady friend said the exact same thing about it looking like I was wearing a tie!Great photo, I had to zoom it in because it looked like you were wearing a tie.
Aquaholic, "always dressed for success."