My First Spring Chinook!

(My husband wrote this story for his fishing forum.)

I've been recently gifted with luck that affects those outside of my immediate presence yet close enough to watch and build humility. I took four people out last year and watched them get their first salmon. On Tillamook last fall, I think I was the only boat out there that blanked completely (not a sniff). Ndogg's pity didn't even help when he handed me his entire rig. (He had already limited out you see)
However, most trips I'm grateful enough to get out. Occasionally I'm blessed to be out on a nice sunny day and offer my whiteness up to the UVAs and UVBs. I get out, drown my cut plugs and go home with more sand than I came with. 

But, not today. 

Today, I was that guy. You know, the one that caught a fish. The one everyone cheers for but is secretly amazed at the luck bestowed on a dorky guy with little skill. In his plastic kayak no less. 

It was a spectacularly beautiful day. I didn't get up early and the low boat count there at Cathedral made me think that I was in the wrong place. Still, after some confusion as to where to park I got ready and on the water.  "You should have been here yesterday" the old man from the dock yelled as I passed by. " ya, that's usually how it goes" I replied back. 

I pedaled down to the railroad bridge and things didn't seem particularly fishy but I was still glad to be out. Even the homeless camps along the bank didn't detract from the beautiful morning. I got a call from Wobbler that 20 ft was the depth they were marking at prior in the week. I thanked him and said that I'd probably catch up with him later. (Btw he's the greatest guy, and should have a good story from today as well)

I made it to the bridge, got spooked by a goose trying to board my stern, then turned around for the downhill troll. Ahead of me was a fellow NWKA'er. "Beefer" I believe he said was his screen name.  We chatted, I said I was grateful for the rush you get when you occasionally snag bottom, then on cue I snagged bottom. I laughed and fell back a bit so I could horse my snag free. Except this snag started fighting back. Woohoo! Game on!
The fight wasn't particularly memorable. I even enlisted Beefer's netting skills cause I didn't trust myself or my little-girl landing net. But you see, this was my first springer and I needed someone else to blame if things went south. I've been trying for years and it finally paid off. I was just surprised and kept expecting to lose it. Not today. Today was the day to whoop and holler. I did it, something off my bucket list!

Ok this is much more wordy than I had planned to type from my phone but I'll edit it later and add some pics. I also chatted with Dberd out there today. He weighed my little cookie cutter and it was ~10lbs. (Thanks.) I didn't mention much about my friend with me. He had a particularly snaggy day and would rather not be mentioned 

Oh, and I was the only one that caught anything while I was there. Ya, today I was THAT guy; and it felt great!

(If you hold your arms way out in front of you it makes your fish look bigger)