The first Red Salmon I land is going to be filleted and fried up in butter. The good news is that I’ve fished three days in a row, and am increasing my time on the water each day. I lasted 1 hour 20 minutes sending out 300 “casts” in my first session. I foul hooked 3 and lost a fair hooked fish for 4 in that time period. After resting an hour or so, I got back in for either 60 or 90 minutes. I can’t remember if I entered at 8 or 8:30. I had some more interactions with fish, enough to keep me out there.
The pure monofilament on the reel really makes a difference. It is easy to pull the line in along your left hand and then flip the line back out. If one has the right spot and probably more importantly, the right weight / Fly / Leader Length combination a lot of fish can be had. In my second session tonight, one guy 2 down from me landed 4 when nobody else hooked up. I think my Coho Flies, made of bucktail hair, are a little too floaty and I’ll buy some larger hooks and put yarn on them.
Day 35 Early Entry
Lying late in bed this morning I found a discussion thread about hook sizes and fishing near Soldotna, where I am hanging out now. One person stated that the season before he had hooked 200+ Red Salmon without a single foul hook, using circle hooks. Several members jumped in agreeing with him. Another person stated that they used shrimp patterns and the fish would chase and take the hooks, very rare with Red Salmon.
So, I ran down to the local hardware / tackle shop and purchased some 1/0 regular hooks and some 2/0 circle hooks. My van was designed so I have a place to sit and tie where my passenger seat was. However, that space has become a dumping ground of clothes, trash, soda bottles, etc. Thankfully there are no mosquitoes in the Soldotna Library Parking lot, and most of the buggers should be gone in two weeks to a month. I, was able to tie flies in a relaxing manner right in the open sliding door of my van.
In 40 minutes I was able to tie up a baker’s dozen of flies. Seven circle hook yarn “flies”, and 6 pink shrimp imitations. Three of the shrimp imitations are tied with pink sparkle braid and three are tied with pink chenille.
So, from the advice found on the Internet, I’m either going to be the King of the River or the Joker. Regardless, I’m in an area with fish. The fish are active as they are being snagged in their mouths, and the brothers from Maine told me they would love to fillet my first fish. This fishery is a canning factory for the public. I should taste delicious Red Salmon soon.