Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 12:03 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:11 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:48 am
Posts: 312
Location: Portland, OR
I fished the Willamette today and I could have had a great day but ended up with just an OK day. I caught 7 sturgeon, but 5 were between 40 and 45" which makes for a nice tussle in the kayak. The first spot I went to produced 3 keepers and a shaker, but then the bite stopped after a bit and so I moved rather than wait.

The next spot was the thorn in my side. My big failure on the day was not bringing enough lead. I found a spot with a lot of current that was loaded with sturgeon and they were biting like crazy but I did not have enough lead to really hold the bottom well. I would have to walk my bait back so far back to get the 8oz of lead to stick that I had a hard time get a good hook set. I must have had a dozen really nice fish bite, I would tighten up and start reeling (circle hooks), line starts ripping off the spool, somewhere between 15 and 20 seconds later I feel some nice head shaking and then slack. I knew I should move, but there were so many really nice sized fish in that spot that I just couldn't. I did catch a keeper and a shaker at that spot but I did not do it justice.

I spent most of the day punishing myself in that spot before moving back to my first spot where the current was not nearly as fast. First drop down a shaker, second drop down a nice keeper sized, third drop down snag. By the time I rigged back up it seemed like a bunch of tiny fish had moved in. I would feel them biting the bait but I could not hook them. So I decided to pack it in.

Overall not a great day compared to some of the numbers some of the folks have been posting but I think I was just a couple ounces of lead short of being one of those people. Oh well, the painful lessons are the easiest to remember.

Here are just a couple of pics. I was really hoping for an over sized, but keeper sized fish were all about in this range and they did fight really well including a couple of jumpers which is always fun.

Image

Image
[quote][/quote]

_________________
Fish tremble when they hear my name :)

A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for.
--John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 3:50 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2012 11:30 am
Posts: 174
Location: Charleston, SC
You might be disappointed but that looks like a great day of fishing to me :D Nice pics and story...

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:06 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:48 am
Posts: 312
Location: Portland, OR
Thanks Elgeebee, it was not a bad day, it was just not the day it could have been. That's OK, I will be ready next time :)

_________________
Fish tremble when they hear my name :)

A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for.
--John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group