Sugar, Spice & Smoke

One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a fisherman is sharing fish stories, especially with those who don't fish regularly.  Not because I can get away with telling "a whopper of a story" but because they're always marveled at the thought of catching even the smallest of salmon.  It's fun to try and recall the details pertaining to the catch as they ask the most unexpected and interesting questions.  A sure way to ignite these adventures conversations is through the sharing of smoked salmon.... of course with salmon that I've both caught and smoked myself.

Although it was a tough year for salmon fishing, I was blessed to have enough fish in the freezer for two days worth of smoking.  I spent two Saturday's in October with a full smoker, resulting in some of the most flavorful smoked salmon.

With a dry brine blend of brown sugar, salt, garlic salt, celery salt, lemon pepper, dill weed, hot mustard, and just the right amount of time over smoke, I believe I've found a near perfect recipe for both salmon and trout.

1st batch ready to go in the smoker!

The trick is to coat the salmon with honey and finish it off in the oven at low heat for about 20min.  The end result is salmon candy you can eat warm or cool/freeze for gifting.

Migrating Up River

Each year, as salmon make their way up the mighty Columbia River to their spawning grounds (or hatchery), I make an annual trip northeast in pursuit of "just a few more".  The early October trip generally serves as a way to cap off my fishing for the year... for salmon anyway.

The Hanford Reach area of the Columbia is the last free flowing section of the big river.  Launching from Vernita Bridge near Mattawa, WA and fishing upriver 5+ river miles as well as down river 15+ river miles is one of the most beautiful stretches of water imaginable.  With no commercial or residential development as far as the eye can see and significant wildlife at every turn, fishing these waters takes my mind back in time to the days of Lewis and Clark; just out of the pages of Stephen E. Ambrose's Undaunted Courage.

Mitch with a 15lber

The 3 day trip started on a Thursday with just Papa D and I, along with what turned out to be some pretty hot eggs (see previous post).  From about 7am to 8:30am, we experienced one of the hottest salmon bites I've ever seen, quickly catching what would have been our limit had we kept the first 4 fish caught (2 each).  During that period of time, we literally could not keep two rods in the water before a fish would strike.  Since it was early and we were there to fish, as soon as we had a few fish in the box, we were letting fish go.  We finally bonked the last portion of our limit later in the day before heading home.

Mitch, a fellow G-Loomis guy - with hat and all

Fishing Friday was especially enjoyable, as joining Papa D and I was my good friend Mitch, whom I hadn't seen in over 10 years.  Luckily there was a steady bite, although not as hot as Thursday, we were able to put nearly our limit of 6 fish in the box.  In addition to the salmon finding my cured eggs irresistible, using my orange variety, Mitch caught the most beautiful native steelhead I've ever seen.  I wish I'd had a camera on it before quickly releasing the native fish back into the water as the color on it was amazing and the size was outstanding, nearing what the 3 of us guessed was around 8lbs.

Papa D and Mitch

One for me!

Mitch, Papa D, and Me

Mitch with his limit

Papa D doing the grunt work

It's amazing how quickly the bite can change.  For several weeks leading up to this trip, Papa D and I had planned to fish the third day with Uncle R (see previous Buoy 10 post), Aunt P and their Cadillac of a boat.  Continuing with the same bait, areas, and tactics as the previous two days, the four of us got completely skunked Saturday.  Although we didn't put any meat in the box, I do have to say this was one of my more enjoyable days fishing of all time - my mouth literally hurt from laughing so much and the jokes and stories.

Uncle R's Cadillac of a boat!

Springer season is exactly 150 days away from this posting, I better start tying some leaders now... the countdown begins

Got Eggs?

As salmon make their way up river, my bait of choice tends to evolve.  In my first post this year, I shared my stuffing of one of the freezers in my garage with 420 herring, the bait of choice closer to the ocean.  Somewhere, someplace, there is a brilliant fisherman that figured out that for whatever reason, salmon also like to eat the eggs of their own kind; in a cannibalistic kind of way.

6lb. of fresh, uncured salmon roe (eggs)

The tactic using eggs is to simply hide a hook in a cluster of eggs.  Naturally, when eggs are extracted from a female / hen salmon, they are connected by a membrane in long skeins (2 per fish).  While a fisherman could cut off a cluster of eggs and fish them fresh, they're extremely fragile and wouldn't last long in the water as well as the refrigerator/freezer.  Insert, an endless opportunity to cure and toughen the eggs with various color and scent combinations.  

The end product, a variety of cured roe in 3 colors; Orange, Red, & Pink

As we move into October, I'll be making my way up to the Hanford Reach along with the end of the Columbia River salmon run.  As I make preparations and count down the days, I wanted to include a picture of fun to fight fish from 2010.

Roe with a little something extra

This up-river salmon caught on a cluster of eggs similar to the above

Work & Fishing Do Mix

In 2011, I said the term "A bad day fishing is still better than any good day working" far more often than I'd like.  It's just not something someone would say when the fishing is good.  Interestingly, never did I think I'd ever be able to say that I had a good day working while fishing.  

My Favorite Simon Wobbler

I'll spare the details, but work has been very busy lately.  All week, the need to put some office time in over the weekend was clear.  September is the heart of the fall run and I couldn't stand the thought of sitting at a desk on a hot weekend day when I should be fishing... I got creative and took the office to the river Saturday.  Up river from the Buoy 10 area in the fall, the common approach to salmon fishing is to find a good spot and anchor up (sit on the hook).

My office for the morning, working hard on the hook

Within just a few seconds of snapping the above picture, my rod folded over with the tip just a few inches off the water.... it wasn't even 7am yet.  After a 22 minute fight, I landed a nice 20 to 25lb Columbia River Chinook Salmon (my scale was wigging out). 

After only a couple hours "working on the river", I pulled my anchor and was headed back to the dock.  It's a great feeling pulling into the dock with fish while other boats are still launching for the day.  

Family Traditions

Henry David Thoreau once wrote "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it's not fish they are after".  I have a vivid memory of the college literature class where I first read that quote.  Likewise, I can clearly remember my initial thought that  Mr. Thoreau was a nut.  Why would someone fish if it wasn't about man attempting to bonk as many fish as possible in one lifetime?  It wasn't until 10 years later, when I spent a full week chasing trout and bass on a small lake in northeastern WA with family, that I finally connected the dots on what that quote was getting at.

This past August marked our 5th annual trip up to that special lake where I've had unforgettable times with a variety of family and friends.  Each year brings it's own unique and special moments that will be more memorable than the size or number of fish caught.  Don't let me lead you astray, we've got game and catch a boat load each year, guaranteed.  However, 2011 will be most memorable for the first year I was able to share the experience with two sons.

For those less inclined to relate to Henry David Thoreau, give this song a try (youtube) - "This memory's a big'in and he thinks we're just fishing"

Big G with breakfast

Papa D and Little G

Last year, fishing was lights out!  It didn't matter what you tied to the end of a line, catching fish was guaranteed which set expectations fairly high for this year.  Consistent with the rest of my 2011 fishing efforts to-date, the fish didn't come easy.  We had to put some time in and figure out the details; keying in on the perfect depth, speed, and color.  Once dialed in, we were able to consistently hook into carry over fish in the 18" range.

This string of 4 fish weighed in at 6lbs.  Most fish we tossed back in hopes they grow for next year.  However, our cabin neighbor had a brand new smoker and was having a tough time catching fish to fill it...so, a donation was proudly made.

Redneck Yacht Club!!

Back to Back at Buoy 10

The Hammond boat basin where I generally launch to fish the Columbia River estuary is roughly 2 hours from my home.  Given the round trip 4 hour drive that accompanies 8+ hours of fishing, doing a Saturday / Sunday combo is generally not something that would be easily done.  However, towards the end of the 3rd week of August I was able to spend consecutive days at Buoy 10 staying overnight locally in Astoria, OR.

Over the course of two days, Tabasco Todhunter and I were able to hook into 9 fish.  However, as luck would have it, most managed to avoid the net and ultimately the vacuum packed freezer bags I had planned for each of them.  Additionally, this year there was an abundance of wild/native Coho/Silvers that are not legal to keep which required a quick release back into the river.  If 2011 wasn't already a tough year for salmon fishing, to add to the uniqueness, we lost more fish at the boat than in years past; including what looked to be a prize fish; "yeah, the one that got away".  Interestingly, "the one that got away" broke off at the treble hook.  After further examination, it appeared to be a defective hook so somewhere out there is a large Chinook salmon swimming in the river with half a treble in her jaw.

One of the amazing aspects of fishing Buoy 10 is how quickly the weather can change and how powerful it can be.  Like clockwork, the afternoon winds pickup and it's always a mystery just how strong they'll be.  Most captains' plan their course and day in an effort to avoid a bumpy ride back to the dock if plans take them to deep into the afternoon hours.

Back To Salmon - Buoy 10

Buoy 10 is a shipping channel marker that sits on the Columbia River bar which is also known as The Graveyard of The Pacific after the more than 2,000 boats and 700 lives that have been lost in the area.  Buoy 10 is also the sport fishing region for the Columbia River estuary which is the granddaddy of salmon fishing in the Northwest.

For fall 2011, nearly 800,000 Chinook (King) and over 200,000 Coho (Silver) salmon are predicted to enter the Columbia River and each one of them will have to pass through the estuary on their way "home".

Papa D and Uncle R

2011 is season 3 as captain of my own boat at Buoy 10, and to kick things off I was fortunate enough to do an early trip with two of the greats; Papa D and his younger brother.  It was a great time hearing the stories from "the good old days' when they'd fish the ocean and estuary out of Illwaco, WA as kids.

We had to work for it, but on the flood tide we put a nice Chinook (King) salmon in the box.  With the ocean just a stone throw away, these fish are a beautiful candy red and are the best tasting, highest quality salmon on the planet.  Back to Buoy 10 in a few days and I won't sleep a wink in anticipation.

Two perfect candy red fillets