San Juan Winter Chinook Opener! 4

The summer chinook season in Marine Area 7 closed at the end of October and with it, one of the best kept hot fishing secrets in recent memory. In other words, it was just smokin' for hatchery chinook and the locals kept it quiet! Nevermind that some of us had deer and elk on the brain as the leaves were turning, with fishing that good, hunting can wait!!!

With the Resurrection Derby scheduled for the first weekend of December, Jay Field of Dash One Charters had some serious pre-fishing to do and a open spot in the boat on opening day. He didn't have to ask twice!

As I walk down the ramp, Jay has the Dash One warmed up and ready to roll and we can't leave the slip fast enough!

The Reverend Captain at work in his "office" with a killer view of Rosario Strait

December's first sunrise dawns flat calm as we get a bend in the Fetha Styx at our first stop: Lopez Flats.

One of the most fascinating things about getting to fish in someone else's boat is getting to see how they do business. Aboard the Dash One, ship shape and organized is the mode of operation!

As we move farther north up Rosario, we start seeing more boats including this one: The 2010 Northwest Salmon Derby Series Grand Prize Stabicraft!

The bite is on at Eagle Bluff and we get the camera out just in time to see this dandy chinook coming over the rail!

It doesn't take Jay long to get on the board as this chunky 12 pounder hits the deck!

We no sooner get the gear down and the port rigger goes off again! This time it's a slab, sporting an adipose fin, so it stays in the water…

…..and swims away to eat another herring that doesn't have a hook in it!!!

Catching fish or not, the San Juans are about the most scenic, fascinating areas to fish in the state. You could spend your life here unlocking the tides, times and places and it would be a life well spent!!!

The San Juans are open well into April. Don't suffer cabin fever or swollen rivers this winter. Pull the tarp off of the boat, put on a warm coat and lets go fishing!!!