Marine Area 9? Fishin’ just FINE!!!

July 16, 2013

It’s hard to find the words to describe what awaited anglers at Midchannel Bank on the 2013 Marine Area 9 & 10 selective chinook opener… With reports from the earlier opening areas -namely Sekiu, Port Angeles and the San Juans ranging from solid to white hot, I know I wasn’t the only eager angler tossing […]

Sitka 2013: Huskies vs. Cougars!

June 18, 2013

Our annual Sitka “sojourn” took on a decidedly competitive theme this year. Why?…Well, when you have a Husky and a Cougar on the boat, despite the fact they were Seattle Seahawk teammates… you’re going to have issues but, ..we’ll get back to that later. Fortunately, catching fish would not be an issue this time. After […]

We’ve Seen Forecasts…Now, Let’s See Some Kings!!!

May 28, 2013

With a damp, dreary Memorial Day weekend in the rear view window, it’s time to look north for the first indications of our actual chinook returns. So why do we look north and what are we looking for? GREAT QUESTION!!! To answer that question, let’s have a quick review of what the University of Washington […]

De-mystifying Cannon Downrigger’s Bottom Track Feature

May 21, 2013

Somehow, the three words “looking forward to” this summer’s salmon season just doesn’t cut it… Obviously this feeling is shared among a few members of our Forums as I’ve been getting a bit of verbal “heat” over the lack of a new downrigger tech blog. So, as a clear indication that I’m responsive to abuse […]

Opening Day 2013 “Top Ten Tips”

April 18, 2013

If there is a more popular fishing “rite of passage” than the lowland lakes trout opener, I sure don’t know what it is! The Nelson Clan at Perrygin Lake in Okanogan County a few seasons ago… I would venture to guess that more “first fish” are caught on this final weekend of April than at […]

Dirty Downrigger Trick: Silver Horde’s Rudder Flasher!

April 11, 2013

Now that “seminar season” is begrudgingly giving way to fishing season, I’m looking back on the most frequently asked questions I’ve heard after my  “Dirty Downrigger Tricks” PowerPoint presentations. I’m always looking for some new and interesting blog ideas and I believe a series of blogs answering these questions regarding controlled-depth trolling techniques may just be what the “downrigger […]

The 2013 Anacortes Salmon Derby!

April 1, 2013

You’ve heard it a thousand times: “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” This year, the Anacortes Salmon Derby fell on the final weekend of March, with weather that could only be described as “spectacular” and I’m not sure that word does justice to the conditions, or the event! There’s […]

Boat trailering: Cougar Style!

March 21, 2013

Meet Robert Lee Tobeck: His resume is very impressive. Academic All American lineman at Washington State University, Pro Bowl center of the Seattle Seahawks during the highpoint of the franchise history: the 2006 Superbowl and former host of The Outdoor Line Radio Show. Unfortunately, none of this tremendous life experience has prepared him for what has now […]

Springer School!

March 19, 2013

Just as every northwesterner counts down the waning days of winter looking forward to spring, salmon anglers eagerly await the arrival of our earliest running chinook affectionately known as “springers”. Trying to fit the four-hour springer sojurn to the Columbia into a busy schedule is challenging enough. Add to that the inconsistent, early season springer fishing […]

The 2013 Salmon Forecasts!

February 28, 2013

A sure sign of spring after a long winter is the annual arrival of our salmon forecasts and the “North of Falcon” meetings. I await the salmon forecast numbers like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Hello, my name is Tom and I am a “salmon sicko”. After watching the numbers for a number of […]