Gig Harbor Fishing

I was out a week or so ago and my kicker started pumping oil out the top of the block. I’m no mechanic but I’m sure that aint good. The old Honda has had a hard life and it was time for her to go.

A beautiful day in Gig Harbor

Saturday I took out a couple guys from fort Lewis, which was cool, and we tried trolling with the big motor. At dead idle the boat trolls about 3.2 mph in this configuration so I didn’t expect much but we had 4 shakers and two nice take downs that we couldn’t button up. It was a gorgeous day and everyone had a great time.

What you do if your kicker dies

This morning I went out and

tried dragging a bucket to try to slow the boat down a bit.

I have told a lot of people to try this but have never done it myself. It worked pretty well and slowed the boat down to about 2.8 to 3 mph. I did not catch any shakers this morning but I got royally slimmed by some nasty jellies.

Do you Know this guy?

After a couple hours my attention started to drift. I took some pictures of other people catching fish, and some bad eagle pics, for the blog. Later,  I was in the cabin driving and about half asleep, the cool part about trolling whith the big motor is the heater works so my feet were warm at least, when suddenly ZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPP!!!!. I look out the window and the rod is dancing like crazy. I run out to grab the rod and remember that I can’t slow the boat from there so I go back in to put the boat in neutral but I pull too hard and kick it into reverse. crap!! I reach back up get the boat into neutral and go back out to play my fish (I was honestly surprised it was still there). I start reeling and the fish starts swimming at me. I have to reel fast to keep up but thanks to these new reels I had made I am able to. These reels have a 4:1 retrieve, 4 ball bearings and are very smooth with strong drags.

Wild Chinook. Released

Unfortunately when I got this guy in the net I realized it had an adipose fin so I would have to let it go. I took a couple pictures, careful not to remove the fish from the water and let it out of my net. At first it just lay there and I was beginning to get concerned but when I reached to grab it by the tail and try to revive it it gave a quick shake and was gone.

Good Fishin' To Ya'

Kerry W Allen