I did all my early freshwater fishing at Spencer Lake. We rented a cabin from the Weatherbys who owned a resort on the small lake. We fished with a big gold and silver pop gear and usually were done by 7:30 on opening day, with a limit of 15 fish.

Saltwater was always LaPush. Harley’s report, a wall tent, slugs, rain and rough water. We had a five-horse Sea king motor and rented the wooden boats at Harleys. Always fished for coho off the Skunk Buoy, about two miles off shore.

My dad hated anything but salmon. Once I dropped to the bottom and got 44 lb halibut. He chewed me out for that. Another time I hooked a really big halibut and after about a 1/2 hour he cut the line.