Was on the Kalama on the 16th with a buddy (thank goodness for the witness). Started very early up at the deadline and got absolutely shut out. Saw one native steelhead caught. It was a nice one but had three bite marks on its belly, one of which had cut through to its abdominal cavity, but it was still very much alive and kicking.

Left the canyon and went down stream, as you absolutely had to believe there were some fish in the water, conditions were perfect for moving the fish. We went to a tailout that dumps into a very long, deeper, evenly moving slow stretch. You could see the salmon nosing up onto the tailout. While throwing at the ones we could see, I hooked a good one that threw the hook when he immediately came up and thrashed around. I immediately went to a bigger hook, as we were geared more for steelhead than salmon.

About an hour later, my float went down, I struck, and the water just exploded. This fish jumped all the way out of the water twice about 40 feet from us and then screamed off down river. I can support Fishaday, because this was a huge fish. When it jumped, I looked at my partner and his eyes were bugging out of his head.

I jumped in the water, which was slack next to the bank and chest-deep, and waded down river. About 50 yards down the fish stopped, and I got him back to about 20 feet from me. I thought then that I might have a chance. As soon as I started talking to my partner about how we might land the fish it took off again, like it didn't even know it was hooked. Another run, out to about fifty yards. He sat there for a while and thrashed around up on the surface some more More tip-toeing down river. Finally, I got just about as far as I could go. After some stalemate, we got another 30 or so feet back on him. He took another shorter run. I could feel the line move over his back as he turn back up river. He gave some head shakes and the hook came out. I've started shaking again just writing this!

These were my first spring salmon. I've caught big fall chinook on the O.P. rivers, their fights were strong, but not extremely active. This fish was just a wild ride! I wish I could have landed it, but I had an unforgetable 20 minute fight. I believe, from seeing the fish up close, that it was into the 30's. It's still there. Got get him!!