The following is a cost break down for the chance to catch a 2001 Spring run Chinook at Riggins Idaho.

License and Permits>> $48.50
Tackle>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> $350.00
GAS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> $150.00
FOOD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> $250.00
HOSPITAL VIST>>>>>>>> $20.00*
ANTIBIOTICS>>>>>>>>>> $7.00*
FIRST SALMON NETTED>> PRICELESS

OK friends, just thought I would share the experience with you. I've been stalking the Salmon and Steelhead runs of the Northwest for three years hard and heavy. First two years have been writen off as education. Skunked both years and thousands of dollars spent with no return. Down but not out, my fishing partner Shawn(PLEASE REMOVE THIS LOG FROM MY LEG)Gordon and I gave it another try. First Salmon in the net for both of us made it all worth it. Total was two each for to trips and well over 40 hooks. Combat fishing on the Little Salmon can be tough with thousands of fishermen converging on a couple of miles river. We took the unconventional approach chooseing steep terrian and fast water. The last two years I felt like the newbie not really knowing how to catch these Salmon. This year was a different story for both of us. Just tells ya that alittle patience can go a long way.

* To explain the hospital vist. Seems my fishing partner had a run in with a nasty local bush/tree. He had a stick impale in his leg and break off. We tried alittle field surgery with no results. He sucked it up and continued to fish the trip out. On the return to Boise he went in and had it checked out. From what Shawn said the nurse thought it was quite funny and after she found out how good the fishing was she wanted to go. The doctor did ask why he didn't go to the Riggins medical clinic and get it removed. Shawns reponse was.... CAUSE WE WHERE FISHING! Not to mention we whould probably lose our spot. Now that's a die hard!!! The stick ended up being about 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a No.2 pencil lead. To this day Shawn will swear it wasn't a stick but a tree trunk.....

We have been hitting it pretty hard out of my jet boat down by whitebird. Pretty much have the whole river to ourselves. Really cracks me up when we drive past that Zoo on the little Salmon. I swear I have seen tents 1 foot from the pavement.. guys who have to wait until no cars are going by to cast.. Guys fishing in spots where the only chance you would ever have of landing one is to use a sturgon rod and jackpole the thing up on the bank. Back at work I keep hearing these storys about "hooked 20, landed 2"
Anyway, we have been hammering them in the big river with Kwikfish and having a ball.. it would be totally to cool if this happened every year. Something weird about backtrolling at Riggins in your shorts and sandals with your shirt off.. I love it !!!

Pretty nice fish too don't ya think????

B-Run, Your right about the Zoo on the Little Salmon. Saw some real idiots out there. Tried to hit the weekdays to stay away from the hord of fishermen. Last year we used 20 pound test and this year with moved up to 40 pound. We still had line breaks!!!! Really tested the tackle out. Heard a couple of weeks ago thier was a gun pulled on another boat on the main. We found a spot where we where out of the way from the crowd. Met a pretty cool guy yesterday that said he had to pull a idiot of the river after he fell in trying to net a fish for his kid. Had to laugh at all those people that bring thier little 12" wide trout nets thinking they can net one of these monsters. We where on the east side of the river right across from Riverside RV park. I think we where the only ones on that side with a real net(36" Ranger Pro Lander with a 8' handle). We where call on several times to aid netless fishermen. Helped a guy bring in about a 13 pounder using 1 year old 14 pound test. He fought that thing for about an hour but got it close enough for us to get a net on it. He was a nice guy and we where glad to help him out.

I hope he has an up to date tetanus shot....however...maybe he could use
a day or two of lockjaw....
Seriously....

B-RUN,
Do you run the river all the way up to Lucille? Someday I want to get over there and check out that river. Some of those rapids are pretty hairy! I think chair creek looks tough.

posh II, I think he's up to date. Magine the doctor would be smart enough to ask him. I'll ask him on Tuesday just to make sure.

Willie, If your wanting to run the Salmon let me know. I know a few people that run it all the time. I wouldn't even think of running that river unless you follow or have some experience onboard. That river has claimed alot of boats and lives due to macho ego's that think they know how to steer a sled. One group of people is the Western White Association. Hell, B-Run is probably a member !

WWA

I havn't met any of the members yet but have talked to some of them. Seem like really kewl people that thrive around saftey. They run in numbers just for that reason. I'll be a member as soon as I start putting the sled together. Thats a whole nother post LOL.....


[ 05-26-2001: Message edited by: SnagMagnet ]

Yes, I am a member of the WWA. We have been putting in at Hammer creek and running up to Skookumchuck. First trip through Chair creek was in my drift boat on a very cold day in december many years ago. Big hole at the bottom put about a foot of water over the front... Thats BRISK baby!!! Most of the fish we have caught this year have been in the 15, 16 lb range "very tasty"

Posh,
I have no intention of running that river on my own. I dont have a sled at the moment to even try it. The sled Im getting wouldnt cut it on that river. Its an 16' flat bottom Alumaweld. Ive got a couple of video tapes of the racers running that river, Talk about some crazy [Bleeeeep!]! Speaking of people dieing on that river. A guy I knew lost his life there last month racing.

Willie, I'm was sorry to hear about your friend at the Riggins race. I've was on the Salmon in a 16 foot Greagor last fall trying for some Steelies. Kinda scary with 25 inch sides.