2024 SALMON RIVER RUN

Driving through the night, fueled by excitement, we arrived at the Paradise Pool access at 3:30 AM. The darkness cloaked the river, but the sounds of salmon leaping through the water cut through the night air -a sound that stays with you forever, especially for first-timers like Gary and Joe.

By 6:30 AM, as the legal fishing light broke, we were ready. Casting into the cool morning air, we had a few hook-ups but landed nothing. The river was alive with salmon pushing upstream, their powerful movements a spectacle of nature. It was awe-inspiring, even when the fish outsmarted us.

By the time the three of us got down the bank to the river, he was bowed up hard on this fish. I told the other guys to NOT NET THAT FISH under any circumstances lol. He pulled a "Cornhole" trick on us so he had to land his own fish.

The rest of us battled the river and fish with little to show but lost hooks and stories of "the one that got away." The power of a 30-pound King Salmon on a fly rod is no joke, and even without landing one, the thrill is undeniable.

As dusk fell, we retreated to the Altmar Inn for a hearty meal before heading to the cabin. There, under the glow of cabin lights, we prepped our gear for the next day's adventure.

The following morning, we returned to the Church Pool but set up on the opposite bank.

Despite several hook-ups, the only fish landed was Gary's impressive 7-inch smallmouth bass. Encouraged but eager for more, we moved to the Upper Fly Zone, a stretch where Evan and I had found luck before.

The day belonged to Evan again, who netted a massive King Salmon, his rod bending under its weight.

Rob "The River Walker" joined us later, landing an equally impressive King.

Gary, Joe, and I weren't as fortunate, but the energy of the river and the camaraderie kept spirits high.

Rob led us to a stretch on the lower end of the South Channel. Evan and I had never fished this specific spot, and Rob assured us it was productive. As the faintest hints of daylight began to illuminate the river, we positioned ourselves and prepared for action.

The morning was electric. On my third cast, my fly - a classic egg pattern - was grabbed by a fresh Coho Salmon. The fish bolted up the rapids with explosive energy, peeling line from my reel. My 6-pound test leader was no match for the brute strength of the fish, and the fight ended in a snap. Undeterred, I re-rigged with an 8-pound fluorocarbon leader and tried again. Another strike! This time, the Coho fought hard but within my adjusted setup's limits, and after a spirited fight, I finally landed my first fish of the day - a sleek, silver beauty.

Here, I switched to a custom streamer fly I'd tied during the off-season, designed to imitate the emerald shiner, a salmon's primary lake diet. The fly's marabou feathers from Creative Angler gave it a lifelike motion in the water. First cast - BOOM! The hit was unmistakable, and my rod bent like a question mark. The fight that followed was epic. This fish was strong, fresh, and unrelenting. I had to let it run, carefully managing my drag to avoid breaking off.

Minutes felt like hours as the salmon surged up and down the river, testing every ounce of strength and patience I had. Finally, I saw the fish - a colossal King Salmon, its chrome body gleaming in the sunlight. Evan positioned himself with the net, and with one last effort, I guided the fish into the hoop. Cheers erupted from the group. It was one of the largest, freshest Kings I'd ever caught, and the photos we took didn't do her justice. After a quick release, she swam powerfully back into the depths, continuing her journey upriver.

Noon hits and we left the DSR section of the Salmon river. We were headed back to the Upper Fly Zone of the river to see what we could get into up there.

We all hooked up on fish that evening, with only Evan and I landing fish. It is very difficult to land your first fish on your first trip because you have to learn how to fight a big salmon on a fly rod. Gary and Joe did get the knack of casting and did really well hooking up on fish but we could not get any of their fish in the net.

Saturday marked the final full day of our trip, and we all felt a mix of excitement and determination as we prepared for the river.

The day began early again, with our group meeting at the Upper Fly Zone access around 4:30 AM. The darkness still blanketed the river, but the atmosphere buzzed with the quiet hum of anglers setting up gear and claiming their spots along the bank. This morning, we made new friends - Bob, Hiram, and Frank - three seasoned anglers who immediately joined in on the lighthearted banter that had become a hallmark of our trip.

As daylight broke, we spread out along the banks of the Upper Fly Zone, each angler keen to claim their piece of water. The first casts of the day were cautious, the cool morning air biting at our fingers as we searched for the perfect drift.

Gary hooked into a sizable King Salmon just as the first light crept over the water. The fish peeled line and thrashed in the current, its strength a stark reminder of why we love this pursuit. Gary fought valiantly, his rod bending deep as the fish surged upstream. But once again, the sheer power of the fish proved too much, and it broke free just feet from the net.

Evan and I continued our streak, landing several salmon throughout the morning. Evan hooked into a particularly fresh King that took him on a wild ride, charging downstream and leaping clear of the water. The fight was long and intense, but his skill and patience won out. Watching him land that fish was like witnessing a master at work - a true display of the art of fly fishing.