Springers are in!!!!

[Capn Mike]

Times like this I'm glad to be alive. Spring salmon have finally reached my area of the Columbia and we managed to get 5 Sunday, and 4 yesterday. Kept 2 hatchery fish, others were natives, including an estimated 38 lb. hen. Put one of them on the barby last night....there is nothing...NOTHING!!!!....that tastes better than spring chinook. Mmmmmmm!

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Springers are in!!!!

i believe you! and i'm jealous maybe if you start makin salmon jerky, you sell me a sample

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Springers are in!!!!

I sort of cheat. There's a butcher shop near me that does a great job of smoking salmon, and I use them for summer and fall salmon.<br />However, to smoke spring chinook would be a sin, and might cause the fishing gods to never let you catch another. We throw them on the barbeque, sprinkle some lemon juice and maybe a little butter and then eat about half of it "al dente" off the grill along with a cold brew. Later, when we're full, we actually take some into the house and eat some more. Leftovers make great salads or salmon patties.<br />Jeez. It's almost supper time, and I'm hungry!!

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Springers are in!!!!

This is what I was talking about. Weather yesterday was in low 70s (we got a little carried away with the shorts, though....got cold by dark!). mmmmm....good...<br /><br />

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Springers are in!!!!

whoops....this was last fall's fish. Yesterday's was on another chip. Well...they look the same, with one important exception....folks from here will know why..... <br />

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Springers are in!!!!

uhhhh the exception is that this year, they would have a big game tag on their lip? JKiddin

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Springers are in!!!!

No....usually we're allowed only to keep fish that are hatchery originated, and are identified by removal of the adipose fin. Last year, we were allowed to keep some fall natives. This fish is obviously a native, so I didn't want anyone to think I was poaching this spring. <br />The ironic thing is....I was wearing my lucky shorts and shirt this last Sunday; (it was 74 degrees and sunny,); same outfit as last fall.<br />I'm going out later this week; it's snowing in the mountains and hills above 1000 feet, so I'll be bundled up. Hope the fish don't care what I'm wearing.....

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Springers are in!!!!

Capn Mike , I'm really...... jealous<br />Catch one for me.

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Springers are in!!!!

Nice job Capn Mike!! The closest I have to what your catching are kokanee salmon, but not as big (15-22"). Must be nice