Snagged?

There we were, backtrolling a T-50 Flatfish with a sardine wrap at Peacock Flat on the Smith River in California when Barry Temple of Grizzly Electric in San Jose, California, rod went slamming down.  When Barry set the hook the rod tip did not move.  The rod just bent.

Barry said, "I think I'm snagged." NO!  That's a fish!  As I saw IT role after the hook set.  The fish screamed back and forth in the tail-out of the run at Peacock Flat.  Then the fish made it's move.  It headed down
stream through a very fast and narrow little slot that was surrounded by a number of submerged tree's and large rocks.  Finally the fish was clear, we had at least 100 yard before we came to the next step of obstacles.

As the fish left Peacock Flat it headed down stream in a mad dash toward the Stump Hole, once in the Stump Hole, the fish moved itself next to a rock and outcropping log which was right in the heat of the very fast moving current.  Well you can guess what happened next.  The fish went around the large rock and the log, and me, my boat and Barry went drifting at speed around the other side of the rock.  I told Barry to click
the reel into freespool and put a little tension on the line until I could move over into water slow enough to row back upstream.

Once I slowed the boat, I told Barry to keep reeling, we were a good 75 yards below the rock and the line and the fish were wrapped around the large log and rock.  I rowed like a mad man, we got back up that raging rapid, went around the rock and the log, then through a very narrow and rocky slot.  And there he was, amazingly the fish was still on.  We followed the fish through some open and safe water for almost 100 yards.  When we finally landed the fish it was a monster 42 pound King Salmon.  Boy, What a fight!  It could have made ESPN's "Play's of the Week".  The fish is now at the taxidermist getting ready to be hung in Barry's Trophy Room.

Phil enjoys finding trophy salmon and other fish.  You can e-mail him at Phil@Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service or visit his site at Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service. 
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