Diesel Bombers - Looks Like I Have A New Hang Out!

I frequent he other outdoor forums quite a bit, so I thought I would post up here as well.

First off, I am a Washington State resident.

I just started up my guided fishing business again. I spend a great deal of time on the southwest Washington rivers. Some of these are the best rivers in the state, but I am a Steelheader at heart.

We are currently fishing Winter run Steelhead and have had one of the best years in over a decade.

We will hit this fishery until Spring. At this time we will switch up for Spring Chinook or Springers as we call them. The fish can get up to large weights and I have boated at least 3 over 60 lbs every year for the last 8 years. It's a slower fishery but rewards with big fish. We follow these guys from the ocean all the way to Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. We then switch to fishing Drano Lake.

Following closely after Springer fishing comes our Sturgeon season. It's actually open year round, but not until the water temps come up do we really start getting keepers. These boneless fish are far the best fish n chips fish EVER!! Late spring is the time for keepers below Bonneville or down by the Columbia River tidewater.

As the season progresses into Early summer, the Shad show up by the million. Last year over 3 million. These are a 3-5 lb "salmonoid". Thier purpose in life? To be bait for sturgeon. We rig these whole fish onto a 17-0 barbless single hook with 300+ lb double briad leader and about 4 lbs of lead. This is where we get into the "oversize" fish and getting 8'+ fish to the boat is common. We have had one over 13 feet to the boat. These range from several hundred pounds to well over 1000lbs.

While this fishery is going, the Summer Steelhead show up. Starting on the Columbia then following them up the rivers, this is a riot fishery. Acrobatic fish on ultra light gear are the norm.

As Fall approaches, we switch back to Fall Chinook (Kings) and then Coho (Silvers) Salmon. This is another bruiser fishery that leads us right back to Winter Steelhead.

I still find time to kill some ducks, drop some crab pots, Salmon fish the Sound, and archery hunt for a deer and an elk. Usually I get the deer while fishing the river for Steelhead. The Elk typically come off the East side, but lately I have been hunting trophy horns on the west side.

My bow is custom made and very heavy, but unique to me. It has killed a great deal of game and I do pretty good at the 3D shoots. ;)

I won't go into the upland bird and turkey hunting I get into. :D

Sorry for the long post, but people start talking about what they do outside and I figured I would give the short list. I won't bore you with everything else!

Dave