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Half A Hundred Wishes Realized At Rivers Inlet Resort

Ó by John L. Beath

(John's largest chinook, a Rivers Inlet 60-pounder!)

Few things in the Pacific Northwest compare to catching monster chinook. A whopper has the strength to tow your boat backwards or sideways! Not even monster halibut provide the amount of silent wishes, soft-pillowed dreams or screams of joyous lust that chinook salmon over 50 pounds can evoke of ordinary men and women.

They call ‘em Tyee – any chinook over 30 pounds. They’re special all right, but when they reach that magical half a hundred mark the chinook becomes something of dreams, desire and a heaping of good luck. That’s the way it’s been for as long as I’ve been hanging herring over the side of the boat. Catching my first-ever 50-pounder can’t be forgotten, especially since so many hours of want and wishful thinking went into the catch long before stepping into the boat.

That first 50-pounder attacked a whole herring several years ago – five to be exact – while fishing one of North America’s premier "BIG CHINOOK" locales, Rivers Inlet. Prior to catching that fish I’d hit the "almost 50" mark more times than I can remember. Until last August it would have taken a kick to the head to convince me that another 50-pounder, not an ounce under or over, would move into the "most proud of catching" salmon spot in my memory. But it did happen, here’s how.

The fish story begins while fishing solo during my annual stay at Rivers Inlet Resort, which sits strategically at the head of Rivers Inlet, where the broad-shouldered chinook stage before traveling to world-famous Wannock River. I’d placed my whole and cut-plug baits at depths ranging from 8 to 20 feet, because that’s as deep as necassary, due to the glacial melt that paints the surface with an ivory and emerald-colored water.

The fleet of boats at the resort consist of two and three-man Livingston boats, noted for their ability to remain stable even when the usually calm waters turn ugly. The boats also have the reputation for fishing quite well, even with numerous rods. My 14-foot Livingston boat had all of my gear, which easily equals the weight of another man. Cameras, rods, reels, a jumbo Thermos of coffee – you name it, I had it in the boat.

Like most mornings, the head of the inlet lay flat calm, with the promise of big chinook lurking beneath the surface. Multiple rods pointed north, south, east, west and elsewhere. {In British Columbia anglers may fish as many rods as they can desire}. Each of my six rods had the purpose of probing a different depth from 12 to 20-feet. And each hosted a whole herring knowing full well that fewer fish would bite, but the ones that did usually pushed the 40-pound mark. Most guests wouldn’t dare put out more than four rods, especially while fishing alone. But my madness had a mission, to see if a fish could be hooked and landed, all the while without cutting or tangling the other lines. I love a challenge!

Four of the rods held Canadian style knuckle buster reels loaded with Berkley XT 20-pound test line. The remaining two rods mated perfectly with precession reels of the highest standard possible – Ambassadeur Tournament 5600 C level wind bait casters loaded with a generous 250 yard supply of International Game Fish Association {IGFA} rated 8-pound test line. Silently I affectionately called these two rods my wish list and positioned one on the port and the other on the starboard. The port side rod measured 12 feet in length, two feet longer than the starboard side rod.

Both of these rods carried only three ounces instead of eight like their brothers and sisters. {Yes, I said brothers and sisters! To me each rod has a personality and place on the boat, much like a family at the dinner table. But unlike a good dad, I do have my favorite and he’s the tallest of the clan}. Trolling super slow enabled me to consistently maintain the proper depths on each rod regardless of the weight used. Most of my hits or all out assaults came on the bow rod set at 20 feet, but not the morning of Wednesday, August 26^th.

Darkness barely surrendered to light enough for me to see my lines when a sound I’d never heard before erupted – a line out alarm {clicker} on the Ambassadeur level wind reel. To say the reel smoked would be a lie and it didn’t. However, the unseen chinook did roll off line at an rpm unmatched by any Pacific Northwest salmon I’d experienced, including a 60-pounder from the same location just two years previous. With super light line and behemoth fish, if you don’t have a silk-smooth drag, just say good bye and wait for the echoing report of a gunshot-like sound of line breaking!

Thank god for Swedish precision engineers, because the reel rolled off line without the slightest hickup or burb that could cause the thin diameter line to part.

Popular opinion when fighting big fish on light line directs anglers to apply pressure with the length of the rod. That’s not my opinion though, since I believe in using the reel and boat motor more than the rod in the beginning of the fish’s fight. Until the fish grows tired the flawless gears of the reel coupled with the boat in chase allows the fish to run, allowing for only the reel to fail, thus eliminating the chance of the noodle rod pressuring the line needlessly. For as long as the fish wants to run, I let the reel handle the hard part while I use the boat to chase the fish and recover lost line.

Soon, after only minutes of first a 100-yard dash, then 50 and finally several 25-yard sprints, the fish grew tired. Only then did my rod arch enough to apply fish-weakening pressure. The drag setting on the reel remained extra light for safety precautions, but increased slightly from the beginning of the battle. In just over 20 minutes time the monster fish on my line rolled onto its side, ready for the net or a gentle tug of the leader to pull free the barbless hooks. Either way, I’d won the battle but still had a decision to make. Keep the fish or release it?

My personal vow prior to fishing Rivers Inlet this year was to release any native 50-pounder. To my surprise, upon close inspection of the fish, it had no adipose fin – the largest hatchery fish I’d ever fought. Weakness or desire, depending on how you view the situation, supported my decision to keep the fish. And every time the local hatchery gets the opportunity to study the tiny, almost invisible wire-coded tag and some scales from the fish, they learn valuable information. Yes, I’m making excuses here, but they’re valid just the same.

As the net entered the water the memory of switching leaders that morning outweighed the fish. I’d forgotten to shorten the standard 6-foot leader to compensate for the noodle bend of the 12-foot rod, which now doubled over almost enough for the tip to touch my belly button. No way could I reach this light line prize without help.

Another 20 minutes passed nervously until someone from the lodge saw me wave for help. Joy and sadness swamped my body with emotional sweat when the fish entered the confines of a well-placed net. The loud thumping sound of the fish hitting the floor on the inside of the boat gave me yet one more desire and dream to spend thousands of hours trying to accomplish – releasing the next 50-plus pound hatchery chinook salmon.

Without goals and achievements from silent wishes, soft-pillowed dreams and screams of joyous lust what do we have to look forward to?

Each year, a few more lucky anglers discover the monster chinook of Rivers Inlet. And without question, Rivers Inlet Resort provides anglers one of the most unique opportunities to catch a once-in-a-lifetime trophy, often times within 100 feet of the lodge in calm waters.

For the past several years the average sized chinook taken at Rivers Inlet weighed in the high 30 to low 40 pound range. And each year anglers tally numerous 50 pounders, occasional 60 pounders, 70 pounders and rarely, an 80 pounder. The largest hatchery chinook in the world was caught by a guest of Rivers Inlet Resort, in1991 and tipped the scales to an unbelievable 81.5 pounds.

Rivers Inlet Resort’s season is short, just 40 days long, but gives anglers the best chance at fishing the peak of the run says Terry Johnson, owner of the lodge. Most anglers are repeat customers he says, because anglers fall in love with the remoteness of the lodge, scenic flight from Renton by floatplane, calm waters and above all else – BIG CHINOOKS! The food is nothing to sneeze about either. And while some anglers never grow tired of fishing for kings, others like to kick back on the dock and fish for halibut. Last year one guest caught a 124 pound barndoor.

One of the things that makes Rivers Inlet fish so special is how fast they grow. A few years ago a five year old fish grew to 74.6 pounds. My 50 pounder was also a five year old fish, but that shows how strong the strain of Wannock kings can be. During any season a run of 4 year old fish could weigh anywhere from the high 30’s to low 50’s. The five year olds could weigh from the 40’s to 60’s and six and seven year olds simply break the mold. Catch a 3 year old and you might be surprised with a 30 plus pounder.

Fishing at Rivers Inlet is so simple its almost funny. Anglers from Rivers Inlet Resort cast off their fully equipped Livingston boats and motors past the dock and begin fishing. According to Johnson, the most productive location on the entire 25-mile long inlet is within a rock's throw of his resort's dock. The amount of guests as well as private boaters who take fish here confirm his claims.

Anglers need not know how to use downriggers or other complicated gear. The only thing that's needed is a strong will, strong line, smooth drag and a cut-plug or whole herring trolled behind a four, six or eight ounce crescent sinker. Depth is critical here. Anglers typically fish below the glacial melt which varies from 8 to 12 feet. Standard depths range anywhere from 8 to 20 feet.

The most successful anglers troll super slow and kick the motor out of gear occasionally. Some anglers catch fish trolling at a quick clip or by mooching, but the tried-and-true best method is to troll super slow and allow the massive bruisers the opportunity to suck down the flashy offering.

These fish are so big and powerful, Johnson tutors his guests on the finer points of hook-setting and playing these fish. "Don't set the hook hard. Grab your rod, hold it in front of your nose and then set the hook. This way you won't set the hook so hard that you break your line, if you do, you will break your nose and that you break your line, if you do, you will break your nose and that just doesn't happen" says Johnson. Believe me, that's sound advise and it works. Remember, with only 12 to 20 pulls out, it won't take much of a jerk against a 40-pound brute to snap the line.

Anglers who are interested in fishing Rivers Inlet can contact Rivers Inlet Resort at (425) 226-4600 or write P.O. Box 1015, Renton, WA 98057-1015. Web address: www.RiversInletResort.com

Trips originate at Renton where anglers load their gear onto float planes and fly north, over some of the most picturesque scenery you're likely to encounter anywhere. Packages include: Round trip transportation, lodging, meals, license, tackle, bait, unlimited use of boat, motor and fuel, raingear, fish packaging and a fully stocked complimentary lounge. Rates, tax included: 4 days/3 nights.....$1549. 7 days/6 nights.....$2349.