Only a day after making a run to the Deschutes and fishing with Grant Putnam, we turned around and hopped in the boat with a couple of buddies from Salmon Trout Steelhead magazine, Dave Eng and Keith Jackson. With little more than a power nap separating us from our previous trip we were all a little run down, and still a little soggy, from traversing the banks the day before in the steelhead capital of the west. But outstanding fish counts at the dam, and a shot at some of the best salmon fishing in the lower 48, pulled us out of our cozy beds en route to the Bonneville dam.
Dave, and Keith holding his catch
Traveling east along highway 84 from Oregon City we passed through some of the most beautiful country that can be seen from any paved road. After crossing the Bridge of the Gods into Washington we launched the boat and made the 100 yard interstate voyage back over to the Oregon side of the river to cozy up next to the "red can". We put the River Rockers out behind jet divers to see if we couldn't hook one of the big fall fish on our new plug. It wasn't more than a half hour and there was a knock at the end of Mr. Jackson's line. After circling the boat and sizzling off line at the rate that only a big king can, Dave netted the huge fall run Chinook.
We eased our way back into the strike zone on the current seam produced by the "red can" and watched the rod tips nod along with the plugs, dancing in the water below. True to form salmon, like most game animals, like to take their chance at your presentation only when you're completely tied up in another task. About half way through my breakfast sandwich my rod shot back! Jolting in its holder I dropped my breakfast and struggled to free the rod, wedged tightly against the holder with the force of 20lbs of angry fish attached to the other end. Half asleep at that point, with caffeine fading quickly from my blood stream, a hand to hand battle with a Columbia King was about the only thing that was going to wake me up.
My Chinook looking a little dazed after getting bonked!
The River Rocker, designed as a steelhead plug, was not cut out for battle with the wide shouldered fall Kings in mind, but it got the job done. No one can really be sure if it was the difference in size, wobble, or color, but after seeing this same bait catch Walleye, Steelhead, Smallmouth, Coho, and now Fall Run Chinook you've got to feel pretty confident in putting one of them on the end of your line in any situation. So, with another stack of fresh salmon ready for the carry on bag back to Arkansas. Our meat box on F and energy level nearing E, the cold coastal winds and subsequent five foot rolling waves were all it would take to convince us to call it quits early that day. We hopped in the car and headed back to recharge our batteries in the comfort of our warm beds in Oregon City.
Catch of the day
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Only a day after making a run to the Deschutes and fishing with Grant Putnam, we turned around and hopped in the boat with a couple of buddies from Salmon Trout Steelhead magazine, Dave Eng and Keith Jackson. With little more than a power nap separating us from our previous trip we were all a little run down, and still a little soggy, from traversing the banks the day before in the steelhead capital of the west. But outstanding fish counts at the dam, and a shot at some of the best salmon fishing in the lower 48, pulled us out of our cozy beds en route to the Bonneville dam. 
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