Today Didn’t Suck!

[Pullstart 62,881]

I went up north to the Pere Marquette river today @Rob J. you near there?  We used a drift boat guide.  We put in at Green Lodge and drifted and fished to Gleason’s Landing.  I landed 7 king salmon and my uncle landed 3.  Our guide Kevin did a great job navigating the river!

 

This was a fly only section of the river and the river is catch and release only.  It was clean, and peaceful and awesome!

 

The fish picture I was posing with my uncle with, he caught in the same spot his dad caught the biggest king the guide has ever seen on the river.

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,498]

AWESOME 

[Rob J. 1,942]

Some nice ones! That’s about 50 miles due west of me. Pure Michigan Baby! 

[Rob J. 1,942]

4 minutes ago, Rob J. said:

Some nice ones! That’s about 50 miles due west of me. Pure Michigan Baby! 

I’m pretty sure the ole Pere Marquette railroad, which is now a bike trail, runs all the way from my town all the way past PM to the big lake. 

[Achto 27,575]

Looks like an awesome time.  So much color to those fish! Unlike catching them out of Lake Michigan where everything is silver in color.

Edited September 25, 2023 by Achto

[SylvanLakeWH 25,558]

[peter lena 8,627]

@Pullstart  lucky you ! can relate , fished / floated the on the Missouri , in Montana , can feel the incredible pull / fight of those fish !  my travel days are over , but those fish are Alaska size , had moose watching us as we drifted by ,  good for you .! pete

[Skwerl58 704]

They are monsters!! That is a great day of fishing. Fish that size are hard to guestimate weight on but how much did they way? When you don't see that size of fish you have no idea of their weight. Fly fishing is one of the fun things that I have done. I use my old 5-6 wt Cabelas outfits to trout fish locally. Mostly stocked fish but have quite a few native browns and brooks in the mountains. I usually fish by myself so do not go as much since I have gotten older. 

[Pullstart 62,881]

53 minutes ago, Skwerl58 said:

They are monsters!! That is a great day of fishing. Fish that size are hard to guestimate weight on but how much did they way? When you don't see that size of fish you have no idea of their weight. Fly fishing is one of the fun things that I have done. I use my old 5-6 wt Cabelas outfits to trout fish locally. Mostly stocked fish but have quite a few native browns and brooks in the mountains. I usually fish by myself so do not go as much since I have gotten older. 

Most of these were 18-20 lbs.  he said a 25 pounder in the river this year is MASSIVE.  I’m not sure if I shared these picture yet, but in July we were on an Alaskan cruise and landed some monsters up the river in Ketchikan.  My two were around 30 lbs and my buddy Matt’s was pushing 35+
 

 

[rjg854 11,361]

Looks like a great time, fishin'   

You look even happier than on one of your 's

[Kenneth R Cluley 515]

Those smiles tell it all. Looks like a great time. I caught some big salmon in Alaska several years ago. Couldn't believe how big the mosquitoes were. Buddy who lived there chumped on me being from Florida and not recognizing mosquitoes.

[peter lena 8,627]

@Kenneth R Cluley   fished  floated the TOGIAK  in Alaska , was hearing a very loud  whirring / buzzing  sound , thought there was  a float plane coming up toward us , sky got very grey / dark , was mosquito's  so dense , it was incredible , we were covered in netting , they were still on us in covering numbers , managed to get into a side run around that , they  flew back to the storm . the fish were worth it though , Pete    

[Pullstart 62,881]

26 minutes ago, Kenneth R Cluley said:

mosquitoes

We heard stories, but never saw a single skeeter in Alaska!  

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

Monsters!!!

[Skwerl58 704]

A friend and his son would take annual trips to Alaska and fish the Kenai and a couple other places. He gave me probably 5 pounds of Sockeye and some cod fillets and it was the best fish I had ever eaten. Each year he went and would bring me some until they changed the regulations. Great fishing!!!

[wh500special 2,183]

22 hours ago, Pullstart said:

…

 

This was a fly only section of the river and the river is catch and release only.  

 
Interesting that it’s catch and release only on the Kings since their days are very numbered once they are in that river.  
 

Opportunities like that make me wonder why my ancestors decided to be poor in this part of the country…they could have been poor anywhere and would have had better fishing in many other places. 😜

 

Looks like a great day!

 

Steve

[Pullstart 62,881]

28 minutes ago, wh500special said:

Interesting that it’s catch and release only on the Kings since their days are very numbered once they are in that river.  

 

 

My thoughts too, but it has proven to allow more spawning before they expire apparently, as that river has higher fish numbers than others.  

 

28 minutes ago, wh500special said:

Opportunities like that make me wonder why my ancestors decided to be poor in this part of the country…they could have been poor anywhere and would have had better fishing in many other places. 😜

 

Looks like a great day!

 

Steve

[Pullstart 62,881]

Today was Mrs. P’s turn.  Different river, different rules.  8 king salmon landed between her father, brother and herself.  Most of the fish ended up in our freezer!

 

 

[Pullstart 62,881]

My BIL Colton’s big king was 27.5 lbs