by The Troutist, August 17, 2013

It’s zero dark thirty, Brett and I stumble out the door to meet up with Guides Bruce Warren of Fishing For Fun Guide Service (253-208-7433) and Doug Dosch of Rivers Edge Guide Service (253-350-2884) to chase some Pink salmon. Our destination was the ramp at Redondo. Brett would be working the water with Doug and his client Josh Tilson, and I would be with Bruce and his clients the Stegall’s.

This story starts back in June when Air Force TSG Robert Stegall Jr. and his family attended a seminar given by Bruce at the JBLM Outdoor Expo on salmon angling. Shortly thereafter he booked a trip for Pink salmon to coincide with a visit from his father Robert Sr. and his brother Dustin. Now being from Texas there were going to be a lot of first’s on this trip. None of them had ever angled for salmon, used a spinning rod and reel, been on a guided trip, or worked the Puget Sound. Don’t get the wrong impression they are experienced anglers but bass were usually their target species.

Doug’s client Josh Tilson a NW resident had never been salmon angling and Brett having grown up on the Columbia is an experienced salmon angler but had never chased Pink Salmon. So both boats were going to have the opportunity to experience a fishery that comes along every other year. Myself I have had pursued the pink’s in smaller rivers in years past but I have never worked the Sound, so not only was I getting an opportunity to get my story and pictures but also getting a chance to experience a new water.

We started working the Redondo area not far from the launch casting pink Buzz Bombs dressed up in different ways. A double hook set-up with pink hoochie skirts or pink worms threaded on the trailer hook. Doug and his crew were tossing pink jigs for the days outing. Brett had the first hook-up of the day only to have her come unbuttoned right at the boat. We continued working the area casting in a fan pattern all around the boat with no success. We did get to see one brought to the net by a boat about 100 yards ahead of us, but that was the only action we had seen. After another couple of minutes anchor was pulled and we were headed for Browns Point.

We spent the first hour or so working the north side of the point after dropping anchor I was observing the beach and the point which was covered with anglers casting anything that was pink. To say it was elbow to elbow angling would be a very accurate description, but in all that time we did not witness one hook-up. After a little discussion the anchor was pulled and we moved over to the south side of the point where we spent the remainder of the day. This time we changed up tactics and were drifting with the current casting towards shore after a short time our boat had the first hook-up.

Robert Jr. had our first hook-up with Bruce giving him instructions on how to play this feisty pink out and into the net. After a few runs and a couple of times going underneath the boat Jr. brought his first ever salmon to the net, a nice bright pink with sea lice intact. Bruce then proceeded to give them the after catch instructions on how to bleed them out and care for them once they are in the boat. A short time later Brett had another hook-up when out of know where a seal laid claim to his. I have got to say I have heard of such things but never actually seen it happen and much to Brett’s dismay he can now say it happened to him first hand. In a matter of minutes Brett brought a pink to the net, another first on this outing.

We made a few more passes working this stretch when Jr. had another hook-up and this one put up a great fight going around the boat, under the boat, and a few runs thrown in for excitement only to have him come unbuttoned right at the boat. Josh Tilson, one of the anglers in Doug’s boat also had his first hook-up battling it into submission only to have the same result; yes he spit the hook boat-side. After missing a few more it was time to call it a day.

The water on this side coming out of the Puyallup River was for a better word a little silty but very fishable. I was later informed that the fly anglers on shore were tossing pink flies and each ended up with two apiece. I can’t say we seen anyone really lighting them up and if you had one you were doing well. I would say give it another week or two and the main run should be hitting this area in full force with plenty of action for everyone. If this is a fishery you have never taken part in head to your local tackle shop get some instruction and gear or better yet book yourself a guided trip and get your lessons from the pros. Bruce Warren of Fishing For Fun Guide Service (253-208-7433) or Doug Dosch of River’s Edge Guide Service (253-350-2884) both are excellent guides.

Check out my Uncle Wes face book page for photos of this outing.

So until next time may your next trout be your trophy mount.
The Troutist-“Uncle Wes” Malmberg.




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