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Today was “convoy” day as a group of WashingtonLakes anglers got together for a nice float from Sultan to Monroe. It was a chance to drift a different part of the river, shoot some video, and catch some more coho.

Markfromsea and I fished with Nate Treat, and Gringo Pescador came along in his pontoon boat. We hit the Sultan launch at 7:30am and had the place all to ourselves. Even better, we never saw another boat on the river the entire day. I love fishing on a week day. Conditions were low 50s, calm, and foggy, which burned off around 10am to give us a blue sky day.
Our plan of attack was to hit anything fishy with eggs, hardware, and plugs, and see what the fish wanted.

We worked through the first holding water with no strikes. Our second location, however, was a different story. Gringo hit the first fish of the day, and just like that the skunk was off. He got his fish on eggs in a location that I have always had luck at, and felt would be productive – and it was certainly that! Within minutes of his first fish he had a second, which he released as too dark. Then I hooked into a nice fish, only to have it come unbuttoned. But no worries, as not long after I hooked into another fish, which wasn’t huge, not chrome, but “will smoke up good” LOL. Markfromsea was next in line as Gringo graciously let him long drift past his pontoon and get hooked up, resulting in a bright and feisty six pound coho. We had a couple more hook-ups, Gringo got another in the boat and lost one at the boat. After this fine morning bite things went quiet and we decided to continue our drift.

We traveled from spot to spot, but could not equal the production of the first hole. Late morning Mark hooked another beautiful bright coho that put up a great fight. I was impressed he was able to get this fish in as it really gave him a run for his money. We took a lunch break at the “potty hole” slough. Midafternoon Gringo hooked a nice fish that came unbuttoned. That was it for our day.

Not the chrome bright fish we have been catching, but definitely still table fare and a really fun day and float. Special props to Nate for his stick work and making sure his crew got into fish. Thanks Nate!

Eggs proved to be the ticket as we caught nothing on spinners or plugs today. Bottom line – still fish to be had, so keep at it!

Hepker

10/23/2013 9:32:00 PM

great report. sounds like you had fun! in the last pic showing all the fish, is the one on the far left a chum or coho? do coho get all blotchy like that on top of getting darker/red?

Mike Carey

10/23/2013 9:35:00 PM

they are all coho. The coloration is from laying in a fish box all day.

salmonbarry

10/23/2013 9:49:00 PM

Great report Mike! How long does it take to do that drift as I have a buddy with a drift boat another with 2 pontoons and we wanted to get that drift a shot but being rookies were not sure how long it would take. Nice day on the river!

Toni

10/23/2013 10:06:00 PM

Nice report.

natetreat

10/24/2013 5:10:00 AM

It's a good days float. We started around 8, ended at 5. In heavier flows it goes much faster, but when the water is low, be prepared to row downstream if you wait too long in one spot.

Anonymous

10/24/2013 8:21:00 AM

Sultan to Ben Howard road might be a better float for your first trip. You wont be rushed and you could go to Monroe next time if you finish too early.

Gringo Pescador

10/24/2013 8:54:00 AM

It was a great day - got some great video - can't wait to see it! Love that pick of me standing on my cat in the fog with the big bend in my G Loomis, that my friends is a pic of a happy man... Bring on winter steel!!!!

MarkFromSea

10/24/2013 10:48:00 AM

Thanks for the invite and good company Nate and the good company Mike and Gringo! I had an incredibly good time! My first drift boat experience. It was so peaceful not having an engine. We all spotted the many vinyl rafts tucked in along the shoreline that succumbed because of someones' misfortune. Be safe out there guys!

I loved the fishing but I also loved the drift, the way it was so foggy in the early day and how the landscape transformed as the fog burned off. The Fall colors gave a Ft Knox radiance to the river and adjacent banks. There's gold in that river boys and girls!

TyeeMatt

10/24/2013 11:39:00 AM

What model Fish Cat pontoon is it that the Gringo is standing on?

Gringo Pescador

10/24/2013 2:13:00 PM

It's a 10' BadCat. (10.5'x21" Maxxon tubes)

TyeeMatt

10/24/2013 5:41:00 PM

Great thanks. I don't want to sink some money into a cheaper pontoon when I could save and get something I'll be happy with for a long time. Nice to see that model going down the Sky and hooking fish (while standing!).

Mike Carey

10/24/2013 6:52:00 PM

Gringo has a killer toon. Built like a tank. Makes my pontoon look like a toy next to it.

afk

10/25/2013 5:08:00 AM

Sweet! Thanks for the report.

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