You Can Go Back
photo by Jack Hutson
You Can Go Back
Horns & Hooks Outdoor Magazine I May/June, 2012
Story by Jack Hutson
I had never seen a salmon before when, in jeans, I waded in chilling waters flowing seemingly as deep with sockeye salmon as it was water! That was the Russian River near Cooper's Landing, Alaska in August of 1972. I had cousins that lived in Seward and they introduced me and my grandfather to salmon fishing in the great state of Alaska. I was fourteen years old and traveling with my grandparents on the road to an Alaskan adventure that lasted just over a week - and yet, it never ended.
"Come on, Dad! We're in Alaska and you want to sleep"?! That was my younger son, Nate, using a rather convincing argument as I lay in sweet slumber across our cabin's soft bed. It is now August, 2011. We had flown in late to Anchorage and spent a restless first night in Seward. I was content to enjoy the long afternoon relaxing before our flyfishing float trip on the Kenai River very early the next morning. We had made arrangements with Drifter's Lodge in Cooper's Landing for a cabin and float trips. Flyfishing for the guys - sightseeing for my wife, Shelley and our daughter, Jordan. - "Come on, Dad"!
My excuses ran out long before the Alaskan summer sun and I was compelled to give in to Nate's demands. We stopped into the lodge office to ask about the latest fishing conditions of the nearby rivers and streams. "There's the Russian." Our host, Bob Rima, continued, "There are good pockets of reds (sockeye) from the mouth to the falls". I hadn't actually fished the Russian River since that first trip in 1972. "Okay, the Russian it is"! After securing all the maps and information the lodge could offer, Nate and I gathered our gear and were off!
We found ample parking and decided to make the long hike to the falls in hopes of eliminating as many fishermen as possible. Carrying waders and fishing gear, we had no trouble finding the falls. There is a deep run not too far from the base of the falls and that was the place we would begin. There was a young couple, perhaps in their twenties, fishing at the lower end of the run so we took the upper. The water ran a bit fast and deep, but Nate continued to improve his drift until he was quite close to putting his fly on the end of the sockeye's nose! Cast after cast - Nate worked the water with very little success. The day was quite overcast and with the evening fast approaching our companions decided to hike out, leaving the tail-end of the run to us!
Nate's presentation was a bit too rough - too, spot-on. He bounced the fly off the fish's back sending them scuttling for cover. Finally, the perfect presentation to a salmon willing, or aggravated enough, to strike hard with a shake of its bullet-shaped head! The flyline zipped through the water and I was concerned that Nate could not hold his ground. He might either, panic and hold the reel's edge or let-fly with yards of line! I witnessed with pride as he adjusted the drag, playing the fish flawlessly. The salmon shot down the waters current and, when that didn't work, took to the air in an effort to shake free from the bite on its jaw. Bright silver slashed across clear water, but Nate was gaining with every run. Each run shorter than the last until coaxed into a shallow pool and the battle was Nate’s! He held firmly to the tired salmon long enough for a photo at a time. Then, after fully recovered, released to dart back into deeper water.
“The salmon shot down the waters current and, when that didn't work, took to the air in an effort to shake free from the bite on its jaw.”
It was getting darker and there are plenty of bears along the banks of the Russian River to make a sensible person wary. Though we carried no salmon with us, I did not relish the idea of proving it to every fish-hungry bruin we ran across. We made it back to the vehicle and were on the road back when it finally came to me. This was not purposely done mind you, I had no intention - no plan. My youngest son had caught his first salmon on the very same river, at the very same age - almost to the day - as I had done nearly forty years prior!
Just him and me! I truly believe this time, maybe in a different way, was just as exciting as it was when I was catching them. I guess you can go back.