Capt. Wayne Bibbins
October 2010
55 lb Chinook Salmon caught on the Hoh River
Hey Gang,
Just wanted to share and spout off a little bit about this past weekend… I will be writing more of a story when some more pics arrive and we also have a video clip from the second day which I will forward when in hand… This fish is all of a 55lb Chinook, when you see the next set of pics, you will understand, keep in mind that I am 6′ 1″ and now 220lbs and my hands aren’t exactly little… I caught (reeled in) this fish with the ever present watchful eye of Pat Neal, my friend and guide… I say reeled in because, Pat is the one who knows these rivers like the back of his hands, and sets the gear and knows the gig thru and thru. Yeah, we team worked it in and Pat nailed another 24 lb chrome Coho that day and a nice 26 lb chromer Chinook. The next three weeks could prove to be some of the best fishing this year on the Olympic Peninsula. And if you want to get out economically and fish with one of the best guides on the West End (Pat Neal) of the Olympic Peninsula, call Pat @ 360-683-9867; he will call you back…
And hold on for one helluva ride. I guarantee if you do not catch one fish, you will come off the river with a perspective in life that has been challenged and refreshed. Pat has an amazing way of entertaining his clients with satire, humor and interrogatives all the while rowing a drift boat, rigging gear and fishing two or three lines….although you will likely not be skunked… If you are presently in counseling, he will “diagnose” you in about an hour and you can save your counseling fees and you get to fish and have a ball to boot! So like two for one sale, but you have to drive ways to your appointment! Pat is a rare combo of poignantly hilarious and shockingly truthful and can tell a story in interrogative metaphors like nobody else I know. After we hooked this whale, we got into a philosophical discussion about our tactics to land it, we have different styles, but we both agreed to GET THE LURE BACK, so we laughed our asses off when we found the straightened hooks in the net and thanked the Great Creator. Pat had a badge of accomplishment on that was well-earned and respected. We thank the earth for this grand fish and nourishment from within. My past four floats this year with Pat were OFF-THE-CHART amazing, like a 16 lb steelhead one day, huge springers and summer steelhead the next, and now just epic fall fishing for huge Chinook and bright Coho… I won’t tell you where we were or what we used, but I will tell you, if you like to fish and have any form of fish induced psychosis, get out the next few weeks especially after this big blow coming in…
Thank-you Pat, for FOUR trips of a lifetime and giving your oars and your presence and putting the fortitude forward to grind it out to your hands bleed!
Chuz and Joan
November 2011
Nice day's catch!
We went on a guided fishing trip donated by Pat Neal to the KSQMFM Big Broadcast Benefit at SunLand on October 12 to support Sequim Community Broadcasting.
Chuz and I, (Joan) are up at the crack of 5am, having spent the night in Twi-Town. (Forks) We sped on down Highway 101where we met our guide, Pat. We followed him to the river to observe launching of the “USS Driftboat” not to be confused with a SwiftBoat. After donning rain gear we relocated the truck and boat trailer many miles waaay down river. Upon returning to the boat we started out by rowing up river, well actually the guide did the rowing. Pat prepped a rod and cast out. Lo and behold a strike! He handed the rod to me and the reeling began. Being from the Midwest I’ve only caught pan fish such as sun fish, bass, perch, and the like so I was told to prop the rod handle under my arm. Okay that made for much easier reeling. I brought that fish in with Pat at the net He identified it as a hatchery steeelhead. I recognized it as a big fish!
We continued down river and the wind was picking up. Time to start the heater and that felt sooooo goood! There was lots of awesome autumn scenery, light and lively conversation and some quiet time. There is a God. So far the only down side was that Pat did not bring the beer. Back in the Midwest beer and bait go hand in hand and are sold at the same store. So we had to live without beer. What was that ahead? Rapids!!!!! OMG!!!! Our boat was maneuvered so well that we experienced a smooth ride over the “certain death rapids.”
Oh, OH! Chuz had a bite. Off goes the heater and out comes the net. It was at that point an imaginary passenger appeared, or so it sounded. Someone was repeatedly calling, “Gene, Gene, Gene, reel your line in. Who in the world is Gene? And where did he come from? Did Pat forget my husband’s name? So I poke Chuz and tell him the message sent to Gene, “reel in.” His reply was a snappy, “I am!” However Gene continues to be addressed to bring reel in. There was a tap on my shoulder and the gentle words, “reel in your line,” were spoken. I did. Chuz landed the fish via Pat with the net. Wow! That fish was a beauty. This was more exciting than we anticipated.
As we continue to drift, actually Pat is rowing most always, there are more death defying rapids. Again we traverse these waters smoothly. Chuz gets another bite and again the imaginary friend is called, “Gene, Gene, reel in.” Tis a repeat. I poke Chuz as he is madly reeling in then feel a tap on my shoulder accompanied by the message, “reel your line in, “Gene” instead of “Joan” and it is I! (Not quick, but coachable.)
This fish is bigger than the ones before. Good eating coming up. Chuz caught a few more dandies and each time “Gene” AKA “Joan” was now on the ready to promptly get her line out of the water. This team was clicking.
Sunset was approaching. What a memorable day! Pat said the fish would be fine in the cooler overnight. Little did we realize til much later the deep understanding of that statement. We found out the next day what he meant. It took us the whole doggone day to preserve our catch. We canned, froze, grilled and made a very tasty bisque. Our first salmon/steelhead venture was a success. We can take that off our bucket list. Even though when the opportunity comes around we will go again. We recommend it. But as a reminder for Wisconsinites, bring your own beer. And should you ask we will gladly show you the pictures.
Chuz and Joan