What did I do to anger the fishing gods this time???

[pdxfisher]

I was so excited to finally have a decent looking wind forecast for the Columbia. Winds were supposed to be light in the morning and max out at only 6mph in the afternoon. A perfect day for some smallmouth kayak fishing - or so I thought....

 

I met up with my normal fishing buddy before first light and also ran into another fellow that I had chatted with online a few times. It was looking to be an exciting day! We all launched and I headed one way and they headed the other to start.

 

On my first cast I had a strike on my topwater from what felt like a small fish but it quickly pulled off. I dodged the "catching one on the first cast is bad luck" curse but unfortunately the corollary is that losing one on the first cast is even worse luck, or so it seemed.

 

I managed to lose the next 5 fish I hooked including a couple that had some really nice weight to them. Those fish where you set the hook and the rod tip does not move when you set the hook, the bend just gets deeper. They all felt like really solid hooksets but each time the hooks just pulled out.

 

I did not lose them on a jump, during surface thrashing or anything like that. Each time the hooks just pulled out. I was starting to get pretty upset when I finally landed a modest 1lb 4oz smallmouth. At least the skunk was off!

 

Unfortunately that was my last strike from that area so I raced downstream to catch up to my friends. They were not having any better luck than I and in fact had even slower action. We were all puzzled by our lack of success. I started working an area that has been good to me in the past and almost immediately landed a nice 2lb 7oz bass. Things were looking up!

 

I did not get another strike from that area. My one buddy who was fishing nearby was also bit by the bad luck bug when he hooked and lost 3 bass (2 of which were nice sized) in a matter of 5 to 10 minutes. It was just a bizarre day.

 

We decided to head further downstream but as we did the wind just kept getting stronger and stronger. After a short stint down there I decided I had had enough and I was going to pack it in. I texted my friend and started back up the river.

 

I stopped at the spot where I had caught the 2lb 7oz and quickly caught a 1lb 3oz and then a 2lb 3oz which fishing in some heavy whitecaps and decent sized waves. I thought, "well alright now here we go!". Unfortunately, I did not get another bite. After about 15 fruitless minutes I finished the slog back to the ramp.

 

Just to make things even more interesting, my pedal drive kept popping out every couple of minutes causing me to lurch awkwardly. I finally made it back to the ramp and I spoke with one of the windsurfers who had shown up. He said that the wind was 20-22mph (just a touch above the 6mph that was predicted).

 

In all it was close to as bad of a day on the water as you can have. Lots of lost fish, getting blown off the water, tweaking my back while struggling to get back. Overall not a good day.

 

So, I am not sure what I did to anger the fishing gods but if anyone knows of an arcane ritual that I can perform to placate them then please let me know ASAP. I am thinking of a goat sacrifice or something but I am just not sure :)

 

Here is some video from the day that properly captures my frustration.

 

 

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Well I’ve had worse days of fishing but that last clip looks intimidating! Nice fish, Never trust a weatherman 

[schplurg]

4 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

I was so excited.....

 

 

 

This is where you went wrong! They don't like that!

 

Just kidding! I went out recently and told myself that no matter what happened that day I would have a good time doing it (someone suggested that to me), and I tied my PB. New kayak PB at least. I don't believe in magic but it can't hurt to have fun  

[pdxfisher]

13 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well I’ve had worse days of fishing but that last clip looks intimidating! Nice fish, Never trust a weatherman 

 

Not my worst day by far but a pretty frustrating day nonetheless. 

9 hours ago, schplurg said:

 

This is where you went wrong! They don't like that!

 

Just kidding! I went out recently and told myself that no matter what happened that day I would have a good time doing it (someone suggested that to me), and I tied my PB. New kayak PB at least. I don't believe in magic but it can't hurt to have fun  

 

Ha ha, I guess the positive attitude I had going in attracted negative juju

 

Day just started and ended in a pretty frustrating and grueling fashion and was no picnic in the middle. It is just hard to fish in the kayak in those waves and wind. If the forecast is at all iffy I fish smaller waters. 

 

"If life hands you lemons then make lemonade", but what if life gives you a paper cut and squeezes lemon juice into it

[TnRiver46]

10 minutes ago, pdxfisher said:

 

Not my worst day by far but a pretty frustrating day nonetheless. 

 

Ha ha, I guess the positive attitude I had going in attracted negative juju

 

Day just started and ended in a pretty frustrating and grueling fashion and was no picnic in the middle. It is just hard to fish in the kayak in those waves and wind. If the forecast is at all iffy I fish smaller waters. 

 

"If life hands you lemons then make lemonade", but what if life gives you a paper cut and squeezes lemon juice into it

Kudos for making it out of those waves! Looks like a stable vessel you’ve got 

[Big Hands]

Very first fish that hit your topwater bait, I saw that you were lightning quick on the hookset. It's not easy to do, but with topwater baits, I think it's better to pause for a second before putting the wood to them. I think it gives them a chance to fully turn resulting in a more secure hookset.

[pdxfisher]

3 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Very first fish that hit your topwater bait, I saw that you were lightning quick on the hookset. It's not easy to do, but with topwater baits, I think it's better to pause for a second before putting the wood to them. I think it gives them a chance to fully turn resulting in a more secure hookset.

 

Good observation. That fish surprised me a bit. If you watch other vids I have posted, I am usually pretty good about giving that half second delay on the hookset but I definitely botched that one. I guess it was not all the fishing gods' fault

[king fisher]

Get the windsurfers phone number. wind sports people are the best weatherman on the planet. They pray all week for strong winds while you pray for light winds.

[pdxfisher]

5 hours ago, king fisher said:

Get the windsurfers phone number. wind sports people are the best weatherman on the planet. They pray all week for strong winds while you pray for light winds.

 

I check 3 separate wind sites and believe the worst but still can get it wrong.  The windsurfers pray to the opposite god that we do

[OregonBigBass]

Hit me up sometime man. I live in the PDX area and I have many good spots we can fish. One is a private pond but the previous owner that sold the place 18 years ago stocked the pond regularly with bass and it’s the hottest place I have ever seen around here for largemouth. Message me sometime!

[pdxfisher]

15 hours ago, OregonBigBass said:

Hit me up sometime man. I live in the PDX area and I have many good spots we can fish. One is a private pond but the previous owner that sold the place 18 years ago stocked the pond regularly with bass and it’s the hottest place I have ever seen around here for largemouth. Message me sometime!

 

Cool! I don't have any secret spots to share back but I am happy to share what I know about Hagg, the Willamette and the Columbia. Do you fish from shore or do you have a kayak or other type of water craft?