05-16-2014, 05:00 AM
The great times of the Idaho summer are once again shining upon us, especially with the great Chinook salmon runs projected to swarm into the State's hallowed tributaries of the Salmon River. Along with the promising of these "silver-treasured" fishing opportunities to come, will also come the ugly, ignorance, and uncouth, of the uneducated.
Yes, following these great anadromous fish upstream will also be those, whom will at no cost, will care for no one but themselves and their self-appointed "SLOB GLORY", even though that glory be shared by a simple few of their backwards, beer drinking buddies. These guys will stop at nothing to crowd into popular salmon runs, and holes, often offending those already enjoying that water. Pushing fun loving folks out of a hole or run that they've enjoyed all day. However, not all are uncouth idiots....
At the same time comes the cluster of, "tourists", or "city folks" wishing to try their angling skills. "Ignorance", and "tourist" are the ultimate insult that best labels these folks. They simply want to learn the craft of catching chinook, but simply know nothing of the craft, and haven't the tact to ask, or "watch and learn"
So, how do those of us that prefer to get a long, share not only the River, but also our knowledge of the River, and how to catch these Chinook salmon.
Yes, there are those fishermen that will stop at nothing in order to be, "The Man", on any given salmon hole or run. But what does that really mean??
I was raised durning a salmon / steelhead fishing generation where if one wasn't on the River early, then he was not considered to be "dedicated". I can't could't the evenings my Dad, and his buddies would spread out their "fart" sacks on a skinny rock ledge, simply for the reason that when the early dawn's light brought the promise of another salmon fishing day, these guys had the "one-up" on other fishermen vying for converted fishing spots. Several times I witnessed late-comers trowing their tantrums, at not having one of the "premier" locales.
I asked my Dad and his buddies, "What does a guy need to do to beat you out of a prime fishing spot..?" Their answer was always the same.....
"Either get here before us, or drink enough whiskey to where you feel brave enough to take our spot away from us...."
Luckily, in all those years, I only saw one city boy go swimming.....
What I'm getting at, is we haven't great chinook run coming up Idaho's rivers this summer. Are you the guy that will sacrifice to get the prime fishing spot, or are you gonna be the "jerk" that believes he can barge in in a group of guys already fishing a hole or run?
Myself, I believe "karma" comes and goes....
If you treat guys nice, then chances are that favor will be returned...on the other hand, if you feel you're the big tuff guy, who "owners" the River, then most likely, it'll be your soggy butt that we pull out of the drink.....
Lots of fish in the River, lots of water to fish, and lots of great guys to make friends with....which will you chose?
[signature]
Yes, following these great anadromous fish upstream will also be those, whom will at no cost, will care for no one but themselves and their self-appointed "SLOB GLORY", even though that glory be shared by a simple few of their backwards, beer drinking buddies. These guys will stop at nothing to crowd into popular salmon runs, and holes, often offending those already enjoying that water. Pushing fun loving folks out of a hole or run that they've enjoyed all day. However, not all are uncouth idiots....
At the same time comes the cluster of, "tourists", or "city folks" wishing to try their angling skills. "Ignorance", and "tourist" are the ultimate insult that best labels these folks. They simply want to learn the craft of catching chinook, but simply know nothing of the craft, and haven't the tact to ask, or "watch and learn"
So, how do those of us that prefer to get a long, share not only the River, but also our knowledge of the River, and how to catch these Chinook salmon.
Yes, there are those fishermen that will stop at nothing in order to be, "The Man", on any given salmon hole or run. But what does that really mean??
I was raised durning a salmon / steelhead fishing generation where if one wasn't on the River early, then he was not considered to be "dedicated". I can't could't the evenings my Dad, and his buddies would spread out their "fart" sacks on a skinny rock ledge, simply for the reason that when the early dawn's light brought the promise of another salmon fishing day, these guys had the "one-up" on other fishermen vying for converted fishing spots. Several times I witnessed late-comers trowing their tantrums, at not having one of the "premier" locales.
I asked my Dad and his buddies, "What does a guy need to do to beat you out of a prime fishing spot..?" Their answer was always the same.....
"Either get here before us, or drink enough whiskey to where you feel brave enough to take our spot away from us...."
Luckily, in all those years, I only saw one city boy go swimming.....
What I'm getting at, is we haven't great chinook run coming up Idaho's rivers this summer. Are you the guy that will sacrifice to get the prime fishing spot, or are you gonna be the "jerk" that believes he can barge in in a group of guys already fishing a hole or run?
Myself, I believe "karma" comes and goes....
If you treat guys nice, then chances are that favor will be returned...on the other hand, if you feel you're the big tuff guy, who "owners" the River, then most likely, it'll be your soggy butt that we pull out of the drink.....
Lots of fish in the River, lots of water to fish, and lots of great guys to make friends with....which will you chose?
[signature]