On our first salmon fishing trip to Northern California, my wife, Diana, and I were delighted to land this beautiful King salmon with the help of Ken Hoffman, the River Pirate, and his first mate Dallas. Near Cottonwood, Ca on the Sacramento River, it was a long, hot day, but one we will never forget. After 9 hours with only a couple of bites, we feared the skunk had arrived. But the River Pirate perservered, like the true master fisherman he is. We left the river ecstatic and with an ice chest full of great salmon steaks.
The weigh in confirmed first mate Dallas' initial estimate of 40-plus pounds. Actual weight was 42.5 pounds.
The 25 foot aluminum "Design Concepts" boat was well equipped and handled well at all times on the shallow river. It was easily the classiest boat we saw in the river that day. With a top speed around 74 MPH and a draft as shallow as 3 inches, there weren't many places on the river we couldn't go.
Here is the "Wide World of Sports" shot of the bent pole just before boating the big King salmon and another look at the fish and the rest of the crew. That's Elliott, our toy poodle, who braved the heat and the scary fish along with us.
If you want a great fishing guide in Northern California, I highly recommend the River Pirate at the link below. You will not be disappointed.
