I Went Salmon Fishing

[House Cat]

The salmon are running! This means that my husband is walking around with a crazy look in his eye. I thought that going ocean fishing for salmon five times this year would calm him down, but it didn't. He's been out in the river every chance he gets.

I never fish. Never. Never ever. I don't even want to kill the worm. Everyone else in my family either loves to fish or has fished in the past. Well, I thought I would give it a try. I figured, if Trump ends the world somehow, I might need to know how to get some meat. I can grow food, but catching food isn't a skill I have. So, into our cousin's boat I went...

Then, I saw a most magnificent sight...there were sea lions in the river!! They follow the salmon for food! OH MY GERRDDD!!!!! Fishing was over for me... I was on to watching wildlife and singing songs to the sea lions.

My poor husband, he was so excited that I might fish. At least my fishing license fee goes to a good cause.



Oh, AND, we got chased by a pirate ship on the river! BEST FISHING TRIP EVER!


Have any of you ever been fishing? Do you have any crazy fishing stories? What about your spouses? Are they nuts for fishing like mine?

 

[Bonfire]

My Dad loved to fish! Growing up many of our vacations would be to a lake up north for fishing. I always felt so sorry for the fish and worms! Broke my heart to see the fish out of water suffering My DH isn’t into it. We love to be on the water, just not fishing. I have a hard time killing anything. I can barely squish bugs in the house!
Beautiful photos House Cat! Do you mind sharing where these were taken?

 

[valeria101]

WHOA !

I am crazy for fish - in every state of aggregation & wildly envious of that Sea Lion right now - I'd do what it does ...

'Doubt there even more crazy fishing than The Salmon Run [all ears for proof of contrary] ,-)

 

[House Cat]

My Dad loved to fish! Growing up many of our vacations would be to a lake up north for fishing. I always felt so sorry for the fish and worms! Broke my heart to see the fish out of water suffering My DH isn’t into it. We love to be on the water, just not fishing. I have a hard time killing anything. I can barely squish bugs in the house!
Beautiful photos House Cat! Do you mind sharing where these were taken?

See? I feel the same way about the fish and worms.

Sigh...Half of the reason why I garden is to love the bugs. I even love ... SPIDERS!

Oh well, I tried to fish! He won't ever be able to say that I didn't!

We were on the Sacramento River, which is twenty minutes away. I live just a few minutes from the American River. The salmon run is a big deal each year.

I took these photos last year at the fish hatchery. This photo was taken where they all jump the ladder to their final destination. It's amazing how much they change from their beautiful silver color to reds and yellows...

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Great pics HC!

My Dad was an avid fisherman and as I had no brothers--I always went fishing with him! Even in the winter--ice fishing. I have absolutely no skill but have great memories. Once my BFF came along--and we were laughing so much/noisy no fish came to bite--my Dad just shook his head. Great day!

We ate what he caught but often he would catch and release. He just loved fishing!

I live very near to water, and therefore are a lot of fisher folks trying their luck. I never see them catch anything but there are many species to be caught!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Arcadian]

I was taught to catch for food. You see people fishing down here all over the place. I have not yet been fishing anywhere this year.

 

[whitewave]

Wow! Great pics. I do go salt water fishing, but DH has to hook the critter (though I will hook a shrimp for bait but I apologize to it first) and then dh has to get the fish off the hook.

I've been having a lot of dreams about fishing lately. I want to go fishing.

 

[kenny]

As a child my dad forced me to fish.
Let's just say I enjoyed it about as much as killing animals and butchering them.

I'm not a vegetarian though so I guess I'm good at denial.

 

[redwood66]

Glad you had fun HC. My parents salmon fish quite a bit. I just love eating it though.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Been fishing but never caught a thing.

Had to comment though because your pictures are awesome, can't believe you got such great pics of the sea lion.

 

[House Cat]

HI:

Great pics HC!

My Dad was an avid fisherman and as I had no brothers--I always went fishing with him! Even in the winter--ice fishing. I have absolutely no skill but have great memories. Once my BFF came along--and we were laughing so much/noisy no fish came to bite--my Dad just shook his head. Great day!

We ate what he caught but often he would catch and release. He just loved fishing!

I live very near to water, and therefore are a lot of fisher folks trying their luck. I never see them catch anything but there are many species to be caught!

cheers--Sharon

I find ice fishing fascinating! I wouldn't do it because of the cold, but it's amazing that other's go out and do it. HA! It just goes to show that some people will go through anything to fish!

I love that your dad was so patient with you and your friend. What a sweet story!

 

[House Cat]

Wow! Great pics. I do go salt water fishing, but DH has to hook the critter (though I will hook a shrimp for bait but I apologize to it first) and then dh has to get the fish off the hook.

I've been having a lot of dreams about fishing lately. I want to go fishing.

That's sweet that you apologize to the shrimp. This made me think of how I've lost the battle of nightcrawlers in my fridge....and how every once in a while, I just set them free in the garden because that's where they deserve to live.

You should go fishing and then you should post pics!

What do you usually catch in your neck of the woods? When my men go ocean fishing, I love it when they catch striper and halibut!!

 

[House Cat]

As a child my dad forced me to fish.
Let's just say I enjoyed it about as much as killing animals and butchering them.

I'm not a vegetarian though so I guess I'm good at denial.

Oh Kenny, I am so sorry. Your dad would have ruined anything. I hope that you have been able to reclaim some things for yourself. I know you have your music, which is a beautiful expression. I hope you have many things that are all yours, without any bits of that monster.

Love to you.

 

[House Cat]

Glad you had fun HC. My parents salmon fish quite a bit. I just love eating it though.

We have to smoke the salmon from the river. It has the distinct flavor of pond, which isn't a flavor I am fond of. i don't mind smoked salmon, but I prefer it grilled.

Are your parents still in California?

I think people just love catching that big ole fish. There is so much trout fishing around here, there is something special about that salmon, even if you have to smoke it to make it taste good, LOL.

 

[redwood66]

We have to smoke the salmon from the river. It has the distinct flavor of pond, which isn't a flavor I am fond of. i don't mind smoked salmon, but I prefer it grilled.

Are your parents still in California?

I think people just love catching that big ole fish. There is so much trout fishing around here, there is something special about that salmon, even if you have to smoke it to make it taste good, LOL.

My parents moved to Oregon about 11 years ago so they fish the river outlets on the coast. But we spent plenty of time on the Sacto river when I was a kid, more time on Folsom Lake though (lots of catfish). My parents did plenty of diving there and in Lake Tahoe. I miss trips to Tahoe, especially Emerald Bay. Mom swears there is a giant lake monster in Folsom because something HUGE brushed past her in the murky water down deep.

 

[PierreBear]

Went fishing with my father growing up. It was really me watching him and occasionally reeling it in after the fish was hooked. Some good memories. I hope to try it out again and perhaps a deep sea fishing excursion one day.

Thanks for sharing the photos! Looks like a great time!

 

[House Cat]

Been fishing but never caught a thing.

Had to comment though because your pictures are awesome, can't believe you got such great pics of the sea lion.

It was pure luck! I just had my finger down for a burst of photos and caught that cutie eating!

I'm the worst photographer I know. That photo will probably be my crowning glory!

 

[canuk-gal]

It was pure luck! I just had my finger down for a burst of photos and caught that cutie eating!

I'm the worst photographer I know. That photo will probably be my crowning glory!

You should add those photos to December Fire's wildlife thread.......

 

[whitewave]

That's sweet that you apologize to the shrimp. This made me think of how I've lost the battle of nightcrawlers in my fridge....and how every once in a while, I just set them free in the garden because that's where they deserve to live.

You should go fishing and then you should post pics!

What do you usually catch in your neck of the woods? When my men go ocean fishing, I love it when they catch striper and halibut!!

Speckled trout, ling, tuna (offshore obviously), catfish (damn things are everywhere), ladyfish(not for eating), flounder, sheepshead; etc.

We either go marsh fishing along the Louisiana coast or 5-10 miles offshore by the oil rigs in the gulf

 

[House Cat]

My parents moved to Oregon about 11 years ago so they fish the river outlets on the coast. But we spent plenty of time on the Sacto river when I was a kid, more time on Folsom Lake though (lots of catfish). My parents did plenty of diving there and in Lake Tahoe. I miss trips to Tahoe, especially Emerald Bay. Mom swears there is a giant lake monster in Folsom because something HUGE brushed past her in the murky water down deep.

Such a small world! I'm ten minutes from Folsom! When our drought was at its peak, the lake was so low that it revealed the remenants of the old structures that the water covered. Maybe if there was a sea monster...it would have made an appearance then?

You know what may have brushed her leg? A sturgeon.

I know what it's like to get "the fear." I got it rafting the American River in high school when a bunch of unknowns hit my legs on the way down. My brain is too busy and too imaginative to believe that all of those bumps were sticks.

 

[House Cat]

You should add those photos to December Fire's wildlife thread.......

I will! Thanks!!

 

[monarch64]

Hypocrisy = me---> pescetarian. (For Kenny, mostly.)

I've done a lot of fishing. I used to have the "job" of pulling worms out of the soil when my dad shoveled out clumps of dirt from the garden next to the main barn. This is important info because that's where the, uh, manure ended up and made for extremely fertile, organic matter.

We'd go fish in every creek, lake, or pond in a 50 mile radius. My parents tried stocking their pond once. I remember bringing home the truckload of fish. Shockingly the pond was all fished out in a couple months ... perhaps this is part of the reason rural folk have guns?

I've caught crappie, bluegill, sunfish, bass (bass by the ass! "Don't tell your mother we said that!") suckerfish, carp, catfish, and basically anything that swims in this here Midwest! Threw all mine back. Could never bait a hook with a live worm; always used pink, glittery jigs. (It's entirely possible I caught some of the above on a worm, unbeknownst to me. My dad probably snuck a worm or two on to my hook.)

I've been deep sea fishing a few times. That's a matter of having good guides who actually want their patrons to catch (and release.). I've had good and bad experiences in the states and in other countries.

My parents lived in Ft. Lauderdale for nearly a decade, and I have several snapshots of my dad holding grouper, mahi mahi, etc. Giant, gorgeous fish.

Housecat, your photos are AMAZING. I've never seen a sea lion irl and now it's on my bucket list. Thank you so much for sharing. I love this thread--brings back so many wonderful memories.

 

[redwood66]

Such a small world! I'm ten minutes from Folsom! When our drought was at its peak, the lake was so low that it revealed the remenants of the old structures that the water covered. Maybe if there was a sea monster...it would have made an appearance then?

You know what may have brushed her leg? A sturgeon.

I know what it's like to get "the fear." I got it rafting the American River in high school when a bunch of unknowns hit my legs on the way down. My brain is too busy and too imaginative to believe that all of those bumps were sticks.

I saw the pics in the Bee online of the low water. So awful. It very well could have been a sturgeon but the water was always so cloudy. She says it was at least twice as long as her.

My grandma lives in Fair Oaks not far from the American River and my sister lives in Elk Grove. Used to raft there quite a bit because you can walk from grandma's house to the river. Good memories.

 

[kenny]

Oh Kenny, I am so sorry. Your dad would have ruined anything. I hope that you have been able to reclaim some things for yourself. I know you have your music, which is a beautiful expression. I hope you have many things that are all yours, without any bits of that monster.

Love to you.

Thanks and hugs House Cat.

Therapy is an amazing thing.