Very Important Monday Meeting

Yesterday myself and fellow co-workers Chuck and Kelly had a very important Monday meeting with Mike Nelson of Mike Nelson Outdoors. This meeting was so important that it had to take place on a fishing boat :)

HANGIN' ON THE BOAT

Okay so yesterday we were invited along with Mike S. and Don T. of Yakima Racks to go fishing and maybe talk a little shop on the river with Mike Nelson Outdoors. We started out the morning at the East Morring Basin (near Astoria), where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, and were greated by some nuisance seals that have turned the dock into their favorite hangout spot.

SEALS LOUNGIN' ON THE DOCK

Had no luck due to an unprecedented number of boats being allowed to gill-net fish. We learned a lot from our guide Jim about the gill-net debate between gill-netters, guides, local fisherman, conservation groups, politicians, etc. Read more about that here and consider joining the Coastal Conservation Association.

KRISTIN AND KELLY TRYING TO STAY WARM

After a fun, yet unsuccessful morning in Astoria we headed back toward Portland to the Rainier Boat Ramp to see if our luck would be better there. Mike from Yakima saved the day by catching a beautiful 20 lb. Coho salmon - Mike's first salmon catch ever and the biggest of the year for the boat.

MIKE REELS IN HIS SALMON

Big thanks to our guide Jim of Jim Nicol's Guide Service. Even though we did not catch as many fish as we would have liked (that's the way fishing goes) we had a great time joking around on the water ... I mean working. Jim's boat and equipment are top-notch and he pulled out all of the stops to make sure we fished the best spots and had a great time. We will definitely be scheduling some future outings with Jim.

MIKE AND JIM POSE WITH THE CATCH OF THE DAY