Yarrrrrrrrr me hardies, if you don’t already know me, I am Andrew Larsen, your KING ME FISHING Guide.In the 1970’s my father bought a little cabin in Hammond Oregon. This is Just a few miles west of Astoria on the prime fishing grounds of the lower Columbia River. Luckily, he saw fit to spend his, and consequently my, summers there. He calls those “the good old days.” There are just as many fish now, or even more, (a result of good management and favorable ocean conditions) so these too will be “the good old days.” I love to fish, love to see someone land their first salmon or their hundredth, and love to be on the water, building friendships with clients.
The Biggest of “the Big!”This chart shows the biggest King Salmon ever caught on rod and reel and where they were landed. It illustrates that the Kenai Stock of Kings are truly unmatched.
My quest for “Moby” (a.k.a. a Salmon over 97.25 pounds - the current world record).
For many years, I have believed a truly large King Salmon would be put to rest on my boat. It is a feeling a lot of fisherman may have had, but I believe it just a little more. I hope one of you will be a part of this experience. Kings in the 120 pound class have entered the Columbia for thousands of years and I am optimistic some still remain. These fish were headed into the heart of Canada though the Columbia River. (The Columbia drains approx one third of the geography of Canada according to “Cataclysm on the Columbia”). In 1933, the government began building Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State, forgetting to put a fish ladder on it! Most fish heading above the dam probably died off, but salmon are known for going up none-native streams on occasion and possibly a few of these hogs did too.
I have heard from fish counters at Bonneville Dam that fish in the 80-90+ pound class cross every year. So for all you Oregon and Washington folks, know there’s a chance to bring the record home. The Kenai is our best bet to land the new World Record King. Fish that could break the world record are caught every year outside of the Kenai River by commercial fisherman. In the summer of ‘04 a 123 pound King was caught by a drift netter just south of the river’s mouth. These giant fish are very hard to land on rod and reel, but with a little luck it can be done. As I head into the ‘10 summer, my tenth year on the Kenai I say, “THIS IS THE YEAR!” Of course I say that every year.
Andrew is:
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