"Fishing On The Lower Quinault River" By: Jim Benavidez (Benny)

For those of you that caught my Marlin Fishing adventure along the Kona Coast in Hawaii, here is my recollections of a trip on the beautiful waters of the Quinault River.

First of all I don't claim to be the best guide or fisherman on the river, but I can take you where the fish are. A person has his good days and bad days but I can tell you now, when the fish are in the river, even the novice fisherman can hook fish.

There is only one thing I like better than catching fish and that is when the people I take on the river hook into a fish.

Watching the person's face tells the whole story. As the steelhead does it "air show" across the water or up and down the river. It is total mayhem for a few minutes and when a fish throws the hook or line breaks, I feel that empty feeling in the pit of my gut. When they bring it in it is amazing the stories that I still hear tell this day about it from those people.

My main concern is the safety of the people I take out, then comfort. The fish will be there or we wouldn't! I have respect for the waters as all fisherman should, whatever river they are on.

Now for the story: One of my best fishing trips on the Quinault was when my wife Karen, her brother Paul Vessey and yours truly, hooked 11 summer-run Steelhead and landed 6 in about 3 hours from 6am to 9. It was totally awesome.

The water was so low we had to walk the boat up parts of the river. I thought to myself, man there won't be any fish in here! The river was probably the lowest that I've ever seen. Little did I know the area we were going to be fishing was "stacked". "Stacked" is what i'ts called when fish all hang in a school together and are saying " Catch me if you can".

We finally got up river and climbed out of the boat. The water usually is up about 5 feet where we were standing. We all fanned out about 50 yards apart. Paul went up stream and Karen went down. The water was so clear it was like a mirror.

We had all agreed to cast out at the same time. We always have a little bet between us when we fish, 1st fish & biggest fish. Each person has to pay a dollar! I've seen it happen first cast, first fish. We decided to cast on three. We were doing what I love best, drifting sandshrimp and corkies.

It was so quiet and peaceful you could hear the wind rustling through the trees and the water rippling down the channel. I could feel my bait drifting just right when Paul cried out "fish-on". Next thing I knew Karen got one on and don't you know yours truly hooked up also.

Unbelievable? Believe it! I could see Paul smile from where I was as his fish darted back and forth. He landed his fish. It shot like a mad bull and there was no stopping it. She was screaming, like young girls do, Benny, look, look! Of course in the middle of all this I had lost the one I had on. I walked down to her and she sai, "Ben, This is a big fish." I told her just mellow out and keep your tip of the pole up and enjoy it. That's what it;s all about. "Easy for you to say," she said. She finally got the fish close enough so we could see it twist and turn. Oh boy, this is a primo fish. It darted out for the deepest part of the river and took a mighty leap. When it hit the water it just echoed through the trees then it took another run after another. Talking about being on pins and needles. I was praying she wouldn't loose this one. That was the last run for the Iron-head, as she started to gain on the fish and reeled it towards me. I wasn't taking any chances and grabbed the net. Karen got it close and I scooped it up!

By this time Paul had hooked 2 more fish. he had the first one break off but had landed the other one. Karen and I had resumed fishing and shortly Karen cried out "I missed it". I had chills up and down my back just from all the excitement. " Got one", I yelled. to my amazement I lost this one too. I had just got a brand new lamiglass pole and new reel. Now we are talking some top of the line gear and hey, I looked good, if you know what I mean! I figured I just must have the drag either too loose or to tight. I thought to myself, well third times the charm. then again I heard that too familar cry from the 6 foot, burly guy above me "fish-on". As Paul played his fish out I cast again and this time everything was right. My bait didn't even sink a foot beneath the ater and I felt that fish hit. I can say I was finally playing with my new gear.

I had almost landed my fish when Karen cried, "fish-on". I moved on down towards her to see if I could give her a hand and also watch the battle. Her fish took a leap and her pole went limp. The look on her face was devastating, as if the whole river went dry. She doesn't take kindly to losing fish once she's hooked them. But I tell her, that's fishing! Oh shoot my fish.. gone...

As I walked over to where I was fishing I looked down in the water by the boat. I ask myself I wonder how many people have seen a trout stringer full of steelhead? It's a site to behold! I had forgotten my gunny-sack that day so I improvised.

I cast out and felt that familiar jerk. I had another one on. As I backed up to land my fish it's belly touched the gravel bottom and that fish decided that it didn't wan't any part of this. It shot like a bullet and is proably still out at sea. I thought to myself why me, so I rebaited and cast out again. Fish-on, and this time there would be no mistake. I played that fish untile it was toes up when I landed it!

All in all we hooked 11 steelhead and landed 6 that day. In my fishing experience that is an extraordinary day fishing, one of the best I've ever had on the Quinault.

By the way if my memory serves me correctly Paul and Karen each got a dollar that day.

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