The Royal Chinook 
Greeted Each Spring by a Large Number of Anglers and Net Fishermen, 
These Finest of Western Salmon Maintain Their Numbers. with Difficulty 
HERE is a section 
of river extend- 
ing for one-half 
mile below Willamette 
Falls in Oregon, which 
is liberally sprinkled 
with fishing boats on a 
spring morning’ of al- 
most any year. It is 
the migrating season 
of the Royal Chinook, 
gamiest and most 
toothsome salmon of his 
tribe. Two persons oc- 
cupy each boat; one is 
rowing as easily as 
possible, while the oth- 
er holds a short, stocky 
fishing rod trailing a 
generous length of 
stout line behind them. 
That the salmon are 
present is evidenced by 
an occasional loud 
splash as some big fel- 
low flops clear of the 
water and turns over 
in the air, with the 
morning sunshine 
gleaming on his great 
silvery sides. These re- 
peated visions are just 
the proper tonic to keep 
a sportsman’s enthu- 
siasm whetted to the 
straining point. 
And when he does strike—truly a 
regal battle is on. The reel almost 
shrieks at the speed with which he 
makes off. Lucky is the fisherman who 
has plenty of line for there is no stop- 
ping him until he has decided to change 
his course. The struggle continues for 
at least thirty minutes; and during that 
time the man in the boat has many 
occasions to bolster up his confidence in 
his own tackle so carefully selected and 
tried out. 
FTER the maneuvers are over and 
our magnificent salmon is pulled 
up alongside the boat there is still a 
chance that he will fight himself clear 
of the gaff, snap off the slender hook 
that has been so severely tested, and 
make off for the open river. And even 
when they have him in the boat he 
76 
By RALPH J. EDDY 
Photos by the Author 

Three fine specimens of Chinook salmon, a day’s catch 
cannot be trusted to expire; it takes 
many lusty blows to finish him. Such 
is the strength of this mighty fish 
headed for the upper waters of a 
stream, bent on performing his one 
great life purpose. 
The tackle used in trolling for sal- 
mon below Willamette Falls must be 
liberal and substantial in character. In 
the first place, a great river-depth re- 
quires more than a hundred feet of line 
to provide a reasonable reserve after 
reaching bottom. The lure is always a 
glistening spoon or spinner, as salmon 
do not take flies, or any kind of live 
bait in this locality. Attached to the 
spoon is a set of treble hooks strong 
enough to hold fifty pounds of fighting 
fury. It takes from two to six ounces 
of lead, according to weight of line, to 
hold the outfit down when trolling. The 
sinker is usually at- 
tached about three feet 
from the end, allowing 
the spoon to play that 
distance above river- 
bottom. From a slowly 
moving boat, just 
enough motion is im- 
parted to lure the 
Royal Chinook; when 
anchored in some swift 
rapid a strong pull of 
the current provides the 
same excitement. 
HEN a_= salmon 
strikes he reels out 
most of the reserve line 
in a hurry. With his 
great strength he puts © 
up a game battle last- 
ing from ‘fifteen to 
forty-five minutes. 
The fisherman plays 
him according to his 
advantage, and tries to 
estimate the 
strength of his tackle. 
If the final stroke has 
not been planned pre- 
maturely, he may be 
gaffed and pulled over 
the side with ease. 
Such an = action at- 
tempted in haste usu- 
ally ends in victory 
for the fish. It pays to be cautious. 
Salmon come up the broad Willamette — 
in great numbers, because this is the 
largest tributary of the vast Columbia 
system of rivers. Of all the water- 
courses on the Pacific Coast where the 
salmon now migrate, the Columbia gives 
them the widest distribution into the 
multitudinous small streams of clear 
mountain water. But across the even- 
flowing course of so great a stream as 
the Willamette, nature placed a for- 
midable barrier which has ever chal- 
lenged the fighting strength of these 
warriors of the deep. 
ILLAMETTE FALLS rears a 
foamy crest surmounting thirty 
feet of sheer jagged rock. In the early 
days, before the mills came to divert 
every possible drop for power, there 
reserve — 
