Reel Used: Okuma Integrity

Rod Used: St. Croix Rio Santo 9foot 6wt

Line Used: 8wt/wf floating 8 foot leader 12lb-6lb tapered

Bait Used: size 14 pink wooly worm

I've been waiting all week to get out on the water with my buddy Mike Varley. We left at around 6pm and made our way west to check on a couple of the tribs that are closer to us as we only had until about 9pm to fish....
We checked one stream, didn't see anything, so we continued to the next and were quite happy to see a rather large male just hovering in a nice little pocket. We both gave our best attempts at him, but he wanted nothing to do with our flies. Mike had proceeded downstream before I did, as I was trying exceptionally hard to go after this fish. I've always been a strong believer in the saying "Never leave fish to search for fish". So even though this fish wasn't spooked by us or agitated... he just didn't actively target out flies. While I was playing with this fish, Mike had gotten himself into a couple quick fights downstream, and had lost his leader and being the nice guy he is, he came back to get me because he found a nice little pod of fish in shallow water just begging to be photographed.
We rolled a few casts their direction and watched as a big male tried to make his way up the falls just down from us. Mike being the nice guy he is even tried to grab the fish and "HELP" him up the falls to the bigger pool of water, well he didn't want to be touched and continuously shook free of Mike's grasp.
Finally had a solid take by this one large male, and as soon as I set the hook, I knew I was in for a long fight. I spent almost 15 minutes fighting this big boy, and the St. Croix Rio Santo was being worked for all it was worth. I was nervous I would out play my 6lb tippet, but Maxima Ultra Green mono tapered from 12lb - 6lb worked out just fine and dandy. I got a good view of the fish a few times as he went by me and I saw that i had a very very solid hook set just in the upper left of the fishes upper jaw.

Here's a couple pics of the big brute when I finally landed him. Safely released and not too tired, so I'm sure he'll do his part in ensuring the Chinook population continues to thrive.