I spent the night before last (4-3-08) moored in the Cathlamet marina in my boat. We fished the last two days of the spring chinook season at Tenasillhee (sp?) Island trolling and pulling Kwikfish. We hooked two and got one in the boat, about 12 lbs. There were a lot of boats fishing. The cabins at the marina are about $79 for the smaller ones per night. Launch fee was $6 and overnight moorage fee was $8. We ate at the two week old Mexican Restaurant nearby. My the meat in my buddy's carne asada (beef) looked exactly like the meat in my Chicken Chimichanga. Both were pork, must've been a special we didn't read about. It was mediocre overall.
It was convenient to duck across while fishing for lunch during part of the incoming tide to the Post Office Cafe in Skamokawa, WA about 5 miles downstream. Great ham and cheese sandwich and corn and crab chowder for about $7. We tied up at the kayak dock -- stupid place still has no cleats (even recessed or sturdy rings) to tie a real boat to, even after I suggested they install some about five years ago. Must not want much business, but good food all the same.
On our first morning to go fishing, I ran the Satisfaction up onto a sandbar. The depth finder went from 12 ft. to 8 to 2 to less than one in about a second. My boat will plane in 8" of water. The whole boat lifted up a bit on its own cushion of water and then came to a screeching halt. We went from 32 mph to stopped in about two boat lengths. Nice to have the jet pump and shallow deadrise for sure. We floated off about two hours later and continued on, no damage, more cognizant of the slope of the shoreline. I have only done that once before, in another boat, about ten years ago. Wakes you up. Glad I didn't have any kind of outdrive sticking down. Beatiful country. Many eagles and ducks, a few seals. There was snow very low down on the adjacent hills. I saw a 16 - 18 ft. C-Dory go by me, green stripe. I wonder who it was? C.W.