September brings many challenges for the 4 Outdoorsmen Adventures team. If not making preparations for bow hunting the white-tailed deer you may find us packing for the Fall spawn of the Chinook and Pacific Salmon in Ontario, Canada!

On September 1st, 2000, Brent and I headed out from Western North Carolina to Ontario, Canada, in pursuit of the Pacific Salmon. After talking with several friends, we understood that there was a remote possibility of finding the Chinook (King) Salmon as well, however, we were in search of the Pacific salmon often referred to as "pinks". This species of salmon was reported as the tastiest salmon in God's creation and based on this information alone, we headed North in hopes of finding the rivers of plenty.

Accompanied by our sons Andrew Bennett and Trevor Besosa, we not only wanted to share quality father and son time but to also culture an appreciation for the creation that God has so clearly crafted.

Our expedition began in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on the Saint Mary's Rapids located between lakes Superior and Huron. After a day of wading these waters,(although they were producing several pinks) we found that this environment wasn't conducive to a relaxing, father and son outing and due to the high risk associated with white, deep and fast moving waters coupled with youngsters, we chose to travel North in search of additional opportunities.

After a day of exploration along lake Superior and many miles of walking mountain streams, we came to the conclusion that we needed help. We had talked with many fishermen and many locals but were unsuccessful in discovering that unique fishing trip that was both safe and productive. Up to this point in the expedition we were frustrated and discouraged. We weren't very successful in maintaining our sons excitement about the dreams we created because in reality we struggled in our own minds with the expectations we had anticipated from the stories we had heard and dreamed.

Nonetheless, as the story goes, things were about to drastically change. We had stopped at a local store to buy a can of cranberry juice and as Brent left the store he began to talk with a local farmer. The conversation started with a discussion about the crops in Canada and ended with the crop of pink salmon we were in search of. The farmer informed us that his nephew had just returned from a very successful fishing trip for pinks that produced a harvest of many. He said that his nephew and some friends were able to catch their limit with ease anytime of day, a fisherman's dream. He told us that there were many trophies being caught and gave us directions to this stream.

The stream was named Little Garden River and after fishing this river for several days, we often referred to it as the Garden of Eden. The pink salmon seemingly claimed 40 % of the waters available space and although the run wasn't at its peak I simply couldn't imagine it getting any better than this. There were casting sequences that often would produce five fish from five casts and the power generated by this fish that was created to leap and then actually swim up major waterfalls was simply matchless. Even the small 2 - 3 pound pinks fought like a pit bull in a game of tug-a-war and their endurance was unmatched. The excitement was non-stop, each time we would think one had given up, we had to brace for another long run. There was no doubt that we had found the stream that exceeded all the dreams we had heard and imagined.

Our sons were having the time of their lives. One moment Trevor would be hooked up with a pink racing up and down the river and the next minute Andrew would set the hook evident from the unforgettable sound of his drag as the line screamed from his reel. Our sons as well as Brent and I were in constant action. We caught fish at will and often had to pause for rest from the constant tug of these inexhaustible creatures. We were in fishing heaven and didn't think there could be anything that could top this action, that was until we saw a neighboring fisherman downstream about 100 yards, catch a 20 pound Chinook otherwise known as the king salmon.

I had never seen a king salmon in real life much less than catch one. I had read stories of their immense strength and size but had never fished for them except in my dreams. Well those dreams too, were about to become reality. After watching the fisherman fight this beast of a fish for what seemed like an hour, Brent and I began to dig through our tackle boxes in search of a lure that would attract one of the giant kings. We must have looked like a child scrambling around on Christmas morning trying to collect our presents from underneath the tree. After collecting our thoughts we decided to visit our neighbor, to admire his fish of course. Well, I must admit that we also had hopes of getting a few tips on how we might hook up to one of these giant kings.