Walk softly & carry a big stick (Smoker of the Year Contest entry)
June 25, 2007
“Come one step closer and I’m gonna whack you over the head with this thing. I’m serious…stay away or there’s going to be trouble!”
Our pal Mike Fridley sent in this fine photo of his buddy with a Trinity River chinook to be considered for our Smoker of the Year Contest and it gets high marks not only for the excellent darkness of the fish but also for his pal’s menacing, cyborg-like (check out those red eyes!) look. Kinda seems like a scene from a bad futuristic alien-invasion horror flick…or maybe one about a Zombie Apocalypse!
“Tarnished Chrome” (Smoker of the Year Contest entry)
June 9, 2007
This Smith River chinook salmon was as chrome as they come — purple back, white belly and not missing a scale…when it entered the river a month prior to when Mike Fridley (one of Humboldt County’s finest) caught it.
But hey, it’s better to late for dinner than to miss it entirely, right? We’re just glad Fridley did the right thing here and released — rather than ate — his catch.
Super Smolt (Smoker of the Year Contest entry)
May 21, 2007
Here’s another Smoker of the Year Contest entry.
This really bizarre-looking king from the Sacramento River was bright enough to probably taste okay, but what’s with the big head, skinny body deal?
The thing looks like a giant smolt. Hey, that would be kinda cool if we had smolts this big — think of what size they’d be after 4 years in the ocean!
Don’t forget to nominate your favorite fish for Smoker of the Year!
Smoker of the Year Contest Rules
Send us your darkest fish pictures! The winning entry will be picked by a completely biased panel of river rats, pirates and poachers and the “Smoker of the Year” will win a free fishing trip with me…(maybe for downer steelhead or something along those lines!).
To enter, end me an email via the contact link on the homepage and then I’ll send you an email address to send the pictures to. You can also entre through my guide site: www.thesportfisher.com
Better than a Squawfish! (Smoker of the Year Contest entry)
May 7, 2007
This Smoker of the Year Contest entry comes from Curt Wilson, a student at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA, who threw his buddy, Ted (pictured), under the bus with this one.
Guido’s Steeie (Smoker of the Year Contest entry)
April 9, 2007
/>When “Guido” (he’s in the witness protection program, so we can’t use his real name) sent in this photo of himself with a steelhead for consideration in our Smoker of the Year contest, we were a bit confused. The steelhead — the blood aside — is in nice shape. In fact. it’s way too bright for our little contest.
Then, however, we realized that maybe it wasn’t the fish that Guido was entering at all… maybe he was himself!
At least that’s what we’re going with here. Brilliant, Guido, absolutely brilliant — especially when you consider the wet jeans; that the mustache is real (Photoshop was not used) and so is that sweet ‘do that looks like it could morph into a mullet without too much trouble.
The photo also scores high marks for that “drug deal in the making” type of background. In fact, this may be the perfect picture! You guys are going to have to step it up if you want to win this contest!
Beauty & the Beast(s) (Smoker of the Year Contest entry)
March 2, 2007
Okay, here’s another strong Smoker of the Year contest entry.
This one comes from Jerry Lampkin of T.N.G. Motorsports Guide Service in Northern California.
In Jerry’s own words:
“The story is, it was my wife’s first salmon, so we had to keep it,” he says. “That’s my story and I’m sticking with it….”
Jerry didn’t mention where the fish was caught — probably didn’t want to reveal his secret Smoker Hole.
We understand.
Thanks for the photo, Jerry and keep up the good work!
Smoker of the Year Contest Rules
Send us your darkest fish pictures! The winning entry will be picked by a completely biased panel of river rats, pirates and poachers and the “Smoker of the Year” will win a free fishing trip with me…(maybe for downer steelhead or something along those lines!).
To enter, end me an email via the contact link on the homepage and then I’ll send you an email address to send the pictures to. You can also entre through my guide site: www.thesportfisher.com
Night Ranger (Smoker of the Year Contest entry)
February 27, 2007
Tim R. submitted this shot of himself and a Feather River king salmon for our Smoker of the Year Contest and man, I’ve got to say that we may just have a new leader!
By posting this, we of course assume Tim was fishing during legal fishing hours with legal fishing methods as outlined by the the Department of Fish & Game though we suspect otherwise.
Self Explanatory (Smoker of the Year Contest entry)
February 21, 2007
Yet another “Smoker of the Year” contest entry. All we can say about this one is…the fish isn’t the only smoker here…(duh!). For more info on the contest, check out the category of the same name on the left side of the homepage.
His Darkest Hour…
February 13, 2007
An angler who identified himself as simply: “The Dark Overlord” submitted this photo to our Smoker of the Year Contest. A little shy about revealing his hot spot, D.O. said he managed this miserable catch in the waters “somewhere between the Gulf of Alaska and the Columbia River.” Nice job, D.O.! Click on the Smoker of the Year category on the homepage to see all the other entries.
Coastal Chrome (Smoker of the Year contest entry)
January 23, 2007
“You gotta love those coastal kings…they’ll bite until their dying day,” says Harrison Ibach of McKinleyville, CA, who’s the leader in the clubhouse with this dazzling (and, if you look closely, drizzling), finless darkie. He caught this potential “Smoker of the Year” contest winner on a Kwikfish.
