Oregon’s Chetco River has a good reputation for producing jumbo king salmon but that still couldn’t have prepared Wayne Smith of Yreka for what was about to happen on Nov. 19 when this massive 65-pound Chinook engulfed his back-trolled T55 Hawg Nose FlatFish.

After what must have been some very nervous moments, guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing slipped the Beckman under the beast, which according to Martin, is the largest salmon of the year on the Oregon Coast (duh!) and one of the largest ever from the Chetco River.

All I can say is WOW!!