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Date: Thursday Nov 11, 2004 11:39:45 AM
Name: James Quan
Email: jms.quan@yahoo.com

I went fishing with the River Pirate and his 1st mate Dallas on Fri 10/29/04.  I fished with Joe and 'Pastor' Bob.  They drove all the way from Arizona and I flew up from LA.  After we launched we got to the 1st hole and got hit immediately, but we missed it.   The day before, they said one pole got hit so hard, the tip dipped into the water.  Another time, the rod holder broke.  Can the fish be that brutal up here I thought?

So with everyone awake and pumped up we got bite a second time minutes later.  Joe landed a nice 25lb Salmon.  Nice color with alittle red on the side.  A harrrgh we all yelled out as it was placed in the boat's fish hold.  

Next I got bit and this one was a stubborn one.  He kept peeling out line and I was thinking, this one fights like a bluefin tuna.  Stubborn and would not cooperate and not come to the boat.  When he got close to the boat, zzzzzzzeeeeee went the drag and I'm thinking ok, I didn't bring my rod belt holder and my arms are aching, what have I gotten myself into?  After 15 minutes, in the dim morning light you can barely see the shadow of the fish approaching the boat.  Dallas was waiting with the net then....pop!   The hook came out of his mouth and the lure came flying and ended up landing on the back of the boat.  Good thing it didn't hit anyone.   I still could not see the fish but I heard his tail go splash and then he was gone.  I don't know how big it was but what a fight!  Ok so round 1 goes to the fish.  

Pastor Bob was next.  He's a retired policeman and minister.  He got a nice 30lb chrome one.  He's gone to places like Alaska to fish.  But this is alot of fun he says.  This one hole seems to be full of fish.  It's amazing in that Ken tells us it's only 6ft deep.  We could see and hear the Salmon rolling all around us.  Ken would see one and say, oh that one looked like 40lbs!  

We all had one fish a piece by 8am.  We missed 3 hits too.  So our batting avg is around .500.  Not bad.  The bite slowed alittle as the water temp actually dropped to 54.  We started out at 56.  Ken said we'll wait it out a bit so the cloud cover to lift and heat up the water a bit.  

Around 11a that's when I got bit again.  At first the fight was kind of light, but as he got closer to the boat then zzzzeeeeee went the drag and the line was peeling out again.   This fight is on!  This is a good one and the pull felt like the 1st one I lost.  This one not only pulled down deep, but he zig zagged like a football running back!  This is where the expert boat maneuving and communication between Ken and Dallas is at its best.  The fish was moving side to side trying to shake the hook.  I kept the rod tip up and line tight to keep the pressure on.  It was getting hard to crank the reel.  Ken moved the boat to stay with the fish.  Joe and Bob reeled in their lines so there was no chance of tangles.    

The fish finally surfaced after 15mins and Ken yelled, oh yeah, it's a nice fish!   Keep the line tight yelled out Dallas.  The second time the fish jumped and revealed his size.  All I can think was oh pleeze salmon gods please don't let me lose this one!  As the fish was close to the boat he made one final surge and went to the other side of the boat.  Oh no I thought, I'm going to lose him because I can't move to the other side fast enough to keep the line tight.  The fuel tank was blocking my way.  Dallas saw the situation and quickly took my rod and kept the pressure on as he was able move to the other side of the boat.  The fish finally tired was on it's side.  Joe, an expert fisherman helped and netted the beast.    This one came in at 45lbs.  Ken let out big Haaaarrrggghh and gave me a big high five!  We all got our limits by 11:30a and called it a day.  All very nice fish.

This was truely a team effort.  I'll be the 1st to admit, I could not have landed this without everyone's unselfish efforts. I am truly humble to fish with such great fisherman and more importantly, good people.

If you come up here to fish, be sure to visit the Coleman fish hatchery.  Just follow the signs from the hotel.   You can see the monster Salmon that came up to spawn.  Then you'll understand how big the fish are in our very own backyard here in CA.  Ken says he has clients come from as far as Japan to fish here!

Okay everyone....yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me..........

Tight Lines Everyone!  God Bless You!













Date: Wednesday Oct 27, 2004 1:28:33 PM
Name: Kenneth Allen Russell
Email: arbuggs@hotmail.com

On Oct. 22 / 23 2004 i went salmon fishing for the first time with Ken the River Pirate. I had one of the best fishing day on the water of my life. I have been on fishing trips with other guides back east for Bass, and by far the trip with Ken was the most perfessional guided trip that i have taken. Kens boat has lots of room to move about, his fishing gear  is some of the best that money cane buy. On the two day trip we got our limits both days, i boated a 27 & 26 plus an 12 & 8 pound salmon. I plan to go fishing with ken next year because i had a great time on the water fishing with  him & his deckhand Dallas, ken works hard so that i was able to get a limit of fish. You can not go wrong by spnding a day on the water with THE RIVER PIRATE


Date: Wednesday Sep 29, 2004 6:57:57 PM
Name: Reed, Tyler and Ernie Gulovsen
Email: reedman1@charter.net

My son and I took my Dad out for his 76th birthday for a day on the water with Ken and Dallas. We had a wonderful time and caught five nice salmon when most other people were not catching much of anything. When most guides call it a day after 8 hours Ken continued to work hard to put us on the fish and did! He spent over 12 hours on the water with us and was always friendly, helpful and knowledgable. We have been spoiled and would not use any other guide!!



Date: Sunday Sep 26, 2004 7:54:28 PM
Name: Paul Bell
Email: pbell_48@hotmail.com

My friend and I learned to fish on the upper Sacramento and we just figured on having a good time talking about old times and getting our lines wet.  Ken demonstrated his expertise by getting us a limit.  It was a beautiful day but started out raining.  That just served to cut down on the crowds.  Starting at 6 am we had 3 fish in the well by 8:30.  When the sun came out we enjoyed a variety of spots and my buddy and I talked about the old days.  Ken helped us put the fun back in fishing.  I tip my glass to riverpirates.  We had a blast.


Date: Tuesday Sep 21, 2004 6:25:49 PM
Name: John Harrell
Email: john@brecktech.com

Pete and I had a great time taking our boys, J.B. and Nico out on the Sacramento with the Ken, The River Pirate!   Very relaxing and Ken and Dallas were great with the boys.  Ken also shared a lot of information about the river making it a very interesting trip.  In addition to 4 salmon, the boys were also given tips on bass fishing and a lure a piece to try out.  Thanks for your hospitality and we will be fishing again with the River Pirate!


Date: Tuesday Aug 31, 2004 1:27:32 PM
Name: Buck
Email: xterminator@sbcglobal.net

Hey Pirate...RRRRRRRRR

Just wanted to say me and Mike had another great time with you. When Fishing the Sac there's only one Guide on our Dance Card.

There is something to say about a Fishing Guide who can catch fish when no other guides that day caught any. Every boat we passed had no fish, we landed three and had several short-strikes. Obviously, the larger fish pods hadn't moved up river yet and the fish that were there were far and few between. But that didn't seem to matter, Kenny got us Hooked Up anyway!

For us, it's not all about fishing, its Atmosphere. It's very easy to warm up to Ken, he's got a great sense of humor and is very easy going. We laughed, joked and even took time out to go swimming(100+ degree's that day).

Another point that is worth praise is the fact that most guides have limits on how long they will keep you out on the river. I have fished with guides that, once your limit on the target fish was reached, you came home. And it's no fun traveling sometimes hours to go fishing, only to spend 2 hours on the water, then your done.

When you hire Kenny(The River Pirate), it's an "All Day Adventure"!! He is driven to give you every penny's worth. That, all by itself, keeps us coming back.

Thank you again Ken & Vicki for another Great Trip!!

Keep the 'Vicki Ann' warmed up and we will see you in a Month!

Best Regards,
Buck


Date: Wednesday Aug 25, 2004 10:43:30 PM
Name: Sherry Jackson
Email: Mildred@AccessBee.com

Dear Ken,
Thank you for a wonderful day of fishing!

The salmon that Dane caught was the centerpiece of a family dinner with Dane, his grandma, grandpa, aunt, cousins, and me.  The following day, Dane's aunt used what was left, in a salad for her friends.  Everyone raved about how good that salmon tasted!  
 
It was important to Dane to be able to bring home dinner and give his family something that was so appreciated and enjoyed.  But more important than the fish Dane caught, was spending the day fishing with the River Pirate. There is a sense of confidence, peace, and happiness in Dane when he talks about that day fishing with you.

You took the time to teach him about his passion (fishing), share stories with him, laugh and joke with him,and talk with him about life values.  You showed him a different way of being a man than he has seen before.  In you, he saw that a man could be sensitive, thoughtful, caring and in-tune with nature.  Rather than relating through competition, power, control, and possessions, Dane experienced how to relate through sharing, laughter, stories and mutual respect.  

As his mother, I could not give Dane what you gave him that day he fished with you.  Only a man like yourself could give a 15 year-old boy what you gave Dane that day - and - I AM GRATEFUL.

Truly, God works through you.  Dane's path in life will be different because it crossed yours.

Dane and I took pictures of our vacation together.  However, the day before he fished with you. our camera got wet.  The film was ruined and our camera didn't work anymore.  But the best picture of our vacation we have!  It is the picture that you took of Dane holding the 18 lb salmon he caught!  Dane was so excited to see his picture on your web site!  He has sent it to everyone he knows!
 
Dane is talking to his brother and brother-in-law and checking his school schedule.  As soon as he can figure the times that they can get away, we will call you about sturgeon fishing.  Thanks again.

Your friend,
Sherry Jackson


Date: Wednesday Aug 11, 2004 5:26:09 PM
Name: Joey and Anthony Gonzalez
Email: joeygonzo2@aol.com

Ken- We had a great time fishing with you and Dallas last Saturday on the Sacramento River.  It was a birthday treat I'm sure won't be forgotten for Anthony.  Your effort and knowledge was very much appreciated by both of us.  The thrill of hooking those salmon was awesome.  Thanks again and we will see you again next year.


Date: Sunday Jul 25, 2004 4:31:24 PM
Name: Tim
Email: domway34@yahoo.com

Just wanted to say that I had an awesome time on July 24.  Ken you are a wealth of knowledge and look forward to another fishing trip with you!  Thanks for a fun trip.

-Tim



Date: Wednesday Mar 10, 2004 6:03:10 PM
Name: Michael Neubauer
Email: Michael.Neubauer@Sun.com

Hello Ken and Vicki,
My Dad and I just want to say thank you for a beautiful day of fishing on the lake.  You not only made sure we caught fish, important, but probably more important, you made sure we were comfortable, and enjoying ourselves too.  You are a true Professional!!  
Looking forward to our next trip.

Sincerely,
Michael and Wolf Newbauer  


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