An Unforgettable Fishing Adventure
with Popeye Charters
By Lynne Sweet
Craig and I set out to Bayside Marina before the sun came up. As we pulled up to the docks, Captain Werner Stenger of Popeye Charters was already prepping his 30’ fishing boat, The Popeye, for our trip. It was a chilly September morning—everything was still wet with dew—and I wasn’t sure if I’d be prone to seasickness. But none of that hampered my extreme excitement. I felt like an eight-year-old going to Disney for the first time.
After introductions, a quick tour of the boat, and safety instructions, we headed due north. The sun rose as we made our way out, and it was truly a beautiful morning.
Capt. Stenger was laid back and friendly. My partner, Craig, is a seasoned fisherman, I on the other hand, am still a novice. This became quite obvious when I started asking many questions. The good captain answered all my thousands of questions and explained everything he was doing as he was doing it. We were fishing for Salmon and Trout which is pretty convenient (spoiler alert*) because that’s exactly what we caught.
Capt. Stenger set up seven lines for trolling . For the layman, that basically means dragging the lines slowly behind the boat. I learned about many lures and, of course, I cannot recall any specifics now. The captain discussed seasons, locations and species in depth. And also discussed depth, in depth. Craig and the Capt. traded fishing stories, and conversation flowed freely all morning.
The sun was high in the sky and it was one of the last really nice days of the summer when we got our first hit. This was both exciting and nerve wrecking for me, because the captain handed me the pole and said “its all yours now”
Now I was “on the hook” to bring this fish in successfully. The captain coached me through every move. I seem to remember him saying things like “keep your tip down, let him tire himself out”. I caught a lovely steelhead trout and while it wasn’t breaking any records, it was a nice size and I was very proud!
Once the adrenaline wore off, and as we drifted close to Canadian waters, we were watching the poles when we heard a big splash. Captain Stenger said, “That sounds like a King!”
Now it was Craigs turn, which was convenient given the fact I could NEVER have reeled this one in. I took 30 minutes of fighting with this monster to get him in the boat. Every time Craig would reel him in 30 or 40 yards, the fish would take the line out again , this happened over and over. It was a battle of strength and stamina. The King Salmon was a worthy opponent but in the end he got tired and relented.
One thing I hadn’t considered before this trip was the danger of landing a big, powerful fish with lots of sharp teeth. For safety—and out of humane practice—you have to hit it on the head quickly. I didn’t love that part, but I made peace with it.
After we took photos and measured the catch (I don’t recall the exact measurements) it was time to head back into the bay. Our fishing trip was successfully complete and It was time for a cold adult beverage and a cheeseburger at Turtle Cove Resort & Marina, conveniently located two minutes from Bayside.
Once we docked, Captain Stenger took our catches to the cleaning station and prepared them for cooking. He gave us great tips for eliminating the “lake” taste some people associate with late-season salmon—like soaking the fillets in milk for about an hour. He also shared a few cooking methods. I tried grilling and pan-searing—both turned out great! There was enough salmon and trout to feed a small army. We froze some and gave some away
Between the gorgeous day on the lake, the great company and the successful fishing – we had a spectacular day with Popeye Charters. We’re booking another outing for the spring and one for the summer!