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Cowlitz River Salmon Marinade

Fishing, I’ve concluded, is a lot of doing nothing interspersed with moments of adrenaline rushes. My first and only salmon fishing experience began at 3:30 am for a two-hour drive south from Seattle to the Cowlitz River. My baited hook was dangling in the water and the sun was gently warming the crisp, cool morning. Then came the battlecry. The end result was some delicious salmon marinade. But don’t let me get ahead of myself – read on!

Fish On, Fish On!

“Fish on! Fish on!” One of our rods had displayed the telltale sign of a dip and tug.

Whose rod was it?

Mine!

This was only the second time I had been fishing; the first time was on an outing with my dad’s family in Mississippi.

Everyone had caught a fish except for me and I had cried. You know that thing that five-year-old-girls do.

Then there was a nibble on my line and with my dad’s help, I reeled in the biggest catch of the day, a 1.5-pound catfish.

A Mammoth Tug of War With a Finned and Scaled Opponent

Now on the Cowlitz River, I was in a mammoth tug of war with a finned and scaled opponent.

It was like graduating to the big leagues without ever truly playing in the little leagues.

The fish zigged and zagged, tugged and pulled. But I cranked the reel steadily and deliberately, and somehow hung on.

When the fish was within net’s reach our fishing guide stooped down and scooped up a beautiful salmon.

A Weighty Victory!

Victory!

At 25 pounds it was the weightiest catch of the day.

With memories of a warm, long ago Mississippi afternoon, I was once again ecstatic.

The art of fishing is a bit of a mystery to me.

We tantalize the fish with bait in the same fishing hole at the same time but it seems the luck of the draw as to which pole wins the prize.

The Allure of Fishing

But I understand the allure of this mysterious activity.

There’s something relaxing and satisfying about doing nothing interspersed with a handful of adrenaline rushes.

Especially when you reel in something tasty to eat.

Salmon is my favorite fish and not because I was victorious that day.

It’s easy to cook, nutrient-dense, and is often a go-to for me on a weeknight.

Salmon Marinade Wins the Day

Try my Cowlitz River Salmon Marinade with Soy and Ginger for a weeknight meal.

After a long day, it’s a lovely centerpiece for a relaxing and satisfying meal with family and friends.

Looking for a side dish? Try rice or asparagus.