to long between fish

So it has been a while since I go a salmon, maybe 4 weeks, lol. I went out on the Columbia river by the house a few times during the peak of the run but they just weren't biting, even the big dogs had a hard time. So I gave up and at this point I need to learn how to back troll a kwik fish, "next".
On wednesday we put a few crab traps in the boat and grabbed the salmon poles, off we went. We drove down to Tillamook bay with the plan of placing the crab traps before the tide turned and be fishing as it came in. We put the crab traps baited and out, then we started cutting the herring and putting them on the hooks. Before you know it we were all fishing. It was foggy and the bar was closed. We trolled between the jetties for about an hour and was nothing. We went over and checked the traps, they were full of baby crabs eatting our bait, bummer. We rebaited what we could and off we went to fish. The bar had open while we were doing the traps so we slowly motored out to the bouy. When we got out there we saw a boat upside down. We called 911 and they said the people were ok and they would send the Coastgaurd. We saw them coming and we went back to fishing. I pointed the boat to the North and started trolling. Around we went and didn't get a thing, then we saw a boat in front of us get one but it was not a keeper. I looped us around about three times then we headed in for lunch. We grabbed the traps and still only babies with us out of bait. After lunch we headed straight up the the ghost hole and trolled the top of it. Lots of fish were jumping in the 8 to 10 foot depth, seals might have been the cause of that. As soon as we got a good troll and cleared the grass it was bam bam "fish on". He fought a bit then he rolled over and wrapped himself in the line, he was done without a chance. I reeled him up and made a possitive ID on him then clubbed him, "good night". After that chinook was put awaywe restarted and when we got to the end of our hole I started to turn and boom pole went down. Jason passed the pole to his son and he brought that fish up. I netted the fish and snapped the line at the same time, but after I IDed the fish it had to go back in the water, nexttime. We trolled back towards the dock and headed home. I think it was a time thing. Our method was the same as we use anywere just a bit less weight and fresh or frozen herring plug cut.
Happy fishing!