Angler of the Year 2021 (AOTY)

I picked up a new sponsor today! Pitbull tackle! Check out their BORA Jig, it looks to be a ling and halibut killer!

I received a big box of swimbaits from Big Hammer jigs today! I also picked up the two fly rods from The Caddis Fly in Eugene.

If you get a chance to say Thank you to all of our sponsors, please do!

Thanks for your continued work on this, Drifter! Glad to see so many great sponsors coming on board.

I know a lot of you have tried Big Hammer swimbaits already, but I see a lot of new people on the board, so I'd like to take a minute to shout out to Big Hammer for supporting us through the years and give a tip to folks new to the salt: Lots of plastics will work well for our nearshore saltwater species, but I always have Big Hammer swimbaits with me. I rig them ahead of time on 2-4 oz. triangle ("shad") jig heads and a little super glue to hold them on. The tail action means you don't have to do anything - I catch most of my fish on those while dead-sticking, drifting, or slow-trolling (controlled drift) with no rod action. I've caught my best rockfish and some of my best lingcod on them.

If I could only take 2 baits out with me on the salt I would take Big Hammers and Lancer Jigs.

I had a 4-species weekend... well, I'm counting Monday as part of my weekend. I haven't been able to get out as much as I'd like, so it was great to get some time on the water and find some success.

I had a 4-species weekend... well, I'm counting Monday as part of my weekend. I haven't been able to get out as much as I'd like, so it was great to get some time on the water and find some success.

Nice work Capt, all solid fish. I hope to get out in the Salt soon, you guys are killing me with the pix and reports.

I had a 4-species weekend... well, I'm counting Monday as part of my weekend. I haven't been able to get out as much as I'd like, so it was great to get some time on the water and find some success.

Nice work Capt, all solid fish. I hope to get out in the Salt soon, you guys are killing me with the pix and reports.

Thanks! Grass is always greener... your crappie, catfish, and largemouth drive me crazy!

New sponsor! Lady J's Jigs. Custom crappie jigs!
www.ladyjsjigs.com

After a significant delay in transit, the package from Pro-Troll arrived today! Two dozen E- chip flashers, and 12 E-Lures.Thank you Anthony on the assist in getting the package delivered.

Hopefully we get more people entered into AOTY!

Come on folks, all it takes is a donation to HOW!

You don't even need to enter a fish and you will get a prize package at the end of the year. Size does matter, so the size of prize package depends on your ranking in AOTY.

NICE!

And I like the Lady J's Jigs' prizes and their story.  Good work, Drifter!

New sponsor! Lady J's Jigs. Custom crappie jigs!
www.ladyjsjigs.com

Wow, looks like she's going gangbusters ..practically everything is sold out.

True, she is hoping to get a bunch made this weekend. I placed an order last week and she had most of her items.

Check out the GENEROUS donation from Pitbull Tackle!
Some really nice high quality jigs!

Please look them up and show some love for the donation! More pictures: I hope I finish in a high enough place to get one of these Bora Jigs! They look great!
https://pitbulltackle.com/

Great sponsors, Drifter - keep up the good work!

Drifter2007 you have my undying gratitude for the hard work, perseverance, and dedication to your "assignment" in helping with AOTY. And still find time to wet a line and climb the leader board ladder.

HOW will get another donation and AOTY will get another competitor, thanks to Donald and Joe whose donations to me went almost entirely to my 2nd Amendment Rights with new gun purchases but I reserved enough for HOW too. Support the troops!

I'm already plotting new Waypoints for underwater reefs and pinnacles that, from scuba diver videos, show to be loaded with Rockfish, Greenling and Lingcod. The new Fly Fishing Sponsors you mentioned have invoked my intention to work those pinnacles from the Hobie with my AMA outriggers for stand-up fly casting. Charter boats use to offer rockfish fly fishing trips years ago up here. So I know it can be done.

The Hooligan (smelt) and herring are beginning to migrate up Cook Inlet on their spawning run which pulls huge barndoor halibut into 20-40 feet of water and I'm intent on breaking that century mark from a kayak before I die. 92 lbs was a close call but no cigar. LOL

So again, my hope is to be a competitor this year and not just a participant. The ALASKA Forum Board is DEAD! No posts since July 2020. OMG! Rudy where are you? HA. Well hopefully I'll be posting some entries in the forums to stimulate the Alaskan contingent to get out there on the water. (Got sidetracked on a major repair job at the homestead last year.)

I'm really impressed with the 'prize list' from all the sponsors you have conjured up and continue to enlist more all the time. THANKS.  You deserve an award for all your effort.

Fish on....soon~!  We are still in breakup with ice still on the lakes. But saltwater is available.