NWKA FSC 2010 report

It was a real tough one and although we had a good turnout with good conditions the fish just weren't in the biting mood. Most launched in the dark to very calm winds and a dropping tide. Fish didn't seem to have moved into the bay so most ventured out to the main stem of the columbia and headed west. After checking almost all entrants in Squidgirl took over at the ramp. I headed out with the rest and after hitting the Columbia started marking lots of fish. I turned west with the rest and trolled. There was a ton of other boats out there too. My guess is somewhere between 300-400 of them. I was only out until 11 AM but didn't see a single fish hooked. That was pretty impressive concerning the sheer number of rods in the water. I headed back to the ramp and took over weigh in duty. Unfortunately the news didn't get better. Each person came back with the same story of no fish. Very tough conditions but everyone really fished it hard. And when the last entrant came back with nothing we knew it was gonna be a big raffle.

We headed back to the Rogue Public House and raffled off the prizes. Each entrant got a goodie bag and then raffled off the bigger prizes. The biggest of which, the kayak, went to Spot. Kayaks really love that guy.

I fished the next day and it didn't get any better. Matter of fact I think it got worse. The number of boats out must have almost doubled and I only saw on boat hook up and lose their fish.

I really wanted to thank everyone who came out. Its no event without you guys. I especially wanted to thank all that volunteered with the tournament. You guys made things move along a lot easier. Spot, Kykfshr, Squidgirl, Pelagic Paddler, Bsteves, you guys rock!

And a real big shout out to all our sponsors. I think they made a skunk a little easier to handle.
Astoria Scuba
Cobra Kayaks
Hook1
Scotty
Kayak Angler Mag
Ram Mounts
Hobie
MTI
Rogue

The fishing might have sucked but the company was awesome!  It was great hanging out, talking story with most of the regular suspects and meeting a few new ones.

As usual, Zee did an awesome job of pulling all this together!  Thanks Zee!!!

Oh yeah, let's not foget that someone did pick up a salmon.  Yaksurf (Dana) picked up a delicious Coho pre-fishing on Friday.  Man did that fish taste good!!

-Spot-

On a personal note, I had my best tourney result to date....tied for 1st. 

Thanks to Zee and everyone for a great time.

Jay

Despite no salmon, I had a great time!  Great to see everyone again, and meet some new folks.  Thanks to Zee for all the organization, and Spot and Pelgaic for all the great info.  We'd have slayed 'em if they showed up!  And the goody bags were incredible. 

I am usually better with taking pictures, but here's what I have...

Out by the bridge on the Columbia:



Dana and I photograph the lone salmon before we dined on his flesh.  It was super tasty.  Dana's marinade was incredible.



high performance!



I went out to cape disappointment the next day, got some very large rockfish.  I'll post a report.

OK, try number two, lost the last post to whatever that qlitch was after a half hour of work...

It was a great time meeting the couple new guys and fishing with the others i have before.

I fished three days from three different launches as did Dana and we got our asses handed to us. Dana did land a Coho on Friday.

Saturday was a slog..Lot of pedaddling for no reward. It was still cool hanging and BS'n with the crew during the tourney and after at the Rogue brewery.

Then there was Sunday...I'll let Marylin tell of her adventures which were way more negative then mine, but on the bumpy road out to the launch the tip got broke off my Celilo Salmon rod, i gouged a flap of flesh out of my knuckle on my dismantled wheels cart that i didn't even use, it was there since staurdays launch. No fish caught

When i went back to pack up and leave i left the front safety strap hanging over the antenna and i backed up catching the strap in the tire and stretching it yanking the strapped down kayak hard and flipping the saddle forward, putting a crease/dent in the kayak...ouch! Then the strap snapped and took out my antenna and i'm sure there is a nice scratch were the metal buckle hit the truck..

It was definetely one of those "i wish i would have left this morning" kind of days.

Thank you Zee for all the hard work. I was hoping you would have got rewarded on Sunday...Thank all the others that helped also and mark, you suck!! 

I took 51 pics, I put a few here, the rest are in my gallery. http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?action=gallery;su=user;cat=237;u=191

launch near pier 39. the seals have taken over this area.







Saturday launching with Brian.



Chuck(swiftdraw)



Trolling back to the launch.



A few waves of disappointed yakfishers.








The last hope, Scott. No fish...



Madoc took getting skunked well, as did Greg.





The gangs all here, admiring there shwag..



Sunday. Marylin "trolling"....

Hi... As Roy stated It was a great tiem by all. i Learned alot from you guys on how to rig and fish. it was great meeting the memebers i havent fished with and looking forward to fishing with ya all soon.

Saturday i Helped Zee out with the Tournament. Zee and the gang did a fantastic job with getting us great swag.. and I won The PFD in the raffle.

Now SUNDAY...... i had the i wish i would of passed on fishing days..  Met up with Roy and Dana and we tried our luck.. Well while getting ready i had removed my car keys from my other keys and was going to remove the electronic Fob.. so i sat them down i thought on the back edge of the hatchback.. I then remember picking them back up and putting them in my PFD and not going to worry about it..

Well when i got to the waters edge and i didnt have my keys in my PFD.. i assumed i left them on the edge and i went fishing with the boys.....

When we got back the key was not where i thought i left it..  Well after 2 hours of me and Dana going thru everything taking everything out of my car more then once and searchin on hands and knees in the sand around my car and to the water .. i called road side assistance..


What they did for me was. provide me with a tow truck to take me to the nearest Subaru dealer cause according to the locksmith they were talking to he couldnt make my key. So 45 minute wait for the tow truck to get there.. the ride with the driver to beaverton .. a knight in a motel .. for the subaru dealer to make me a 5.95 key and to tell me any lock smith could of done it...  I Made home.

Can you say HIDE A KEY

Just wanted to tell everyone that participated in this event thank you and that I had a great time meeting all of you.
Although the fish did not come to the event I still had a fun time!!
Thanks Mark and your family for sharing a camping spot.
It was great hanging out with Bret, Greg, Dana (Thanks for the perfectly cooked salmon), Rory (let’s hook up at Cape Disappointment!), Marilyn (thanks for you help), Brice (Thanks for all your hard work in putting all this together!! and Roy (Thanks for your hospitality I would love to hook up with you at Coos Bay!)
I never fished in the bay so for me I grateful to glean lots of info and in doing so lessened my learning curve!

Thanks Guys!

Good Food!!
Good Friends!
Crazy Dogs!
And Good Times



SwiftDraw

Thanks ZEE for all your hard work in organizing this event.  And Thanks to all the sponsors that donated the great prizes.  I had a great time hanging out with all the NWKAers as always.  I pre fished on Friday with CBY & MLC conditions were fair Friday.  I caught a nice coho on Friday this was the first salmon I've caught from a kayak and funnest fish to land on my kayak.  Saturday conditions hard but everyone had a good time.  The prizes were great.  On Sunday CBY & SG and I went out at another launch for a real quick run out and back if you refer to they're post's it turned out to be a long day and we all wished we hadn't fished Sunday.