Homer winter king derby

I would verify with derby staff and ensure you don't have to check in prior to starting.  2.4 miles sure isnt bad.

Doh.  You do have to check in "in person" at the Coal Point Trading HQ on the day of the derby.  Doors open at 7am.  Looks like I will be standing in line to try and get an early start.  It's going to be a long day!

"A representative from each boat must check in with Tournament Headquarters on the day of the tournament prior to leaving the harbor to have your vessel # assigned. ALL VESSELS MUST HAVE A NUMBER ASSIGNED FROM TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS. Headquarters on Saturday is located at Coal Point Trading on the Homer Spit and will open at 7:00 am (907-235-3877)."

ANOTHER CORRECTION.  They are saying you can call in.  But the rules say you have to do it before you leave the harbor.  So I am yet awaiting another clarification.  So is anyone in as sure as they can be?  If I'm solo, I may hitch a ride out somewhere with a powerboat. 

I am! So your wanting to go out a coupe if miles first? I need to start getting ready. Any places gonna have fresh bait here in anchorage ?

I am! So your wanting to go out a coupe if miles first? I need to start getting ready. Any places gonna have fresh bait here in anchorage ?

I think we need to hitch a ride if at all possible to gt at least to the other side.  Otherwise I think its in the water at 7am and leisurely and dodging 300 boats get to the south side.  Line in at 9am so we have two hours to travel 3 miles.  It'll be a good warm up.  While I think getting shuttled North to the bluffs has some great potential, I see the at-sea loading and loading an issue.  Nobody is going to beach their boat for us up that way.  I'm not worried about AOTY points as the spawner kings are likely to be my big king for the year. 

As it stands right now.  I plan to shoot across to Lancanshire rock which is 2.5 miles away.  Its the second of the charts I posted earlier.  Then just fish.  probably head west towards Seldovia and Yukon Island.  There will be no secret spots with this many boats on the water.  Sportmans warehouse bait selection was poor last weekend. I am going to go look at B&J.

Well if bait is an issue, I have something for you guys. For the last two years I had my powerboat, I started using Brads Superbait Cut plugs. Variety of color and they have a little scent holder.  Always worked great for me and if ya want I can drop a few off with ya. I found they tended to out fish herring when I was trolling.  Never had downriggers, just a diver with a flasher.

Well if bait is an issue, I have something for you guys. For the last two years I had my powerboat, I started using Brads Superbait Cut plugs. Variety of color and they have a little scent holder.  Always worked great for me and if ya want I can drop a few off with ya. I found they tended to out fish herring when I was trolling.  Never had downriggers, just a diver with a flasher.

I bought a few of the brads but as a life long bait guy, I just can't get myself to switch. Last time out, I bought two trays, used a single herring.  I have witnessed with my own eye how predatory fish I can observe will hit lures over bait.   I can't see myself hitting this derby without at least two dozen herring of at least two sizes.  But I have promised myself this year that if I landed one keeper, i will switch over to an artificial (other than derby time).  Its a different strategy this time, but I will start with green label herring, but unlike the other boats, if I can find the purple label herring, I plan on trolling that.

I also think that late in the day if there are tons of boats around me, i will try something different.  I am thinking either troll a big vibrax spinner or kwikfish.  Something the "other" boats aren't doing.  I don't think it matters much.  If you put bait in front of a feeding king, its going to kill it.  I think finding them will be hard from a kayak.  You can't just jet across to the new spot or to the radio hot spot. 

The plan as of now is to shoot across to Lancashire rock.  Then head west towards Yukon Island.  If I find bait that I can stay on, I probably will just fish that area.  Start at 30 ft down and watch the sonar.  Later in the day I will likely drop deeper as traffic may push fish down.  Who knows?  I will say that in Valdez for cohos last year, Swinging in shallow where powerboats couldn't go due to docks or rocks was super productive. 

I'm excited about this.  I hope the weather holds!!!

Ok Houston, we have a problem.  Keep an eye out for herring. B&J and Sportsmans were both cleaned out.  Did pick up two more brads plugs. I'd be confident fishing those as suggested.

Man thats a bummer. I wonder if there will be some in homer for the derby? I know homer didnt have any when we went in october.

I've got a bunch of those Brads if you need, willing to donate to the cause...

I saw a buch of purple label herring at the wal-mart in eagle river yesterday. It looked decent too

Alrighty now...11 days and counting.  Winter is back with us but the conditions look good heading into next week. 

The latest intelligence is that there is nothing by the green can which I saw for myself a few weeks back.  Looks like everyone is scratch fishing for a few fish. I don't think there is any way around fishing the Southside by Yukon Island if we want a real shot at a real fish.  Preferably you'd fish where the powerboats are going to head and that's west of Seldovia or up by the bluffs.  I don't see kayaks accessing those areas. 

So despite my post of traveling distances, I may just swallow my pride and get a powerboat to shuttle me out to the Islands.  Then I could spend the day working my way back towards the spit.  The fish could be easily be worth $30K with side bets!

So...who is definitely in and who wants me to try and get a shuttle lined up?  Still 50/50 because EVERYONE is fishing but we have had a few offers.   

Well as my previous post states, I'm out, work crap...

Well as my previous post states, I'm out, work crap...

Your adventure island would be a sight in the middle of the power boat fleet.  It certainly would solve my distance issue.  Well the fishing is good all year!!!

Hope you can make it for the anchor point derby in mid may!!!


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The anchor point trip is on the calendar if I've gotta off someone to get to go.  Folks planning on meeting up at the sportsmans show?

I'm in.....assuming a project at work either happens as scheduled or gets delayed long enough

I'm won't make the Homer derby -- so I'm eager to see  success out of one of the three NWKA members who look to be in it: Kardinal84, RimfireMatt and Kenai Guy.  One of you could be the stuff of legends -- for the right reason only though, OK?  Be safe out there, guys.  I hope you use a power boat shuttle to get across the bay.  We need maximum hours with rods in the water for you to compete well with the power squadron. 

I'll see you for the Anchor Point Calcutta, whenever that gets scheduled in May.