I went there on opening day, Thursday.  We got there around 1 or 2pm.  We stayed until at least 7pm.  Had a great time talking to several at the booths. Spent some money and while it was small, it was focused mostly on fish, very little hunting.  Lots of guides, but they were pretty much resigned that Sacramentians are cheap bastards and looked bored playing games on their phones.  I had no idea there were that many guides in Alaska!  I spoke to some at booths for salmon, some hell bent on removing dams like on the eel.  Others I spoke to had no clue salmon was off the table this year at all. Hmmm... But I'm getting more into fresh water fishing and there was plenty of foothill lakes represented I could ask questions of, guy baits/scents and lures for.  I got to find out about some reels I didn't have much knowledge about, but wasn't interested in paying those prices they were asking.  The Lowrance booth guy was pretty rude.  I bought 2 HDS Live displays that I've yet to mount and had questions, but he couldn't be bothered when he realized I wasn't going to buy that night.  I did buy a knife set from the Cutco booth.  The guy was just so nice and looked hungry, and I felt sorry for him. Ha!  He sold me a great filet knife with a holster that doubles as plyers.  the blade removes for easy cleaning and spare blades available for those salt trips where one sharp knife isn't enough.  Several law enforcement booths and I spoke to several of the sheriff ones, asking them about CCW in their county and how mine, El Dorado County took me from Dec 7th to Dec 22nd from file to card carrying.  2 weeks!  I did it on a whim and BAM!  Gotta love red neck hillbilly counties, say what?!  Ha! 
My wife came along and found it to be enjoyable also.  At a Kokanee Club booth, they corralled me and told me all about their tournaments.  When I realized it was team competition, I told them my only partner was my wife, and that was only so I could get her a license and use 4 rods instead of two.  They grined and said that they do too!  Most teams were husband and wife.  Then the ladies at the booth pull my wife away and chatted with her about it all.  She's sold on the idea.  Ha!

Quote from: AlsHobieOutback on January 22, 2024, 12:52:26 PM

He is, he just forgot that he had two sites  . I did too 

Me too I found a nice person for my extra site.

I heard he was grouchy old racist white dude with a foul mouth and drinks too much.  Pity his poor wife who ever has to camp next to that #$%.  They'll need all the sympathy you can give 'em.   

By grace of a fellow NCKAer, we have site 102 and will be there from Friday to Sunday.  Woohoo!!!

Quote from: Ski Pro 3 -- Jerry on January 07, 2024, 02:01:59 AM

I thought this was a hush-hush, low key, upcoming event.  Now there's nothing available at the Jetty Campground! 
Where's everyone staying? 


****EDIT****
Not just Jetty full, they are all full: Cove, Gull, Shell, even Miwok tent is full that weekend.

Keep an eye out for you Jerry

I'll try to snag a camp spot, checking daily for cancellations.  What site you in buddy? 
Probably just me, Denise says she wants nothing to do with 'those hooligans'.  Ha!  Just kidding, she has something else on her calendar.  I would be baching it. 

I've done tons of Koke trolling with my Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels.  For that 'ultra light' feel, the 4600 and for anything else, 5600 or 6600 (I prefer the left-handed reels.  That way I can cast and reel without swapping the rod over)  You can get with a line counter, but if you downrigger, that already has a counter on it.  I always get the clicker though.  For top lining, it's the cat's meow, allows you tod do other things while trolling and waiting for the click-click-click Jaws-lick clicking on the reel telling you someone is come a knockin'. 
Instead of a line counter,  I used colored braid.  PowerPro Depth-Hunter Multi-Colored Braided Fishing Line in 20 lb test with a 6 lb fluorocarbon topper.   

rock crawling is sissy.  Try some ice crawling:
https://youtu.be/IRI7l-x21b8?si=Oc7-KG9YfkmxmfDH&t=99

So this is off, right?  No one is going?  I want to cancel if no one is going to be there.