I'm posting so all my NCKA brethren who weren't able to make it to Albion or just didn't happen to see my personal best lingcod.
I'm still stoked and can't believe I've actually finally accomplish one of my goals of landing a 40"+ Lingzilla. To be honest it was the biggest lingcod I've ever seen in person.

Albion started a bit rough when I hurt my back setting up camp on thursday. It was so bad I could barely walk in my own campsite. So sorry if I didn't come visit. I wasn't trying to be antisocial, I just couldn't walk.  
I even thought I wouldn't be fishing the tournament but I sucked it up and glad I did .
Monster ling was landed with about a hour before check-in and I wasn't keeping any fish up until that moment.
I fished for a bit longer longer trying for a kicker rockfish but being in pain and paddling slow, I figured I better make my way in to check-in. Well I almost place in top 3 with only 1 fish    

I want to thank Cameron(Bwodun) for the old school top secret lure and barley pops, Rob(RacingRob) for the 4oz jighead, Andy(Fishmaster) and Howard(Hojo) for the pictures and Jim(Goz) and Alan(Alfredo) for the meds.
I also want to thank my wife for letting me fish on our 1st wedding anniverity. Thank you babe.
40 incher club...Hell Ya.

Time to sell my North Fork Outlaw X5 pontoon.
It's a killer steelhead river running pontoon. It could also be a sweet bass toon.
Standing platform makes sight fishing easy.
It's about 4 years old and well taken care of. Always stored inflated and out of the sun.
Rated for class IV-V whitewater.
It's about 70lbs and 11' long
Ready for trolling motor or up to 5hp engine.
Anchor, upgraded oars and pump included.
$900

Who interested in practicing cold water self rescue? 
Who's interested in getting instructions for the legend Sean Morley?

After witnessing a few incidents at Albion, I realized too many people have no experience, are rusty, or don't realize just how cold our ocean really is.  Hypothermia can happen quicker than we think. 

Sean Morley has agreed to conduct a self rescue clinic at Timber Cove on 8/24. 
I think it would be good for all of us.
Who knows, it could turn into a surf clinic and fishing hookup too
I'll bring wood for a fire.

Who's game?

 
 

Another trip around the sun buddy,
Happy Birthday Mr. Ramos

Any fly tiers on the board?

What kind of vice are you guys using?

Any recommendations for a newbie looking for a descent vice?

Anybody using a DynaKing Kingfisher?

Thanks

The Jackson Coosa was made specifically for rivers and came setup for a chain drag anchor. A drag chain anchor is great in slow moving rivers but I wanted to install a "drift boat" style anchor setup.

A good anchor system is very important. First off you want your anchor to come off the back, dead center. This helps to keep your kayak track straight while on anchor. Also when you go to lift your anchor back up, it won't pull you left or right in the current.

It's been my experience while fishing out of driftboats and river pontoons, you lose a lot of gear and spent tons and tons of time re rigging and re baiting. Being able to anchor in "MILD" current is priceless. (Warning!...you still have to pick your spot wisely. You're asking for trouble if you go dropping anchor in fast water)

The otherday Dan Arbuckle(Headwaters kayak) and I tossed a few ideas around. I really wanted to weld up a custom badass aluminum bracket with built in rollers but that takes time and it's Steelhead season .
Here's what I came up with.

The rear lid makes a good foundation to mount a anchor bracket too plus no holes in the kayak
 
Time to cut a backing plate for the rear hatch. 
 

 Next I put a little anti-seize ( it worked) on the gasket to mark the underside of the hatch.




I ended up using a Scotty crab puller for the main pulley. I also added a pulley on the anchor and tied the end of the rope to the rear of the kayak. This reduces the stress on the crab pulley.

The rope is run through a pulley and pad eye.  After this picture was taken I installed another small pulley at the pad eye. 

Here I used a existing screw to add another pulley
 
The only 2 holes I had to drill into the kayak.

I have since used this anchor setup and it held up perfectly. 
I hope this helps.

Bad news 1st: My rods were stolen from camp while we were sleeping.
Some dirtbag snuck into our campsite sometime between 11pm and 6am and stole 2 of my rod that were leaning against my cabover camper. We were staying at Pigeon Point Campground just 5minutes west of Junction City.
I've already filed a report with the Weaverville sheriffs department.  The officer on the phone mentioned that break-ins are happening more often lately. I also talked with all the other campers and they were shocked cause they left all there gear out too.

Items missing: 1: 11' R.B.Meiser 2handed switch flyrod with a Spey company "Circle" reel. It has a custom bottom wooded handle and the 3rd eye from the bottom is broken and missing its ceramic ring.
                        2: 9'6 XMG lamiglas bait stick with a SX Abu Garica reel. The entire set-up is black and the lamiglas has a graphite handle. (No cork).
If you guys wouldn't mind keeping a eye out for them, I'd appreciate it.

For any of you guys who haven't been to the Trinity river in the fall, it's absolutely beautiful.  So beautiful it's easy to forget that you still need to watch you stuff.  No matter where you go, there's still dicks around. Also it wouldn't hurt if you record any serial# on your valuables just in case. The officer told me if it doesn't have a serial# maybe engrave your own #.  Definitely a very hard lesson learned

Good news: The mission was to get my dad his 1st steelhead on a fly, on the swing with a 2-handed flyrod. Of course I wanted one too
I'm happy to say it was a successful trip Unfortunately I missed helping my dad land his 1st steelie on a fly but I saw pictures and he now has a smile I haven't seen in forever. We had fun fishing together and I wouldn't want to trade this experience for anything. Life is to short to be crying over spilled milk.  Go fish........