Albion Open 7-25

congrats to the winners, looks like i missed a incredible time, but the orthopiedist just would not allow it, oh well next year will make sure i dont take a digger two weeks before the event, cameron

It's really all been said by the posts before me. I had a good time, laughed pretty hard at times, was pretty spooked once while on the water and picked up a new exclamation... Albion Open was SNAPS!

This was our first NCKA event and Donna and I had a blast. We met so many people and it's really great to put a name and a face to everyone's NCKA handle.

Sean is an amazing host and we will for sure be at next year's event.

Congratulations to Keil, Craig and Tote!!

As we made our way through camp Friday evening, meeting, greeting and throwing tortilla chips at everyone, we kept hearing how big the swell was, coming in two directions, strong current, barf stories etc... I've never got sick before, but I put a dramamine in my lure box just in case.

Headed out Sat at 6ish. Big swell indeed. But thankfully, I'm still feeling great.
Moved between 120' and 50', north and south, worked it for 4 hours, ended up with a nice Verm, Cab, bunch of nice China's.

Most awesome part was  when I pulled up a china that was barely lip hooked, it flipped itself off my swim bait and floated about 5 feet away. I headed for it.. Suddenly it get's real dark above me and as I start to look up, I see two huge talons swoops over my head and a hawk (I think red shouldered hawk) with about a 40" wingspan slams the china, banks to the right and up, up and away.

Donna wanted to kayak the rive so I headed in. Then  came the stupid mistake .

Just before the rivermouth, there is a south side rock out cropping, then a big field of bull kelp. You have to paddle around the the north side of the kelp then head in.There's a gap between the kelp and the outcropping. So I decide to time the wave sets  to see if it's safe to shoot the gap. First, two waves 10 seconds apart, 20 seconds later second set of two, third set, first wave pases, second wave passes, I take off, damn if this set didn't have three waves in it!!! Picks me up and looks like I'm going to be flipped onto the rocks, I bailed out on the left side and flipped the yak with me. Yard Sale!! Flipped the yak back over, hopped back in, everything was tethered except my old Ugly Stick with a 30 year old Penn 309.. Donated that to Davey Jones for my stupidity trying to save maybe ten minutes..

Got back to camp, we had lunch then paddled up the river for three hours.

The potluck was way over the top.

Thanks again Sean!!!

Rich

This was one of the most CHILL events ever. A lot of us were making the same observation on Saturday morning that gone are the days (for most of us anyway) of the 0-dark-thirty launch and a foot race to the launch point. I was in super chill mode and didn't even launch on game day until almost 9:00AM. Gave it a half-assed attempt out in some pretty sh**y conditions and just wasn't feeling it. Only fished for like two hours and high-tailed it back to camp skunked. Still had a fantastic time!!

Our little corner of the campground was off the hook. Ben and company were tearing it up on the guitars until almost midnight on Friday. All the food was ridiculous...on Friday and Saturday. Being next to Andy and Al is a sure way to come back from camping at least 5lbs heavier than when you left.

I was already stuffed before the potluck even began. Eric B's ribs were the bomb, there was carnitas, ceviche, fried fish, multiple piles of ribs, all kinds of sides, and some of the best desserts EVER. Dude - deep fried cheesecake?!?! And Al's Dutch Oven peach/pinapple cobbler was just stupid good. Sorry everyone else....but I had three servings of that!!

The river paddle alone made the trip worth it, but the food, fishing, and most of all the friendship made it memorable. Can't wait 'til next year!

Great Event Sean! I had a great time up here everyone was a pleasure to hang around with. I wish I had caught my 20" cab on sat instead of Friday but oh well. All around great time and fishing was SWELL(North& South)   . I aws able to get a nice stringer full of rockfish but that was it on Saturday. Look forward to next year now that I have better intel.

Rich, I saw that osprey flying away with a fish. That must have been incredible to see.

Amen Brother! It was.....

Wow, what a beautiful spot! Is that the fishing grounds shown in the pic above, or is it further out.....

great reports! Sounds like all had a great time! Happy for ya all!

Wow, what a beautiful spot! Is that the fishing grounds shown in the pic above, or is it further out.....

great reports! Sounds like all had a great time! Happy for ya all!

That shot is looking back at the launch. I fished that bay for plenty of rockies. Seems like the bite near the mile buoy and to the north

Thank you everyone.  I'm realy enjoyed reading the reports and looking at the pictures.  I know there're more pictures taken so don't be shy about post them 

Took lots of video too    Hoping to hammer out a quick vid tonight, but will post more pics too!

I want to check out the picture of that big octupos caught by James ( Stormscrambler)....post it pls!  who ever got that snapshot.



Kiel

Thanks for such a great time Sean it was too much fun hanging with the crew and the food was out of this world.
He is a couple of Photos for AK

Our trip up with the tide and back with the tide was one of the Highlights of the Trip

Our Host at Church on Sunday AM