Albion Open 2011 results and thread

There is some comfort in knowing that, in an extreme emergency, Marcos (Rockroach) and Ian (Rockwalker) were in the adjacent campsite with three kegs of beer.  I rarely drink alcohol; so the hangover lasted for a couple of days.   

Met Zilla for the first time; didn't realize who he was at first because of the missing beard. Thanks, ChuckE, for frying up the turkey...your fried fish was excellent. And I finally got to try Craig's delicious ribs (can I have seconds next time?). Almost lost my appetite for food completely when I watched Mooch and others chew on some Balut.

Thanks to Linelle and Craig for all your efforts.

Howard

BigGabe, wanna tell Ryan what crab butter REALLY is? 

From the viewpoint of the launch area, you wouldn't think that Father Neptune was stirring the pot outside.

So happy whenever the sun broke through the clouds

Anybody else see the pump that G-Whiz built for his kayak? Ingenious!!

Ocean or river?

Returning with the bounty

Not sure if the smiles were for the catch or getting off the bumpy water

Chad has a knack for standing out in a crowd. 

Very nice to meet you, Hamachijohn!

Looks like another epic get-together...

 wish I could have been there but priorities took over...

  next time...

Thought I had just met Daffy Duck, but it turned out to be Joe (Bloodbath). 

Never get tired of seeing vermilions

Dang I had a great time at Albion!
Congrats to the winners, high placers and everyone else that had a fun time!
Craig, Linelle, et al, thanks so much for putting this awesome fishing event on!

I have to admit I was a little burned out from 4 days of Mtn. biking, paddling and partying at Lake Tahoe, so I shied away from the late nites, and stuck to beer!
It was great to hang with the NCKA crew though, and to make it to the salt for the first time this year was so satisfying.
Fishing was slow for me on Sat. as I started by losing 6 bites. Finally, I landed a barely legal ling followed by 4 more. Then, while fishing next to SCTrace I stuck a 20.5 Cab that was to be my big fish of the day. The water wasn't too bad, I just didn't want to do some newbie move like reaching back to open my Plano box or fool with something that wasn't absolutely essential. It was great to be on the water with NCKA buds all around, I felt pretty safe out there.

After coming in Sat. the party started early for me! After a couple of beers and a little carousing, I chowed on some stellar food at the potluck, watched ChuckE fry a turkey, had a couple of more beers, then went to my tent at about 8pm. to change into some warmer clothes... Never made it back out of my tent! I guess the 2 five hour mtn. bike rides at 8,000 ft. elevation earlier in the week finally got to me

Woke up Sunday at 3:30am! Made some Top Ramen and started getting my fishing stuff together. Finally got OTW at about 8am.
Paddled out dragging an E-chip/anchovie in nice glassy conditions, went South and met up with Ricci - last year's Albion winner. We had both stopped the Salmo hunt by then and were meat hunting for Rockies. Soon enough I got a nice Gopher, then a small Blue, on my shrimp fly/squid, followed by a nice 18.5" Verm. Then after watching Juan/Mako masterfully cast a sculpin looking swimbait with no bait on it, and fight and land a 30" ling I was feeling I was in a good spot. Not 15 minutes later I dropped down a red glitter jig with Halloween plastic and squid for a nice 32"+ Ling. That hawg fought like a champ! Stoked to pop the cherry on my new Ugly Stick/Revo combo with that fish! Stayed out just a little bit longer, but felt I had already taken enough from the sea, and headed in.

Dawdled around camp for a couple of hours getting my stuff together, then finally cleaned my fish and stuck the ice chest in the Subaru. Meant to stop by Fishmaster's camp but heard he was out diving, Desert Diver my next door camp neighbor was out and about as well, Naoaki and Ashley were in camp so I said my goodbyes - wanting to stay another week but knowing I had to drive.

Russ/desert diver, man you are a cool dude thanx for sharing your dinner and drink on Fri nite, and for am coffee sat. I owe you bud.
Fishworks and Christina and little moochie, you were great campmates to hang with on my first NCKA salt campout!
I met a bunch more NCKA'ers and had a awesome time.

See you all at the next epic event!
novofish

Theresa pooh-pooh'd her catch, but look what it got her at the end of the day.