F.W. 2013 "Yakhopper" Kayak Event

You know whos smiling, congratulations!

So true...

Hell2theYES!!  WTWinIT Ash!   Congrats (again)! 

What a weekend and Event!!!!  Had a great time!!! Thanks to all involved

What a blast we had! Hooked up with lots of friends I hadn't seen in years and met MANY more new NCKAers. An awesome group at a fun event put on by THE Man Yakhopper. Thanks a bunch for a memorable weekend to Yakhopper and all those kind people who helped me loading/unloading yaks and helping Little E fish.

I had an AWESOME time hanging with the crew and meeting the new!  Had a relaxing time OTW and caught my first kayak bluegill.  Congrats to all the winners and a HUGE THANK YOU TO Mr. and Mrs. YAKHOPPER!!!  Can't wait to do it again! 

- Jason

Awesome time...best striper fishing day since I started fishing for them (last year!)  Caught 7 total, 3-4 keeper sized.  Haven't checked my GPS record but I am guessing that I traveled around 10-12 miles yesterday.  I am wiped out today.  Thankfully, I have a chauffeur today to drive me to my meetings.   Thanks for setting this up Eric and I would also like to thank Fisherman's Warehouse, and the rest of the sponsors.

-Joel

HUGE THANK YOU TO Mr. and Mrs. YAKHOPPER!!!

+1

That was awesome how he gave away the yak, very cool. Congrats to all the winners, it was a blast.

Mike

Love the picture Howard.

Congrats Ash!!

Thanks Yakhopper and everyone for a great outing!

Thank you Eric and Verna for putting together a great event.  Special thanks to Fisherman's Warehouse and all the other sponsors for their generous support.  Thank you to those who volunteered and helped make the whole event come together.  Thank you.  I appreciate you all.  Congratulations to Ashley on her win!  That is a sweet boat! 

The potluck(s)-
There was so much good food on Saturday and Sunday- I can't mention them all here.  My favorites follow.  On Sunday, Keil's Cabazone Curry paired with Clara's Rice took first in my  entree division, scoring a solid 9.5.  I would also like to add - Mrs. Weimarian's cobbler from Saturday night was likely the best thing I ever ate... ...words do not do justice here.
 
It was a memorable weekend paddling with friends in the Delta.  Mother nature gifted us with a great weekend of fair winds and blue skies.  She was a little pissed off on the ride home, but that's another story.  Sunday morning was beautiful.  Sometimes I have moments with nature that leave a mark on my soul, and Sunday morning I had one.  As we made our way out into the dawn there wasn't a wisp of wind, and The sky was clear all around.  The sun was barely above the horizon and not really on the water yet.  Out of nowhere a crisp breeze hit me.  Across the waters surface suddenly came this freshly lifted pillow of fog.   It advanced from the far shore, and came across the water riding the wind.  The sun shone through it and there was this moment.....I know you had to be there to understand, and my words only scratch at it's surface.   My pictures only hint at the beauty that was there on this Sunday past.

I hope to see you soon.
Aaron

I was again reminded why I love NCKA so much....Eric, awesome event! And even though I came by myself this time (with the small trailer), as Jedmo reminded me, I always have helping hands around to help me when needed - my NCKA brothers are pretty dang great 

Rider totally greeted me as a I drove in, and when he asked if I needed anything, I took him up on helping me unhitch the trailer, haha.

I had really nice camp site neighbors!

John (Sea K?) came to my rescue OTW and totally set-up my rod/reel with a fancy lure for strippers!

A special shout-out to Frank & Glen for helping me fill the tires on the trailer Sunday afternoon!  .

I had a great time playing ukes on Sat night! We got some good practice in...who's ukulele music books were those?

Congrats to all the winners! Eric, you have wonderful sponsors - great job on securing such awesome prizes. I LOVED how you had all the possible kayak winners come up and tough the Predator....so suspenseful! You are truly an excellent spokesman.

-Cherie

Holy Moly!  What a weekend.  First I wanna thank Fisherman's Warehouse, Ocean Kayak, Lowrance, and all the other sponsors.  And of course a special thanks to Eric (yakhopper) and Verna for all that they do to make this event happen.  Congrats to all the winners this year....amazing job!

I'm still in Shock!  I didn't think I was in the running, but my mom and Glen kept insisting that I should go up there.  At first I thought Glen was just playing a joke on me, but sure enough I had the winning ticket.

No fish for me this year, but I got something waaaaay better.    Can't wait to try it out on the water.

I had a wonderful time camping, fishing and just hanging out. I brought my mom this year and she was just raving about everyone.  Thank you for making my mom feel so welcome.

I also wanna say thank you to racinrob.  Without him, there is no way I would have been able to get the kayak home.

Awesome video. Thanks for allowing me to relive the moment.  It was nice to hear everyone rooting for me. Love you guys!

That is so cool Ashley!!!!  You know whos smiling, congratulations!

I definitely had an angel in my corner yesterday.  I thought about that yesterday....about how nice it would have been for him to be there in person to see it.  He was there in 2011 when I won 2nd place and was sooo happy for me.  I know for sure he was with me yesterday, cheering me on all the way.

Awesome event Eric. Thank you and your crew for bringing it together. Pam and I are grateful you put it on.
dave...

Have to agree with everyone, this is such an awesome event that it makes me sad that the series is gone.  It's not about winning stuff, its about the comrade and getting new people involved.  A lot of my current fishing partners intro to NKCA was Yakhopper Events, and one more was introduced this weekend.

Thanks for all the efforts Eric of you and your wife to make these happen.  They are a chocolate cookie in a world that desperately needs one.