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So with derby day approaching I was hoping for an easy day of work on Friday but that didn't happen and didn't get home until almost 9pm so had to scramble to make sure I had everything in order.

Got up at 4am and filled my thermos with some strong coffee and headed out at 4:30 to the Atlantic City boat launch as I knew Coulon would be a zoo later when the derby was over. Was surprised that I was the 1st trailer in the lot and after a successful solo launch, headed straight across to start the derby troll! Decided to work the southern tip of Mercer and make my way north along the west side before cutting across to the Seward Park cove. Started with a stuffed mini brad's cut plug with an ounce and a half of lead~ Saw Bryanpeck and the fish princess out there working the waters but had no takers so worked my way around the point and started north. Decided to put on a 2 1/2 weight to get it down a bit and just as I was turning around the point had a take and release. I picked the rod out of the holder and waited and sure enough, had a vicious take down and fish on! It had some weight to it but was staying close to the bottom and not acting like a cutt or sockeye so kept working it up and got her in the net and realized it was a nasty pikeminnow around 24"!

Now I have never got one before but was sure that was what it was and have heard they are good bait for laker's on Chelan and also for the cutty's so put her in the box. Now as I grabbed my camera for the 1st picture of the day, realized what I had neglected to do~ charge my battery as my camera was dead. ( so I apologize in advance for the bad pictures if the come out at all as they are from my funky flip phone! )

I decided to try a cutt plug cured in fire birng chartruese so worked that off the downrigger at 20 feet until I hit Paul Allen's house and then made the trip across over to Seward park. When there I switched out to the homemade pink hootchie with shrimp and pink gulp maggots and put the rigger back at 19 feet. As I was making my second pass and heading East my down rigger started dancing and grabbed it out and immediately a silver bullet make a surface lurch and it was game on! After a couple more jumps I got it in the net and it measured and just under 21" inched and showed on my scale at 2 1/2lb's so figured at least I had 1 fish to enter the derby! Got a smaller on on the second pass through the same area and then things got interesting!

I got a 911 call from a friend who was trying to launch at Coulon with his 2 girls and had the trailer collapse as he was putting the boat in and the boat was hanging off the trailer and filling with water~!! I raced over and we were able to get it pulled back up a little up the ramp to get the back end out of the water to minimize the damage and then called AAA for a tow. They had coned off the lane so nothing to do now but wait for AAA so I grabbed my fish and headed over for the weigh in and figured my day was done but was happy with what I caught. I took his girls to get some of the free food offered by the derby folks so they were content and then AAA showed and was able to wench his boat back up onto the damaged trailer for the tow back to his house. It was just the right bunk that buckled and the axles were fine so made it home safely! Whew! I got back in my boat at 1:30 and raced back over to Atlantic City to get the boat home and make it back by 2:30 for the festivities which I barely made! Met the G-man and some other nice folks from WA lakes and really had a good time for my first derby and felt good I was able to help a friend in need! Sorry about the pictures and see you on the water!!

MotoBoat

6/16/2013 10:34:00 PM

How did you place in the derby with catch?

salmonbarry

6/17/2013 6:23:00 AM

not sure but was in the top 10 I think ~

bryanpeck

6/17/2013 6:44:00 AM

Was good to meet you in person Barry! Thanks for the report. I'll post later this week.

KIDKOKANEE

6/17/2013 10:55:00 PM

Me and My Fishing Buddy got to Coulon about 430 launched at 515 daylight got a 2.75 lb 18'' cutthroat of Cedar Creek in fron on boeings around 545 am looking good at that point then got one of those 16 in Northern Pike Minnows and the rest is just take downs and reel ins the rest of the morning trolled with mini divers and flasher with a spinner maggots and worms and switched to needle fish and tried lil hearing and down riggers to 65 ft did best with worms!! Derby was a long Day another Buddy of mine is going to join that puget Sound Fishing club older retired !! was an interesting day!! Wore mu WashingtonLake.com Tshirt toward the afternoon but got windy etc mid morning and got a lil choppy afternoon but early morning was calm and cool! all in all ok day I saw that guy with the boat at the coulon ramp We were exiting lake witha 12ft Smoker Craft and an elderly Lady and elderly man had some issues also exiting with their boston whaler lrger beautiful boat but the lady came in sideways at the launch to their trailer and I saw that guy with the tow truck and his boat half on the trailer ?????? Whats going on today!! then I see this guy hit this trailer with his and kept going knowcked off a marker light!! (People need to get there rest sleep etc before launching or something!! Was cool the Kids at the Derby all got prizes fishing poles etc.. Interesting Ill do it again next year!! Fish On! Enjoyed Your POST TY!!!

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