What a great event, despite the tough conditions on Saturday!

Pulled into camp Friday evening and got to meet rseas right away as he helped move the picnic bench so we could park the boat in our stall. Was nice to put faces with a few of the names I've grown to know reading reports form some of my favorite fishing holes. Thanks for being so neighborly bassplayer17 & downrigger Al. Great to chat with afk and catch-up with salmonbarry again too. We enjoyed the fellowship and the fish stories! The potluck was the highlight of the day. Many thanks to the Carey's and Aaron Borg for organizing the event and hosting the site we all love and thanks to the sponsors for their generous gifts. They will be put to good use catching fish!! I think Mack's Lure basket was so much treasure to the Fish Princess who claimed the contents as her own!

As others have reported it was kind of combat fishing for most of Saturday. Started out from Mill Bay early (0500) and headed straight across. Thought things were going to be good as I marked fish immediately and a good sized school. Unfortunately, the wind was too much for me to steer the boat and run the gear. going down wind I kept running over my lines alternately catching them on the motors or tangling-up. Gave it up about 0700 and headed back for the ramp.

Met Rseas there on his way out & passed along the intel. Al was just launching and having his issues with the plug so we chatted in the parking lot while his boat drained and chatted about options for Roses or Wapato for trout. He headed out ahead of us and we noticed the wind was laying down on Chelan as we departed for Roses. At Roses it appeared to be pretty breezy too. Al & Brick went on to Wapato and Fish Princess and I decided to give kokes on Chelan one more shot.

Got on the water while things were still flat on the east side of the lake. Saw that the wind was picking back up on the west side so took advantage of a little clear water to blast down south and turn north to troll into the wind. There was enough wind so we could troll using the main motor. Fish Princess kept the boat pointed in some roughly northerly direction while I ran gear. I was in process of bringing rods up to reset when we finally scored a koke on a brand new Gilded Lily that Toni just tied for me from her promo last week (fished behind a 50/50 bright Les Davis dodger 2/0). I generally release the rods from the riggers and let them fish their way to the surface as I retrieve the ball. Was glad for this tactic as this fish bit as the gear was on the rise in maybe 15' of water. That was our only fish for the day and the Fish Princess played it to net expertly.

The potluck dinner was fantastic. Many thanks to rseas and family for being head chefs and to all the anglers and families that brought out their favorite tasty treats! Quality family entertainment to be sure!!

Sunday was much better for fishing. Water was mostly calm with minimal wind chop and the sun was out for a good part of the morning. We went 2 for 3 with the fish coming at 50' on Bill Herzog's prescribed Chelan koke gear consisting of 3/0 Lure Jensen chrome dodger with an oval of silver prism scale tape on one side and an oval of moon jelly glow UV tape on the other fished with 13.5" leader to a purple haze hoochie with just the tips of the tentacles dipped in pink lure paint with a shiny gold blade and covering size 1 red Gamakatsu hooks with some crystal flas tied on (what he calls the rasticle). We also had a fish on the pretty in pink combo that was so killer on Meridian last season. It's a pink splatter dick nite dodger followed by a pink/chrome spin-n-glow. We were flat lining this rig with 1/2 ounce of lead 125' back. This was the biggest fish of the day (actually pulled about 50' of line of the drag when it hit). Fish Princess gave it all she had but it took to the air about 20' from the boat and spit the hooks. Got a couple fo photos of Mike/Joann and Barry on SUnday as we were trolling along.

I only hope everyone had as much fun as we did!

Good luck and tight lines ya'll!

Fish Dawg & Fish Princess

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