Derby Day!! So the day turned out to be a lot of right and wrong decisions on my part along with the never-a-dull-moment aboard the Tin Cup!

Friday I had a grueling sales meeting that lasted over 10 hours and didn't get home until after 8pm to get the boat ready for the water. Got everything ready ( I thought) and was in bed by 11pm with coffee pot set to start brewing at 4:30am. Now wind was blowing pretty hard outside so said a few prayers to wake to some calm skies in the morning before crashing.

Heard the coffee dripping at 4:30 but also heard the wind blowing out side so knew it was be an interesting day on the water. Got to the Atlantic City launch at 5:45 and only 1 trailer in the lot ( 1st wrong decision- should have just launched from Coulon) and put the boat in the water but noticed the wind was blowing from a south-east direction so headed straight across to the West side of Mercer to get a little protection from the wind ( 1st good decision).

Decided to start with the Seahawk pattern mini cut plug stuffed with the same concoction I used before and go staight to downrigging without long lining due to weather, wind, and more boats then normal supposedly today. (2nd good decision) Put the line out 100 feet and 35 feet on the wire and started my troll north since the wind was at my back. Kept speed between 1.7 and 2.2mph and passed a few boaters on the way and when I made my turn back north, was just passing a boat and Paul Alllens house decided to reload the scent on my plug ( 3rd right decision). As I was reeling in the line, got a tremendous tug and it was fish on! Now I thought I had a sockeye as the fish was bright and didn't stay in the water much with many leaps in the air and of course, under the boat before netted it with my nylon net which I had handy in case I lost my rubber one ( 2nd wrong decision).

After successfully netting this beauty realized why I liked my rubber net so much as my lure was all wrapped around and though the net from the fish thrashing around after hitting the deck. After 20 minutes of untangling and having to cut line are re-tie the lure saw that it looked calmer over across at Seward park as it was getting real choppy now at Mercer. So ( 3rd wrong decision) pulled in downrigger ball and motored across the way~ when I got to the cove it wasn't much better but figured I would give it a try anyway. Went to start the trolling motor and she wouldn't start! You have got to be kidding me? After many futile pulls realized it was not getting any spark or gas but realized my daughter may not have left for work yet so called her and she was able to run my electric trolling motor and extra battery to me before she caught light rail! So made it back to the launch by 10:30 to meet her and put the 54lb thrust motor and extra battery ( 4th good decision) on and set out to try for another before weight in time.

Went across to Mercer again but didn't get another bump so by 1pm headed in to Coulon for the weigh in. Saw Fish Dawg on the way in and he said he had got a few and would be there soon. Pulled into a slot and put my one fish in my little igloo cooler and got in line for the weigh in~ talk about being humbled! As I am in line, guys have coolers full of beautiful looking fish and felt a little silly with this one lone cutty but at least it was a good sized one though there were some beauties in the coolers already so really didn't think I stood a chance to place.

After measuring, weighing, and tagging my fish~ 19"- 2lb 14oz I treated myself to a hot dog and snacks provided by the PSA association for the derby. So now it was about 1:30 and I thought the awards started between 2:30 and 3pm so decided to head back over to Altantic City and get the boat home and be back in time for the awards (4th wrong decison) because as I backed up the boat out of the slip as a very nice Trophy was pulling in, went to start the big motor and nothing! The trolling motor had sucked the juice out of the battery but thankfully had the extra battery right next to it, so after pushing off the Trophy so I would damage it, was able to get the wires switch and fired it up before running into the dock!

Got back to the launch just before 2pm and ran home to dump off the boat and when I got back to Coulon at 3pm it was over!! Fish Dawg told me my name got called 2nd on the raffle, just like Chelan and there was lots of cool stuff I could have got but of course, had to be present to collect. Darn! Went over to the leader table and found out I had come in 4th place with the winning fish at 3lb 2oz and 3rd place weighed in at 2lb 14.35 oz so missed it by that much!! haha Oh well, actually was pretty surprised and happy that I had come in the top 10 2 years in a row so now it was back home to figure out the motor. Got home and pulled the plugs to find them pretty darn shot! Now I had just put new ones on before the Chelan trip so now I know how long I can go before replacing as I have put many hours on that bad boy. But what kills me is I had 2 plugs in my tool box but didn't realize they were for the trolling motor! Another lesson learned but again, a great derby hosted by the PSA association and look forward to the next!

Everyone of you fathers have a great fathers day tomorrow and may stringers be fulfilled!!!

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