Combined report for 4-16 & 4-17. Fished the Something Catchy derby with DJ Butler.

Rolled into town on Friday evening just in time for a burger and brew in Manson on our way to the captains meeting. Picked up our derby packet then back to the hotel to finish rigging our arsenal for the big day and mix our bait selections. Finally turned in around 11:00 which made the 0300 wake up time seem all too soon!

Got ourselves together in the morning and headed for the launch at Mill Bay park. We were about the second or third boat in the parking lot and maybe 5th or 6th to launch given the time to unpack the truck and prep the boat for launching. Boat in the water about 0400 and headed straight across to the Monument area to start. It was still dark so we took it slow. Once on station we worked by headlamp to get our rods baited and our down riggers set-up to fish. DJ was new to full blown down riggers and had never stacked lines so it took some adjustment time, especially doing things in the dark for the first hour or so.

We finally got his gear fishing and I started to set mine. Ran my set back and before I could even get the line clipped into the release clip I had a fish on. Chelan kokanee may not bite at the surface when the sun is up, but they sure do in the pitch dark! First fish to the boat was only about a 10" kokanee but it was the de-skunker so it went in the box. Got my gear back in the water fishing again and this time managed to get the first line set and down to about 15' then went to set my second line in the stacker clip and had another fish on. This one too was small so it was released to grow bigger. Got that line fishing again and finally got everything running at normal fishing depth of about 50' and 35' as it was just approaching first light. For the first hour or two action was relatively steady and we had 3 or 4 fish in the boat by the time the sun peeked over the eastern horizon. All of these were caught in the Monument area. Starting line-up consisted of pink mini cut plug super baits stuffed with cocktail shrimp. DJ ran his behind a pink and silver Little Leo and I ran mine behind a 4" Pink/Moon Jelly fish flash. Both were effective. I also ran a dodger with a white and pink spinner hoochie that got bit as well, but the mini cut plug was definitely the hot bait for the day. Shrimp flavored corn and shrimp/prawn corn were the go to scent combos that worked best on Saturday. After sun-up the bite slowed so we started running the gear progressively deeper and continued to pick off fish slow and steady. We also worked our way north past the state park. I picked up a mackinaw about 4.5 pounds on the kokanee gear but the kokanee bite slowed for us so we ran up to the yacht club and fished between there and Mitchell Creek. We landed a couple more kokanee plus a cutthroat and another mack along that stretch. We finished day one with 8 kokanee in the boat plus one released and several others lost plus 2 lakers and the single cutthroat. Had some trouble with the main motor on the way back to weigh-in and barely made it on time limping along on kicker power. Also donated 2 down rigger balls to the bottom of the lake on Saturday. Got our fish entered and enjoyed the dinner spread then headed back to the Apple Inn to prepare for Sunday's festivities.

Re-tied a few leaders and got some shut eye so we could muster at 0300 again. Took a little extra time in the morning as we had to pack-up and check out. Given the motor issues of Saturday afternoon we decided to launch at 25 Mile Creek State Park in fish close to the launch so it would be a short run back if we had to do it on kicker power. Thankfully the main ran great all day Sunday without further issue. With the extra time at the hotel and the longer drive we got a bit later start than Saturday. Lines were in the water and fishing at about first light and our team work was much improved so we had far less tangles and no further issues with the down rigger gear. Fishing was slower but the kokanee we landed were all larger than most of what we caught Saturday. The mini cut plug cooled somewhat and the Frank's Kotton Kandy fly rigged with a shaker wing proved to be the hot lure of the day accounting for 3 kokanee landed and another one lost. We fished until about 11:30 then packed it in and headed back to Manson for lunch and derby festivities. We only had 6 kokanee and one cutthroat to show for our effort on Sunday but it was a beautiful day and I was glad for the opportunity to fish with DJ on such a sunny and clam morning. It was also my first time in the 25 Mile Creek area so I was happy to learn the new territory as well. Best scents were corn with shrimp or herring.

We chatted with friends as contestants weighed in their final catches and then enjoyed some lunch before we packed our gear and headed for home. We stopped in at Hooked on Toys in Wenatchee on the way home to replace some of the lost down rigger gear.

While we didn't end our trip with enough fish to be serious derby contenders, we still had a nice pile of fillets to split between us and enjoyed the fellowship of fishing together on a really fine weekend at Chelan. DJ was a pleasure to fish with and a great net man and I look forward to our next adventure together!

Good luck and tight lines, y'all!!

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