Opening Day: July 16, 2007 - Area 9 A good opening day starts much earlier than the actual day - if you want to be successful, you must be organized, or rely on dumb luck. Opening day started with doing the preparations, beginning with last fall when we put the boat and gear away, cleaning up, stowing items neatly and securely, inspecting the boat and equipment, going through the motors and conducting all maintenance and repairs as needed. Opening day continues with periodic inspections over the winter and spring months, cleaning up collected debris from wind storms, snow fall, and power outages, keeping the batteries charged, running the engines to keep everything lubricated and functioning properly. Opening day really kicks into gear as we get closer to the actual day - the final clean up, battery charging, topping off fluids, test firing and running engines to make sure all remains working properly. Then it's time to look over the gear - rods, reels, line, tackle - all freshly tuned up, knots retied, hooks sharp and reels lubed. Finally, it's time to launch the boat and get set up on the dock - rigging lines, fenders and hoses for quick departures, returns and clean-up. Oh yeah, opening day starts much earlier than the actual day - so when it is opening day, all you have to do is arrive at the boat, with your pb&j and a thermos of fresh coffee, fire up the boat and we're off. It just happens to be a beautiful sunrise, we are on the water and in position to fish by 5:30 am. We pass all the "homers" fishing 20' from the canal and jetty at Lagoon Pt. - we know where the 'nookies await - Bush Point - it's always been the place for kings, and the Reel Doc and I are well suited for their company. We being the first pass, get dialed in with the currents and conditions in our vicinity and soon we are fishing for kings - I'll not write an advertisement, but suffice it to say, we run good gear and equipment and know how to use it. As the first pass comes to a close and we begin to turn to make a second pass through our selected area, screeeeeech goes Richie's reel and what turns out to be a 15# male Chinook is off and running south to the Point. As I get the fish turned, he makes a mad dash towards the boat, and it is reeling like crazy time to catch up, and just as I do, he's off on another tear - this time with company around, un-oh it's SEALS, shit! I keep ension on him, pump and reel down, pump and reel down when all of a sudden I feel the seal grab ahold and give a good pull. Then there is a big splash and another seal is going after my Chinook, incredibly here comes a sea lion, too! Then a big commotion and it appears the 2 seals and sea lion are jostling each other around and out of the melee comes my big fish, up on the surface and being swarmed by dog fish now - one close to 5'; well enough is enough and we get him over by the boat as Reel Doc deftly nabs him in the net, safe and landed with one small bite out of his lower underside of the caudal peduncle. That was close, but a 15# chromer is in the box, a little worse for wear. Quickly, as we are in it now, our gear is back in the water, and we are on our second trolling pass now approaching the Point - screeeeech and it's the Reel Doc's turn this time as line peels off and we are into another nice Chinook salmon. This one crashes along the surface and peels 100 yards off in less than 30 seconds - a real screecher. Reel Doc has it turned and works it back to the boat with the rhythm of countless battles of this nature completed successfully. Soon the silver, bronze and black spotted Oncorhynchus is close to the boat, this time without harrassment by the local pinniped population and she slides effortlessly into the bag - a 20# chrome hen! It is now just 6:30 am. Happy birthday, Reel Doc, Happy Opening Day to us both and Merry Fishmas - we slap a high five and head for home. We've bloodied the boat, and are back at the dock by 7:15 after slowly working our way back to White Rock and up to S. Lagoon Point and enjoying a cup of joe and our pb&js. Well, I'll end the story here, but suffice it to say, there was plenty to do upon return - remember we stay on top of our game: we clean up the boat and gear and all is ready to go for next time, the fish have been properly bled and iced, off to clean and fillet, package and enjoy, we take some fine pics, and share this great Opening Day! --Richie Want to read the old rants? Here they are: Bush Point Boat Ramp On Men & Dogs Subject: Bush Point Boat Launching Ramp BUSH POINT BOAT LAUNCH RAMP NEWS RELEASE: Carcharodon Carcharius Subject: Beach Closure Subject: "Where is Waldo" - "Where is the Boat Ramp?"

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