The Homer Winter King Derby...the largest single day derby in Alaska. This year 1,491 anglers landed 448 kings. So the fishing is always tough.
My son and I enter it paying $100 each for the entry. I installed a fish finder into his kayak the day before so he picked where and what to fish by himself. Lines in at 9am. By 10am, my son is hooked up! He stays calm and collected though out the battle...until the the fish is secured at least.
You ever have those moments as a parent when you pick just the right Christmas gift and the kids are just ecstatic beyond words? Well I have to say, this has all of those memories combined beat.
His fish was 14.25 pounds and easily will make the top 50 if not top 30...we are still waiting official results as there was some confusion the derby had to work through. Oh, did I mention that its a powerboat derby...only 12 kayaks were entered.
Conditions are different everywhere, and as odd as it seems, its probably safer here in Alaska in many ways. No huge surf, plenty of spots close to shore, and still enough but not too many boats around to feel comfortable.
He's caught a lot of kings last fall, but you'd think by his reaction he had never seen a fish. But that tells me he fully understood the pressures and the payout from perseverance. It was just last fall when I considered him just "lucky" that he hooked up. He is showing signs that its not luck, but his perseverance and knowledge of fishing. This is the second consecutive king salmon derby he has out-fished his old man! ARGH! But I couldn't be more proud.
So here's the video. Take a kid fishing when you can safely! the rewards are nearly infinite!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk8DWtTh30k