Well I am, so all the rest of you might as well stay home :p (jk)

Anyway, I'm staying at the Valley View Motel and will be out at Diamond Point bright and early in my Smokercraft Alaskan with the downriggers mounted at a funny angle. Might have a Navy buddy with me part of the time unless he gets an invitation to the Persian Gulf Catch and No Release Derby Stop by and say hi - should have lot's of time on my hands after I catch that first 25 pounder at 0 dark 30 (in my dreams anyway )

When is the derby? I'll be fishing the one in Sekiu this weekend.

Since you told me about the Lodge series,I've looked into them and they are nice. I almost have my wife talked into one, maybe another week or two. Do you think the 25 will be enough power for the bigger boat? The dealers all are putting 25's on as part of their package deals,but I don't quite know to trust them or not.

Thanks, Rick.

Discovery Bay Derby is the same time as the Sekiu derby, this coming 3 day weekend. Great planning, huh? I picked Disco Bay as it is a bit more of a safe bet weather-wise this time of year.

The Lodge 16 is what I'm getting, and the fellow at the Smokercraft factory said the 25 will not only push it along just fine, I should get the same performance I do out of my Alaskan - even though the boat is heavier the displacement is better as it is so much wider. Really looking forward to that extra 6" of freeboard I should be able to get mine when the tax return arrives, which hopefully will be in time for Columbia Springers

Spawnout......I'll come up and say Hi while you are here.....I live about 1/2 mile away from the Valley View Motel. Good Luck.