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2005 : 1 2 
Year :
2004
2003
2002
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Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:35:45 PM Northern California
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Eric is proudly holding up his Sturgeon catch of the day.
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This trip began when I met Eric at the water. The Vicki Ann was already launched, and we were off like a flash. We went down river about 4 miles, when I finally graphed some fish, so we turned the Vicki Ann into the current, dropped the anchor, and soon the lines were out. It wasn't too long before we got the first bite. However, all we had to show in the first few hours, was a Catfish. It wasn't until a little later that we finally hooked into the first Sturgeon of the day. Shortly after the hook was set, the fish took a flying leap, as all 66 inches of it cleared the water, and the battle began to escalate. Needless to say, Eric was ecstatic! After about a 25 minute fight, the fish began to blow bubbles, and I knew he was tired. Soon he was hauled aboard the Vicki Ann. We had a few more bites, but no more fish came to the boat today. One fish of 66 inches, and 70 pounds made this trip fun and worthwhile. We both had a great time on the water, and I hope to see Eric back fishing with me again a little later this year!
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Tue Mar 15, 2005 10:25:13 PM Northern California
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Yerevan, George, and David, with their beautiful Sturgeon catch.
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This trip began when I met David, George, and Yerevan at the dock, and soon we were headed down river. I grafted some fish and threw the anchor. It wasn't long before the rods started showing the unmistakable twitching of a Sturgeon bite. These fish weren't finishing all the way though. About 46 minutes into the day, the first Shaker came to the boat. Then Yerevan's rod twitched, and the hook was set. Soon, he was embroiled in a tug of war match, with the rod being the prize. Eventually, the fish was worn down, and Yerevan was the Victor as I slid the snare around the fish, and pulled tight. The Dinosaur was then hoisted into the boat, a 69 incher. We caught a couple of more Shakers, and then one of the other rods twitched, with the unmistakable Sturgeon bite. Once again, the hook was set, and securely lodged. However, this fish decided he was a monster, and started ripping line, and off the anchor we came to chase the fish before the reel was spooled. We finally managed to get this fish under control, and after several more runs, he finally tired out enough to come to the boat. I then slipped the snare around him, only to have him dart away. About another 5 minutes of work, and finally he was captured by the snare, and hoisted into the Vicki Ann, a 66 incher. By the end of the day, we had 5 fish in the boat, with 3 Shakers, and 2 Keepers. Not a bad day. This was a great day on the water, and everyone had a good time. I hope to see these guys back again soon!
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Sat Mar 12, 2005 10:40:49 PM Northern California
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Joey, Charles, and Mike, are admiring their Sturgeon catch of the day.
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This trip began when I met Charles, Mike, and Joey at the ramp, and we prepared to go slay some fish. Soon the Vicki Ann was in the water, and we were heading down river. Idling along with my attention firmly on my meter, soon I started picking up marks near the bottom, and I made the decision to anchor. We got a few hits and misses in the first few hours. Then, with the slightest twitch of the rod, Mike set the hook. But, this time the rod bent back, and he was now fighting the first Sturgeon of the day. The battle lasted about 15 minutes, when finally the Sturgeon came to the boat, and was blowing bubbles. The fish was a 42 inch Shaker, so we released him back to grow. Soon we were fishing again. Approx. 10 minutes later, one of the rods made a slight movement, with the unmistakable Sturgeon bite. Once again the rod was set, and this time the rod made a mighty bend, and the fight was on! With us heading north, and the fish heading south, finally we got him turned. Up to the boat he came, and with a mighty leap, he decided he was going back south, but eventually Mike won this battle, and the second Sturgeon of the day found it's way to the Vicki Ann. This fish was 59 inches, and a Keeper! We were just beginning to relax, and thinking this was a good day, just to get one Keeper to the boat, when one of the rods twitched once more. The hook was set, and there was "Mack Truck" at the other end stealing line from us!! Charles was now in for the battle! The fish came in, the fish went out, and was in and out about 6 times, and this fish didn't want any part of us. Finally, the behemoth was subdued, and Charles was ready to call it quits, with the fish in the boat, and Charles trying to gain his composure, I knew that this was going to be a close call. I measured this fish 15 times, before I was sure that it was legal to keep. Measuring 71 3/4 inches long, only 1/4 inch, and a hair before we would of had to release it as an oversize fish. Needless to say, Charles was ecstatic!! (He now holds the River Pirate Top Angler Record for Sturgeon in 2005.) Once again, we settled down, when another rod decided to twitch. With rod firmly in hand, and hard set, the rod did not move, when all of a sudden, 100 yards of line was gone, and with the likelyhood of being spooled, I threw the anchor buoy over the side, and began to chase the fish down, while Joey's rod was bent over almost double, and we were watching the line disappear. Eventually we got control of the fish, and started gaining line, and breathed a sigh of relief. We finally coralled this Sturgeon about a half a mile down stream. Although, not as big as Charles', it was a fish of 62 inches, that thought it was much bigger! Now our day was coming to an end, and we were soon heading back to the ramp, with a limit for all, as my fish was already securely in the ice chest, as I had pre-fished on the previous day. This trip was truly the kind that most Angler's only dream about, but for Charles, Mike, and Joey the dream has come true, and they will hold these wonderful fishing memories forever...
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Fri Feb 25, 2005 10:08:25 PM Northern California
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John and his two son's holding some of the fish caught on this trip.
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This trip began when I met Vince and Jon, and his son's Jacob and Shane, at the Hotel in Anderson. Soon we were on our way to the water. After launching the Vicki Ann, we proceeded up river, and I knew it would be a little tough, as the water was stained from the rains of the day before, and the water temp was dipping down into the mid to upper 40's, with a cold front coming through. As the day wore on, we managed to catch 12 - 15 fish, ranging from 10 - 22 inches. In spite of the weather, we all had a good time on the water, and I hope to see them all back later this year.
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:41:51 PM Northern California
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Dixie, with her 43 inch sturgeon, and the guys standing behind her.
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This trip began when I met Larry, Rick, Dixie, and John at the boat ramp. We were primed and ready for this adventure, with everything stowed away aboard the Vicki Ann. Soon we were on our way to the first stop. After setting the anchor, we were soon fishing. We had quite a few hits, and the fish were biting, but not finishing as the water temperature was cool. We did however, manage to get one catfish of about 3 pounds. After a little while, I decided to start hunting. I found a lot of fish that were up off the bottom, and therefore uncatchable. Finally I found a pod low in the water column, and a couple of marks on the bottom. Once again, we anchored the Vicki Ann. One more catfish, and then... on with the show! A nice 43 inch sturgeon came to the boat, and although a nice fish... not a Keeper. Then it got quiet for a time. Finally, the hook was set into a large fish, that ripped and tore at the equipment, with Dixie on one end, and the fish on the other! Off the anchor we came, to chase the fish, as it was pulling line off the reel, as the reel became warmer and warmer. Soon we had the fish somewhat under control as we gained some line, and then in true sturgeon style he made his leap, approx. 4 feet from the boat. With all hearts pounding, we knew that this was an oversize fish. Dixie was fighting this fish like a pro, until one of the drawstrings on her sweatjacket got caught in the reel. The fish, with a last ditch effort decided to go under the boat, with rod bent, and finally won it's freedom, as the line snapped, due to a little cord finding it's way into the reel. Reel Bummer. This was a great trip, and we all had fun, but Dixie will never forget the one that got away.
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:26:52 PM Northern California
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Scott, Ken, and Johnny are holding some Whiskery Dinos of the Deep!
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This day began when I met Scott, Johnny, and Kenny at the dock. We were soon on our way to hunt the Whiskery Dinosaurs of the Deep. We set the anchor, and put out our lines, and within the first 10 minutes, the first rod began to twitch. Unfortunately, it was a hit and a miss. It was about half an hour into the day when the second rod began to twitch, but this one connected. Unfortunately, it was a Shaker of about 43 inches. In the next 3 hours, we had multiple bites, but all were misses. Then finally, what we were all waiting for... it was a small twitch on the starboard side of the boat. As the rod was set, I knew it was a Keeper! It was a respectable fish of 59 inches, and into the box it went. Now, with multiple Shakers starting to bite, finally came the second Keeper, of 57 and a half inches. Today, we boated and released 7 Shakers, kept 4 Keepers, and lost 2 other Keepers. The day ended when the boat made it's way back to the dock. This was a fun day of fishing, and we all had a great time! I hope to fish with this group again soon.
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Sat Feb 12, 2005 9:47:47 PM Northern California
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David and Meagan are all smiles, as they hold up a couple of the trout caught on this trip.
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This trip began when I met David, Meagan, John, and Dale at the Hotel in Anderson. It was a nice morning, and we were soon headed to the river. When we arrived, I launched the Vicki Ann, and we were soon fishing. Although we had quite a few hits, only a few fish came to the boat. This was not a red hot day, as a cold front was moving in. By afternoon the clouds had arrived, and the rain was soon to begin. However, as luck would have it, the first drops did not fall until the Vicki Ann had found her way back to the ramp, and was in the cradle of the trailer. Nevertheless, we all had a good time, and I hope to see this family back sometime later this year.
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:31:08 PM Northern California
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Tom is smiling and proud of his catch of the day!
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This trip began when I met Tom and Midori at the Hotel in Anderson. They were both beginners, and very excited about going fishing! When we arrived at the water, we launched the Vicki Ann, and began our fishing day. The day was quite windy, and the main water was white capping, so I moved to other areas that were more protected. With a few other boats, we trolled around for a while, and no one had even so much as a strike, so I decided to make a move. Still no strikes, and the day was wearing on. It was not until I decided to throw bait that the fish began to bite. A beautiful 22+ inch German Brown found his way to the box. As the wind subsided, I decided to troll again, and we caught a couple of more Landlocked Salmon. These two were great, and we all had a great time fishing, and I hope to see them back again soon!
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:18:35 PM Northern California
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Brandon is holding a pretty little 12 inch rainbow, that he caught on the Sac River.
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This trip began when I met Mike nd his 2 sons, at the Hotel in Anderson. Everyone was looking forward to a good day of fishing, and we were soon at the river. The Vicki Ann was launched, and down the river we went. As the day progressed, the fishing stayed pretty steady, not red hot, but steady. We managed to get 12 or 13 fish to the boat. We all had a good time, and I hope to see this family back a little later in the year, when we can keep a salmon.
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:20:19 PM Northern California
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Greg is holding a nice little 14 inch rainbow from the Sac River.
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This trip began when I met Greg at the Hotel in Anderson. The morning was crisp and foggy as we made our way to the river, but we were looking forward to our day of fishing. Soon the Vicki Ann was in the water, and we were on our way up stream. The first few runs didn't yield much, but as the fog lifted, we made our way down into more productive waters. Now, we were catching quite a few more fish, and the day ended with approx. 15 - 20 fish caught. We had a good time on the river, and I hope to see Greg back a little later in the year.
Arrrr Matey's! Ken Hoffman, The River Pirate
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2005 : 1 2
Year :
2004
2003
2002
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