OP Report: The Pursuit Of Endless Springs ~ June 7, 2016

In a season full of weighty and salient memories, remembering how you arrived at that moment is sometimes more important than it’s zenith.. All the preparation, the hours spent on minor course adjustments, all to steer you on this heading that was your destination. For myself, the journey started long before we unloaded the first box, or put down the first drill bit roller into the waters of Port Louis. Seeing this season start off was; in it’s own way; a destination of it’s own.I would like to put out an enormous thanks to all the staff at The OP, both pre-season and full for the incredible effort they put in to get this place looking, I think better than ever.I always try to get the window seat on the flight to Masset, basically so I can get this picture.

* Last signs of civilization for a while. With a quick stop off at Gerry’s for a couple nights rest and some gigantic cinnamon buns, we are off to the Hangar where the boys are just casting there final spells on our fleet of tobacco hued Valkyries.

After a head wind to Langara, then a roller coaster down to Fredrick we are close now. The shape of Tian Rock emerges from the swell. We set our sights for home. A little stop first at the Islets, then straight for Port Louis.

Scuba man Steve retrieving the leavings from the storm season.

A long bumpy ride and then we enjoy our first meal at The OP. Just in time too, as our barge was steaming ahead for the big unloading. Cheers team!

Not too many days before I got to practice the art of holding the fish straight towards the camera. Early season was on.

Second night out for Jonah and Doug…game on. They came back with stories of over a dozen fish in an hour.

Doug just caught the biggest fish he’s ever seen, and already he’s catching on to the trick of perspectives. Nice early season 28.

Here’s future guide Jonah, helping OP staff member Morgan into her first spring. On average we have been fishing 2 hours at Brock, Oglvie, Danger bay and Solide, and we are hooking up pretty consistently. Cutty’s, rollers, teasers and anchovies are all having the desired affect.

Waterman Lorne and chef man Greg on a double header.

No OP season start would be complete without celebrating our man Carl's B-day. Always great to spend the summer with this beaut and fishing machine.

With all of the preseasn pleasantries out of the way, it was time to welcome our first group of guests. On the first afternoon, Steve Kasteler and Randy Waddoups come back triumphant. Not bad considering it was blowing almost 50 knots when they landed.

This first trip was definitely King for Ling. Couldn’t keep them off the second day.

* Mike Poetteker showing off a nice Ling.

* Steve Kasteler and guide Carl Archibald with a nice Ling. It’s back. The star of the show, the seaweed wrapped salt baked Salmon. It always makes the best wraps.

New head guide Sean Hart with Michael Korenberg and Gordon Robson.

Michael you probably don’t remember, but you decided to make the season’s first KRUD match, interesting. A number of years ago he decided the fix was on and offered up $500 to the winner of the trip's KRUD match. Well, he made it no less interesting this go around by placing a bounty on my head.Apparently this…was not an acceptable scenario.

So it was $250 to the person who beat ME! Who knew I was such a threat.The heat was on, but in the end I relented to succeed victory to a worthy OP staff.Here we have Joe and Cathy Holton, holding a nice 20+. The fishing locally is proving hot right now. The team made there way over to Beavis Point Yesterday and low and behold….Bing!

* Joe and Cathy Holton with a nice Chinook caught close to the lodge. The boys are about to head out any minute now to Beavis and continue the pursuit of endless springs. We haven’t even been past three rocks the fishing has been that consistent.Tomorrow we venture further afield, and we have a report for you, some time soon.Until next time, signing off from Port LouisJordan Knight, OP General Manager

* Happy group of guests from trip #1.