Awesome Nite B4 + Berkley Cup Report 2011!

[TaperSteve]

As I arrived at the lake around 3pm Friday afternoon to camp/BBQ the line with all the other FNNer's I thought to myself, "Imma gonna finally beat these characters out there". Wrong! Big Daddy was already inside doin some pre-cup fishing. Also 2quik and Josh were utilizing the shade under a tree on what was a hotter then average spring day. Guess I wasnt the only one anxious to get things started!

By around 6pm all the overflow vehicles/trailers had cleared out and more people were starting to show up. By nightfall we had 3 grills and a pressure cooker going (we don't play around).

Heres a couple group shots I took!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0299.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0300.jpg

Heres a couple pics of Birthday Boy's (Bobber Boy) "Bite-On Bacon Explosion"
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0303.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0304.jpg

At one point in the night we overheard a viscious racoon fight inside one of the boats in the storage area. After repeated attempts to scare them out Josh was the brave one of the group and jump the fence to help scare them out.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0309.jpg

Besides the B-O Bacon Explosion Birthday Boy also brought his Famous Tri-tip!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0312.jpg

Start warming the buns its almost time!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0315.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0321.jpg

OMG!!! :UDaMan:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0325.jpg

Big Daddy's pulled pork!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0326.jpg

Dinner is served!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0329.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0331.jpg

I called it a night shortly after 12am to try and get a few hours of shut eye. I awoke @ 4am to a half full lot. By 6am cars were just about to start to overflow into the parking lot. Not long after 6am the main gates opened and I had my boat launched by 6:15am.

Here's a pic I took of yet another beautiful Vine sunrise (hidden by the clouds)!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0342.jpg

I remembered Big D saying he was going to be cooking some breakfast on his boat in the morning. I jokingly said, "save me a plate". I couldn't believe it when Josh called me around 9am or so to tell me Big D was getting ready to start breakfast. I trolled my way over to their location. As I trolled up alongside "Jo Momma II" (Big D's boat) he yelled over to me, "how do you want your eggs". Is he kidding me I thought? "Whatever's easiest", I replied.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0344.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0345.jpg

As soon as I grabbed my plate I hear someone yelling, "clear the drive-thru"! I looks back and its See Chris Fish and Birthday Boy waiting in line for their plates.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0346.jpg

I didn't have any Bite-On in my tackle box today. It must have been the game changer because all I had up until 12pm was 1 lost fish by the boat. Talked to Troutdog and he told me to cruise over to where he and NoHo Art were and I could get a bottle from him. As I pulled up to their boat one of TD's rods goes bendo!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0347.jpg

After a solid fight I netted this fish for TD from my boat using my net.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/4-2-11/DSCF0348.jpg

After getting the bottle of BOG I set sail back on the troll. Before I could even get my 1st line in the water I see/hear TD yelling at me and holding up my net. As I pulled up to their boat to get my net back one of TD's rods goes bendo again. This time the fish made a run right towards my boat. I could see the fish about 18"-24" under the water. Just as he was about to go under my boat I stuck my net all the way down under the water and netted the fish just in time. After I pulled the fish onto the deck of my boat TD tells me to cut the line. Almost as fast as I cut the line the fish started flopping around outta the net and across the deck on my boat. As the fish bounced over the rail I dove and made an ESPN Sports Center highlight reel save and batted the fish back into the boat. I then looked up to make sure TD didn't just fall into the water from a heart attack! L0L!!! Glad I saved the fish otherwise it woulda turned into "the fish that woulda won the tournament" I could hear it now.

Anyways after all that drama it was close to 1pm with about an hour left til the scales were set to close. I dipped my lures in the Bite-On Garlic I had just got from TD and within 15 mins I finally beat the skunk and landed a 2lber. Nothing came after that. I intended on taking a pic of the fish at the dock but I ended up giving it away to a Dad and Daughter that got skunked.

What an amazing weekend!!!

I'll be camping/BBQin the line again this Friday/Saturday for the W0N Tournament. There will be many, many tagged fish worth lots of great prizes. Also they'll be raffling off lots of good stuff including an aluminum boat with a 15hp 4 stroke motor. Come join us for some good times and great fishing at my favorite lake, the Vine!

Hope to see ya'll there!!!
:Dancing Banana::Dancing Banana::Dancing Banana:

TaperSteve

[Hitts0n]

Hey thats my spot!! LMAO !! Man the food was great! Too many laughs and it was fun bagging and making fun of everyone!! I had some people in tears laughing! Well I hope we can do it again this day !!

http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/showthread.php?54947-The-quot-April-farm-fest-quot-Rendezvous-Irvine-Lake-4-23-11

Thanks for posting stsve and next time bring the steeler dog out!!:Cool:

[Thisfool]

wow from the looks of the pics it was the best line camp yet. i wish i could say im sorry i missed it but i spent the day with my daughter and as much as i love fishing ill take chaceing my lil girl around the park any day.

sorry to hear about the slow fishing for you steve but i guess thats what happens when the BITE ON KING has no bite on lol j/k man

thanks for posting up i was wondering how the bbq and turnny went.

[Hometown]

Great report Steve I had a great time and that Big Daddy Drive Thru is the best around THANKS MARK.Was the father daughter the same we saw at the dam nice of you to hook them up if so.

[Bebop]

Hey Steve, once again we had a great evening and a fair day of fishing. I hooked up 2 decent size trout but none large enough to place. see all of you next time

[See Chris Fish]

So much fun.
Great seeing all at the camp/parking lot sites. Got to put some faces to some FNNet name. We are just a bunch of comedians.
Fantastic grub!!!

****THANK YOU MARK FOR THE BREAKFAST ON THE WATER!!!!!****
We trolled by Big Daddy and Josh heading the opposite direction and they yell out, "Breakfast in 10 minutes."
We are heading into a crowd of trolling boats, not catching a thing, so I say to John, Bobber Boy, reel in and let's flip a "U". We both leap to our poles to see who can reel in faster!!! lol
As soon as we complete our turn, lures back down and we look over and see TaperSteve "trolling" at high speed to catch up to Big Daddy's boat. He get's his food and want to what? Sit there and TALK to Mark and Josh!!!!
Scent of bacon whisping in the air!!!
We're dying back here buddy!!! Gotta get out of the way, man!!! LOL
Eggs, bacon, and BLUEBERRY pancakes!!! In the middle of the lake!!! SWEET!!!!


Only got two. One on the troll and one on bait-n- wait.
The trolling one was wierd. Out far and deep, hit good, set the hook good, and it basically "surrendered", like a crappie does, straight to the top of the water. Too far out to see well, but definately fish on. I've been having issues catching crappie at trout tournaments, so I was all, dang. Here we go again. (Got 4 crappie in the last trout tourny) Dives, comes back up, surrenders, just like a crappie does. John's laughing at me saying something about "crappie whisper" or something.
Then dives, jumps. It is a trout!
All 1.5 pounds of him!!! Oh well, skunk gone and beautiful colors, full tail.
Nothing of size to get in.

Good luck to all those in the Master Event.
Come out and kick it wtih us in the parking lot next weekend, for the WON tourny.

[hooks]

Great pics!

[JAG107]

great report, looks like I missed out on some great times & eats.

[Rooster]

Great report and pics. Your doing a great job out there inspecting the boats as well. Hope 2 cya at the Hittson event

[TaperSteve]

****THANK YOU MARK FOR THE BREAKFAST ON THE WATER!!!!!****

Seriously an understatement! Not only the breakfast out in the middle of the lake but also all the AMAZING food he continues to bring to the events. Imma def in debt to Big D....

TS

[FTSWJERRY]

Do you guys camp in the parking lot the night before. Our do you guys camp and bbq inside

[Hometown]

The food and party are in the parking lot but some choose to have a camp site inside also.
Do you guys camp in the parking lot the night before. Our do you guys camp and bbq inside

[5150fishn]

Thanks for the report Steve. I can at least live it through your report since I missed out on this one. The food looked epic as usual.

[Señor.Chilax]

Great report Steve! Like always, I missed out on a great event with good people. Big Daddy, you're the best! Always out doing yourself! Can't wait to fish with you again my friend.

[Josh]

It was an awesome night and a good day even if the bite was tough. As always it was great hanging out with everyone!

[Big Daddy]

Great report Taper Steve,

I had a great time and I think we had 20- 25 people there that we fed. Great job on the grill Birthday Boy John ans See Chris Fish, great Tri tip as always even if you did roll her in the dirt and the ashes lol. Thanks to all who came and brought something to make this another great event. For those of you that were not able to attend we truly missed you, we had on our menu this night:
Tri-tip,
Bacon Explosion meat loaf,
Smoked Pulled Pork sandwiches with cole slaw on toasted buns,
Smoked Brisket,
Sausages,
Steak,
Chicken,
Grilled Tillapia,
Coleslaw,
Potato Salad,
Cookies, and
Fresh home made Pineapple upside down cake

Josh and company on racoon patrol.

As well a The last comic's standing (Hittsy) and (troutdog) out there making fun of all of us

Another great gathering of "Team 57" and Future "57" members

Thanks again my friend "Dana Fisherman 57" for bringing all of us together once again this truly is because of him. I wear the "Team 57" shirts with Pride and every time I am at one of the lakes people ask me and most of you too, what is this "Team 57" and how do I join . They always say, I see you guys always together and always having fun. Family, Friends, Fun, and Fishing that is what it is all about, until next time.

Tight Lines my Friends and please be safe.

Big Daddy

[Hitts0n]

HHhahahahahaha how many people did I make fun of that night? LMAO !!!
Keep that Vodka away from me !!

[Big Daddy]

hhhahahahahaha how many people did i make fun of that night? Lmao !!!
Keep that vodka away from me !!

all of us.

[See Chris Fish]

Big Daddy--well said about Dana forming this Team 57.

HittsOn---we tried, you were like a mother bear protecting a cub!!!

[troutdog]

Reading this thread definitely got me laughing again, another memorable session with Team57...well said BigDaddy, "THANK YOU DANA".

TD

[Bobber Boy]

Great report Steve! It was nice to see all of the familiar faces again at the Vine and even some new ones (Hometown and his brother, Mike (new Marine buddy). The menu was awesome and yes the Tri-tip jumped off of the grill near the end. Guess it was done! lol I think everyone liked the bacon explosion! Any feedback would be appreciated. HittsOn was definitely on a roll and nobody was spared.

HittsOn-Loved the impersonations! LMAO

Big Daddy-Very well put! It just keeps getting better each time we roll. Thanks for the awesome breakfast on the lake! Where else can you order 2 eggs over medium, blueberry pancakes and 2 lbs of bacon. It hit the spot for sure!

Josh-Way to save the raccoons!

See you all at the next event!

[Hitts0n]

lmaoooooooooooooooooooo!!!