Happy Hailstorms (welcome to spring),

I hope everyone is doing well this month. This is the month of our first 2003 tournament, and hopefully a big fish month for us all.

It sure was exciting to see the large attendance at our last two meetings. Things are looking good and Vice President Larry is ready to go! These are exciting times for me and the club. Thinking back to the March meeting, some old faces reappeared, including Mr. Helmick and the Hudgens crew. Thank you for showing up! Speaking of the Hudgens crew, I for one have missed the Big Green Triton at blast off the last couple of years. Phil, I hope you're feeling better, and I hope even more that I have to wonder how Phil is doing all day and sweating it out until weigh-in. Mr. Hudgens is a competitor, friend, and one H-E-double-hockey-sticks of a fisherman. He is yet another reason why I love this club.

I spent two weeks during the month of March working in the Tri-Cities, and it looks like fishing on the Columbia River is in full swing. Bass boats are everywhere! Are you sick of the rain? Potholes is at full pool and boat were everywhere there, too… It's a bummer my work van doesn't float.

Congrats to Dennis Larsen on winning the rod raffle this year. Congratulations also go to Don Bertellotti for winning the ticket sales rod and reel combo. Most of all, thanks to everyone in the club for taking the time to sell over 1300 tickets.

As for Duck Lake, I hope to see everyone at the Draw Tournament. Weather permitting, we should see plenty of shallow fish. Please, take the time to prepare and zip-tie a spare set of truck and boat keys somewhere. Almost every year someone forgets about the keys in the ignition. It's just a tidbit to think about.

See you on the pond,
Ron Hankinson
(253) 229-4268

Hi WBC!

Duck Lake is 52 degrees at noon, and 58 degrees at 3 pm in the canal. At least that is what it was this past weekend. I didn't get any bass, but I saw a ton of fish cruising. It should be a good tourney.

WBC would like to thank Dave Knudsen of Auburn Sports and Marine for his discussion on boat maintenance at our March meeting. I think he gave us a pretty good idea of what we can do to keep our costs down. Thanks again. We appreciate our relationship with you guys down there at Auburn Sports.

This month we will be having our annual Swap Meet. Gather up all your "unwanteds", bring them to the meeting, and sell them at a reasonable price. If they aren't reasonable, you can load your stuff back into the car after the meeting, haul it home, put it back in your garage, and try to sell it again at an unreasonable price next year! We are trying to stay away from the "store front" booths, so vendors, please realize this is more for members to "swap and sell" their items. Booths are free, so BRING IT ON!

Have a great April, and see you at the meeting,

Don Hankinson
(253) 334-8077