Today, the ignominious warriors of Group One arrive on the scene of Extravaganza 2007, marking the long-awaited beginning of the Fifth Annual Extravaganza headquartered on Rock Creek, nestled in the soon-to-be formerly-serene woods of Western Montana.
Headlined by a string of seasoned veterans, this first group of fifteen will test the rivers of legend to seek out the feared big trout, to search for the hard-to-find twenty-inch trout that will inaugurate them, forever, into the 2007 Extravaganza Twenty-Inch Club, and to otherwise challenge their Group One legendary wine consumption capacity. Yes, this mixed band of experienced and rookie fisherfolk will set the pace for this year's Extravaganza, and what a year it should be, as fishing and weather conditions are in a word "perfect"--i.e., there are no excuses!
Headlined by five-time returnee Cam "Mend" Carlson (who showed up here days ago to fish with his defined benefits business partner--there have been multiple "Cam sightings" here in this small community already, by the way), Group One has two former Rookies of the Year in its midst: Napa realtor Gary "Splash" van Dam, 2005 Rookie of the Year (he fell out of his boat but did not lose his partner's $1,000 fishing rig that he had then borrowed because "his wasn't catching any fish") and Marin Catholic head football coach Ken "I'm Da Man" Peralta, 2006 Rookie of the Year (he rescued an errant oar by [foolishly] diving into the water to save it).
Also returning are Channel Lumber's Yellow Hat toting CFO John "Two" Reimann and his now inseparable marketing guru fishing partner Bill "The Stick" Schneider, together with SF commercial realtor par excellence Brad "Pink Hat" Colton and Petaluma-based medical devices manufacturer (and this year's MCHS head freshman football coach) John "I Came Via Denver in '05" Kruger. Already on the scene are ferrous metallurgist Jim "I Fear No Fish" Hendrickson and his fiancée, Italian wine importer "Lady Di" Denham (who had a day of days fishing the Bitterroot yesterday).
Rounding out this year's Group One is the following lineup of Extravaganza rookies, each of whom has been selected for their all-around endurance ability in order to be initiated into the Order of Group One (in fact, ol' RCR woke up at 5:30 a.m. this morning with a start, realizing, "Holly molly, Group One is arriving today!"): counter-terrorism Henley-Putnam University president, and former veteran Secret Service agent, Dr. Michael Corcoran, together with his son Evan and son-in-law Drew Turpin; Mike Kruger college roommate (so you know he can drink) Mike Wise paired with John (Denver)'s long-time employee and Montana fishing enthusiast Frank Ratto, and, last but not least (but certainly Group One hands down awardee for the longest Group One name), long-time Jim Hendrickson friend and fellow metallurgist, Demetry Kondrasheff (say that quickly three times!).
Missing this year due to multiple prior commitments but certainly here in spirit is long-time Group One participant and Honorary Group One Leader, Napa Supervisor Bill Dodd, who offers this bit of advice to all Group Oners: "Don't do what I always do the first night I am in paradise, and you will feel a whole lot better that first day of fishing tomorrow--go get 'em!!"
Let the games begin!
Viva la Extravaganza as, at long last, it is now here!
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