Del Mar has gone to the dogs for the Fred Hall Show, the Dock Dogs. What a kick it is to see water dogs launch off the dock out behind the exhibition hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and get big air before they land in the pool. The best part is how eager the dogs are to get out of the pool and do it all over again. And when they have had their practice session, they get back in line and give that pleading look to their owners -- do it again!

Yes the Del Mar version of the Fred Hall Show is off to a great start with everything from dogs to wakeboarders offering entertainment, while the great fishermen on hand to share their knowledge both in the booths and on the seminar stage is outstanding.

Which is a good thing, because the crowd that filed from tent to tent past the bratwursts and the 'reasonably priced' beer seemed to be a hardcore crowd intent on getting the right tackle and the right information. I even saw San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Ed Zieralski with a new ultralight rod he admitted he picked up for the Eastern Sierra trout opener a month from now.

Capt. Jimmy Decker started to show a couple fishermen how to rig a Jerk Shad on an Owner Sled Head and he soon had eight more anglers craning their necks to get a view. Jimmy said the bite has been hot for big spotties in Mission Bay and he was going to check it out Friday morning thanks to the offer of a skiff from Steve Pinard of Dana Landing. Sounds like fun. Head on down to Del Mar and enjoy some time with your friends.

Rich Holland's Roundup