|
Back to Michael Seewald's
Fishing Reports
Bass
Fishing Homepage
Seewald at Clear Lake, CA., 7-'08. Click to enlarge.
Michael Seewald's
fishing adventures for
2007
January thru June.
From the most recent.
June 26th, 2007
Diamond Valley
Lake.
Me 7 bass, Robert Schneider 7 bass.
Water clear to 12-15'.
Report to come after the 'Ironman' 1st annual tourney, as promised to Robert who will
be fishing it.
Ok, we had a tough bite but did get fish. ON water by
5:45. Topwater Sammy netted us both one in the a.m. and then we got some
on dropshotted worms. I got hits on the Sammy at noon and 2, and landed
one about 2.5 at 5 p.m.. Robert was surprised I could get them all day
long. We fished until almost 7 p.m., and hour later the 2 weeks ago when
they asked of to be off the water by 6!
Click image to enlarge.
Don Iovino, professional fisherman, pre-fishes the 'Ironman'
tourney
to be held on 6.30.'07. Don did not fare so well. $35K first prize,
$11K for 2nd.
June 24th, 2007
Barrett
Lake.
Me 13 bass, Herbert 18 bass.
Water stained green as always.
We left the house at 4 for a 5 a.m. hopeful arrival time at the
gate. 5 minutes late but the line had not moved into the regular holding
area. Around 5:15 the gate was opened and Laurie checked us all in.
At 5:35 we started the long dirt road trip in.
Loaded up the boat and left for Pine Creek.
Click image to enlarge.
6:15 a.m., Herbert steers us towards Pine Creek Arm.
Was not long before Herbert started his march to catching and
releasing 18 northern bass on plastics while I tried my best to get some
topwater action, as did Herbert for a little while.
Click image to enlarge.
Herbert's first of many.
Click image to enlarge.
My first of many did not come until 9 as I was working topwater. Here is
the first, and only, topwater fish of the day, caught on a frog
(still in it's his
mouth for this shot).
Click image to enlarge.
This gentleman had his hands full with three sons fishing too.
Click images to enlarge.
Beautiful morning.
Click images to enlarge.
Still a beautiful morning.
Click images to enlarge.
And Still a very beautiful morning/ Two gentlemen nearby.
Click image to enlarge.
Herbert holds up a frog I accidentally caught while fishing a
frog!
Click image to enlarge.
Another of my nice bass this morning.
Click image to enlarge.
I got a nice 4.9 at about 1 p.m. on a white Chatterbait w/
white trailer with chartreuse tips.
Click image to enlarge.
We saw a group of 13 illegals at about
2 p.m.. We always see a group out there, but this is the largest in one
group to date.
Click image to enlarge.
Towards the end of the day we both caught 3.9's,
among many others, at 'Herbert's Honey Hole', a top secret spot that has big big
bass that always bite.
We fished until we were asked to leave, at 8 p.m.. What a
fun filled day.
June 23rd, 2007
Lake Hodges.
Me 3 bass,
Solo, water stained green as always.
Launched the Lowe aluminum at 5:35 and headed to the
Hernandez Hideaway shoreline, starting at the spots I got them Wednesday (next
report). Threw my new Terminator Double Buzz Buzzbait lure for nada but
one big follower. I believe it did not hit due to lack of a chartreuse
trailer, which I'd bought but forgot to put on. Last few time out that
color is what has worked way better than the white.
Tossed a Sammy 100 (4") for a while too but no takers on that
either. Finally (6:45 a.m.) put on the newest weapon in my arsenal, a T.D.
Slash Skater (Diawa made- 98mm/11.5 g.) which was 1/2 price special at JP's Bait
& Tackle [ (858) 277-7417 / 4488 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111)]. At 7 I got a
nice hit/fish that weighed in at 3.6.
Click image to enlarge.
First bass on my newest lure went 3.6#, 18"
Click image to enlarge.
Next bass went 1.11#, 16".
Click image to enlarge.
Third one broke my new lure off, bummer. Prayed like crazy that the Lord would
have it jump and throw the lure, but He did not. BUT, as I started to
leave the area, now 50 yards from where I lost the bass, I looked down and there
it was, so I photographed it with the line broke just past the knot. TUL.
June 20th, 2007
Lake Hodges.
Me 1 bass, 3.6"
Solo, water stained green as always.
Launched the Answered Prayer at 1 p.m. and headed to the
Hernandez Hideaway shoreline, starting further north than usual.
Click image to enlarge.
Someone on the sdfish.com board asked if
the water was still green,
so I took this to assure them it no longer is.... NOT!
Threw buzzbaits until I saw some shad getting hit then tossed a
chatterbait, instant fish on but it threw the Barrett rigged lure. My
first fish came at just before 3, a very nice fighter that went 3.6 lbs.
Click image to enlarge.
This chunk love that heavier chartreuse
buzzbait, but was the only one that did.
Worked the entire shore and finally switched to a L/C 'splash
tail' style
topwater with props fore and aft.
 One time I got three hits in a row, one
large, but zippo hooked on another Barrett rigged lure (barbless). Bass
were thrashing shad the last hour all near shore to 50 yards out.
Left at 7:45 with escort, and picked up the Lowe that was
getting tuned by Dustin in La Mesa. Hope it runs better.
June 18th, 2007
Point Loma Kelp beds with Del V.
Me 1 calico bass, 1 36" Barracuda
Del zippo.
Water, red tide mostly
Talked a friend, Del, into taking his PB out into the ocean,
which he seems a bit leery to do.
Left the house at 5:30 and tried to stop and pick up some TJW's (Trix Jetty
Worms- weed guarded jigs of bright colors) at the local shop around Shelter
Island. West Marine was not open yet, and H&M and Point Loma Sport fishing were
both lame as they did not carry them.
Went down to the boats prepping to leave and asked around trying to find someone
that would sell an extra one or two.
We drove around trying to find some other shops open but no
luck, and returned to Fisherman's Landing and beat on the door till some guy
opened it, it was almost 7 now and the light were on- nada and had never heard
of them.
We wasted so much time that after we finally launched it was 7:30 so I went back
to West Marine while he waited and they did not carry them either, nor anything
that was weedless... what the heck?
Anyways, we slowly went to the entrance of the bay and then sped up. We did not
know if you could go fast but coming in a lot of folks were on plane so we
followed suit, but we wasted time getting to the entrance. His boat is a 19'
regal and ran well. No GPS (suggested he take his new Lawrence back and get one
with it), and his radio was iffy, but we had cell phones (just did not know they
don't get reception worth a darn out there).
Got into the kelp canopy by 9 and in 10 minutes had my first calico, about 1.5
lbs, sweet. After 5 more minutes I noticed we were not moving. I asked my
partner to raise his motor but because it's an inboard it did not come up out of
the water high enough to elude the strands, duh! So we tried to get the kelp off
it but it was a morass of twist and we had a hard time getting out of the forest
even though we were only 50' in it. We decided to stay around the edges but
without a trolling motor it was tough. We did not get anything and we had to
start back by 11. I trolled a Yozuri 20' diver but nothing but a 3' barry, which
was fun, but I had hoped for a YT.
Click image to enlarge.
A 3 foot barracuda attacked the Yozuri
crankbait.
The 'red tide' was there but more like a river running through
the major blue part, almost looking like kelp from a distance. Water 68 and no
wind, no other boats, was surreal. The Premier, a cattle boat, was at the
end of the kelp on barrys when we went by both going out and in. Might take my
Skeeter out next time as it would navigate the canopy better, but at the same
time I'd hate to introduce salt to trailer and motor.
June 14th, 2007
Murrieta Hot Springs, Calvary Chapel Conference Center Lake (ponds?).
Me 21 bass,
Herbert 10
Stained water.
Click image to enlarge.
Part of the larger pond system.
Up at 4:15 and on road with boat/trailer by 4:50, thinking we might hit Diamond
Valley with it after the morning bite. Made it to the lake by 5:45 and
after finding parking I walked to the lake and tossed a buzzbait in and started
retrieving. Half way back it got nailed and I landed a nice little 1.5
pounder- I had a feeling this was going to be a good day.
Click image to enlarge.
My 3.11 buzzbait fish. If it had
half a belly to match
it's head it would have been six pounds easily.
A few casts later netted me this 3.11#, which blasted the lure
as it was brought by a canoe next to the piling bank.
There is a smaller pond downstream and we got more action out of
that one than you could shake a stick at. Some monsters live in there, and
I lost one in the p.m. when it took line and left me high and dry on a fluke.
Most ran about 2 pounds but one 3 pounder, which I caught in the afternoon bite,
I tossed into the larger one to help him, hopefully, get even bigger.
I ended up with 10 by 9 a.m. when we stopped for breakfast on
the veranda on the Kellner's back room porch overlooking the lake; coffee,
cheese and a tasty dense dark bread. After the breakfast snack I took a 1
hour rest/nap in the van while Herbert rested in his room and Gita read.
After getting up I went and then tossed a Chatterbait in the small pond, netting
my 11th after just two casts, as I wanted to bring one to the Kellner's room to
show how blessed we were getting to fish there, this just before joining them
for some water relaxation. They had rented a room with 6 single beds for
$64 per day, and there is no extra charge to have 6 in the room.
Click image to enlarge.
Canoe where I got the 3.11 in shown here.
We enjoyed the pool and natural hot baths then went for lunch at
a noodle shop they found the night before on Winchester Rd., and then a nap/rest
again (reached 90 degrees there). By 5:30 p.m. we were up and rested and
went at it again, this time with flukes for me and chatterbaits for Herbert.
He lost a fiver at lakes edge and I got two in three casts along the shore.
Switched to frog and had 5 hits, up to 3 pounders flying through the air trying
to engulf it, but no love. Switched to the buzzbait and right away, two
casts in a row, got 2 two pounders while Gita read a book at the table nearby.
Had one on a Ika trying for the bigger one that missed the frog while Herbert
tossed a plastic too. Two more by the pools on the BB and then another by
the canoe netted me 5 on it, then 2 more in the lower pond in three casts, one
over 3 lbs easily, made it 7. Ended up getting me a 21 bass count
for the day.
Headed to find a restaurant by 8:30 and by 9 we had our order in
for steaks at an Outback Steakhouse we found. Yum, what a way to end the
perfect day. T.U.L.!
Click image to enlarge.
Destroyed buzz-baits after the last two days of
topwater. They seem to be able to get about 10 bass before he skirt is
torn to shreds and the pot-metal breaks that holds it. Oh well, I got my
$1.49 worth I guess. (6.16.07 Note: They were brand new in the package
three days ago.)
Click image to enlarge.
This 'Sammy', a topwater lure by Lucky Craft, has been through the
war, but some of the marks that look like teeth scratches are from the hooks
rubbing.
June 13th, 2007
Barrett Lake
Me 19 bass,
Jerry S. 12
Stained water, 90 degree weather, water probably 80 in back end of
Hauser's and very little wind for the most part.
Jerry's 45 Anniversary today. Up at 3:30 and out door at
3:45 when Jerry arrived. We hit J.I.B. for breakfast sandwiches and were
on our way. Drove up to the gates by 4:45 and got checked in by 5:15,
drove in by 5:20.
Loaded up boat and went directly to Becky's Cove, first part of
rocky area and we worked the shore east until the sun stopped topwater bite,
about 8 or so. After getting nada on the frog after 5 minutes I tried and
got bass, 4, on the buzzbait by 7 a.m..
Click image to enlarge.
My first buzzbait fish of the morning, Jerry in
background.
By 8 it had slowed and I only got two more
hits; one ate it and was landed but one missed it. Three follow up presentations of a
pumpkin colored Hula grub to the spot where I missed it was ignored, but after
putting on a blk/blu Ika and it was bang and run fairly instantly.
Jerry was working a pumpkin hula and getting 'some' fish but would have done
better with the blu/blk which is the hot color there right now.
Click image to enlarge.
Jerry's second fish, his first was not recorded
properly with my camera phone. The Pentax Optio pooped out on me, and then
the camera phone battery, and spare, died after two pics.
He went to a small Berkley worm and got most of his fish in the
shoreline shallows and could have had very high numbers for the day but switched
baits around to try different things.
Between 8-9 I put on a Robo worm, MM, and got three in five
minutes so I would not get skunked that hour. Between 9-10 I got three on
a small Storm slender swimbait in 5 minutes again. At 10 we moved to the
back end of Hauser and I put on a blk/blu weedless Chatterbait (with a brass
plate, first time using it) and proceeded to
work it for 5 minutes and then got two 15 inchers in a row. Took another
35 minutes to get another two more.
By noon we went to the shallow part and I tossed a frog for a
half hour, Jerry got one on a worm, I struck out, but it sure looked fishey!
By 1 we were fishing the point back at the entrance to Pine Arm and I
immediately got on fish with the Robo MM. Jerry lost the fish of the day,
at least 4 if not 5 lbs but it threw his purple worm on the jump, bummer.
Back to docks by 1:45 for the 2 p.m. train out. Was a wonderful day.
June 8th, 2007
San Vincente.
Herbert and I.
From 4 till 7:45 / 71 degree water.
One bass me, on buzzbait dragging it off shore into water at the
'chimney' at 7:30. Nada back in Kimball, nor toll road where we worked the
first hour, nor end of lake past Kimball's.
June 7th, 2007
Diamond Valley.
Solo 2 bass, 1st ever on a swimbait.
72degrees, not windy until 3, then pretty bad.
Fished from 6:30 a.m. till 6:30 p.m., closing time there :/(.
And guess who caught their first swimbait fish finally? Holy
Moly, you guessed it, I finally did it. YIPEE!
My friend Tom Leogrande, editor of Bass West magazine, sent me a swimbait setup
as a gift a couple of weeks ago. It consisted of a brand new Quantum Cabo with a
slightly used Quantum HD 7'11" rod of his (he is sponsored by them). The reel is
a small, low profile baitcaster originally made for blue water fishing- "it's
'the' reel to use nowadays for this style fishing" he said, and I spooled it
with the suggested 25# Izor line (I already used Izor in the smaller diameters
for my spinner reels, love the stuff).
Then I used a Palomar knot to tie on my Spro BBZ I got for my B-day (way back in
January, I turned 108, which I surprisingly, at least to me, had not lost yet.
This even after tossing it up at a lake at my bro's up near Fresno all day two
months ago and for a 1/2 hour at Otay Sunday afternoon).
And with this I finally got me in the money, so to speak.
Up at 4:15, out of house by 4:28, hooked up to boat and on road
by 4:50, at lake by 6:15 and fishing by 6:30.
Click image to enlarge.
Beautiful morn - Rear view on
the way to spot #1.
Click image to enlarge.
Beautiful morn - Front view on
the way to spot #1.
First fish came right at 7, on a Sammy, yep, on topwater.
Love it.
Click image to enlarge.
First bass of the morning slammed my Sammy.
It went 4.12 oz..
By 10 a.m. I had two more on and they came unbuttoned, that's
when I noticed my barbs had been flattened for barbless Barrett Lake fishing, oh
well. Worked a robo worm around the shorelines there and kept a look out
for exploding areas but that died off. Then worked 'the island' with
basstrix dropshotted and then tail spinners, white, all for nada under large
bait balls there.
Click image to enlarge.
Spot where I got the 4.12.
At 1 p.m. exactly, 15 minutes after picking the swimbait setup
up, something was pulling my slow rolled lure in a different direction then
where I was reeling it, which was of course was towards me and my boat, so I
started reeling like crazy and swung-set the hook at the same time after feeling
weight. I soon saw this monster bass planning on the water after a few seconds
as I was reeling it in so fast it had no other choice and I wanted to land it so
bad, and I was so nervous, that I just skipped the big net I bought two years
ago, and which was ready to go and stuck into a reel holder for easy grabbing
and was purchased just for such a fish and instead I boated it by bouncing it
onto the bottom of my aluminum boat like I do yellowtail on deck of the Mission
Belle. Whew! It all happened that fast too.
Funny thing is, that first fish of the day, at 7 a.m., was bigger and I got that
one on a spook on the surface. Bass were slamming shad all over the lake, and
there are bait balls of them every 100 feet all over the place, and it was
crazy. Fished till they kicked me off at closing, and man the waves get big
there, tossing our boats around like corks in the sea- dangerous really.
Anyway, for you guys that have not got your first 'swimmer' I just want to say
hang in there, your confidence goes up 10 fold, I can tell your that. Can't wait
to toss it and get one over 10 now.
Here she is already:
Click image to enlarge.
Yeah buddy!
First ever
swimbait fish on a BBZ Spro #5 (sinks 5' per second). 3.8 lbs at 1 p.m..
June 1st, 2007
San Vincente
Me 3 bass,
Weldon 0
Left work at 3 p.m. with the Lowe and picked up Weldon in Poway
on the way. On the water fishing by 4:30 and got my first bass about the
5th cast on a spook just off shore. Beautiful day. Worked our way
around to the waterfall by 7:30 and had added another on a Robo worm drop
shooting and then lost one on a white buzzbait. Got the final 17" on a
buzzbait at 7:45 then the ranger kicked us out. Weldon had a couple of
small hits on his small popper. Now he is going to go by a buzzbait, he
says he sees they work well.
Yeah.
Pic's coming.
May 23rd-25th, 2007
Colorado River, Yuma area.
Me 10 bass,
Herbert 2
Dodge Caravan w/ 213K miles, no A.C. Took -1 3/4 tanks of
gas total.
Stained water, 79-80.5 degree water
85 degree low- 100 high degree air temp.
We left at 11 a.m. from Leucadia on a Wednesday (wanted to beat
the Memorial Day traffic by three days) and stopped at a friends in La Mesa for
a quick tune up of the 4 stroke Honda. The local supply store did not stock the
parts though so we left directly except for the need to get at least the spark
plugs replaced. This proved to be a big mistake in that we first had to
hit more than one place to find them, and then three places trying to find a
tool to change them, which ended up being a fruitless search.
We continued on to Morena Lake, a mountain top, desert looking
place and launched the Lowe 17' aluminum boat in very windy conditions at 4 p.m.
It looked very nice with lots of rocks and trees in the water around the
shoreline. The weather was pleasant but the fish were not cooperating. I
had two hits on the buzzbait at dusk but that was it.
We stopped at Acorn Casino for dinner and got to the Motel 6 in
Yuma at about 11 p.m.. (Online special of $43.99 for two.)
I called for a wake-up call and asked the receptionist what time
sun-up was here and she said 6:30, so I asked for a 5:30 call. At 5:30 we
awoke to a bright day already and I was bummed, as topwater morning action was
what I was really looking forward to.
Click image to enlarge.
Boat prepped to go.
We got on the Fisher's Landing ramp by 7:00 and did not get any
action on top. I got my first two fish, one on a brown/purple flake Hula
grub and one on a Sweet Beaver, a plastic 'creature bait', in the tulles.
Click image to enlarge.
First bass of the trip, one of many tulle fish
for me.
Click image to enlarge.
Docks where I got my night time frog fish at
Fishers Landing.
I had to reel like crazy before the fish buried itself in those
weeds. Herbert got his first on a Chatterbait lure around 11.
Click image to enlarge.
Herbert with his Chatterbait fish.
Then I went out on the river proper where I tossed up under
brush and in holes at 12:15 while Herbert rested/cooled down at the restaurant
until 1. I lost a bass on a Sweet Beaver in a tulle hole and had a real tough
time braking off my 65# braid. After picking up Herbert we continued this
technique and I got two more. I was real excited to learn and start to
perfect this new method of sorts.
Click image to enlarge.
On the actual river tossing the bait in holes in
tulles.
By 3 we had worked down river to an opening (second buoy on the
left) about a mile from Fishers, and found a beautiful secluded lake. No
hits after an hour of working it and went back to a cove with boat docks just
south of Fishers for nada. Then off to Martinez entrance area and worked
the whole shore and the other inside point with plastics and chatters and flukes
for nada.
By 6 we had worked over to the Martinez docks and I started to
work frogs/buzzbaits more seriously as we had heard it picks up then, but it was
all for more nada. Herbert continued to work small swimbaits and
Chatterbaits. At 7:30 I decided to work the tulle area entrance one more time
with the buzzbait as it has NEVER failed me, and guess what, two fish in three
casts tried to inhale it, but were actually so overzealous they missed it.
Another tried to hit it as I pulled it out of the water two casts later and then
I got one on the next cast.
Click image to enlarge.
One of the bass that did not miss my buzzbait.
A few minutes later I got another one.
We had worked down to the spot we and already tossed it earlier, the 'indent' in
the stretch, and I figured they might not now hit it, as they had seen it
earlier, so we ran to Fishers and started that tulle section. I got my
third in no time and decided to switch to the frog just to see if it would work.
Herbert was throwing his, and had been, but had gotten zippo.
A few minutes later it was completely dark, and about 8:20 when
we started working the docks at the end of the tulles. Knats surrounded
out sweaty faces in the windless hot air as I tossed my black Dean Rojas Spro
frog way back and between fifth dock of the night and 'popped it' twitch,
twitch, and then watched a back lit moon light splash while hearing an explosion
of sound disturb the silence in that area. I reeled like crazy hoping
against hope to feel weight and feared after two seconds he had missed it.
But lo and behold I finally felt something heavy on the line, then set the hook
while continuing to reel at 100 mph the 65# Power Pro braid line with my Shimano
Curado 200SF reel. The monster fought on the surface all the way back. I
bounced him up into the boat and let out such a yell of excitement about such
success.
Click image to enlarge.
The folks were arriving in hordes for the
holiday,
we planned to be 'otta here' for it of course.
Some folks working on their boat on the fist dock had heard the
fight and called over to get the size report. At first I figured at least
5 as it flopped around on the bottom of the boat, but pulled it back to reality
and yelled back "about 3 and a half" on my conservative estimate. It was
the largest fish for the day, and would be of the trip. T.U.L.! We tried to get
my new Canon digital camera to take a flash pic but it took so long to figure
out that after finally getting it I was so concerned the fish had been out of
the water so long I tossed him right back in without weighing him, and even
then, on return it was not recorded in the camera, oh well.
We got off the lake by 9:15 and got back to Yuma just before
they closed the Roadhouse Grill where we split a very larger full portion of BBQ
ribs, mmmm!
Got to bed but 11 and ordered at 4:30 call this time. Up
and off to J.I.Box for breakfast sandwiches, which we later later on. This time
we were on the water by 6:10 but still got no love on the top, starting on the
tulle/dock area and working where we left off the night before, but today the
bass were feeding on shad all over and we spent two hours trying to get some.
Herbert 'Chatterbaited' it and I got one on a TD Pencil but it fell off as I
reached up to take it off, not counting. We worked the tulles and then
took a one hour break at noon as the trolling motor quit.
When we exchanged it for the third spare one I had brought it
was dead. Bummer, it was a VERY long 200 yard walk with a 40 pound battery
from the trailer parking area in 100 degree heat for nothing. We found the
repair shop only charged $5 for a 'quick charge', supposedly a full charge in 15
to 20 minutes and we went for it. It was and we continued to work the
Fishers dock, stopping for a one hour napping session by a deserted canopied
dock for shade from 1:30 to 2:30, we were dead tired but refreshed afterwards.
Our plan was to depart for home by 6 and hate it as I did ( wanted to stay for
topwater) but realized the 4 hour drive back, semi-tired already and going
downhill fast, we'd better get going.) Stopped in El Centro for fast food
and got Herbert home by 11, and me by midnight after unloading all and getting
the chargers going. Another blessed trip, T.U.L..
May 19th, 2007
Barrett Lake
Me 17 bass,
Herbert 6
Stained water, 80 degree weather, water probably 68 or so.
Took the sunny 7 a.m. train in and it started out weak at our
usual spot just across from the docks. Well, in a way anyways as I lost two big
ones in the first 1/2 hour at the 'rock', one on the hook set (darn fluorocarbon
line) and the other went into bushes immediately and I got tangled up. Was
throwing the blue/black hula grub brass and glass. Herbert announced he
had unfortunately left his tackle box at home so was trying to limit the use to
his three pre-rigged poles he'd brought. Topwater got nada.
Click image to enlarge.
Early morning light, Barrett Lake.
We landed nada after an hour and moved on to the far end of Pine
Arm, to the 'exposed dead trees'. We got on them immediately, at least I
did, on both white spinner baits and the hula jig. Topwater got nada.
After a couple of hours working the area I was up to about 5
fish and Herbert finally got one on a larger silver single tail hula grub.
We worked the arm in the back and I picked up another nice one
on the B/B hula. No topwater hits on the frog, we both tried as I'd loaned him
one of mine.
Click image to enlarge.
Me with a 2.13 caught on
Yamamoto's blue/black twin tail Hula Grub.
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewhulagrub.html
We then went to Herbert's Honey Hole and I got another on a
drop-shot MM Robo but that was it, surprisingly.
Click image to enlarge.
Me with a nice drop shot fish,
which weighed in at 3.14, largest for the day.
We went to the island nearby and I got another three, but landed
only one due to bushes again, and then I was out of B/B hula grubs and down to
fourth choice as I was out of Pumpkin and Watermelon colors and went with the
brown and purple flake. Buy this time it was 2 and we had lunch.
Decided to work the point at entrance to the arm back towards Hauser and I
nailed a bunch on the Robo M/M and Herbert picked up his second fish finally.
He was frustrated as I was getting them every other cast at first. My
count was up to 14 and his about 2 at this point.
Click image to enlarge.
Herbert displays fish number 2 for the day, at about 4 p.m..
We worked towards Becky's and he picked up another, and then
another at Becky's island. By this time it was about 6 and we decided to
work buzzbaits along the north, very windy shore. It was not long before I
got two in three casts next to some very large rocks. Too cool.
Herbert was going to give up when I decided to really work with him on
developing a better technique which is needed with this bait, and a half hour or
so later he got his first buzzbait fish, and moments later I got one two, my
17th and last fish of the day.
Click image to enlarge.
Herbert's first buzz bait fish.
Bill came around and kicked us out, it was 7:20 and it took us
till 7:45 (dead line return time) exactly to get back anyways with those slow
motors. Great time again though, T.U.L..
May 16th, 2007
Lake Hodges
Started out weak, finished strong. 71 degree water,
overcast most of the day. Stained water (green as heck). Zippo first hour
with frog.
Then lost one THE buzzbait on the hookset after a hit 5 minutes
earlier.
Click image to enlarge.
Then got this beauty on a fluke by the restaurant.
Click image to enlarge.
Later the Robo drop shot treated me well, four on it.
Click image to enlarge.
Buzz bait action at dusk, four hits, two landed.
May 9th, 2007
Barrett Lake
Me 24 bass, Herbert 17
We met at my house for a 4:30 departure, arriving at the gate at
5:20. Met Luke (rippinlips) from sdfish boards and he paid me for the 2
tubes and car spot, chatted a bit and then Bill drove us in at 5:35. In
boat fishing by 6:15 but nada on topwater at spot near dock I saw them getting
slain the week before.
Started to throw the brown w/ purple flakes twin tailed Hula
Grub, rigged on a glass bead on chartreuse shaky head jig, and I got three nice
ones about 2.5 or so each, biggest at 3, in about 15 minutes. I then threw
a drop-shotted Robo worm and following my suggestion got Herbert throwing one
too, as he was getting skunked, and he started getting some too, but smaller
models.
We worked the banks to almost 9 and moved to 2nd cove entrance
and I got another nice 3 pounder on the steep rock cliff. Moved to the
island on desperation point and picked up another, even though both these spots
had fishermen on them earlier, or we would have gotten many more I'm sure.
Went to Pine Creek Island and Herbert picked up a nice one on a
drop shot.
Click images to enlarge.
Herbert with a couple of 'keepers', even
though we throw them back.
After working the island for awhile I wanted to go back and
check out the far end of Pine to see how it looked nowadays. But as we
started out either Herbert or I noticed a nice steep drop-off not far away and
started to work it. Herbert did not have any more smaller worms so he tore
in half a really big one with a curly tail and rigged it up, and at 18" high
seemed to far up. Almost instantly he was into big fish, and
constant, getting three to my one.
Click images to enlarge.
Herbert with another 'nice feeeesh' from
this stop.
I had put on a black-blue Hula grub twin tail, brass and glass,
and got hit whilst next to his upcoming fish while trying to get my camera out,
so double hook up. We would lose one two each one we brought in, they were
big and good at throwing the barbless hooks off.
Click images to enlarge.
Our double hook up.
After working the area for almost a couple of hours the bite
finally died off. We continued our trip north, further into Pine Creek
arm. It all looked so fishy, I know the frog would work well in certain
spots and started to chomp at the bit to throw it and it was now nearing 4.
Sure enough, I saw really good spot after a couple of casts, some paddies were
growing next to a half-sunken log coming into the water from shore. I
tossed the frog right up on shore, two feet up the steep bank and slowly shook
it into the water- BLAMO, and instant explosion was followed by me seeing the
top half of a fish nailing my lure, instantly turning and making a run to go
back under the log. But no sooner had I seen the explosion and I was
reeling down to set the hook. I felt weight 1/2 second later and swung to
set the hook as well as turn this bad boy around. Success, I got him up
and over the log and he fought hard, but half way to the boat he opened his
enormous mouth and shook the frog out. DARN, but the size of that mouth I know
he ran about 6 lbs. DARN. You see, northern bass do not grow as large as
the Florida bas we normally catch in our other San Diego lakes, so this one
equaled about a 12 pounder in comparison. DARN
Well, I tried to shake off the loss faster then he had the frog,
but it was tough. I found myself soon too busy to fret, and I landed
another one fairly sooner thereafter.
Click images to enlarge.
My first frog fish for the day.
You see, we worked our way back to the far end of the creek, the
water got too shallow to continue, but that did not stop the bass from getting
back there, and I caught two more frog fish but one left the lure on the log he
ran into, getting away and leaving the lure stuck.
I was trying to get Herbert onto some frog fish, telling him to
throw it here or there, but his reel with the braid had broken, and if you don't
have heavy line the odds of getting them out of the areas they hold up would be
slim to none, but he tried a few places near the areas out in the open, but that
far away they would have no interest.
He had just put his frog away as we were working our way back
out of the creek when I spotted a nice set of paddies. I tossed the frog
over it and worked it through and BLAMMO, another big explosion and I reeled for
my life. The bass came up and then back down, then up and tried to jump,
but she was so big she could only mouth shake, and that she did time and time
again at the boats edge, all I could do was pray it would not throw the lure.
We have no net, but I sure wish we did at this moment. She finally settled
down enough I could 'safely' put my thumb in her mouth for a 'lip' catch and
brought her in with a big sigh of relief just a half second later of her calming
down.
Herbert was already holding the scale and it read 5.2#, T.U.L.!
What a nice FEEESH.
Click images to enlarge.
My second 'landed' frog fish for the day
really made it, my day that is.
We worked some spots at the creeks entrance for no love, and the
area in front of the falls for the same lack of results. Then we worked my
favorite stretch of bank for nada still, and Herbert was getting bummed (all
that action he was getting used to, even though he had been fishless for the
previous three outings). Can't blame him though, and we went back to where
he did his best, but nada there except another for me on the blue/black hula.
One final stop, to the left of desolation point at the big rocks
drop-off (I figured I get one or two) netted me the two.
Click image to enlarge.
Last but not least fish for the day.
Lori came by at 7:15 and told us we had to leave- LEAVE? As dead
tired as we were, we were still in a hurry up and get another mode, amazing.
Thank U Lord for such an awesome day.
MS/HK
May 2nd, 2007
Opening Day, Barrett Lake
Solo 13 bass.
Was in desperate mode to get tickets, so much so I finally
prayed (should have done that in the first place, I know) and the Lord answered
with 2 tube tickets/car spot the day before from mrsea on the sdfish message
boards.
We were to go in on the 'second train in'. The first group
went in at 5:30 a.m. and they only go in at certain times as it private property
the 10 mile dirt road winds through.
Left at 5:50 am from the local J.I.B. (Jack in the Box) and made
it to the gates by 6:35. Met John Christianson (mrsea) and his buddies,
one of which I met at Otay a month ago bed fishing the Olympic boat dock.
Was on the water and fishing by 7:45, in my tube. Nothing
for first 20 minutes and constant yelling by a guy getting them on topwater
across the bay got me excited and I made my way, kicking with my fins, over
there. no bites on my popper had me wondering, until I realized the sun
was now beaming on the water, I had just missed it. I did start to get
them on robo worms, MM and on Senko's.
Click image to enlarge.
After tubing I got a boat and went to my usual haunts, about 3
p.m.. My first stop was the second cove heading away from the dock towards
Pine Arm, but no go on the spook after 1/2 hour or so. Went to the island
in Pine Arm at 4:45 and threw the black Dean Rojas frog and nailed one next to a
rock on teh island just before 5, a nice two pounder. A few minutes later,
next to another rock, I got another but broke off the 645# braid and lost the
frog, darn. $9.95.
Threw a chartreuse colored one for the next hour plus and only
got a couple of hits, one very strong one. Should have followed it up with
a Senko but didn't. Went across to a long part of the arm headed to the
back on the right side, a place I usually work with the buzzbait at dusk with it
too, but nada.
Click image to enlarge.
One of the smaller buzzbait fish.
At 6.30 turned around and worked it back south with the buzzbait,
and true to form, started nailing them quite regularly, though small for the
most part.
About most of the way down started getting bigger fish.
Click image to enlarge.
This one nailed it but missed. A quick follow up with
the robo worm
April 25th, 2007
Point Loma Kelp Beds.
Water 58.
Was invited by 'Fishtricks' (his screen name from sdfish.com
board), whose real name is Scott, and fellow boarder 'Barbz'. We met at 6 a.m.
at the Shelter Island launch ramp and was on the kelp by 6:45. Drifted
over the beds with overcast skies by almost zero wind and current, which other
than getting sunnier, was the conditions all day. Scott said he had never
seen anything like it, that late morning or afternoon almost always had wind.
I got a couple of bites but figured they were dinks and was the
first to get a bass to the boat, a Johnny bass about 12" and tossed him back.
I got another shortly after and Scott said if I wanted to take some fish home
I'd better keep him, so I did. Another 15 minutes later I landed the first
of many calico's, it was 8 a.m..
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy 'Fishtricks' Scott.
Me with the first fish of the day, a calico bass.
Click image to enlarge.
Self-portrait (me with the first fish and the paparazzi
ready for action).
Scott and Barb were still fishless. I kidded Barb because
she had brought 2 bananas and I had just read where some guys are so
superstitious about them they refused to take folks on their boat who have them-
DUMB! But I razzed her all the same.
A little later, about 9, Scott got into his first of many (about
20 for the day) and it was a barely/iffy legal lingcod (exactly 24#) so he
tossed him back.
Click image to enlarge.
Scott with a barely, 24" legal lingcod.
I caught another nice calico about an hour later.
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy 'Fishtricks' Scott.
Here is one that just tipped the scales under
3,
at 2.15 pounds per Scott's scale. Photo courtesy 'Fishtricks' Scott.
Pretty much the same action all day long, although I had about a
3 hour dry spell just after mid-day, but it slowed for all of us to some extent
by then. Scott would most likely get at least one with each new drift.
Drifts required us to go back out to deep water, (the outside edge of the beds,
where he would gun the boat and insert it as deep into the kelp as he could
before it came to a screeching halt nearly throwing us forward into the bow of
the boat.
At one point, during the heavier action, Scott and I buttered up
with fresh 'uni-goop' in a tube (uni-butter it's called, made from blended-up
sea urchins and a lard of some type) and we caught one each at the same time,
called a 'double'.
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy 'Barbz'.
Scott and I get 'doubles', both going about 3 lbs. each.
Although Barb did not get as many fish, she did manage to whoop
us in the size department and got the biggest of the day, a 3.6 meal and a half.
Click images to enlarge. Photo courtesy 'Fishtricks' Scott.
Barb got the biggest of the day, a 3.6 meal and a half.
Click images to enlarge.
Click images to enlarge. All photos by M. Seewald
All three of us are pretty big on giving detailed reports with
a lot of pictures, so it was a lot of fun getting together and continue that
tradition amongst us.
Click images to enlarge. Photos by M. Seewald
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy 'Fishtricks' Scott.
Our last few of the day.
The beautiful weather held up and the bite picked up again the
last hour for us, which was from 5:30 to 6:30, then we headed in.
I ended up keeping three of my 7, Scott tossed all of his back
except three or so he gave to Barb so she could have a few extra. He's
wanting to keep some on the third day, as he's going out tomorrow and the
following day with some other folks from the sdfish board. It was a blast
and I really learned a lot.
April 17th to 22nd, 2007
California Delta and Clear Lake
Water 65 to 68.
Valerie and I took off on a Monday, after I taught a weekend
photo class in Carmel, to Clear Lake for a few days of fishing bliss, or so I
hoped. We left at noon, drove all over Monterey in search of wiring to
connect my new trolling motor with and after a three hour drive or so we reached
Hwy 4 near Stockton, wanting to drive towards Antioch. After finding a
ramp an hour later and working on connecting the new wires to the 41# trolling
motor it was after 6 p.m., so I had just over one hour left to fish.
Valerie was not wanting to go so she became the van watchman. I fished
around the ramp and across the river but no hits on top or below. We drove
north and stayed at some friends home in Davis and left for the Delta the next
morning, getting to the town of Clearlake, on Clear Lake, at about 1:30 p.m..
After checking in and seeing the lake I decided not to risk my life by launching
from the cottage in the hurricane conditions, which were in full force, causing
waves up to 8 foot- temp was down to 49!!!
I figured if I drove around the lake, and launched from the side
the wind was coming from, I'd be protected for a hundred feet or so. So I
drove up to Lakeport, some 30 miles N.W. from Clearlake town, in scattered rain
showers.
I launched at 3 p.m. and slowly worked the wind-protected shore
up to a spot three miles away where Valerie and I had worked a couple of years
earlier and had good luck. I got into my first fish shortly after, at 7
p.m., and just after it had hailed. I threw a watermelon hula grub, brass
and glass rigged and started to slay 'em. It was an hour of good
fishing - most were two pounds (see below left for average size) with the
largest almost at 4.5 lbs.. Got about 7 total, losing two.
Click images to enlarge.
First day had scattered showers/hail; cold with hurricane
winds.
Got back to the room at 9:30 p.m. with
stories to share with the wife. The next day's weather was to be no
better, but prayed like crazy it would be nicer...!
Day Two-
...And it was.
Slept in till 9, and went and got some supplies at a local tackle store after
hitting Wal-Mart for some warmer clothing and J.I.B. (Jack in the Box) for
breakfast sandwiches. I got a lake map and some Senkos and Hula Grubs,
pumpkin/red flake, the suggested colors and my go to colors anyways.
I drove over to Jago Bay, then past
Wheeler Point and started a two hour search for a public launch ramp listed on
my new map- time was wasted with never finding it and everyone doubting one
existed. After fishing my way to a point I started to pick up some
topwater bites, three frog hits in 5 minutes, but nothing ever really ate it
completely. I threw the hula grub and started getting fish, average size
was 2 pounds and the best were found where trees mixed with tulles, but you had
to hit the spots under the trees where it was tough to get them out- lost a 5 or
6 too later in the day. Some 4's were in 2' of water.
Click images to enlarge..
Second day was very windy but sunnier. The wind was
pretty bad most of the time around the corner from this point/tree, but it kept
me protected.
Had a blast and got about 2 per hour and then 5 per hour at dusk. As I love the
top I found Sammy's and T-d pencils worked to hook them towards sunset; it was
still pretty windy and the trees and point protected me fairly well most of the
time. Picked the wife up some Kentucky Fried (of course for me too) and we
feasted when I got back. More stories to share with the wife- but she's not too
interested as we don't keep these ones, like we do the trout- oh well.
Day Three-
Bad weather was predicted for Thursday but more prayer netted us
a day without really overly strong winds and we decided to launch from our our
ramp at the cottage. We got on the water (Valerie joined me finally) by 11
and we putted across the lake to a rocky shore we were told about but no go.
We were told to drop-shot purple 'margarita mutilator'
Robo brand worms so I got Valerie set up with that, but she mostly went for the
ride and did not toss it much. I worked the shore along Jones bay towards
Jago bay but no love after two hours. Threw the frog and the hula grub to
many likely looking spots for nada. Decided to hit the south east shallow
part of the lake two miles away but the winds had picked up and froze Valerie on
the way so we stopped short of it at a beautiful bay on the right side just past
Indian Island. It looked so great but it took awhile for me to still get one,
which I did on both the drop-shot and the hula grub. One went 4.7 lbs.
Other boaters worked this area around us, and they too were getting into them.
It was wind protected and we worked it till almost 4. I ended up with only
3 for the day, oh well. We had a dinner appointment with a friend of
Valerie's at Konocti Casino Harbor Cafe and had to leave, so we did.
That night at the cafe we sat down amongst 50 empty tables while
a man in a Ranger jacket sat next to us shortly after. Of course I had to
talk to him after seeing the jacket and found out he was Ron Hammitt (sp) from
E. San Diego and was going to fish the big FLW tourney there the following week!
A fellow Del Martian joined him a bit later, Ed Arledge, whom is an atty. and
new some of my collectors- small world.
He offered to take me out as a back-seater the next day after I
asked if either would like to have one. COOL! I'd love to learn from a pro.
He had taken 6th the year earlier too! Forecast- hurricane winds and
rain!! Ed said to bring rain gear, waterproof boots, life vests and expect to
most likely have to cancel. Time and place to meet- Lakeport at 9 a.m..
Went home and the wife and I prayed REAL HARD for a change of the weather
(mostly my prayer of couse)... the satellite photo looked devastatingly poor.
I could not sleep - excitement - and finally slept after midnight.
Day Three-
Up at 6, an hour late as electricity
going off during the night must have ruined the alarm clock settings.
Breakfasted, cleaned and departed by almost 8- taking the wife over with me (she
visited her girlfriend for the day that lives there), arriving in Lakeport at
8:30. Weather that morning; absolute blue sky and zero wind, what a
MIRACLE, T.U.L.!
Ed was surprised and I told him it was my
fault, answered prayer. He said that it was not good to be that clear and
windless as the bite dies... I'd forgot. But we got on some nice fish and
I'll post that part later, as I promised not to reveal patterns/locations, etc..
until the FLW tourney is over. But I'll post some pic's of Ed now.
Click images to enlarge.
Not bad for my first time really working some spots and checking it out. What a
fun/great place to fish.
Click image to enlarge.
Valerie at our cottage on the water.
Here is where we stayed- the new Lake
Escape cottage in Clearlake, traded out the stay for some of my art- the wife
loved it there and it has a launch ramp and protected docks for customers. Found
it on an ad on Westernbass fishing boards online.
We took off at 3 p.m. to go back to stay
with our friends in Davis and took the Napa route for the scenery. It was
special. After a nice dinner at Chevy's in Vacaville with our friends and
then hit the sack at 11 p.m.
Day Four-
Delta
Water 66 to 68.
We rose at 5 and after breakfasting and
getting his 4 year old son James in the van it was 6:30. We hit the Rio
Vista tackle store on the Sacramento River a little over an hour later and got
advice on where to launch for a trip to Frank's Tract, a lake part of the Delta
that is reportedly 'bass heaven' at times. It was just two miles down the
road. We went, launched and motored the four miles to the lake after
purchasing and replacing a stolen plug for the boat- don't want to sink.
It was 9 a.m. when John got his first
cast into the tulles there. I'd set him up with that drop-shop Robo worm
system and his son picked out the 'lucky worm' from a pack of identical baits I
had. On his very first 'proper' cast (one that did not slap down
right in front of the boat- it's ok, he's just learning) he caught a nice 15",
two pounder. "I think I've got something" he cried out at first. "Just
weeds probably" I quipped, until I saw the explosion of it hitting the surface
the first time trying to throw the lure. "WOW" we all cried out with
instant excitement!
John Olichney's first bass, a nice
15" fighter caught on a Robo worm.
I thought "Gee, I see why everyone fishes here, we are going to kill 'em". Then
not another bite for three hours!!! John got a 7" dink at noon and I finally got
bit on a frog when wind hit small white cap stage at 3 pm and fought a 5 or 6'r
until he threw it near the boat; that was fun as we saw it jump twice, really
exciting little James, not to mention me. Left at 4 just when the wind died but
wanted to stay 'forever'.
The next morning, after we attended their
church, we started our 10 hour drive back in pretty good traffic back to San
Diego. It rained from the Grapevine all the way home.
April 7th,
Lake - Lower Otay, solo.
1 Bass landed, two lost. Water 68.5, 12' visibility, cloudy
7 a.m. till 6 p.m..
Hit the lake at 7 a.m. and had a 5 pounder on at 7:05 at end of
Harvey's arm, in 4' of water on a Sammy. Lure is Barrett friendly (no
barbs) and it tossed it when it jumped. 20 minutes later threw a fluke up
to shore and saw a wake instantly follow it, seconds later fish on, and fight
on. He went under the boat, back to shore, back to the boat and finally I
got him close enough to scoop him up with the net that I set up while fighting
him (it's folded up due to size, a Stowmaster) and low and behold it weighed in
at 5 pound 9oz.
Click image to enlarge.
Lost a three on the Sammy 10 minutes later then wind died down
and I did not have enough wherewithal to realize that it was not good conditions
for the Sammy, which I still threw, along with the fluke topwater, for another
three hours in the area, and up and down the shore.
 Click image to enlarge.
Went to Otay arm to see if they would hit, wind was up but no
hits and no sign of shad getting hit (which Harvey's has ton of). Worked
beds towards the south and heard the bass were chasing trout in Bushlowe so I
went over there, tossed Senkos and swimbaits for two hours, had a couple of very
large followers. Stayed cold and cloudy all day.
April 4th,
Lake - Lower Otay, solo.
7 Bass, Water 68.5, 12' visibility, cloudy
8 a.m. till 2.30 p.m..
Click to enlarge- Harvey's arm.
WOW, topwater went off... finally. T.U.L.!
Hit the lake at 8 a.m. with fog/overcast/chilly to start the
day, but it quickly burnt off (by 10 a.m.). Fished till 2:30. Got on
them after seeing some gents with boils around their boat at the end of
Harvey's. They were tossing flukes and chatterbaits and hooking up
regularly. I worked my way in between the two boats and could not get bit
after 15 minutes of trying. Decided to throw the Sammy and did not take
but seconds and a small one hit it three times and finally got hooked, cool, the
first of the season.
Quick catch and release and then saw a boil not far off.
Tossed the lure perfectly just past it and twitched the lure twice and explosion
city - lure disappeared and headed south. Cranked down and fought the
beast in, a beautiful 4.12#.
Continued to work the area and get one about every 10 minutes.
The other guys left when it was not all out like it was and pickings got slim.
Still, I got one bigger yet and lost him, then another one at 3.14, besides some
more 2's.
Not bad, over 15 lbs in two hours, all on top. About noon
I went and tried some bed fishing over by the dam. Tried to
get one about 3 but she would not hit. Got the male for the heck of it but no
big females found. Packed it up at 2:30, TUL for the great day.
April 1st,
Lake - Lower Otay, w/ Frank W..
1 Bass, Water 65 to 68, 12' visibility, cloudy
2 p.m. till 7 p.m..
Lost a nice one on Senko after it blew up on the spook. Had one hit
the fluke too, both on so. shore of Harvey's. We tried bed
fishing earlier at coves by the Olympic Training Center and their boat
dock, where I got a male on third toss of the flashtrix.
March 28th,
Lake Hodges
After cold front- 2 Bass solo. Water 65, 2' visibility, cloudy
11L30 noon till 6 p.m..
Threw cranks and senkos in narrows.
 Click on photos to enlarge.
Finally got them with my new Flashtrix 4" clear
shad. 2 bass- dropshot style, off slight tulle coves with rocks around powerline
shore, just off windy parts. Figured it out last hour of fishing.
March 21st,
Lake - Lower Otay
3 Bass, 3 Crappie. Water 65.5, 12' visibility, cloudy
7.30 a.m. till 1.30 p.m..
Met one of my proteges (Jerry S.) in Encinitas at
5.30 and went and braved the elements at Otay after picking up some sweet
swimbaits WinstonDry gave me for my belated birthday (thanks Alain).
We got to the lake about 7:15 to sprinkles and headed to the entrance of
Harvey's. Heard the water was clear and boy was it, I've never seen it like
that. Right off started looking for beds when I noticed a bunch of crappie down
with the bass. I dropped a 6" dropshot worm in front of
Click on photos to enlarge.
them and they tried to eat it but it was too big.
I downsized and immediately fish on. Tossed him
back and caught another, this time realized maybe dinner was to be had if I kept
two and 'stringerd' (is that a word) him. Then I caught and kept the first one I
had released again and then decided to bass fish.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Tossed the dropshot rig at a nesting male and two seconds later a 16" fish on,
sweet- this beats winter fishing any day. Caught two on nests over the next hour
but no luck on getting the big girls to show up- still trying to learn how to do
that.
Did a lot of trolling and looking. Had some downpours so hard could hardly see
the front of the boat a couple of times, (praise God for good raingear) but
mostly it was a very nice day. Tried the buzzbait during the downpours next to
the tulles just hoping an 8 pounder would try to be a superhero ahead of all of
the others but no go.
 f
Click on photos to enlarge.
Had to leave early to get over to bassgod's (that's his screen name- Dustin
Lomax) house and pick-up a semi-new 46# trolling motor he was selling me. You
see, I had tried to land the aluminum boat I have onto the trailer with it down
still over at Murray a couple of weeks back, and that is just not as one could
imagine. Good news is, his was new and mine was from my '87 Skeeter, so it
really needed upgrading anyways.
My partner, whom always gets skunked, kept up the routine. Found out that if you
do not bring up the stringered fish before taking off in a bass boat (don't
stringer many fish obviously) that they may not be on there when you slow down-
only one of the two crappies was left after being slung onto the back of the
boat after getting up on plane- must have ripped his poor head off, he never
knew what hit him.
Ran out of gas on the way back so 'trolling motored' it back from Harvey’s,
man that takes a while- got to check out a lot of beds that way.
March 18th,
Lake Hodges
1 Bass solo. Water 71.2, 2' visibility, cloudy
12 noon till 7 p.m..
Fished the entrance to Escondido Bay, where I had
some skill the week before. Worked the area for three hours but only had
one hit on a TR, brass and glass watermelon senko, chartreuse tail, but nada
there. Worked the right entrance to Bernardo bay and got a dink on that
same senko rig.
Saw a gentleman, Mike, with a red Nitro, that
later said he killed 'em on Ika's in the tulles just past the narrows, right
side.
March 14th,
Lake Hodges
0 Bass me, 1 bass Frank Weber. Water 71. in back, 2' visibility, cloudy
11 a.m. till 5 p.m..
Fished the Power lines with Senkos and jigs for
an hour, then the entrance to Escondido Bay, where I had some skill the week
before.
We worked the area for three hours but only had one hit on a senko,
chartreuse tail, that Frank brought in. A very nice #3.2oz beauty, his
first bass of his life. Good job Frank, about 5 times bigger than most
people's first bass, and about twice as big as their regular.
March 7th,
Lake Hodges
3 bass me, 1 bass Herbert. Water 69, 2' visibility,
sunny.
11 a.m. till 5 p.m..
Started off by fishing the rock pile at the Power
Lines, where we tried jigs and spinnerbaits, and then the entrance to Bernardo
Bay around the 'hump', all for nada. Then went to left side of Escondido Bay and
found bass slashing shad on top.
After one hour of different baits I got a nice
16" on a white senko. Then put on a Storm 4" Wildeye curl tail minnow and
proceeded to get snagged lot, but also got three bass in three casts.
First one in the boat, second one went right into the brush and hung me up, the
third one got off after fighting real hard. Herbert wanted to try my honey
hole from last year, against my suggestion ("you don't leave fish to find fish,
unless you've got your limit'- Mike Long) but we did and got blanked the last
hour.
February 25th,
Lake Hodges
1 Bass solo. Water 58.5, 2' visibility, overcast/drizzling
1 p.m. till 5.30
Worked a Senko, dk blue, at sunken boat ramp
area, then an orange rattletrap and got a nice fighter on
the third cast to deep water (25') but lure hit top of trees and was eaten
dragging it through them. Felt like I was draggin'
it across the bottom when I got hit. It went into some deep
bushes while I tried to set up the net while fighting it, so much for learning
my lesson last time I had on a good one. He fought
like a lunker taking line but he ended up being only 2.5 pounds. I had to
wait, and pray, for him to dislodge himself five minutes later, T.U.L.
Nada else on it or jigs/dropshot fished along
shore down to 30'. February 25th,
Lake Hodges
February 19th,
Pine Flat Res. /outside Fresno.
0 Bass solo -Water 53, 20' visibility, sunny-windy on and
off.
Threw the BBZ slow sinker for 5 hours with only
one follower, first time really dedicating a day to it. Found out you are
only supposed to throw it when the wind is blowing, and a lot of times it was
not. Also found out I should of hit the north end of the lake, but only
hit the bottom half.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Guy and his wife and kids were killing them on
the shore when I got back, and I still could not get one (tried the green senko
I already had on, should have gone black, that's what was working for them).
February 17,18.
Delta.
0 Bass with bro Greg at Delta. Water 53, 2' visibility,
sunny.
A fried that was to tow the Answered Prayer with
his truck cancelled out last minute so I took it anyways with the van (even over
the Grapevine). It was the first time really working the Delta; interesting with
the tides to contend with.
Stayed on my brother's boat at 'Snug Harbor' just north of a small town called
Rio Vista. Inside info had fish at Frank's Track but I thought the 12 to 15 mile
run in the boat would not be needed, (especially with that gas these boats eat
up) thinking heck, must be bass everywhere right? Big mistake- got blanked after
two days of trying; couple of hits on jigs was it. Threw cranks, spinnerbaits,
senkos and more jigs. Brother Greg learned how to cast (really, how to 'put on
the brakes' while the lure is flying through the air, and guess who taught him)
and he felt good about that. I told him to wait how that skill of landing a lure
on the shores edge with a frog or buzzbait time comes- he'll be more hooked than
the fish.
The place has so many 'fishy' looking areas, I can't wait to go back when things
'heat up', so to speak.
Opening Day - February 7th.
Lake Hodges
0 Bass.
w/ Herbert K, 7:30 a.m. till 4 pm. Water 57O,
sunny and 2' water visibility.
Lake was very crowded due to opening day but Otay
opening today also helped made it less. I only got two hits on spiderjigs
but nothing was there when I reeled down. Herbert did not even get that. We
worked the narrows for first three hours, then the Del Dios Bay but too shallow
at 5', then went to Seewald's Honey Hole at 11 till noon- thirty for nada.
Worked area across from there then back to the narrows for last two hours.
Two guys reported getting 5 on lizards fishing
close to shore, and two other older gentlemen had 6 throwing black 5" worms
Texas rigged towards shore too. One friend later reported 3 on T-rig on
Hernandez Hideaway shore in 10-15 foot.
Did not see any dead fish (lake reportedly had a fish die off recently), but
didn't see any lives ones either, come to think about it- that's a joke, did not
see any live ones, (as in on the end of my pole) get it? Place was packed, it
will be nice to go when it's not so crowded, like next Wednesday- that or Otay.
It was, and is, always a wonderful thing, being out in God's creation.
Shots from opening day, click photos to enlarge.
February 2nd
El Capitan
2 Bass.
w/ Tom Gaddis, 11:30 a.m. till 5:25 pm. Water 52.5O,
sunny but day after two days of rain.
Worked Conejos Arm for 20 minutes with Hula Grub,
pumpkin then exit to cove for 20 - nada.
Went up and across to 1st major point, worked it
and got a 12" at 1 p.m.. An hour later working same area got this nice 5.1
below.
Had two more hits at island but other than that nothing else.
Tom had one hit, zippo fish. Nice when it was not windy as sun kept
you warm.
January 28th
San Vincente
One bass.
Solo, noon till 5:10 pm..
Worked left side and far side of island the whole time. Got one
on dropshot, dark purple 6" curly tail at far backside of island at 3.
Had two hits on hula-grub, same spot, before that.
January 26th
El Cap
0 bass.
W/ Mike C., 7.30 till 3 pm.. Water 53O .
Worked the island for nada, crankbaits then the buoy line by dam,
all for nada. Went to 1st point past the 'corner' for more nada.
Got too windy and cold and forced us to boat dock cove for last 15
minutes after trying area to left side of dam for 1/2 hour.
January 19th
El Capitan
One bass.
Solo, noon till 5:10 pm..
Fished wind protected north shore west of
the island with sm. deep diver, crawfish red. Got two, one 16" and one
came unbuttoned, around 3 pm., 5' deep or so at buoy line by dam along
outside bush drop-off. Water was 53O.
Was sunny with clouds but north-easterly winds started howling and
whitecaps came up while launching, sprinkled most of the time after
that too. Completely calm at sunset.
Bought ice-jigs, Rapala w-7 blue-chrome, black-chrome and
chartreuse-chrome but too windy to try them this trip.
January 3,4 & 5
Colorado River/Yuma Arizona
Colorado River with Tom G. in the Lowe aluminum boat with the 25 hp
four stroke. (Gets over the mountains better than the Skeeter). Bent
the tongue of the rusted trailer a bit as I pulled out without it
being unlocked- dummy. Determined it was safe enough and prayed it
would be too.
We left at 6.30 a.m. and headed over the mountains in perfect weather.
Forecast was for clouds on Thursday and Friday, that sounded good. We
got over there, checked into the Yuma Cabana (high season rates
started-$74 per night after taxes, instead of $64) and then tried to
figure out how to get the trailer straightened at a repair shop.
Bought some metal bars to reinforce it and drove to Home Depot for
bolts. Did not work out even though we borrowed the drill to make the
holes and drilled them there, (eventually just brought it back to
finish it later).
Got to Fishers Landing about 2 and fished till dark. Tom got a nice
14" on a small swimbait at about 4 p.m.. I fished mostly with plastics
into tulle holes and around boat docks but surprisingly did not get a
bite. We heard it was a very tough bite from Jimmy at the dock, but
some were being caught on jerkbaits and some in the tulles.
Click photo to enlarge.
Newbie bass fisherman Tom with
his 14"...
proud to out fish the 'master'. Ate at the Texas Roadhouse and to bed by 11:30, up at 6 (dark till
past 7 there now- no daylight savings time) and fishing with gloves on
by 8 a.m. in 41O
with wind. Water was 49O
and hit 52O
in the
afternoon. Worked Fishers, Martinez and the canals, then Ferguson, all
for naught. Had a couple of hits and then I lost one at Martinez at
the boat, a striper, on a jerkbait that was 'Barrett rigged' -
barbless, ouch. Was supposed to hit 45 mph winds but
Click photo to enlarge.
Sunrise with moonset, first
morning, 41O. none over about
15 or 20. (Thanks to answered prayers? I think so.). Ran across a
Canadian beginner in an ugly looking house boat he just bought, of all
things, that had got 5 on a 'hump jumper' I think he called it,
bouncing it in the tulles. He showed it to us, it was a small in line
spinner looking lure with a single blade below the weight and yellow
feather and small yellow worm I believe. Hey, a beginner out fishing
us 5 to zero, now that hurts.
Weather was to be heavy winds (25 early morning, 45 by noon) for
Friday and again prayed they would not show up. Overslept and went to
Fisherman's Hideaway at 8.30- now needed to catch one bad, and was
looking to get that darn hump jumper, about the only lure in the world
I don't own, but they were closed- figures. Went and fished Mittry
Lake, strong winds but no whitecaps till 10, guessing about 25 - 30
mph most of the day.
Had to stay close to the northern tulles so as not get blown to the
other side of the lake in 10 seconds flat, gusts taking loose items
off heads and outta the boat frequently. Lost one at noon on a red
Norman big lip diver that was being twitched and stopped at about 8
ft, but again made mistake using another 'Barrett rigged' lure,
e-gads. Not another hit after that but was expecting many now that I
actually had one on for a few seconds. Fished till dusk and drove back
through winds that almost blew us off the road at times, arriving
safely back home by 11 p.m..
Gas, $100.
Food; $75.
Hotel $150.
Running the boat into a slight hurricane, having cold wind and water
hit your face letting you know you are alive and well while scattering
mud hens on your way to favorite fishing holes, seeing nice 10'
pockets in the tulles and casting into the wind thirty yards upwind
from it, landing right in those holes time and time again...
priceless.
T.U.L.. |
