|
July 1st thru December 31st, 2008
From the most recent to the oldest.
Seewald at Clear Lake, CA.. Click to enlarge.
Michael Seewald's
fishing adventures for
2008.
July 1st thru December 31st, 2008
From the most recent to the oldest.
Clearlake
(Map)
12.29.'08
3 p.m. till 5:30 p.m.
Solo - 0 bass
Went to the new Manteca Bass Pro Shop and got my Christmas/B-day
presents- a '100 MPH' rain jacket and pants as I was going to be ready
for cold and rainy weather, like a pro, from now on. At $200 per
piece it was not an easy decision in some respects, but in thoughts of
warm days fishing in freezing rainy weather it was a no-brainer. Wool
hat I had but good wool fingerless gloves and a good pair of thermal
ones too I did not, but got them. I was ready.
Got to Clearlake by mid-afternoon and checked into our Kelseyville
Motel just fine. Valerie stayed in and I went and launched at
Konocti Vista Casino. I had the 14' aluminum with me.
Threw a frog, mostly for fun, around the docks along with a buzzbait.
They were still on the poles from my last trip out, and at that point
they still worked (see Murrieta Hot Springs Dec. 3rd report below).
But nada on them and I switched up to the swimbait, going for big
mamas. Nada and fished over at the tulle point with it and the
d/s and Texas rigged worm. Back just after dark, but not frozen
even though the temp was down to 40 or so, I had my new Bass Pro Shop
'100 MPH' rain jacket and pants on over my clothes, really helped, as
well as long underwear and wool hat and gloves of course.
12.30.'08.
Solo - 0 bass
Well, this time I launched out of Lakeport about 11 a.m. after a
trip to the local tackle store (Dave helped me). Got the River 2
Sea swimbaits and a Baby E 6" too. Also a suspending Lucky Craft
semi-deep diver for the Delta that I'd fish in a few days.
Launched and worked the first little harbor 100 yards north with the
frog, d/s and buzzbait (still want some topwater action) but not for
long. Continued north throwing d/s and the new River 2 Sea
bottom swimbaits I was told would work, if fished slow enough and IF
the bass might cooperate. They did not. Went to the rock/tulle
points about 2 miles north and watched two guys being guided slay 'em
on live shad. That was fine as at least I knew there was action to be
had. Rattletraps were tossed by me too, but all for nada. Fished
till dark. Swore tomorrow would be a better day. Met a
large man that looked like Burl Ives at the ramp while leaving and he
said he'd gotten 6, up to 4, on a worm d/s Candy colored. Time
for research!
12.31.'08.
Solo - 2 bass, 6 bass fought.
Well, this day I was a little more prepared for as a trip to a
different tackle store netted me some of those worms that gentleman
had told me about. They were by Zoom 'Trick Worm' (trick in that
they float) and were 6" and called
Watermelon Candy (green with purple and green flakes). I went directly to
the tulle/rocks 2 miles away and slowly got into getting them.
The first broke off as I horsed 'em in too fast, forgetting I had 4"
test on, BUMMER. Changed to 6" and thought that maybe was a
mistake, nada for an hour and then boom, a 2.2 came to the boat, TUL!
Tossed the rattletrap too and got two hits, both came off. (to be
cont).
Murrieta Hot Springs
12.3.08
1 p.m. till 7:30 p.m.
Mike C. 8, Me 8.
Was about 75 degrees and topwater action was on for me.
Herbert had been there for three days and had about 5 for the day when
we arrived (had 9 when he left at 5). I started with the Gunfish
for nada in the small pond. Buzz in the big lake for nada and
then tossed the Gunfish for a nice 1-3# which ended up being the
biggest for the day. I got a 6" a little later, after that no
more on it. Switched to a popper and got 6 more over the next
few hours.
Met fellow enthusiast Andrew who goes to school there and that we have
been coaching; he reported tough times on the d/s. We narrowed
his problem down to his 10 or 12 pound test, too thick - scares them
off. He'll put on 6 and get more now.
Tossed the 9" AC Minnow swimbait for an hour after it got
completely dark, 6 p.m.. Nada at either, which was to be expected for
the most part. Mike had switched to a small deep diver
crankbait, his first time tossing them, and was getting one every 15
minutes, which tickled his as his fluke had not done the magic that it
did there two weeks earlier.
I tied one on and lost two on the jump on a similar bait, we left
at 7:30.
Otay Lake
11.26.'08
8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. fishing time. Water 63-64. Overcast and
threatening rain but none till later in the afternoon.
Me 2, solo.
Worked Bushlowe w/ 7" AC swimbait for 2 hours for nada, then the
shore a bit towards Harvey's arm. Some d/s along there.
Worked point and then, after putting on a Lunker Punker, the right
side of Harvey's all the way to major cove near end for nada.
Worked rock pile back near entrance for 2 keepers, one went 2#, 16",
on very light brown w/ blue stripe 5" worm.
Click on photo to enlarge.
The largest went 2 pounds, notice stormy sky.
Worked the shore back to the cove and past again with the 9" AC
Minnow for nada, mostly in the rain at that point.
El Capitan
11.21.'08
8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. fishing time. Water 67.
Me 3, solo.
Saw breakers at cove to right and a boat on them before launching.
When I went over they had stopped and the gent was headed away. Went
to pipes and got 2 on the d/s, 4' leader w/ 5" smoke worm w/ curly
tail. a 10" and a 12".
Click on photo to enlarge.
Got the stripe off my back and the boat
with a d/s fish.
Threw s/b for awhile there, no hits. Worked towards back and
got one on 7" AC just about to boulder bay, 2#.
Click on photo to enlarge.
No Shirt weather! This one fell
to an AC Minnow.
Saw Doc Curry in back at trees. Threw blades for nada, buzz
for nada, but frog got two hits on bank- must have been smaller models
though, no hookups. Headed back at 4:30, loaded and gone by
5:15.
Murrieta H.S.
11.18.'08
6 a.m. till 6 p.m. fishing time.
Me 19 and Mike C. 9.
Me zippo at first on topwater- Tru-Tungsten bluegill, then some on
d/s after 9 a.m.. Poppers netted me 6 from 4 p.m. till 6. Mike
got all his on Texas rigged and split shot worked fluke on bottom in
weeds.
El Capitan
11.14.'08
12:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. fishing time.
Me 0, solo. Santa Ana, water got up to 67.
Saw Doc Todd Curry at ramp, had been since Seaforth with his kids
one summer 2 or 3 years back. Stared at Pipes for nada with the
topwater, gunfish and Tru Vue Bluegil swimbait till 12:30 then went to
back/ trees, and threw red/black spinnerbait for nada. Saw Doc
and he reported getting some smaller models on a smaller senko.
I threw the buzzbait after tossing the frog around and got a humongous
blow up on it. Winds were like 30 mph but died somewhat at dusk.
Sidenotes: Talked to John K. today
(17th) and he reported he got his ABA tourney second place there on
the 16th fishing d/s with 4' leader w/ 5" slim senkos, wow, in 30'
where brush was same height (Mike L. got 1st with same system from
pre-fishing w/ John a day earlier, unbeknownst to John that he
would!). Lifting and then letting settle. Only got 9 fish for 9
hours but one was 3.5 for big fish, others 1 and 2 pounders.
El Capitan
11.7.'08
10:00 p.m. till 2:00 p.m. fishing time.
Me 0, solo.
Beautiful day. Zippo at Pipes and other points to main
opening. Zippo at spot from left point before turn to back (The
Corner) and that shore to cove on it's left with swimbait and d/s and
gunfish.
Sidenotes: Met Larry Wilson with his
blue/white basscat, fishes WON and took angler of the year last year.
Asked him to say hi to John K. as they were going to fish against each
other the next day.
Murrieta H.S.
10.30.'08
11 a.m. till 5:30 p.m. fishing time.
Me 11, Herbert 11 and Mike C. 1 and his wife 1.
Beautiful day. Got one right off the bat on the buzzbait and
a few more then switched to various topwaters throughout day,
including the popper at dusk. Herbert got his on d/s by waterfall
corner.
Misty, from the reception desk at the conference center there, came
out and joined us for a few minutes at dusk after work and looked like
a pro hooking a landing a 2 pounder on the second cast or so.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Here is Misty Albright, AKA 'fisherwoman of Murrieta'.
She caught this one with one hand fishing and the other
on the cell phone talking to her brother back east on his birthday.
What a country!
Lake Hodges
10.29.'08 Closing Day.
5:30 a.m. till 3 p.m. fishing time.
Me 0, solo.
Mostly swimbait in narrows and back by dam. Tried red c/b
along same shore for nada, one blowup at construction site with a lot
of action, but not on my baits. Water 67.
Lake Hodges
10.25.'08
3:30 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. fishing time.
Me 1, solo. Water 69.
Nada at left point before main dam arm first 1/2 hour. A nice 3.5
off of honey hole on a new Top Dollar lure, twitched after stopping
for a few seconds, at about 5 p.m.. Nada on AC 7" in narrows at
5:30 to 6.
Lake Hodges
10.22.'08
7 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. fishing time.
Santa Ana, water started at 66, went to 72 by 2.
Me 1, solo
Lost 1 on AC minnow at narrows and had a big explosion and another
take it down across the channel. Got first one, a 2.5, on gunfish at
honey hole after three vicious strikes. Worked way down on deep side
to dam w/ swimbait for nada, and across the way and back down 200
yards.
El Capitan
10.20.'08
3:30 p.m. till 6:30 p.m. fishing time.
Me 1, Jerry S. 0
On water by 11, fished till 6:10.
Water 69 and breezy winds, not bad. Air temp about 80, very nice.
Me 4 hits on 7" AC minnow, first one at pipes (averaged 6'- 8'
depth) at 1:30 that was about 4 lbs that got off on second jump (note
to self, keep drag buttoned down), two more on points nearby, at 2 and
2:30 and one in boat, 2#, on point next to boulder bay at about 4
p.m.. No hits on buzzbaits or frogs at trees w/ 1/2 hour of tossing,
nor on AC last 20 minutes of day back at pipes.
Sidenotes: Met Randy and he showed us a jig
that was doing well for him in the north threes.
Colorado River
10.14-17.'08
Day 1 Evening only.
First day was only an evening time out-
6:30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.. Headed out of Yuma, got lost and
wasted an hour, but gowith, sunset on one side,
full moonrise on other! About 75 degrees. Lots of buzzbait and frog by
me, some frog by Bob. He lost one on jerkbait last few minutes.
Day 2, solo.
9 a.m. till dark (6:30 p.m.) -8 bass. About 85 degrees.
First bass on a Sammy at 10:30, 2nd, 3rd and 4th on rattletraps at
1:30 to 2:15 in Fishers.
Day two did well on the rattletrap after noon.
Then four at dusk, one on buzzbait, about 3 lbs,
and three on the Zoom 'Horny Toad', all 4 in tulles at entrance to
Martinez.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Did well at dusk, netting some nice topwater busters.
Day 3, w/ Bob L.,
6 a.m. till 4 p.m., 2 bass me, 10 Bob.
About 90
degrees. In canals just north or Fishers on left and then 30 miles
upriver. Bob killed 'em on the 4" bass colored Senko, one went
5.5, rest about 2# each. I got a 3# on Sweet Beaver, watermelon red flake
at 7.30 a.m. throwing in the cane, and one on same colored 5" Senko
in the afternoon.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Day three went out with Bob La Londe, a local, and we got on a lot of
fish. Bob got the numbers and the size this day (5.5 on 3" baby
bass Senko 4# test), his boat also.
Day 4, solo,
12 p.m. to 4 p.m., 1 bass. 100 degrees. Nada on beavers on river
or Fishers in canals. None on rattletrap in Fishers, unlike day
two, then one hit on Senko fished on surface at Martinez.
El Capitan
10.10.'08
Met at lake at 5:45 a.m., on water by 6 w/ Chris (cdw.lighting), 1
bass each at first light. Me 2# on swimbait, he 2.5 on black
spinnerbait lost at boat. On last point on right headed to shallows.
Worked point here and there to far end of lake and worked trees for
nada till 1:30, when we left.
Lake Otay
10.8.'08
Met at gallery at 10 am, fished till dark.
On water 11:30 till 6:30.
1 on buzzbait me, small, got off near boat. Mike zippo.
Lake Hodges
10.5.'08
3:30 p.m. till 6:30 p.m. fishing time.
Me 3, Mike C. 0
Was a beautiful day out, puffy clouds here and there. Took
the Valco as the Skeeter still 'needs mending'. Tried frogs and buzzers
back in Escondido arm, right side for nada in an hours work. Went across
to the point on the left side, before the new construction, for more of the same
which for that spot is unusual. Ranger putted by and we asked for info.
Back to the main cove along the N. shore he said. We went - looked great-
but no go there either for a half hour of 'casting practicing'.
Decided to hit the narrows for last half hour, we needed to get
the stripe off the boat. Put the buzz down after 15 minutes and picked up
the big gun- 7" 'AC Minnow' swimbait.
After just 5 casts working my injured minnow pattern fish on; it was a nice 2
pounder right at 6 p.m.. Few minutes later another hit it, slightly
larger.
Click on photos to enlarge.
AC minnow swimbait fish.
Quick photo and cast back to same spot. Hardly worked it
three slashes when bam, another took it. This one went over 3, sweet.
The last 10 minutes it was back to quiet. Sweet ending though.
Pretty dark at 6:50 as we left the park. I hate it getting dark early, makes you
feel like it's winter already, which is my least favorite of the four seasons to
fish.
Murrieta Hot Springs
10.1.'08
9.30 a.m. till 7:30 p.m. fishing time. About 95 degrees, heat wave hit.
4 me- .15 oz, 1.4, 24 (at 3.30 p.m.) and a 5.5 (at dusk- 6:15 or
so) all on buzzbaits, 6 dinks Herbert on d/s, zippo Mike C.. I lost a
couple on the frog and buzzbait.
We went to local public pond too for an hour, from 2 to 3 p.m.
for nada. Me orange Spro, Herbert live worms and d/s, Mike a variety.
El Capitan Lake
9.26.'08
3:00 p.m. till 6:30 p.m. fishing time.
Me solo. Water still 79 degrees, wow.
Went back to the trees, taking about 20 minutes in the Valco
aluminum boat "Aluminum Wonder". Started with teh buzzbait and frog around the left side
where it gets narrow. No hits. Worked to the main sunken tree area
where you must go pretty much around them on the left or right side.
Finally got one on a Sammy after a wolf pack came through that hit the buzz
quite a few times but evaded the hook. Tossed the frog around some more
but nada else.
Delta/Clearlake -Nor. Cal.
trip #3 for the year.
Delta, (9.11.'08) then taught a photo class for 3 days in
Napa, then
Clearlake (9.15-18.'08)
and the Delta again (9.19.'08), ended up fishing Pyramid Lake in L.A.
county on the way back.
Water was 76 at Clearlake, but dropped to 72 on the 18th due
to major cold front going thru.
Delta about the same.
My first day
on the Delta, Sept. 10th, was actually at night. Got there about 9
p.m. after driving directly from San Diego since noon on the 10th.
Met a gentleman from Louisiana named Louisiana that night, he was
fishing for bluegill and I for bass with hollow bodied frogs. We both
got zippo. He offered to take me around the Delta the next day as he
had the day off, cool.
Met Louisiana at 8 and was fishing by 8:30,
not far away as the tulles had weeds next to them. He said he usually
does not do good there but at the corner a half hour later I got my
best for the trip, a nice 7 pound, 12 ounce lunker on a white Spro
frog I'd painted orange. It was a shadowed area on the point
where deep water met shallow and grasses me tulles.
This 7-12 beauty fell to my special color/
orange-white frog.
We tried for another one there but no more hits.
Then we went to some places he knew of that 'Cooch' likes just further
north of the ramp, about a 1/4 mile away, but it was a no go, but
looked great. We tried for a couple of hours, me on the frog and a
little Ika, he on the worm, Ika and other plastics he borrowed from me
(all of his tackle had been stolen recently off his boat, he lives on
it there, kind of a Huck Fin persona).
At lunch time we took an hour break and me back at
the ramp. We went south this time towards my usual way to Frank's
Tract and fished weed beds along the 'canals'. "Bobby Barrack's
secret area" Louisiana said, that was good to hear, he is deadly on
frog fishing. Nothing till about 3 when I got my second lunker for
the day, a 6.8 on a black Spro at another tulle point.
Click photo to enlarge.
My second weighed in at 6-8!
Wow, I was hoping for a new PB 3
fish record on the frog at this point!
So, I was now
set up to break my PB 3 fish record I'd set at Otay last fall. I
needed about a 4 pounder or so. Sure enough, just before dark I got a
final largemouth of 3.14, making it an 18.2 pound record, TUL!. (Thank
U Lord). But on further study I found my earlier total went
18-9, so back to the drawing board.
Click photo to enlarge.
Last but not least, a 3-14
pounder ALMOST set my record for top three for a day! TUL!
That was it for a few days as I had to teach a
photo class nearby, in Napa Valley. Very successful and the students
made some great art. Monday morning I drove to Clearlake and checked
into the Kelseyville Motel and went and launched the boat at about
noon. Could not wait to see how the bite was!!?
Lakeport, Clear Lake
9.15.'08
1:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Water 77 degrees.
1 bass on buzzbait.
After the class I headed north to Lakeport, on
Clear Lake and actually stayed a bit outside town, 6 miles south, in
Kelseyville. The water was way down from July, when I was here for the
Westernbass Nutcase Rally (see July report further down). Got
one the water at 1:30 and fished the Kinocti Vista Casino docks and
cove, with the frog, until 3 for nada.
Went to my frog honey hole and got one on the
buzzbait first cast, a 2-7. Nada on it and switched to the frog
but the water was 3' lower than July and most of my tulles were in too
shallow of water to hold bass. Zero hits until 7, then went out
100 yards to weeds in deeper water, 8' or so. Got 2 blow-ups at
dusk so will hit this area tomorrow. Left at 8:30 pm., completely dark
out.
Lakeport, Clear Lake
9.16.'08
10 am to 8 pm.
Water 77 degrees.
3 bass, 2 on buzzbait 1 on swimbait.
Click photo to enlarge.
The Sizmic toad worked again, but I missed the
hookset.
Launched at 10 a.m. and went straight north, about
3 miles, to the end of the lake. Started at the entrance to the area
at 10:30, just before the bridge- it all looks so fishy. Worked
the frog and a. One blow-up on the orange/white and nada on the
green at noon. One blow up on the Sizmic toad (see above lure)
but no hook-up at 1 pm. At 2 got a nice 5 pounder on a black Bobby
Perfect frog by a sunken tree, picture perfect back on the right bend.
Lots of dead carp, dozens and dozens, averaging about 5 lbs each, all
over the place.
Click photo to enlarge.
Clear Lake tulles on Tulle Point, at dusk.
Back on the left side, at 3:45 pm towards the haunted
house, got a 4-2 on the AC Minnow 7" swimbait, sweeeet.
Headed back out I got the last fish, a 2 pounder by
a sunken tree and tulle spot, just cried out for a buzzbait, on the
first cast w/ it, AGAIN. Cool. That was it for the day.
Lakeport, Clear Lake
9.17.'08
Noon till 8 pm (completely dark by then).
Water 76 degrees.
3 bass, 2 on frogs, one on a Gunfish.
Went to get the aluminum welded on the Lowe 14"
aluminum boat transom, which was getting worse from a tear on both
side railings. 1/4 hour of welding cost $10 and I was off and
running to ramp by 11.
From 12 to 4 I worked my way towards Tulle Point,
from the right side out of Konocti Vista cove. I got 4 hits on the
black frog and hooked a 3# but lost her on the jump. Got a dink
at 3 pm on a Gunfish. At 4 pm got a 2-6 on the black frog in the
back area of tulle point cove.
At 6 went to swimbait and frog for nada. Working back to
the casino I stopped at Gators cove (where he got his 8) and found a new grey
Bobby's Perfect frog w/ 65 braid still on it. TUL! And low and
behold on just the second cast with it (as it was a sign from God right?) I got
a nice 3 pounder. That was it for the day, quit at 8, and tomorrow I'd
fish with friends on the south part of the lake.
Click photo to enlarge.
Clearlake, north end, very 'fishy looking'.
Clearlake town on Clear Lake.
9.18.'08
10 am till 8 pm.
Cold front came in overnight, air temp a frigid 46 degree in early
am.
Water dropped to 72 degrees.
5 bass for me- 1 SB, 2 BzzBt, 2 on frogs.
0 for John and his son.
Checked out of the motel
at 7:30 am and drove the 20 minutes south to the town of Clearlake and purchased
a $9 Swamp Donkey frog in yellow. Launched the boat at the public facility
at 10 am. John O. and his son, master
bass fisherman James, age 6, were joining me for some topwater action, at least
that was the plan.
I got on the water at
about 10 and they joined me at 11:30. I'd already got a couple of hits on
the frog and a nice 2 pounder on the 7" AC Minnow swimbait, pictured below, near
the ramp.
Click photo to enlarge.
2 pound swimbait fish by Clear Lake town launch ramp.
We tried our darndest but the
fish were not biting. At 4 pm I threw out the buzzbait in a semi-weed
covered area and got into some dinks. James got interested again in
fishing. I caught two there.
Click photo to enlarge.
Michael with a dink caught on a buzzbait almost larger
than the bass.
Click photo to enlarge.
Michael and James working their buzzbaits
together.
Click photo to enlarge.
James with a frog he is planning to catch a 10 pounder on.
Later on, near dusk, I tossed the
yellow-headed blackbird frog and got a 2 pounder. Later got a nice 6
pounder and a 3 at 7:45. John lost one on his frog but was excited that
the bass were busting all around us, pandemonium and he who kept his head and
tossed at the explosion got a fish, TUL! At 8:30 we got back to the docks.
Delta, on way home.
9.19.'08
12:30 pm till 8 pm.
on the frog at dusk, same
place I got a 6-8 on day one.
72 degree water and clear. 0 on frog of each color. At 6.20 I
got a 2 on yellow-headed frog. Lost 1 on buzzbait at 6 and got a nice 5-8
at 7:30 on it, TUL.
Click photo to enlarge.
Last but not least, a 5-8pounder
Back to ramp at 8, end of trip.
Murrieta Hot Springs
9.2-3.'08
Arrived 9 pm w/ Mike C. on the 2nd.
Up next am at 6, fished till 6 p.m.
I got 4 on frogs for the day.
El Capitan Lake
9.1.'08 (LABOR DAY!)
3:00 p.m. till 7:05 p.m. fishing time.
Me 4, Mike and Rocio C. 0
Water was 82 and air temp 95 and muggy as
heck, the wind hardly helped and there was plenty of it.
Got to the lake with a friend and his wife at 2:30 pm, absolute
pandemonium and no parking within 200 yards of ramp, good thing some started
leaving giving me a spot fairly close. Checked with a local that was leaving,
good bite on plastics to 20' was the report... so I threw Kermit in the trees!!?
Click image to enlarge.
First one came in some open water, went 5# 8 oz.
First one came at 3:30, half hour after getting to the end of the lake, in open
water by some sunken trees. Man she hit it for all she was worth. Gave her a 1/2
second and set the hook to the moon, and reeled as fast as possible before she
buried in the sunken trees everywhere.
Got slow for awhile then got three more in four hits just before sunset for a 15
pound total. One more of 6.1 or larger more would have beat my record for three
fish set last year at Otay. Man I was hoping.
 
Click image to enlarge.
The second biggee went 5# 6 oz., almost a clone to the
first.
Click image to enlarge.
Here is the frog in her mouth.
El Capitan Lake
8.29.'08
9 a.m. till 7:05 p.m. fishing time.
Me solo back in trees all day, VERY surprisingly only one on a frog
Click photo to enlarge.
Only one but that 'got the stripe off my back' as
they say.
Murrieta Hot Springs
8.27.08?
John O. and the kids all got some action on the fluke, they left at 3
p.m., we stayed till dark. Zippo on the spook on trip all around both
lakes at last hour.
Barrett Lake
8.20.'08
6:15 am till 7:15 p.m. fishing time.
Me 3, Tom C. 3
I met Tom at his house at 3:30 a.m., he wanted to get there early so we did,
about 4:40 with one stop at JIB for me. Chatted with Luke (rippinlips on
sdFish) Laurie checked us in at 5:10 or so and on road to docks at 5:15.
Loaded and launched by 5:40 and to spot back in Pine creek by 6:15, but no hits
on the frog but by a dink or two. I tossed the swimbait for about a half
hour total, a little here and a little there, but mostly tossed the frog.
Tom got one on plastics, Robo green craw at 7:30 in the shallows.
Click image to enlarge.
Tom gets the first on a plastic.
We worked out way out to the main entrance with nada but hits
by 9:30. I had a couple on the Zoom watermelon lizard but mostly stuck
with F and SB. One boat reported one fish and a tuber only three, flipping
worms into tulles, so the really slow bite for everyone else made us feel a
little better about our poor results so far.
We worked the trees where Tom lost another one, me nada.
Worked the cove by there for more nada. Back to the Pine creek end, worked
into it and I finally got my first at 2:30, after missing one, a nice 2.9 oz.
Tom had one that did not stick. Could not believe we did not get more.
Click image to enlarge.
My first came on the frog.
At 3:30 took lunch break in shadows of a tree just outside
the small area opening and where breeze reached us too and cooled down, it was
about 100 and no wind back there we had become wet with sweat.
We fast trolled (with 'regular' motor on medium) and worked
our way over to Herbert's Honey Hole. I got my second on a d/s, purple on
20# power pro, at 4:30. Tom got a biggie and immediately got stuck in a
tree (6# test) on same lure just before that. It busted off.
At 6 or so we went to Becky's and I put on a watermelon
Stanley Ribbit and immediately got hit on the first cast but missed a 12".
Worked around to the rock point, Tom missed one on a Zoom Horny Toad, basically
the same lure, in June bug color, right at the boat. We went back to the
left side of cove where we had first started, but further back towards the
opening. Tom got one on the green Spro while looking at me and I missed a
big one on the yellow headed one in the far back that had hit it twice in one
second- bummer. He did not come back again, even with many tries by both of us.
We went back to the start but even further back still, basically hitting the
main opening to the cove. I got one more on the Ribbit while letting it sink for
a couple of inches on a pause, more by mistake, it was a dink. At 7:10 we
pulled the plug and headed back, taking 15 minutes by slow boat and got back 5
minutes early. We were amazed at how exciting the last hour had been and
how fast time had flown.
Click image to enlarge.
Tom got one on the Spro frog.
Otay
8.17.'08
4:30 pm till 8 p.m.
Water 85 degrees, air temp same.
Fished solo. Two hits by dinks at Harvey's on frog. 0 on
swimbait, 0 frog and swimbait working back on left side, and 0 back on weeds at
Otay arm last hour.
Murrieta Hot Springs
8.11.'08
1:30 pm to 7.30. Nice there this time, 90 degrees or so.
Fishing only, no $ to stay. Herbert already there, staying
for 3 nights. Mike C. Rocio, two kids and Rocio's bro came and stayed 2 nights.
Got 5 for the day- frogs, buzzbaits, lost 2; They got maybe 5 all together/
flukes- slow bite.
Lake San Marcos
8.10.'08
Water 85 degrees, air temp same.
With Josh from 2:30 till 4. One hit on frog just where
narrows starts at a hole in floating plants.
Got one (2#) while waiting to p/u John and Nicole Olichney to join me. Got
another after they did as did John on d/s. I got four more and lost one
big one on frogs back in the narrows (except one on buzzbait). Nicole threw frog
on spinner loaded w/ braid and John threw d/s or gunfish. They switched up
some. Nicole got a hit on the frog, she loved that (she is 13 and casting
great).
John has shot of my biggest, to bring by shop for download.
Murrieta Hot Springs
8.4-5.'08
Click image to enlarge.
Valerie poses with some of the Olichney
family, John, James and Nicole.
About 100 degrees/ Stayed two days and one night for anniversary celebration at
the Harmony bldg per 'Faith'. Misty, front desk clerk and fishes, checked us in!
John, James and Nicole stayed too, getting there at 6:30 p.m.. Great steak
dinner at Sizzler.
Click image to enlarge.
Bass action was hot and heavy for the
Olichney family.
Me 11 bass Monday (mix of flukes, buzzbait, frog and AC minnow).
9 bass Tuesday (up at 6 a.m. slow bite though/ 6 on AC minnow 7", 2 buzzbait
fish, up to 3.8, and one on a frog.)
Ate lunch as group at new Thai noodle
house behind the J.I.B. and John and group left.
Click image to enlarge.
Nicole with her catch, John with two of his.
John and the kids all got some action on the fluke, they left
at 3 p.m., we stayed till dark. Zippo on the spook on trip all around both
lakes at last hour.
July 18 thru July 25th,
Clearlake / Delta.
Nor. Cal. Trip #2 for the year.
Clearlake
satellite map
Annual Westernbass 'Rally'.
Me -many many bass, solo and with others, depending on the day.
After teaching a photo class in Carmel for a week I made my second trip to
Clearlake for the year, (previously was there in March -see report under
Jan.-June '08). It was going to coincide with the WesternBass.com fishing
boards annual 'Nutcase' fishing tournament, known as 'the Rally'. Three
tournaments in two days, all $ for charity and bragging rights only.
"...WAY TOO COOL. I'd be fishing
with a pro and famous guide and would learn a lot no doubt. "
I started with a quick pre-fish evening on Thursday night after arriving at
about 7:30 p.m.. I had an hour and a half and fished from Konocti Vista Casino
docks (where I also stayed for four nights) with a frog and a swimbait, all for
no blow ups. That was a bit discouraging as there was a lot of 'cheese' and
grass around. I stayed with 'Gator', his screen name (Lee Hines) from Western
Bass fame that night, (he is the main moderator and webmaster there).
Click image to enlarge.
Konocti Vista Casino fishing docks, taken from my boat.
On Friday I had arranged to pre-fish with Brian Day, whom lives in Orange County
and was vacationing there a week, as I was going to do (his week was over on
Sunday morning and thus could only fish two of the three tourneys for the
'Western Bass Rally', it has been held for some 10 years now but it was my
first.). We met at 9 and had an 'all u could eat' breakfast at the casino (with
the quality being what it was, was not much) and then we were on the water
shortly after.
We left the harbor and headed north to a point about a mile away, just half way
to the first slough south of Lakeport. Brian had 8 blow-ups the night before on
the frog with zero hookups except one, and that one was a brute and he broke it
off along with the frog, ouch.
I tossed my spook style topwater lure (a Reaction Innovation 'Vixen') and lost
it on the second cast to a 5 pounder, bummer. I'd lost this lure at Hodges last
year but got it back floating an hour later and hoped for a second miracle this
time too, but not so though.
Click image to enlarge.
Reaction Innovation 'Vixen'
We then went to that first slough south Lakeport town to a little area some
boats were sheltered in. He got a couple on jigs and I got one on a Sammy but
it threw it. We worked it for about an hour total in and out.
We then went to Shag rock, a place he likes and that I'd fished in March with
Tom Leogrande. It's dead center in the middle of the lake, top to bottom. He
had been killing them earlier in the week on drop shot and got some there again.
Another fisherman was doing well bouncing a rattle trap on the bottom, up to 7
pounds he said. We watched him catch two in the half hour there.
Click image to enlarge.
The small right section of 'Shag Rock' island, (about 100' long) back lit and
beautiful. It drops to 40' in short order, as in about 50' from shore.
We then went to Rattlesnake Island and got some followers on our swimbaits, (I
was tossing a 9" AC Minnow and he a slow sink BBZ) but no takers. Then we went
to another area on the south shore and tossed more swimbaits and jigs for nada.
Then over to the 'keys' over in Clearlake Oaks and I finally got my first fish
of the day, on a frog, in a harbor nearby the east entrance. Brian got some
nice ones on the jig off rock structure between boat docks (he'd been doing well
there all week too). He ended up with about 8 for the day and me one!!?
Click image to enlarge.
This scrapper, my first for the day, fell to my frog... finally!
After checking in with Gator when we got back at 6 p.m., and getting a lot of
freebies they give you, I transferred my gear to Morgan Swisher's room. Morgan
is from Fresno and I'd met him thru the Western Bass website and made plans to
room together for the next couple of nights to save bucks (we fishermen were
offered rooms for $90 a night, down from $110). Morgan was easy going and fun
to hang with.
"...He had told folks he had been fishing down south, and he had, but not for
the tournament, that was pre-fishing. Pretty smart. "
We had a meeting at 7 and Gator had the boaters draw the names out of a hat of
the non-boaters that would fish the tourney together in the morning. I did not
get drawn and was told I might have to fish with a few other guys on a 'barge',
but then Gator remembered Cooch (Andy Cuccia of the Delta guide service fame)
was fishing a night tourney there and had not drawn a name due to not being
there. I prayed Gator would draw my name and bingo, my name was next out of the
hat.. WAY TOO COOL. I'd be fishing with a pro and famous guide and would learn
a lot no doubt. I was told he only fishes jigs and to expect that would be our
pattern. I kinda knew that about him already and heard he had won the last two
Rally's! Again, WAY TOO COOL! I was stoked.
But after the draw I could not wait to go frog fish the weeds that Brian and I
had fished earlier as I'd seen a lot of bass there. I had my aluminum boat
still at the docks from the night before and loaded up and got to the point 10
minutes later, arriving at about 7:30 or so. I got three in short order, one
went 6, two caught on a frog and one on a swimbait (an 9" AC minnow plug).
Click image to enlarge.
Here is the 6 pounder I got on a Bobby's Perfect frog lure.
Click image to enlarge.
Seewald with another bucket-mouth at Clearlake.
I felt a lot more positive catching these fish as I had done poorly on Brian's
boat, (we had heard it was slow for most people, a sign of the times to come?)
Hopefully not. I got back to the room and met my room mate, it was 10 or so.
As he was a 'boater' he had drawn a non-boater that turned out to be a young
lady that was new to fishing- kind of a bummer for him. He had wanted to leave
his boat at home and then backseat with one of the better fishermen, like I was
doing, but due to the fact they needed a couple of more boaters so things would
even out he brought his up at the last minute, real nice of him to be so
selfless. I, of course, could not use my aluminum boat, equipped with bass
seats, foot controlled trolling motor, GPS/depth finder, etc., all because of
not having a livewell on it.
Day one, tournament one.
Rally rules: You could only bring in two bass for
each person, and each person was on there own. We would add the total from all
three events to determine a winner. Each tournament the boaters would draw a
person that would fish in the back of their boat, a non-boater. You could not
draw the same person twice. Two tournaments on Saturday, (5:45 till 11 a.m. and
noon till 4 p.m.) and one on Sunday (5:45 a.m. till noon). $65 entry fee
included two lunch meals and a real nice BBQ dinner at the Casino on Saturday
night and plaques and bragging rights to the winners.
I went to sleep at midnight, after a lot of thoughts about the next days
possibilities, with the intention of getting up at 5, but I slept thru the alarm
and Morgan woke me at 5:20 as he left. So much for going to breakfast. I
dressed and scrambled to go find Cooch and he was at the docks waiting for me. I
was going to load my big milk-crate filled tackle box and when he saw it he
screamed "What's all that stuff?". "One of my two tackle boxes", I replied. I
knew he might not be too excited about it's size even before he saw it. "Your
kidding... leave it here, grab a few jigs and a popper or two and let's go" he
barked. Speaking of barking a dog near his boat looked at me as forlorn as I
felt and I went back to the car with my gear. I grabbed some jigs and threw it
in my smaller tackle box, along with 5 of 7 poles and got on his boat. As we
left I was surprised the dog, a beautiful and mindful female tan lab named
Delta, then got in the boat and would actually go with us!
Click image to enlarge.
Andy 'Cooch' Cuccia.
So the three of us got up on plane soon after a short stop at the entrance to
the marina; Cooch said he had a tradition, he was going to light some
fireworks. "An M-80?" I asked as I saw him reach into his pocket figuring that
was where it was. "No, a real one" and what he pulled out was a lighter and he
went to the front of the boat and reached over and lit something sitting in a
large box on his front deck. He ran back and hid behind his windshield as I
ducked too. A full on 1 foot high rocket blasted off with a loud hiss and went
100 yards straight up into the dark blue sky - and the sky lit up with colored
steaks scattered all over our heads and a giant BOOM came a millisecond later
and echoed over the entire lake. He quickly hid the box and tore out of there
with a big grin on his face. So, this is Cooch!
"...He decided to hit my
honey hole as we could see a lot of explosions in that area as we looked from a
distance, as it was not far off from there. "
We sped to a place over past Shag Rock on the north shore, Glenhaven, an
entrance to a slough/marina where Cooch landed two 3 pounders in short order on
a super large popper he'd used down in Brazil for giant Peac**k bass. It really
called them up, so loud BLOOP, BLOOP, BLOOP, pause, BLOOP, BLOOP, BLOOP; it
moved so much water and made soooo much noise- I wanted one. It was the spot
he'd got a 9'er last year on a Lunker Punker he said, but it was not to happen
today. I tossed my AC Minnow 9" for nada, along with a blue/black jig here and
there. We worked a ways into the slough and worked in between some boats, all
for nada. It was not for lack of trying, nor talking, as Cooch would quite
often call out "here fishy fishy fishy' as you would a cat. He was very
entertaining.
We then went to a shore not far away for more nada, with some fishermen
acknowledging Cooch there and then we were off to the point around the corner.
He got one on the jig and then another, culling one up. We continued to go to a
few areas and work the jig, all for one or two more fish, nothing really big. A
lot later on he yells "OK, finally" and sets into a big one. When it came up it
was a large stick. "I felt a bump and set the hook, then felt weight, guess I
was fooled!" I put the net down.
With only a half hour before weigh in time, which was at 11:00, I was still
skunked and worried about it. We hit Shag Rock next, which gave me a lot of
confidence and then I picked up three fish in short order, all on drop shot-
Thank U Lord. The first one hit Cooch's line and he swung and swore he had a
fish. I tried to tell him I thought it was my fish but he could not fathom how
it went below him. I told him we were even with giving each other the false
excitement, reminding him of the stick fish earlier. He laughed. YEAH, NO
SKUNKY! They were a little over 2.5 pounds each.
We left with 10 minutes left to weigh in just after he got a nicer model on his
jig and culled up again. "We got top get back in time or they will try and
disqualify me" Cooch said, "they are always after my butt- you watch and see".
No one seemed to care much though and a bunch of us arrived back at the docks
right at 11. We bagged up our fish and Cooch weighed them in and announced them
on a loudspeaker, I felt like a pro when he called my name and weight total, it
was exciting. Then the the boaters had to take them out of the marina an let
them go. I felt good, I was 'on the board', somewhere near the middle if
figured, at least not on the bottom of 60 people.
Day one, tournament two- Saturday afternoon.
I was hoping to draw my room mate Morgan for the next tournament and sure
enough, out of about 30 boaters we drew each other. He had fished the lake many
times before and was happy to draw me too as he knew I was serious. Earlier he
had drawn a young lady of about 16 and had to spend quite a bit of time helping
her. He had some spots to work and I had my 'honey-hole' that I'd worked the
night before. We went by it first but I could not talk him into trying it then
as two boats were already in the area. We were planning on coming back and
hitting it before weigh-in but did not leave enough time to work the area
properly; I now know that cost us (me) big time.
We went down south and hit some of his spots, I mostly drop shotted or threw
jigs, but all of the places had dried up. Morgan had it tough too. At the end
he had, I believe, his two but they were not big. We went by my honey hole in
the end but only had about 10 minutes to try the area. We did not get any
hits. I went back skunked but felt a little better as many others came in with
one or none also, and only one or two killed 'em where as many had in the
morning. Oh well.
That night we had the BBQ dinner at 7 and it ran late due to all of the giveaways.
I won a ton of stuff (two 9" AC Minnow swimbaits, line, shirts, jigs, etc.-
about $100 worth), on my $20 worth of raffle tickets. I had donated some art
and the winner chose from a batch of them I had. The best win was in my draw
though, I drew Gator whom was winning the event!
Day two, tournament number three of three- Sunday
morning.
That night Gator told me he planned to be fishing by 5:45, the start time for
the tournament, and wanted to leave by 5:30. He had told folks he had been
fishing down south, and he had, but not for the tournament, that was
pre-fishing. Pretty smart. On his first tourney he had one that went 8.54 and
was in first place and had big fish too. I was hoping he'd win it. But mostly
I was very happy in that we were going to throw topwater all morning, my cup of
tea. He said he'd caught all of his fish not far from the marina and we would
stay close still. That was cool too as then we would not be wasting time
covering 20 miles of water costing 20 minutes of time there and 20 back.
...He dropped the net and
tried to set the hook but she was gone by then, bummer. "
We went to 'long tulle point' and started with swimbaits. He was tossing a
Black Dog bait called a Shellcracker (I believe it's slang for a large
bluegill). He got a 2 or 2.5 pounder on it and lost two while I got one a
little bigger on my new 7" AC Minnow swimbait and lost one on the hit too. That
Shellcracker worked very nicely, and Gator would just let it set, then twitch
it, right off the tulles. You just knew it would work as you watched it. I've
got to get one (I already fish there Lunker Punker).
Click image to enlarge.
Lee Hines, aka 'Gator', pauses in front of the moon-set for a quick photo. He
was all concentration as he was in the lead this day.
Click image to enlarge.
Black Dog's 'Shellcracker'.
After an hour we left to his next spot, we both had one in the live-well but it
did not work properly and we had to try and remember to change the water
manually every 15 minutes or so. (But we forgot and had to revive them a couple
of times, very time consuming). We hit the marina/slough just south of
Lakeport. We did not do well there but I managed to get another bass on my AC
Minnow- cool, two in the boat!
Click image to enlarge.
My 1st fish came on a 7" AC minnow fish I'd just purchased the night before,
thanks to Brian Day's report. (I'd been throwing the 9" and only getting
followers for the most part).
He decided to hit my honey hole as we could see a lot of explosions in that area
as we looked from a distance, as it was not far off from there. Of course, I
was excited to fish it. I had not really worked the area that much in hopes of
saving most the fish from trauma, leaving them virgins so to speak. We started
on the point and worked it back north, picking up one here and there on both the
frog and swimbaits, me getting two to each of his one. The place was loaded
with fish and we were having a blast. At one point I was bringing on in on the
AC when his Shellcracker got exploded on while he stood there with the net in
his hand. He dropped the net and tried to set the hook but she was gone by
then, bummer. I landed mine and culled again. I was constantly culling and
that made me very happy.
The last hour we went and hit his honey hole, which is where he got his 8.54
pounder the day before, but I was the only one that did well, getting one almost
five pounds on the frog. It was after tossing it over a dock in a very
precarious spot if I hooked up, which I did. Gator quickly maneuvered the boat
over to the spot and I stood on the very front trying to reach over and lift her
over it. I finally had to set one foot on the dock, which in a real tourney
would have probably been illegal, but this was a fun tourney, ie no money.
That was that and we had to pull the plug after making one last ditch effort for
Gator to cull up by working the big set of trees that lined the entrance to the
slough/marina, but no go. It had been a fun tournament and I'd learned a lot.
"As usual, the bugs drove us
off the water at dark, but then the bite dies anyways."
Click image to enlarge.
Me with my 'biggy' of the tourney (for me) just shy of 5 pounds and caught on a frog, on
Gators back seat just an hour before weigh in. I had to lug it over a dock and
was not sure it would make it. Used a 'yellow headed black bird' River 2 Sea
frog that Gator had given me, thanks Gator! Too bad Gator had not caught her as
he would have won the tourney then.
Click image to enlarge.
Clearlake/ 7.20.08 Gator (my partner for the third tourney) and me at weigh in.
My two here, one caught on the frog and one an 7" AC Minnow swimbait, went
8.63#.
The three tourneys were held
over a two day period.
Gator, my room mate the first night and fishing partner the third tourney, took
second place and won 'big fish' with his 8.54!
Martino Adra won the 'NumbNut' award for overfilling a weigh bag and busting it
on the dock, losing the 5 pounder that would have won him the tournament at the
third weigh in!
Cool, even though I was blanked on tournament two I still ended up in the top
half, not bad for an amateur (but then again, I think most were). If we had hit
my honey hole on tournament two I would have got (as I averaged 3.5's there all
day long) another 7 lbs to my total minimum, which would have made it 20.33 and
I would have taken 5th!!! Shoulda, woulda coulda, huh? But that's fishing and
that's life, and as long as one gets to partake, that is the main thing.
Here was the results of the three day Rally.
Dennis Bramlett 23.81
Lee Hines 22.23 8.54
Brody Bramlett 22.19
Amy VonSpreckelsen 22.11
James Huffmon 20.05
Geno Chiarpotti 20.02
Gary Collins 20.01
Dick Marchini 20
Martino Adra 19.4
Aaron Hart 19.22
Bill Rowles 19.15
John Chiarpotti 18.95
Bob Morrish 18.9
Ray Stevens 17.79
Dewayne Bonham 16.81
Dick McHenry 16.73
Tom Atkeson 16.68
Leann Baron 16.23
Steve Greene 15.71
Tony Stoltz 14.78
John Fike 14.74
Chad Gulden 14.25
Norval Chan 14.11
Dave Mayo 14.09
Rusty Baron 13.98
Kevin Evans 13.77
Kent Simmons 13.68
Scott Sweet 13.46
Michael Seewald 13.33
Cade Alcorn 13.22
Cody Carpenter 13.05
Morgan Swisher 12.82
Jim Huffmon 12.71
Linda Stevens 12.7
bob repp 12.59
Bob Carpenter 12.58
Sean Alarid 12.43
Andy Cuccia 12.01
Anne Rowles 11.9
Dick Brimmer 11.7
Justin VonSpreckelsen 11.27
robert brewer 10.65
Brian Day 10.44
Brett Shepherd 10.23
hunter mcclaskey 10.09
Larry Nakamura 10.08
Mike D'Ambrogia 9.63
jason garcia 9.34
miguel amodio 9.03
Jonathan Ashcraft 8.9 13.10 Catfish
Rick Wolfe 8.72
Mitch Mitcheltree 7.39
Alexandra Koehler 7.03
Hugo Girol 6.88
Matt Moreau 6.35
Doyle McEwen 5.56
Guy Kelley 5.35
Mark Weichold 5.35
Jody brewer 4.48
Scott mcclaskey 1.53
Gary Ryon 1.48
******** *********
Sunday evening, after the tourney.
I went out with Morgan on Sunday evening for a couple of hours, hoping to get
him on his first frog fish. We had both taken naps and were a little refreshed
as the past couple of days were tough; not much sleep and very hot conditions.
We went to the marina just to the right of the Casino docks. I got two or three
nice ones, about 3 to 3.5 each. Unfortunately he did not get any, but had
fought one for a few seconds but lost him!!! As usual, the bugs drove us off
the water at dark, but then the bite dies anyways.
Clearlake,
Monday 7.21.'08
Monday was a slug fest! I went out solo from 9 a.m. and did quite well,
redeeming myself from the so-so tourney results I had had. Got 10 nice ones,
nothing under two, mostly on the frog.
Click image to enlarge.
I used the 'yellow headed black bird'
River 2 Sea frog to fool this one- 9.26
am.
Click image to enlarge.
Another 'yellow headed black bird'
River 2 Sea frog fish - 9.30 am.
And yet another 'yellow
headed black bird' River 2 Sea frog fish- 10.37am.
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
Let's keep it going- 'yellow headed
black bird' River 2 Sea frog fish-11.03 am.
A frog fish at 11.23 am with all the grass that came in with it. This was not
too unusual, each one was hard to see in the grass when it reached the boat.
Sometimes they was no fish in it.
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
7.21.08 white Bobby's Perfect Frog at 3.41 pm.
Close up of above fish.
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
Frog Fish 2.54 pm.
FROG DAY
Clearlake, Tuesday 7.22.'08
After warming up on Monday I really got into it.
Ended up with 20 on the frog and 3 on the swimbaits even though I started later.
A healthy largemouth bass on the 7" AC Minnow 11.35 am.
Another on the 7" AC Minnow 12.58 pm.
Click image to enlarge.
On the lucky Craft Gunfish 11.39 a.m.. Look how healthy these suckers are.
They really do average about three pounds each.
One on a 7" AC Minnow 11:40 am.
Nothing like a good bite. This one came just one minute after the previous
one!!!
7.22.08 Another beauty that went 4.12# on my Rapala scale,
caught on the Rd/Blk River 2 Sea 1.28 pm.
Click image to enlarge.
A nice 3.15# on the 'yellow headed black bird' River 2 Sea frog at 5.16 pm.
Click image to enlarge.
Clearlake at dusk.
"...the job ended up taking
me all day and ended up replacing all the lights and the wiring; end results, no
lights at all except emergency blinkers!!!"
Clearlake,
Wednesday 7.23.08
Over 20 bass, mostly on the frog.
Click image to enlarge.
Seewald's Honey Hole.
Here is my 'honey hole' stitched together with marks of where I caught
each bass. It's about a 200 degree view. NOTE:
click on image again after it loads and you should see it get even bigger.
You will then have to scroll sideways to appreciate the details.
A 3.9# on the blk/red River 2 Sea at 3.36 pm..
Click image to enlarge.
A very nice 5.5# Lunker taken of the blk/red River 2 Sea frog.
7:52 p.m.. She had got off three times before over a 5 day period!!!
A chunky 3.6# on 7" AC Minnow at 8.26 p.m..
Clearlake,
Thursday 7.24.08
I stayed at the clean but old Kelseyville Motel Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
nights for only $49.95 per, and it was close to my free launch ramp over at the
Konocti Casino just 6 miles away, and it had boat parking and electricity for
recharging the batteries. The problem was my trailer light was not working on
one side, so as I made my move to Clear Lake town on the far side if the lake (I
was planning on fixing it in an hour or so and then heading and staying at the
Delta that night). RIGHT, the job ended up taking me all day and I ended up
replacing all the lights and the wiring; end results; no lights at all except
emergency blinkers!!! Thus no report- and I used those emergency blinkers all
the way to Pittsburgh Motel 6 where I stayed as I had no brake lights!!?
]"...Michael, I hurt/ dislocated both shoulders playing ice hockey last night,
do you want my ticket to Barrett Lake tomorrow, I can't go".
Delta, Friday
7.25.'08
So after getting up early and getting over to Frank's Track I launched at
Russo's Marina after paying my $10 bucks and was off trying my luck/skill. the
weird thing was I noticed my lights were working (running lights) and realized
I'd have to take time off mid-day and see if I could get things straightened out
for sure (and I did after another three hours of checking wires-TUL). Off to the
report with pics.
Well, I stopped at the first fishing looking weedbed on the way out to the main
track and picked up a nice one in the first few casts on the frog. I thought
cool, this will be easy but it was the only one found on many similar beds I'd
tried over the next few hours.
Click image to enlarge.
2.8 taken of the blk/red River 2 Sea frog.
7.25.08 at 8.30 a.m. at Frank's Track, Delta.
At about 9:30 I went and worked 'the wall' with the frog and the swimbait, with
a jig thrown in here and there. Got one on the AC Minnow. Then a few hours
later with nada more, at about 2, I took a three hour break to work on trailer
lights! Figured it out, TUL, and back to the ramp where the boat was waiting
(Adrianne, the young man working at the 'Hook, line and sinker on the water' at
the Russo Marina there, and who is very knowledgeable about fishing) let me
leave the boat.
Click image to enlarge.
7.25.08 3# on 7" AC Minnow at 9.51 a.m.
at Frank's Track, Delta.
Back to 'work' at about 5:30 on weedbeds that got me zippo. I went back to the
'wall' at 7 and started to work the frog again. It picked up and the darker it
got the better it got. I had about four hits and landed three bass.
A 3.3# on a Rv2sea 7.38 pm., after getting him over the following obstacle
pictured below!
Click image to enlarge.
I got that bass over this dirt mound in the water.
The smallest part is over 12" high, with the left being 24", whew.
Just shy of a lunker, this one went 4.6# on River 2 Sea blk/red frog at Frank's
Track on the Delta at 8.01 p.m. Last but not least.
That was it for my vacation, I headed home at dark after loading up the trailer
(9:30) and after a couple of hours got a room, making it back to San Diego by 6
p.m. the next evening.
On my way home I thought of my thumbs often, as they were raw from holding up so
many large hard kicking bass for photos. I was glad I would not be fishing for
a few days, letting them rest and heal. Half way home I get a call from Ken, a
fishing buddy: "Michael, I hurt/ dislocated both shoulders playing ice hockey
last night, do you want my ticket to Barrett Lake tomorrow, I can't go".
Thumbs, sorry, you will have to heal later! "Yeah Ken, let me just call the wife
and see if I can talk her into letting me go". She did, she is such a sweety;
(Happy 16th August 1st baby doll).
The best part, now
I get to go
back to Clearlake in September, YAHOOOOOO.
July 9th, Barrett Lake.
Me 14 bass.
Ken N. 10 bass.
5:30 till 1:30 Mostly on the frog, some watermelon Senko
for Ken in Becky's. I got a nice 2.6 frog fish on weed edge there too.
Killed up back in Pine creek on the frog at 12:30 till 1:30. FUN.
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
July 5th, Barrett Lake.
Water.
8:30 till 7:30
Me 8 bass.
Shayne 23 bass.
Shayne (aka SDfishkidd) mostly on the watermelon Zoom brush hog. Me on
frog, lizzards. My custom made jigs did not get the bites in the same area
Shayne was killing them at on brush hogs, letting me know I need to go back to
the drawing board on them? I do know they were very full skirts (twice or
three times regular one, did not notice until AFTER I'd made them).
Right off the bat I got one by the docks on Kermit.
Shayne was wanting to get into some
frog action too, and he did in no time.
July 3rd, Lake San Vicente.
Water 75.
Me 1 bass.
Shayne 3 bass.
Was to meet Shayne, a young fisherman I met online over at
sdfish.com, at the lake at 4:45 a.m.. I was running a bit late and so was his
dad Julian, whom brought him. But the line was not allowed in until 5:16, a 1/2
hour before sunrise; we launched to clear skies by 5:25. We went to the
point off the island I like and Shayne got into a nice fish right off the bat, a
2 pounder that ate his silver deep diver crankbait right on the shore.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Shayne got this nice one second cast.
We then went to Grassy Bay and three boats were already
there. No grass, so the frog bite was non-existent. I did get a dink on a
Gunfish and Shayne missed a couple on the Senko. We went to the back of
Kimball's after that and worked what used to be the weed bed back area but it was
all dead. Nada. We worked our way to the front on the right side and I got
a nice hit on the AC plug but it did not stick. Got sunny (was 8 by then)
and we worked the other side and Shayne got a dink on the crankbait.
Continued up to the entrance of the arm where we anchored and tossed plastics
for nada, both sides. Went back towards grassy bay and tossed d/s for
nada, then back to our starting point where Shayne got one more for the day, a
nice 3.2 that ate his shaky-head green worm. It was 12:30 and was quite
hot when we quit, about 95 or so. Shayne's dad had fished El Cap for a couple of
dinks and came and picked Shayne up. I headed over to Aim Marine to
see if I could get a prop for the Lowe, it's chipped. None in stock and
the place I was sent had one but it was $130, so no new prop yet.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Last cast of the day was a winner too.
|
