Click photo to enlarge.
Cuyamaca w/ new 360 panorama app from my iPhone 4.

Dan and John M., after posing for photos below, headed down stream to fly fish. They reported the same results as us, nada, but two gentlemen they met reported quite a few earlier in the day.

Dan and John M., John O., and Dan 'getting a big one'.

11.15.'11  Diamond Valley Lake

8.00 a.m. till 4.30 pm, Mike C. and his son Marcos- 1 stripers Marcos, TUL.

11.11.'11 El Capitan

8.30 till 5, with Paul O, his boat.

10.30.'11 El Capitan

Paul’s boat. Noon till 5.45

10.27.'11  Diamond Valley Lake

2 p.m. till 5 pm, Stan M. and Mike C. - 3 stripers (2 Mike, 1 Stan, TUL).

Water, 70 degrees, air 80- sunny.

Picked up Stan at 10:45, and on the way to pick Mike up had a little excitement- the trailer came off the ball hitch while driving down the road in San Marcos, slightly gouging 50' of  roadway! We realized upon inspection I'd not put it all the way down on the ball, and it bounced off on a bump. Note to self; double check it next time! Mike re-connected the squished and cut trailer wiring, thus getting a better ground, and thus fixing one non-working side too, TUL, and we were off. Got to the lake about 1.30.

Got intel from older gent at check-in-booth: stripers at the Saddle Dam were on the chew; cut bait, at about 50 to 100', at 208' depth. After another 15 minute delay, at the 'Quagga mussel inspection department', we got two 1# bags bait, one sardines and one anchovies, at $3.69 ea. there, and headed out.

Got to the suggested area, metered the depth, but did not meter fish. After 15 minutes of nada decided to go to the intake structure. When we arrived we found 6 boats on the buoy line, mostly Filipinos w/3 in a boat. They only had one boat length between each one, so we joined at the end of the line, the deeper side, figuring they must be on the 'spot on the spot'. Minutes later, as the ranger lady showed up, the word went around she was coming, and they all moved off the buoy line??? They also took some poles in (they were using three each, you are only allowed two max, with special stamp).

Lady asked how we were doing as she motored past us, and then said it'd been slow, and she was just coming by to make sure folks were not tied up to the buoy line, it was not allowed! E-gads man, WE were tied up to it! We said we had not know that, that in fact we were, and would untie immediately- which we did. She went a hundred yards away and 'camped out' for an hour, watching everyone from afar. We had a trolling motor so it was not a problem, but most the guys had rentals and could not stay along it and eventually all but one left. Most had their limits pretty much anyways, and were culling.

     
Click photo to enlarge.

Guys along the buoy line scramble to untie from it. Moments
later the lake ranger went past for 'inspections'.

We got advice from the solo boat, and found out sardines were best, and 'fly-lining' was the way to go- so we took off our small weights. It was 75' deep, but the stripers see it falling from 20 to 30' down, they said, and come up for it, or it eventually gets down to them. You give them a second and then set the hook. Some of these guys hooked up every few minutes, especially after 4 pm, it went nuts. Mike got one after awhile, and then another. Our bait had defrosted and got mushy, and was being thrown off when casting, so next time we will have to keep it on ice, the others guys did and their bait stayed on, allowing them to cast way towards the structure. Most used 10# test, thinking fluoro too as they got hit a lot more than us using 4# braid and 6# mono.

       
Click photo to enlarge.   Right side 'super large', for Mike's download.

Mike gets the strip off the boat with this striper, then quickly gets another in short order.

They also said it was nuts in the early morning, and most guys limited out by then. Mike reminded me on the way home of how the guys on the piers use thread to hold mussels on the hook, a trick I've use too for that and forgot for this case, and I have some just for that purpose. Next time I'll tie the bait on (maybe the guys had been doing than, and not mentioning it, they seldom lost it on long casts!).

The ranger said we had to be back by 5, but we left at 4.50 as I figured it to be about a 15 return trip back, we'd not timed going out, but it was a half hour- into the wind no less. Last ones out, but they did not say anything, TUL.

10.17.'11  El Capitan

2 pm. till 6:30 pm, Paul O. and myself, on Paul's boat.

Sunny, about 80 and water about 70.

We went to the back right off. About an hour into fishing and working back to 'our honey hole' (at this level of the lake, I notice at varying levels it changes, common sense really) I had the 'toilet flush' on a TD Pencil, and by the time I realized it the lure was back up to the top floating (a whole second later). I'm used to seeing a blow up (the big ones sometimes just get close and open their mouths, inhaling a gallon of water and anything in that gallon, i.e. my lure- that's what his one did) so I farmed it right off the bat- dang.

Well, we went back two hours later, after getting on quite a few in the really shallow back area, at dusk, and she hit the T.D. Pencil again, hard this time, and she instantly jumped (and when I saw how big she was a yelled 'get the net' to Paul, was a 7 to 8 pounder easily), but low and behold after working her through a lot of sunken brush ok she pulled loose underwater at the boat. Almost got her to the net, which Paul had at the ready.

But like the 10+ I lost at the Ca. Delta a month ago, 'I know where she lives'!

So, ended up getting about 6 total, all on top, mostly dinks last hour. Paul got about the same, earlier, on the front of his boat, in back trees.

Water 70 degrees, air about 60 (down from a high of 100 at noon).

10.10.'11  El Capitan

10.30 a.m. till 1.30 solo/ 1.30 till 6.30 pm with Paul O..

Water 72 degrees, air about 90.

Took the Answered Prayer out, planned to go out at sunrise, after all the errand running, made it there by 10.30. Fished the dam area, with the Shellcracker, nada, till 1.30, when Paul joined me.

We went to the trees right away, that has been the ticket. Everyone reported a tough bite that was leaving, which was mostly everyone. I used the new setup, 4# NaonFil with the 3.5" Zoom fluke. Lost a few with poor hooksets, then finally got one. Went to the TD Pencil at dusk, got a couple of more. But big story was Paul, getting a 5-12 on a Senko on top of a bush in 2' of water. Did not fight hard at all.

He got another monster, but it broke off 8# test with 6# leader.

   
Click photos to enlarge.
My best came on a TD Pencil, Paul's a Senko, jiggled on top of a bush.

These two - Super large, for printing
8x10 250 dpi.

9.29.'11  El Capitan

6.30 a.m. till noon with Mike C.

Click photo to enlarge.
Early morning, El Capitan lake, 9.29.'11

Mike C. joined me from opening until 12. We had a tough time of it, with me getting our solo fish from my aluminum boat. 

           
Click photo to enlarge.

9.26.'11  El Capitan

6.30 a.m. till closing (6.50 p.m.)
Water 75 degrees, air about 92.

Me, 7 (spook four, spinnerbait 1, fluke 2)
John O. - 0
Paul O. - 4 (1 worm, 3 flukes)

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Click on photos to enlarge.
Got this nice one after losing the Big Mamma- gotta keep going, right?

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2 to 3 p.m. - Anyways, fished the docks as they looked good with the shadows, and sure enough, got two. The first one gave himself away as I noticed what looked to be a large rat swim under a tree by the exit, and an 'explosion' happened to him. Did he get hit by a bass as he swam? I threw my frog there seconds later, and boom, blow up and a two pounder landed. Cool.

Turned around and got a four under the docks at a piling, cool.

Click on photos to enlarge.
Got this nice one before leaving the marina, Spro popper again.

3 to 7 p.m.
Went out and worked some tulles 'islands' in the slough with the frog and the Spook- nada, but looked good. Headed to Potato Slough, got a 1 pounder on the Senko, and two hits before getting there on the point, where all the broken pilings were, after they hit but missed the frog.

Worked the tulle islands up and down the slough, around a lot of anchored yachts, all for nada.

7 to 8 p.m.
Headed back to Pirates Marina area and worked the tulle islands there, nada. Went a bit north, looked great and sure enough, got into some nice bass at a major drop off with old pilings. Got a 3.5 that decided to shake her head as I was just grabbing her mouth, she put the hook in my thumb and luckily came off and flopped on the bottom of the boat. I took a quick photo, looked for the 'dikes', wire cutters, but could not find them- BUMMER! BUT did find some cutters on my needle nose, hopefully it would be strong enough to cut the barb off, and it was.

The bite was good, and sure enough I got another 3.8 in short order.

________________________

We then went directly across to the long tulle islands but worked the shore hyacinth with punch systems and frogs. Nada.

Took run towards Marina, stopping at spot I put hook through my finger and I believe Mike got one there, otherwise pretty quite, was about 2 at this point.

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9.16.11. Friday. Clear Lake.

Click photo to enlarge.
Yes sir, very fishy looking morning, but
they did not want the frog- strange.

Slept in van in the parking lot, left the boat on docks, chained up and batteries charging, and got up at 5:30 and hit J.I.Box, got breakfast and lunch, and headed out.

I hit the right side with frogs, where Gator got his eight at the rally three years earlier, all the way to the docks, but it was a no go, but looked good. Continued to work the frog, and the punker, over at Tulle Point, but nada. Could not believe it, maybe I got there too late? Kept working the area, back and forth, and finally got one right off the point at 11:45 a.m., on the Super Spook.

Click photo to enlarge.
Tough bite today, expected lots of action, but this
was one of only two. A nice one though.

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9.17.11. Saturday. Clear Lake.

Slept in van in the parking lot again, left the boat on docks, chained up and batteries charging, and got up at 5:30 and hit J.I.Box, got breakfast and lunch, and headed out just as 60 some boat also went out. I was wanting to beat them to 'Tulle Point' but they all zipped past me before I could get the two miles over there.

One guy was working the point, and one tuber too, so I worked around them, Punker and frog- Nada!? Went further south, to the next slough, tuber were working the entrance, I did the same. Worked into the slough, got a blow up on the frog- 9:45, first hit. But we did not connect, and this was just in front of a WON bass boat coming in. They reported 4 in the well, no biggies. The front seater tossed a Trash Fish, new plastic 5' swimbait, all the rage, the back seater a d/s. I heard them yell a bit later, missing one. I worked all the way back, across a ton of cheese, nada.

Went back towards the ramp, worked some points, nada.

Well the top was supposed to be on fire, had been for past 60 days, but that had changed, obviously.

Back by 12.30, hot. Hung around the WON weigh in, trying to figure out what to do. Ran across Tony S., pervious owner of WesternBass who now runs a release boat business for the tourneys, and ended up helping them with the weigh in, from 3 till 4.30, then went over to Rodman's Slough, after buying a pair of Trash fish from Dave, over at Clearlake Outdoors. Launched out of Lakeport, to save gas and trouble if the wind came up. Still took 1/2 hour to get up there, at 26 mph (downloaded free app from iPhone).

Worked the entrance to Rodman's w/ frog, and Spook outside cheese, which there was a ton, nada. Went in to the split, worked both sides, got one good blowup on the frog off the sunken tree, I always get one there. Worked the right slough, in and out this time, nada.

Stopped at the 'warning light' point/rockpile and had a giant follow the Trash fish, known by the wake behind it (working slow on top, can work on bottom or top that way), but she did not eat it, this was at just about dark). Worked till dark, and went in.

Click photo to enlarge.

Little Creeper's 'All American Trash Fish'

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9.18.11. Sunday evening. Delta.

Slept in at my friends house till 9 a.m., was exhausted from morning to night fishing for past two days. Went to Dixon, CA and attended the Calvary Chapel there, met pastor Greg, nice guy and good message. We hit if off and he wants me to take him out sometime, although he's not fished much.

Set up a time to photograph friends at Lake Don Pedro, then planned on getting there, photographing them, and then fishing the lake. When I got up there I called to see how they were doing, if they were nearby yet, but the report was that they were too tired and sweaty to have a group portrait done, that they would cancel! Well, what to do? I could go back to the Delta and try for 'my' 10+, and I did. It was two hours away, and I high tailed to get there so I could launch from Tower Park and make it to the hole before 7, and I barely did.

This time I thought I'd throw the frog, a low percentage bait but she had not seen it, not from me. Decided to toss it around the flats first, to get a feel for casting it (very important you don't miss the spot, they could get turned off very fast, the big ones are not too dumb), and lo and behold I get a 2 pounder- cool.

Decided to go for her, I'm all ready- first cast, two twitches over where I thought she lived, and she SLAMS IT - but SHE MISSED IT! somehow she got too excited and came flying out of the water trying to inhale it! Oh well.

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9.19.11. Monday. Delta.

Got up about 5:15, time for a breakfast burrito and coffee to go over at Carl's Jr., then head to Tower Park for launch. Got there, still dark, and launched. Wanted to be over her area before sunrise, and I was.

But she hit nothing I threw at her! But it was low tide (it's a tidal system here, eventually hitting the San Francisco Bay 50 miles away, rising and falling a few feet every 6 hours).

I decided to cut the tulles that were sticking out too far sideways around there so I could throw a swimbait and bring it right over the top of her that night (I'm getting smarter in my old age ), then went and fished back up towards the ramp. Found a slough I'd not noticed before, and went in, it was White's, I'd thought it was further south from the main slough, Little Potato, but it wasn't. Fished it with the Punker, and got some followers. Beautiful tulle islands all through it, will have to fish it some more someday.

Took a break, went back to the Carl's Jr. for lunch, then over to Pirated Liar Marina to pick up my calendars I'd left for the owner to view, but they had misplaced them. So I went back, and started back to 'her'.

As I got closer to the spot, I ran through my list of dozens of baits to seduce her with first. I tied on a Matt's Jitterfish, and after throwing it a bit, and falling in love with it again (had not fished it since the Texas trip last November). But after getting no hits on the practice areas (no large bait gets many anyways), I felt I maybe should go with my first idea, the Black Dog Shell Cracker, 6" wood. (Mainly because the large aluminum lip might keep her from hitting it if I dead-sticked it above her head, like I felt I might have to do).

So I practiced my casting and working of the Shell Cracker now, before offering it to her, this had to be perfect this time. I practiced about a mile away on a tulle point that had been good to me the past few days. I really hoped I could catch a fish on it before I threw it at her too, that way I'd know she too might be interested. My second cast got it caught up in the tulles, and as I pulled like crazy to get it off it caused a lot of splashing, and wouldn't you know it, another 10+ tried to inhale it while I was doing that, slamming it from the side, scarring the heck out of me! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I almost got my 10+ practicing for my 10+. Well, that was a good sign this was the right bait, perfect! I know God has a sense of humor, that would have been funny to get my 10+ while practicing. I knew that could happen here, and was hoping so actually.

But the good part is NOW I knew where two major lunkers live, COOL! I then went to go get 'Big Mamma #1', called the wife, prayed, (could he want it that bad, prayer? yep) and then cast over the tulles and got stuck right above her area, cast was a foot or two off! "E-Gads man, NOT NOW, can't you do anything right?" I scolded myself, hoping it did not blow my final chance of this trip. I trolling motored around and tried to pull it off without much disturbance, but sure enough, more casts netted zero action. I left at dark, hitting Giant Mamma #2 again at dark, for nada, then started my 10 hour drive back down to San Diego.

Lord willing, I'll get her next time.

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8.18.'11
Murrieta Hot Springs, Murrieta, CA

Left from his place at 3.30 p.m., his truck. Fished till 10 p.m..
Mini-tourney between us. $2.50 for biggest, $2.50 for most, 8 oz minimum.

I won both with 2 keepers (14oz -buzzbait- & 11 oz), he with two also, 11 oz & 10 oz, so my 5 non keepers (on fluke, but 2 on senko last 20 min.) beat his 4 non's, for tie-breaker.
 

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8.15.'11
Discovery Lake, San Marcos, CA

About 80 out, water ?
From 6 p.m. till 10 p.m.
Solo- 1 bass on frog (Spro popper)

Went to my honey hole, with waders on as that's the only way to fish this spot. Tulles overgrow the area, so nobody fishes it. The new Curado 200 E7 casts great, but I did not spool enough 80# Power Pro braid to reach the usual spots across the pond, and had to rely on the backing, about 15# mono, not to break (looking to rectify that immediately, had put on new line up at the Delta (see following report).

Tossed Kermit for the most part, getting one just before dark that went about 1 3/4, and got three or four hits other than that, at 8 I tossed the 8" Lunker Punker. By 8.30 I went to the dock and found my young Japanese friend already there. He report 6 bass per night, for the last 6 nights. When asking how long he's been out, he said 3 a.m. usually- ohhh!

Fished till 10, he got a nice one that got off, on a Senko on a 3/8oz head, cast out towards the rock pile. He said there was a weed line he brought it out of.

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8.2-7. '11
(and 8th and 9th 'for fun' afterwards).

Snag Proof Open Tournament
two day tournament on the California Delta, August 6th and 7th.

Air average: 85 (nice tourist weather, but we want hot for frogs), water only 71-74 (where I fished, some guys ran for 1/2 hour to 80 degree, they faired a lot better).

Pre-fish/ August 4th and 5th, 2011.

I drove up to my friends home in Davis, they were leaving to L.A. when I was coming up, so I ended up house sitting. After saying goodbye and headed to Concord, and I bought a 12' aluminum boat with motor and trailer from a gentleman up here. It ran $1,500 and a piece of art, which was pretty cool as a four stroke runs that. We chatted a lot about fishing, and we finally started it up to see that it ran, I payed the cash and left, it was about 4, traffic heavy.

Got on the water about 6, at Russo's Marina, and fished Frank's Tract wall with the Punker and Spook, got two on the Spook. Fished till about 9, noticed the boat did not have lights about dusk, so needed to get those for the next few days, and I did, as well as a few other items.

Day two I got some items, and then went and talked to Chuck at Russo's to see if he'd honor the one year launch permit we were doing a trade for. Half way through the year, 2009, about July, some tweeker stole my Honda 25hp four stroke, and I no longer need to launch.

Anyways, his helper Lisa gave me a hard time, and eventually got the deal ruined. He'd said fine at first, then the next day she had shot the deal down. Figured there must be a silver lining and sure enough, a nicer one was just down the road, called the Sugar Barge. Everyone there was friendly, and I met the owner and approached him on future trades, launch for art.

This was the Friday night before the tourney, and Snag Proof put on a large buffet there at sign-ups (where I hung to see if I could find a partner, the two guys from WesternBass fish forums both flaked), they had large shrimps, calamari, bbq chicken, etc.. Saw friends Marty, Derek, Cooch, Scott (my new boat's ex-owner) and his son, and his partner Glen, whom was fishing with someone else for this one.

After munching on the spread I launched and hit the wall again, very windy and I threw the 8" Lunker Punker again, no takers! While fishing I got a call from a Raphael, whom was there for the tourney but his boater had cancelled. He wanted to back-seat with me, TUL. But he wanted to fish pro, a $200 fee, and I was a bit intimidated. He talked me into it, he'd won some sort of tourney there the week before. COOL, someone that knew the bit and the waters (I've only fished here a few times, maybe 20 days over the past four years, no pro here).

Off the water by 10, and home by midnight and to bed by 1 a.m.. Back up at 5.45 a.m. as the local Ace Hardware had the wood I'd need to construct some sort of make-shift front deck, and after half hour I'd found a 19"x24" that worked just fine. I was very excited.

New Snag Proof Buzz Frog.

So nobody needed one, and I fished solo on the amateur side, $100 per team (about 60 boats), and the 'pro' side had about 115 boats ($200 entry per team).

Day one, Saturday, started at 11 a.m., the outgoing tide, and ended at 6 p.m.. I waited to the bittter end to sign up, hoping against hope. They split the fees, and we'd have a better chance to win. But no go, and when I went and launched the guys were all gone, it was 11.40 and I must be back at 6.15, last group, but out first tomorrow, I was boat number 175 (someone must have signed up even later, the next morning they started with number 178)

Overall, I only got two bass, both were 'shorts', too small to count. One the size of the lure, the other about 12". Got three major blow-ups also, and one took it down, but I missed the hookset. It was about a two, got a good look at her. This was all on the buzz frog, one very nice bait and will be in my arsenal of topwaters from now on. One leg came off on the third cast, the other lasted until the next day. The spots that I'd got lunkers at before did not give me action this time, bummer.

At 5 my alarm went off, one hour to go. I ran over to the wall, and sure enough, more fish but the three pounder went aiborne and missed the lure, darn. It was with 5 minutes to go, oh well.

At weigh I found out some of the pros got skunked both days, believe it or not, and most only got the three max you could bring in, no more. Many of the am's also got blanked, Scott and his son too.

Hung out and then ran for dinner, and got the liquor store over at the Bethel Island bridge to allow me to re-charge my trolling motor battery. I put the boat in Cooch's front yard, and slept a quarter mile away by a slough. To bed about 11, up at 4.45 a.m., pick up the batter and coffee, and lauch.

I got three blow-ups in the first hour, all on the new Snag Proof buzz frog, and the third one stuck. It was over at the islands between Frank's and False River, as I figured action would be (I'd not pre-fished morning, a real disadvantage). It was a 2.17 (per weigh in), and got the stripe off the back and felt good. They let me use an ice chest for a live well (pretty lax on the rules, cool), and I dumped two buckets of water in it every 20 minutes, she was very healthy at weigh in.

The last leg of the frog was gone, and a run over to the store (Hook, Line and Sinker) at the docks was a good idea, but they were sold out. Gerry-riggged another frog on the back, but it did not get hit. Worked the slough east of there, cheese and cheese islands, nada. Worked the main river for the last hour, and some solo tule islands off Frank's wall for a few, and then the wall the last 15 minutes.

Weigh in was at noon, free hot dogs and cold waters followed. After the ceremony I took a nap on the boat in the shade (been getting about 5 hours per night- and fishing from a tin boat in these winds will wear you down, the boat is like a washing machine, I almost fell out a few times, no seat to hold on to either) and then went out till 10 p.m., throwing the 8" Punker, nada.

Click photo to enlarge.
This one thought he was a monster, but was only about a 1 1/2 pounder.

I had decided to find warmer water, and got into some action because of it. Go the the dead end sloughs, the water does not get flushed out so it stays warmer (up to 80 in places) so the fish were more active.

Click photo to enlarge.
Happy camper, the new motor hauls butt! T.U.L..

It was a nice day of fun fishing, got a 5 on the frog, and some smaller ones as I've figured out the patterns a little better. Got a bunch of smaller ones on the buzzbait too, one pounders, as I did tonight again.

(8.9.'11)

Went back to Tower Park Marina today, launched a little earlier, about 2. Started working south this time, towards Whites Slough (my friend Cooch had been gettin' 'em good there, and lost 8 or 8 lunker in two days on the buzz-frog, he was bummed- but still took 10th and won money). I also lost two lunkers on the frog, one on the Bobby's Cicada, and one real late (pretty much dark at 9.15) on the Spro green/yellow belly popper, and got a nice two pounder from under a tree, but it's still tough and may be for weeks without the hot days -100 instead of the 85's were getting, and the nights are cold, usually only down to 80, it's down to 55!

       
Click photo to enlarge.

Fished till dark again, was off the water at 9.45, but Life Flight operations at the park hindered my early return home, as it happened just as I was leaving, taking 30 minutes to transfer someone from an ambulance to it, probably from one of the many head-ons on the 12, it's infamous for them (too many drunks wanting to pass on the two lane hwy).


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7.18.'11
Lake Skinner (1,400 acres)

Only fourth time on it, 1st 6 years ago, other three in past month.

Launch $2, Car $6, Fish permit $4. - $12.

Air- up to 96 / Water- up to 90

Solo- 10 (3 frogs, 1 buzzbait, 6 Senko's)

Was on the water from 7.30 a.m. till 7.45 p.m.. Got 10, three on frogs, the 'cheese' was gone, and so was my bite. Don't know if they sprayed it, but guess so as it was gone. Bummer. Got one on a kick leg green back, white belly ribbit back in the left side of the left shallows' right off the bat, then died as the sun was too bright I guess. Missed a nice one on the frog (2lbs), at the far back of the shallows, left of the honey spot, but went back an hour later and got her to go again, that was cool. Thought it was at least a four the first time, so this one might have been living close by and took it first this time, don't know.

Worked back to the deeper water from where I started, opposite the ramp side. Tied on a small white spinnerbait (1/8oz StrikeKing- I'd bought it for the clear water there) got a couple hits and then saw three 2-3 pounders fighting over it as it got closer to the boat- no hook ups. And no more hits after that on it (same place the kick leg frog got action at 8 a.m.), now about 11 am.

Continued working towards dam, mostly frogs into tulles, all looking so good. Nada. By 3 pm I was about 1/3 way to the spot directly across from the ramp and took a 15 minute rest (eyes closed) and was awakened by three folks joy riding close to me. Flagged them down and hitched a ride 2/3rd of the way to the dam, where I could use the wind to head back east now, instead of using so much battery heading into the wind, against it. Found a lot of nice areas to throw plastic/Senko's and picked up some 1 and 2 pounders on 'em.

Wind and waves were tough at this point, about 1', almost white caps with 10-15 mph winds. Glad I was going with it, sideways actually, I could not have gone long into it without losing all batteries. Actually, one battery lasted me all day, maybe that guys re-charging worked after all, I'll note that battery being A++ now, even lasted for the long haul into the winds to get back across to the ramp.

By dusk I worked my way almost all the way back to where they'd picked me up, now shadows all over and the buzzbait called my name as I saw a nice boulder off shore, and it got hit within 5' of it! Nice when you call a bait like that and it works. Then finding some nice spots for the frog, picking up a 2 and a 5+ in the last 15 minutes, topped off my long, hot day -TUL.
 

Click photo to enlarge.
One of the last two fish, on the frog.

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7.16.'11

About 30 bass total for the 5 of us.
Mike C. (8) and Rocio (2 or 3), Herbert (4), Ralph (4) (Herbert's 'boat neighbor in Ensenada') and myself (11).

Met Mike and Rocio at their house at 6 a.m., and got to Murrieta by and started fishing by about 6.45.. Herbert and Gitta had stayed overnight with their friends/neighbors Ralph and  from Ensenada. (Misty somehow got them a room, usually reserved for the folks on the weekend retreat, at this point a group of 300 Spanish speaking women).

Anyways, Herbert and Ralph already had 4 each (d/s, Hula poppers), but Mike and I caught up quickly. Mine on a kick leg from (1) and the balance (10) the little chart. popper I'd found there months earlier. Herbert and group left at 9, we stayed until about noon, I had to work the gallery.

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7.13-14.'11

Water?

Went with the wife, got a late start (6 p.m.) and got there around 8 with traffic. Dropped her off at Walmart and went fishing for an hour. Got one on the kick leg frog, with about four blow-ups. Off water by 8:50. We usually stay overnight but there are some 700 teenagers for a 'summer camp' week from a large church in Orange County.

Up late (10 a.m.- Motel 6) and off to breakfast at Denny's. Wife was left off at Old Town (a couple of blocks away) and I went to the lake. Was blessed it was overcast and cool, and I got a nice 2 pounder on a Super Spook in short order. Worked the lake with that and a fluke, but no more action. Sun came out and made it tough. After two hours I went and joined Valerie for some browsing at antique stores.

Went back to lake with her at around 4.30 and helped a lot of the kids rig their poles and showed them how to fish. Couple of them got some nice bluegill, one a bass, they were so ecstatic. I got one a 1-8 on a hula popper off a college student I borrowed it from to show the guys how well they work, the shadows were just starting to come in. Afterwards I went fishing and tossed the little chartreuse popper I'd found there a couple of months ago, got 5 in one trip around the lake, missing numerous others, none over 1-8. We left at 7:15.

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El Capitan Lake

Water far end, north 88, main lake, 80. Clearing up, blue again (was green, green, green for past few months).

With Paul O. He 2, me 2.

Met at O-dark hundred at the 7-11 and I got in his car after loading his boat with my gear. Ran a bit late and got to lake at 5:45, instead of 5:30. There were about 10 boats already out.

We hit the left side point towards dam for a few tosses of big baits, for nada, then ran north to the far end. Saw quiver bait and a lot of birds, but no buster. We fished the small cove on the right back there for 1/2 hour for more nada, but found some busters there. Then ran to the far back, but found it 7' lower than last trip out and could not get so far back. Worked our way back to the front, hitting his old honey hole, and mine afterwards. Could not get to them easily as so many tress now show, blocking the path that we easily went through a month ago. Nada on top or plastics.

Worked out way to the little cove that now was a pond and worked the point many guys used to sit on, couple of hits but no fish on d/s and t/r for both of us- dinks? Bluegil?

Went to the honey hole by the front of the area but two guys were on it, and getting 'em on d/s- at least three in short order. They left while we fished a cove further south for nada, couple of hits, then took the spot when they left. Paul got a real nice one, over three pounds, in 15-20' from the 30 we were sitting on. I too got one after 1/2 hour on the d/s pink worm, a dink that threw the hook on the second jump at the boat. Good enough for government work I'd say, a 'counter'.

We went to an area on the other side, reminding me of boulder bay when it's lower, and I got a dink on a spook. Threw the d/s a bit there, Paul the d/s only.

About 2 pm we went to Chocolate arm (what I called boat launch arm for lack of knowledge until today) for the 'last hurrah' before leaving. Paul had heard there was frog action there and once we got there I saw why, quite a bit of 'cheese' floating along shore, some areas 10' out, but mostly three foot out, if at all. We worked it for about an hour and a half with three blow-ups on the frog for me. Paul nada on it, nor the d/s and Senkos, which he three 90% of the time. Left at about 4, a couple of hours later than we were planning; Paul's shoulder hurts if casting too much, thus his plastics approach to help it out, less casting.

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7.7.'11 Thursday

Lake Skinner
Mike C.- 1 Me - 7

VERY Sunny and humid (got up to 97).

I picked up the aluminum boat, and then Mike, on the way to the lake. We got there just after 6 a.m., and launched to clear and warm skies. We started with topwater right off. I'd heard the week before that the frog bite was happening in the shallows, so we headed in that direction (trolling motor only still). We did not get a hit, and after an hour I was sweating and the sun had hardly been up yet.

When we got to the far back, where I'd wanted to start, there was so many weeds in 6 to7' of water I thought the kick leg frog would be perfect. Two casts later I missed one, then next cast got one. Two casts later got another, cool.

This was the second one in just about as many casts, it looked to be a good pattern but it faded quickly.

One of the nicer models, she was ready to nest again it looks like.
 

My frog kept on working. I did miss about three hits, but two of them came back and I ended up getting them.

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As we left early I was able to go back to the frame shop and do some repairs on my frogs from last year, here are the before and after pics.

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7.4.'11 Monday

Otay Lake
Solo (kinda, the Lord and I) 2

85 degrees, semi-sunny and humid, with thunderclouds.

Took the answered prayer and was on the water by 4 p.m.. Tulles looked great so I worked the close ones headed to Otay arm, got a blow up fairly fast, good sign. Another hour and nada. Took a run to the back of Harvey's arm, which was the original plan, looked the same as last time I was there, about a year ago to the day I'm guessing. Looked very fishey.

Started the tulles on the outside, water about 8' deep, got an explosion towards the back, maybe the third will be the charm? Kept going back and found some water under trees way past the floating plants (like hyacynth, about a foot deep on top, no way to frog fish it, maybe punch systems, but I was out for top).

Found some nice holes and came up with this dude... Continued to work that patter but that was it for the area. Took the boat back into an almost impossible area (to get the frog off a tree limb) and got more water to fish, God help me if I'd of hooked one, would have been a story (so much trees to bring it over is what I mean). The one above barley touched water it came over so much brush.

God's fireworks started early.