Michael Seewald's fishing
adventures
Jan. thru June, 2017
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Clear Lake- Sunday, June 25th thru Wed., June 28th.
*Sunday, June 25th Konocti Vista Marina
On water 4 p.m. till 9:30 p.m..
Solo, Boat: Answered prayer, ended with 15 bass
Water 80,
Sunny, slight winds, 90 degrees (106 in Ukian two days prior)
Click to enlarge
Jackall Gavacho Frog
Attended the wife's 45 high school reunion the past
three days (incl. travel time, left S.D. Thurs. morn.)
Got checked into the hotel paying 99 per night after 10% AARP discount
space, for upstairs lake view room (incl. ramp and dock storage).
Got checked OK by the Quagga water people (stamp runs $20) and it was a
miracle I did. I not cheked, nor dried, the front live well until just as
guy arrived. Thank God one boat was about ahead of me to give me time,
like 1 minute to grab my handkerchief and get the little bit of water out.
It was so hot the 'damp residue' was gone in seconds.
Click photo to enlarge.
Monster bass on the med. Whopper Plopper
A gentleman was scooping out the floating plants so not
much for bass to hide under around the docks, so no hits after working
them for 15 minutes. Started to work the plants around the edges, where I
usually do well, and got 3 in the next hour on the new Jackall Gavacho
frog, cool. Worked my way to the entrance, picked up more, and the water
being up I worked the grasses on the outside. Around 7 or so I tossed the
Whopper Plopper while sitting down changing lures, just for the heck of
it. and got nailed first cast, but lost it to the weeds. Got two more in
the next three casts, one a monster, and landed a 2#. Worked it around the
area and then back to the narrow entrance part and got a monster 7 1/2
pounder, T.U.L.! Got more on frogs, and buzzbaits even, till 9 p.m..
Ended with 15 for the day, can't beat that, and never
left the area.
*Day II, Mon., June 26th, afternoon only
Solo 1:30 pm - 9:30 p.m. water 76°
None till 6:30 back in Rodman's slough, ended with seven, 3 Gunfish and 4
Jackall popper frog.
Stayed up late watching movies and got on lake around 1 p.m. after a
leisure morning with the wife, eating breakfast at the casino.
Started to work the new Sabile frog left side yellow nothing all away from
the hotel to the outside edge. switch to the whopper popper nada. Went
back to the yellow frog and worked the floating mats one blowup missed for
now on that and I have to take it off. Mr. Bailey went by and told me the
chatter bait was working out about 100 yards offshore. I tried it for a
while Nada.
Around 4:30 made a run to the to Rodman's slough. Clocked boat at 58 mph
on an iPhone app, cool, so made the run in about 6 minutes. Started on the
right entrance, trees and plants, looked so fishy, nada! Worked it all the
way back to the split, and had one blow up, wow. Worked the split, then
took the 'middle slough', which I'd never worked before, and did not get
anything until a couple of hundred yards back, left side (tree side, right
side mostly tulle).
Got a blowup on the regular frog from yesterday the
popper green frog that I got from Rob Linebig.
At 6:25 after two hours and Rodman's finally got one on the frog,
I'd switch to the popper after going to a small target pop frog, it was
working yesterday. I missed four on that new Sabile lure with the
single hook so took it off. Tossed the gun fish and got a one
pounder off point at this little cut that goes between the two sloughs,
a lot of fish around there I noticed.
I was going by the one corner and I didn't throw any lures on that corner
and I got one 1 pound and then threw the popper frog again on it and got a
bigger one, TUL. Got three more on the frog.
*Day III, Tues., June 27th. Solo 1p.m. till 9:30 p.m..
1 bass at 'dark' on Gunfish
Out at 1 p.m., after stopping at Lakeport for breakfast
and Clear Lake Outdoors to get the 'bite info', and found out chatterbait
worked outside grasses in blue gil color was the ticket, with a blue
beaver 'trailer'. Ok, I've got that.
Worked the marina for nada, then outside edges with the
chatterbait, more nada. Then worked my way to the Lands End slough, worked
outside edge and into the slough, all the way back, with Plopper on way
in, and frog on way out, nada, till working the corner, where I usually
get one and lost about a sixer on the jump, bummer. Worked back to outside
then back to marina. Ran to the honey hole for more nada.
Was almost going to get skunked, so threw Gunfish
around marina entrance at 9:14 got one after cast earlier got hit but did
not stick. TUL.
*Day IV, Wed., June 28th, morning only.
6 am till 11 a.m..
Solo, 0 bass
Got out early today, 6 a.m., and ran to 'Tulle Point',
and threw big wake baits, rat, and Whopper :Plopper, and worked the frog
around tulles. Had one blow up on the frog inside a tulle area that I
could work boat into. Otherwise, nada. At 8 a.m. I was back to the honey
hole, worked the point, nada, then worked around it and back to shallows.
The carp with going wild doing their sex thing, two months after we had
that happen in San Diego, the water temps being so different I guess.
We left around noon after I ran into Mike Meyers as he was fishing the
marina. He invited two friends to fish it for three days, but his boat
broke on day two and he came back Friday. He reported 75 per day running
to Konocti Harbor and fishing deeper water with d/s and jigs, up to 7
lbs.).
I fished the marina for about an hour for nada, then
got the boat out at around 11:30.
We went to Sacramento to visit Valerie's sister Kimberly, who had a stroke
two weeks earlier, who was in a hospital in the town of Roseville, just 5
miles from Citrus Heights, where we had already planned to stay, at our
friends Jon and Carolyn Z.! God Incident.
Calif. Delta
*Day I, Thurs., June 29th, afternoon session.
Launched out of Paradise .3:15
p.m.- 9:30 p.m., slack tide, $15 fee.
5 bass, two buzzbait, two frog,
one W. Plopper.
Stayed at Jon & Carolyn's last night and had breakfast
with them and Valerie at Critters and then I went to the Delta at 12:30 or
so. Filled up at Love's truck stop, then went by an accident on the
freeway (a guy rolled his small pickup and was thrown out, saw the dust
get kicked up as he did so, so it was only 30 seconds later, on the other
side). Was on my way to pick up my stored art from Sheila, Mike's
wife, off Eight Mile Rd. (as I had to deliver to Nello Olivo on Friday) as
we go back on Sat.
At 3:15 I launched and worked the launch area for 15
minutes after hearing no biters within 5 miles due to weed poisoning.
Ran north then right at White's slough towards tower park marina. Started
to look good with underwater grasses, which they don't kill, growing up,
plus cheese was everywhere.
I got out just in time slack tide, so no bites at first, high tide at 8:30
or so that would be perfect.
OK, at 630 got a nice 6 1/2
on the new Jackall Gavacho Frog of the yellow belly green body Jackall
Gavacho frog. Shaded side of tulle in weed patch. Wonderful big fight,
with the new Cast King pulled it out of there with every other reel down
and pulling hard and I thought it was a ten. 6 1/2 monster fish thank you
Lord
Got a 2 on Buzzbait then a 4 on the frog
off sunken tree at end of tulle line. At dusk made my way to small
tulle patch at trestle and got 2# Plopper bass then it left hook deep into
left hand index finger. Got dykes out, cut off hook then uses it to
back rest out. Easier than I thought. Was 9:30, almost dark.
I got permission earlier, before gassing up, around 2 pm, to park the boat
overnight for the next two nights at Tower Park earlier, no charge, with
getting a VIP pass from the launch office ladies and plug into the
electric, T.U.L
*Day 2, Friday, June 30th, late
afternoon session.
Launched out of Tower Park 6
p.m.- 9:30 p.m., slack tide, $20 fee.
3 bass, frog
Started with a run to 'sunker tractor cove' got blown
up on, otherwise nada. Tide just starting to come in pretty good. Ran to
Sycamore slough and got one of a frog, really slow back there. After an
hour ran back to the tractor, got one and then really got into them at
dusk, outside the cove over along 'honey hole corner' near bridge.
Got 10 blow ups in about 30 casts, but only landed one. One was real nice
but three frog in short order on the jump.
____________________________
*Weds., June 15th, San Vicente
8 a.m. till 8 p.m.
Solo 5 bass, 3 redear (all top but 3 2.5# red ear on d/s, first)
Water 76 by late afternoon (guessing by hand).
Sunny, no wind until late afternoon, then bass fishing went off on top.
Started 8 am by making a run to the back right of Toll
Rd. arm, fished W.Plopper and frog for nada.
Noticed big red ear on nests in back of coves and got
one on a d/s, over 2.5 # and fought like crazy. Shot it, let it go, then
decided to call the wife, asked if she wanted them, as I could get more.
She refused the offer, said her mom said they had too many bones. I
thought maybe not, they were so big, so after an hour I caught and kept
two more over 2.5 (I filleted them, and she loved it, not a single bone,
in hers or mine!).
Ran to back of lake, far back right, and fished the big
trees for nada. Was dead tired to took a 1/2 hour nap in the shade, then
worked that whole area for nada. Worked out on left side, more nada. Ran
to honey hole across from island, nada. Worked that whole shore towards
the ramp, nada. Ran to island and wind had come up. Started getting them
on spooks and W. Plopper, med., at 4:35. Fished along the island and then
to Kimball's arm point, nada, and back to ramp at 7:50 and got a nice 4
pound on the Lunker Punker. Ended with 5 or so for the day.
*Weds., June 7th, Barrett Lake
On water 8 am till 7:45 p.m..
Me and Eric T. on my boat (sold two tube tics day I purchased this).
Water 72, 76 by late afternoon (guessing by hand).
Me 20, Eric 5 (9 on green/yellow belly Spro popper frog, 7 on Strike
King white/chart jointed buzzbait, 4 on Jackall Cover Craw baits, Eric a
frog fish and d/s fish)
Sunny, no wind in am, picked up in late morning as usual, very strong by 1
p.m..
Started later as week before no early bite, so blessed
as I got 6 hrs sleep. Eric met me at the house at 6 a.m., and we took my
van.
Got to lake by 7:30, Mike C was just launching with his son Tomas, and
Laurie steered up to motor 44, which was the one we had last week, funny,
and it ran good (remember as the boat had a slash in it like from a
hatchet by the rail!) and we were fishing the dam by 8. Nobody
there, surprisingly, and we slowly got them on frogs. Well, I did, Eric
could not get the hooksets going. The corner was good for about three
hours of us moving around and fishing the floating stuff in right corner.
I went to a Cover Craw, buddy Bob (Linebig on SDfish) gave me the night
before. Got four in short order, busting the first off (20# test on
spinner) at the bottom of trees, and got three in same area and one off
the dam just floating down. Went back to the frog and then we made a run,
got windy at 9, to Pine. Stopped for blowups on the points just past pigs,
on the new jointed, Strike King buzzbait.
We stopped across from Herbert's honey hole and fished
a rocky point, and back side of it, and missed some buzzer hits. Went
further back and trailer hook came off instantly on a monster due to the
fact the surgical tubes are not strong enough since the main hook is
barbless. Eric had a hard plastic bobber stopper he loaned me, and with
pliers you squeeze them and let the line through, in this case the hook,
and got the rest after that.
The back of Pine did not produce so well, so we ran to
the back of Hauser after stopping and visiting with Mike C. and his son
Tomas, on the little underwater island about 1/2 way back on the right.
They only had one on d/s, and it was 2 p.m., strange. I gave them some
Cover Craws, told them how to fish it, and we continued down to the end of
Hauser.
We got on them consistently, on the frog and the
buzzbait, slow but sure. Eric finally got it down towards dusk, he just
was not reeling fast enough on the explosions, but he did the last two and
fought them both to the boat, one got off. Fished it till we had to get
back, about 7:10, and got back 10 minutes early.
* Weds., May 31st, Barrett Lake
Mike Cast. on 'his' boat (purchased resale from Gil, he left at 2 or so).
Water 72, 76 by late afternoon (guessing by hand).
Mike 4, Me 20 (all top but 1 on d/s, first)
Sunny, no wind in am, picked up in late morning as usual, very strong by 1
p.m..
user.
As usual, with being a night owl, got about 3 hrs
sleep, to bed at 12:30, up at 3:45. We met at the usual Rancho Bernardo
McDonald's @4:40 and he followed me to the lake. Jose checked us in at the
docks, and we loaded up and started at the dam, hoping it'd be like the
week previously, it wasn't. Nada on top or below. Tried for about 1/2
hour, then decided to hit the back of Hauser.
Click photo to enlarge.
Click it again to SUPER SIZE it.
While stopping for a buster this boat went by, giving me a 'center of
interest' during pretty morning light.
On the way, just after entering the arm, saw a buster
and stopped, another 1/2 hour of nada.
Click photo to enlarge.
Mike got the stripe off the boat, and his back, with a frog fish, back of
Hauser. This was his third or fourth.
Got to the far back about 7:30, and it was slow, with
reports of just two fish from folks there for 3 hours already. About 8 we
started getting some topwater action at back right side of Hauser, where
we fished till 2. I had 13 on top at that time, frogs and buzzbaits, one
on d/s (first fish, get stripe off back). Slowly we started getting some
to, Mike landed the first on a frog. Back right corner where a small arm
starts when water is up, lots of cheese there now.
Click photo to enlarge.
I got them pretty good on the new Live Target 3/4 in, and the buzzbait,
even though no wind.
Click photo to enlarge.
After dropping Mike off at 2 p.m. I hit the dam, got a Super Spook bass,
my 13th bass.
After dropping Mike off at 2 p.m. I hit the dam, and
got one on a Super Spook in short order, open water. Two guys were slaying
them on mini-something's sitting in the middle of the floating debris
about 20 yards from the far right corner, large crappie after large
crappie, having a blast.
Click photo to enlarge.
In the far back of Pine I got seven more bass, mostly on the frog, but one
on the buzzer.
I ran across a couple of fishermen steadily getting
them on plastics towards the back of Pine, just past 'Herbert's Honey
Hole', but on the left. Asked how I was doing, said fairly well, but would
be doing even better if I could land some of the buzzbait fish hitting my
lure and using the lures own weight to throw it quickly in many cases (I'd
had three hits and one on in just the past few minutes).
He then said I looked familiar, was I on sdFish? Sometimes, I said, giving
him my name. He said he wanted to thank me, for helping him land his first
frog fish and giving him confidence with the recent article to try it. I'm
so happy for him, he said it's very exciting way to get them. I encouraged
them to get to the end of the arm, it's on down there with all the
'cheese' on top now, either arm actually.
I tried the cove by the docks at 7 pm or so, starting at Pig's Point,
where I usually add 3 or 4 fish on top from that shoreline, but I did not
even get a bump. ;/O tried the Plopper, the buzzbait and the super spook.
That's never happened there, especially at dusk like that, but that's
fishing. A young man that has a screen name on sdFish of Patch Ellis was
killing them below surface with flukes and underspins. I got back to the
dock at 7:39, one minute before deadline mentioned earlier when I'd
dropped Mike off. Nobody was left but her and I.
*Weds., May 24th, Barrett Lake
5:15 a.m. to 7:40 p.m.
Eric Thompson., me 12 all on white Bobby's frog.
Water 72 at first, up to 76 late afternoon, air 87.
Sunny, no wind then some, then strong at 10 a.m..
Eric met me at the house at 4 a.m. He'd not been there since '94 or
so, when it first re-opened after being closed for 30 years, and got on
them good. Got to the lake and loaded up the boat about 5:15 AM. Went
directly to the dam and started getting hits on the frog immediately, they
were hungry, nobody was around. This was the back right corner. Got a few
in a half hour, with some around the intake and to the left of it too.
Tuber came by and tried to force us off that corner.
Eventually we worked our way across the dam and then worked the left
corner for nada. Worked our way back to the right side and fished it for
awhile, picking up one here and there. Eric missed all his blowups, but
did get on to the boat that fell off while lifting it up, I had one do the
same. I had five and he three. Around 9:30 we made a run to Becky's
Cove and worked our way in from the outside, left. Looked so fishy and
lots of bait was hitting the top, but no busters. Got one blow up in far
back, on outside of some cheese, and strong west wind started and was
blowing us around. Worked that area for about an hour and decided to run
to the back of Pine. Pine was wonderful. Plenty of cheese in between lots
of flooded brush. We slowly got one here and there, Eric's was on Senkos
targeting bushes. I got one in open water and realized that might be
a good pattern and sure enough, between flooded brush with no cheese got
me a few more. Some lost at boat, as usual. By 5 o'clock we were ready to
see what the end of Hauser looked like and made a run over there. I had 12
at this time, Eric 6.
Click photo to enlarge.
Water all looks so fishy, flooded brush is wonderful and all held fish.
Middle shot, Becky's Island. Righ, Eric in nice weather near Becky's.
Click photo to enlarge.
Frog bite was on baby!
Click photo to enlarge.
We had double twice. Here we fished the back of Pine for
quite a few frog fish, Eric was getting my 'follow-up' fish.
Pulled into that large cove in the back right which was just beginning to
form with the higher water and fished the bushes just on the outside of a
bunch of cheese. Cheese seemed to be fishless. But the bushes were full of
bass. I lost a couple more big ones. Fished the buzz bait the last 15
minutes and lost one, and got hit by another. That area was definitely the
best we'd fished. At 7 p.m. we headed back, as it's a long run with 10 hp
motors. Got back and unloaded the boat at around 7:40.
*Thurs., May 19th, El Capitan Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer, ('87 Skeeter) w/ Paul O, 6-12, then Eric T.,
12-7:40
Paul 3, 1 Ika, 2 d/s (Trick worm green blk-flake), me one frog.
With Eric, me 2, one frog, one WP, Eric 1
Water 67 at first, up to 75 late afternoon, air 87. Sunny, no wind then
some, then Santa Ana hit very strong till 5, then switched again.
We ran to north end, fished Boulder Bay for an hour for nada. I got
a hit on the Ika, mostly threw top. Went to back start of trees, fished
right side. Paul got his first on an Ika, the second in his lifetime, and
then two more over the next couple of hours on the d/s. A Santa Ana came
up at 8:30 or so and was terrible.
Click photo to enlarge.
Fished the back, north end, trees.
We fished the right side till the water got 'narrow' then back out and
then across to the left side. I got blown up on and also landed one, just
before I ran him back at noon. Thought the winds might shut them down,
not.
Click photo to enlarge.
I got them on the frog and Whpper Popper, med size.
Eric got on at noon, Paul said goodbye and Eric and I ran to Conejos to
try it, as it was protected from the winds back there. I got one on the
frog, and Eric tried it after the spinnerbait, which he got his first on.
We fished the back left side, started about 1/2 way in, and worked back
towards the entrance, then around the point and up the the next point.
Nada on outside of arm so went back in and started working the right side,
working back. Looked great, nada. Finally got the Plopper out for a nice
ally and got smashed by a 4.5 lunker, TUL.
Click photo to enlarge.
End of the day frog fish from the north end shallows/trees, TUL!
Worked it some more, and at 5 noticed the wind changed and was strong from
the west now. Ran to back trees, worked left side, and got one on the
frog. Eric did too, last 10 minutes, and was so excited. Back to dock at
7: 50.
*Mon., May 15th, El Capitan Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer, ('87 Skeeter) solo, 1 bass on buzzbait
Water 67, air 64, overcast, threatening rain the whole time. Super windy
and cold.
3 pm to 7:45
Tough day.. first I arrived at the lake at 11 and realized I'd
forgot the 'Answered Prayers' keys ( or lost them on the way from them
blowing off the back of the boat?) and had a drive all the way back to
Encinitas. Pastor Paul O. was going to join me at noon, got a hold of him
just in time to stop him from leaving home. Couldn't find them anywhere
when I got back to the storage spot -looked all over the ground,
frameshop, etc.. Finally saw someone had put them on a pole nearby - that
was definitely answered prayer!
Click photo to enlarge.
Found an Ika in a tree. The fisherman (oldkayakguy
on SDfish, a Sutherland fisherman usually,
acquaintance of Paul's)
forgot to pick it up after busting
it off and fishing it.
The way he rigged it, the way I did and fished it on
the right.
Better chance for hookup, he reported only 50%, mine 90%
So went for gas and drove back out, started around 3 PM. Water was cold
and got colder by the hour. Two shirts and jacket.
Threw big top water (Punker quite a bit off points, Whopper Plopper (med.)
along shore, frog in back of coves, med. top (S. Spook), sm. Gunfish, drop
shot around small islands, chatter, spinner bait, Ika (that I found in a
tree -thought it was a sign, but no).
Finally had the idea to tie on a
buzz bait (none this year yet, it was overdue to work I thought) and got a
volunteer to get the stripe off my back and the boat . TUL.
Click photo to enlarge.
Saved by the buzzbait
Total of four boats, including me, at launch & only me when I got back to
the dock at 7:50.
*Wed., May 10th, Otay Lake
Water 68
Boat: Frank M's, then mine (Answered Prayer, '87 Skeeter), Joined Frank M.
on his in the morning, then mine (3pm) with Michael P in the afternoon.
Cloudy all day, windy a bit, threatened rain but none
Frank 10 on bass fluke, 'cept one or two on frog.
Me 10 on frog, 2 with Frank, balance with
Michael P.
Up at 5, at lake by 6, Frank there at 6.30. Launched his boat and ran to
back right of Harvey's. (Saw James Nelson with client there). No hit for
first two hours (one swirl), on frogs and flukes.
Click photo to enlarge.
Frank and I, early morning efforts.
Frank
finally got one, frog, at 9:50. I got one shortly there after, far end of
Harvey's, and they really hit hard. Right on the shore. Frank killed them
when we went to Otay arm last hour on his fluke, both outside tulles and
open water, one went over 3. This was first point of first cover past the
rowing docks, headed north.
Michael and I started there
at 3:30, nada on fluke, but slowly got them on frog while teaching him
casting and walking dog. Last two casts got a 3.5 then a 1 pounder. TUL.
*Monday, May 8th, San Vicente
1 bass, med. whopper Plopper, end of day.
Cloudy, almost rainy. Water 68
Approx 8 - 7:45
Met Mike C. at pay booth, had Answered Prayer boat. Ran to left side,
across from Island, North Bay I believe, nada on top. Fished all around
that point, both sides, then to the west side area where Paul and I fished
and did well in the afternoon the week before, for more nada.
Ran to island, fished the west side, d/s and senkos, nada. Fished the
island of the island, nada. Ran to Aqueduct arm, first cove before it, and
got a hit, then saw 10 three pond followers behind my Super Spook, wow.
Really windy at this point, white caps, and Mike left (about 4).
I ran to back of Toll Rd., right side
and worked the last two points and coves before the end and got 1st
Whopper Plopper of the year, a nice 3+ pounder. Saw Jackson with someone
on the back of the boat, figured day, but found out it was his grandpa. He
was getting them on smaller swimbaits it looked like. He had a nice pic
with 5 fish on Facebook.
Worked the dam area last 15 minutes, nada. Left at 7:45.
Click photo to enlarge.
*Wed. May 3rd, Barrett Lake opening day
19 bass, all top, 4 Super Spook, balance on white Bobby's Perfect frog.
Sunny, usual winds, tubed from 8 till 1, boat from 1.30 till 7.
Barrett Lake. Up at 4:50. Left at 5:20 and at lake 6:10.
Jose took my $20. Went in on friends Sean Meisner's tube tic. Arrived at
6:50, noticed a truck almost flipped off road. Fished a few minutes at
dock before prepping to launch tube. Took about half hour and Sean was
reporting a popper bite. He Had 20 by 8, he launched at 5:30.
I kicked across to other side and got one second cast on super spook.
It was shadowed and 8:25, but sun was taking out all the last shadows. Got
another two casts later. Four on the spook by 1 o'clock, lots of blow ups
on the frog.
Click photo to enlarge.
This frog fish went 5# 11 oz., fought like a champ. Borrowed a scale, left
mine at car.
Had lunch at dock at 1:15 or so, and chatted with Laurie.
Got my empty boat at that point (Sean had to go pick up his son), and I
worked my way to the dam (was going to go check out the lake but thought
I'd fish the area first- glad I did) and found a100 x 100' area of THIN
floating wood chips. Perfect for the frog. Got one in short order. Than
another, and another. Get four on the frog in a half hour. Now five on the
frog, now six, at 3 pounds wonderful. 3:08 PM now seven thank you Lord.
Now nine. Back corner of dam Number 11 is 5.11 pounder.
At dusk ran to point across from docks, headed to Hauser, and worked the
med. Plopper, nada. Then ran to Pigs point, chatted with Maximus, tubing,
and then got #14 around the corner headed to the back of the cove at 6:30
PM, got many blow ups on spook, one stuck at 7:10, one min. before Jules
showed up and 5 minutes after a boat closer to the docks left. He was a
bit miffed but the sun was still hitting the mountains so I thought it was
still too early to go back, oh well.
*May 1st, San
Vicente
Boat: Answered Prayer, David Villalobos in the morning, Paul O. in the
afternoon.
Sunny and nice overall, no wind till 9:30.
David and I, 8 hrs, nada. Paul 2 on d/s, me 3 from 14 hits on the Super
Spook (found out it was barbless- OHHH!)
Up at 5 AM to Lake by six met David Villalobos he paid entry fee. Strong
east wind no clouds. Ran to the island fished the small island and the
hump for Nada with big Baits. Worked the bathroom Cove then around to the
left to the north side nada on drop shot or Senkos. Saw lots of 1 pound
wolf packs following the fry balls. Water was 70° started at 68. Went back
to the hump, worked around the hump again, nada. Ran to toll road arm back
right side after hitting the first major point and then the second major
point headed in. Worked the coves in the back where there was some
floating cheese two weeks earlier but the water is dropping now 3 foot
below what it was three weeks ago maybe 4 foot. Ran over to aqueduct arm.
Fish the frog around the top of the flooded brush Nada. Had to
pick up PAUL at 2 o'clock so ran him back and picked up Paul. Eight hours
of getting skunked left me in a wonder. I asked Paul what he suggested and
he knew of a spot across from the island on the left side near where I
fish the opening day. We started in the far back of that Cove and worked
her way back towards the ramp. It was a really nice breeze with choppy
water I felt very comfortable with what could happen. I threw the super
spook. In short order I had one attack the spook close to the boat and it
got off and it's buddy was below it came up and ate it right at the boat.
I didn't even reel it in, just lifted it up-two and a half pounder.
Hundred yards down continuing the super spoke again and a fish nailed and
knocked it for foot to the side, it but missed. I continued working it and
10 yards further it got hit again and taken down but was gone. worked at
some more got hit again fish on landed it another 2 1/2.
We worked further down the shoreline to the point. Must be a good
quarter-mile of coves. probably had 12 hits total, landed three. At one
point Spook got caught in my pants and it came out so easy I realize there
was no Barb on the hooks and that was why I was losing two out of every
three fish. man oh man one was a complete monster that toilet flushed the
lure. We got to the point and turned around and went back but I started
further east work that other Back cove around and fished the area I fished
opening day with Sean and his son. Nada. Paul got two on drop shot fairly
early but nothing after that and tried fishing top water a little but no
luck. Had a miracle when my reading glasses fell off the front of the boat
and got lodged in the wire at the bottom of the trolling motor. TUL. Got
back a little after seven and off the water and out of the lake by 730.
Talk to a man who goes by fisher boy who works the rentals he said he was
getting them on the spook in the launch ramp Cove the night before.
*Thurs. April 27th, San
Vicente
Boat: Answered Prayer, w/ Herbert K. 8 a.m. till 3, then Sean and Ayden
from 3 till 7.
Herbert 4 on d/s, one when 4.5 lbs. I got three on top, Super Spook around
'offshoot island off big island'.
Sean one on d/s, me four, two on Spook, one frog and one Gunfish.
Sunny and nice overall, no wind till late afternoon.
Herbert got 4 on d/s, I got three on top. He left at 2 and I took
Sean and Ayden out till dusk. Sean got one on d/s back of Toll Rd., I got
four on top, two on Spook, one frog (back on right side covers, Toll Rd.
arm), one Gunfish last minute over on Aqueduct arm, 2nd point in.
*Fri. April 21st, San
Vicente
Boat: Answered Prayer, solo 8 am - 7 pm.
9, 2 d/s, 3 Senko, one Gunfish, 3 all white Sammy, lost an 8, Toll Rd.
Sunny and nice overall, no wind till late afternoon
Ran to Kimball arm for last shady bank. Top water Sammy,
whopper popper, no wind, no hits. Ran to island Wendy side facing the ramp
and fished below the giant boulders with drop shot and fly lines Senko.
Thin Watermelon red flake. Thin fly lined Senko's got three pounders, the
d/s 2's. My buddy Tom Cosgrove gave me the Intel. He got 24 on fly lined
cut-tail worms and jerk baits on Monday. Work that area for about three
hours.
It got so hot my shirt got soaked so I took it off. Got up to 90° record
temps.
About 2 o'clock I ran to the back right side of Toll Road arm where I got
seven to weeks ago on the Sammy in the last two hours of the day. I saw
shad hit on the shore and through the Gunfish on it and got a four
pounder. I worked the Sammy towards the end of the arm and got another
four pounder. TUL. Ran across Rob and his son they were fishing frogs and
jerk baits and getting some they reported, coming from the far back after
working the west side. I saw spot that would be good for the frog and got
blown up on but it missed. It's starting to get cheese. Continued working
the Sammy a little further out than the brush and had a really big
explosion, line ran down and a really big came up and jumped -easy eight
pounder but she threw that Sammy instantly, dang. At this point it was
3:30 PM and I had to get to my hair appointment so I got back to the docs
and found Vinny leaving too.
He had reported one earlier before I saw him at 8 AM on a gun fish. Later
I ran into him at the island and I gave him the Intel but he didn't get
anything and ended up with only one for the day. My total was nine almost
10 if the monster hadn't got off.
*Monday April
17th - El Capitan
Overcast Noon to 7 p.m.
Boat: my Skeeter
Me 3, David 1
Met David Villalobos at noon
Fish. One guy just leaving reported zero in the back fished everything.
Two other guys on the boat just leaving reported one for the day. Two guys
at the first comp reports zero for the day.
Click photo to enlarge.
David V. with hir first El Cap bass.
The one older gent in a kayak from SUTHERLAND report
of a couple for the day. We fished first hump for two hours for two.
He half pounder me 1.5, Both on drop shot.
Second hump Nada third humps/Peninsula Nada work
passed there to the next big boulder point Nada ran to Conejos arm. Blow
up on frog in far back. Worked our way out got one on spinner bait 2
pounds towards mouth. Ran back to the island hump and got one on drop shot
2 pounds back to ramp about 15 minutes after sunset Paul and his buddy
fished and got one drink.
*Wed., April 12th - Otay
Sunny 9 am to 7 p.m.
Boat: Answered P
me 6 , Aiden 1, Sean 0
10 am till 7 pm, One on frog in a.m., them from 2 p.m. on.
5 on frog for me, 1 for Aiden. TUL
*Monday April 10th- El Capitan
Sunny 1pm to 7 p.m.
Boat: my alum.
Me 1 at dusk, Paul 9 on d/s
Paul 9 on d/s, cept first on Ika in ramp cove
Me one
on WP at dusk, nice 3+ TUL>
*Wed., April 5th - Otay
Sunny 9 am to 7 p.m.
Boat: Franks Ranger/ Otay 100% FULL
me 2 (+ 1 18lb cat), Frank 6 (all bedfish)
We
met at ramp at 9, and lake looked GREAT, so flooded, up to trees around
lake. We ran to back right of Harvey's, just past cove, fished frogs for
one blow up. Worked our way to far back, nada. Was running and saw James
Nelson just west of the cove and his two clients had 3 on Senkos in
flooded brush. We decided to work it some more, ran a few hundred yards
west, Frank got a blow up, did not stick, on black 'regular' frog. I was
tossing Spro green popper all day.
*Friday March 31st - El Capitan
Sunny 1pm to 7 p.m.
Boat: my alum.
me 2
We m
*Monday, March 27th - El Capitan
Sunny, real windy by 11
10 a.m. till 5.30 p.m.
Boat: Tom C.'s Water 64
Tom C. 10, me 0
Click photo to enlarge.
Tom's 17.5' Bass Tracker
We met at 10 a.m., my boat has bad trolling motor cable. Nice day, and
worked two 'islands on right' now, for nada with about an hour of tossing
brush hogs, WP, etc.. Ran to trees and Tom slowly picked them off near
flooded brush near shore, whereas my offerings were not. Got three blow
ups on the frog in the late afternoon, none stuck. Went to the popper but
too late, should have earlier.
Went to bathroom cove
last hour, 4:30, nada. Tom got one on Senko on deep wall. We worked the
island by the ramp for last 5 minutes, big WP nada. I left for 1st guitar
lesson at NCCC, Tom fished till dark, getting 3 more in 'Chocolate Cove'
(ramp cove).
* Friday March 24th - El Capitan
Sunny 10a.m. to 7 p.m.
Boat: Tom C.'s
W/ Tom C. he 10, me 5
We met at 7 a.m. and
started out fishing the new islands on the right for a couple for
Tom,Worked that area, around the island, and then ran to the back to see
what it looked like.
Click photo to enlarge.
Rattlesnake went swimming by. The flooded brush in the far back will
produce for a year or two, TUL.
Click photo to enlarge.
Tom got the first, 9.25 a.m. off the islands in front of ramp.
Click photo to enlarge.
We ran back after not doing well from the back and I got my first, on a
Crunch Minnow bedfish.
It was wonderful, tons of water back in the trees now, and way back there.
Click photo to enlarge.
My brush hog bass, and my Whopper Plopper one, second of the year for El
Cap.
*Mon.
March 20th
San
Vicente
Boat: Answered Prayer ('83 Skeeter) 10am - 7 pm.
W/ Paul O. Paul 3, d/s, me 2, both Lunker Punker
Clouds came and went, nice overall.
I started at 10 a.m., Paul joined me at noon. I got one on first cast w/
Plunker, after just 3 casts w/ Plopper for nada, just to right of ramp, towards day,
first area left of the rip-rap, in first cove.
Click photo to enlarge.
Fourth cast, 1st on the Punker, FISH ON, TUL.
Nada
after that, worked to aqueduct, then around (as two guys fishing it, found
out later good bite on Ika there) to point at buoy line.
Then across to first point on left towards island, more top, nada. Picked
Paul up, ran to back of Toll Rd,, back right at first, then across to left
as shadows starting to gather, nada for me, Paul got them on d/s.
Click photo to enlarge.
Paul' success was on d/s.
We fished all the way down to point at Aqueduct arm, around and into it,
and found two teens fishing a bed. One reported winning second place on
Sat. with 20# at the dam aqueduct w/ ika's!
Ran to back
of cove, found it now goes way back due to higher water, and worked back
to aqueduct itself.
Click photo to enlarge.
Ready for war- whopper plopper.
Click photo to enlarge.
In far back of Aqueduct arm, beauty in back cove.
Then ran to other
aqueduct by dam,
and I got a nice 3+ on Punker first cast at point to it's left, close to
where I got one three weeks earlier at dusk on same bait, cool!
Click photo to enlarge.
Final bass caught where I started, over by the dam aqueduct, same lure
too.
*Mon.-Thur., March 13th-16th,
California Delta *Mon. March 13th
Boat: Alum.
Solo, launched out of Paradise, $15
3, one on white/chart. spinner, and two on bright orange spinnerbaits.
Just
got here after teaching a Photo class in Carmel for three days. The report
is slow but it's a beautiful day. 75 and water 62.
Click photo to enlarge.
Real stained water from the floods/rains of Feb./March. This is at
Paradise Marina area.
Very stained and higher
than normal from all the water coming in from the river is up in the
mountains my buddy, Mike M., got a seven and an 8 1/2 here last week along
with a few others in one day so High-hope's. Three out of four boats
reported only two fish each as they left at 2 o'clock, saying they fished
all day, two guys in a boat, so not good report. One reported solo, two
fish since noon, on BlkBlue Chatterbait.
I started just
to the left side of the ramp,
Click photo to enlarge.
Got them on the spinnerbait and the chatterbait (Zman brand)
The bridge in the top shot
made the bottom shot possible!
1st of four days - I only ended with three total, spinnerbaits. Threw a
lot of big baits on top, odds were slim but that's OK. Going out all day
tomorrow with a buddy that lives up there. So Beautiful here, hundreds of
miles of waterways filled with aggressive bass!
Click photo to enlarge.
The florescent orange spinnerbait looked to be a good choice, got two on
it.
Click photo to enlarge.
The shadows from the bridge on the tulle island was interesting.
*Tuesday, March 14th (Delta Con't.)
Boat: Mike M. Ranger 7a.m. till 8 p.m..
Launched out of Tower Park, $15 reg., $10 'regular/good guy discount'
Sunny, pretty warm day and zero wind (15 minutes total) for the most part.
Mike 10, me 5
Got out after a breakfast at Denny's, 7 a.m.. Ran to
Sycamore Slough after a 'nada' stop at 'tractor cove', but we
got zippo in three hours of trying. The low tide never moved out, as water
coming in from rains replaced it, so it was like slack tide for hours.
Suggested we run to 'main river', and we got on them over by the bridge,
just to it's right in some shallows, as in one 7 and one 8 by Mike on
white chatters.
Click photo to enlarge.
Ran back to the bridge area by Tower Park, and started to get 'em guud!
1:52 p.m..
Click photo to enlarge.
I got more on the spinnerbait too. Caught one at 4:40 and another at 6.06
p.m..
After an hour or two along that side we ran to other side of marina, and
worked some tulle islands with deeper water for a couple. Ran to 'three
islands' were we got another limit, TUL. Then at dusk ran to my
other favorite tulle island back towards the marina, just past a no wake
zone and dock, which heads towards Paradise. Got a nice one on a
spinnerbait off a bank.
Zero top water, not that I did not try, probably about 10-15% of
casts were with a WP or LP.
*Wednesday, March 15th
(Delta Con't.)
Boat: Mike M. Ranger
Launched out of Paradise
Cold, windy, then real windy at Frank's Tract
Mike 6, me 3
Today.
Click photo to enlarge.
Mike working the jig. 9.40 a.m..
Click photo to enlarge.
Not the numbers for me today, but size was nice for both of us.
Click photo to enlarge.
Day two of us going out together on Mike boat he killed them in size this
day, getting a 9, an 8 and a 7
and 2 sixes (both lost in back to back casts end of day)
*Thursday, March 16th
(Delta Con't.)
Boat: my aluminum
Launched out of Paradise Marina
Me solo- 3
Said goodbye to Mike M. and his wife, nice
enough to let me hang at their home for three nights. Today I went from
about 7 a.m. till 1 p.m., as I had to drive back.
Click photo to enlarge.
Last day I launched out of Paradise Marina again.
Today I worked all around the left slough as you leave the ramp at the
marina. I worked the areas the night before we slayed them at, but of
course, not being evening, the bite was not on fire like it was. I slowly
got a few, mostly on chatterbaits in the tulles.
Sunny
75 high, water
59.5
7 a.m. till 6:30 p.m..
Boat: Tom Cosgrove's aluminum
(NOTE: first time fishing w/ Tom since college days- in the Sierras or
deep sea).
Tom 0, Me 1
We met at 7 a.m. and started out
fishing the new islands on the right for nada, then headed to the dam and
fished the left side, Tom has done well there. Nada. We worked from the
buoy line back to the boulder point, me big WP baits and he cranks and
plastics. We ran across and fished the sunken boulders, water way up now
covering them completely. Nada. Went towards island and ran across two
guys reporting getting them on spinnerbaits, but we did not really try
them. Worked that area, around the island, and then ran to the back to see
what it looked like.
It was wonderful, tons of water
back in the trees now, and way back there. We stayed to the right, went as
far back as we could (water still coming in from rains, it was to rise 5'
or more in the following week).
Lots of carp sex going
on, 20 and 30 pounders on each other on the shore. Tom said he was going
to buy a bow and come back for them (which he did).
We
got nothing back there though, with the water dropping down the further
back we went, temp wise.
As we had ran across two guys
mid-day and they were throwing the spinner, and reported getting some, I
realized I should have thrown it earlier. Remembering that I put one on
and about the second or third cast after tying it on I got our first, and
last, bass.
Click photo to enlarge.
Got the stripe off the boat, and myself, with a KVD white/chart
spinnerbait.
We ran back to the points/islands in front of the ramp
and I finally realized the guys had mentioned Towards dusk ran Tom around
to my fav. points and he threw my WP but nada.
*Thursday, March 2nd,
San Vicente Reservoir Sunny w/
clouds water
59.5, 56 in stained back.
10 a.m. till dusk 6.30 Boat: Skeeter 3 fish (1 crappie, two
bass)
Ran to far right back end in the
a.m., but it was so stained, and cold, nobody was on them. After an hour I
want over to the honey hole from opening day, across from the island, but
further back in the cove. It's higher than ever from the rains.
Caught one bass and a nice crappie on a spinnerbait there, in
muddy water.
Click photo to enlarge.
Kept getting hit on my spinnerbait and found it to be crappie. Got a nice
bass on a Crunch Minnow too.
Solo, nice Punker fish at dusk,
Click photo to enlarge.
Best bass came at dusk, on a Lunker Punker over by the dam aqueduct.
*Fri.,
Feb. 24th, El Capitan Reservoir
Sunny, cold w/ cold winds, 68 high, water
59.5
11 a.m. till 5:30 p.m..
Boat: Skeeter
With Paul O., Paul 12, me 3 (all top, two on poppers
early, one on med. WP late, off 3rd point on right)
We launched after loading up on ramp and were fishing
by 11 a.m.. Started on the first point, and got on them right away once I
put on a small white/chart popper. Had blow ups on the frog, nice ones,
but they did not stick.
Had two and Paul did not get one till we hit the second main point on
right headed out of launch ramp cove. He continued to hammer them on the
d/s, on Morning Dawn robos, then even more on watermelon blk flake trick
worms, leader only 4". I had a couple of hits on the d/s, but went back to
the popper and WP in short order
Paul's first bass of 2017
We worked our way around the shore, replicating my
trail from Tuesday, and I got a nice 4 pounder on the '3rd point', in
shallow water between the brush and shore. My phone was dead so no pic. We
worked our way around and all the way to 4th point, the boulder one, nada,
then ran across to the island where I fished both points for the first
time this year. Looked great, but nada. Was past sunset so we ran back,
fun day.
*Tues.,
Feb. 21st, El Capitan Reservoir
Sunny, slight winds, 70 high, water 61.5
1 p.m. till 5:40 p.m..
Boat: Skeeter
Solo, 2 (4 blow ups on the med. WP, one stuck, one
followed up w/ Senko landed also)
Been under the weather, so no fishing in past month.
Tuber reported getting 5, all on shiners in 20' of water or deeper. None
on live crawdads. Met Mike (bassRunner115 on SD fish), he reported zippo
all day -tossed spinnerbaits and plastics in shallows, he heard, as I did,
that Rob (Linebig) reported he and son got on them on blades and jigs.
Click photo to enlarge.
Mike's boat.
Tossed big baits (LP and WP) all around launch ramp
cove, nada. Water way up since last fished it. Worked my way to the back,
then around and to point, probably a little over an hour to get to that
first main point on right. Old high school fishing
buddy Tom Cosgrove came by, said he'd not been out since Nov., reported 3
fish landed, 2 on CR, and one on fly lined Senko in 20' of water on second
main point, in the early a.m., then nada after that. He mentioned he saw
where I was planning on going to Mexico, he said he went a few years back
with 5 others (two had passed away since then) and he got the biggest at
only 6.5 lbs. Was w/ Anglers, said food was great, fished 3.5 days, ran
$2K.
As he motored away, and after tossing the
lizard for 1/2 hour as we chatted, I saw the shore looked great and tossed
the med. WP and got a nice 3+, was 5' off shore, in about 5' of water.
Click photo to enlarge. With and w/o lure, then Senko bass
Landed two, not bad. Both on the WP, med., but one was caught on the Senko
follow up lure.
Worked further down into cove, then to the second
point, then around and back into those two coves. Had another blow up on
the WP, then worked around to the third point, nada. Worked towards the
largest, and fourth point, and got blown up on tossing in the 'corner' in
shallow water behind a lot of sunken brush, then followed up with a Senko
and got a nice 3 pounder, fought thru the brush. Had 15 more minutes
as sun had set, got another nice blow up. Got off water at 5:40.
Click photo to enlarge.
The flooded brush will fish real nice when the water warms up a bit
more, but it did ok already.
*Tues
Feb. 7th, Murrieta Hot Springs
Sunny, 70 high..
1 p.m. till 5:30 p.m..
Mike C. and I
First time there this
year. Mike C. drove down and met me, I'd gone to Metalography to get a
60x30" print made.
I got one, and Mike got 4 or 5, with a 'biggest' of a pound or so.
*Thursday, Jan. 26th, San Vicente Reservoir
Cloudy, windy, rainy. 50 high..
7:30 a.m. till 3:25 p.m..
Boat: Friend Frank M.
Frank 0, me 1 (4.8 on TR GrnPump lizard, 9 am back
in Kimball').
I tossed big baits (LP and WP) about 80% of the day.
First time with Frank, we met at Otay two weeks
earlier. He was 'pre-fishing'. Met him at the pay booth, I paid, he had
the boat. Was going to be clear but super cold, and the first run, to
Kimball's, was brutal. We started on the back left side a couple of
hundred yards from the end, then into the end, the back out headed east,
to the point. Nada for the first hour, then I got a nice 4 1/2 on a Texas
rigged green pumpkin lizard, with 1/4 oz bullet and glass bead. on the
bend there.
Click photo to enlarge.
I got the strip off my back, and the boat, with this nice model.
We worked some more east, towards the new buoy line that closes off the
stream, then ran across the cove to the big tree, and worked towards the
south. Nada. Worked to the main point back there, then ran to a spot a few
hundred yards, back to the main buoy line of the cove. Was warming up. Ran
across the the far south, to the right of the last arm, Barona, and worked
a little island, new area for me. Nada, but looked great. Live shad
fishermen reported only 4 so far, and it was 10, so not good. One other
boat had reported one on a Senko, tossing towards shore.
Then we ran towards North Bay, where we'd done well
opening day, but started to the east of it, nada. Then over to the spot
I'd worked open day, but nada. Then we ran to Toll Road Arm, back right
side, then to back left. Frank usually does well there. Nada. Before
leaving he wanted to run and find his partner, for tourneys, they were to
fish that Sat.. He'd got four, mostly on Senko in deep water, using a nail
weight. That pattern did not hold for tourney day, but then again,
hundreds of boats were in the Angler's Marine, boat customers only
tourney. Frank said they got one keeper.
NOTE: Frank said he'd like to night fish
tourney with me, his partner does not like them. Frank said he'd done well
the past couple of years with a different buddy. Cool, TUL. But it's
like $125 each!
*Wed.,
Jan. 18th, Otay Lake
Sunny, 55 at launch, water 57.
7 a.m. till 4:40 p.m..
Boat: 18', '87 Skeeter: 'Answered Prayer'
Solo, 0
Hit the lake at 7:30 a.m., and met a gentleman named Frank Martinez. He
remembered meeting me a few years back he said, but only remembered me
having the alum. boat. We exchanged numbers, to get/give info on the bite
during the day. I started in Bushlow cove, big top, for nada, then out of
the cove and all the way to the bathroom, nada. Then ran to back right of
Harvey's, before last cove, working top, but nada after 1/2 hour.
Click photo to enlarge.
My new friend Frank Martinez. We would fish together a couple of
weeks later, at San V.
Ran into Frank as I worked towards cove, he had two already, from end of
Harvey's on d/s. We chatted for about 1/2 hour, both working the shallows
(6-15'), he inside, me out. He got two dinks on d/s, me nada, on plastics.
Frank ran to Otay arm, to try back area, I worked down to the cove, around
the entrance, then down to far end, ran into JJ. He had four at that
point, all d/s, two from the cove entrance, and two the far back. It was
about 10. Worked the whole area, top and plastics, nada. Worked way out
all the way to 'Rob's honey hole', nada.
Click photo to enlarge.
Came across this interesting collection of lures on a tree back at
the end of Otay arm.
Made a run to the back of Otay arm to see how Frank was doing. He had
added a couple of more dinks so he was up to 6 or so. I kept up the
plastics, he left (it was about 2 or so), and I worked down to the far
end, tossing big bait over 8' of water. Nada. Worked across, and then up
along the east shore, to about the first major cove, nada. Ran to Rob's
honey hole to try and salvage the skunk situation the last 1/2 hour but it
was not to be. Oh well.
*Wed.,
Jan. 11th, Otay Lake
Cloudy, rainy, 55 at launch, water 57.
6:30 a.m. till 4:40 p.m..
Boat: 18', '87 Skeeter: 'Answered Prayer'
Solo, 3 (all on Whopper Plopper, starting at 11)
Click photo to enlarge.
Recording my last day before getting old (turning 65, officially a
'senior citizen'). TUL
"Click photo to enlarge.
Z-Man Weedless Finesse ShroomZ Ned Rig Jig Head Green Pumpkin 1/5oz.
Was supposed to rain all day, but only sprinkled all
morning (rained on the way there, sometimes heavy), and rained in the
afternoon, on and off. Ran back to the honey hole Rob showed me the week
before, and fished it for about an hour with only one hit, which I broke
off (on my large TR brush hog). Weedless Z-man'Ned rig' jig head, with 3"
TRD Z-man worm, did not get bit.
Click photo to enlarge.
Dramatic light/clouds all day, due to the storm.
Ran across, and to the right, of the cove directly
across and threw the med. Whopper Plopper (about 6"), and had on blow up
along the tulle edge. Worked it into the cove, and down to the end, nada
more on blow ups. Worked the end, right side, and then middle, but not
back in the shallowest area, that was a mistake, as later I found them
hitting in 4' to 8'.
Ran back to the first area, trying my luck with
plastics again, maybe it 'loaded up, but nada.
Click photo to enlarge.
This was the fist on top, hitting the Whopper Plopper.
Just before I left, I tossed the Whopper Plopper and
got my first one, from above 'the wall', in the shallower area. So I
started working it on that side, heading west, and got to the large cove
close to the hwy, but nada, worked it a bit further west, and realized
that side has never worked well.
Ran to the floating bathroom back near the launch ramp
and then back to the right side of Harvey's, about a 1/3 of the way in,
and the rain started up. So did the bite, and got an explosion and then a
bass, in the shallower areas of little cuts.
Click photo to enlarge.
This one hit on the lure landing.
Then I got another a half hour later, on the 'landing'
of it. Worked back into the large cove, but did not better than the first
time. This time spent about an hour working plastics on the entry area,
and along the deep drop off west of the opening, where it's 14' deep just
10' off the tulles.
Click photo to enlarge.
The back of Harvey's. left side looking east, the right one looking
west.
Nada on plastics, amazing, as it' worked so
good a week ago. Thur the Lunker Punker there then, and then worked my way
to the back, second time, with the WP again. Same results. This time
worked all the shallow area, in the middle, and back left side, nada.
*Wed.,
Jan. 4th, Otay Lake
Cloudy, 62.
6:30 a.m. till 4:25 p.m..
Boat: Friend Rob's '97 Stratos
Rob 14, me 6 (all on plastics)
Second time joining Rob, went two days earlier with him
to San V. (next report down). I got there at 6:25 for our 6:30 meet time.
He ran a little late, but we were launched and fishing by 7. Started on a
honey hole of his 3/4th of the way back in Harvey's, left side, where an
underwater rock wall is. We got a few in about 2 hours of moving around
the area (about 60 yards long), and about 10' deep average. The Neko rig
was rig of choice. I'd not thrown it, and Rob gave me one, with a dark
gray/green 3" Senko looking worm.. I got them on that and my larger TR
hooked brush hog. Lost as many as I landed, with one bending the Neko hook
out a bit.
We ran to the cove directly across, and found Jim L.
working it, he had 4 already on d/s. He went to 'our spot' later, and got
two more he said. We got a couple there, in about an hour of working. We
ran a little west, to work another area on that same side, and his
steering cable locked up, we could not go right. We got quite a few more,
me on the brush hog, and then the Neko rig. We went back to the first spot
before heading home.
*Monday, Jan. 2nd, San Vicente Reservoir
Cloudy, 62.
6:30 a.m. till 4:25 p.m..
Boat: Friend Rob's '97 Stratos
Rob 3, me 1 (5# on Lunker Punker, early morn.)
First time joining Rob, saw him and his son Trevor many
times on local lakes, and read all his extensive reports over on
SDfish.com. I'd not been out since mid-October, shooting in Italy and
then too busy producing the new Hawaii series to get out. We met at the
line, he was in the second one at 5:50, and I loaded up his boat with my
gear. They started to let folks in around 6:20 or so. Rain was predicted,
about 40% chance, but it never showed, only over cast w/ sprinkles once in
a while. I have a cold, cough fading fast (thanks to NCCC men's group for
praying for a fast recovery last week, never been faster! TUL).
Click photo to enlarge.
The Lunker Punker did the magic, about 15 minutes into the morning
in the far back shore.
We headed to the back 'wall', and I got one 15' into the morning, we both
were throwing top, he a slow sink three piece number, me, my old stand by,
original 6" wood Lunker Punker. Was about a 5, and I surfed him in on my
new Calcutta spooled w/ 80# Power Pro braid line. We ran back and forth on the wall, with Rob
throwing a variety of plastics, me with the Punker and Plopper. We went to
the far back of the cove back there, with two boats now coming into the
area. We fished it for nada, but saw quite a few
We worked out way back out, to the point and around it. Two other boats
reported zippo, with three hours or so having gone by now. I'd
rigged up some plastics, and mixed it up. We ran into Kimball, but too
many folks were there, so we ran toward the island and ended up near my
opening day opening hole point, but stopped at the wall before getting
there, and worked it. Saw a couple of busters, nada there. We worked it
for about a 1/2 hour, nade.
Click photo to enlarge.
Far back of Kimball arm.
We ran back to our first wall, since I'd got one there, and he gets them
there usually, plus he'd seen a couple. But nada again. We trolling
motored back to the point near the cove, and worked our way back in, and
Rob got his first, on a creature made by BPS, watermelon, looked like a
small brush hog. We worked out way back out and back tot the point,
at that point I asked what time he thought it was. He guess 11 (we had not
checked since 6) and I guessed 12:30. He checked, it was 12:20!
We ran again to the far back of Kimball arm, now it was pretty barren, 'cept
for two aluminums on the buoy line, as most folks had left. I worked the
WP, and he the slow top swimbait again, then plastics. Nada. We worked the
shore back towards the point, more nada. With the lack of rain, we figured
the conditions would be considered post-frontal, the most brutal for
fishing, it had to be.
Click photo to enlarge.
Rob's last one was his biggest, coming on a TR worm in 40' in the
back of Toll Road Arm.
We ran to Toll Road arm, back near the launch ramp area, and worked the
last cove back on the right. Saw some swimming around, no takers. We ran
to the back of the arm, a 20 second run, and he got a nice one to finish
th day, about a four pounder, on a TR black worm.
Michael Seewald
Galleries
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1555 Camino Del
Mar, Ste. 312, Del Mar, California, 92014 USA
Phone: 858.793.3444
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Friday and Saturdays till 10 p.m..
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