|
Seewald at Clear Lake, CA., 7-'08. Click to enlarge.
Michael Seewald's
fishing adventures for
the second half of 2009.
Have you visited this page
before?
Then you should then re-fresh your browser to see
the newest reports, otherwise the 'catch', which is a memorization of the page
from a previous visit, may not show updated reports.
July 1st thru Dec. 31st, 2009
From the most recent to the oldest.
12.23.'09
Discovery Lake
4:30-5:30 pm / water 55 degrees/ sunny.
As I'd broke off my brand
new Black Dog 'Shellcracker', in RedEar pattern lure, valued at about $55
back in the tulles the night before, I went back with my waders so I could
go out and rescue/recover it back. Got there just at dusk and it
took quite some time of fighting through, and semi-climbing over, the
tulles to get close enough to extend the frog rod to it. While doing
this a voice boomed at me from shore asking if I needed help. "Nope", I
replied, "just tyring to get a $50 lure back".
"Ok, just wanted to make sure
you were ok, I saw all the tulles moving and nobody near these other poles
over here."
I finally finagled the hook
onto the pole and pulled it to me, tearing it off the embedded tulle.
Whew, that was a lot of work and some of the water had made it over the
tops of the wader and into my clothing, was fairly soaked around the
waste, jacket, shirt, pants and underwear, but I had my new lure back.
12.23.'09
San Diego Bay, sunny and a bit chilly.
Paul and I - 1 sand bass each.
Pastor Paul Owens took be out
for some saltwater action, which there wasn't much of. He said the lack of
tidal swing, only one foot, would keep the fish in a non-eating mood. We
met at Point Loma launch ramp at 8:15 and went to Zuniga Point at the
entrance to the bay and drifted under clear but cool skies, no wind.
I got one fairly quick, a sand bass of about 1 lb, 12 or so inches, on a
d/s rigged with a white and silver flake fluke. Depth was 45 foot, about
as deep as the channel gets.
Paul got one, a 14", an hour
later on a spinnerbait in a little shallower water after losing one on the
same bait, about 30 feet with grasses close by. Wind started to pick up at
about 10.
Around 12:30 we went back to
the 'giant black hot dogs' (the protective floating buoys that are the
size of small ships, about 10' high and 25 yards long each), around one of
the ships across from downtown about three miles back and toward Coronado
bridge for nada. Worked closer to the bridge after a long drift and tried
the 'flats' we found there. Then between the boats and the bridge
just under the bridge fo the final 1/2 hour, heading back in at 2.
12.22.'09
Discovery Lake
4:00-6:00 pm / Stormy, rained earlier in a.m.. / Water 55 degrees
Fished my honey hole first and
lost my new Lunker Punker 'Shellcracker' lure on the second cast. Threw
the frog around there after that but the water having rose three feet in
the last week left a very little opening between the tulles to work, and
not having the waders left me in a quandary on getting my lure, or working
that area like I'm used to.
Went to the drain pipe and
threw the frog, trying to get that December top water action that would be
half a miracle to get. Nada in an half hour of trying. Went to the mound
near it and tried it from there till dark, another 15 minutes of nada.
Went to the dam and me Joe, a cement man that's out of work. He fishes for
bluegill and then for bass with with. He'd no luck on the bluegills-
good! I tossed Kermit, black Spro popper, near tulles and worked it slow
for a hit, YAHOO, but she did not keep it and I missed the hookset, may
have been a small one. Whatever it was just slurped it without any
splashing of the surface what so ever.
12.18.'09
Diamond Valley Lake
11:30am - 3:30pm
Josh K. 5, me 0
Josh K. (itz)
put an invite out on one of the online 'fish boards' and I took him up on it
yesterday. Had a slight delay getting to the lake as at 8:45 I broke down
in Murrieta getting there. First thought it was lack of gas, but AAA put
some in and still no worky
 .
Off to repair shop, now at mercy of folks I did not know. Repair shop AAA
suggested and took me to, Express Auto. said "blown fuel pump located in
the gas tank itself... that'll be $850! "WHAT? Almost said OK, let's do it
when a small voice said 'better call around real quick and see if you can
get that price down', so I did real quick before unloading it off tow
truck. I found Big-O only wanted $350, and it was just a block away, Thank
U Lord! 
But the best news was that I'd heard the recording on the phone, while I
was on hold, that they had a shuttle service for folks. So I said
"please take me to DVL, pronto after finishing the paper work (had lost
about two hours overall already  ),
and they did, TUL!
So 1/2 hour later met Josh at the ramp and, after introductions as
we'd never officially met before, we were off. He'd been trying to get
them deep he said, a new pattern he's concentrating on for the next few
months, going to get the bigger ones overall, good idea I thought, but 65
FEET, E-gads man!
 .
He said, yeah, I know, and last time we did not have needles, now we do,
they float if you don't deflate them and die on release.
But I tossed the Punker to the shallows as deep is not all that far from
shore there. After trying a couple of spots, with me trying a frog here
and there (looks great with all that new flooded brush everywhere) and
some plastics up near shore. Josh started getting into them at drop offs
near shore just past off the flooded brush.
I can't believe how time flew, from 11:30 till 3:30 took about an hour.
The light was getting nice and the weather was absolutely beautiful all
day, Josh fishing in a t-shirt and me hot in a long sleeve heavy cotton-
thought I'd need it, wrong.
We never got
any waves, usually get those big ones, heavy chop at least, starting at
11, but it was as calm as heck all day. Even Josh said he'd not seen it
that way too much before. Water was 61 on top, and the worm of choice was
a 10" light purple TR. I could have borrowed Josh's bait, but kept trying
to find out what else might work as we knew there were there and hungry
with him getting so many the last hour and a half there in one area.
Josh's best went about 3.5, others about 2# clones (semi-dinks for there),
one was a real dink.
12.6.'09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
3-5 pm / water 58 / one blow up frog.
From 3 till 5:30, one blow up on frog on left 'point' by tulles at
honey hole. L. Punker for nada 1/2 hour (cast into tulles on right and had
to wade way over to it to get it off- got a bit wet as waders went under
in a couple of spots a dash). 58 degree water, overcast, pre-storm.
12.1.'09
Jack's Pond/
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
3-6 p.m. Mike C. w/ video camera.
Zippo
We went to Jack's pond, first time for me, second for Mike. No hits on
frogs or basstrix small sb (me) or frogs/ spooks/ underspin Mike.
We went to Discovery by 4:15 and I tried for the four pounder over
large tulles. No go. We both worked till 6 w/ moon, no hits, I left him
still fishing.
11.27.'09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
3-5:00 p.m. Mike C. w/ video camera.
One blow up frog.
I worked the 'drain pipe' for an hour as a large, balding,
'bass-a-holic' guy and his girl (watching) was on the honey hole. Nada.
Saw him leave and tried it for nada, Punker and frog. Mike showed at 4 and
filmed me from the pipe throwing the Punker. Went and tried for the four
pounder over large tulles. Mike was filming and sure enough, she hit but
missed hookset. Said he got footage to some degree. Worked till 5 w/ moon,
no hits.
11.25.'09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Solo- 1 on frog 5#2oz
Water cold, about 59 or 60.
Day after getting back from Italy, had
the itch to fight 'a big one'. Worked the honey hole for nada, mostly L.
Punker, then the frog. Directly across, little to the left, got
slammed by a biggie that fought well on the Spro popper. Ended up
being 5#2oz, TUL.
Got a shot of it
w/ date for RA big bass tourney entry.
11.4-24.'09 Italy- Abruzzo.
Not much fishing but some at ponds on
farms. No hits for two days, 5 hours per day at first pond. Saw one
small bass.
Three days before leaving found pond
with 8" clones. Got hit on Senko fished sub-surface so threw my 'home made
frog' (cork cut in third and twin tailed hula grub with 3/0 WG hook) and
got two the first evening. Water about 56 degrees, air about that or
cooler, very cold nights. Six the next day over a two to three hour
period.
11.2.'09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
Solo 1- 4# on Frog
Well, went back to where that 4 or 5'er slammed my frog last week. This
is the spot with the tulles 20' high and 40' thick in front of me. I was
on a cliff overlooking the pond and again, knew I'd have a heck of a
struggle to get any decent size bass up and over this barricade. Last
night I went at dark, she was not hungry. Thought as I'm off to Italy in
the a.m. this could be my last chance to see just how big she might have
been... if I hooked into her and IF I got her 'in'. In a few weeks when I
get back the frog bite could cool down more than the water!
Tonight I was there at twilight, an hour earlier- told Mike C. to bring
his camera, mine had bit the dust from falling into the bottom of the boat
while on the tripod (self portraits) too many times lately. I had a good
idea it would be needed. He was not there yet. First cast, perfect, worked
it by the point/brush that she was at last week. Nada. Second cast, a
little further out, nada. Third further yet, about 20 yards out and pop, pop SLAMMO,
attacked from further out still.
Darn, she must have missed it, the frog seemed about a foot closer than
the explosion, but as I was working it peeking through the tulles I was
not sure. Did not see the frog and thought HECK, she might have got it
and reeled like a son of a gun, all the while noticing that as the line was now
tightening it was shore/tulle bound. Felt weight and laid into her, a biggie
for sure. The fight was on, the head on the surface thrashing, the fish
semi-skiing in on 80# braid. Now the test, could I get her over this
barricade of tulles?
I
got her to it and started hoisting. She got stuck at about 15' high, with
the tulles criss-crossed in a tangle stopping further progress. Darn. OK,
now take your time... I dropped the fish a foot and hefted her up and
through a batch with all my might. Now she was stuck 1/2 way through but
closer to me. I know the Quantum frog rod was lucky to be in one piece
still, it had bent like a mother on that pull. Now I took the line and
quickly wrapped it around my wrist/hand and pulled her the rest of the way
up. YAHOO, 'boated her'.
Got
the scale out- exactly 4-0. Went to get my cell phone but realized it was
back in the car. Oh well. Friend shows up 5 minutes later. "Get that
four" he called out from somewhere on the other side of the bushes. "Yep,
and she was exactly four", saying it knowing he may disbelieve me. You
see, the biggest bass he's ever seen here is a two, and not many of those!
11.1.'09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
Got there at 5:45,
pretty much dark out, with the change of time by one hour to boot.
Nada on the fro or swimmie. Started out on 'the island', for 'her'. See
above. One hit at about 7:30 on the swimmie at the honey hole, left then.
10.27.'09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
Overcast and cool.
Solo -0
At 4:30 pm I take the frog, small
swimbait and
large swimbait rods to the 'drain pipe' opening w/ the waders on.
Overcast, and looking good, but amazingly no hits on any of the offerings,
UNTIL I went on the 'island' and tossed over a 20x20' tulle and brush berm
(God help me if I hook into one) when what looked to be a 5 or 6 pounder went half airborne
to eat the frog. Many more casts for nada, BUT I know where she
lives!
Worked the area some more, tulles
pressed down by others allowed new waters to be reached, not helping but
will in future. Went and worked the dam after dark (6:30) for one blow up
fishing it parallel till 7:30.
10.26.'09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
Sunny and warm.
Solo -4
At 5:00 pm I take the frog rod and
swimbait rod to the honey hole w/ the waders on. Long shadows darken
the area, but still too early, nada for about a half hour, no hits. Then,
in short order one on the frog
rod, a 2-12, NICE. A little later a 2, then a 2-4 and after going
over to the pipe at about 6:15 on at 1#. Couple of hits in the dark on the
frog, nada on the Punker. Left at about 7. Mike C. had been there on
arrival but nowhere to be seen on my way out. He'd got one on a fluke on
the docks at dusk he reported later.
10.19-21.'09
California Delta
Day one w/ Mike
Mike 4, me 0
Major winter storm cooled down water by 7 degrees in one week. Rained most
of the day, but temp was nice, 60 in am, 65 by noon.
Wow, first day skunked with new acquaintance Mike (Medfish on Westernbass)
whom volunteered to take me out on his new Champion (but four years old).
Fished from 7:30 till 6 pm, mostly around Frank's tract and Sandmound
slough. Mike got two on the heavier red Speed Trap crankbait (one two
pounder and one 1), and two on the white spinnerbait (dinks) but got
another bass of the striper variety on it (two pounds). I got three blow
ups on the frog (Spro green popper), none of size as none stuck. Threw
that and the Punker all day, go big or go home!
Day two:
Derek 0, me 1
Fished all day today with friend from up here named Derek. He is a
semi-pro I'd say, he wouldn't! We only got one all day, but she was a nice
one, Punker fish at about 8:30 am, fished till 4, no other bites. Weighed
8-14 to 9-6 on the scale, settled for 8-14 for the big bass tourney, don't
know if the pose was caught I made on the first photo, asked Derek not to
erase it, he probably thought it was a real bad photo with my mouth
stretched so tight like I had to go real bad, if you know what I mean.
Click photos to enlarge.
But second day produced this when I fished with semi-pro Derek Rowan
out of his yellow Triton, (sweet boat, 2007).
Day Three.
Derek 1, me 1
Met Derek for a shot at the 'south' this time. We headed out of
Orowood launch ramp at 7:30, through a little fog a first, and went
directly to 'Widdow's', taking about 10 minutes at full run speed.
As it was high tide it was a good call, the weeds were not too bad -some
reached the surface from 7-8 foot below but we could throw top, which we
did... for nada. Fished it for about an hour, around the edges and a
lot of the middle, about a third of the way in and back to the entrance
(300 yards long, 150 wide). .
We then worked south along Old River Slough to 'trailer park cove' I'll
call it. Derek was now throwing a light blue Basstrix 5" with
chartreuse maker painted sides, along with a 6/0 WG center weighted hook
and got nailed by a nice 9-1 lunker just 30 seconds after saying 'a 9
lives back in there' pointing to the back area of the cove (about 100
yards long by 50 wide- 6-7' deep at high tide, we were half way back).
Click photo to enlarge.
Derek Rowan with his 9-1 lunker.
We then continued south to Coney Island slough (right side of Coney
Island) where I finally got a frog fish of about 1.5 lbs on a black/yellow
Spro popper. We tossed frogs after that until 11:30 and then headed
back. Left the ramp by noon for the 9 hour trip home after a quick
stop in Byron at the Taco shop next to the Valero Gas station (took 10 as
a 1 hour nap needed 1/2 way back).
Oh, gassed up at Costco and almost made it all the way to the Costco in
Carlsbad in the wife's old Mercedes, only had to get one gallon in
Capistrano to guarantee making it.
10.14.09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
Solo -4
At 4:30 pm I take the frog rod and
swimbait rod to the honey hole w/ the waders on. Within short order one on the frog
rod, about 2-5.
Click photo to enlarge.
The first one, Spro popper frog bait bait still in his mouth.
Within an hour I've got two more, both 2's. Toss to the right and
pop hard, a giant explosion nets me a 4.5 pound beauty, a PB for the lake.
Finished at 6:30, dark. Never tossed the Punker and only missed about
three other hits, good times plus!
  
Click photos to enlarge.
A 4-6 bucketmouth. Last pic was for a contest
where a funny facial pose was required.
10.12.09
Discovery Lake, San Marcos
So I take the frog
rod, and the swimbait rod out for some exercise this afternoon. I know of
this lake/pond open to the public. It's more of a lake as I can't quite
cast across it in one spot, otherwise I can in most places. Get there at
3 and get a blowup after 15 minutes on my green Spro popper frog, miss it.
Dink. Throw the swimmie for nada but grass.
Move it down a way
and toss the frog to the tulles across the water, twitch, pop, twitch,
explosion, reel down, lean back, set hook and reel even faster. Nice 1
pounder. Decide to throw in virgin water so I wade out hip deep and notice
my legs sink to knee deep in muck, rocky bottom disappeared at knee depth
and I sunk fast. Try and pull one leg up but it drives the other deeper
due to now having all my weight pushing down, interesting.
Toss the frog out
(thank God it's been cleaned and oiled lately at Ken's and casts a mile-
older Curado 200 SF with 80 # Power Pro braid) and another twitch, pop,
twitch, GIANT explosion, reel down, lean back, set hook and reel even
faster. But now I have to back peddle back-wards so I can land this beast,
she's big. But the suck-muck has me and I almost fall over trying to
extract a leg, and while I get my balance and keep reeling I let some
slack into the line on another extraction and lean/almost fall maneuver.
How much slack? Enough.
Same procedure later
produced another keeper, let her go. Got out the swimmie. Cast further
around the bend into water I could not see. Bad news, no water, well
water but tulles past water eats my bait, which I did not know until this;
I had to go muck it to the point using tulles as handles to help keep me
up. Tug of war and I win, swimmie working it my way. Nada.
Back to knee depth
at opening, toss swimmie across pond near tulles about a mile away,
landing right on the edge; swish, swish, swish, swish I work her, swish,
swish, stop, twitch, GIANT explosion, reel down, lean back, set hook and
reel even faster.
She comes up and
thrashes her head as I surf her in, I muck-peddle back-wards towards the
bank at the same time, this time going slower and keeping the reeling
consistent. Got her up to the bank, weighed her at 3# 6 oz, with the
lure. Weighed lure at 3oz, take pic and tossed her back. Got another but
only a 1. Lost two total on the frog and one on the swimmie. 5 O'Clock,
time to hit my weekly bible study, good and bad as another hour would net
me even more success no doubt.
Click photo to enlarge.
Punker fish a little over 3.
Nice overcast skies
and constant cooler weather kept bass in comfortable condition,
comfortable enough to want to eat, unlike last Wednesday at Vail, skunked
in same timetable as today, two hours of effort.
Click photo to enlarge.
This one went about a pound
Try to open car and
realize my alarm key was in my waders pocket, near the top but having to
retriever my swimmie that one time caused the water to come up over the
top, getting me wet but that was no big deal, the water logged key was.
Took a lot of work to figure out how to stop the darn alarm from going
off. Some kid I'd made friends with (four year old on a bike) kept saying
'goodbye mr black man', guess my waders was his inspiration, as he waited
for his mom to drive them away, all the while the non-stop alarm kept
repeating it's scream across the lot.
After trying to
start the car to stop the noise I find out that does not work. That was
good and bad new. Good in case someone was trying to steal the car, it
would not let them/ bad for me as I now could not start the car myself,
nor stop the now seemingly louder than a stadium siren from continuing.
Idea, get the battery disconnected and 're-boot'! YEAH, So did that,
re-connected the batter, alarm continues- E-GADS MAN!!?
Back to the drawing
board. Took key apart, dried it out, tried it, no go. Maybe batter getting
low... call friend and he came and took my to the local CVS, the newbie to
the realm. They had no batter my size. Radio Shack to the rescue. Hey,
while there why not check to see if battery was good. Tester results? Very
good reading. Now what?
Hey, why don't you
soak it in alcohol and displace the water, that might make it work.
'Where's your alcohol?' I ask the lady, 'Over there' pointing to the
beer...Finally found it, off to see if it works.
Soaked the thing and
replaced the battery, prayed this time too, nothing. Called the wife and
asked her to bring the spare key to me across the county, not a happy
camper. While I was giving directions my friend was messing with it, I
heard it chirp. YAHOO! I drove off thanking the Lord for so many things,
even thought I was now two hours late.
10.7.'09
Vail Lake
Me - 0
Mike C. - 0
Water 69 degrees, fifth day of cold front.
Took the Answered Prayer our, first time there since June. Got one blow
up on the frog 1/2 hour into a two and a half hour session (4-6:40) over
in the 'trees', which were mostly high and dry now. Mike got one hit on
the CR fluke on a deeper drop off. Windy, cold, overcast.
10.5.'09
El Capitan
Me - 3
Shane - 1
Water 69 degrees, third day of cold front.
Met Shane at 6 and he covered the launch fee and we were off. In no
time he got a nice 2 pounder on a spook over on Seewald's honey hole
boulders. I got nada on a swimmie (LP).
Off to the trees but not much going on. Finally some topwater action
but not much. I got one on a Gunfish I had at the ready after a close blow
up got my attention. I put the SB rod down and hit the spot, one pounder
one and landed.
We worked the trees further back later and I got one hit in the big lay
down mess (lots of them) on the frog and on another group got one that got
stuck in a tree branch. We had to pole out way back into it and get
her un-stuck, took a few minutes. She got away while I held her down to
breath before a pic, so no pic.
Click photo to enlarge.
This one went about 2 pounds.
9.30.'09
Lake Hodges
Solo - 1
79 degree water, about 80 degrees out.
Had wanted to go to Barrett Lake, last day of the
season, but could only get one friend to commit, we needed two to split
the high costs of the boat now. Anyways, it was an absolutely gorgeous day
out.
Have not been since spring and got to the lake a lot
later than I'd wanted, 4:30 pm. I figured the swimbait bite must be off
the hook, it was last year at this time. Loaded up the swimbait rod loaded
with a Punker. Very nice out, slight winds, about 75 degrees. Went to the
construction site over towards the dam and was surprised the giant
structure for pumping water was removed, leaving a small floating one in
it's place (20 yards x20 yards). First cast I tossed next to it, nada,
then saw some major rocks on shore with brush in the water next to it,
tossed the Punker next to shore, started working it over the brush and all
of a sudden a real nice explosion erupted- FISH ON. It took it into the
brush instantly and for 10 seconds I wondered who would win, but she came
out and I landed one a little over 3. . Thank God for 25# Izor line.
Click photo to enlarge.
I could tell this was to be an epic afternoon.
Nada after that, worked the points, trees down by dam, and steep wall
coming back from it.
They had us get off the water at 6:50, bummer about the darkness coming
early but what can you do?
Got a flat on the way home, had to call AAA but no coverage on the
trailer, $65 bones to a local tow company to bring a jack and change the
spare, oh well.
9.28.'09
El Capitan
Paul O.- 1,
Me - 3
79 degree water, about 85 degree air.
We met at lake at 6:15 (ran late as Paul, who brought
his boat this time, wanted me to pick up my trolling motor batteries for
insurance, his might not be good). We worked my honey hole rock point
towards the dam but nada this time. Wind was up and we went to back
trees, no busters to speak of. James Nelson was guiding what looked to be
two marines and getting some on top.
We worked the top and Paul the bottom, one blow up for
me on the fluke but no hook up. By 10 we went deeper back to the
right side and I landed a nice 1.5# on the new Spro popper frog.
Click photo to enlarge.
We continued to work the area and I got two more
blow ups. About 2 pm I had to pull the plug as my lower back was
starting to hurt (see report from two weeks earlier). We stopped at my
honey hole to see if they had warmed up first though and I landed two of
the four explosions, cool.
Click photo to enlarge.
This one went 2.5 lbs and one that got off at the boat
(netter was reeling lure in) was about a 3.
9.14.'09
El Capitan
Paul O.- 3,
Me - 3
79 degree water, about 85 degree air.
Threw my back out a
little over a week ago so not much fishing lately. Probably should
not have today...(edit- day after, yeah, back is hurting bad, oh well-
back to the chiropractor).
We met at the lake at 6:15 a.m., was just getting light
out at 6. Launched the Answered Prayer and fished the rock pile
towards dam just past point on left for a blow up on the Lunker Punker of
about 3 lbs (she went airborne). Off to the north after 1/2 hour and
found guys on busters, we joined in. Did get a few hits on my TD
Pencil, and my Gunfish, but none stuck. Paul had a hard time
reaching the fish as his line was too heavy and his lure too light.
After a couple of hours we hit the right side and
worked our way back to the trees. Nada. I threw the Punker and
nailed a nice 2+ next to some brushy tree tops.
Click photo to enlarge.
11:30 a.m. This one fell to the Punker
Click photo to enlarge.
Here is the back area I fish a lot,
you can see how 'fishey' it looks, and is.
We continued to work the trees but nada more. Had to
make a call at 1:30 so we headed to the docks (no reception anywhere else)
but ran across major busters and stopped to try our luck before we got out
of the no wake zone.
Click photo to enlarge.
Here is Paul's first, a nice 3# 2oz pig at
3 p.m.. Paul
tossed the Sammy in chartreuse.
After the dock break we hit the boulder that we'd hit
in the a.m., but now it was 3 p.m. and very windy. Paul tossed the Sammy
in chartreuse as it was a heavier bait and he could now chuck it quite a
ways, being able to hit the buster boilers. I did not think they'd hit it
but they did, more than once. He threw over the
sunken boulders I was going to hit with the Punker before I did and got
one over 3 lbs..
I tossed the Punker in the same area and got nailed on
fifth cast, a three pounder hit it while burning it back in over what I
thought was dead water, right at the boat. He no more than turned to head
down with it when another three tried to eat the bait out of his face, and
continued to while I reeled down, turned him and bounced him on the deck
of the boat. Being the lure was still barbless it just came unglued
and the fish flopped right on out in a jiffy, no photo but counting as he
was 'in the boat'.
After about a half hour more we left to the dam, fishing over the buoy
line for nada, then all the way back to ski-alley by the island for more
zippo. We decided to hit boulder bay and I fished more topwater, as
I did all day, Paul mixed it up going plastics sometimes. We went
across to the other shore, very fishey looking giant boulder, no one home.
Back to the buoy line by the trees and Paul got a nice 3 pounder again, I
got one finally on the prop-bait I'd been tossing lately (need sharper/new
hooks on a lot of my lures, that would net more hookups for sure).
Final 1/2 hour tried a large spook type bait for nada,
left at 6 so we could hit Angler's Marine complimentary BBQ and Jay Yelas
lecture. (Bought some new #1 and 2 Gamy treble hooks, 2x strength, for the
Punker, no more lost fish!, as well as a new trolling motor pull cord,
mine busted and cost me a back problem for a few days from over doing the
hand lifting of said unit!)
Click photo to enlarge.
Last but not least, Paul tossed the Sammy
again between buster action and picked up this loner at 5:30 p.m., netting
his best day on the water as far as top three go, in his life (newbie).
9.12.2009 Mission Bay
Me 8 spotted bay bass, two keepers (1#3oz)
Robert 5, one keeper.
Water 76 degrees/
Beautiful day, overcast till 7am, and then after 2, stayed until 3 pm.
Up at o-dark-hundred and met up with Robert Schneider at 6 am at the S.
Point launch ramp new Sea World. We were going out on his new 2010 ocean
rigged Ranger bass boat. He was pre-fishing for a spotted bay bass
tournament to be held in Mission Bay in two weeks...
CONT HERE on bay
fishing report page.
9 .9.'09
Murrieta Hot Springs
Threw my back out 5 days ago so not much
fishing lately...
5:30 pm till 11:30. About 85 out.
1 bass on Spook at 7:30, two college kids I helped, each got one, one d/s,
one on my go to bait and pole, fluke.
9.7.'09
Santee Lakes
Solo - 0 bass. Hot, humid and major thunder clouds.
Was headed to Cuyamaca but stopped at these lakes on my
way as I'd never fished them. Went on a looksee at first but it
looked pretty good so I paid the $2 parking fee, and the $8 fishing fee
and started at lake #4, then lake #5.
Fished the frog the whole time, lots of tules but no hits
until the last 1/2 hour, and had two good ones, nothing stuck.
8.26.'09
Otay Lake
Solo 2, one on spook, one on Lunker Punker.
Read 98 in shade under my dash on the boat at noon.
Started 9 a.m., fished till closing, 7:20.
Took the Answered Prayer out and worked Harvey's Arm, back near
end, with swimbait (Lunker Punker), spook, frog and fluke, for nigh a blow-up
even, till 10:30 or so before reaching the shallows at the end. Fished
there with a hit on the frog immediately, but then I worked it for about
four hours over every inch of weed patch and tulle clump back there with
only one more hit to show for my efforts. Water pretty low now. Surprised
I did not get a few, it looks quite fishey.
Went to Otay Arm and worked the shallows there, with a good blow-up but
no hookup. A few breakers were seen so readied the spook. Saw one
within casting distance, nailed the spot and fish on, one pounder.
Readied the spook again but no more seen within casting distance. As
afternoon progressed hit a cove headed back to the entrance on the left
and got a hit on the spook in open water, no sticky.
Trolling motor needed some attending to so hit ramp to fix. While doing
so met an ex-local named James Brown (said I would not forget his name,
same as musician) whom used to fish Otay 6 years ago but quit. Wondered
how it was going. Gave him my 'glowing report' but he was still interested
in starting to fish again. He went to Bonita Vista, as I did- cool, but
now lives in Lakeside. Told him about this site, that should help him
right?
Finished repairs and started working my way towards the dam, long
shadows giving more confidence the longer they got, time for fishies to
come out and play. SURE ENOUGH, got a hit on the swimbait but luckily I'd
just kept working it as it did not stick. Two yanks later and another
explosion, and a MUCH bigger one at that, and this time felt weight and
laid into her. I saw she was a lunker of about 8 when she surfaced about
half way in, trying to toss the lure but I was reeling too fast for her to
have much of a chance. She dove somewhat, still being surfed in basically
with 25# Izor line when she came unbuttoned, as the weight was suddenly
gone- BUMMER. When I got the lure in I saw a small fish that I did not
feel even on, it was a 2 pounder. Guess I almost had my first double! The
Punker had been neutered the week before, at Barrett, and although I knew
I should have put new hooks on with barbs I thought I'd try my luck/skill
anyways, it sucked. One part of the back treble was now missing too.
Click photo to enlarge.
The left-over fish! A two pounder
that
I did not even feel on the line.
Got another hit on the Punker a little after 7, but had to head in.
8.19.'09
Barrett Lake
ME 4, Ken N.. 11. / traded art for
the boat with gentleman that owns some Italian restaurants in OC.
Nice, 85 degrees, water stained pea-soup green.
7 am train in, last out (7:25 be back time) we were only folks left.
Met Ken at his house at 6 am, got to gate at 6:50 and
given go ahead to go in by ourselves by Jose the dam-keeper (he waited at
gate till 8 for last folks). Only 5 boats reserved in total, and we only
saw two of them; each of those only had single 'occupant', weird to have a
lake to ourselves. From noon on we saw no one.
Bite was slow. Becky's cove netted zippo on
topwater, not a hit. Ken got one on point there on zoom brush hog,
watermelon. I got one on blue hula grub an hour later. He slowly got them,
I kept picking up the frog, and the buzzbait, for nada, UNTIL almost to
the opening to the narrows, where I found a lone 2 pounder willing to come
up and inhale a slowly retrieved Big Foot frog.
Click photo to enlarge.
1.0 on the Big Foot frog.
We worked out way back into Pine, and then the area back by the honor
camp. Ken picked one up here and there, I tossed top.
Afternoon bite was slow further back in Pine Creek
(after trip to dock to re-charge one battery that died early, just in case
for last hours if needed, but didn't). Picked a couple up before it got
shallow, which happened about 100' before the narrow spot. By 5 we
hit Seewald's honey hole, by the dead trees at the entrance to Pine Creek.
Lost a 3 -3.5 because I did not call for the net and it tossed lure at
boat.
Worked back to that spot an hour later, about 6:30, and
lost another biggie setting the hook on 10# braid on the spinning setup I
was using, drag too tight, right off the bat. Re-rigged and got a
monster at the base of a tree, got wrapped up and for two minutes waited
for her to come out, but she just went further in. I prayed she'd
come out and I'd land her. I eventually extended rod down to base,
pulled and broke a limb off and up she came, TUL! Went a solid 5.0 even.
Click photo to enlarge.
5.0 on Zoom lizard. Lack of numbers was
compensated
by size of the ones I did land, or fight!
We worked the area till 6:50 and then left to go back.
Got back at 7:20 and had 5 minutes, Ken lost one on the brush hog near
docks, I frantically tossed the frog and the lizard, to no avail, ending
w/ 4 total.
Discovery Lake (pond)
8.17.'09
ME 2, solo
Went to the pond at 6:30 and tossed from the dock, with
frogs and swimbaits (Lunker Punker) for nada for an hour. Overcast and
nice out.
Decided to walk around the whole place, something I'd
never done, and found an entrance to the south part I'd never knew about.
It was overgrown and un-used. Figured bass at this end did not see lures
often. Tossed the frog out and first twitch, bass on.
Click photo to enlarge.
Second fish of the morning fell
to the Lunker Punker, going 2.2#
Lost two other fish fighting them in, I think it's time
to replace the hooks on this lure. Had two big blow ups at cement
culvert spot on the frog, I know where they live ;/)... warning fishies,
I'll be baaaack.
Murrieta Hot Springs.
8.12.'09
Me 19, Mike C. 4, Herbert 0
About 90 degrees. Got there at noon, Mike C. and
Rocio, Herbert and Gitta left to BPS and I stayed to fish. Found a
patter after an hour or so, fly lined flukes. The returned at 4 and
had a little tournament from 4:30 till 7:30. I got 17 (one before
and went 2 and one after went 3.2, both from small pond). Got them
fly-lining a white fluke, then a top-water worked Senko, especially at
dusk, killed 'em.
Note: Mike owes me shot of 3.2
Discovery Lake (pond)
8.5.'09
ME one, Mike C. one.
From 6 till 10:30, fished the frog, buzzbait and the swimbait. Got
one at 2.1 on Punker Jr., and a GIANT explosion in the moon lit surface by
the dam at 9:30 on the punker. Full moon, beautiful out. Mike got one on a
popper at 10, a 1 pounder.
Clear Lake and Calif. Delta trip.
7.10-16th, '09
Solo, many bass, on swimbaits and frogs mostly.
Left San Diego, heading north, for the 14 hour drive by noon on the
9th. I was going to fish the Westernbass 'Nutcase' rally... never really
knew why they called it the 'nutcase' but found out this trip...... was
due to nutcases like me fishing in freezing conditions like I did for the
Jan. 2nd one earlier this year, just to catch a fish!
Got up to just past the Carmel turnoff off the 5 (Santa
Nella) about midnight and decided to call it a night, camping in the van
in the parking lot of some hotel (a bit uncomfortable as I can't exactly
stretch out completely, but it saved monies, which was needed in these
harder times lately. And besides, I needed it to purchase some
clothes at the Bass Pro Shop as I'd left mine by the door at the house!
"Arriving in time for the evening bite I launched out of Russo's and
motored out to the wall. Nada on the frog but at dusk (8:30 p.m.) I
hooked into a monster on the AC Minnow. I got her to the boat..."
Up and breakfasted at Denny's and hit Manteca Bass Pro
Shop by about 10 a.m., getting the lightweight, supposedly sun-protective
#50 pants and shirts. (Found out recently that might all be hype,
ever get a sunburn thru any clothes? Me either!).
Headed further north, taking the Sacramento way and up
to Clear Lake by 2. Stopped and got info for fishing lately at the
Lakeport tackle store and launched by 3 or so. Started to fish the
ramp area, then out and to the right, usual spots on the left, etc.
Nada on the frog, but one blow up at about 8 over on the right of the
entrance to a slough were Gator got his 8 the previous year.
I decided to camp in the van again and had to put up
with some drunks talking loudly all night long from in front of their
rooms on the second floor of the Konocti Casino Motel. Felt bad for folks
having paid anywhere near their room.
Click photo to enlarge.
The scenery at Clear Lake is so special.
SATURDAY the 11th:
Up at 5 a.m., went over to J.I.Box for a quick breakfast and coffee
and found my partner Derek Rowan, with his triton boat (goes by D-Man on
the fishboards). He had pre-fished for
a month (was laid off work months earlier) and had a great frog bite going
until a week or two earlier when some very cold nights turned things off.
He did have some other patterns, and we would try them. (I tossed the
swimbait and the frog, none-the-less.)
Some patterns were 7" Watermelon Bk & Rd Flk Senko's up
near tules around docks, as well. The other was Carolina flukes
(watermelon/red head) and he got some nice ones using that. I got
two 3+ pounders that threw my red rattletrap - YIKES - near the point he
got his 4 on (from under the deep shadows of a big tree). We tried
deep divers and jigs to no avail too and then I got the stripe off with a
large Senko he loaned my fished in some tules by a lone dock, YEAH.
"After an hour I decided to go back an try for her again, as she had
not been hooked she might go for it again. I thought it all
through..."
I weighed in my 3.72 at noon. We decided to stay
partners because we both wanted to try frog fishing, but that did not pan
out, the north shore too shallow and zippo weighed in for both of us.
SUNDAY the 12th:
The next day I fished with Tony Stoltz, the owner of
the Westernbass website, who had done well the day before. His
pattern was jigs on deep structure off a point just east of Anderson
Island (where two of his buds got some action). But three hours
without a bump in very cold winds (in July? Yep, kept my heavy jacket on
all day almost) with Tony trying to hold our spot was enough for him.
Plus, his eyes were having some sort of problems and he was getting a
migraine basically. He hardly fished from that point on, letting me
take the front and choosing spots/patterns to fish.
So we went to my suggested pattern (Senkos in tules)
and I lost one fairly quick, lack of tight line when setting hook), a 2
pounder jumped and tossed me...OUCH. We went to far south of lake,
to Clearlake town and fished a long rocky/water pipe point where two other
gentlemen were getting 'em good on d/s, but for us we were not in their
spot. Swimbaits and d/s for nada.
Gassed up at Konocti Harbor and headed back, fishless
after stopping at Henderson Point for deep Norman DD22, in red, fishing
for the last 15 minutes. We ran across Derek there, he had done fairly
well, as did his back seater.
Click photos to enlarge
Norman DD22 red/black,
the color and lure for Clear Lake. Dives to 22' on 10-12# test if cast
far, reeled fast and pole stuck deep into the water. Gets the
biggies, and Randy Mcabee Jr., who's won thousands on it there, swears by
it.
Although I ended up in fifth to last place I'd enjoyed
the tourney, and as the frog fishing was non existent, I immediately
headed down to the Delta, a 3.5 hour drive, licking my lips all the way at
the thought of the brutes I'd land there, Lord willing.
Arriving in time for the evening bite I launched out of
Russo's and motored out to 'the wall'. Nada on the frog but at dusk
(8:30 p.m.) I hooked into a monster on the AC Minnow. I got her to
the boat just as another boat was going by, and to keep the spot on the
hush I decided to 'swing' her into the boat instead of netting her. Well,
she easily went 7 pounds but her lips did not want to hold her weight-
half way up over the railing she pulled off the lure and fell back in ...
BUMMER. Note to self; next time get the net, no matter what,
she would have made a nice pic to add HERE:
X
WOULDA, SHOULDA, COULDA
photo of 7 pounder was to be here.
Anyway, after all the money saved from 'camping out', and from being tired
of being cramped, I decided to splurge and got a room at the Comfort
Suites in Oakley, only 10 miles from the ramp (lowest price at $79). I
left the boat cabled up to the light pole at the ramp, in the front by the
street where we park our trailers and cars during the day (heard it was
safer than in Pittsburgh, a town about 15 miles away where the Motel 6 is
that I usually stay at!).
MONDAY the 13th:
Up at 5:30 am and breakfasted at 6 (motel has a great
breakfast but does not start till 6) and on water by 7. Worked the tulles
out to the main part in Frank's Tract and all along the outside tulles to
the wall throwing the fave again, Kermit, and the swimbait, for nada!
Took a break at 1 (very hot by then, 100 degrees) and
talked to the young man at the Hook, Line and Sinker at the ramp. He
showed me the 'punching system' to get through the 'cheese' I'd heard
about and I got some of the tungsten weights (1.5 oz.) at about $15 for
two, ouch.
Click photos to enlarge
Three pounder at 4:25 pm, AC Minnow pay dirt!
Back to fun (not work) at 3 and worked all along the
wall to the opening with the new 'punching' pattern, to no avail. Outside
the wall I tossed the Minnow, netting a nice 3 pounder. After working it
for some length more I remembered a spot from last fall that I got a nice
6.5 on the frog. Might she still be there? Might she eat the
frog? Started up the boat and went the mile or two up Sandmound Slough,
mostly no wake zones, to the spot. It was now about 7:30, nearing dusk.
I tossed the frog to the spot, worked it, nada. Tossed it again,
worked it closer to the tules and BAMO- an explosion and a half happened,
one of the largest I'd ever seen, but she missed it! Darn, but VERY COOL,
as she still lived there and showed herself! Immediately I backed
off and went down the slough to an area I'd got some frog action last
March. I'd let her relax. I tossed the frog for a bit but no takers.
After an hour I decided to go back an try for her
again, as she had not been hooked she might go for it again. My
heart was racing at the thought of landing her. I thought it all through;
how the tide was rushing in (straight at me, I was 'down stream' from the
corner she lived at and how the current would affect the movement of the
frog, how the wind was blowing that would influence the cast, downstream
again and into my face, how to then work the frog to the exact spot where
I'd be able to bring it above her head, etc.. I prayed and tossed
Kermit. I worked it towards the spot but before it got to where I
thought she lived, which was ten foot closer to me, a giant explosion
occurred. I instantly reeled down, felt weight and swung for the fences,
FISH ON! She ran to deep water, peeling 80 lb test for a second and then
when I got her half way to the boat I decided to reach for the net to get
ready. Now why I'd do that, after playing it back many time thru my
head after watching this behemoth lunge up at the same time and toss
Kermit a mile I'll never know. But live and learn, next time get her
to the boat first. But ok, tomorrow was another day, I'd be baaaack!
"Well, as stated, I had big plans for the day, with patterns starting to
emerge from the two days previously on the water, with big ones lost,
known big ones still to be had, and newer ones to be found."
Back to the dock after trying for more lunkers till
dark, a little after 9:30 pm. (love the summers up north, light so late).
Back to docks by 10 or so, packed up and leaving boat by 10:30 pm., back
to room after grabbing fast food by 11, to sleep by 11:01.
TUESDAY the 14th:
Started out at the wall and then went out a couple of
hours later and tried the new system for an hour or so, for nada.
Ended up working the opening at the wall with my AC Minnow. The biggies
were on the chew, got one at about 3 lbs and then one of 4. Nice to feel
like a 'fisherman' again, especially after the poor showing from the past
2.5 days.
Click photos to enlarge.
Three and four pounders fell to the AC Minnow
by the wall in Franks Tract - 7:22 and 7:46 pm.
I went back to where the 6.5 lived at dusk, but she did
not hit the frog, maybe still had sore lips from the night before?
Well, I went down the slough and got a 2# on the Minnow, not worth a pic,
and then minutes later had a 10 pounder slam the lure up near the boat,
but it did not get hooked and came up and jumped in front on me anyways,
the big mouth rocking back and forth like a machine gun spitting out
bullets, too fast to actually see how it does it. BUMMER, my first 10
eludes me again, ERRRR!
So I went back to 'her', and tossed the AC Minnow this
time, nada. Tossed again, but felt it grab grass so I burned it back,
making it dive erratically under the water and immediately something came
out from under some weeds by the tules and grabbed it near the boat, fish
on- YEAH. But I landed her and it was not the biggie, but a nice 4.5
that lived right next to her, cool. I'll take it.
Click photo to enlarge.
More AC minnow action, day two. A 4.5 that
lived next to the 6.5 that I'd been targeting. I'd take it.
Well, that would have to be it for the night, and I
headed back, plugged the trolling motor batteries up to the chargers at
Russo's, left the boat at the ramp securely cabled thru the motor, the
boat and trailer and around the light pole again, hit the fast food joint
for dinner again, and hit the sack at 11 something again, tomorrow I'd be
back and try for her again!!?
WEDNESDAY the 15th:
Well, as stated, I had big plans for the day, with
patterns starting to emerge from the two days previously on the water,
with big ones lost, known big ones still to be had, and newer ones to be
found. All that came to a screeching halt when I arrived at the ramp, the
cable on my boat looked weird as I drove up, seeing it laying on the
ground instead of up on the boat? Then I noticed why, it was no longer
strung thru the motor, it'd been cut and the motor taken.
"He had a honey hole that had done well for him the day before, getting
about 20 blow-ups on the frog and landed a couple, although they were
about a pound or so..."
Click photo to enlarge.
The bummer of the trip, finding my 1/2" steel meshed
cable cut and the Honda 25hp four stroke motor missing, STOLEN.
I decided it would not stop me from fishing as there was
not a thing I could do about it, and it was still a good time to get out
on the water, so I did. At lunchtime I came back and had the young
man at Hook, Line and Sinker call the cops for me. In a half hour one
showed up, gave me a card with the website address to 'file a report on',
so I did a couple of days later.
Click photo to enlarge.
Not to be stopped, I still had the trolling
motor to help get me around, just could not go to the spots I knew the big
ones lived at.
Here, a smaller frog fish 7.15.'09
Well, fished my honey hole by the tules near the wall
with the Lunker Punker. I was tossing it to the west, where the last bit
of light was lighting up the water. As I worked it meticulously
across the surface, swing - reel, swing - reel, in the right combination
that got it sashaying just right, all of a sudden one of the biggest hits
I'd seen of my life happened, beautifully backlit, and it looked more like
a mako shark hitting a trolled mackerel the way it stayed on top thrashing
for a second longer than a bass usually hits a bait; I guess it was
thrashing around not knowing if it had inhaled the bait and making sure it
had, but it had, at least it had by the time I reeled down on it and felt
that great feeling of weight at the other end! "GET THE NET" I screamed
into the semi-darkness to no one. "YEAH". She was a real
monster, at least a 13 I thought to myself. She stripped 25
pound Izor line off my reel as if it was 10. NEVER had I caught one that
did that, maybe a striper? I hoped not. I heard they eat these big baits
too. She fought and I got line in, then she took line and then I got most
of the way back to the boat and suddenly she came unbuttoned... OH
NOOOOOOO! The biggest bass of my life gone... well, at least I'd fought
her.
Trolled back at one mile an hour the 1/2 mile back to
the ramp, slow but sure in the solitude of the evening having enjoyed the
day quite well for the circumstances. Tomorrow I'd get to go out with Tom,
the gentleman staying at the ramp in his camper, a retired policeman from
Orange County that I'd met trying to interview anyone around that might
have seen something the night before. I was looking forward to that. I
tied the boat up next to his camper.
THURSDAY the 16th:
At 6:30, the first place we hit was the wall. I told him
how well I'd done there but no topwater love that morning. He had a
honey hole that had done well for him the day before, getting about 20
blow-ups on the frog and landed a couple, although they were about a pound
or so, at a slough north and off to the right of the False River. We went
there and sure enough, we started to get hits but most fish were basically too small
to eat the baits.
I suggested we hit the opposite side and slowly but surly
the hits got bigger, although they did not stick too much. We fished
his honey hole again a couple of hours later, but still only hits, and
fewer at that.
We went down the opposite side one more time, and Tom
hooked into another very nice one. I put on a loaner frog from him (tweety
bird, one of my favs up there, that or the red headed blackbird) and got
my first. He ended up with a few, me one.
Click photos to enlarge.
Frog action, finally, thanks to
new friend/acquaintance Tom Voth
who had 'pre-fished' the area for me.
We hit a great looking point in the main river (False
River it's called) but no go.
After that, we thought we try my honey hole at the
wall, and Tom got one on a spinnerbait and was really excited as a friend
of his would love to hear he got one that way.
I'd stuck with the big baits but got zippo. We got back at dusk, tired but
happy, it'd been a nice day out with good company. I almost stayed for a
bar-b-que that Tom was going to rustle up but thought better of it, I
still had a long drive to Carmel, about 6 hours;I had to start teaching
a class the next day, so I said my goodbyes and left at 9.
About the theft and the thief...
Photos from ad on eBay. Notice photoshop
work, or fresh paint, on above pic, covering up the logo.
The next night, after teaching my
first day of class, I saw what looked to be my motor for sale on E-bay. I
immediately filed the report to the police online, and then tried to reach
someone to see what I should do. No one answered the number on the
card the policeman had given me. I'd have to call the next day.
The motor's cowling (the
cover) looked to be freshly painted over the logo, why? The person selling
it was in Antioch, the town next to where it was stolen. hey had
opened the account three months earlier, and had sold two expensive
watches and rec'd good ratings!
No one else in the whole
USA was selling one, what were the odds? I opened a new account and made a
bid, up to $2,000, his minimum was $1,300. Talked to the police the
next day but they could do nothing. I won the bid on Saturday and
wrote the guy I'd send the money to a friend and he'd pick it up. I
asked for a phone number and address, he did not give me either, more
strangeness, just communication thru eBay communications. That made
me know it was mine for sure, as a normal person would give you their
contact info for finalization of sale in a heartbeat.
Put him off for a couple
of days, saying I'd rather pick it up myself, giving me more time.
My class ended the following Tuesday, I drove back up to the Delta.
I tried to meet face to face with a detective, but the office they were
out of was further away than the one I found in Oakley.
They did not return
calls, but only said if I set up a sting they would try to be there. WHAT
THE HECK. It was getting to be that I was more upset with the police
that the theft. It all feel through. Someone called and left a
message at my studio they saw one for sale on Craigslist, same starting
price, and the ad disappeared the next day. One guy that replied to the
thief, requesting contact said he wanted him to meet that night, he felt
something was wrong, as in stolen, and backed out. That was that,
maybe I'll get most of it back from the insurance company, hoping.
UPDATE 8.21.'09
Noticed he now has another item for sale, a trailer. Says 'from a farm so
no registration ever', but pictured in a mobile home park... hum?
UPDATE 8.28.'09
I've got a fellow fisherman up in the Delta trying to make contact
with the guy. Thought maybe I could sue him for the money if I got
an address to do so, keeping my fingers crossed (so the saying goes, but I
really only believe in prayer, not luck, that's what I'm really doing!).
Barrett Lake
7.8.'09
5:30 a.m. till 1.30 p.m. on water.
Me - 6 bass / Phil S. 3/ Mike C. 2/ Herbert 1
Met Phil at J.I.B. by my home at 3:45 a.m., he followed me to the
McDonald's in Rancho Bernardo, and I went from there with him. Mike C. and
Herbert met us there and followed us.
We were on first train in at 5 a.m. exactly. Phil, 'okie60' on
SDfish, is from Washington State and is an accomplished bass fisherman,
and was stationed at Camp Pendleton for two weeks (yearly Marine Reserve
duties- thank you Phil for your service). He had read of Barrett fame and
wanted to take advantage of the situation while in the area. I saw his
post of selling 3 tubes so contacted and offered my 'guide services and
trolling motor' in exchange of $25 seat fee, he agreed happily and whole
heartedly, hoping someone would step up and help, T.U.L. from both of us!
Well, after hearing of the nil topwater bite reports I was a bit
concerned, but figured maybe I had better try my luck anyways. Told Phil
he should bring the new Spro popper, and he did.
I got quite a few blow-ups on mine (a BPS 'big foot' frog that's been
working wonders for me, white w/ green) right off the bat, lost a few to
jumpers, and ended with 3 in the boat by noon (well, one bounced off the
rail and fell back in)- each cookie cutter 1.5 lbs., all VERY healthy
specimens, that lake is so beautiful and healthy right now.
Otherwise, I landed three others on the white chatterbait with twin tail
trailer, all same size fish as the frog ones. I worked it like a jig,
bouncing it along the bottom near tulles.
Phil had some blow-ups on the frog, first one ever, but is learning the
'wait for a second or two rule' before setting the hook. He started
getting quite a few hits on green Carolina rigged worms, landing a couple
in deeper water (10-20 ft).
Herbert and Mike C., in another boat- without trolling motor, got three
total, as did some other guys leaving.
Leaving early left the staff in amazement at 2pm. Have energy to
drive to the Delta tomorrow now, then Clear Lake up above Napa for a
tourney on Saturday/Sunday and a weeks fishing in that area.
Called Phil later, 8.45 pm. while he was driving back, and heard he got
his first frog fish, yeah! Got 8 total for the day, more on flukes and
worms, lots of blow-ups on frog and one took drag and spit near bottom. He
was very happy.
Cuyamaca
7.5.'09
3:30 pm till 8 on water.
Me - 1 bass / Herbert 0 trout
With Valerie And Kellner's. I fished frogs in waders in shallows,
8 blow ups, three big, landed a 3.5 at dusk on 'BPS Bigfoot, smaller white
w/ green. Herbert zippo on Pbait on piers for trout.
Murrieta Hot Springs
6.30.'09
2 pm till 10.30 on water.
Me - 4 bass / Herbert 5
2 till 10:30. They stayed. Daytime forgot to record exact catches for
entire day, guessed. Herbert won daytime mini-tournament for $5.
Mini-tourney w/ Herbert 8:30-9:30. Herbert got a .15 then quit to swim. I
got two on top at 9:35 and 9:50 pm. at small pond, Rebel popper. 1st at
.15 (would have tied Herbert 5 minutes earlier), 2nd one at 2.2. Biggest
of day.
|
