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From the most
recent trips.
Concerning end of Oct, Nov. and Dec....
Went to Italy end of Oct., did not fish but for an hour in a lake near
Rome before flying back. That lake had 1' of water out to about 100', and
then dropped to 2'. No way to reach the bass, as lake was cold already.
Too busy with new show, and did not get out till end of Dec., then buddies
boat would not start and we cancelled, then he got sich following week,
and me too.
Oct. 10th, Monday, San Vicente
Sunny 80.
3 pm till 6:25 p.m..
'Boat: Answered Prayer '87 Skeeter/
Solo, 3 TUL. Was going to El Cap, tried my luck and
tickets at gate were still avail.!
Fished Aqueduct, hoping nobody was there, but after 2
hours was skunked, tossed all the plastics that worked last time, except
3/4 oz tungsten TR jigs, that was a mistake.
Click photo to enlarge.
The aqueduct has ton of baitfish, thus the bass. Got three
(2 pounders) in short order on the green Gunfish, worked an outside bush
on busters. Tossed med W.P. at dusk along shore and over flat in cove next
door, nada.
Oct. 6th, Thursday, San Vicente
Sunny right off the bat, 90.
6 a.m. till 7 p.m..
'Boat: Answered Prayer '87 Skeeter/
Solo, 26 TUL. (Over 4#- four, under 2, one)
General Boat Launch TUL My
Ticketmaster acct., per. AMEX.
Arrived midnight, and 3rd in line, to bed at 1 up at 5, gate at 5:30, ramp
hold till 6.
Click photo to enlarge.
Tore them up today. 26 on plastics and topwater hard
baits. TUL
7:44, 9:02 & 9:14 am
Click photo to enlarge.
10:42 11:21 & 11:40 am
Tore them up today
Click photo to enlarge.
12:04, 12:54 & 1:33pm
Fished Kimball arm right off the bat. Was fairly
dark, a bit foggy. Nada. Decided to run to Aqueduct, hoping nobody was
anchored in it. Was blessed, nobody was, so tied up to usual bush and went
to work. Caught on this, in approximate order too. Senko
2
Jig wtr red 6
Chart twin tail hula tr w weight. 1
Ds 7
Hula jig blk blu flake 2
Grn Gunfish 2
Large black blue flk ika 2
tr1/2 oz bullet
" " Pump w/ grn flk 3
8" tr grn wm 1
Sept. 29th, Thursday, San Vicente
Sunny right off the bat, 90.
7:30 a.m. till 7 p.m..
'Boat: Answered Prayer '87 Skeeter/
Me 12, Mike C. 0
Went out all day, took 1.5 hour rest (Mike slept), from 2 to 3.30.
Click photo to enlarge.
Ran into Tom Cosgrove, newly retired, old high
school fishing buddy.
He got 13 for the day, his buddy Wes about the same. C/R lizards and
Senkos.
Click photo to enlarge.
Tom Cosgrove sent me a photo of a fiver he got.
Click photo to enlarge.
Mike Castaneda fishing the aqueduct.
1:41 p.m. Click photo to enlarge.
12.54 p.m.
I knew the aqueduct had been producing, so we went there and I got
on them pronto.
Mike did not have any luck.
We were killing them at the aqueduct, and gave it up. Mike had bad luck,
could not get bit.
Click photo to enlarge.
Senko bass: 1:32 p.m
Click photo to enlarge.
More aqueduct bass, and evening light.
We worked the aqueduct after our break, but other guys were tied up
in it. They reported to two guys we let take over got about 40 in the two
hours we were gone! We ran to Toll Road arm around the corner, all the way
to the end, and worked our way back on the right side. Did not get a
nibble, Mike ended up getting skunked, even though I had him trying the
Senko the last hour. Paul and I discussed it, we think the bright green
braid may have be the culprit.
Sept. 26th, Monday, San Vicente opening weekend
Sunny right off the bat, 90 w/ Santa Ana but
cool due to breezes.
7:30 a.m. till 7.15 p.m..
'Boat: Answered Prayer '87 Skeeter/
Paul and I. He 12, me 5
Mike C.
was to join, cancelled late afternoon before.
Arrive 5 a.m., on water by 6.45 am, fished till 7 (off water at dark)
Me launch tic. plus 1 car, Paul O. joined me and used it.
Click photo to enlarge.
Friend Robert Schneider also launching.
Ready to get 'em good. 6;48 a.m., second day at it.
Click photo to enlarge.
First bass of the day, for me, on a 1/2 oz
spinnerbait, first cast.
Friend Robert Schneider photo bombing my shot ;/)
Click photo to enlarge.
Working our way to Toll Road Arm from
Aqueduct Arm the point looked so pretty w/ the morning light.
Me 1 on ½ oz. new Spinner early (Aq. cove, 1st ‘real’ cast after snagging
it), and 200 casts later nada.
1 on 1 on Plopper 5pm, 2 on d/s 2 and 6 pm (1st on honey hole buoy,
Kimball arm) second on honey hole boulder, island) 1 on Dble Plopper Bzz
at 7
Click photo to enlarge.
Future honey hole back in Kimball Arm.
Paul got them on d/s, some spots
working better than others. Got some top finally, but was at the end of
the day. Wind kept us cooler, and the overcast.
Click photo to enlarge.
Paul and a nice one, me one on the med.
Whopper Plopper over a flat on Toll Road Arm
Found new spots for my style of fishing, just need
better weather for my style to come around, high pressure is no
fisherman’s friend, but for the circumstances, we did fine.
Click photo to enlarge.
Last but not least, another on the Whopper Plopper
twin tail buzzbait.
Click photo to enlarge.
Pano of Paul on Toll Road Arm
Sept. 22nd, Thurs., San Vicente opening day
Overcast most of the morning, 90
later.
6 a.m. till 7.30 p.m..
'Boat: Answered Prayer '87 Skeeter/
Me 17 (Sean M. and his 10 yr. old son Aiden
about 12 each) Paul 17.
Click photo to enlarge.
Ready to break in a lake that's been closed to the public for 8
long years!
Note to self: have a talk about condensing gear with fishing buddies,
ASAP.
Actually, I'm j/k. we fit no problem, and the whole front is filled with
Paul's tube, which we dropped off, along with him, a few minutes later.
What a blast fishing opening day.
Click photo to enlarge.
New docks.
After picking up Paul at the park and ride by E.C.B.T. we
met Sean and his son at the gate at 6. Got in a long line still and got on
the water by 7:30. Dropped Paul O. and his tube off at right side point
headed towards Aqueduct. Saw Todd and he asked for a air bladder release
needle. Thought I had one, could not find it. Indicated deep bass. Got a
blow up 2nd cast on the med. plopper, a 6 went airborn about 3'.
We fished that point for a little bit then ran to Kimball
arm to check it out. It was packed solid with boats, about one every 50',
so we headed back towards the docks. We stopped at the major point leaving
Kimball and tried our luck. Me tossing the med. WP some more, them
plastics.
They may have gotten one or two, then we ran a bit west to
a secondary point and started getting them on plastics.
Click photo to enlarge.
Not long into the morning folks are already holding up 'hero shots'
of their five bass.
While working our shore I get a call from someone, and they
ask how the overrun of my reel is going? I said 'who is this'? Buddy
Robert Schneider of Temecula was calling, and was only 100' behind us and
noticed me. Sooooo funny. Met his partner, they were doing ok.
Click photo to enlarge.
My biggest of the day, went 5 1/4 pounds.
Click photo to enlarge.
Aiden and his dad Sean had a blast.
We kept up the plastics, as the bite was good. I lost
an absolute monster, the 5 1/4 on 17# Maxima Fluro came in easily, whereas
this beast peeled off line. Was on a 4" large Ika bait, same as the 5+.
After a couple of hours we made a run back to say hi to Paul, he was
getting them ok, but not as well as some he said. I got one on a d/s
there, then we made a run to the aqueduct, where I got a couple of more.
I believe Aiden had soccer practice so I ran to the docks and let them
off, then picked up Paul. We fished that same point I dropped him off
originally and I got three more on d/s.
Click photo to enlarge.
This large slab of a crappie ran 2 1/4 pounds, made
a great dinner.
We ran to the aqueduct and I got that large crappie on a jerkbait I'd
found earlier in the weeds.
Click photo to enlarge.
Paul Owens, good buddy, float tubed until Aiden and Sean had to
leave, about 3 p.m.,
then joined me for the rest of the day. I noticed when it's windy like it
was his tongue has to stick out just so far or his topwater lure lands on
shore. ;/)
Click photo to enlarge.
The 'hero shot' as they call it. Five of the biggest caught today,
all about 4 or larger, largest 5 1/4.
I can't believe how hard it is to hold five large bass, especially after
they've recuperated in the live well most the day, they fought like crazy
when I took them out for the pics. And they are so heavy grouped up. And
trying to show my third bass did not work, and I also thought I'd not be
able to hold them in one hand, thus the look.
Click photo to enlarge.
So pretty out, and the late afternoon light
called to be captured between casts, so I did.
We finished the day working the west shore of Toll Road Arm, after me
getting one off a flat, off a point, across the way.
Sept. 16th, Lake Murray
3 p.m. till 7 p.m..
'Boat: Answered Prayer '87 Skeeter/
One 3# on frog (and lost one), one WP at dusk at docks (broke off front
hook, get stronger split rings), one on spook.
Sept. 9th, El Capitan
6 a.m. till 7 p.m..
'Boat: Answered Prayer '87 Skeeter/
Paul 6-2p.m., 1
Me 6-7 4 (all med. wp)
Mike c. 3-7 p.m., 1 wp
August 31st, Diamond Valley Lake
Sunny, some clouds, breezy/warm early, 105
later.
6 a.m. till 6.30 p.m..
'Boat: aluminum w/ 15hp 4stroke/ water
83, air
80 morning, 105 afternoon.
Me 3 (a 3, 4 and 5#) all afternoon in windy
waves, on med. W.P.), Mike C. 0
I was up at 3 a.m. after getting a good 3 hours sleep, picked up boat at
frameshop, gassed and on road by 4:10. Arrived at lake at 5.30, Mike C. a
few minutes later. We loaded boat and left his car outside gate to save $9
parking fee (I took him back at 1:30 p.m., and kept fishing).
We got checked for Quagga mussels
outside the gate at 5:45 and were paid, launched and crossing the lake by
6:20. Warm and cloudless.
Water was up 10' from three weeks prior,
changed my islands into underwater humps, invisible but for the top of one
or two tall bushes.
Ran to the quarry at the opposite end of the lake, stopping at the major
point first to try big baits and frogs, nada. I got two dinks (5" on the
Sammy).
Click to enlarge.
Early morning light at the first major point headed to the quarry
at the opposite end of the lake. Worked the outside of the quarry, very
calm, looked great, with a lot of flooded plants, no action but dinks that I could not keep of the Sammy.
Click to enlarge.
Early morning light on our shore, and Mike C. trying his luck
to get a bass. The we worked our
way to the inside of the quarry, in the cool shaded area, for another hour
and a half. Very
calm, no action, and we tried Carolina rig (Mike) and DS (me) besides slow
sink 6" swimbaits (Mike) and med. Whopper Plopper (me). Not a hit (well,
one hit on ds). Then ran towards
the point, first stopping at a small point, and the dinks I could not keep off the Sammy.
Got three or four. Mike finally got one on his.
We worked our way, after fishing the main point and finding
a breeze, over across to 'outhouse cove', and working that wind swept
shore, all for more nada, even around the cove and around the point
towards the ramp, and along that back shore down to the end. Mike had had
enough, it was a bit after 1 and really hot, so I took him back to the
ramp, and then to his car.
I got back out, after getting another
large trolling motor battery out of the van (glad I did, the waves/wind
really burn up the energy to even stay in place, let alone make headway).
I started on the left side of 'ramp cove', headed to the dam, and got hit,
and then saw, four or five followers on the med. WP. Cool, big ones
finally. Only saw one or two followers all day so far. I worked that area,
full of sunken trees and rock out 100' from shore, for nada. Worked my way
around that point, and then out to find the 'missing' island', and after
awhile of finally using the big motor with eye on the depth finder saw two
bush tops about 100 yards farther out. Went to them and got a nice 3# on
the med. W.P., yeah!
Click to enlarge.
Finally, got the stripe of he naked back with a 3, and then this 4!
I kept fishing that area and got blown up on right over the
bushes. Finally got another one there, a nice 4 pounder.
Making a run on Diamond Valley 8.31.2016 on Vimeo.
I worked the island over by the dam for about a 1/2 hour, nada, looked so
good too. Then ran to the one a 1/4 mile out in deep water, the video shows the
type of ride it was, with 2' waves to plow through. Spray felt real good though.
Upon getting there, the end result nada. It was about 5, and I was dead
tired. Thought about calling it a day, but then decided to hit the spot in 'ramp
cove' where I'd got hit. Good idea, as I got hit on the med. WP, and she took it
but let it go, and then as it continued on one came an got it near the boat. A
nice 5 pounder, TUL.
Click to enlarge.
Finally, got the
nice one I saw in 'ramp cove'. TUL.
At this point it was about 5:30, figured I may as well work the shadowed areas
the other side of the cove, on the west side, and worked the main point and back
along that whole shore, in very windy conditions, for nada. At 6:25 I hurried to
the ramp, as 6:30 was deadline to be back. Everyone else was gone, in fact for
the past two hours only saw one other boat. The parking lot was empty, less the
worker to let me out. Fun, hard, hot, productive day, TUL.
August 22nd, Delta (Day four
of four days this trip)
Overcast, breezy/cold, 6 a.m. till 3 p.m..
'Boat: 'Answered Prayer'- Skeeter '87/ water
73, air
75 morning, 80 afternoon.
Launch: Tower Park Marina, under new ownership (Yogis')
I was up at 5 a.m. after getting a good 6 hours sleep at Motel 6 in Lodi
($64 total w/ senior discount). Gassed up at Love's on the way to Tower
Park, and already had half a sandwich from Subway the day before.
Paid the new $15 launch fee, second boat
out, and stopped a few hundred yards down at the turn on the left after
the bridge, headed towards Sycamore. Fifth cast I got a 3 pounder on the
new yellow/orange him on the frog. Half hour later I honey hole I'm
area had that little about tractor bit and I started on the left side
before going into the tractor area and I got one on the frog from quitting
fifth cast time and he just swallowed up moving and then I get one on the
nice buzz bait bass I am almost hit it really hard to add just a few
minutes with her on the bus beat their workout way back towards the point
back towards the bridge went across and then I work the run the tractor
nothing no it's OK I was a big bait and spook and I wiper proper so I
decide to make a run over here and it's been overcast and cold and windy
and I expect that in the morning even sprinkle but I didn't expect this
cold to continue. I was thinking of the sun just came out maybe that would
help in the next cast with the whopper proper I got a nice bass and then
the next cast after that I got one nice being 2 pounds and another one
that up to the boat got off so that was funny. It's 10:15 AM yeah the sun
popped out and also they started hitting thank you Lord. It's been real
dry spell since 6 o'clock. I went past the normal set of islands in
Sycamore slough and started another quarter-mile down maybe not quite that
far to work that whole other area and I had a couple of blowup on the frog
nothing stuck.
11:25 I got two more fish one more on the whopper popper another pound and
a quarter or so and I decided that it's calming down put on my new YoZuri
a prop bait just on the back part poly carbonate and I got a bass on that
minutes ago and I think I got a sturgeon baby sturgeon slightly bigger
than the Lure itself there's about 4 inches long and the start it was
about six I took a picture of I have some guys maybe identify it I thought
of the striper first.
12:15 PM another one on the whopper popper about a pound and a quarter
thank you Lord
12:27 PM caught another one on the YoZuri prop bait.
Report at sunset, Calif. Delta
8.21.2016 from m seewald on Vimeo.
August 21st, Delta
(Day three
of four days this trip)
Sunny, breezy, 5 p.m. till 9 p.m.
'Boat: 'Answered Prayer'- Skeeter '87/ water, air
85.
Launch: B&W
Launched out of
B&W, only $12 also ($15 now at Tower). 5 pm. Worked around bridge nearby. Nada worked slough into Perry's then I
worked around the front of Paris how long to slough all the way to the other end
work back in the Perry's and then around to the M that would be the west of it
and then I was good got a little bit late so I may run up towards the year the
area where there's a no wake zone about half mile up the slew started working at
left side if I drop off there but nothing happened I was on a spinner bait quite
a bit and then I went over to my usual spot my honey hole islands and I got them
on the whopper whopper popper the 130 and I got a month off the points and I
ended up with three over there that was nice fish till dark.
August 19th and 20th, Clear lake
August 19th, (day one of two days this trip)
Sunny, breezy, 5;30 p.m. till 12:30 a.m..
'Boat: 'Answered Prayer'- Skeeter '87/ water 83, air
85.
Launch: Konocti View Casino Resort
11 bass, all on the frog around the marina.
Got the bite update, and quagga inspection, from Troy at Lakeport tackle store.
Frogs brought slowly out of tulles was the way for that. Word is lack of plants
caused by spraying poison on floating plants making the frog bite different.
But I started with throwing the 130 Whopper Plopper and the frog around the ramp
area.
Got into them at ramp area on large yellow Live Target frog, up to 5.25. 7 bass
by 8pm. Right side headed out of marina the best. 5 lb off tree by exit.
Fished till 12.30. Nothing after 10:30, using the frog. Worked WP last hour.
Plugged cord for boat batteries into the dock, unloaded and hit the 'bed' in the
van at 2 a.m., after getting a burger at the casino.
Day 2, Clear Lake, August 20th
(day one of two days this trip)
'Boat: 'Answered Prayer'- Skeeter '87/ water 83, air
85.
Launch: Konocti View Casino Resort 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
16 bass! Buzzbait 4, spinnerbait 9, frog 3
Slept in van until it got too hot, about 8:30, then got breakfast at the casino.
Loaded boat back up and started fishing by 10.30.
Frogged all around ramp, nada- strange! Tried small Buzzbait around docks and
got 3 dinks (1#). Then figured spinner baits around them would work, and got two
more.
By 1pm, changed to small green River to Sea
frog, 1 blowup. Then put new full size River to Sea on, natural with
yellow/orange bottom. Nada. Started working towards tulle point and got 9 on
spinnerbait. Two around docks, rest outside tulles, finished at 5 pm at area
just past 2nd slough headed south.
Took a break. 6:30 ran to my honey hole, towards N. Put on new Live Target
natural. Nada. 7:30 went back to marina. Got three on new frog. Went back to
outside area at dark and hot last one on small Buzzbait. Finished at 9.
*August 18th, Delta
(Day two of four in a week)
Sunny, breezy, 6 a.m.. till 9:30 p.m..
'Boat: 'Answered Prayer'- Skeeter '87/ water
73, air 90.
Launch: Tower Park Marina, under new ownership (Yogis')
Drove from the S.F. Int'l airport the night before, arriving at
11:40 and getting van out of local parking garage by midnight. Drove 2 hours and 'camped' in my
2007 Toyota Sienna van at the Pilot Truck Stop off hwy 5 and hwy 12, near Lodi.
Hit the sack at 2 a.m.. Up at 6 a.m. and got a 12" Subway sandwich for later.
Striper action Calif Delta on Vimeo.
The one just before filming the next one, below.
Catching a large striper bass on the Calif. Delta on Vimeo.
On the water by 6.20 and ran to the back of Sycamore slough, starting at the last
patch of tulles first, one batch over from where I got the 9.96 a few days earlier, after
fishing the usual corner at 'sunker tractor cover' and getting one on a R2Sea
yellow frog.
Click to enlarge.
Could have caught a lot of these little fellows, but opted not to.
At 8:15 a.m. I got a couple of smaller
stripers busting out in deep water, even on the med. plopper, and could have got
more but they are a hassle to release, their fins sharp and then don't stop
thrashing.
That night I talked to a security guard before
*August 16th, Sioux Falls, SD city ponds.
Sunny, breezy, 11:30 a.m. till till 4
p.m., then break and again out from 8 to 9:30 p.m..
0 bass, brother Steve, 1 pike, brother Chris,
a dozen dinks
Arrived via Frontier Air ($300) at 5 p.m. the day before, and
celebrated my moms 87th birthday with all six of my younger brothers. Went
and got a three day permit ($39, present from mom for anniversary she said) and
went fishing with brothers Steve and Chris. (Steve drove his semi truck to moms
days earlier, and left the next morning). Chris lives with mom and fishes the
pond daily. He goes for small bass around the edges mostly, and pike further out
on larger baits.
Steve Seewald catching a pike in Sioux Falls on Vimeo.
Click to enlarge.
Brother Steve with nice Northern Pike
Steve got one in short order, and kept it for mom, on a
large, fl. orange metal spoon. I got
skunked, throwing large topwater. It was really hot and humid, almost
unbearable, and we thanked God every time a breeze came up. Brothers Greg and
Rick showed up a bit later, Greg trying his luck. Rick does not like catching
smaller fish, so did not fish (thought only small bass, till he saw Steve's
pike).
Click to enlarge.
We went back out at sunset, skies were special.
*August 14th, Delta (Day one of
four in a week).
Sunny, breezy, 3 p.m. till 9:30 p.m..
'Boat: 'Answered Prayer'- Skeeter '87/ water
73, air
85.
Launch: Tower Park Marina, under new ownership (Yogi Bear's "Jellystone
Resort") :
12 bass, all topwater, biggest one a PB now, at 9.96, TUL (video below)
http://www.towerparkresort.com/jellystone/
Finished teaching in Carmel (two day class that was supposed to be
three), so I came a day earlier than planned. While launching my brother Steve
called about my landing time in Sioux Falls the next day. Since he never returns
calls I tried to have a conversation about it while backing the boat into the
delta. I noticed Jose's little brother took a side rope of my boat and walked it
back while it came off the trailer. Usually I get out and unhook the other rope
I have tied to the trailer so it won't float away. I forgot this as I was
talking, and drove up the ramp, dragging the Skeeter up onto the cement ramp all
the while folks were yelling for me to stop. I heard them as I hung up, got out
and realized what I'd done. Four or five folks help push it back in, only
injuring my pride.
Paid $7 to Jose's younger brother that now works there, and
the older Caucasian helper, who both said I needed to pay the new price of $15.
I told them Jose always give me a fishermen's discount of $7, and they balked at
first then accepted it, changing my receipt. Jose showed up and I asked about
his day, he's recovering from a stoke ok.
Hit lake at 3. Worked 'Old Tractor Cove' and got one on the
med. WP, about a 2, over the flats.
Ran to the first set of tulle islands in Sycamore Slough and
started with the first one and worked my way back. Got them on frogs, buzzbaits,
sammy's,
9.96 California largemouth bass. on Vimeo.
Click to enlarge.
Third bass over nine pounds in my lifetime, and just 4/100th shy
of the 'golden ticket winner', being a 10 pounder!
Finished at 9 p.m. and drove to San Francisco Airport after
hooking up the Skeeter to an electrical outlet at the ramp area, first checking
with Jose that'd it be ok. Flew to moms in Sioux Falls, celebrated her 87th
birthday w/ my six brothers, fished for pike and bass at a local pond, and flew
back three days later.
*August 5th, El Capitan Lake
Sunny, breezy, 2 p.m. till 7;45 p.m..
'Boat: 'Answered Prayer'- Skeeter '87/ water 83, air
85.
Solo- 7 bass, 4 on new WP Buzzbait, one on small, lost an 8 on med.
Whopper Plopper (130 size) at dusk.
Picked up Skeeter from the repair guy (Mark
Eddo) in Ramona, $480 lighter of cash. But
got the starter problem fixed (new brushes), plus he found why the last
few years the gas smell was so bad, some intake plates were loose, and he
replaced a gasket on the three carbs. Got the
water pump replaced, real overdue. Replaced one spark plug, others fine.
Hit lake at 2 p.m., windy and
sunny, fairly hot. Started the ramp area, as usual, for surprisingly
nada, until as I worked my way around I hit a buster on the head with a
Sammy and she took it.
Click to enlarge.
First one fell to a Sammy.
Tossed the new WP buzzbait, which I first used the week earlier at DVL and
did so well. Worked the right side headed north, as usual, and started
getting them on outside, or in, the lily pad plants now along the shore.
Cool.
Click to enlarge.
Yep, the Whopper Plopper Buzzbait is working well.
Got a four on the first point on
the big cove, second fish. Got the third in the back of the cove, a
smaller model, and another towards the last point. Worked the back of the
'island', now a peninsula, nada. Not much water back there either now.
Click to enlarge.
The grasses always seem to hold them, and second cast with a fluke
had one go airborne. Cool.
Worked my way around towards the
front, and got one on the fluke over grasses in back of that cove, then
one on the small WP towards the large point.
About quitting time, 1/2 hour
after shooting this shot, as I was working towards the dam, I had an 8 or
so hit the med. WP on a 'slash the bait' pattern. Could not reel down fast
enough to set the hook, although I tried, and she went airborne and tossed
it! DARN, but I 'know where she lives'! ;/).
*July
27th, DVL
(Diamond Valley Lake, Hemit, Calif.)
Sunny, breezy, 7.30 am till 7 p.m.
(closing time there, although sunset is about 8).
Boat: Aluminum Lowe 14'/ water 83, air
99.
Solo- 9 bass, 8 on new WP Buzzbait, one on med. Whopper Plopper (130 size)
After 3 hours sleep up at 4.30, loaded up boat and left the
frameshop with the aluminum boat at 5.50, getting light out already. 1.5
hours later hit DVL first time in years. Heard they were deep, from more
than one person. So as usual, went shallow with top. The older gent that
checked boats for 4 strokes and clean boats, Tom, said my motor was not
the required type, that it was 2 stroke. Told him I'd bet a million it
was, and after he took off the cover and still said it wasn't, and looking
at the gas to see if it was clear, as w/ 2 strokes you must add oil, and
mine was clear as I don't, I finally saw where it said 'FOUR STROKE' right
on top of the engine. Whew, thought I'd be turned away. I paid my $27 for
launch, parking and fishing fees, and was off.
Click to enlarge.
The lake is so 'fishey' looking, and IT IS!
He said it'd get up to 110 degrees today, and I told
him I'd read only 95, but that it'd been Temecula. He assured me this
place was hotter, and my search at 1 p.m. reported it was 99 degrees,
enough to 'beat me up' a bit, but lots of cold water and my handkerchief
constantly dunked in the lake and draped around my neck made it very
comfortable.
Click to enlarge.
The Whopper Plopper Buzzbait. Clouds appeared in the afternoon made
the lake oh-so-pretty.
Started fishing the shore headed towards the dam, and
my new Whopper Plopper Buzzbait got a 6 pounder to go airborne on it after
just a few casts, but it was just being reeled up into a bush I'd cast
over and it missed it, darn.
Diamond Valley Lake topwater action. on Vimeo.
Click to enlarge.
The new Whopper Plopper Buzzbait performed well, netting me 8
landed of 9 bass
The number 8 bass annihilated the new lure, left the
two part floating, so I fished the shore w/ regular buzzbaits, and reg.
small and med W Plopper for nada all the way back to the ramp, from two
coves over from the north. Got back to ramp about 5 to get another lure
(had two, bought them for friends, but now needed one). Walked the long
walk uphill, got an ice cold iced tea and noticed I was last private
boater out. Went back to the spot I started, and worked it towards the
dam, then over to the island where I got my first of the day, and lost
another, and got the final one on a Med. W. Plopper, T.U.L, right at 6.50,
10 minutes before closing.
*July
20th, Otay Lake
Sunny, breezy, 12 p.m. till 8 p.m..
Boat: Aluminum Lowe 14'
Solo- 5 bass, 3 frog, 2 on small (90) Whopper Plopper
Saw Jim L. (JJ on SDfish) at 11:30 as I arrived and he
reported some 15 on Senkos in tulles as he left. Cool. Ran to the
beginning of Otay arm and started fishing the coves on left. Landed 5 of
my 12 or so topwater hits. This week no 'reel on the deck' after hooksets
either, like two weeks ago where I had a problem with one.
Click to enlarge.
First came on smaller (90) Whopper Plopper. Looks like most guys
are using this smaller size, and doing well.
_small.jpg)
Click to enlarge.
Mostly the frog n the grasses produced. Live Target brand, smaller
one.
Used my new small 90 Whopper Plopper and got one in
short order, a 2.5 on the outside grasses. About a 1/2 hour later got
another, smaller.
Click to enlarge.
Nice clouds came in towards dusk.
Lost two monsters at dusk, towards the back of
Otay arm, right side, on a 'canal' between tulles, that hit the frog with
such big explosions, but tossed them faster than I could reel down and set
the hook- hate that.
Oh, found a nice, new, Live Target frog (larger model, yellow) back there
floating on the grass too. Someone tried to fish it with 15 lb mono in it-
big mistake, but appreciate it. It was new and I'll get dozens on it.
Enjoying the cooler air on my run back to the docks.
|
What can go wrong will go wrong...
All went well, boat wise, as last week I lost the big motor at dusk.
So I took out the Lowe 14' aluminum today, have not had it out since
the Delta in March or so. Upon trailering it to leave I needed to
get back in the boat after hitching the front on, as a van does not
allow one to reach the dry part of the ramp, as your pant legs would
get wet, since it's so far back in the water, so I jump from the
back of the boat onto the dock. But as I threw one leg up and in
(the aluminum one has a very high front end compared to my regular
bass boat) I got my lower shirt caught in the prop of the trolling
motor. Not a problem as my left hand was on it already the motor to
help me get up, so I lowered my body down to unhook it. As I got it
off, I noticed the inside of the bottom of the shirt was on the skag,
so I was still stuck. As I lowered even further, basically doing a
one arm pushup right above the trolling motor, my right leg must
have hit the motors 'on button' as the motors blades started turning
AND now were hitting my hand. Now this hurt, BUT there was nothing I
could do but man up and keep unhooking my shirt. Of course, I had
incentive to do so faster, not that I wasn't anyways!!! Was a
strange end of my day for sure. Murphy's law at it's finest. |
*July
13th, Otay Lake
Sunny, breezy, 12 p.m. till 8 p.m..
Boat: Answered Prayer ('87 Skeeter)
Solo- 2 bass, 1 frog (4#), 1 med. Whopper Plopper
Worked end of Otay arm, nada. Worked the grasses with a
frog and also the flats, nada. Worked Harvey's in afternoon, from
beginning of arm to far back the last two hours. Mostly tossed the WP
medium, but stopped and threw the frog in an opening in some tulles
and a 4 pounder inhaled it the second it landed, so cool to see a spot
that looks good for a different presentation than one's throwing and have
it work.
Worked to the end and the motor would not start. Was
close a few times but started would not turn over after 10 minutes of
trying. Slowly trolling motored back, at 815 by now, and almost dark.
Mosquitoes came out in droves, was blessed to have repellant on hand or
would have died. Had no number to call the dock to send someone out,
prayed they'd not leave me as the trolling motor would take forever, and
may not last.
Click to enlarge.
A 4 pound slammed my frog the second it landed.
So thank you Billy of Road Rangers bass club for being
so kind as to take the lake staff out and locate/rescue me at 8:45. Got
back to dock by 9.30 or so.
Wish I'd of gotten another bass while trolling motoring it back towards
the ramp from the far back of Harvey's while tossing a buzzbait! After 15
minutes of slowly heading back in I realized I could be fishing too, so
did for the next 15! Almost felt bad about it too! ;)
*July
6th, Otay Lake
Sunny, breezy, 1 p.m. till 8 p.m..
Boat: Answered Prayer ('87 Skeeter)
Solo- 7 bass, 4 Med Whopper Plopper and 3 frog
Click to enlarge.
JJ leaving.
Had to attach a bunk to the trailer first, as it
started to float away at El Cap last week, the bolts rusted off. Saw JJ on
the way out, took a snap and got his report. He had topped the week
before, with 3.
I had a new Yo-Zuri and wanted to try it, but first
the med. plopper came out and I got one in short order. Further back I
threw the frog, Snag Proof brown, third on buzzbait, fourth on frog, with
nothing for the first hour, until I hit the spot where I got one about 6
last week, that I farmed, and this one went a little over two.
Click to enlarge.
First frog fish of the day, Rob and his son photo
bombing (with my help in composing a selfie to do so).
Reel kept coming off on the frog setup, my Dobyn's
Champion rod was broke so I had an older punch rod set up, but the new
Daiwa Lexa 300 reel had too wide a reel seat to fit properly, and would
fall on the deck, off the rod, with each hookset- weird. I'd tighten even
harder, thinking that would now hold, yet it do the same thing on the next
hit. Landed three but lost one nice one, finally taped it on but no more
hits after that. Rob and his son were just rounding the back of the
cove and I got them photo-bombing my shot on the first one! ;/) Fifth, 6, and 7th on new YoZuri
prop bait at dusk. Motor gave me fits when I tried to leave from the cove
about 1/2 way back towards ramp on left side of Otay arm. The following
week same thing, but died on me all together.
*July
1st, El Cap.
Sunny, breezy, 3 p.m. till 8 p.m..
Boat: Answered Prayer, Skeeter
Solo- 2 bass, 1 frog, 1 popper
Fished the launch ramp for nada first hour, and did not
have the shad attacks like week earlier, and not as breezy. Tossed the S.
Spook, WP med., and fluke all around the cove.
Ran to the dam and worked the right side where the point is, to buoy line,
w/ frog, as lots of grass to top now, nada. Got to buoy and worked the WP,
as far as I could cast, with most getting backlash on braid on Daiwa Exo
reel. (It resets to drag full on each time, requiring me to open side
plate and readjust- pain in the you know what).
Ran towards Island, now a peninsula, but stopped and chatted with
'Carter's' (SDfish member) dad on a new island forming due to low water,
just before getting there. Would be a great place to work, note to self.
The ran to cove at island, where I got one a fluke the
week before, and one guy was working a popper, vary fast and causing a lot
of commotion, and he landed 4 in a 1/2 hour. Note to self, do this myself
after he leaves. I was working my new 1/2oz W/Chart tandem Strike King
buzzbait for nada. Blow ups on Green/yellow bottom Spro popper in grass
and got two blow ups, no sticky. Then third one I got I broke Dobyn’s 735
rod on hookset, nearly falling back into water as did not expect it and
was leaning back and pulling hard to get her out of weeds while setting
hook at the same time.
The decided to switch to a Live Target, they have
better odds at hookset, and found I had none. Note to self, order them.
So found a nice natural colored, new Snag Proof one and got on in
short order, T.U.L.
Click to enlarge.
Snag Proof frog to the rescue.
Tied on an Excalibur Popper,
worked fast by the rockpile and got a nice 2.8 pounder in short order,
cool. But front hook got all three barbs in the corner of it's mouth and
while trying to get it out slide the back hook into the second to smallest
finger tip past the barb, ouch. Got nervous as this fish was pretty big
and I'm not left handed, what to do? Took it and put it on top of my
tackle box, prayed it would not jump around, got the pliers and grabbed
the barb and backed it our of my finger. Hurt like heck, but got a photo
of her, tossed her back and went back to work.
Click to enlarge.
Working the popper quite fast produced this nice model.
Worked my way around the main point, headed towards the
dam, worked that flat with frog and WP, for nada. Back to dock at 8.10,
last one back but two boats still loading, and gone by 8.30. Fun stuff.
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