This is the time of year when they start planting trout in all the lakes, (except Lopez), and Diamond Valley planted some monsters. There were several cruising the shoreline in the third cove to the right. I broke one off on 2 string, (dropshotting flies), so I bumped up to 6 string. That rod had just nightcrawler and a splitshot, #6 mosquito hook. I reeled in fast just past the nose of this guy, and he turned and attacked it. After a lengthy fight, the other fish disappeared.
(Without polarized lenses, I would have never known these fish were there)
Saltwater Fishing
Monday, November 4, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Shad
Just in case you didn't know, Fall may be your best bet to catch big fish. One of the reasons for this is that shad will migrate to shallow water to spawn. Bass, stripers, trout, crappie, catfish, even large redear and bluegill will eat shad. The shad will usually lay their eggs on wood, so you can expect them to congregate near docks, logs, submerged trees, etc. The threadfin shad is the most common baitfish in California reservoirs. Shad imitation lures, of course, will work well at this time, (swimbaits, jerkbaits), and of course, nothing is more exciting than seeing a big bass smash a topwater lure on a calm lake. I love the Lucky Craft Waketail and Sammy lures for topwater fishing. Another technique that I love, especially if I want to make sure a friend catches fish, is flylining live shad. If you don't have a fluorocarbon shad net, (who does?), it's pretty easy to snag shad. Just tie on a couple of small, thin, treble hooks above a skinny dropshot sinker, with light fluorocarbon line, and jig it through the school of baitfish. If your hook is too heavy, you will kill the shad and it will not be an effective bait. An injured shad gives off a distress signal which is like ringing a dinner bell for gamefish. A dead fish does nothing unless you work it like a soft jerkbait. Hook the shad through the bottom lip and up through the nose on a #6 mosquito hook, or a #8 Gamakatsu baitholder hook. The thinner the hook the better for keeping your bait alive, but a large fish may bend or break a thin hook. Yesterday, I hooked about a 5 lb. fish that broke a fine fly hook on which I had impaled a large minnow. It's important to use 8# test or lighter to cast a shad or minnow with no weight. If you see boils, cast past them and reel your bait into the strike zone, (so you don't spook the fish), Make sure there is plenty of slack in your line. When your line starts to move out, don't set the hook right away. Wait until your line is almost straightened out before you set the hook, this will give the fish time to take the bait all the way into his mouth. If you don't get bit right away, lift your rod tip quickly, then let your bait freefall. This will often get their attention. Retie your hook frequently as that knot will be the most likely place where your line will break. Don't know where the shad are? Look for grebes. If there are shad in your lake, the grebes will know where they are. Also, be sure to wear polarized sunglasses. They will allow you to see the schools of shad as well as the predator that eats them. Good luck, and fish on!
Flylining Minnows
Monday, October 7, 2013
Old School Fishing
I've been catching bass at Diamond Valley Lake on a variety of lures, (including flies), but having my best luck with good old fashioned nightcrawlers. (see post below on Texas Rigging Nightcrawlers)
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Lopez Lake
I came in 4th at the panfish derby. It was tough fishing in the morning, but after the derby was over, the bite picked up. I hooked and lost a big bass right under the dock, and this morning I stopped on my way back to Palm Springs and caught this guy. Most people don't realize that there are large bass right under their feet. I also caught several catfish and carp this weekend at Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo. Many people also don't realize they can catch fish all day long in downtown SLO. I was using "peanut butter burritos" for bait, and ultralight gear. Good fun!
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Free Fishing Day/Panfish Derby
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Trout!
Cachuma Lake reports that the trout bite has picked up this week, with fish up to 7 lbs. being caught. This fish and several others were taken with the floating worm rig described below. The next trout plant is March 19th.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Splicing Braid To Mono
Winter Bass
Still catching big bass on the F dock, and crappie in 40 to 50 feet of water. Some fishermen are catching redear 70 feet deep.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Deep Water
The fish seem to have gone deep, but they can still be caught. I've been catching crappie and a few redear in 40 to 60 feet of water. Fishing vertically in the morning, and then casting way on the outside as the day warms up. I've also been catching bass dropshotting worms, (plastic and crawlers). This behemoth took a fly.
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