Socal Bassman
04-11-2009, 05:25 PM
As much as I love fishing out of my tube, it was with a heavy heart that I had to leave it behind and return to my shore fishing ways. I can't even remember the last time I fished Perris from shore. Of course, it was for a good reason... The Annual Tommy Thomas Kid's Fishing Derby. This is the fourth straight year we've attended this event for some good times out on the water and meeting new people. The conditions we faced today was overcast for most of the day, The sun did peak through for a few moments a couple times, but only briefly. A chilly 6-8mph wind from the south blew non stop today. I'd guess the water temp. was in the mid to high 60's. Water clarity was stained with visibility of about 2ft.
Well, we got to the lake a little before 7a.m. and had to fall in line at lots 11/12 to register. There was a good turnout for the event this year. After the park ranger briefed us on the rules and regs for the derby, they let us loose. So, my son and I made our way to our first spot. Within a half hour of reaching our first spot, the wife calls to see how the weather is. Suddenly, I found myself multitasking by holding the phone with one hand, holding the rod in the other, and picking up the slack out of the line by knocking the reel handle lightly against my chest. I definitely need to buy one of them bluetooth headsets. LOL. As I'm talking on the phone, I felt a very light tap. Told Jr. to stand next to me, shoved the phone in my pocket, and reeled in some slack. At the first sign of pressure, I set the hook and bendo. I quickly hand the rod over to Jr. It was up to him now. It took him a little while, but eventually he brought in the chunky 2lb. 7oz. LMB. We quickly bagged the fish in my tournament weigh in bag and headed back up to the weigh in site. For this event we could weigh in anytime; up to five fish total. After weighing it in, we went back down to our spot, only to find it crowded. So I found a safe spot to release the fish and let him off to fight another day. We fished where we found some space, but it was crowded pretty much everywhere so we headed back up to the truck.
We decided to try a different spot on the lake, so we packed up the gear and it was off to spot #2. Once there, I had my doubts but decided to give it a try anyway. On my first cast, I felt the tell-tale tap, tap. I set the hook and hand the rod back over to Jr. He quickly brings in a short fish. I re-rig the dropshot rig with a 6" Robo Zipper Shakin' Worm for no bites. I try several go-to colors with no luck either. So, I switched off from the dropshot rod to my split shot rod. This time, I gave Jr. the choice of bait. He told me to try one of the baits in the plastic baggy he received when he registered. It's usually packed with plastics I wouldn't normally use, but it was his choice. I opened up the small sandwich bag and dug around to find three hopefuls. One of them was perfect for the splitshot technique (a 4" reaper) and asked Jr. if we should try that one out. He said, "sure that looks like a good bait". Within a few casts, I set the hook and Jr. brings in his second keeper. We continue to fish the area for a few more short fish. At 10a.m., I told him that we should head back closer to the weigh in site since final weigh in was at 11:30a.m. So we pack up the gear again with fish in the bag and head back over to lots 11/12. Once there, we start the long walk down to the water. The spot where he had caught his first fish was even more crowded now, so we continue walking until we found a suitable spot. For the remaining of the time, I opted to use the 4" reaper on the dropshot. An hour goes by and nothing. I gave the reaper one last shot before changing baits and found a taker out in deeper water. Jr., again, did a good job at bringing the fish in. He even lipped it himself. We bagged up the fish and called it a day.
After we had a hot dog, soda, and chips Jr., wanted to try his hand at the casting contest. As we were finishing up at the casting contest, the park rangers started with the prize raffle. Seems like they raffled off less stuff this year. After the raffle, it was on to the award ceremony. A trophy, as well as, a rod/reel combo is given to the top three anglers for each age group. Jr's 3 fish; 5.1lb. bag, earned him his third 1st Place finish. Despite the weather, we had a great time out there and shared a few good laughs. Enjoy some of the pics we were able to take.
Welcome!
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411099.jpg
Lining up to register.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411092.jpg
First fish of the day.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411091.jpg
Spot #2.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411094.jpg
Jr. and his fish from spot #2.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411093.jpg
The crowded Lot 11/12.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411095.jpg
Jr. at spot #3.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411096.jpg
A sample of the sandwich bag baits.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411098.jpg
The awards ceremony.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris4110912.jpg
Socal Bassboy with his 1st Place trophy and Spiderman rod/reel combo.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris4110911.jpg
Well, we got to the lake a little before 7a.m. and had to fall in line at lots 11/12 to register. There was a good turnout for the event this year. After the park ranger briefed us on the rules and regs for the derby, they let us loose. So, my son and I made our way to our first spot. Within a half hour of reaching our first spot, the wife calls to see how the weather is. Suddenly, I found myself multitasking by holding the phone with one hand, holding the rod in the other, and picking up the slack out of the line by knocking the reel handle lightly against my chest. I definitely need to buy one of them bluetooth headsets. LOL. As I'm talking on the phone, I felt a very light tap. Told Jr. to stand next to me, shoved the phone in my pocket, and reeled in some slack. At the first sign of pressure, I set the hook and bendo. I quickly hand the rod over to Jr. It was up to him now. It took him a little while, but eventually he brought in the chunky 2lb. 7oz. LMB. We quickly bagged the fish in my tournament weigh in bag and headed back up to the weigh in site. For this event we could weigh in anytime; up to five fish total. After weighing it in, we went back down to our spot, only to find it crowded. So I found a safe spot to release the fish and let him off to fight another day. We fished where we found some space, but it was crowded pretty much everywhere so we headed back up to the truck.
We decided to try a different spot on the lake, so we packed up the gear and it was off to spot #2. Once there, I had my doubts but decided to give it a try anyway. On my first cast, I felt the tell-tale tap, tap. I set the hook and hand the rod back over to Jr. He quickly brings in a short fish. I re-rig the dropshot rig with a 6" Robo Zipper Shakin' Worm for no bites. I try several go-to colors with no luck either. So, I switched off from the dropshot rod to my split shot rod. This time, I gave Jr. the choice of bait. He told me to try one of the baits in the plastic baggy he received when he registered. It's usually packed with plastics I wouldn't normally use, but it was his choice. I opened up the small sandwich bag and dug around to find three hopefuls. One of them was perfect for the splitshot technique (a 4" reaper) and asked Jr. if we should try that one out. He said, "sure that looks like a good bait". Within a few casts, I set the hook and Jr. brings in his second keeper. We continue to fish the area for a few more short fish. At 10a.m., I told him that we should head back closer to the weigh in site since final weigh in was at 11:30a.m. So we pack up the gear again with fish in the bag and head back over to lots 11/12. Once there, we start the long walk down to the water. The spot where he had caught his first fish was even more crowded now, so we continue walking until we found a suitable spot. For the remaining of the time, I opted to use the 4" reaper on the dropshot. An hour goes by and nothing. I gave the reaper one last shot before changing baits and found a taker out in deeper water. Jr., again, did a good job at bringing the fish in. He even lipped it himself. We bagged up the fish and called it a day.
After we had a hot dog, soda, and chips Jr., wanted to try his hand at the casting contest. As we were finishing up at the casting contest, the park rangers started with the prize raffle. Seems like they raffled off less stuff this year. After the raffle, it was on to the award ceremony. A trophy, as well as, a rod/reel combo is given to the top three anglers for each age group. Jr's 3 fish; 5.1lb. bag, earned him his third 1st Place finish. Despite the weather, we had a great time out there and shared a few good laughs. Enjoy some of the pics we were able to take.
Welcome!
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411099.jpg
Lining up to register.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411092.jpg
First fish of the day.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411091.jpg
Spot #2.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411094.jpg
Jr. and his fish from spot #2.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411093.jpg
The crowded Lot 11/12.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411095.jpg
Jr. at spot #3.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411096.jpg
A sample of the sandwich bag baits.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris411098.jpg
The awards ceremony.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris4110912.jpg
Socal Bassboy with his 1st Place trophy and Spiderman rod/reel combo.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/Socal_Bassman/Perris4110911.jpg