DarkShadow
01-17-2010, 08:25 AM
Finally took the plunge and now that private boats are back on the water, I had the opportunity to share some water at Diamond Valley Lake with guide Art Hill and a mutual friend of ours, Mr. WormFisher.
Art has has seen Diamond Valley grow from what was farming land, into this amazing largemouth fishery years later. This first hand knowledge on how the lake was created shows, as Art is willing to show you some productive spots around this body of water. He runs a fully rigged 19 foot Champion, with a 200 HP Mercury and getting to and from spots on the lake is done so in a smooth fashion. The rig is extremely steady to fish on, and sure is a change of pace from fishing the rentals that I'm normally used to. All his gear is organized in storage compartments and this guy has every piece of equipment under the sun, and wont' think twice in letting you use it.
The day started off with seeing some activity on top, signaled by a few greebs who follow schools of threadfin around the lake. A small shad swimbait was tossed into the fray, and I hooked my first smallmouth of the year, that unfortunately spit the bait at me a few feet from the boat, after showing his dark olive bands when he jumped.
The fish were found all around the water column throughout the day. From the jig fish that were caught in 5 feet of water, to the carolina rigged fish that were caught in 40, Wormfisher and I had the chance to perfect several techniques that we're accustomed to and more importantly, were introduced to other patterns that will emerge throughout the year at DVL, and baits that will help put fish on the boat.
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/4499/fnn2.jpg
We also received a crash course in electronics, which is a definite necessity fishing our lakes in Southern California.
Today's fish were caught on jigs, creature baits, small swimbaits, underspins....you get the picture. So much valuable information was handed down to us, in one of the most enjoyable times I've had fishing this body of water.
If you want to get on some consistent bites and come out a better angler at the end of the day, give Art Hill a call. This guy's forgot more about bass fishing, than I've learned so far. You can find more information regarding his guide services at http://www.dvguideservice.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HksVySmM8hQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_QIKTAAF-o)
Art, it was a pleasure fishing with you. As many have already found out, you're a class act and there will be more trips scheduled in the near future.
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6193/fnns.jpg
Art has has seen Diamond Valley grow from what was farming land, into this amazing largemouth fishery years later. This first hand knowledge on how the lake was created shows, as Art is willing to show you some productive spots around this body of water. He runs a fully rigged 19 foot Champion, with a 200 HP Mercury and getting to and from spots on the lake is done so in a smooth fashion. The rig is extremely steady to fish on, and sure is a change of pace from fishing the rentals that I'm normally used to. All his gear is organized in storage compartments and this guy has every piece of equipment under the sun, and wont' think twice in letting you use it.
The day started off with seeing some activity on top, signaled by a few greebs who follow schools of threadfin around the lake. A small shad swimbait was tossed into the fray, and I hooked my first smallmouth of the year, that unfortunately spit the bait at me a few feet from the boat, after showing his dark olive bands when he jumped.
The fish were found all around the water column throughout the day. From the jig fish that were caught in 5 feet of water, to the carolina rigged fish that were caught in 40, Wormfisher and I had the chance to perfect several techniques that we're accustomed to and more importantly, were introduced to other patterns that will emerge throughout the year at DVL, and baits that will help put fish on the boat.
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/4499/fnn2.jpg
We also received a crash course in electronics, which is a definite necessity fishing our lakes in Southern California.
Today's fish were caught on jigs, creature baits, small swimbaits, underspins....you get the picture. So much valuable information was handed down to us, in one of the most enjoyable times I've had fishing this body of water.
If you want to get on some consistent bites and come out a better angler at the end of the day, give Art Hill a call. This guy's forgot more about bass fishing, than I've learned so far. You can find more information regarding his guide services at http://www.dvguideservice.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HksVySmM8hQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_QIKTAAF-o)
Art, it was a pleasure fishing with you. As many have already found out, you're a class act and there will be more trips scheduled in the near future.
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6193/fnns.jpg