troutdog
08-12-2010, 02:02 AM
Frustrated yet undeterred by two previous Irvine tourney skunks I had set out this past weekend to catch some kittys and try to get qualified for the "King of the Cats" event in October. Although I was invited to fish on BingJr's and/or NoHo's boat(thank you guys), I decided to grab a rental and fish solo...it seems that's the only way I have been getting the kittys to cooperate with me lately. So after getting a few things together I grabbed a fat frozen mack outta the tackle shop freezer and hit the lake. I wasn't quite sure where I wanted to fish before it got dark so I took a little ride around the lake. Headed towards the flats and made a quick run towards the creek area, but I just wasn't feeling it.
The OC fire department doing their thing back in the flats as two anglers look on....
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine007.jpg
With all the commotion going on I decided to pass on fishing that area so I headed towards the dam area in search of greener pastures. While passing Rocky Point the local Grebe population seemed to be enjoying their take of some of the local shad population...
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine009.jpg
While on the lake I later saw a couple of other "fine feathered friends" in BigDaddy and 2Skunkmotorwerks, Omar is the only bald guy I know who rocks a visor :LOL:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine010.jpg
I finally decided on a spot that I had been working the past few trips only to be welcomed by the most aggressive hornets I have ever encountered. Between my flying fishing companions and a strong breeze that blew me off the spot for the first 20 minutes I started to think this was just not meant to be. It got to the point where I just sat back and had to laugh and almost left, but I figured my buzzing adversaries would be going to bed soon and with it the wind would be blowing itself out as it usually does by late afternoon. Having finally set anchor I pitched a chunk of mack off each side of the boat and cracked a cold one. It wasn't long before my rod on the port side started twitching and the tale tell sign of a kitty purring next to my offering. A swift hookset and a 3lber quickly found the bottom of the boat. I rebaited and cast to the same area and my phone started to ring. Reports from around the lake started trickling in and the pre-dusk bite was apparently going strong as everyone I talked to had fish or three on the stringer. Got a call from BingJr and a minute onto our conversation I said "dude I am getting bit and I might need to go..." A short run later I hung up the phone and set the hook and watched a nice fish roll over and splash in the shallows....a much better fish than the first and after wrestling him out from under a tree A went to grab my net, upon doing so I somehow got a guide wrapped in the net and could not free it for the life of me. I quickly separated the top shaft of the rod and tried one more time to free it from the net to no avail so in it went into the water and under the cat I had brought boatside. I knew this fish was going to be a money fish once I had it in the net and luckily I wouldn't be spending it on a new rod tip that I later pryed loose from the net! I spent about another hour in the spot and managed one more stocker before heading off. My bounty from spot #1
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine012.jpg
Headed to spot #2 in hopes of more action which never really materialized, but it didn't seem to matter much at that point.
Jerry helping out a fellow fisherman who was having "technical difficulties" :Wink:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine017.jpg
Another gorgeous sunset at the Vine, one of the main reasons I love summer hours here...
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine004.jpg
I managed one more decent cat from Boat Dock Cove and called it a night a little after 10:30pm with lots of fillets for the freezer and an eventual fish fry :Big Grin:
Headed to the weigh in a little earlier than normal and glad I did as Catmando and I had the same exact weight fish at 7.12lbs, but I got to the scale about 20 minutes earlier, good for $57 (minus entry fees), 4th place and my first entry into the infamous "King of the Cats"....I'm coming for you Trollmiester!!! :LOL:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine023.jpg
Rather then drive home I decided to camp out and hang with Granny/Granpafish and NoHo and his family for the night. Huddled by the heating element, snacking on cold pizza and telling stories over a couple of beers was a perfect ending to a great day. You'll have to ask Granny about Mike and his bear story sometime! :ROFL:
I woke up and went for a short walk(maybe 12-15 yards:LOL:) before heading home, when I noticed the foot bridge on the opposite side of Woody's Cove Irvine had placed to help out shore anglers with easier access to the lake...wtg Irvine staff! :Thumbs Up:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine024.jpg
Oh and unless you don't mind ants, NEVER leave a cooler full of fish out when you go to bed!!! :Secret: Luckily my fillets were wrapped up tight and the little suckers couldn't get to it!
See you on the lake!
TD
The OC fire department doing their thing back in the flats as two anglers look on....
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine007.jpg
With all the commotion going on I decided to pass on fishing that area so I headed towards the dam area in search of greener pastures. While passing Rocky Point the local Grebe population seemed to be enjoying their take of some of the local shad population...
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine009.jpg
While on the lake I later saw a couple of other "fine feathered friends" in BigDaddy and 2Skunkmotorwerks, Omar is the only bald guy I know who rocks a visor :LOL:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine010.jpg
I finally decided on a spot that I had been working the past few trips only to be welcomed by the most aggressive hornets I have ever encountered. Between my flying fishing companions and a strong breeze that blew me off the spot for the first 20 minutes I started to think this was just not meant to be. It got to the point where I just sat back and had to laugh and almost left, but I figured my buzzing adversaries would be going to bed soon and with it the wind would be blowing itself out as it usually does by late afternoon. Having finally set anchor I pitched a chunk of mack off each side of the boat and cracked a cold one. It wasn't long before my rod on the port side started twitching and the tale tell sign of a kitty purring next to my offering. A swift hookset and a 3lber quickly found the bottom of the boat. I rebaited and cast to the same area and my phone started to ring. Reports from around the lake started trickling in and the pre-dusk bite was apparently going strong as everyone I talked to had fish or three on the stringer. Got a call from BingJr and a minute onto our conversation I said "dude I am getting bit and I might need to go..." A short run later I hung up the phone and set the hook and watched a nice fish roll over and splash in the shallows....a much better fish than the first and after wrestling him out from under a tree A went to grab my net, upon doing so I somehow got a guide wrapped in the net and could not free it for the life of me. I quickly separated the top shaft of the rod and tried one more time to free it from the net to no avail so in it went into the water and under the cat I had brought boatside. I knew this fish was going to be a money fish once I had it in the net and luckily I wouldn't be spending it on a new rod tip that I later pryed loose from the net! I spent about another hour in the spot and managed one more stocker before heading off. My bounty from spot #1
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine012.jpg
Headed to spot #2 in hopes of more action which never really materialized, but it didn't seem to matter much at that point.
Jerry helping out a fellow fisherman who was having "technical difficulties" :Wink:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine017.jpg
Another gorgeous sunset at the Vine, one of the main reasons I love summer hours here...
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine004.jpg
I managed one more decent cat from Boat Dock Cove and called it a night a little after 10:30pm with lots of fillets for the freezer and an eventual fish fry :Big Grin:
Headed to the weigh in a little earlier than normal and glad I did as Catmando and I had the same exact weight fish at 7.12lbs, but I got to the scale about 20 minutes earlier, good for $57 (minus entry fees), 4th place and my first entry into the infamous "King of the Cats"....I'm coming for you Trollmiester!!! :LOL:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine023.jpg
Rather then drive home I decided to camp out and hang with Granny/Granpafish and NoHo and his family for the night. Huddled by the heating element, snacking on cold pizza and telling stories over a couple of beers was a perfect ending to a great day. You'll have to ask Granny about Mike and his bear story sometime! :ROFL:
I woke up and went for a short walk(maybe 12-15 yards:LOL:) before heading home, when I noticed the foot bridge on the opposite side of Woody's Cove Irvine had placed to help out shore anglers with easier access to the lake...wtg Irvine staff! :Thumbs Up:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/AnnabelleandVine024.jpg
Oh and unless you don't mind ants, NEVER leave a cooler full of fish out when you go to bed!!! :Secret: Luckily my fillets were wrapped up tight and the little suckers couldn't get to it!
See you on the lake!
TD