MikesOcean
05-31-2014, 01:39 PM
I hit up castaic on Friday May 30th with my buddy Mike (fishingvato) who lives down the street from me.
My game plan was to go out and have a great time, make sure the boat runs good, and have fun learning my new trolling motor and hopefully put a hurting on Mr. Striper while I'm out there.
We were first to launch and started trolling the marina some big swim baits for about 30 min with the new TM. It was awesome to be able to lock in with cruise control 1.0 mph where my outboard could have never maintained that low of speed. What was even more exciting was to see a real quick site of schoolies splashing on the surface for just a short time in the marina.
After 30 min with no success trolling big swimbaits , it was off to the usual trolling. After 10 min I had boated 2 fish thinking it would be quick limits. Well that was not the case for us. It was a couple hours before we scratched another fish. I was metering very little activity in the morning and when I did meter, we kept getting short bit. Between that, and the low water levels I felt like I was at a lake I never been too. Structure was soo different that it was like being at a lake for the first time trying to learn it.
I kept telling my friend that I felt the fish are gonna get active after 1 pm. I was right on target. That's about when we found a bank with all the bait and fish pushing them up to it. It did not go WFO. We only had one double hook up with 2 rods. We were only scratching one fish every other pass and they were all dinks. I figured I ain't leaving this bank until we pull our 2 limits. And that's exactly what we did.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b516/mikesocean/Mobile%20Uploads/6E6DBF9E-4693-4331-94A7-FDB46E22EDE0_zpsm1q8yde8.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/mikesocean/media/Mobile%20Uploads/6E6DBF9E-4693-4331-94A7-FDB46E22EDE0_zpsm1q8yde8.jpg.html)
Here's a pic of my friend and the catch.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b516/mikesocean/Mobile%20Uploads/7FC2B0D8-CA22-4C75-945C-44809A2173B7_zps3mkc6mhr.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/mikesocean/media/Mobile%20Uploads/7FC2B0D8-CA22-4C75-945C-44809A2173B7_zps3mkc6mhr.jpg.html)
Now I'm gonna play with my new tm and try spot lock. (Anchor free). All I have to say is WOW. It really kept the boat in one spot even with the wind blowing. It almost makes me wanna bait fish being so easy cuz I hate anchors. It was amazing to hit the button at the mouth of a cove between 2 points and watch the motor constantly moving and adjusting to keep me in the same spot. All I have to say to all you bait guys is that if you don't have this motor, BUY ONE! You will never have to throw or pull an anchor ever again.
I'm excited for fishing to pick up. I might troll less and fish more in spots where the active fish are.
This motor will definitely change the dynamics for me out there and be a whole new ball game for me. Looking forward and can't wait for t/w to kick in. Go out there and get them.
Mike
My game plan was to go out and have a great time, make sure the boat runs good, and have fun learning my new trolling motor and hopefully put a hurting on Mr. Striper while I'm out there.
We were first to launch and started trolling the marina some big swim baits for about 30 min with the new TM. It was awesome to be able to lock in with cruise control 1.0 mph where my outboard could have never maintained that low of speed. What was even more exciting was to see a real quick site of schoolies splashing on the surface for just a short time in the marina.
After 30 min with no success trolling big swimbaits , it was off to the usual trolling. After 10 min I had boated 2 fish thinking it would be quick limits. Well that was not the case for us. It was a couple hours before we scratched another fish. I was metering very little activity in the morning and when I did meter, we kept getting short bit. Between that, and the low water levels I felt like I was at a lake I never been too. Structure was soo different that it was like being at a lake for the first time trying to learn it.
I kept telling my friend that I felt the fish are gonna get active after 1 pm. I was right on target. That's about when we found a bank with all the bait and fish pushing them up to it. It did not go WFO. We only had one double hook up with 2 rods. We were only scratching one fish every other pass and they were all dinks. I figured I ain't leaving this bank until we pull our 2 limits. And that's exactly what we did.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b516/mikesocean/Mobile%20Uploads/6E6DBF9E-4693-4331-94A7-FDB46E22EDE0_zpsm1q8yde8.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/mikesocean/media/Mobile%20Uploads/6E6DBF9E-4693-4331-94A7-FDB46E22EDE0_zpsm1q8yde8.jpg.html)
Here's a pic of my friend and the catch.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b516/mikesocean/Mobile%20Uploads/7FC2B0D8-CA22-4C75-945C-44809A2173B7_zps3mkc6mhr.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/mikesocean/media/Mobile%20Uploads/7FC2B0D8-CA22-4C75-945C-44809A2173B7_zps3mkc6mhr.jpg.html)
Now I'm gonna play with my new tm and try spot lock. (Anchor free). All I have to say is WOW. It really kept the boat in one spot even with the wind blowing. It almost makes me wanna bait fish being so easy cuz I hate anchors. It was amazing to hit the button at the mouth of a cove between 2 points and watch the motor constantly moving and adjusting to keep me in the same spot. All I have to say to all you bait guys is that if you don't have this motor, BUY ONE! You will never have to throw or pull an anchor ever again.
I'm excited for fishing to pick up. I might troll less and fish more in spots where the active fish are.
This motor will definitely change the dynamics for me out there and be a whole new ball game for me. Looking forward and can't wait for t/w to kick in. Go out there and get them.
Mike