Bassfan
11-02-2014, 11:02 AM
Didn’t think I’d make it this Saturday with the questionable forecast so didn’t get the boat or supplies ready Friday night. I woke up at 3:30 and went outside and saw some stars so got everything ready and as I get in the car to leave, it starts drizzling. I’m already up so it’s off to fish and just in case it gets worse I decided to stay closer to home with Castaic.
Got there very early for a rainy morning at the #2 local lake but there was already a small bass tournament lined up at the lower entrance and they went in early.
When they let the rest of us head to the launch at 7 there were only about 6 boats in line.
Started by seeing some small boiling right away and with nobody around, started with topwater. Hit quickly by a 3 lb. striper and the action in that area was increasing.
Tried to continue with topwater but there were too many birds that wanted to grab my topwater every time I cast. Kept pulling it away from them (and away from the fish) over and over until I had to reconsider topwater as a lure of choice.
A couple times the birds were so thick that they got caught on my line as the lure flew through the air.
The one time the line pulled the bird to the water as I tried to get it off him and as I reeled the line the lure came toward the bird through his wings and I was afraid the treble hooks would begin an MO nightmare.
I got lucky and it came off without sticking.
For the first hour there were schools chasing bait in that general area and hitting topwater, flukes and spoons and landed 7, all 2.5 to 3 lb.
After that good start the action died so I started to explore.
The lake level seems a lot lower than a few weeks ago with lots more new land and shallow areas. Drove around a lot and didn’t see another boil in the next 5 or 6 hours and tried about 2 hours of trolling seeing some marks but without a hit. Tried one hour of bait fishing with sardines without a bite but didn’t move around or try more than one spot.
There was a cold wind in my face all day and the long stretch without even coming close to catching anything made me want to take my morning fish and go home early.
At 2:00 I get to the dock, tie up the boat and get out and I hear some guy on shore say “look they’re boiling” and he points to the cove next to the docks. I jump back in the boat and ease over just as they go down and get one from under the surface.
A couple minutes later I get another the same way and then decide that’s it, time to go home.
Back to the dock, tie up the boat and get out to go get the car and a guy on the rental boat dock says “look they’re boiling” only this time the boil is going crazy between the rental dock and the lifeguard dock.
You can’t fish standing on the dock and I’m on the wrong side of the lifeguard dock but a bad case of striper fever takes over and I jump into the boat and cast across the dock and get nailed on a topwater.
The problem is there is no way I can get that fish pulled up and over the dock to my boat and I know the lifeguard is watching. It was either break off my topwater and let Mr. Stripey have it or break the rules.
I decided there must be a 5 second rule for everything so I jumped onto the dock, lifted a 2.5 lb striper out of the water and quickly dropped him and me into the boat.
The lifeguard was kind enough to let that go (5 second rule?).
After I left I heard there were some afternoon boils other places.
It was a strange uneven day of some really good and some barren results.
Only saw one lake lice all day and no green fish bothered me so it was a good day overall.
Got there very early for a rainy morning at the #2 local lake but there was already a small bass tournament lined up at the lower entrance and they went in early.
When they let the rest of us head to the launch at 7 there were only about 6 boats in line.
Started by seeing some small boiling right away and with nobody around, started with topwater. Hit quickly by a 3 lb. striper and the action in that area was increasing.
Tried to continue with topwater but there were too many birds that wanted to grab my topwater every time I cast. Kept pulling it away from them (and away from the fish) over and over until I had to reconsider topwater as a lure of choice.
A couple times the birds were so thick that they got caught on my line as the lure flew through the air.
The one time the line pulled the bird to the water as I tried to get it off him and as I reeled the line the lure came toward the bird through his wings and I was afraid the treble hooks would begin an MO nightmare.
I got lucky and it came off without sticking.
For the first hour there were schools chasing bait in that general area and hitting topwater, flukes and spoons and landed 7, all 2.5 to 3 lb.
After that good start the action died so I started to explore.
The lake level seems a lot lower than a few weeks ago with lots more new land and shallow areas. Drove around a lot and didn’t see another boil in the next 5 or 6 hours and tried about 2 hours of trolling seeing some marks but without a hit. Tried one hour of bait fishing with sardines without a bite but didn’t move around or try more than one spot.
There was a cold wind in my face all day and the long stretch without even coming close to catching anything made me want to take my morning fish and go home early.
At 2:00 I get to the dock, tie up the boat and get out and I hear some guy on shore say “look they’re boiling” and he points to the cove next to the docks. I jump back in the boat and ease over just as they go down and get one from under the surface.
A couple minutes later I get another the same way and then decide that’s it, time to go home.
Back to the dock, tie up the boat and get out to go get the car and a guy on the rental boat dock says “look they’re boiling” only this time the boil is going crazy between the rental dock and the lifeguard dock.
You can’t fish standing on the dock and I’m on the wrong side of the lifeguard dock but a bad case of striper fever takes over and I jump into the boat and cast across the dock and get nailed on a topwater.
The problem is there is no way I can get that fish pulled up and over the dock to my boat and I know the lifeguard is watching. It was either break off my topwater and let Mr. Stripey have it or break the rules.
I decided there must be a 5 second rule for everything so I jumped onto the dock, lifted a 2.5 lb striper out of the water and quickly dropped him and me into the boat.
The lifeguard was kind enough to let that go (5 second rule?).
After I left I heard there were some afternoon boils other places.
It was a strange uneven day of some really good and some barren results.
Only saw one lake lice all day and no green fish bothered me so it was a good day overall.