Lake San Antonio with T.O. We Came… We Saw… We Conquered! Sunday 5/30/10

[Wingnut]

For over a month now, Bob has been calling me on his drive home from this lake with some insane personal Striper slaying reports. I’ve been patiently waiting to plan my first assault on this lake. Seeing other members like The Webmaster, Fishbones, Steel Gary, Breeze 71, Mamachipy and a few others having solid sessions up there have only added to the excitement & anticipation.

I called my “Brother for another Mother” Binh (BadBeat) to see if he would like to join me on the new adventure. Of course, Binh jumped at the chance to fish with Bob again. Lol The original plan was to drive up Saturday evening, eat dinner, relax and stay at the lakeside lodge. Get up early Sunday morning, walk down to the marina and jump on Bob’s boat.
Well, we forgot that we promised to be at a friend’s birthday party Saturday night… so we had no choice but to go to the party, then cut out early and hit the road . So Binh and I snuck out the back door of the party at 2:00am, gas up the Hybrid, punch the lake’s address into the navigation and headed North for the 3 ½ hour drive.

During the final twenty minute drive on the winding road up to the lake, a Deer jumped right across my headlights… I slammed on the brakes and startled Binh from his deep sleep. Lol
I thought to myself, now that’s a good omen… we all know that a Deer sighting means good luck!

Right on time, Bob picked us up at the launch ramp in the marina and off we went. Eager and excited to see what this day has in store for us. We were not disappointed.
After a bit of a slow start, Bob was showing us different parts of the lake and trying to locate the elusive Stripers, we kicked it into over drive and never looked back. These Stripers are amazing, big and strong. We couldn’t believe that these units are only the “average” size fish for this lake. The schoolies are around the 8-pound range, that’s incredible. We lost quite a few fish due to multiple hook-ups on the same rig, twisting up and snapping off. Binh was on a monster for about five minutes on the trolling gear. Bob and I estimated that it was at least a 25 pound fish. It came unbuttoned, heartbreak! When we got the rig back in, one of the hook on the rig was bent almost completely straight. Bob and I talked it over and came up with a solution. The next absolute Pig will not get away!

Bob, thank you for inviting us out to fish with you at this amazing lake. It’s really impressive how fast you got this place dialed in. There were some locals that have been fishing here for years that were staring in disbelief as we were emptying the live well at the launch ramp.

We will definitely be back here with you again very soon Bob. If only the drive wasn’t so damn far. Lol

Here are some pics… enjoy the fish porn.

Sunrise at Lake San Antonio. Bob taxiing in to pick us up.


TroutOnly and BadBeat. Bob is delirious and suffering from Striper fever. Lol


TroutOnly and Wingnut.


First hook-up… feel the power of the Lake San Antonio Stripers!




BadBeat was on this monster for at least five minutes before it popped off… better you than me Binh. LOL we’ll get that sucker next time!






Double hook-ups! Had a few of these today…






Thinking to myself… I should have brought along the Superman combo, this is where I will win my bet with Phuong (Blackwater).






















Doubles on the same rig, had a few of these too, but most of them snapped off.








We chased a couple of boils today and threw some topwater at them… nothing doing.










BadBeat trying to reel in this boat. LOL




My supermodel fish pose. LOL.


Heading back in.


We’ll be back!


Thanks again Bob for your hospitality, always a pleasure fishing with you on the Salmonoid Phenomenon.

Until our next adventure, Happy Memorial Day to all, have fun and be safe out there everybody!

Arthur (Wingnut)

“To be successful at anything you do in life, you must first…
Know what you are doing, Like what you are doing, and Believe in what you are doing.”

Bonus pics


Bob intently studying the graph… here they come!!!






Somebody expressing his/her opinion… LOL


Bob acting like the Mad “Striper” Professor. Hahahahahaha


The gear!


Check out the patented "TroutOnly" fist pump!


I had a serious “Bass” thumb. Lol


I drive up… you drive back, that was the deal Binh... it’s nap time for me! Haven't slept in almost two days.
Apologies to my S.W.A.T. Crew members for not joining you guys in the surf today. But my batteries needed recharging big time.
Next weekend gentlemen!


Parting shot.

[Zach1093]

Man that is awesome! Congrats on the day guys, killed um!

[Fire Ball]

It looks like some REALLY awesome slayage!! Congrats on all the nice jailbirds.

[Fishbones]

Congrats again Arther, i was really looking forward to this report when we were texting back and forth.

You guys killed it again thanks to Bob "T/O" and his striper slaying skillz...sweet!!!!

Too bad for Binh and the biggen that got away...next time...

awesome report and pics
`

[mamachipy]

Way to go out there guys. Looks like you did a bit better than us. I guess that's expected when you go out with the master T/O.

[bsp]

Limits of 8-12lb fish is insane, and congrats on a killer day out on the water Arthur, Bob, and Binh! Now you only need to get one from the SoCal surf Arthur, and you can say you've conquered the stripers in fresh and salt. You guys will stick that 20lber next time!

[BuzzBait]

That's total massive action! Congrats out there. Looks like you guys are some commercial fishermen that threw a dynamite into that lake. KILLED! SLAYED!
Cute dog btw.

[AQUABOOGIE AKA MADDFISHIN]

Those are things of beauty... Way to fish you guys!!!

[Nhatster]

Total striper anihilation, very impressive bro. What do you expect when wingnut and troutonly team up.
I looked up that lake, four hour drive from my house, i bet you're glad you got a hybrid. lol

[trail blazer]

GREAT JOB GUYS!!!!!!!!!!EXELENT!,,,,,

That sealed the deal for me,,,,,3 more days and im there!!!!!

congrats

TRAIL BLAZER