Duct Micros

[yolo]

This rain, thunder and lightning finally let up so I went out for a little bit. Hit the first spot and walked up flow with my lure and finesse worked bait coming back down flow looking for some kitty's. Well I was getting hit like crazy and it felt like little striper hits. I switched hooks and was going to nail whatever it was cause I was curious. First cast and I'm working the bait bouncing it and drifting it and slowly dragging it and bam quick hit and quick swing and it is hooked. Just as I suspected. micro stripers. They were 6" to 8" long. I work the spot for about 30 minutes and I nail 2 dozen plus. All were released. I took pics of 2 and video of 1. Most were very chunky and somewhat round looking. They have plenty of food in the duct. 1 was very unique looking so I had to take a pic of him. Had a depression in the back. I have caught some 6lbers that looked like that before.

The bite seemed to just shut off (they probably moved) so I went to another spot. This time I wanted to see if these micros were there too in the same pattern I had figured out at the previous spot. Sure enough, first cast and I'm working the bait like a lure and fish on. Same size micros as the spot previous spot 6 miles away. I get 2 more at this spot and then it dies off again.

I was excited to see the micros. This means that there was a good spawn this spring and I caught the offspring to prove it. I bet the pattern I figured out at the location is the same everywhere. Might head out this afternoon and see if I can hit the pattern at different spots? I have a feeling this spawn is the start of an uptrend in stripers in the duct. It has cycled like this for a long time. When I saw micros like this last, a couple of years later it was awesome fishing for several years. DD make me happy but these micros made me just as happy for what is to come.

[madwire3]

aww cute.. hah good stuff yolo.. sounds like a lot of fun, i ran across a pond a few years back over by the coast that produces 4-7 inch lmb on ever cast on any bait or lure.. was nothing of great size but all very very healthy and was still tons of fun.

[fishinone]

The successful spawn is good news.

Maybe I should head out there with an ultralight to do some catch and release.

It wouldn't hurt to teach those little striper to be a little wary. I could call it "Fish School".

The zigzag striper is cool.

[cutbait]

Should of had Khanh with you to hold up the fish. Instant trick photography.


AV duct master fo sho

[yolo]

Should of had Khanh with you to hold up the fish. Instant trick photography.


AV duct master fo sho

Haha. Dang I just almost choked on my dinner I laughed so hard. Khanh would have made them look like 4 pounders holding them for a photo op.

[HaiTheMeister]

that's a good news. Thanks for the report!

[kpn]

Should of had Khanh with you to hold up the fish. Instant trick photography.


AV duct master fo sho

Hey Carpbait,
I rather holding a micro striper than a CARP buddy ................Hahahaha.....


Khanh.

[kpn]

Hopefully they stay around for long to grow bigger .
Thank for the good new Z.

Khanh.

[yolo]

They will stay around. Another few months and they won't be able to get out of the AV branch. They are almost too big already to fit through the meat grinders, I mean pumping plant. They are here to stay and from what I have been hearing from people I talk to, they are all over if you know where to look and how to catch them. I have seen this cycle before although it took longer for it to come back this time because of the reduced flows the past few years. That full flow since March has really paid off. Duct will be back to what it used to be here in the AV. The lull in the AV is coming to an end. I remember the days of not knowing what a duct skunk is.

[cutbait]

Just for you Yolo... Gut shot

You think you had micro's? Here is what I found in my fish from last night







Come on Khanh, you know I lub you