The Dam Drought (4/11 am)

[dkinla]

So it's been a long time since I headed back out to Castaic lake...

my last report was on 6/26/14: http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/sho...-dam-(6-26-am)

a few days after that report, our first baby Evan was born 6/30/14... and haven't been back for almost 10 months!

anyways, I finally get the ok yesterday from the Mrs. for a morning session just with my dad again... so it felt really good to head back out to the lake again to wet some lines and catch a striper or two... as always... I just love to see my dad reeling in a striper or two

so we get to Gallions around 6:45am and stock up on the essentials... some bloodworms and lugworms... a classic Italian sandwich on a roll... and a couple drinks. No line to get in at 7am... and couldn't believe the water level now from 10 months ago:

for those that haven't been to Castaic in a while like me... here's a view from the boat rental place... almost need binoculars to see down to the water's edge


anyways, conditions were really great to start... hardly any wind... cool temp... and whereas before we took our cart on wheels across the top of the dam... the distance and hike from the top of the dam down to the water's edge was just way too much to even consider that... so we just drove down the ramp and parked closest to the water and just carried our gear across about 3/4 of the way...

we FINALLY get there and setup... and relax:

my dad in his usual position



might as well hike up Mt. Baldy if you were gonna hike up the dam to the top from where we were:



anyways, we missed a few bites to start off with... a little rusty I guess

but we finally hook into a decent striper... here's a quick vid of pops in action... I'm usually the camera man/net man... and just let my dad reel almost everything all the time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cFmOTpn-eQ

not too shabby to start:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_nmKtlXFjc

felt good to land one for the morning again:



cast out the lines again and a little while later... while I was talking with my dad... he shouts/points back to my other setup which I see falling over and almost being dragged into the water... I run over and the fish is on... hand the rod to my dad and he takes over again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMb9s1VpnZM

almost got snagged in some branches, but luckily my net reached out far enough to get this striper:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngb1NBd3d08

decent striper #2:



by this time... the breeze has definitely picked up and it only got stronger...

cast out the lines again and had a little time to munch on the sandwich!





looking at the Castaic lake website weather... looks like the winds picked up to 20mph after 10am... but we stuck it out until about 10:30am and managed one more smaller schoolie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBuayetK26Q

packed up and started the long trek back to the car.... at the cleaning station.... tried out my new scale:

striper#1:


striper#2:


striper#3: not worth weighing.. maybe 0.5 lb or something...

well... 2 decent stripers and 1 schoolie for a quick morning session after 10 months sure felt good... just enough for my parents to make some spicy Korean fish stew again...

made it back home to feed and play with this little guy:





thanks for reading everyone! hope to have Evan make it out with me and pops sometime soon!!!

[Stumpknocker]

WTG getting Dad in on some nice schoolie action...good to hear they're eating bait now...thanks for the report.

[shinbob]

What a great trip! Your Dad looked like he was having a great time -- you're such a good son! I'm sure in 30-40 years your son will be passing along the tradition, and we'll see you guys out there on the dam!

[jaggerbub]

Always enjoy your reports. Thanks... Btw, I tried one of those sandwiches from Gallions after reading a report from you in the past. Now I stop by everytime I'm in the area. That Italian is rockin'.

[trail blazer]

Another great report,Thanks

TRAIL BLAZER

[fishinone]

Congrats on the catching!

Thanks for the report. It's nice to hear that they are staring to take bait.

Cute kid!

[koifish]

good job Dkinla

[dkinla]

WTG getting Dad in on some nice schoolie action...good to hear they're eating bait now...thanks for the report.

yup! wasn't sure what to expect after all that time... I even posted for some info a couple weeks ago maybe to see how the action has been... so it was nice to get a little action off the dam.

What a great trip! Your Dad looked like he was having a great time -- you're such a good son! I'm sure in 30-40 years your son will be passing along the tradition, and we'll see you guys out there on the dam!

haha, yeah... if there's any water in Castaic lake left by then! always good to see my dad reeling in a fish or two!

Always enjoy your reports. Thanks... Btw, I tried one of those sandwiches from Gallions after reading a report from you in the past. Now I stop by everytime I'm in the area. That Italian is rockin'.

yeah I haven't tried the other sandwiches yet.. just the Italian.. and there really isn't another place that opens that early before the lake opens to get something great like that! Glad you enjoy that sandwich also! I always get extra peppers on the side!

Another great report,Thanks

TRAIL BLAZER

thank u sir!

Congrats on the catching!

Thanks for the report. It's nice to hear that they are staring to take bait.

Cute kid!

hey thanks! yeah didn't know that the bait bite hasn't been good for a while I guess...

good job Dkinla

thanks koifish! you are one of the masters at striped bass fishing from the dam. I didn't see the regulars out there either...

[gillisbeach]

I replied to one of your earlier posts. Your photos are what the topography of Castaic looked like in 1974 when I first started fishing the lake. No strippers in those days, but good size trout were caught using Velveeta and salmon eggs as they were the hot baits as Zeke's floating baits had yet to hit the market. Where the dam ended and where you would then make a right turn onto the peninsula was where I would fish from shore. We could also climb up to the "outtake" tower, as stocked trout were trapped in a pond and with no way to return to the lake. Up at the outtake we would only use lures such as rooster tails, Kastmasters and Daredevils and then release them back; we didn't think it was good sportsmanship, and to use an old adage, "shoot fish in a barrel". While walking the dam, back to the parking lot, the dam would be elbow to elbow with fisherman. The lake started filling with water in 1972, and I've seen it at its fullest level, a shame to see it at such a low level now, but, Mother Nature always seems to have the last word. I enjoyed your photos, and congratulations on the new addition to the family.

[Fishnfun]

dkinla - Sent you a PM.