Forebay 11-11-06

GTO19 and I (1crzyind)  got a late start on Sat. but eventually made it out around 1:00pm. Stopped at Lucky Larry's to get some minnows and were still debating going out. The rain had stopped but the wind was picking up.  We drove down to the Mederios camp ground to check out what the camping sites looked like for this weekend. That when I realized I had lost my hatch on my Tarpon. It must have blown of on the freeway on the way up. I still wanted to go out, I was there and had bait so I geared up and made an attempt to fix the missing hatch. GTO19 (Eric) was crying and did not want to go out. The conditions were getting worse by the minute. I told him to suck it up and lets get on the water.
     We headed out from the Mederios site  straight out, I had a few hot spots I had in mine from previous trips this year.  The chop was getting worse and I knew I would not have much time to fish with the missing hatch with water conditions.   We stop at my first hot spot and set anchor to slow the drift. Eric drops the first minnow along with me but , before I could set my bail He's screaming FISH ON!!!!!!
    GTO19 was using light tackle and this made for a good fight. We were in about 5ft  of water and submersed in weeds this was going  to be interesting. After a few minutes and a few good runs we see color, a nice keeper striper.  After about 10mins we get it in the boat a 20.5 inch #3 striper.
    I was getting situated again and ready to drop my line again when I hear Eric scream again, I could not believe it . We have been on the water for such a short time and have been hooked up the entire time.
  Same as before shallow water and weeds everywere. The #6 line Eric was using was getting a work out. The second fish was not quite as aggressive as the first but was still putting up a fight. 19" and #2 the second one was in the boat.
    We had now drifted a good distance after fighting  the two fish, so I decide to paddle further out and west  so I would have more time to fish, being it would be the last attempt for me. The winds were up to around 20-25mph and the chop was coming into my open hull know.  I set anchor again and finally get my line in the water . In about 7ft of water about 1/8 mile straight from the point at Mederios I hook up. This things a beast, my reel is spitting line and I'm trying to get it back. I knew it as big so I took my time getting it in. I had the line #30 spectra but did not want to rip the hook out, did that the day before on a nice fish. After a few minutes I got color, I was ecstatic I could see the girth of this fish and was telling Eric this thing just clowned your catch. I couldn't be to cocky yet it wasn't in the boat yet.
     I get it up on my side and realize its not a striper but a LMB and beauty at that. It had to be the largest one this year for me. 22" and #5.2 a whopper of a BASS!!! I was grinning ear to ear.
      It was getting  Dangerous out there know I just had a swell come over the top of my boat and soak me. I was time to get in and in a hurry. the winds had picked up dramatically and I felt as I was coming in out the ocean for a surf landing. We made it back in safely a little wet but safe none the less. It was a good day of fishing but not the best of conditions. They are out there  you  just need to  know were to find them.

Nice work 1crzyind/GTO19, that's a nice lookn bass, not to mention the Stripers. Yeah, the wind is nuts there eh? It just pops up outta no where. But great work on getting in the water and getting the job done. Sure you guys were happy you did! Great report!

Z

Nice bass That was pretty ballsy of you to go out on a choppy day without a hatch cover

    Yeah it was a little ballsie but well worth it, I found the hatch cover on the way back home. It blew of just as I got on to the freeway 156hwy. That made the day that much better! I am ready for this weekend and I hope the conditions stay the way they are until then.
         I also meant to post about the tourney, the Hollister Bait &Tackle Shop said they would donate some gift certificates for those who don,t make the pay out. I just need to let Roger know the details on  the count and he will leave me the certificates to take up. 

striper is now my favorite fish to eat.the forebay is cranking right now.

lets hit it up !!!!!!!!

Eric,

You can catch them almost year around there.  If it is windy when you get there.  You can launch from the Big Boat Launch on the other side of the forebay.  It is the first turn off before you get to the bridge on 152.  I have got Largemouth and Stripers on that side.  There is some Bluegills in the tules and brushes.

Or, you  can go to Los Banos Creek.  It is not a creek.  But a long narrow lake with Trout,  Largemouth Bass and I think Catfish.  It does get windy there.  Only if it comes down the Canyon.  It has high hills all the way around.  You would have to be a Mountain Sheep to get up the hills.

Also, the little stripers are better to eat.  Less toxic.

Ken kickfish

Nice fishing. Sure beat what we did Sunday. Nice job. Sunday was not nearly as good for us as Saturday was for you. We didn't try bait--we jsut fished flies and I tried a Kastmaster here and there--maybe bait would have worked Sunday also. Sounds like the fish were in the weeds during the day--that's unusual--they are usually deep but the stormy weather might have had them behaving like it was evening all day and they were in the flats.

to catch my fish i used 6 pound mono.a 1/4 ounce slider with a swivel and then a 4 foot mono leader and a gamagatzu number 2 hook.and a little bit of luck

No guts, no glory. Glad you got your hatch cover back. Good looking fish. Hopefully we will have luck on Sunday. I have never fished live bait on the forebay, but probably should consider it. However, poor water clarity might make artificials a better bet. So much to think about.

scott

scott

   I found the hatch cover on the way back home.  

Way to get em'! and happy finds on the way home!  SWEET!  you dudes are nuts!    can I follow along next time? 

Looks like the bite was an for you guys.

Lets hope the bite holds this week.

I'm hoping against hope that we don't have to deal with that much wind...

MolBasser