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Topics - SandyToes

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1
General Fishing Tips / Union Resevoir Advice
« on: July 01, 2022, 04:58:05 PM »
Does anyone have any experience fishing / tips for Union Reservoir (off Highway 4, Stanislaus National Forest)?  When I was there last year I spent days watching trout jump right in front of my yak but could not get a single bite.  I tried all kinds of lures, power bait, trolling, casting, soaking bait under a bobber, multiple depths, etc.  I am admittedly not the best or most experienced freshwater fisherman, so I could be missing something, but I definitely struck out.

I'm headed back in a week and would love to do better this time, so any advice you want to throw my way would be much appreciated.  Thanks in advance!

2
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Wheelez Repair
« on: July 01, 2022, 04:53:12 PM »
My wheeleez wheel (grey small beach wheel) has a hole in it, looks like a thorn or similar.  like 1mm diameter but clearly visible once you know where it is.

Does anyone have tips on repair?  Thanks in advance all you smart people!  Happy Friday.

3
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / Light Tackle Mackerel!
« on: October 02, 2021, 01:34:58 PM »
I took the wife and kids out on one of the rental skiffs in Capitola today.  While I was busy catching a series of too small to keep rockfish, my wife and kids started catching Mackerel on my daughter's lite ugly stik combo.

I took a turn too, and man was it fun!  Little guys were bending the rod 180, stripping drag and jumping.  Just little bits of squid on a 1/² oz Carolina rig I tied up for the kiddos at the lake this summer.  6 ln test or whatever the combo came spooled with.

Anyway, I've caught Mackerel before but never on a trout setup, and it was such a blast I had to share.  If you never have either, bring one with you next time you go out while the mackerel are in, you'll be glad you'd did!


4
It looks like a last minute trip to the mother-in-law's in Rancho is suddenly happening for me this weekend.  Good news is she's fun and we get along unlike the in-law stereotype, bad news is my plans to surf and / or fish at home this weekend are cancelled...

She is a few blocks from the American River in Rancho, on the south side across from Ancil Hofffman.  I won't have time to kayak, but will probably end up hanging out at the river with the fam.  Wondering if there is anything to catch from shore there right now and if it's worth brining a rod, I have no experience with the area.

If any of you do have local knowledge and want to share I'd appreciate it.  Let me know, and thanks!

5
General Fishing Tips / Monterey Bay Surf Perching
« on: March 22, 2021, 02:46:28 PM »
Hi NCKA Brain Trust -

With kayak based rockfish season closed and a sprained ankle (finally recovering) that has kept me from from my usual winter surfing, I've spent more time than usual fishing for surf perch.  It has been something I've dabbled in in the past, but am looking to continue to improve my skills.

I feel like I have gear and rigging relatively dialed, fish finder rig is my go to though sometimes a Carolina rig or traditional 2 hook surf leader can be fun.  Have not had a ton of luck with lures, though I have played at throwing Kastmasters and Luckycrafts.

My main issue is how hit or miss it seems to be for me.  Sometimes I'll pick a likely looking rip or hole and do well, sometimes I won't get a single bite.  I think this is just part of the nature of the beast, but I'd like to improve my hit rate.  So for any perch gurus out there, here are my questions:

1) What do you look for in a place to cast?  I'm always looking for rips, deep spots inside bars, churned water.  I've got a good eye for seeing bottom contour from the surface from a lifetime of surfing, but it is a different search pattern of course.  I'm also always looking for sand crab beds on shore and scoters in the surf, as these mean food are present.  But in winter sand crab beds are harder to find (do they move to deeper water or something?).  Also, in winter, when the waves carve out a lot of rips and holes, how do you pick?  Conversely, in summer, when the beach flattens out and structure disappears, how do you pick a spot?

2) What to you look for in deciding where to go?  I tend to fish Aptos beaches a lot as I live here, but I know talking to other fishermen that sometimes beaches farther south are hot when Aptos is not, and vice versa.  Is there any rhyme or reason to this?

3) Any other advice you would offer to take someone from intermediate to expert in chasing surf perch? 

I'll attach a couple pics from last week for inspiration.  (Highlife is from my dad's fridge, don't judge   :smt003)

Thanks for all the knowledge, I've learned a lot in the time I've been reading this board.  Truly a wealth of experience.

Looking forward to boat based rockfish opening up again next month!

6
Craftsmen's Corner / Sinks like a rock (sinker)
« on: November 23, 2020, 09:41:48 PM »
I got his idea from someone else on this forum a while back, but I can't find the post.  As I recall it was a brief mention deep in a thread on another subject.  So I can't take credit, but I wanted to share the idea in it's own thread for visibility as it is a beneficial one for both your pocket book and the environment.

What sinks like a rock?  A rock of course!  And with a little epoxy and a loop of stainless wire bent into a "U" shape, it can be easily clipped onto your rigs in place of lead.  It is of course a lot bigger per ounce (lead is 4.2x the density of lead), but if you are just dropping it over the side of a boat the size doesn't mater much, and best of all when you get snagged and have to break off, all you lost was a few pennies worth of wire and epoxy, and all you left in the water (that won't rust away) is a little dab of epoxy and maybe a short bit of mono instead of a big chunk of lead.  Helps if you tie your rigs so the line to your weight is a few lbs test less than the rest of your rig (I usually tie mine with 15 lb).

I have gotten a ton of great ideas and super useful knowledge from you all and wanted to contribute to this body of knowledge in a small way.  Pics attached, and I hope you find this useful.  All credit goes to whomever mentioned this in another thread, sorry I don't remember who you are :)

7
Wanted To Buy / WTB: First Fishing Kayak (and other gear)
« on: September 23, 2020, 12:56:26 PM »
Hi All -

I used to fish a fair bit in my teens and 20s, and after many years off I've been getting into it again, surf fishing in Aptos and south, and occasional trout trips to the sierras.  I've decided I want to get a kayak to get something larger than perch, smelt, and staghorn sculpin ;)  So I'm looking for a good used kayak and gear.

I recently signed up for this forum to get some advice, and the community has been great.  Link to my intro thread if you have any further advice to offer:  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=93432.msg1053502;topicseen#new

I envision launching from New Brighton in Santa Cruz County and going out to the reefs off Capitola for rockfish initially, so something light enough to carry down the short stairs there would save me the long ramp.

Anyway, given all that, let me know if you have a kayak that fits the bill.  Based on advice I have received I'm leaning pedal kayak, but I'm open to contrary opinions or good deals on paddle kayaks.

I will also need all the basic gear, so if people have any of this they want to empty out of their garages let me know.  PFD (have one but is old and ratty), VHF, fish finder, net (have one but may be too small), good rod / reel (have a few but don't know how ideal they are for a kayak), etc.

Thanks in advance to anyone who reads this and can offer advice or has good fit gear for sale, and glad to be on the forum.

8
Recipes / Fillet Knife Recommendations?
« on: September 22, 2020, 06:29:34 PM »
I want to replace my old no brand junk fillet knife.  I've been looking at the mora one (I have had good experience with moras in general), and the classic fish n' fillet.   Any other recommendations?  Thanks!

9
Introductions / Getting Started In Santa Cruz
« on: September 22, 2020, 04:36:20 PM »
Hi All -

I used to fish a fair bit in my teens and 20s, and after many years off I've been getting into it again, surf fishing in Aptos and south, and occasional trout trips to the sierras.  I've decided I want to get a kayak to get something larger than perch, smelt, and staghorn sculpin ;)  So I'm looking for kayak and gear purchase advice.

I have a lot of marine experience (avid surfer, have worked on boats and ships and have done a bunch of scientific diving in the past) I've been lucky enough to have caught some monster tuna and halibut working on research vessels in Alaska and the tropical pacific.   I have some kayaking experience, but have never fished from a kayak.

I envision launching from New Brighton and going out to the reefs off Capitola for rockfish initially, so something light enough to carry down the short stairs there would save me the long ramp.  I also have a wife and (small) kids that might want to go some time, so may consider a tandem that I could also go in solo, or just a single with weight capacity and room for a tyke?

Anyway, given all that, what do you guys recommend in terms of a (used to start) kayak and gear?  I've heard good things about pedal drives, are they worth it so you can fish and move at the same time?  I know the basic safety gear required (pfd, wetsuit, knife/shears, vhf, compass, whistle, food and water), but any good to have gear I might not think of?  Any must know tips, especially for the Santa Cruz area?  Any good reading material to point me at?

Oh, and any chance anyone is upgrading and wants to sell off a perfect beginner setup? ;)

Thanks in advance to anyone who reads this and can offer advice, and glad to be on the forum.

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