Fishing and Chillin North 4/5-4/6 Lake Sonoma

Few more

and again

I almost forgot the little present somebody left in my tankwell

Scott, nice combo of bass and a personal best, good deal.

Ben, nice crappie And some of the guys dont want panfish in the AOTY. Its bigger than your bass.

Mickfish, looks like a nice get together. Even thou you got crapped on .
wished I could of made it.

Given a choice, I think I'd like to have this crappie in my kayak

much more so than this crappy on my kayak.


Nice report guys, glad to see some decent fish caught, esp. that bass Scott.  I had fun kayak-in camping and fishing Lake Sonoma this time of year a few years ago at Skunk Camp.  I've been meaning to do it again, but just never got around to it.

Brian

Scott, congrats on that big bass.  You did much better in half a day than some of us did the whole weekend.

All of you AOTY contenders can relax.  Scott told me he didn't registered this year.

I got hit by two steelhead near the main launch ramp.  The first one hit a trolled shad rap and got off before I could grab the rod.  For awhile, I thought it was still hooked because when I looked back, I saw a steelhead doing several summer salts.  I trolled back around a few more times and the second fish hit HARD.  I've never seen such an aerobatic fish.  With Adam watching, I fought it all the way to the boat and got it ready to slide into the net, when all of a sudden, it made one last lunge for the surface and spat the rap.  It was gorgeous fish around the 19" range.  Had I caught that steelie, it could have completed my little Lake Sonoma Grand Slam.  My score for the weekend was one smallie, several decent LMB, a big crappie.

It was good fishing and camping fun with the guys.  Thanks to Mickfish for posting the hook-up, reserving the site, and bringing those delicious steaks.

Rick, it was great to meet you.  Thanks for the wine, chili, and beer!

Adam, Ben, Frank... It was good fishin'-n-chillin' with you guys as usual!

Thanks to Mike for setting this up and for bringing the steaks!
Rick and Mike were at the launch and loading up for the long haul to camp when I arrived. Chunk and I were gonna fish the dam area and then pack yak up and drive to the much closer YortyCreek lot, then paddle fromthere to camp=30min.
It was windy when we got there, but started to calm through the day.  I hunted the same areas, with the same lures as last year and came up DRY! Chuck and Scott headed straight for the Steelies. After find NO LUV! I trolled a shadrap and a DeepDvrCrawdad over, around and under the whole area! Caught up with Chuck and planned to troll to the launch, pack-up and head to the Yorty Lot. We troll and troll and troll somemore....then as we round the last point before giving it up, Scott calls on the VHF "I just got a BIG BASS", Chuck asks,"where?".
Scott replies,"right where Adam just left" I paddle around the point to get some pics and Chuck was right behind me! That thing was FAT! and so ugly, that it was pretty! I'm DAMNED sure I saw that beast and her best friend on the FF a couple of times off that point!! I guess the SenkoSnake was just too much..it's tummy could only fit a ShadRad?!
I'm so glad you had enough time to come up and get a trophy LMB/smallie double hookup and make your meeting too!  Did you explain your MADNESS, while showing off the pics?!


So that was good cause to stay and troll that area for another couple of more runs/hours, right?

....a few pics and many more to come, stay tuned for more entertainment!
 

sounds like another great time was had by all. 

must have been FREEZING!!

Scott's bass is pretty impressive.

On Sun. morning I saw a small alum boat pull up to the opposite shore two guys got out a hiked up the hill aways,then I started hearing Mooch's famous call coming from the hillside for about 40 mins then I hear a cautious answer for about 10min them blam. About 30 minutes later here they come racing down the lake holding up a nice Tom. 

...while we paddled the same spot, Chuck yells out "did you see that fish jumpin? I think he was on for a second?" That's ALL I needed to hear, so we paddled some more in hopes of finding some hungry steelies.
Thanks when Chuck got one to hit and it went Ballistic right in front of me. I hurried to get an Aireal Shot, but came up with a BrokenHeart one instead.

pics1&2~ From a cat-nappin to head slappin! ChampChuckE

trolled for another hour for NOT and then pack-it and drove to the Yorty lot.

Scott's bass is pretty impressive.

here is the better angle....see its' fat guts? (it looks like he's already celebrating  with one of those funny lil hand-rolled cigaretts)   but I know he dosen't do THAT stuff.   

We got our "special pass" for an overnite stay in the lot, packed up and paddled/searched for camp to the theme of Sanford&Sons! da -da -da -da'da!

Nice Scott just take the fish and run

Mike -

Thanks for organizing. Sorry I had to fish and run but with 2 kids in college, sometimes you have to put in some overtime. Will try to make the overnight next time. It was pretty cool to catch a big fish before work. Made me feel like Freddie.

Scott

MIKE!  at least it tried to put it/them into the center of the circle! too funny!
are you sure it was S#i+, did it smell?

As Chuck and I paddled insearch of our camp, past many of hard-to-pass by areas without tossing a lure, we wondered how much further and called Frank, who was already at camp relaxing, we asked if we are close and if he could yell or whistle, to reassuring us.....we didn't hear a sound...KEEP PADDLING!!

...arrived at camp, and joined the crew. Set up our tents too close to Franks and then remembered that it's OK! I brought the EAR PLUGS and will get SOME sleep.
However, Ben chose to pick-up camp to find a QUIETER area as far away as possible, but NOT FAR ENOUGH!

Rick saved my ass by bringing some Great HomeMadeChili to complement Mikes' steaks!...my planned Gourmet Rice-A-Roni came out like Rice-a-PHONEY! with a crunch?  told everyone that was the almond slivers I added.

Woke up, made some coffee, woke others up doing so, then hit the area for A FISH! .....I didn't even plan on tossing a senko around AT ALL!, it was too easy last year and I thought I'd be enjoying the same this year....smallies&largies were slamin the 7"er....last year.

pic1~Bens' shoreline estate and departure

pic2&3~ da'camp from atop.

......every turn, point, cove, submerged tree and finger looked like it would be holding FISH.....so not TRUE....there's TOO MANY places for them to hide.

pic3~ after pulling to shore for relief, I see a few couples making future bedding plans....no wonder they're not eating!