Melones or Del Valle 1/20 &/or 1/21

Next weekend, Sat. 1/19, Sun 1/20, & Mon. 1/21, is a 3-dayer for some because it's my birthday ... uh, I mean MLK Jr. Day.

Anyhoo, I know I'm going Sunday &/or Monday, just don't know where?  Was thinking of New Melones if it garners enough interest.  It's a long haul by oneself.   Otherwise it will be Del Valle.

Won't be able to get out Saturday as I have non-fishing plans.

Company welcome, wherever I end up going!  Ch. 69

Michael

Since there was no interest in Melones, looks like it will be Del Valle on Sunday although I could be persueded to go Monday.   Probably will be less congestion because not everybody gets that day off.

Company welcome.  Channel 69

Michael

Hey, BD-boy-to-be, I'm game for Sunday for sure or a maybe on Monday. Gotta test out my downrigger so hope I can get it installed by then. Oh, yeah...and get a new Seps dodger or two!

Janice aka "Big J"

Would love to have company!

Gotta test out my downrigger so hope I can get it installed by then.

Yeah, get it on there and we can have dueling downriggers.    One thing I did was replace the cable with braid.  You might find the hum to get irritating.  Not to mention the possible effects to the fish.  GB2 would be a good person to contact about this.

Michael

Janice and Michael,

What brand/model downrigger do you have?  What size weight do you use?  What mount do you use?  Michael, does the braid effect the accuracy of your depth counter?  Sooooo many questions, my head hurts. 

Grizz,

I have the Scotty Laketroller.  I've only used it a half dozen times, so I'm still trying to perfect fishing with it.

I have several different weights, a 2.5 lb, a 3.4lb, and a 4lb.  I've only used the 2.5 lber for 2 reasons.  First, I don't travel very fast so I don't need a heavier weight to stay vertical and second, I'm afraid that if I use too heavy of a weight, it will put too much stress on the plastic despite the fact that I created a backing plate made of stainless steel.

I use the rectangular flush mount, number 244, but would have used the circular one had I known about it.  Now they have the 244L which is the rectangular but it locks.  Seems pretty neat and would have definitely used it had it been around when I was rigging.  Since I'm not good at inserting photoes, check out this site and just scroll over the mounts that are in blue font.  It will show you the different pictures.

I haven't noticed whether the braid effects the accuracy of depth - never really thought about it.  My downrigger doesn't have a depth counter like the fancier models, one full turn is equivalent to a foot.  Like I posted earlier, the hum of the cable is enough to drive anybody batty, let alone what it might do to the fish.  That was my deciding factor to switch over.

Hope this helps Grizz.

Michael

I actually use the cable not braid on my downrigger. Tote I think uses braid. I stayed with the cable for 2 reasons, I attached yellow braid to the cable using uni knots every 5 feet so it is easier to keep track of what depth you are at. So for 10 ft I have 1 uni and at 20 ft I have 2 uni knots. At the 5 foot intervals I marked the cable with a red magic marker. I also kept the cable because the hum and electrical current are felt to attract fish. I attched a cork to the bottom of the wire which cuts the humming slightly. I only use a 2.5 lb weight since I rarely fish deeper than 30 ft and troll at very slow speed. I will be at DV probably on Saturday but maybe on Sunday, havent decided yet. BTW, Happy Birthday!!! Mine was yesterday. Got a nice EPIRB from my wife. Hope I never have to use it.

Scott

Happy BD’s Michael and Scott.  If you three (and J) are going to be at DV Sunday with your downriggers, maybe I’ll come out then to check them out.  Or better yet, if you all answer my stupid NuB questions now, maybe I’ll buy one and use it Sunday.

Michael, does the base of the flush mount fit in one of the Hobie pole holders or did you have to cut a hole for it?  If you cut a hole, can water get in through the center of the mount?  On the 244L, it looks like the rotating lock on their regular deck mounts.  Do Scotty DRs have the knobby base that would fit into a regular deck mount? 

Scott, what brand/model do you use?  I am looking at the Scotty Depthking 1060.  It has a 23” boom, depth counter, boom mounted pole holder and two feet per turn.

Michael, sorry to hijack your thread.   

I'm trying not to have to work this weekend so that I can fish Del Valle on Sunday. Hope to see you all there!

I've got comments and questions for both Grizz and GB2 but unfortunately school starts in half an hour.  I will get back to you guys later today.  Great topic we've got going here guys.

And FJ, the more the merrier, hope you get Sunday off.

Michael

. . . the more the merrier . . .

10-4 Rubber Duckie, we got us a convoy.

well hopefully i can make it we have a ton of plans for this weekend so we will see what happens.

I have to go back to this lake becasue i got skunked last weekend (it was terrible, but a great paddle)

I use the Scotty lake Troller with 1ft per turn which is pretty easy to turn with a 2.5 lb weight. I like the shorter boom because it keeps the weight closer to the centerline which makes it more stable/less tippy. I also troll from the stern, unlike alot of guys who troll with their rods and downriggers in front of them. BTW, PatR, Tote, Raymac and others are more experienced at downriggers. I have only used them for a year and only use them when the fish are holding deeper than 15-20 feet.

Scott

Sounds like a good crew going to DV on Sunday, I have never been there, might be a good time for a newbe to check it out! Do you have to use a rigger there? I thought I saw reports in the past about stripers being caught there. Is that fishery out of season now? Well, any info would be appreciated--- where to launch?----thanks to all---Doug

And FJ, the more the merrier, hope you get Sunday off.

  Just found out I have to go down to Los Angeles for an early Monday meeting. I may still try to go to Del Valle on Saturday since I'll have to fly out on Sunday.