Solo Bendo at Mendo, 7/8

I ended up doing a solo trip to Mendo this morning.  I was hoping to see Rory and/or Mako1 up there this morning, but the heat must have kept everyone away (don't blame you).  That being said, it was a decent morning.  I started out following the edge of the main channel from the south ramp up toward the dam.  Metered some big bait balls on that edge somewhat close to the dam.  They had big striper type marks above and below them in some places.  I managed to hook 3 and boat 2, one just over 5 pounds and one a little over 7.  No monsters, but can't complain about three hookups in an hour on a spoon and a bucktail jig!!  Tried to get back on the bait a few times, but the striper marks were harder to come by.  Started fishing black bass by 8 or so.  Did that for about 2 hours for two small, smallies on the dropshot.  Started heating up quick at that point and I did not see anyone else, so took off and was leaving the parking lot before 11:00. 

Norm

Nice looking fish WTG...Andy

Thanks for the report Norm. You proved it's worth going out, on artificials no less. "Minnows? We don't need no stinkin' minnows."
I had to stay home and finish my fire prevention yardwork. The heat scared me too.
Maybe later in the week...

Sweet. Thanks for the report!

Nawm, Great to see some stripers on the bite. Artificials to boot! Nice work!

Those are great fish for July...nice job!

Thanks guys, I was stoked to find a few biters as well.  I was just thinking it has been at least a year since I was last on Mendo.....seems like life always has a way of keeping you busy. 

Hope you got your fire lines laid down Mako!  BTW, a fella was talking to me from the shore up east of the dam named Mike McCarty, he said to say hello if I saw you.

Norm

Fishin' in the heat - love it!  Thanks for the report, Norm.

 

Thanks for the report.  How low is the water level currently?

good one! (or2)   Thanks for showing&telling....reads like a well spent morning indeed!...finding them right off the blocks is a sweet-deal(i did that once)
getting them on the artifs' is something I'm still trying...WTG!!
NOWthats'THREEpeopleIknowTHATdon'tNEEDnoSTINKINminnows!

Thanks for the report.  How low is the water level currently?

It looked like somewhere between 15 to 20 verticle feet from the normal high water level.  The south ramp is still well within the water. 

Thanks for the kid words guys,  I was just lucky to find them early before lockjaw set in.   

Norm

Very set set of stripers!  Way to use that FishFinder to nail 'em!

Bryan

Nice report.  I would have thought you'd done much worse in these conditions.

Hey Norm, good to hear about the fishing. We got up late and decided to go to a local lake in the area (Highland Springs) and let the wife try her hand at yaking. Wish I had taken my rod for there. A lot of fishing were jumping and all. All were LMB that we could see. And the good news is that it looks like the wife is going to get her own yak!! Hope to see you at BAM.

Nice work Nawm. Especially nice to get them all on lures.

Z