Lake San Antonio

I almost never fish freshwater.  Mostly because I suck at it.  But my family was invited to a post labor day wakeboard trip with a few other families and as I also suck at wakeboarding, loaded up the trident and headed on down.  Having read a few of FishMasters posts, I picked up some catfish bait, some basic terminal tackle and hoped for the best.  We got in late friday, and saturday morning I saw a bunch of birds working in the middle of the lake and some serious fish jumping going on.  I wasnt able to get out but it gave me some hope.  That evening drowned some chicken livers, nightcrawlers for nada.

Sunday morning got out early, it was actually still a bit cooler than the 107 it was the day before.  I was marking bait, and a few fish but not really sure what they were.  Tried tossing some kastmasters, rattletraps, and few plugs with no action.  I had just reverted to a slding sinker rig with a night crawler when a huge erruption of fish went nuts about 20 feet away from me.  The first time I have ever seen anything like it.  It was as if thousands of big rocks were being thrown in at once.  Bait fish were leaping, tails were thrashing, and my heart was racing.  Tossed my nightcrawler into the middle of the boils and in about 3 seconds, bendo.  Great fight, brought in my first kayak striper, not a monster but a respectable 24 inches.

What really amazed me was as fast as it started it was over.  I lingered in the area for a while longer, but no more marks of bait or fish.  I kept looking for birds, or other boils but didnt see any.  Trolled a few lures around but as the PB, jetskis etc started up, I headed in and practiced my self rescue and my impersonation of a buoy.  I just keep the PFD on and float in a cove.

I may have to pay more attention to stripers in freshwater, that was truly awesome.

Eugene

Great action, Eugene!  24" is a nice striper!  Thanks for the report.   

I may have to pay more attention to stripers in freshwater, that was truly awesome.

2 words for you Eugene - BAM IV!

Terrific report.  Way to hook up on the quality striper and then make like a bobber!  No kitties caught?

Michael

Eugene

That is really cool. Striper boils are so much fun. I may be heading over to San Luis Reservior in the fall, you and Etienne should check it out.got some self rescue practice in on Satuday also. 

Scott

I've been there when the stripers boil...they are very spooky and disappear as soon as you toss anything at them.  The nightcrawler is something I'd never have thought of...perfect for that situation.

Nice job and great report.

HobieBlue

Way to go on the striper e2g!!! Ive been eluded the last three times id been there. Never tried throwing A crawler into the boils tho. We might have something here.Those explosions are something else. Great report way to get em...Andy

Man Eugene! You sure are having a crazy year. That might be the first kayak striper ever caught at San Anton’. Good freaking job.
Pat

Maybe we should try nightcrawlers for Halibut.

I may have to pay more attention to stripers in freshwater, that was truly awesome.

2 words for you Eugene - BAM IV!

Terrific report.  Way to hook up on the quality striper and then make like a bobber!  No kitties caught?

Michael

no kitties at all.

Scott, I read about your self rescue pratice.  I like mine in 75 degree water better!  But will take you up on a san luis trip.


I cant take credit for any thought about, "hmm, how bout a nightcrawler."  Its just what was on my line at the moment.  I assumed I could have tossed a bare hook in and get hit, maybe I was wrong.

Very cool! I assume you could do the slow-troll mendo minnow thing there too?

WTG e2g! Striper run is around the corner in the bay. I'm getting really
excited.

Jed

Very cool! I assume you could do the slow-troll mendo minnow thing there too?

I would assume that the fish must behave the same in both lakes so that should work.  That was my first time using a fishfinder in a lake, and it was really helpful to see the drop offs and channels.  Going to have to do my homework on striper habits.

Nice!  Cool report and pics.
When I hear about "striper boils", I usually think "Lake Mendo", but this a good reminder to try other lakes with stripers.

WTG e2g! Striper run is around the corner in the bay. I'm getting really
excited.

Jed

Me too.  Trolling for stripers in the bay is one of my favorite things to do.  I'm just hoping for the kind of action we had several years ago when catching and releasing 30 a day was common.

Nice!  Cool report and pics.
When I hear about "striper boils", I usually think "Lake Mendo", but this a good reminder to try other lakes with stripers.

WTG e2g! Striper run is around the corner in the bay. I'm getting really
excited.

Jed

Me too.  Trolling for stripers in the bay is one of my favorite things to do.  I'm just hoping for the kind of action we had several years ago when catching and releasing 30 a day was common.

Hey Chuck! Napa River stripers is getting pretty hot too! Big ones are coming in.

LL