Near Double play AOTY

 Hit Berryessa today with Dreams of a Mama Small Mouth and a Luck of the Draw Kokane...

Read up on Zee's down rigger stuff, thanks Z   

 Beautiful weather, $15 markell Cove and yes Quagga Mussel Inspection, unless they don't want to hassle with you getting the yak off the roof, my story today...

 Nail my best SM right out of the shoot... Thinking at the time, I will do better... not to be, did pick up various Spotted and LM Bass 1 to 2 lb. range, but wanted to try the down rigger thing...

I've got much to learn....

 Felt like all thumbs, with cables coming undone/repair etc... etc...  and finally get it down and running well...

 while all this is going on, I've got my other rod going with a rapala and a weight in line...

 "ZZZzzzZzzzz"  It go's off....   I'm in 200' of water, this has got to be it....

 Jumps like mad hatter all over the place, nice Koke, maybe 16"....  takes another leap by the yak...

 and GONE..... 

  Oh well, just a tease anyway, a kokane is not going to put ya on the podium...

Not much else other than the usual Bass, 1 to 2 lbders and the wind kicking up pretty good by late afternoon,

and yes, I have been fishing for 4 days....

 Cashed in some WAF ( Large Account at the Moment... )

and Opportunities had arisen, so take em where ya can get em.....

 Gotta love not taking the yak of the rig for 4 days, and just changing out fishing poles and tackle.....

 That's the Life..... 

Nice outing! great report and pictures!  Thanks...

Read up on Zee's down rigger stuff, thanks Z   

No worries. If anyone's interested:
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/page,32.html

Z

You ARE living the life right now, Don.  That rippled surface pic is exquisite.  Nice one.   

Hello Danglin, is it me or the lake seemed full like about 90%? Thanks for the
report and taking some pictures.

Jedmo

Right on Don. I will be hitting Berryessa also within the next 2 weeks for a smallie hunt. Hopefully see you out there with all those awesome days off you have.

  And you say that I get around!  ha!

Did you catch that omn the right side just a bit from the launch....good little rocky habitat there = lots of smallies.

jim

Did you catch that omn the right side just a bit from the launch....good little rocky habitat there = lots of smallies.

jim

 Uh... NO..... 

Thanks Don, now you got me wanting to hit Berryessa  . Like there aren't already enough places I want to paddle on.

Nice job Danglin! That must have been a huge Kokanee to hit the rapala like that. One of the best eating fish in freshwater in my opinion. I'm sure the bass was a nice consolation prize!

-Eliot

In my experience, a snubber is always good to rig when trolling for kokes. Maybe next time. Nice report.

Way to keep gettin out there Don!

Live it up!