Del Valle 12/16

First I will have to say it was cold, very cold. Never got out of the 40's. Launched at 8:00 AM after loading my jumbo minnows into my new bait tube which I designed using Mooch's photos. Being artificial lure/fly only kind of guy this was a stretch for me but I wanted to get the striper jinx off my back. Hooked up with Kayak James and Pat R who were fishing live minnows just west of the launch ramp. I headed north west to the area that Edsel and Mooch hammered last week and set up a south to north drift. My son Mike was in the bow fishing carolina rigged live minnows on 8# fluorocarbon and a ringed #2 gamakatsu. I was fishing the same rig except I was using a bait caster with 15# fluorocarbon leader on 15# powerpro mainline. Mike hooked to 3 stripers releasing 2 and keeping a 20 incher. I also hooked 3 releasing 2 and keeping a 20 incher. All were caught on live minnows except for my last striper which I hooked on a storm swim bait (small shad -  single hook). My wife came by around noon and brought a pizza which was great. Good to see James and Pat out there. The fishing in general was slow compared to the last 2 weeks. Trolling rapalas produced no trout for me which was a first. Oh, and did I mention it was really cold, really cold.

Scott (GB2)

Scott thanks again for the hospitality, pizza and beer very nice of you. Looks like the striper jinxs jumped onto my yak since my score was a big fat 0  . I was thinking about taking those jumbo minnow home and frying then up for dinner but no gave them to a couple of tubers hope they had better luck then I did.
James it was very nice to have met you and thanks for the tips. See you both next time on the water.

Pat R   

how much weight did you use on the carolina rig?

where did you hook the minnow?

J

J -

I used the recommended rig from the Sean's Mendo Stripers article since I am a newbie to bait fishing: 1/4 oz egg sinker and nose hooked jumbo minnows. The stripers don't seem to be a discriminating about the condition of the bait compared to tuna. My son was soaking some pretty sad looking minnows and still got bit although he was using pretty light line. Mike was on the bottom and I fished about 5-8 ft off the bottom using our tandem team technique which we use for locating LMB.


Pat -

Just keep fishing and the stripers will come. Took me 12 months to catch my first one.

Scott (GB2)

hey thanks! I have caught exactly one striper in my life, a 7" one in the surf while fishing for surf perch,  .

but it fought like a 10" perch,  .

J

Way to go Mike/Scott. A great combo father and son on a tandem what they were made for. Now it's time to hit that lake with some flies and really bust it loose. I'm the opposite have caught striper on bait just not a fly on Del Valle. I think I will bust out the 9wgt. and go for it since all the striper cruising spots are in the know. Hope to hook up soon and Merry Christmas to you and yours. Frank

Frank

A small clouser minnow on a sink tip might work, however, fishing has really slowed down on Del Valle. James and Pat who fish there regularly covered the water to the north with little results except for SMB. The stripers we hooked were about 50-100 ft off the west shore 1/4-1/2 mile from the ramp in 15 FOW suspended from the bottom to 5 ft. Water clarity was fair to good.  I have only fished flies for trout and LMB so Marmot and the other fly guys could probably give you better advice on SB fly tactics. I am planning a SB and LMB fly fishing only trip to the Forebay in March or April, maybe we can hook up. Happy holidays to you and your family.

scott

Way to "Stick" your "Target!" You said you were just gonna practice  ........The first time I tossed out one of them minnows I was in love!
Congrats and thanks for the pics&port! 

NICE work fellas Hard to believe the water is still clear after all the rain we had. Hope it stays that way for a while . Thanks for the report & pics!