Dumbarton 1/3/07

Still working this area for the sturgeon payoff. Excellent launch with a 9+ tide but the return left alot to be desired first mudwalk of '07.
Don and I hit the water around 0900 hrs with the tide nice and high. I left a little before Danglin and went directly to the area I have been working near the EBMUD pump house on the west shore. Could not of asked for a more perfect morning with the only bumps as I paddled across the channel in 50' of water. After putting out my 60' rope and anchore in 20' of water I put my ghost shrimp to work and did the mantra call of hear sturgie.
My first hookup was a king, then a small leopard later in the day. No Dino!
I let Don tell about his day.
Danglin left the area, Smartly, before I did at around 1530 hrs. I got gready and paid the price with a very long mud walk back to our launch. I would say that I inspected the fishing pier for about half it's distance to the launch. I think the pier is a half mile long! Do the numbers and I had quit the mud walk. If you look at the pictures Don's snail trail back to the beach were from where the boat was anchored. Mine was from the (pier shot) half way under the fishing pier around the rocks, then up the beach. I must have gained an extra five pounds in mud that was clinging to my shoes alone. Boy what a work out. Just 40 minuets difference from the time Danglin left and when I decided to head in.
Lesson learned.....

Seems like every day we expeirence is a lesson learned. The tide does play a big part in that area.As i stated in one of your earlyer reports i used to launch a 14ft aiumn with 60 decoys from where you launched,If you missed the tide you sat for a few hrs.I always wore chest waders.When i see your pic's brings back old memorys.Thanks. In the past have caught several sturg's from that area on ghost and grass.Stick with challange.Two parts to a fishing trip.fishing and catching and we do a lot of fishing.   

Awesome water/company, but oh my!...on the mud, I trudged maybe 100', by the time I got the yak on the truck, I began to be concerned for frank for the mud was showing a football field out. I rang him up on the VHF and gave him I thought to be the best route, had to go.. Had I known it would be as bad as it was, I would have stayed for moral support ( and photo op ). Really though, the sun going down and cold setting in, that's not good. Till next time...............Danglin

Don, No brother this was on me and I do mean all over me...... Ray this is a great area and will not give it up until I find the Dino with my name on it.

where can you get ghost shrimp near the dumbarton, are you catching them or buying somewhere?

Castro Valley Sportsmen's Center
3794 Castro Valley Blvd.
Castro Valley, 537 8191

Sorry no dinos  but at least the weather and company were good and you didn't get skunked.

Scott

GOOD report and warning of the water levels. Listening/reading from others experience is GOLDEN!!

I can't wait to DO the MUD-WALK!!