Lake Sonoma, 01/02

Made it up to Lake Sonoma this morning with my son Drew on his last day of vacation before heading back to halls of education.  We met up with Brian at the launch ramp around 8:00.  We headed across to the dam and trolled down the face for one nice smallmouth and Brian managed a largemouth.  Worked our way down the east shore and Drew baged the lone steelie of the day.  We crossed over to the West shore around the begining of the narrows and trolled all the way back up for no biters.  Stopped on some bassy looking marks just before the launch ramp that were just off the bottom in feeding mode at about 30 feet and hooked a nice 3 1/2 to 4 pounder that threw my jig back at me by the boat before I could lip him.  We caught a few more on that spot before heading in to make it home.  Nice day on the water, not stellar, but better than a skunk for sure.  Thanks for meeting us up there and for the good company Brian, it was great to meet you and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Norm

Here is Drew with our lone trout and Brian at a distance heading for the trees.....

Thanks Norm.  Somehow I knew when I met Drew this morning that he'd end up out fishing me.  I look forward to doing it again sometime.

Brian

Good day out on the water and hooked fish is always a bonus!! nice report and pics too! Sonoma looks nice! I hate fishing spots when the water level is low or there is no shoreline folliage to enjoy and FISH!
Thanks for the pics&port!

One ? Norm, what and how did you get the deep bass to hit? it's my first winter of "cold-water huntin" and I can't seem to get it right,yet!!
Any words are "Good Words"

Looks like the water's finally getting a little color to it. One more big strom and it'll probably turn to mud for the season. Love it when the little guy out does the big guys...

Adam,

In the winter, I like to hit rocky main lake points close to deep water.  I find that the fish are generally fewer in numbers caught but larger in average size.  This could be atributed to the larger baits I prefer to throw in the winter as well.  I think the best way to go is fish bulky baits, slowly.  I was fising a 1/2 ounce brown/orange jig and got one also on a 7 inch bulky zipper type worm.  I found the fish fairly well concentrated, right off the bottom (within 1 foot), which usualy indicates acitve feeding.  If you find these conditions, fish bulky baits, very slowly.  The reason I think this works better is that the fish are slow because of the low water temps and they do not want to chase a meal very far.  They also would probably prefer a bigger meal when available so as to reduce the chasing thing even more.   Good luck, I'll post up when i get a chance to go out again if you are able to join up with me.  Later....

Jonesz, this is not the first time he outfished me and most likely will not be the last......   

Norm -

Way to go! The only thing better than catching fish is watching your kids catch fish.

Scott

Slowin it down is what I gotta work at............I see them hangin near the bottom off those same main-deep points. Now I've got a little confidence that they can be had!!
Thanks for the extra words......If this dam wind wasen't blowin so hard I'd be thinkin bout hitting it this weekend maybe next...and thanks for the invite...cuz I will be taking you up on it.
Adam "the FisHuntin' fool"

Norm,
get used to it. It happens more and more as they get older. The funny thing is when they become "instant experts" as soon as they are out doin ya  Gotta love it.... I've been shown a thing or two in the past by my son who "was not doing it right" and then starts out doin me with a non tipical method...