more xj-15... 2007 03 10+11..

aka scr.

I went shorefishing on saturday with my boys for a couple hours.  roostertail, kastmaster, powerbait and cast-a-bubble and worm. no fish, but nothing lost and no ears hooked.  we saw two planters landed off the dam and far side, probably powerbait. also ran in to stuart and his family. 

sunday afternoon I went out and decided to try the method of downrigging where you have a 2lb ball on 20 feet of parachute cord. behind it I had a shasta sling blade dodger and worm back about 50 feet.  I used 4lb test with a 3lb leader after the dodger. The "downrigger" and my 9 foot ugly stick crappie rod worked pretty well, but when I brought up my worm to check it after one lap around the main section, my single hook had somehow impaled a leaf. geez. 

then I toplined for a bit cause a lot of that lake is only 20-30 feet and got a hit in front of the picnic area. I knew my leader had a knot it in it, but it's been awhile since my line broke and that's what happened when I set my hook after the hit. that's what I get for being lazy. 

ran into stuart and his family and fuzz and friend too! hmm. and on friday I met the infamous thornley! don't you ncka guys have lawns to mow, diapers to change? or something?!? 

sunday, met a guy in a tiny inflateable rowboat and he got two on Kastmasters toplined between 4 and 5:30 p.m.  he had the bases covers, one gold kastmaster, one silver and got one on each. kastmasters work good he said,  . Well, I guess they do! 

so there are a couple planters still out there for the people who don't want to drive far or get up early.

j

John,

I'm going to start fishing at secret location xj-15 this week. The bass are moving up at Lake of the Pines, and the water there is a good bit colder than at xj-15.  I might even do some trolling for peanut trout. I need the exercise, that's for certain. Salmon season is a coming, and I want to be ready.

Scott

Scott, a little practice before paddling out at dawn at moss is a good idea I agree. I'd like to hit it a few times in the evening myself, it's just hard to get my act together sometimes. but that is almost exactly why I need the practice.

you could simulate mooching by dropshotting for those marks on the very bottom of the deepest part too, 

J

John -

You are so over-due to hook some trout. Way to stick with it. Thanks for the tips over the last few weeks. Below are the lures which turned my trout slump around.

Kastmaster 1/4 oz trout or watermellon pattern pimped with a gamakatsu siwash hook with red powerbait trout worm.

Firetiger trolling spinner with orange or green powerbait on the upper hook shank, the hook has a wire coil to keep the bait in place. I bought this lure in Fresno.

Seps watermellon dodger. I found that the Seps had better action than the sling blade at the slow trolling speeds I usually troll at since I am using pulling a rapala on the other rod. I use the sling blade when pulling spoons on both rods.

Rapala J7 in firetiger or rainbow pattern. A consistent big trout producer. I pimped this lure with #6 red extra wide gap gamakatsu treble hooks and a small piece of powerbait trout worm on the trailer hook.

Rapala SR5 in green with red hooks and lip. I also pimp this lure with a small piece of powerbait trout worm on the trailer hook.

I dip all lures in power bait trout attractant before using. Hope this helps.

Scott (GB2)

Scott, I got some fish on friday, see my other XJ-15 post, so I'm feeling like I'm sort of doing things right,  .

overall, I am a noob tho, and I tend to get out late and quit early, so I can't complain too much when I get skunked.

Believe me, tho, I have plenty of lures,  , but it does seem you always could add
one more to the collection! 

I am going to try a little senko fishing soon.  I am even newer at bass fishing, going to try the compa methods.

J

John -

Sorry I didn't read your post more carefully and congrats. Good luck with the LMB. The SR5 works well on SMB also,

Scott

I think I'm going to bail on the "Spring long-range" seminar at Fishermans Warehouse tomorrow, and go fishing instead. I just have to believe that the bass in XJ-15 are in pre-spawn mode right now.

Scott