Sonoma 3/31

Launched early to windy conditions trolled up the main part of the lake aways had a couple of hook ups all came off but a  small steelie. It was too windy with white caps on the lake headed back to the launch saw Adam and Tony getting ready to launch told them I was heading up the Warm Springs arm to get out of the wind. trolled the whole length of the Warm springs arm against the wind for 2 LMB no size and a couple of drive bys. It finally calmed down when I started back found a bush pile in 12' and cast a risto for 5 nice Crappie and another LMB. Then the wind picked up again the other way so I had to paddle back against the wind got 2 steelies 1 dink and a scrappy hook jawed male about 16/17". Met Rookie Chris on the way back Welcome To The Maddness. Got back to the bridge and saw Adam and Tony Who had both caught some fish I will let them chime in as I left before them. I was going to hang it up but I thought 3 differant species and no Smallie so I paddled out to the main lake and the wind was bad white caps everywhere buttoned up the life jacket and secured the hatches my arms were tired and I was taking waves over the front eveytime I stoped paddling I would spin around so I ditched into a cove and tried using a plastic crawdad no luck no luck. Then I got to the back of the cove and cast into 2' of water instant pick up set the hook smallie airborne cool got 1. Cast again another one bigger oops came off saw the fish swim back to where I had cast threw it again same fish hit it again, fished  that cove and got 9 hook ups 6 landed nothin big 12-15" but damn those fish fight. I'm tired I'm going home great work out I'm beat but I feel great. 8+ hours of paddling against the wind I'm ready for Salmon next week. Oh I forgot when I was trolling through the water ski area I got a huge hit picked up the rod big fish, using Joel's go to lure fish made a big run for the bottom heavy fish then nothing  reel in and the split rind was mangled and rear hook was gone copper split rings SUCK If you got them replace them more on this later. Here is a few Picts. Wish I had fiquered out the Smallies were so shallow earlier.
 

...so I paddled out to the main lake and the wind was bad white caps everywhere buttoned up the life jacket and secured the hatches my arms were tired and I was taking waves over the front eveytime I stoped paddling I would spin around...

Good report, mickfish! Man, you had a long day on the water!

And, yeah, that wind sucks. I once paddled out of Yorty Creek around 3:00 PM (first mistake!) with a loaded kayak for camping, and I could hardly take a forward stroke because the wind was so strong against the face of the paddle blade. Lots of perserverance got me to Thumb campground, though, and aching muscles were barely noticeable the next day!

Lake Sonoma rocks! 

Janice aka "Big J"

Schweet!  Good report. Wind sucks but you made a good day of it.

Way to score on multiple species!  Nice report.   

Ma' Boy,HobieTone, showed-up at 5:55am and we departed for the lake at 6:10 in hopes of hitting the targeted Smallmouth/Lrg.Mouth for the day.An hour and 20min. later we were there and it was windy already.
While we were unloading,Mike paddled up and said he was trolling for steelies and misc.under the bridge and to the right,away from the white-caps forming.As I was waiting for Tony to his $#IT together,I went just to the left of the ramp and on my first cast got a 17"LMB on the W-R'd Senko (pic1).....then tossed it around some more and got another one.Too easy,so i put on a lead-hd.jig w/wht.magic worm and got two more hits and lost them.

We then went to the dam area to hunt-down some SMALLIES,which WE FOUND!! (pic#2) 15" smallie with eyes too big for it's mouth.(w-r'd senko)

Tony caught his first bass from his yak,with a "SECRET LURE" I been beggin him to toss with faith, IT WORKS! (pic#3)

We trolled and tossed the dam and the areas on both ends for both spiecies successfully with crawdad-type diver, carolina rigg'd brn&purple RoboWorms and the 7" w-r'd senkos.

HobieTone also got his first Yak'd-SMALLIE and his total for the day was 7-LMB and 1-SMB

I however, had my limit of 4-LMB and 1-SMB before 10:30am.!! So I started to toss for smallies and look what I found!
(pics # 5,6,7) underwatershots w/hand-painted-wifes'-nail-polish-leadheaded jig-success!!

The day could have been just alil'-mo'betta,if I hadn't lost the "beast of the day" near the dam, I paddled over it and saw it on the FF......put on the E-Brake and lowered the "secret" down to it........it hit the bottom and I felt a ...SLURP!....swang it up and IT WAS ON!!....long enough for me too see that IT WAS A BIG ONE,as he shot-up and out,only to shake the hook out too.

Thanks for makin the SONOMA call Mike!  I had never been and now I will say "I'LL BE BACK"  you can nite-fish and camp too.
 
 

Nice going guys! Gotta love the "red eyes" of that SMB - pretty cool! GREAT PHOTO ADAM!!!

Mike - glad you did not loose "the lure" 

Looks like you guy did great for the conditions you where faced with, way to stick it out.

Adam that's a great under water photo of that smallie you sure know how to stick them. I am going to have to go out with you and learn to bass fish and give up the trout.

Pat R  

Thanks for the kind words Pat.
don't give up on something that works,just add to your options.
I have never had the BASS Skillz until i put in some time with the senkos and now am trying different things to throw at em'. we'll see if i can get something going up at clearlake thurs-sat?

seems the localest lakes produce the best for me, we can hunt em' anytime.....

 Adam good  job.That lake is so fishy.

I love the underwater pix.  Mickfish way to go multispecies.  Im sure a high point total day.