Mendo 8/18 - 8/19

Camped up at Mendo this weekend. Met my buddy Scott at the bait shop on Sat at 7:45. Mooch was there also and we hung out until the bait shop guy arrive at 8:30.      He had 5 people waiting for him by the time he opened. Turns out the bait shop owner now has a shack at the north ramp and is selling minnows there earlier than the store opens.

Headed to the north ramp and saw a few other NCKA crew there. We got on the water just after 9. Scott and I fish the north end and it was pretty slow. I managed to hook 1 striper but he came unbuttoned. Shortly after I farmed a largemouth at the boat due to a dull hook. Managed another largemouth before getting off the water at 12.

On Sunday I saw Mooch at the north ramp and he informed me that the other guys were launching from the south ramp. Since I only had 2.5 hours to fish before breaking down camp, I stayed at the north end and was the only kayaker there. Two guys in a small aluminum were launching at the same time. The bait guy was telling them if they want to catch stripers, minnows work the best. They were a little reluctant but ended up buying some from him.

Cruised around the north end and the two guys in the aluminum also cruised the area. About 30 minutes before I needed to get off the water. I passed within 30’ of the guys in the aluminum and noticed that they bailed on the minnows and were throwing plastic. Just after I passed them I got hit and landed a small schoolie. I released him and got hit again right away with a great fighting fish that took 10 minutes to get to the boat. I thought for sure I had a monster with the tow he gave me but he only measured 32”. While I was fighting him I noticed a school of stripers on the graph and worked quickly to get him released as I noticed the guys in the aluminum headed my way. I wanted to catch 1 more before they got there and I had to leave. I got another hit (31") just as the two guys approached and called them over to where I was catching them. I even dropped a marker buoy for them when I was over the school. They asked what I was using and seemed shocked to hear I caught them all on minnows. They quickly abandoned their plastic for the minnows. It sucked that I had to leave while the fishing was so hot. I was off the water by 9:30am

I gave a call out to the guys at the south ramp but I think I was out of range for them to hear me. I’m not sure how they did.

I'm not going to comment on the water level.   

Nice work, esp on the measuring photo op.