Mendo, Wednesday PM Shift

I picked up some minnows and launched at the South ramp at 4:00PM. The wind was up, but not too bad from the North when I launched. Paddled over to the East side of the lake, dropped my minnows,  and set up a drift in an area I've had some luck at before. In the short time it took me to paddle over, the wind had picked up and was now blowing due West, but the drift was still tolerable once I threw my bait bucket out and hung my legs over the side of the yak.

Anyway - on the first pass one of my rods gets nailed. As I'm fighting the 1st fish my other pole gets nailed and line is just peeling off the reel. So I was gonna holster the first rod and grab the other, but the fish let go on the other pole before I could get to it. So after a spirited battle up comes the cute little ~20" striper for a photo and release op. After the P&R and rebaiting my poles I had drifted out of the zone so I paddled up for another run.

This time the same rod gets nailed, so before grabbing it I reeled up my other rod. Short mediocre fight later and up comes the LM in the second pic. P&R'ed the bass and dropped my other rod back down and it got nailed instantly...landed another identical LM and released it...I'm not too sure it wasn't the same fish!

By now the wind was howling and 3' wind waves were rollin' across the lake. I wasn't willing to call it a day yet after $20 in gas and $10 worth of minnows, so I decided to shoot across to the West side of the lake where there was some shelter from the wind.

Well, the paddle over to the West side of the lake rivaled some of the infamous Buck's Landing Adventures, but I eventually made it. I'm glad I was in the P15 because I'm not so sure I could've made it across in the Caper. 

These two were probably upset that I made it and they had to settle for a dead carp.

I also saw tons of deer lakeside who didn't seem to mind that I was right off shore.

I fished the West side of the lake for the last hour or so of daylight for two more decent LMs and the 21" hog pictured. 

Awesome work RH, sounds lie a lot of fun and a workout. Sounds like Mendo gets some heavy wind going at times. Are there any spots on the lake that have shelter if it is blowing hard?

Z

Yeah, but it's tricky. As others have mentioned in recent reports, the wind direction changes all the time throughout the day.

Usually, though, the stronger winds come from the West or NW so you can kinda duck down on the West side of the lake...where the striper fishing has never really been too good (for me anyway).

OOHHHHHHH! on my way home to pack up and i'll be there at 8!...that damn baitshop better be open or i'm ginna go midevel on someone!  see you in a matter of hrs!

Nice!!!
I'm using minnow for sure!  Thanks, Dustin!

Nice report RH! The LMB and SMB action has been consistent all year at Mendo. I just wish the striper action would be a little more predictable. See you all Saturday (and some of you Friday).

CHEERS!

Thanks for the intel Dustin. Looks like the size of the stripers has gone down a bit over the last couple months but the LM and SM seem to be feeding well.