Quarry Lakes--Horseshoe

Trolled live jumbo minnows, a rapala SR5, and a KastMaster from 1500 to 1700 with my wife today.  Ariane had one strong hit on a minnow around 1630, but she didn't hook it.  Probably should have had the drag a little loser to keep the fish from just yanking the minnow off the hook. 

We got there just as the wind died down, and it was smooth and easy trolling.  I didn't see anyone catch anything from the bank, but a young boy caught what looked like a 3 lb rainbow while trolling with his father.  Another guy in a 12' aluminum boat pulled in a 4 lb catfish on a trolled rapala of some sort.  I didn't know catfish would hit artificial bait.

Today was only my second day fishing out here in California and for trout to boot.  Probably going to try Del Valle tomorrow and am planning on spending much more time on the water than today.

Keep Pluggin...

  It only gets better...

  Welcome ......... Danglin

Pharmer,

Welcome to California and the forum.  At Del Valle, try trolling with a J7 or F7 in Firetiger and a SR5 in Shad from the launch through the Narrows (up to where a large bay opens up to the right), down the left side.  Good luck!

Welcome Pharmer! Check out the Bald Eagle nest at Del Valle, up on the hill to the left, been there for decades. You would like Lake Mendo too, big tasty stripers. CA has a great variety of game fish, a nice place to own a smoker... Ben aka Guitarzan

Hello all
Thanks for the good advice and the welcoming.  I am excited to try a different style of fishing from where I grew up.  So far I have only fished Del Valle once and Quarry Lakes once and got skunked both times.  Looking forward to scouting out all the hot spots and meeting some of you guys. 

Lake Mendocino....it's hard not to notice that most of the top fresh water fish in the angler of the year competition have been snatched out of there.  Must be an awesome place.  Can't wait to have time to make the drive up there from San Carlos.

Courtney

Hello all
Thanks for the good advice and the welcoming.  I am excited to try a different style of fishing from where I grew up.  So far I have only fished Del Valle once and Quarry Lakes once and got skunked both times.  Looking forward to scouting out all the hot spots and meeting some of you guys. 

Lake Mendocino....it's hard not to notice that most of the top fresh water fish in the angler of the year competition have been snatched out of there.  Must be an awesome place.  Can't wait to have time to make the drive up there from San Carlos.

Courtney

welcome to your future MADNESS!! Pharmer!   if you read back your own thoughts, it's a NO BRAINER to invest the xtra time it takes to get there. how many more hours will you spend huntin for small-fish and those skunks will never go away. Leave early, fish all-day(could be your best day ever?) stop in Hopland(on 101) for cheap dinner on your way home, while you replay the day over and over and over, before ya know it!  YOUR HOME!
...seeuouthere,somewhere!