Otters and Catfish on Friday the 13th

I just didn't feel like doing the drive to the coast,

and,

I'd heard that some fair sized stripers were still eating bait in Minor slough,

and I love to dunk bait,

and I've never been there, so I got out the map, took a drive and ultimately found a whole lotta closed shoreline, seems like the delta is becoming more and more restrictive everytime I go, not to mention the whole decline in fish populations, (maybe not LMBs tho).

I ended up launching at Arrowhead Marina, and fishing much farther up in Minor slough than I'd planned. For the day I ended up with 6-8 little catfish and 6-8 little strippers, everything was aboutl 10-12" all released, I did have a little excitement, I got some really soft bites and after awhile I just reared back and zing off it went, doubled the pole over and peeled some line off the drag, but ultimately got off before I got to see what it was, nothing major maybe a 5# catfish or some such.

Also caught a catfish that looked like it had a gill tore out at one time and lived to fight another day,

Then on the way back in I ran into a family of otters, there were at least 7, maybe more, and they were not happy with me at all, a whole lotta huffing and woofing going on, and you know how it is, never can get the camera out fast enough, however I did catch the leader of the pack giving me one last look before taking the family down the river under the brush.....

Hot, and calm all day, good to be out,

dale

Thanks for the report and pics.  Nice double, a variety grab-bag on one line...WTG.

Hobieblue

Great report, Dale.  That looks like Good Times on the water.  Nice work with the cam too.   

Ahhhhh! a report that has FISH and PICS?!  what the hell are you trying to start up Dale?!  
Thanks for reminder that there are bodies of water that don't get BLOWN OUT and have fish in them.
yeah...the levees says NO Parking or Tresspassing, but people park on them and fish anyways...I was doing just that one day and the DFG rolled up and said,"If the owner wanted to boot you all off he could do it..it's just that they DON'T.
Moral of Story?....if it looks like it's a commonly used area...DO IT!