Shadow Cliffs 3/27 & Lafayette 3/28 - Some Things Never Change...

On Friday 3/27, Molly and I headed to San Pablo in search of mutant trout. Got to the boat launch gate around 830. The guy at the gate gives me the quagga spiel and I said yeah, what ever. Then he looks in my car and says dogs are only allowed on the shore but NOT on boats. I asked him why and he said "them are the rules."  The next day at Lafayette the ranger gave me a slightly more intelligent explanation that dogs in boats were more likely to go swimming than dogs on the shore. I am sure that this rule was based on some really awesome research on dog behavior that I was not aware of.    That is like saying dogs are more likely to jump out of cars than run in a street. Anyway, I told him Molly and I would have to pass and headed down to Shadow Cliffs since that was the nearest dog friendly lake. Trolled from 10-12 and bagged a nice 15" bow on a J7 Firetiger near the swim area. BTW, what is with all the swimmers at Shadow Cliffs? Almost hooked one on a J9 Rainbow.  Called it a day around noon and headed home and had trout for dinner. Friday seemed like a slow day for many anglers at Shadow Cliffs.

Saturday 3/28 I decided to go to Lafayette. Felt kind of bad leaving Molly at home, but figured she better get used to it since rockfish season is coming soon. I have fished Lafayette over a dozen times in the last 20 years and have never caught a fish. Bait or lures, same result = no fish. Went through a rather lengthy paperwork and inspection but passed without problems. The water was very stained with a surface temp of 60. Needless to say, I knew things were not good for trolling. Won't bore you with the details but I targeted trout and bass and got skunked again. Even tried the Banjo minnows. Ran into some guys who did well soaking livers in the south cove for cats. Nice day on the water but did miss my partner, especially with the lack of action.

Scott

WTG on the trout at Shadow cliffs Scott. You definitely have that J7 dialed in at
SC. I will not give up on learning how to troll those lures thought.

Jedmo

Quality report as usual.   

Yup, molly's developed into a fine yakdog for sure!  good stuff.

BTW, what is with all the swimmers at Shadow Cliffs? Almost hooked one on a J9 Rainbow. 

I hear that lean "tri" meat is pretty low in cholesterol.  Shadow cliffs has a 50m stretch with lanes for open water swim training.  Lotsa triathletes, and they run a club called "Shadow Cliffs Open Water Aquatics Team" - SOWAT.  Glad to see your getting your paddling in, getting jocked up for saltwater season.  I've gotta get out and paddle one of these days ...

with all your trout paddling, I am looking forward to seeing your BACK as you paddle away and drop me like a bad habit!   Is it May yet

good on you for trying to get Molly out on the water...bad on them for making it impossible......they are really trying hard to go broke!
WHEREisMYpicOFaFISHonDISH?!

Good going Scott, the locals at Lafayette say go nightcrawllers pumped with a bit of air, and yup, its like paddeling in a big can of wood-stain. And they taste nasty too, I'd be afraid to smoke them in case I couldnt get the funk out of the 'ole Big Cheif! That bad.

Molly is one good looking dog and a fine fishing companion.  I bet its not nearly as enjoyable without her...

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