Del Valle - 4/21

I was looking forward to hitting the bay for some hali's but unfortunately things didn't work out and I ended up at Del Valle again.

Got to the lake at 0800, after picking up some minnows.  Mooch was already there all set up and ready to go.  Weather was cloudy and a bit cold but not bad...I decided to only wear the shorts I had on.  By about 0830 we were slowly paddling towards the dam.

On our way up Mooch decided to try to snag the net he lost a couple of weeks ago.  While he was busy with that I made a couple of passes across the shoreline not far from him and landed a nice (~2lbs.) trout on a shad rap.  He gave up looking for the net and we continued towards the dam.

Things got pretty windy at around 1100 and Mooch left me behind by about 1/4 mile. I was trying to keep up but the wind sure does seem to grab hold of the marauder a lot more than it does that Tarpon.

On the way back I landed another trout of about the same size, again on the shad rap.  Throughout the day I was able to also land  3 bass, all on minnows.

When we reached the launch at about 1530 things got a bit colder and it looked like it was going to start raining.  Good thing we were off the water and ready to head for home.

Not too bad of a day but certainly not WFO.  Jmairey, maybe the guys on the sniffer who said Del Valle was WFO were referring to the park gate? 

Got home and cleaned the yak...white yaks look nice when they're clean but they usually don't stay that way for too long.  Simple Green sure does make the cleaning easy though.

sounds like you did okay there angel. 5 fish two species, less than a full day.
that's not 30 fish tho, true, 

well, if alfredo didn't kill 'em out where he is, then the bite is off due to the moon, a cold front,
whatever....something!

mooch is not the slowest paddler out there. he just looks like it,  .
It's not completely the tarpon.  I chased him up straight upwind @ lexington and it took me the
whole lake to catch him and I paddled hard.  I think it takes a couple years of paddling to get
real efficient. He's done a lot of paddling to go with all that fishing he does. He was pretty
fast in the prowler too.

J

Angel, I saw your post too late to join you guys. I need to get out on the water once the strong winds die down. Sounds like you had a good day.

...landed a nice (~2lbs.) trout on a shad rap.

What size and color shad rap did you use? I finally bought a hot tiger because that seemed to be the ticket for others at Del Valle.

I was trying to keep up but the wind sure does seem to grab hold of the marauder a lot more than it does that Tarpon.

Yeah, these wide plastic boats are like snails compared to my 18.5' long and 22" wide fiberglass SIK, but, man, the stability can't be beaten. I'm loving the relaxing paddles in my Marauder (not in the wind, though!).

Janice aka "Big J"

I think it takes a couple years of paddling to get real efficient. He's done a lot of paddling to go with all that fishing he does.

Yep, I'm sure skill has a lot to do with it too.  It's just easier to blame the one thing I can't control.


Big J, I was wondering where you were.  I don't remember the name of the rapala pattern I was using I bought it a while back.  I know for sure it wasn't the fire tiger.  Maybe a "bleeding minnow"?  It's light blue'ish up top, fades into a white down towards the bottom and has a red marking (a wound?) up by the gills.

well, if alfredo didn't kill 'em out where he is, then the bite is off due to the moon, a cold front,
whatever....something!

And I thought it was because I didn't wear my usual hat.

Had a great time as usual    Did not get any trout love but got the chance to play around with the bass. I caught and released about half a dozen or more (small mouths and large mouths) but no size to 'em. Most of the SMB had some really bright red eyes...kinda freaky looking.

Adam - I got the note you left - sorry we missed you.

I got the text mess. fri-nite@12:00....no O.P. going to del valle.....I woke up at 5:oo(dark) and the wind was present,so i went back to sleep.I awoke at 6:30 and it was NOT?

I got to the water at 9:oo and headed/trolled towards the dam.I saw you and Angel through my binocs' and thought i'd catch up to you....right after I toss a few for bass.........well,ya' see...i got this lil' problem of not being able to paddle past areas that LOOK like they hold fish,even when they don't!!  

after getting pissed,about how a lake could look SO FISHY at every rocky drop,point and downed wood, i paddled to the last point before the dam and the wind was CRANKIN' like a meth-head!
so i blew to the calmer side(it was til i got there) and tossed for those dam bass again!?!? 

i got two LMBassies for 5miles of yakin/blowin........I HATE THAT LAKE....it looks so good,and i am not!!

Angel

Nice report and I would consider that a good day of fishing for DV.

Adam

Seems like live jumbo minnows do well on DV for almost all species. At least you didn't get skunked.

scott

Next time i let someone talk me into going there, i will see if they are getting minnows and GET SOME TOO!