Del Valle 11/29

Put in at a civilized 10AM intending not to fish hard until the last few hours of daylight, but the comorants and grebes started working a school of bait at 1:30PM, and I had a steady pick of striper schoolies. The fish stayed low, 15-20' in 30' depths, no boils , and had to be thoroughly teased on the retrieve to hit. I was using a 30' T-11 head, 30lb Suffix running line, 5' of 12lb fluro leader, and sparse clousers. I kept two fish for dinner, and they were stuffed with 3" threadfin and some sort of smelt (I think). The sun went behind the hills at about 3:30PM, it got cold and hazy, and guys in PBs started catching fish on topwater in the southern flats.

Mike

Great report for details, Mike, but, take it on the Chin (pun intended!), you gotta get some photos going, bro!   

Wow! Nice job on the stripers, Mike!
Sounds like they were pretty deep, even though you were throwing flies. That is quite an accomplishment. Were you stripping on the drop or just dead drop, then begin stripping? And what weight rod were you using? Sorry 'bout all the questions!
Thanks for the info. And thanks for such a detailed report!
PK

I was using an 8wt, 40 sec count before retrieving; shallower didn't work. Also, maybe because they were so well-fed, they really needed to be coaxed; I could feel nibble-nip-nip for quite a while before hookups. A good hint I was given for nibblers is keep stripping when they're biting short, don't strike, maybe change speeds/dropback, and let them hook themselves.

I should take my camera, but it's about all I can handle to remember to bring the stuff I need to fish with. Besides, my fish are generally so puny I'd just be embarrassing myself.

Mike

I should take my camera, but it's about all I can handle to remember to bring the stuff I need to fish with. Besides, my fish are generally so puny I'd just be embarrassing myself.

Mike

That's how I feel too, I don't know how these other guys do it!

J

....small fish..... big fish....it's all about the effort you put into it. I take pride in catching the smallest of the small  That's just how I roll 

Great report for details, Mike, but, take it on the Chin (pun intended!), you gotta get some photos going, bro!  

....small fish..... big fish....it's all about the effort you put into it. I take pride in catching the smallest of the small  That's just how I roll 

getting anything on a fly and you've got my "props" MC!...."a PIC is worth a 1000 words", even if it's a pic of the lake before you launch and a few along the way of stuff like:potential fishy areas.   I get so fired up the nite before, I'm tempted to take few pics of my pre-tied and ready-to-roll pack-ups every time! 
i bet Mako-Juan would LOVE THAT! 

....small fish..... big fish....it's all about the effort you put into it. I take pride in catching the smallest of the small  That's just how I roll 

I completely agree with you, Joel. For me (and Don), just being out getting your gear wet is a winner...catching (any fish) is a bonus!

LL

....small fish..... big fish....it's all about the effort you put into it. I take pride in catching the smallest of the small  That's just how I roll 

I completely agree with you, Joel. For me (and Don), just being out getting your gear wet is a winner...catching (any fish) is a bonus!

LL

take advantage of the winter too, after, before and durring rain....it can be your BEST BET and sure to TOUGHEN the CONFIDENCE!