Del Valle - 1/02/08

Got to the lake around 10AM....and went "fishing" all day long. No catch for me but did meet two more NCKA members - Doug /akagrumpy and Chuck / Grizz...nice to finally meet you fellas Also saw Mike / Dillbeck, who managed to catch the LAST trout of Del Valle
It was a great day - cool day and no wind at all...water temp was 50 degrees. Got my feet dry by 4PM with Grizz and Grumpy. Mike was still out and so I waited till I got radio confirmation that he was OK and was making his way back (always good practice to make sure everyone is accounted for before vacating the lake or ocean).

Anyway, here are some pics of the crew.....

NCKA's oozing out of that report - another great hookup.  And excellent photos - Nice!   

Hopefully 2008 isn’t the year of the skunk.  I had a jury summons so got up and took a shower and shaved.  Called at 8:30 and they didn’t need me for the early cattle call so was instructed to call back at 11:30.  Called at 11:31 and the recording said I was excused.  HOORAY.   Got the Kayak and gear loaded and I was on the road by noon, got to Del Valle by 12:30 and was on the water by 1 pm.  I have never showered and shaved before fishing in my life.     

Saw a red kayak fishing the shallows off the ramp so I peddled over and met up with akagrumpy.  We decided to troll the narrows.  I had a Rapala JSR 7 in firetiger trolled at 90 feet out on the surface and a Rapala Shad Rap SR7 in shad, down 10’ and 90 feet out.  Akagrumpy and I trolled down to haron Bay.  I got nada and akagrumpy got one hit.
 

akagrumpy

We heard Mooch and delbeck talking so I gave them a shout and said hi to Mooch.

We trolled back towards the flats near the launch and Mooch caught up.  We tried to raise delbeck on the radio but he was around the corner and the radio wouldn’t carry.


Mooch

Off the water about 4:30.

Air temp at 1:30 was 56º, water 50 º.  Air temp at 4:30 was 51 º.

The water was like glass, just a beautiful day on the water.  Lots of Heron, ducks and a grebe or two.  It was nice to meet Mooch and reconnect with akagrumpy.  We all decided that next time, we better drift some worms.  As I was leaving, I heard Mooch and delbeck talking so Michael was on his way in before dark.   
   
0fer1fer2008

Good report fellas, glad you all got out there.  I would have joined you all but I still haven't bought the new license.

Love seeing you guys getting an early start to the new fishing year.

Looks like a "Hobie Party" that Mooch crashed. 

Mooch didn't get the memo.

Love seeing you guys getting an early start to the new fishing year.

Looks like a "Hobie Party" that Mooch crashed. 

  I was definitely out numbered by "Team Hobie" 

Love seeing you guys getting an early start to the new fishing year.

I figured I better get it in today because it sounds like a typhoon is blowing in the next few days.

Looks like a "Hobie Party" that Mooch crashed. 

hahaha.  totally

I didn't make it out to Del Valle due to a late start and a "yak rookie," instead we went over to Shadow Cliffs. I marked lots of fish at 10 feet, but no bites. Decided to troll instead of still fishing and went all the way to the back wall. Started trolling and withing 10 minutes my pole starts dancing. I set the hook and the battle is on. Landed a nice 19" 3 pound Lassen Rainbow on the Fire Tiger Shad rap 100 feet behind the kayak.

Went in after that to sttrip off a couple of layers of clothes and my "yak rookie" falls out of his kayak(?) Don't know how he did it,but he handled it well and got right back in. Good practice! Made it to shore got down to one layer of clothes and headed back out. Got one more drive by (hit the Shad Rap twice and didn't hook up) and that was it. Slow day, but nice to be out. I still have to figure on how to get all the fish I mark to bite.

Michael,

Where did you hook your trout and what were you using?  Sorry we couldn't hook up.  I got on the water too late to get down to where you were fishing.

Nice report and pics. WTG everyone!! Funny to see Joel surrounded by Hobies after he recently said they weren't real kayaks.

Chuck, is that you with that getto outrigger? If it is, Aloha

Scott

Nice work all around. I almost tried to make it out there but work got in the way. 

I imagine after this big storm that Del Valle is going to get muddy, which is a bummer for me since I haven't been skunked there yet!

Thanks for the pics&port fellas'   
maybe you were TOO clean and shaven up Grizz!   iheartheyliketheRUFFlook
 
Good to see that some of us can get out on the weekdays to make us wkenders mad.   wishinIwaswitcha'   

I think it was the same time as last year that someone else caught that LAST TROUT of DEL VALLE.....cuz I couldn't troll one up for the life of me!   0 fer 3!

Scott, Yup, that’s my Delorean gull wing outriggers.  Keeps me dry!!!

FisHunter, I slimmed up the lures with Pro-cure.  Maybe I should have slimed up my face to cover the cologne?