Del Valle 2/12

No time for a long post, but I wanted to give a short report.
Temperature:  Perfect
Wind:  Very light.  Glassy surface at times.
Crowd:  Minimal
Water: 56 degrees, very muddy.

The water level is much higher than it was 1 months ago, and it has swallowed most of the bank fishing spots.

I trolled a deep-diving rapala and kastmasters for about six hours.  I caught one small trout near the dam on the kastmaster pictured below.  I landed a barely-legal striped bass across and just up from the boat landing along the rock face in the shade.  The striped bass hit the deep-diving rapala.  That was the first striped bass I ever caught, and I was happy to be able to take it home to sample.  Next time I will probably release it and hope for a bigger one.  Also, I couldn't believe how hard it fought and pulled.  That small striper put every trout I have landed to shame. 

Okay. Here are the pics.

pharmer---nice post, thanks, the lake sure looks nicer than the day I met you there a few weeks ago!!! I have never caught a striper either so Congrats! I will try to get there soon----Doug

Nice photos and fish. I can agree with you on how hard those stripers pull. Last ones I caught pulled my hobie around; especially with a double on. I have mrked larger ones in there, but I never got one-yet!.

WTG, Courtney! The DV bait shop says the stripers are out there--glad you confirmed their claim! Thanks for the pix, too--looks like a much calmer day than our adventure in January! Did Ariane join you? Hope to see both of you on the water again soon!

Janice aka "Big J"

Thanks for the pics&port Pharmer!  love it when the lakes are full and calm....even better when you get to fight a couple of fish!   gottaGETinTHEREsoon!

Congrats on your first striper!! Those fish pull good. I can't wait to catch one with some size. I've only got litte uns...

-FF

yes, the weather was much calmer than it was that day in january when we feasted on scott's man-dawgs.  i was frozen, my wife got wet, we both got skunked.  indeed, i was much happier yesterday.  ariane did not go with me yesterday, but we are thinking of going this weekend.  they planted 2500 lbs of trout on monday 2/11.  with the limited bank fishing and muddy water this week, i expect many of them to still be there on the weekend.  also, i think the mud and sediment will have had a little time to settle.  will keep a close eye on the forecast!

btw,  the second picture i posted is of what used to be the bank beside the boat ramp.  all the bank fishermen are having to walk to find fishable shore.

pharmer

Hey Coutney -

Nice report and pics. Glad to hear ariane didn't go for a swim this time. WTG on the trout and striper!!! BTW - Happy Birthday tomorrow.

Scott