The Fish Were Swarming at Lake Sonoma Today

Craig and I fished Lake Sonoma today and Damn I saw a lot of Fish . I'll write up a report tonight but we did catch some bigger ones.

Got up to the lake with the hopes of fishing the main part of the lake at 6:30 it was like the ocean sheep everywhere, so I trolled under the bridge waiting for Craig got one 12" LL. After Craig got there we worked up the Warm Springs Arm where it was pretty nice. Caught a good mixture of Smallies and LMB most in the 12" range 2 LMB 18/19" and 2 Smallies 14/15" but they were fighting good so it was fun. Caught a few on a pointer and the rest dropshotting Robo worms. Fished some mini senkos for awhile but no love it was a little windy to get a good drop so I went back to DS and got a few more.

It was nice fishing with Craig and it was a beautiful day saw a young Baldie Crash the water for a fish and later had 2 circling Craig, who ever picked them as our National Bird sure got it right they give me a thrill every time I see them. I was fishing a rocky point in the narrows when I had a big hit the fish dove for the bottom and I felt my line scraping then nothing my whole rig gone but I marked the spot, came back about 30min later cast to the same spot and instant hook-up not too big but as i brought him up I could see my set up trailing along side him hook still in the corner of his mouth then he spits up a big ole chunk of rubber worm dam he must have been hungry.

The wind started to die but I had an appointment at 1:30 so I started the paddle back but Craig chased me down for some more of the Secret Worms. got out of the water at 1 plenty of time but CHP had the Bridge closed told me they were filming a Commercial  damn I'm going to be late, so I told him I had to get across he was pretty cool and told them I was coming across. I guess it was a car commercial pretty cool looking car, made my appt with time to spare and it was good to go for a paddle it has been almost a week. Here is a few pics.

If those are litle black fish they are baby smallmouth. The smallmouth spawned at Mendo and the babies are all over the place.

Yep, saw the same thing at Spring Lake on Friday... think they were LMB there...

Wonder where are the big Mama?   

They were actually a lot smaller than they appear in the shot. Like a half inch long. It was nice and sunny today and I was trying for a smallmouth to post on AOTY. I have never targeted smallmouth and got zilch at Mendo last time I was there. I had minnows, baby brush hogs, pop'rs, crankbaits. Drop shot rigs but no roboworms. I even had a damn pack of them in my hand this morning at petaluma sport and dive and thought, Jeez, I have spent an assload of dough on bass stuff. I never fished for bass before this year. Anyway I bummed a couple of worms from Mike and after about an hour of trying and getting real frustrated I caught one. As I was reeling it in I thought Oh Boy. Myfirst smallmouth measured out at an amazing ten inches. WOW! I thought to myself I am not even taking a pic of this one. I will get laughed off the site. two more takedowns and all the worms were gone. I'll tell you, that Mike is a sprinter on that malibu. It took me a long time to chase him down and try to bum some more worms. All for naught. The wind started really increasing and I got out of there. Thanks Mike for the tour and the tips. A huge plus; we saw an immature bald eagle swoop down and get a fish after hearing a large crash in the water it flew off. So cool. A little while later two mature bald eagles came down on the lake and circled us up high. I got a pic but it doesn't do the deal justice at all. The water was real clear below the bridge at least40- 50ft. Next time i will get there earlier to do some low light surface action(Byran taught me that). I am almost a real bass- tard.

Roboworms come many colors and shapes. I still remember the zipper worm version.

glad you guys had a nice day on the water. planned on going to the lake today but woke up alittle late and the wind was going at a pretty good clip here in the 'burg, so decided to do housechores and build some WAF for the weekend, may try again in the morning, cameron

here you go Hojo

Nice diversified report - bald eagles, multi-species, CHP roadblocks, wind...  Way to get out there and do it.   

nice report! congrats on the fish

A good mix of bass.

"Jeez, I have spent an assload of dough on bass stuff."

You can never spend too much on fishing gear period!

Nice smallies. I love smallies, especially the way the throw themselves out of the water over and over again.

Tight lines!

rob
jrsyboy

Nice bass guys!

nice looking day and nice reading report!!....WTHook the variety and shoot some pics Mike.

Craig......points are points!  you can't see or hear the laughs, but ya' know the saying...HEwhoLAUGHSlast...uhh, nevermind that one...you shoulda troughed it!

Thanks, Mike. I'm amazed at the variety in Roboworms nowadays.