Monterey Abort, 2 days of Delta instead (several pics)

Here I am resting after a couple days of entertaining my parents.  Last week they flew out from Missouri and I promised my mother that I would get her on some fish from the kayak.  The initial plan was to fish the delta near Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) for smallies, then go over to Monterey for a couple days of fishing the kelp.  

The first day in the delta (Friday) went very well, at about 11:00 the 4 of us launched at the preserve (yak wheels are the best) and paddled up the Cosumnes River arm about 1/2 mile, fishing each little bit of structure as we went.  Chryss was using a short little boat we borrowed, this thing has no keel and is well rockered, so she spent the firlt little while spinning, until she got the hang of it, then was pretty fast and straight!  We didn't catch any real big fish, with most of the fish being feisty smallies to about 12 inches, but those fish are so much fun!

Chryss' little boat

Mom with an average fish

Serious panfish!

Hanging out with dad

Halfway through the day I had a real big hit and was into a striper about 20 inches.  He towed me all over the place and his friends even came up to see what the commotion was all about.  But when I go him to the boat, he was all spin and I had no net.   Trying to safely lip him with 2 treble hooks going all over, I lost it  but what a fish!  I tried the same spot for a while longer, with no luck...  Eventually we turned around and fished back to the launch, getting of the water near 6:00.


Sunday we got on the water a little later, putting in at 5:00.  Chryss stayed home to rest and the rest of us wanted fish!  This time we went to the Mokelumne from the CRP.  Mom was into small fish almost immediately while dad and I hung back looking for bigger fish.  about 50 yards from teh confluence we hear mom start to yell and dad takes off that way.  Following behind I see the two of them engaged with a tree and a lot of shouting about not letting it get away.  Eventually dad nets a nice 20" striper and mother insists that we keep it.  She says this is the largest fish she has caught on the kayak ever and the biggest overall in the last 3 or 4 years.  Apparently she saw a boil and tossed her little mimi-spinnerbait on the boil.  on her 6lb line it towed her all over the slough and decided to hide in a tree, which is where it was eventually netted.


20" fish and my parents

After that fish we hung out on the Mokelumne below the confluence for a while catching small fish off the rip-rap and trees, but no more big fish were to be had.  Off the water and heading home at 9:00.

We were going to his Delta Meadows this morning, but some of our party were a little wore out from yesterdays paddling and fish catching....

One thing is for sure, I will be spending a lot more time at the CRP, I plan to explore the opper sections of both the Cosumnes and Mokelumne all summer!!

your folks sound pretty active.  that's awesome, wish i could fish with my mom and dad.  great report (look forward to the pics)

Great job rockfish putting your folks on the fish. I can just feel your excitement from your report and I think that is great you were out there with your parents. I love reading reports like this.

Thanks for the report and pics,
Ray

Nice family outing.  Thanks for the report and pictures.

Wow!, the NCKA family grows and grows.  It is great to see the families getting involved.

yeah, my mother is a fishing nut!  I keep trying to convince them to move out here, but no dice yet...

next time they visit, well hit the kelp    that should do it 

Nice where in Mo do they live?

Looks like you all had a good time. Water looks nice too.

Thanks for the report and pics.
Al

Nice where in Mo do they live?

They are in St. Louis and play in the ozarks

Nice family outing.