San Quinten / Larkspur

Thanks. I never dealt with the migration before--the fish in the Forebay and San Luis don't go anywhere

Hey marmot - I've been itching to explore San Luis - any tips/advise?

Shhh Joel, that's where I plan on pulling the derby winning striper out of.

-Allen

Shhh Joel, that's where I plan on pulling the derby winning striper out of.

-Allen

yep - but I'm also keeping an eye on Lake Del Valle...I think it's a "sleeper" lake for big stripers   Especially now that the lake is being stocked with trout.....AKA..."striper candy"  

After Jim came in I passed by a guy in a green aluminum boat near the kayak store and he was fly casting.  As he moved from spot to spot he trolled with a spinning rod.  Talk about covering your bases.  Sorry I couldn't see what he was using for his fly fishing gear.  He made a cast parallel to shore, let his line sink and then slowly retrieved his lure.  No fish though.  

Regarding Del Valle, rebel makes a broken back rainbow trout lure that works well from what the locals have said.  I've only fished from the shore and haven't caught any stripers myself.  Mooch is going to test my theory of where they hang out to feed.

Gary

I'll show you where the big'uns have been hooked. No guarantees, but a guy who caught the fish you see him holding here is the guide who introduced me to fly fishing at San Luis ( and yes he caught it on a fly rod--all 39 pounds of it):
http://www.gurglersonline.com/

He hooked one much bigger but lost it after nearly pulling it in to his float tube 3 times. Still 39 pounds on a fly rod is quite an achievement. I hope to equal or beat it there one day  

The SL Master - Lee Haskins.  I can't think of anyone who knows more  about SL - especially someone who is also willing to share.  Super nice guy...

That pic may be from a "few" years ago in a time when the lake had  better populations of those tanks - - -  However, if anyone can still catch fish that size, it is going to be on Lee's fly rod.  

As you know Lee fishes primarily from his float tube - - -I think I'd be a little concerned with that baby coming along side.

Jim

He was teachin' a clinic run out of San Jose Fly Shop. I talked with him for a few minutes catching up--hadn't fished with him in a couple of years there. Same old Lee--class act and one of the great fly fishers around. He wasn't worried about the kayak at all--in fact he told me he just kayaked for the first time at Elkhorn Slough a few weeks ago. He enjoyed it he said. He taught me in a float tube--I still try it there sometimes when I don't want to car-top the yak. We'll get him into a kayak one of there days.

Coming in late on this thread (my new nickname for Jim is going to be "Migration Master") just to say that there are still a few fish up in there.  Got a schoolie near the trestle and two nicer fish closer to the prison on the high tide today.  Casted a lot of leadcore, but all fish came on the Almighty Xrap.

Great news Santiago ! Nice to hear there a few still around that area.