Delta PB 24OCT2009

My buddy Charles and I arrived at Jeff's Landing in the Delta around 730AM on Saturday morning, launching to an incoming tide.   We worked around some cuts and islands, catching mainly undersized stripers and largemouth bass.   We chased some working birds, and landed a few more dinks.   Then we both cast into a likely looking hold.   I immediately hooked into something solid.   Seconds later, Charles was hooked on too.   His fish ran straight into the channel, pulling his boat along with it.  Mine stayed close to the tules, pulling down and deep, putting a deep bend in my 8 weight rod.   Both battles went on for a while, Charles fighting out in the channel, me trying to work my fish to the surface and open water away from the weeds.   Charles' battle ended first, with the striper claiming its victory.   My fish bulldogged my line for several more minutes, before finally showing itself.   Nice striper with a huge belly.  Wait!   That doesnt look like a striper-  wrong colors.   When it finally came to hand, it was clearly a LMB.    I am just not used to seeing LMB of those proportions.  Its length stretched nearly the width of my boat, clearly my personal best.   Charles estimated the weight at 10 pounds.

We fished until after lunch, catching more shakers.    By then, the power boaters were getting to be a nuisance.   I think some of them were speeding straight at us then veering away at the last second, just to see what effect their wakes would have on us.  It was time to call it a day.

All fish were caught on the same chartreuse over white clouser fly, then released to fight another day.   

What a toad! Congrat on your PB.  Thank you for the report and picture.

Congrats on your PB Flyaker. She's a beauty.

Jedmo

I like the pic in many, many ways. The fish is downright fantastic but what I really love is the duct tape band-aid. Yet one more reason to always carry duct tape.

Dude!

That's some strong work on a fly rod!

Tight lines!

rob
jrsyboy

Nice, On a fly even better.

Nice job! Thanks for posting this.

Flyaker do you tie your own flies and if so, have you ever tried circle hooks for your clousers. Do you tie your clousers sparsely or with some bulk. The next time you go out wouldn't mind joining you guys.

Pat R 

Dude! That's awesome Lawrence. Nice bass!

  Fantastic LMB congrats on the great fish! 

awesome bass, especially on an 8wt, looks like the rod had enough back bone for it, sounds like you guys had a blast except for the idiots buzzing you, cameron  p.s. what size clouser?

wowzers... now that's a hog. great job on the fish.

freddie

Nice Hawg!!!

 Bummer about the PB'ers....

  One way to get their Attention is to take a picture of them...

 Immediate Respect

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone.   It was really a lot of fun out there.   I was trying to convince my friend that kayaks are effective fishing vessels, since we used to rent power boats all the time before i got my yak.    This trip gave him a taste for what it can be out there.

Flyaker do you tie your own flies and if so, have you ever tried circle hooks for your clousers. Do you tie your clousers sparsely or with some bulk. The next time you go out wouldn't mind joining you guys.

Pat R 

awesome bass, especially on an 8wt, looks like the rod had enough back bone for it, sounds like you guys had a blast except for the idiots buzzing you, cameron  p.s. what size clouser?

I do tie my own flies, though i must confess my flies arent the prettiest.    I have heard of circle hooks, but never saw or used them.  Are they superior?   I tied that clouser on a 1/0 jig hook.  It was not as bulky as delta clousers often are because i often toss them with a 6 weight, but it was not too sparse either.    The fly started out about 4 inches long, but over the day got chewed up and became shorter and sparser.   I happened to pull this 8 weight out of a long retirement, since i usually use a 6 or 7 this time of year, and i am glad i did.   It had enough backbone to bring this bad boy in.   

PatR -  you are definitely welcome to join me out there anytime, but i am still learning the place myself.   I hope to spend much more time exploring out there.   Company always welcome. 

Nice Hawg!!!

 Bummer about the PB'ers....

  One way to get their Attention is to take a picture of them...

 Immediate Respect

I like that idea.  Will have to try it.      Several power boaters deliberately slowed down to avoid pounding me wiht their wakes, which i really appreciated.    One bass boater even called out that not all bassboaters are A-holes.    But by 2pm, the traffic was full of jerks.   When i pulled out, they were water skiiing over the area i was just fishing.  Maybe i was encroaching on their  favorite water skiing run.   

Flyaker I do not know if the circle hook are superior or not but I was fly fishing for Stripers in the Delta and a couple of guys in a PB with the guys name on his motor he said he was a guide. He asked if I was using circle hooks, he said since he started using them his snag ratio went down and his catch ratio went up. I have not tried them yet but will tie some up for this year and give them a go. Looking fourward to fishing with you some time .

Pat R