Delta striper 12/20 Merry xmas

Elvis has left the building!!!!
that was the recurring theme in my head today.

I tried out Lauritzens Harbor since  I had good reports from HobieDave and Martin....
indeed it is a nicer facility compared to Big Break Marina although a tad further commute to my favorite hole..
trolled on the way out there... was on the water a bit later than planned but since I was going solo..I wasn't in big rush.

Over cast skies until 1pm ish...which was my target time to go..
still stalled on my FF mount cuz still trying to figure the fuse portion..(hadn't read that part of manual yet...)

not a good  day to fish blind....as my usual hot spot turned cold..
the scarcity of PB in area was also not a good sign...

speaking of power boats....I got hit by one at the launch..
the guy operating the boat right as the trailer dropped him in gunned the craft fwd unexpectedly...and collided with my bow..pushing it into the ramp bank...it seems like he forgot to install his drain plug and was taking on water..in his anxiety, he lurched fwd..
luckily I was not in the kayak.I was pulling it forward to the dock with my line and watch him collide with my hobie..

I didn't hear a crunch and didn't see any surface damage..but I was slightly concerned whether I took damage below the water line...
I accepted his apologies and figured the impact wasn't too violent so I left it at that.

trolled out the channel then drifted with mudsuckers...water was flat until it came time for me to actually fish..slight easterly  breeze picked up but there wasn't much of a current.. Ebb tide was around 930 am which may also explain the slow bite for me today.

I had done so well here throughout Oct/ Nov  that the thought of getting skunked never occurred to me.
I did get one hit which I misplayed..and that was it.

Upon returning to boat launch at 3...saw DFG was out in force. there was not 1 but 7 boys in blue..actually tan/green..
one guy approached me and did his thing...the most thorough I have ever been carded before...while holding my license..he inquired about my birthdate...ask to see inside my hull etc. wow...

so as I pass the group of no less than 7 officers...I half jokingly ask "you boys expecting trouble?"
the sr. looking guy just smiled and said no....
I was thinking ok...training day???? end of month quota fill? kind of reminded me of the airport scene when you see a bunch of TSA guys milling around...

but as I was putting kayak atop my car...everything came together..
A boat cruises in and as it docks..the DFG gaggle causually approach it and escort a man and wife to the edge of the launch..
they are cuffed and patted down..
I over hear the words "warrant for arrest" which suggests that they weren't simply poaching...but that these guys were specifically waiting on this couple..
I didn't stick around to find out as I was already late for our dinner party that we were hosting.
I came home empty handed, to the boss who a bit on the sullen side...oops..
still...not wanting to close the year on a skunk note so I will to gingerly test the WAF and see if there still exist any credits for one last excursion for the year..

but if not...my first season w/ NCKA has been very gratifying..
I started off fishing with my brother Flyaker and Baddog on Easter..bought my first yak (acutally 2 tandems) shortly after that trip..
met some good guys at the Eric's bass roundup on the Delta at Tiki...like martin and Ben...
fished MBK then the Santa Cruz (Davenport) derbies..
hung out with Mooch and Sonny plus a couple other guys at Linda Mar...back in july, met Ariel and company at ARW..
then got serious and threw down for the Hobie  in the Fall (and got knighted into SAGWA..)
met up with some more good guys like Hobiedave and BennetDanville at Paradise...met some more good folks recently at Del Valle like scott and Jay..
and then wrapped up the Fall catching stripers in the Delta..
Not a bad year when you think about it.
I feel very blessed to have met so many good people in person and via online with so many people offering tips in rigging, making bait, coaxing mr. Halibut into biting..etc.

plus I am grateful to have such a variety  of great fishing opportunities in Northern CA.
So cheers to you all..and Happy Hooking in the New Year.

man lot of stuff in a day, the guy in the power boat sounds like a genius.

we should hook up some time for delta striper, i love going, just dont like being alone


Mike

Sorry for catching a skunk today    Thank you for the report and hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Sorry for the skunk, dave. On the bright side you didn't end up wearing an orange jumpsuit on your way to the "clink" like the couple you saw. Looking forward to hitting the delta with you next year.

Dave: Merry Christmas to you and yours. That's a good launch site grumpy turned us on to. Bummer meeting the PB idiot by accident. Sorry you were solo, tis the season. We,ll team up soon. dave...

Nice write up,

Sounds like a solid Year and look forward to Hooking up with ya in 2010.... 

Extremely cool and positive report,

Merry Christmas to All

That was the best skunk report Ive ever read, thanx!

sounds like an interesting launch and land, sorry about the skunk, but it sounds like you had a great year, hope to fish with you next year, happy holidays, cameron

David, congrats on your first year, sounds like it was a great one!!! Hope your holidays are nice!! I never forget when you were paddling that tandem around and how much work it was, way to hang in there!!!

Dave

That was the best skunk report Ive ever read, thanx!

Amen! And glad to have you in the NCKA family

haha!  I love how the DFG try to keep things on the DL and then pop that couple for warrants.  Loved that part.  Well, like my season ending sob story from last month, I too got skunked.  Glad we ran into each other in '09.  We'll get out again in '10 and do some damage.  I'm sure I'll be getting out even less than this year, but big break and some other delta areas are on my wish list.  Good fishin' and hanging with ya dave

That was the best skunk report Ive ever read, thanx!

Amen! And glad to have you in the NCKA family

i third that emotion!   thanks for all the typing.