Folsom Weekend big spot

Went to Folsom (granite bay) yesterday with my bud Matt.  Before I go any further, I must say to all that are thinking about ATOY and keep putting it off, GET IT...

Anyway, I've been thinking about getting in all year, esp with the new rules, but I have just kept putting it off...
Saturday Matt and I went up to the lake at about 2:00, right after the rain stopped.  Grabbing the minnows and hoping to catch some Kokanee, we launched at about 2:40 and began a slow troll over to the dam.  I had no love all the way there on either minnow or kastmaster and tried finding some spots at the dam.  Matt had a koke from the paddle over and we fished by the dam for nothing until about 30min before dark.  I started back, about 200 yards behind Matt and set up the kastmaster to troll first.  Almost immediately I get snagged, so I stop and turn and wiggle the lure free, paddling a little more to keep it up. I cast the minnow to the bank and set it in the holder.  Again I get snagged right away, wiggling the rod still in the holder to pop it free I stop the boat.  Then I see my line move towards me slowly.
Grabbing the rod I discover I have a very large and slow fish on!  The fight lasted about 20 min on the ultralight, and I was shocked to see what I had!

When we got back to the launch at 7:15 I was greeted by a ticket for $93 for "parking after posted hours".  yay.
We where unsuccessful in escaping, as they had locked the gate.  We could not find another exit either!!  Eventually we found the caretaker and asked him for help.  He could not (would not) help us, but did graciously call a ranger for us.  30 minutes later the ranger pulls up and asks if we had a ticket. Upon replying yes, he said "good, saves me the trouble. If you had called much later you would have had to spend the night." NICE

So, what we found out is that there's a small sign at the first gate, way before the ticket booth that says hours are from 7:00 to 6:00  $%^&, !@#$

By the time we got home it was almost 9:00 and I just went to bed.

This morning we got some more minnows and hit the lake at 10:00 and tried for a repeat.

The lake then said NO NO NO, you get NOTHING...well almost, I finally picked up a planter at about 3:30


That's all: 2 days, 15 3/4 miles, 12 hours, $93 ticket, $20 entry, minnows, and one 20" spot
and at 9:30 last night, $40 ATOY

AWESOME WEEKEND

Sweeeeet bass! Nice chunker, looks like Folsom is cooking out some nice fish!

Jeff

Nice spot RF!

Keep looking at the positive side rockfish. At least you have a couple of good AOTY points.

Jedmo

Thanks for the report.  I'm surprised I didn't see you there today.  I got my limit of Salmon on a green cripplure chasing a silver dodger.

I parked my black Dodge a the sand ramp west of the paved boat ramp.  We went all the way to the dam.  The wind sucked.

I need to get some dodgers...

Will post hookup if I go back later this week

That is one hell of a nice fish. Too bad about the ticket though...

Freddie

Nice Spotted Bass!  Sorry about the ticket.  Thanks for the report and pictures Jim.

$20 entry

You might consider buying an annual state park pass.  I buy the "golden poppy pass", and it pays for itself many times over.

Nice spot
Bummer on the ticket

Beautiful fat fish--WTG!!!  Gotta make my Folsom trip soon.  Sorry about the ticket, that part sucks.

HB

MAN that must have been a fun fight!!!    Congrads on the catch, and sorry for the ticket   

  I should have been paying closer attention on my way in...but 6:00pm, really? 
1)  is the state so strapped they cant pay for rangers after dark? 
2)  are they worried that someone will strike at the dam? 
3)  is there a genuine public safety concern that after dark the residents of granite bay crawl out of their graves to feast on the brains of unwary park visitors?
4)  or is it just more standard dumbness on the part of the Resource Agency?

guess i'll be buying the annual pass and leaving the water when the fishing picks up in the evening...

Jim,
Nice job on the spot.
Sorry about the ticket - real bummer after a good catch.
Next year don't forgrt to join the AOTY early - that would have given you a lot of points

sweet fish, sorry about the ticket, next time have some bolt cutters in the car :smt044j/k, cameron