San Luis Forebay 3-5

Got there around 6:45am.  Joseph was already there.  Joel showed a little later and Bill & Allen showed after Joel.

Was a little windy and overcast for the first hour or two.  Calmed down and got really nice.  I had 3 shakers (stripers)  from 7:45 to 8am.  The sun came out and the fish must have went deeper. I could only get undersize 6 to 8 fish.

Joel was on fire today.  He got a 4lb large mouth and 3 keeper stripers.  He let go 3 undersize.

Bill got one legal and Allen released his.  Joseph got one 26 1/2 in. and one about 20".  We all got undersize fish all day until we left a 1:30pm.

Joel and I are going surf perch on Sunday out of Half Moon Bay.

Ken kickfish

I might add that most of the fish were caught on Ken's super secret lure (nicknamed Kenja) both trolling and casting.  I think Joel got one on a minnow, and Joseph got one on a spinnerbait being thrown for LM and another on a silver broken back I believe.  You have to ask Ken what the Kenja is.  Ken, I still owe you for the one I broke off on another striper.  Note to self: if you have to think about how long it was since you last changed your line, then change it!  Doh!!

It was my pleasure to paddle Bill around on my Triple.  At one point he was about to let out his line and I told him I set him up on a good troll.  Not a minute went by and he caught his keeper, again on a Kenja.  Yeehaw!

-Allen

No worries on the lost lure.  I think they are cedar plugs...No wait... that what I used of Albies.

Just good fishing with everyone again.

Ken Kickfish

sounds like you guys had a good time.  I've been busy with the new career but hope to hit the water soon.

TL

John

That was my best day on the forebay fish wise. I have caught more there but I have never seen that many legal fish taken (at least from kayaks).

It started out slow for Allen and I, drifting minnows produced nada and the wind was making the drift pretty quick. We decided to move down the lake near the power islands to see if there was anything going on that way. By the time we got down there the wind had died down to a dead calm. We got nothing near the power islands either.

We started to troll back towards the rock wall and started to get into a little action. I landed a short striper and Allen landed a short right after that. About that time Joel paddled over to show off his large mouth.



Then Allen hooked up with a nice keeper.



Allen set me up on a nice troll and I landed my biggest striper to date, about 20" (don't laugh at me Sean!!   ) It was fun on 8lb test.

Joel was the king fish slayer on the day.



You can see from the picture how glassy it got in the afternoon.

Thanks to Allen for letting me ride along on the fishing barge it was nice to be able to rig up and still make progress. The cobra triple is a nice fishing platform for 2 people.

Good times fellas !!!!!

I caught my first keeper on a fly-lined minnow on 6 pound mono - THAT was a blast! Trolling with Ken's magic lure (with a JM - "Joel's modification") was the ticket! I replaced the rear treble hook with a feather tail  

I'm planning an overnight trip at the forebay next week - anyone up for it?

I'm taking my buddy, Edsel - he has never caught a striper before and is looking forward to it

Hey Chuck,

I am in short and a t-shirt.  Joel was over dressed.  And, Allen was way over dress.  But, Bill took the cake.  I think Bill thought we were at Buck's Landing fishing for Strugeon.

Yes, Sean...our stripers are smaller.  But, we do get more hits.

Ken Kickfish

Yeah I was over and under dreessed at the same time.

Over:

My .5 mil farmer john and LS rash guard

Under: Forgot my hat and sunglasses in the car

Not a good day apparel wise for me!

IMO....

Forebay vs. Lake Mendocino

Forebay has more striper hook ups but most are on the smaller side / Mendo has bigger fish but can be elusive (unless your a member of the scwafish specie   ) Forebay is a closer drive for the guys who live South of the San Mateo Bridge and there are no bridge tolls (from HMB - it's an hour and 45 minutes) / Mendo is further with a bridge toll and traffic can be a problem. There is minimal boat traffic on both lakes. Mendo has better weather / Forebay can get cold and windy / Mendo has better campgrounds / Forebay's camp ground is right on the water but not a lot of shade / Forebay has more visible fishing structure (rockwall,weed line, power line Islands) / Mendo is wide open but the striper boils can make up for no visible fishing structures / Forebay is year round striper activity / Mendo cools down /

The plus side on both lakes is that there are back-up plans if both lakes are slow.....at the Forebay, you can hit San luis - 10 min. away......at Mendo,...........hmmmm.....ask Scwafish  


....oh...and the other plus side for Mendo is that you get fish the Mighty Scwafish    How's that for    

never the less.....I'd fish both on any given weekend   Unless of course the salmon are at Linda Mar  

Joel,
You haven't seen the forebay in the summer.  That place is a waterskier/jet skier's haven.  If you stick to the weedbeds or the no wake zone, you're fine.  
Is it me, or do water skier's flock to fisherman??

Stuart

Hey, I was only slightly overdressed.  I had on a shorty farmer john style wetsuit and my paddling jacket.  I WAS warm with a life jacket on, but just about ok with just the paddling jacket.

-Allen

That place is a waterskier/jet skier's haven

Hey Stu - don't the water skier / jet skiers usually come out later in the afternoon (when the water is a little warmer)? You'll still be able to have the lake to yourself early in the morning until maybe 11AM.......correct me if I'm wrong. I guess it would be the same with Mendo......Scwafish?

Joel:

Mendo can have its share of wakeboarders etc.  Fortunately, during the spring/summer I am off the water by the time it gets nutty.  I avoid Mendo Sats and Holidays durng late spring/summer, Sundays are less crazy, my Fridays off are great.

If I was in charge.... there will a rule in every lake where every other day would only allow non-powered boats on the lakes....this way, everyone can enjoy the water without driving each other crazy              

....and women   should wear sun dresses year round

again...VOTE Joel for Head -honcho Mayor of California.... ...can I get an "AMEN"  

Joel,
Those skiing Fr's were coming out pretty early, say 9 amish.  They all seem to congregate here.  The main lake would have been a better choice during summer, but it can get ugly with the wind.

Stu