Forebay 3/12

I showed up around 8. Joel, Ken and Edsel were already out. The water on the Forebay was pretty low compared last weekend. The wind was howling around 15-25 MPH. I loaded up rather slowly hoping the wind would give a sign of breaking, it didn't.

The flats that usually contain the weed beds where only about 2 feet deep, last weeked this area was 4-5 deep. The water clarity was pretty good, vis around 3 feet.

I started paddling into the wind trying to get over to the powerline and hopefully a little protection. About halfway there I got hit pretty hard. Stopping to fight the fish caused me to lose about 200 yards of ground to the wind. I landed a nice 20", he was long and skinny around 2.1 lbs. Not a bad way to start the day. As I looked back the wind warning lights where flashing...

The closer I got to the power line islands the calmer the wind got, by calmer I mean 10-15. I saw some windsurfers launching and figured it was going to be a long day. Then the wind started to really die down to just a light breeze. As I got near the last power island I hooked up again. This fish had a little more pull than the last one. After a few minute long fight I boated it, same length as the first fish but really thick. I was thinking "That was an easy limit" as I slid him onto my stringer. Joel paddles over to see what was up and we started to talk a bit. His line comes over my bow and I reach up to get it over my fishfinder. I sit back up and realize my stringer is gone! I forgot to tie it off! I look back to see my fish sink under water. I casted a few times to see if I could snag it but no luck. Oh well time to catch another limit.

The wind had died down to about 5 mph making trowling a lot easier. I trolled around the ski bouy and marked a lot of fish. I hooked up again and landed a 19", my last legal fish of the day. I landed about 4 more fish all under 18". I was off the water at noon and gave my fish to Edsel.

AS I was paddling back in I watched a PB'er run full speed into 2' of water nearly throwing the person in the rear up to the bow.

Sorry no pics this trip...

Hi Bill,

Edsel left at 1pm (I think) and Joel gave him your fish.  Edsel got one undersize.  But, it was his first striper ever.  Joel and I got 3 undersize each.

Joel went to help the ski boat.  They were really stuck. Joel was trying to get some boat help on the lake by way of radio.  I told him that a bass boat was near by.  Joel paddled over to them and they told him they were still fishing and to leave them alone.  After about 5 to 10 mins.  They had second thougths and went over to help.  That bass boat was really loud trying to get them un-stuck.

I went over to Los Banos Creek Res.  Joel did not want to go and took a nap.  I got 2 trout (12 to 14") and 5 undersize Largemouth Bass.  3 were right at 11" and 2 dinks.  Got there at 3pm and left at 6pm.

Just is a really nice lake.   Wind protected, high walls and very deep.  20 to 30 yrds from shore it can drop to 50 feet.  The deepest part I could find was 110 to 120 ft.

I get back and Joel wants to leave and not spend the night.  Joel leave and I talked to a really nice guy (Mr. Larry).  He share his campfire and we talked until 11pm.  Windy all night.

I called up Joseph because he was coming on Sunday.  I told him we should go to Los Banos Creek.  San Luis Forebay was more winder than Sat.

We went to Los Banos Creek and it was nice and calm.  I got 3 more trout (12 to 14").  Joseph had a big Bass (we think) on .  Broke his 10 # test and he was heart broken. Got windy at 10am.  I guess if it blows from the creek area.  This lake get windy, too.  But, there had to be Gale Force winds when we pass the forebay around 2pm.

All the trout had pink meat.

Ken Kickfish

Bill definitely had the "hot stick" of the day  

It must have been the Joel "trout killer" rod I was using!!

I murdered some waxpaper.      

I murdered some waxpaper.    

Nice, what did you shoot that with and at what distance?

Mental note: don't piss off Josh!  

Nice shootin man!

Josh.....I promise NEVER to rub a banana on your kayak again....just put down the rifle...please  

And let me just remind you that I have an 800-round Red Ryder BB rifle and can accurately shoot 799 rounds into a dummy's knee cap (a very painfull & slow death)   ....at close range ...by the way  

That was at 50 yards with the M1, using iron sights.  Could probably do better scoped, but my eyesight is the limiting factor for now.  I've been considering trying to get a light prescription to bring stuff way out there into better focus, but my wife things it'll encourage my eyes to go downhill fast.

Lasic man, got it about 6 years ago. Best decision I have ever made.

Bill - I heard lasic makes the fish look even bigger then the norm....especially when it's at the end of your line  

Yes is adds 3 inches to everything, just ask my wife!  

     

Everything near me is in perfect focus, and I've never worn glasses, so I don't have a history of stable prescription that lasik requires.  That's also hella expensive to shave half an inch off my groups.  Maybe risky too, might screw up my close-in vision.