Mendo Bendo Memorial Day 5/29/06

Had another nice morning at Mendo today.  Got there about 5:45 AM and another guy with a bass boat was scooping up bait at the dock was nice enough to give me a scoop as well... probably like 30 minnows. 

I headed right across to Crappie cove as did the bass boat and a couple other small boats.  This time I was using my 6# test spinning outfit to make a little more game of it...  8'2" steelhead rod rated for 6-10# line with 6# maxima and a 15# fluorocarbon leader... 2/0 hook and 1/4 oz egg sinker.  Trolled between 0.6 and 1.0 mph.

First fish came at about 6:20 and took my kayak in several  circles over the course of the 10 to 15 minute battle.  Finally got 'er in the net... a beautiful 30-inch fattie... even bigger than the fattie I caught on Friday.  I released the fish after measuring & taking a photo (film camera) and put my line back in the water.  About 10 minutes later... Whammo!  Another 10 minute fight and a 28-inch male was in the boat.  Weighed 8 lbs and shot his load all over my boat before I relased him as well. 

Two fish by 7:00 AM... then the bite seemed to die off.   Dustin came paddling out about 8:00 and he mooched some bait from me.  We trolled through crappie cove and around to the south east side of the lake with no actoin. 

My last fish was a very scrappy 15 inch smallmouth at about 9:30 or so.  I then trolled over toward the island and along the dam on my way in... no more action.   Was off the water by 10:30.

Good times!!!  Erik

I'm back already. No love for me.

I fished south toward the cliffs and then back around the west side of the island. I just wasn't feelin' it and there were more and more boats pulling up to the ramp so I called it.

Two hours of driving for three hours of fishing...lol. Oh well, at least it was a nice day and I got some exercise!

I'll post the pic of your SM in a bit.  I might head out to Tomales right now. I have bait and the yaks still loaded...

Good job Eric!:notworthy:
I wanted to be up there today but I have been stacking up the WAF points instead, 3 days of intense spring cleaning.
I'd rather be on the water with a bananna in the yak!   
                                    Morgan

Here's the man and his fish.

Thanks Dustin... boy, I sure do have a way of making fish look small... 

Nice job Eric, sounds like the key this week was to get out on the water EARLY.

You were using 2/0 hooks on the shad, how big were they? I bummed some shad off of KickenBass and they were only 1 1/2 - 2". It seemed like my size 2 hooks were too big for those little guys and they didn't last very long.

I didn't have any problem with those shad lasting on the hook.   Hooked sideways through the nose and they stayed alive for hours once hooked.  The shad were only a couple inches long.   I was using either mustad or owner hooks (don't recall which) that have a relatively narrow shank.  Same hooks I use for drifting live bait in the bay.

Early was definitely the key this weekend. 

Wish it were me!Good Job Eric,saw your report from Friday and headed that way on Sat.morn so that I could be there @8:00 when the dam baitshop opens!Never Again will I show-up at 8:00.I'm gonna get a long-blue-net so I can make my own and get there EARLY.I did catch a 16"sm.mouth...

As for making bait, both days there were plenty of shad cruising the dock.  I purchased one of these Promar Trophy Series collapsable landing nets and it doubles as an excellent bait net as well as a landing net.  The handle telescopes too so there's no problem reaching with it.  I think it was about $39 at the Outdoor Pro Shop.  I'll be inventing some floatation for it soon as well.

http://www.americanmaple.com/relaunchpromar/trophy.html

Erik 

Great job. I think early is the key - no more at the crack of noon for me.

  We got a Outdoor Proshop here in Oaktown,and I WILL be purchasing one!My first L.Mendo Strpr. was a the native shad,I BELIEVE Thanx,Adam

I always enjoy everyones reports from Mendo, gotta get up there myself.  I'm due for some camping.

Eric, is that some of your handiwork sitting in the rod holder in that pic? That cork handle looks pretty slick.

Eric, is that some of your handiwork sitting in the rod holder in that pic? That cork handle looks pretty slick.

Yeah... this is the rod.  8'2", 6-10# Rainshadow steelhead rod with REC Recoil Nickel-Titanium alloy guides.  Very nice light setup that has just enough power in the butt section to handle these larger fish too.  The cork is natural cork rings mixed with a type of exotic burl cork rings.



EK

Nice work Erik!

indeed, real nice!  is that your perching rod too?

How do you feel about trolling with a spinning setup, it's not quite as precise for letting out line, etc?

especially with trolling rigs that are more complicated and you can't just cast them back behind you.

lamiglas has a new 7'9" koke UL casting rod.  kind of interesting.

You could make a casting rod out of the same blank?

I have had a lot of fun with a cheap 7' 2-8lb pflueger/shakespeare casting rod that I have been using
for freshwater trolling.