Mendo still on and cranking out QUALITY 6-9-06

Hit Mendo at 0530 with Mark Shimizu (fishinshim) and his buddy.  Also brought along a co-worker who is an experienced angler.  Bait was fast, furious and big...yet another good start.  Shimizu had made a new tank for his Marauder that took advantage of a design element I had helped with that few have used so far.  He sunk his pump thru a scupper in the TW.  The scupper is big enough that they will drop in, and for a big guy like me this wont even require priming.  Mark is smaller than me so he added a priming bulb.  He did a beautiful job and it worked/looked great!



Fish were busting as soon as we hit the water so we got on the gas and went straight across.  We baited up, and started the Mendo thing.  We kept missing the boils but eventually I saw Fishinshim heading for the right place at the right time...and he got slammed.  We went over and he had a nice 30" 11 pounder.  A great opening fish!



A few minutes later both my baits went silly and one got slammed.  I wrapped myself, and then my co-worker in the frenzy, but everything came off and I boated a Mendo cookie-cutter 8 pounder.  A few pics later and he was released...



Things slowed for a while and a few real idiots showed up.  One guy in particular was the rudest beotch I'd seen at the Lake in a while.  I paddled over and we had a nice discussion...and then he left  .  A few minutes later I look over at my co-worker just in time to see his rod get stuffed.  He gets a nice long fight and boats his first striper.  This was a real nice looking 9 pounder...



After some of the boats left the fish started hitting the surface again.  I had all of my gear in after helping my co-worker reload, but I paddled into a boil and started casting.  After a few casts I decided to drop my bait down about 15-20 feet so its at least in the water...bLamMO!!!  I gets drilled and the line is peeling off of the reel.  This fish felt like a mule, which generally gets my hopes up only to boat the bionic 6 pounder but I get it to color and it IS a piggy! Stoked to see this fish when it came out of the water!!!



31.25" and 12.5 pounds, the nicest one I've got in a while...




We closed out the morning with a little fruitless fishing for smallies.  I can't believe the lake is still fishing as good as it is for this time of year...what an OUTSTANDING spring (even though its summer!)




   

  Best spriummer ever!I told myself that this weekend I was gonna spend w/the wife I told myself that? I am still on the High from my(3) on the SBA Tourney wkend. And you've caught a lot more since then!according to the posts.Good Job/picts.P.S.Hey Sean!Did you ever get time to send me some company stickers to cover the yak/car/house?If not?whenever you get the spare time.Thanks

Sounds like another great day. I managed to string the "magical blue net" on my bait net. I think I'll give her a dip in the morning.

Andy and I are planning to hitting Mendo in the morning since he has his son's graduation at 11:00. Maybe I'll see you in a couple of hours at the taste of downtown. I'll be the intoxicated one.


CHEERS!

Nice TOADS!!
Wish my outing was as productive.
Great job!!!!

Fish Hunter-I was about to rightthe spring off when Mendo lookedlike a latte in March...its turned out to be one of the best "springs" ever!

Mahi-see you down there!  I'd go tomorrow but I gotta work  at least I'll be on the river near Healdsburg.

Tote-Productive, but your trip looked gorgeous. We used to fish up there all of the time when I was a kid.  My dad loved the tine "Red Lake" by Caples.

Sean is the rubber up if when did it go up?

Mike-the rubber dam is UP.  It went up about a month ago.  We are paddling with River Keeper tomorrow from HMD to Burkes.  I bet you could just show up and go if you want tojoin us...what do you use for smallies this time of year?

Can't go got family in town small crankbaits black back and silver body. let me know I'm going somewhere on Sunday
Don't forget to bring some shad darts there are Shad in the river now they smoke an UL. I heard white and pink give Juan a call.

Got it! -BTW-Those tongs kick serious a$$  Thanks!!!!

Good work, fellas. Some quality stripesides right there, boyeee!

As usual Sean, good pics and report. I headed to Clear lake and only caught 3 crappie and had two blowups on a frog.
Fish on!

what a day!!!  man you know mendo!!  I dont know what was up earlier this week when I went out, I didnt see one boil the whole day..  hmmm. .   cant stop a guy from trying though!  especially after your reports!

Nice piggy dude! Looks like yet another great day at Mendo, will the White family adopt me?? 

We already adopted you!

Here's a couple more Mendo pics.Sean,you definitley had me on girth!
What a difference a couple weeks can make.No rain,not freezing cold,good bait!In all a good day on the water other than a donation to the tackle gods of the lake  .Hopefully this bite will continue for a while,the boat traffic is definitely growing.