Die Hard Newbie with pic of trophy hookjaw!

Hello everyone!  I am new here but not to the sport and am a die hard German Brown Fisherman.  Aced most of the other species in the lake but have found these are much more fun to hunt!  I live in Folsom and have a Tarpon 160 fully rigged out!  Pics will follow!


13-14lb hookjaw caught off my kayak and landed with no net in February this year.  Fish of the month on norcalangler.net

NICE FISH!
Where did ya get him and what were ya using???
I am right up the road in Placerville.

whoa, that's a fatty!

I always see how the brow trout dudes are secretive, so that's fine, but I'd love to hear any details
of the fight and landing!

J

Nice Catch - looks like you belong to the Brown baggers Club 

By the way: I moved your photo to the Trout pics section.

Holy Bejeebus that is a hog brown!

Nice work!!!

Can you give us some details?

MolBasser

VERY nice. Congrats.

I caught him on a custom painted Rapala ripping about 3mph. in Feb 06'  Here's the story I published for the home page on nor cal angler.net  It would be unjust to my mentors to say where I caught this fish but I would be glad to fish with anyone and instruct how it can be done.  Fishing is my passion and I thought putting this fish on here I would receive a warm welcome and I have.  I'm trying to top him this year.  I haven't seen a nicer brown come out of anywhere around Northern Cali this year and I'm usually up on the big ones.  There are a lot of poachers who claim to catch one of these bad boys but we know who they are.  Watch out for AC Plugs!!!!!   Anyways, see that hook on that bad boy?  Here's how it went down....
http://www.norcalangler.net/index.php?menu=newsletter

A friend of mine has explained that his favorite brown technique is to rip fpr them. From my understanding 'ripping' is trolling and at the same time yanking your pole back to 'rip' the lure through the water, then pointing the rod tip back to it's original position, then yanking it back again ( ripping ) and repeating the process over and over. How is this done from a kayak?? I can see doing it from a Hobie Adventure. I have a T160 as well. School me please.

You pretty much only want to rip with stickbait.  An F-13 or F-18.  The most important factor is a trolling motor.  Here's the pics.
It's too hard to effectively rip while paddling.  Plus the trolling motor allows you to cover more ground.  Beware....the best Brown fishing is done in the worst conditions.  Wind and snow are the best elements to have.  I have been in the middle of the lake during a lightning show at stampede and let me tell you that is nothing nice especially when your top speed is about 5mph.  There is a lot more involved in being prepared.  30lb. main line braided.  Then 60 foot 15lb. fluorocarbon coated leader.  Too much stretch in your line and those Big Boys will pop it right out of their mouth.  You rip the rod kinda like your setting a hook but keep the tip close to the water.
I use a Lamiglass inshore classic 8'0.  with grip handle to put under your arm while ripping.  That's a Humminbird 787c2 on there.  I can show you better than I could tell you!  Scent is kinda crucial too!

I feel so normal after that post.  you should post more often! 

and I mean that in a good way.

maybe you are bluekayak's freshwater cousin?

All my big trout are bass. 

what's the downrigger for? macs?

Nice fish. Do you have a bilge pump or floatation? Do you ever take on water through that open hatch, that would make me a little nervous. I used to fish Twin lakes, Is still good?

Downrigger is for kokanee, hot day searching for Big Browns deep and if I get desperate I might look for some Mackinaw, but they are usually not very picky.  I usually never take on any water in my hatches.  Once those big white caps start crashing over the yak I go in.  I also stay close and rip the shores in bad conditions.  I might build a pump if it ever got that bad but until then it should be fine.  I will be cutting the shaft on the trolling motor and mount it right on the rudder like a trick I saw a guy do at Adventure Sports.  Pretty trick system.  I have his contact info if anyone is interested in fabricating their rudder to a deadly trolling machine.  Not cheap and he is in Nevada but by far the most knowledgable guy in the business.  I keep my Trojan Deep Cycle big boy in the front hatch.  everything balances out pretty well out there.  I can't complain.  I call it the "Stealth Bomber".

Trolling motor. That explains it.
Have you had any luck at Donner? I have yet to fish that lake.

I usually kill it at Donner.  One of my favorite Kokanee lakes.  I'll be back up there real soon.  I'll probably be at New Melones tomorrow.  Early looking for a decent Brown and then switch over for Kokanee when it warms up.

I will be at Union Valley. A LOT closer for me.