Went to dark side at Clear Lake 12/30 Non-Yak

My friend Carl showed up at my door last nite with an invite to join him at Clear lake on his brand new fancy bass boat.  So I became a hypocrite and forgot that I ever said anything bad about boats that can (and did) go 75 mph.  The first thing he hands me as I step on board is a helmet...WTF?  Sure felt right though at 70, especially because I was freezing my face off.  This boat is about 17' with a 200 hp Yamaha.

The guy at the bait shop says its slow today on the lake......only 25 fish per angler, as opposed to 45.  I'm so naive, I don't know whether he's kidding or not.  At first it is really slow, then it picks up over by the State Park.  We end up with about 8 fish apiece, and I get a dandy that goes 8 lbs 12 oz.  By baitshop Bob's index, we were below slow, but I had fun.  Have to say that I'll go out if Carl invites me again, but Yaks are still WAY more fun.  And WAY cheaper!!!

1. The view from 70 mph
2.  huge flock of white pelicans
3.  My first LMB in 15 years
4.  Big Carl and his new boat

Nice lookin LMB.  That lake holds some big fish for sure.  What did you catch it on? or is that top secret.  The bass fishermen are kinda touchy when it comes to secret spots and lures?  I too was a PB' er with my Nitro Bass boat, YAKKIN is definitely the way to go!!!!!

Cool report, Dave.   

  Congrats on that fatty LMB! Those pelicans usually hang out in the Kelsey creek area this time of year, but that is a pretty shallow spot for a bass boat. IMO, Lake county bait shop reports are usually over blown.( imagine that, from fisherman) Dont feel that your day was substandard. good job.  This time of year Id wager you nabbed that beast with jumbo minnows.

This time of year Id wager you nabbed that beast with jumbo minnows.

You called that one right.  Nothing else was working.  And, i could have done just as well with a yak launched from the State Park.  Maybe a 3 minute paddle.

nice fish, great report!  dave, since you might be interested, I surfed mitchell's cove today, (santa cruz west side spot that isn't really good very often, but when it's good, it's very good) perfect and barrelling, haven't seen waves that hollow  and perfect for quite a while. huge swell, super low tide, no wind.  that's "all" it takes!

looking forward to doing some fishing again sometime soon!

nice fish, great report!  dave, since you might be interested, I surfed mitchell's cove today, (santa cruz west side spot that isn't really good very often, but when it's good, it's very good) perfect and barrelling, haven't seen waves that hollow  and perfect for quite a while. huge swell, super low tide, no wind.  that's "all" it takes!

looking forward to doing some fishing again sometime soon!

John, you're stoked and I'm jealous.  That's a great spot when it works.  IMO santa cruz is better than it is up here.  We get good swell, but only a few places take it.  I was going to go down to Point Arena yesterday before Carl invited me fishin.  i guess, life's OK when you have to choose between fun things.  thanks for the surf report!.

I got to agree with that, if you are choosing between good thing, no point in sweating the choice too much.

Nice Fatty pescadore! I have dreams of one like that!  did you attach any weight to the minn? or got him in those tullies at State Park? 

I surfed mitchell's cove today, (santa cruz west side spot that isn't really good very often, but when it's good, it's very good) perfect and barrelling, haven't seen waves that hollow and perfect for quite a while. huge swell, super low tide, no wind. that's "all" it takes!

Fellow wave ridders,since buying this fish-yak(jan.06')I have not been out huntin waves(body-board "NOT BOOGIE") and I am hurtin' bad.I used to hit Ocean Beach to Pomponio every weekend and day-off all year round for the past 15yrs. I NEED TO GET SOME WAVES! I don't mis the 3-year sinus infections with aching teeth and yellow gobbs though.This talk of waves gets me fired-up!! 

did you attach any weight to the minn? or got him in those tullies at State Park? 

We used a drop shot rig with split shot on the tag end.  The object is to get the baitfish down a bit without anchoring it to the bottom.  I think using an egg sinker setup trolled behind a kayak would work just as well.  The fish were from the outside edge of the tullies to about 30 ft out.  Didn't seem like there was any reason to get there at the crack of dawn either.  Caught all my fish in the afternoon.

nice fish, great report!  dave, since you might be interested, I surfed mitchell's cove today, (santa cruz west side spot that isn't really good very often, but when it's good, it's very good) perfect and barrelling, haven't seen waves that hollow  and perfect for quite a while. huge swell, super low tide, no wind.  that's "all" it takes!

looking forward to doing some fishing again sometime soon!

Dude, when mitchell's is going off, it goes off!!

It is actually a better wave more often than you think.  That was one of my favorite breaks when I surfed.

West side rules!!!

MolBasser

Oh, and nice toad!!

MolBasser

Thanks pescadore! I will employ that tactic at my next hunt.   Another weapon to the "quiver"