Del Valle 1/27

Decided to head out to Del Valle because I was interested in exploring the north end of the lake.  I had usually caught fish in the narrows and never really got beyond Swallow Bay when I first went out with Joel.  It was overcast with a few showers, but generally a nice day.  Some PB but saw no kayak fisherman anywhere.  As I left the ramp, a PB with three men caught four fish in just the time it took me to paddle near the middle of the lake.  I stopped and briefly watch them, debating whether I should give it a try, as I still wanted to get some of those big trout, but decided to pursue my plan to see the dam area.  Paddled slowly through the narrows and C&R'd a few smallies and largemouths on the way to the dam.  Didn't get anything around the dam and didn't see any of the few PB hook anything either.  On the way back I caught a couple of largemouths--all small.  Fishing seemed generally slow--the trout I saw caught by others were smallish--none of the 4-5 pounders I'd seen before. All told, I caught 2 smallies and 3 LM.

When I got back to the marina a fellow, Dave, was fishing in a boat at the spot that the first boat I saw on the way out in the morning was fishing in.  He said he saw them earlier and they had a string of about ten trout--mainly 2-3 pounders he thought.  He wondered what they were using to be so successful.  Dave said he was also killing the stripers back before the cold snap set in. He also fishes Chabot and has landed a number of the big Lassen trout there.

Dave has a Malibu kayak and I invited him to join NCKA to hook up for trips.

As I was loading up, Dave came in with his cousin who he had dropped off on the opposite bank to powerbait fish.  They offered me three 2-3 pound trout which I gladly accepted--so I had a nice meal at the end of the day.

Way to go Doug. Glad to hear your efforts are paying off. Soon hopefully we'll hookup and soak that bait maybe Chabot for those Lassen trout.

SMALLMOUTH?? and LRG.MOUTH?? ...Doug! what was i doing wrong last week.  No pics?!?! 
yeah,I stuck to my plan of trolling on sun.@chabot,put in 15miles then stopped at 2:30 to toss for bass I saw on the FF(and got him) before the MFF -3 o'clock cut off.