Lake Del Valle / 02-11.07 / pics

Met Kayak James at the launch ramp - little rain here and there. We hit the shallows right along the bouys and James got a little trout to hit his lure (C&R). James made the call to move and fish the small Island right before the Narrows. I paddled towards the first bouy I saw and started fan casting my super duper magical rapala risto rap (the discontinued one) and got a really nice crappie to hit  HULI KA!!!Photod and Released it and continued casting in hopes of getting more - no joy We went on trolling to some other spots. I got a hit again on the risto rap right past the narrows but lost it by the yak - never got to see  it but it fought like a SMB. I parked on a foot of water and began casting towards a drop off 20 to 30ft. which was only 10 feet from where I was  HULI KA!! A nice SMB  Photod and released....and again, on the risto rap  On the move again, James and I were trolling side by side and HULI KA!!! The risto rap got a rainbow to bite but I goofed on the netting job as it unbuttoned and swam away Would have been a triple header day at Del Valle had I landed it  BUT that's what drives me to the water.....regardless if I'm "catching" or "fishing"  It's just about "being there"....

We met up with Dan (Red Hobie Adventure) later on....Dan is not a "poster" on NCKA but somehow manages to sneak up on you when you least expect it....I heard he was not happy with the nick name "Lurker Dan" so I figured I'd call him "sneaky bastard" instead  ....I may end up changing that as well 

Anyway, the Weather turned out to be awesome... a little wind here and there but the rain was gone for the rest of the day.

James - chime in buddy! Nice fishing with ya!
Dan - I'll see you when I see you

mooch, I got four 4cm ristos on your advice, they are so cute!

how was the crowd at del valle this time? 

you have been making me want to try it, but your last post put me back at square one.

didn't like the idea of powerbait fumes,  .

mooch you might like these mann's crankbaits in 5+, they dive 5 to 8, are 1.5 inches long.

they rattle I think.  I got a couple in a lot of used mini-cranks from ebay.

but I put one I have side by side with the risto and it's a pretty good match.

I guess with a dozen ristos you are set, but thought you might like to know about them.

Also, the rapala fat rap in 4cm is more castable than the risto and rattles.

J

I'll have to check them out  / thanks!

...but my loyalty belongs to Rapala  These lures are made with magic fish juju 

CRAPPIE and SMALLIES and trout that UNBUTTON?!?!  and the LURKER TOO!
way to hit it!!   
and THX for the pics!!

Joel and James -

Sorry I missed the fun. Worked like a dog yesterday instead. I'm surprised you didn't cook up the crappie. I hear they taste pretty good.

Scott

It was a good day all around and I enjoyed the company. my tally was 1 trout and one large mouth that hit a broken back shap rap on the troll, I think the rain put most of the fish into a lock jaw cant wait to get out there again