Del Valle - Sat. 3/10

One of the guys on this outing said he was getting tired of posting "got skunked" trip reports. Well, I'll embarrass myself so it overshadows our "got skunked" day! I paddled by a PB that was anchored in a cove just as they were reeling in a beautiful trout--must have been 3 lbs. What did I do? I got the hook from my rod/reel that was stowed behind my seat caught on my hat while I was watching the action. Does that count for a bite? So, you see, "got skunked" reports really could be worse!

The day was glorious--sunny, warm, and calm, and the company was, as always, fun. I was glad to put faces to a few more screen names (Zeelander--thanks for initiating the trip; and MBYakker--will you drive that distance again?). Our potluck BBQ was yummy (thanks to all) although the cattle seemed skiddish when they saw the beef hot dogs on the grill!  Speaking of the grill, that was quite a magic act, Mooch--his foot in the picture shows the size of the setup. Pretty cool, huh? 

All in all, I had a great day on the water. Let's do it again soon.

Janice aka "Big J"

Can I start by saying, what unbelievable weather!!! Man, it blew barely 5 mph all day! Good deal on everyone getting together. The lunch was great and comraderie always better. Good times!

Fishing-wise, although trolling all day all I got was a 10" LMB. I'll troll up a 'bow one of these days!

Z

and MBYakker--will you drive that distance again?

Sure!  It's only 2 hours . .I don't think there is a lake much closer than an hour from Monterey, anyway.  I'm still not reporting all my skunks, though!

Fishing for me was mostly trolling a rapala and casting a panther-martin spinner.  Got 1 smallie (~14 inches) on the panther martin and hooked a fatty rainbow on the troll .. lost it at the yak.  My net was tangled in my gear . .Mooch was paddling over for the assist but I could see the trout was barely hooked ... I went for the grab       That was a big fish, though . . I'll be pumped for the next couple trips over that one.

It was great meeting everybody and that BBQ was awesome!  Great weather, great company and pretty good fishing .. at least the first few hours.  I really want to go back and get some more of those smallies (and maybe a huge rainbow, too!).

Beautiful weather, great people, and good food.  What more can you ask for? Aside from a fish or two that is. 

Unfortunately no bites for me or Omar.  But because Omar decided he liked to have his feet in the water while I was paddling I did learn the effects of drag.

Good times!

Ok,I'll bite wheres the grill?

Troy

Ok,I'll bite wheres the grill?

Troy

The grill is stashed INSIDE the metal tube...believe it or not....I'm prety sure Big J took some pics of it....I think...

Anyway, gorgeous day on the water. I paddled the X-Factor all day and got a good work out......a slow yak compared to a P15 but definitely more stable. Lot's of places to stow gear and this yak sits high on the water which makes it a very dry ride. I'm not sure how it would do on a windy day but I was glad I didn't have to find out.

I did more "fishing" than "catching"....finally got one LMB to bite while I was casting my risto rap along a steep rockwall. Photoed and gladly released

Thanks to all who made the pot luck - we should do this more often! BigJ - I loved the brownies

Special thanks to Chris / Mbyaker - who performed a successful "search and rescue" of my missing flip flop 

It was nice meeting a "future kayak fisherman" = Omar     ....Angel, we need to give him a nickname....hmmm...how about...."child who likes to drag feet while dad paddles kayak"

Here's some pics....

I think I should work on my own name too    When I first created my account I didn't consider that I would actually hang out on the board as much as I do so at the time it didn't really much matter.  As we can see though you guys/gals, being the cool folks that you are, have grown on me and I've decided to stick around.  I've already posted more here in the few months I've been on the board than I did on another board where I have maintained an account for about 3 years. 

I guess once I decide on a new name I'll end up being the lowest fish on the scale 

By the way, forgot to mention how delicous those brownies were and that Mooch's culinary skills far surpassed my expectations.   

Ok,I'll bite wheres the grill?

Oops! Here's a pic of the infamous grill...and how about those gourmet hot links/dogs, complete with fresh tomato, onion, and avocado, that FisHunter brought? That's livin'! Thanks, Adam.

Janice aka "Big J"

Nice photo's and nice report. Did I see a knife in the mouth photo in the background????? I think someone needs to trademark that pose!

CHEERS!

Had FUN in the SUN!!....All DAY...When I signed-up for this "MADDNESS" these were the things I envisioned
Lets keep this maddness up!! 
Oh....and I got a 15" LMB on the wacky-Senko!!
I got a few pics I'll post after i do some work....

Pics of the day.......and the sunset on the ride home.
personal loss: a SENKO got hung-up on some wood and lost forever early on.Had to put on another,then caught a 15" in the next area.....moral of story?  if I had not lost it on the previous cast and got the one 15" LMB on that lure,it would have been 112" of LMB's fooled by that single senko and I was gonna put it on the MANTLE,into lure HALL OF FAME.
I got another one started up again....
Nice to meet those I had not.    and lets do it some more...before it gets too hot!

   That is a neat little compact grill!  Mooch, did you build it or purchase it somewhere?  The veggie steamer, is it used for that, steaming, or does it have some other MacGyver use?

Troy

   That is a neat little compact grill!  Mooch, did you build it or purchase it somewhere?  The veggie steamer, is it used for that, steaming, or does it have some other MacGyver use?

Troy

Troy - got them both at REI (my most favorite store in the world ) The "veggie steamer" thing is actually where you put the coals on (fire bowl)- it's sort of a "leave no trace" thing 

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=48097730&parent_category_rn=4500636&vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=48126124&parent_category_rn=4500639&vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

  Way cool!  I just happen to have a REI $25 gift card thats been taking up space in my wallet for some time.  Think I just found it a new home!

Troy

Man, you guys let Adam use THAT knife to cut an avacado!?!?! 

Man, you guys let Adam use THAT knife to cut an avacado!?!?! 

it was an actual KITCHEN KNIFE...not the one I weld!!