Lake Sonoma earth day

Had a great day at Lake Sonoma today and I just want to again thank the Core Members of this board for getting me involved in this sport. I can't thank you enough it has changed my life in so many ways.
Very few boats up the lake today most of the time I had the Lake to myself. Launched at the crack of 11 to wind and rain all day the weather changed it rained and blew half the time and was warm and FAC half the time. After last week really wanted to target the steelies, but they were deep and I trolled a few hours for nada, so I switched to senko fishing and it was OTH every cove I would hook 2 or 3 LMB nothing big but good fish 15/16" so much fun the water was so clear you could see the fish the whole fight. Normally I don't like fishing for LMB because they are sorta sluggish not today they were fighing like smallies. I did lose 1 big one at the boat which was conciderably bigger than the biggest I have ever caught(6.5lbs) . Senko fishing is a blast but the baits don't last for shit, I went thru 2 paks, switched to dropshotting to no avail. Started casting cranks in the rocky areas and the smallies were slamming them nothing to big but no dinks all 14/16" great fighters. Started trolling back to the ramp and hooked two steelies bout 20" damn can those fish fight lost both at the boat trying to take an UW shot like Adam(Thanks Adam ). It got really windy on the way back to the ramp so I ducked into a cove and was tossing cranks when I heard all this splashing behind me I turned around and there was a Mountain Lion on the opposite bank about 50' away eating something, I reach for my camera and he took of, I paddled over to see what he was eating at first I thought is was a dog but it was a big Possum. I graphed a big school of fish in the cove and got out the Risto and bang crappie C&R a bunch until I gill hooked one even those fought pretty good today. Around the edges of the Lake were clouds of small fish I took a few UW shots for Brian. Got home late 7:30 Wife was pissed but I had a great time.

Hey Mike,

Glad you had a good day on the lake.  As for the little fish.. I can't see much, but the general shape looks like post larval centrachids (fancy name for the family of fish that includes lmb, smb, sunfish, bluegill, and crappie but I can't tell which).

Brian

Great report of an awesome day!  I like the sentiment about the sport in general - couldn't agree more.  Way to live it!   

Mike-

Great report... sounds like you had a great day too. I'm thinking that I got to give that lake a try. Sounds like you can catch a little bit of everything there.

Freddie

Good report Mike... you always do about a million times better at that lake than I do.  What color senkos were you using... any hot color in particular?  How were you fishing them? 

Were you up in the Warm Springs arm or in the main body of the lake?

Way to go mike! I knew I should have gone fishing yesterday. Sometimes you just have to put aside all doubt and just go. Those are often the best days on the water.
Senkos are fragile, but that's why they have the magic action. Are you wacky or weedless?
It should only get better with the warming weather.
By the way, heard anything about Russian shad?

What color senkos were you using.

Al the dark colors were hot but they were hitting them all.

Warm Springs arm or in the main body of the lake?

  Warm Springs the main part was like an Ocean.

y the way, heard anything about Russian shad?

  Extremely slow we need some heat, this rain should put a bunch of fish at  Memo. Beach.

Are you wacky or weedless?

I'm wacky

Now that is the way to celebrate earth day.  Way to go on the biodiversity Mike.

Jim

Mike - nice work (as usual) seems like your getting to know this lake better and better  I'll be expecting a guided trip from you soon 

Nice fish! You're right about the delicate nature of senkos though. Something that I've found that works pretty good is a product called pros soft bait glue. I use it to repair my senkos and it works pretty good after you get the hang of it. It's basically like superglue, but it never gets hard like superglue does, so it lets the senko continue to flutter without making a rigid spot in it. It's pretty cheap too. I think I paid 2 or 3 dollars for a bottle of it, and it extends the life of each of my senkos through a couple more rips. Here's their web site if you want to check it out: www.prosoftbaitglue.com
Oh, and I'm not affiliated with them. I just like their glue! 

After I posted this, I looked at their site again. Apparently they have gotten a lot of advertisement play and now sell a bottle of the glue for $10! You will still save money in the long run at that price, but it doesn't seem like as good of a deal at 3 times what I paid last time. Glad I have a bottle of it left still!

Boy, you sure know how to celebrate Earth Day!  Great report and super pix, Mike. I can't wait to get up to Lake Sonoma again, but, after hearing about that mountain lion, I don't think I'll bring my dog camping with me.

Janice aka "Big J"

Sounds like a great day!

Senko fishing is a blast but the baits don't last for shit, I went thru 2 paks

A couple of tips for senko users (wacky rigging):

1) I buy "Wave Worms Tiki Sticks" at Walmart for 1/2 the price of senkos -- the fish don't know the difference 
2) Get some O-rings or split rings that are just a little smaller ID than the senkos.  Slide the ring to where you would normally put the hook.  Insert the hook under the ring (not into the senko).  Supposed to work great.
-or-
3) Buy some tube baits and slice them into 3/8" 'rings'.  Slide the ring onto the senko as above.  This time hook the senko as you normally would but push it through the extra tube ring.  The extra 'padding' on both sides of the senko really makes a difference.

Now that is a good Port,W-pics!  I think that opossum was just playin opossum though?
Nice diversity of species and UW shots! 

DOUBLE INFO....SAME AS GORDONS ABOVE....    

Note: I've discoverd that the bass love the WACKY-RIGG style too.  I started putting them on on-line/weedless at first, then a guy at the local shop, showed me these rubber O-rings that you work onto the center of the senko....then put the hook (w/weed-guard) through the ring...when the fish hits it...the senko slides up the leader and is usually unharmed and intact. I caught 96" of winter-LMB on the same senko and then lost it at del valle trying to break the 100" on that set-up.....i lost it! and on the next rigg and flip,got one!    

O- rings for sure. And rigging Texas and most of the others you can re-inforce it by putting something- thoothpick,stick- thru the eye.
Great pics and report, cant wait to fish that lake again. A great spot for camping, car or the boat-in.
I finished that shrimp-pump, your right getting that ball on was a real bitch.

Looks like a fun day.  I have a few of those tackle boxes...LOVE them.