Lex 4/28 and 4/29

On Sat, I went out just for a paddle to make sure the Adventure was still wate worthy.  it was.

Sunday, brought the wife and dog so they could go for a hike up the manzanita trail while I trolled the length of the lake in the Outback.

Ran into Mooch as he was getting ready to launch at the crack of 9:20AM.  It looked really smooth and glassy out.  The crew teams were just finishing up their morning workout.  There were a few kickboaters out.

Tied on a 4 inch shallow diving rapala in gold and black with double treble hooks.  Its my confidence trolling bait at this lake.

I launched after mooch.  Trolled the first cove for nothing, then trolled southeastern shoreline.  This time last year, the water was up at the treeline.  Its gotta be at least 15 feet lower now.

I continued trolling along the shoreline but was picking up all kinds of weeds.  But the place felt VERY fishy for some reason.

I continued along the pipeline that hugs the shore turning left into a lake arm with a lot of used-to-be submerged cliffs.  Kind of like the narrows at Del Valle.  Could see Mooch working the beds across the lake by the freeway.  Trolled in there and started fan casting.  Pick up a dinker off the cliffs.  Yeehaw.  no skunk today.   .

I trolled the whole arm then came back out.  Mooch was there when I emerged.  As I was paddling north again along the pipeline toward Mooch, got a HOOKUP!  little 10" dinker, but at least it was another LMB!  couple more pedal strokes then HOOKUP!  this one didn't stick, but got the heart pumping.

I hooked up again as Mooch and I passed each other, but didn't stick again.  I was getting irked and was about to paddle back to the launch as time was getting short for me, but Mooch hooks up!  His fish shook also.  So I was thinking, one more pass and then i'll call it.  Trolled south downwind to the lake arm then did an about-face to troll north along the pipeline upwind again.

BINGO!  Got hit hard and it stuck.  I yelled HOOKUP so loud I probably scared my puppy back at the launch!   .  Fiesty guy cleared some air and I saw it, felt like a decent fish.  Mooch paddled over for an action shot.  I was stoked!!  Thanks for the photo.  I had it gilled hooked pretty deep and bleeding so I threw it in the tankwell and hauled a$$.  I knew I was gonna be late and was gonna hear it from Kristal.   .  Anyway, moments into the paddle, I figure its better to let the bass go and give it a shot.  If I let it go, it has a chance, if I keep it, its got no chance so I thumbed it as I paddled to the launch.  After about a minute, I held it by the belly and it swam out of my hand.  I'm crossing my fingers for the little guy.

Anyway, if your looking for a quick bite of cookie cutter LMB, lexington is on right now.  Read up on Greg 6MHz report from last year, the exact same strategy in the same spot as last year was the ticket for me again.

One final note: anyone ever have any trouble with hook bonnets making your rigs go dull?  I throw em on my longer stick baits and I suspect that's the case.

maybe just time to sharpen those hooks?

J

Have to say that it turned out to be a nice day at Lex...a little wind here and there but nothing really consistent. Tried to fish a different area this time around so I headed towards the HWY 17 side - trolled a risto rap and did some fan casting with a little swim bait minnow. Did not have a FF so I kept my eye on the ledge while trolling. No joy there so I decided to go back to the productive areas. Met Martin / Yakuza at the tube line and Martin gets hit over and over again while trolling. I was able to stick one bass but it jumped out of the water and shook me off  As I headed back, trolling close to the ledge with a shallow diving crankbait, I managed to hook on to a little rainbow - photo'd and released. Wanted to stay longer but needed to grab a bite to eat - forgot to pack my lunch

Great report!  That lake used to be pretty good!

I took my boat out there a few years back and fished way across the lake with not much action.  On the way back to the dock I pitched a senko next to those Eucalyptas trees that were in the water ( the water level was high) and found a whole school of bass.  It was wide open.  No need to go way across the lake!!   

I also used to take my kids there and catch crappie too.  One year I happend to find a school of trout where the river flows into the lake.  We parked next to the road and walked on those big tubes near the shore. It was wide open!

Good luck over there next time!!  Dave