It's Bass Attack!

I go from not knowing how to fish for bass to two tackle boxes targeting bass...  and counting!  That's not good for the pocket book :-(  I have read and re-read a few bass fishing books too.  You know I got it bad now.  And it doesn't help to be blessed with friends who are excellent bass fishermen.

It appears that it's bass fishing time in California because it doesn't matter what lake or reservoir that you are fishing at...  the results are the same.  Or maybe, it's the fishermen you hang around with....
 
You are looking at, perhaps, a future bass fishing champion:

This hawg was caught and released.

Different lake, same results.

Lake Camanche - yesterday

Different lure, same result.

Da Boys Are Back!!!

Exactly a week ago I got an invite to fish Folsom Lake with Grandmaster Fisherman (GMF).  That was the day that I landed my first fish for 2017!!!

Today, I am out fishing with two of my favorite fishing  brothers, GMF and PRO-Fisherman (PRO).  We fished Lake Camanche.  This is my very first time to the lake.  Once again, we were bass fishing.  Since this lake does not allow live minnows as bait, we drifted night crawlers.  And because night crawlers twirl around and can cause line twists, the setup requires a swivel.  So it's just like drifting a minnow, but with a swivel before the split shot.

I have started a second bass tackle box!

How many fishing poles?  I love it!  Always ready for action.

 
There is an entrance fee for this lake.  If you decide to go, make sure you check the latest information from this Website: http://www.norcalfishing.com/camanche/entry.php

I can finally say that this is my first success at bass fishing.  I caught a bass on a Gary Yamamoto Hula Grub; caught one on drifting a night crawler; and, caught one on jerk bait.  All are first for me!!!

First bass on a Hula Grub

Did my homework...

It was fantastic seeing GMF and PRO in action.  They used all kinds of tricks and caught and released a bunch of bass.  We managed to keep a few....  GMF even caught a big crappie!  Unfortunately, I am out of practice with my GoPro and was only able to capture a few of the fish
ons!!!

Here is the video:

More pictures of the day:

PRO ready for action.

Keeper!

California vulture or condor???

GMF

Lake Camanche shore

Two happy, happy fishermen!!

JU - Signing out - Tight lines!

The Monkey Is Off My Back!

Last week I got an invite to go bass fishing with Grandmaster Fisherman (GMF).  To say that I am excited is an understatement!  I am not a very good bass fisherman, but I love targeting and learning about arguably America's favorite sport fish!!!  To prepare myself, I re-read "Advanced Bass Fishing Skills."

Only my Holy Bible has more foot notes :-)

I also setup a specific tackle box just for bass fishing.

I need a bigger box!

Wouldn't you know it, I got the wrong type of hooks and the jig heads were too light :-)  And out of the 50 plus fishing poles in my possession, I brought the two trout poles that are a little stiff for bass action?!?!?!  Fortunately, GMF has about 50 plus fishing poles on his boat ready for bass action... Okay, maybe 30 plus :-).  He also has the proper hooks, jig heads and plastic grubs too.

10 AM at Folsom Lake:

Calm and beautiful.

My memory is a bit hazy, but I believe the first pass, while I was drifting a live minnow, GMF hooked a fat bass using a plastic worm with a split shot about two feet up!!!  It was surreal.  I didn't take a picture of it, but believe me, it's not your normal 1 pounder.  Then things slowed down and we tried a bunch of different techniques and didn't get anything until around lunch time.  GMF got the second one with a live minnow.  Again, we drifted live minnows with a no. 5 split shot, 2-foot leader and an Eagle Claw Kahle Hook no. 10.  This time it was more of a normal sized bass.

So we left GMF's home around 8:20 AM.  I don't remember the exact time we hit the waters, but we were on our last drift of the day near 2 PM, that's when it happened.  I concentrated on drifting my minnow and had the pole in hand, when I felt the tug.  I remembered what GMF taught me and that is NOT to set the hook!!!  Just lift the pole up when you feel the fish load up.  That's exactly what I did.  The result is a beautiful spotted bass!!!  The monkey is off JU's back!!!  First fish for 2017!!!

JU's First Fish for 2017!!!

Notes for next bass fishing trip:  1. Bring the proper hooks (Eagle Claw Kahle Hook no. 10 & Gamakatsu no. 1 wide gap worm hook or no. 2 straight worm hook.)  And, 2. Bring lighter, more flexible poles.

Since I didn't take any pictures of GMF with his fish, I leave you with a picture of his friend's fish from last week at Folsom Lake:

GMF's friend from last week @ Folsom Lake

Here are cool random pictures that GMF sent me:

So true...

Trout season is coming...

Six and a Half Pound Bass!!!

I can count the number of times that I went bass fishing with my fingers.  This is most likely the reason why my success rate isn't very good when it comes to bass fishing.  I believe my biggest bass was caught many moons ago at Folsom Lake with my favorite Z-Ray, weighing at most 1.5 pound.

Yesterday, Grandmaster Fisherman (GMF) sent me a picture of a 6.56 pound bass that was caught and released!!!  I gotta confess, I have never seen a bass that big in real life, only in picture :-(

So, here's the picture:

Still ZERO Fish

Wow!  It's been over a month since my last blog and sadly to report that I have not been fishing!

However, I am going to wet your appetite by posting some pictures from my dear friend, Grandmaster Fisherman (GMF).

Here is one of GMF's friend with a beauty from Oregon.

Chetco River, OR

On the 23rd of February, I received a text from GMF to get to Discovery Park to witness over 400K steelies being released.  I couldn't make it, so he sent me these two pictures.

Some of these will come back bigger!

GMF could have just picked this one up :-)

Hunting was a success for GMF and family too.

Young Master

Beautiful family picture with the catch of the day.

Here's a perch that I had to google to confirm that it's a striped sea perch :-)

Scout Master with a striped sea perch.

Now, I have been making more salmon spinners for the upcoming season.  Here is the picture of the latest collection.

Until next time....  Tight lines!

Fish Dreaming...

It's been raining... and raining here in California.

I checked for conditions to see if there's a local place for some fishing action, however futile.  To feed my addiction, I had to go and take some pictures.  The following pictures are from the Watt Ave. Access to the American River at 85,000 CFS flow!!!

My lovely assistant.

South west side - Bathroom under water, ew.

North west side - Bike path under water.

North east side.

South east side.

South east side - No, it's not the river; it's the parking lot!

Fishing in the Rain

I am just a little bit excited when it comes to fishing!

Ready for 2017 fishing!

A couple days ago, Wednesday, 1/4, the weather forecast was rain all day!  It's a good thing that JU and PRO do not melt in the rain, because rain all day it was!  PRO and I fished the American River at 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) flow from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  We were using jet divers to float night crawlers and salmon roe (the ones that I cured from 2016 salmon season).  We also pulled plugs.  One of my favorite technique to catch steelhead!!!

Near the end of the day, we noticed that the lines of the poles crossed.  I picked up the pole with roe with my left hand and the pole with the plug on my right hand to attempt a swap to uncross the lines.  In the process I got a hit with the left pole, the one with the roe:  "Whack, whack!!!"  Although the fish did not stick, I was ecstatic because I then knew that the roe I cured work!!!  Watch out steelies!  I've got a lot more roe for the next time....

Downstream

Upstream.

Super versatile fishing pole!

Yesterday, the flow in the American River was increased from 4,000 cfs to 7,000 cfs; and today it is 15,000 cfs.  The river access along the American River is now closed again.  No more fishing until the water level goes down....  In the mean while, I can sharpen all my hooks :-)

Happy 2017 fishing!  It's gonna be an awesome year!

Tight lines!