Topics

16

Fishing Talk / Bat News

« on: April 18, 2024, 07:59:44 AM »

Rogers been catching them, but they are not in an area we should really be fishing until the evening and there are lots of obstacles around to navigate.  For the SD Crew, what time are you coming down?  I'll be fishing the surf in the morning if it allows me and will run to the bay in the afternoon.  Joe won't be able to lock down a fire ring this year, so would someone else be able to?  Keep me posted and let's get a plan together to bring home a sweet victory for SD this year!

17

Outdoor Activities / Wood Run 2024

« on: April 16, 2024, 03:10:36 PM »

Went up with a few buddies to collect wood on my wife's uncle property in Cuyamaca.  Did a lot of chainsawing, and filled up 3 trucks with fresh oak!





Everything was so green.  Lots of turkeys and deer also.



The manzanita was really looking good as after all the years of drought and fire took it's toll.



Bummed he's probably going to sell the property soon, but it's been a fun run.  He's asking too much for my wallet.



Not OSHA approved...







The gang



I have two piles of wood.  One for the fire rings and one for the smoker.  lol






This should hold me over for a few months.  Thanks for reading

18

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Pond Chickens and Puddle Shad Spawn (4/13)

« on: April 16, 2024, 11:06:09 AM »

Just a Place Holder until later....

Not much, but went down to the puddles on Saturday morning.  Lots of bass guys, but I just set out a few trout/cat rods.  Got another pond chicken.



Bass were busting up all over the place on little micro bait.  Looked like a shad spawn just happened.  I tied on a tiny swimbait...



...and on my second cast, scored! Absolutely gorgeous markings on it!



Then I was covered with bass guys.  I saw a 5# and a few 2.5# fish caught before I decided to leave the crowds.

I went to my tree spot and got another bass, albeit a smaller model.  Me trying to get some actions shots proved fruitless as he jumped, splashed me with nasty water and swam away.



This crayfish he spit up literally smelled like a turd!




I ran home for lunch and came back at the end of the day to totally different conditions.  Windy... Choppy Ponds... Tons of people.... and tons of fishermen...  I found an open spot and just cast and soaked for a bit.  I had two good bites, but neither stuck so I got the afternoon goose egg.  Still, I cant beat the proximity to the house.  lol

Oh, but the pm session wasn't a bust.  I did a quick little rock painting.  I actually did 2, but left the rough one at the lake for someone to find.



Thanks for reading!

19

General Board / Verne

« on: April 12, 2024, 05:42:06 AM »

I hope the Sx went well and you're healing up just fine.  Keep us posted.

20

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Here Batter Batter Batter (3/29)

« on: March 31, 2024, 02:30:08 PM »

Ran down to the puddles and had the same results.  Not a nibble for a few hours....  Just talked with a guy for a bit while the fish were taking a siesta.

Then 30 minutes before closing and a SCREAMER!  Gone before I got to the rod.

Followed by another screamer!  As rod loaded up in my hands... just gone.....

Small bite after that and the worm was nibbled to a stub.

Same thing again.....

Same thing for a 3rd time!

7:00 came and zero fish caught and went 0/5.  Not exactly sure what I was getting bit on, but I'm suspecting Red-Ear and/or small trout.  Even though it was a fruitless trip, it felt great just to chill in the truck, listening to music, meanwhile having a few rods just 20' soaking away.

Thanks for reading and the Bat fight will be here at the end of the month!  Going to try and get out for a scouting mission here this week.

21

Fishing Talk / Day At The Docks 2024

« on: March 31, 2024, 02:20:43 PM »

Anyone going down next Sunday?  I'll be down for a bit in the morning looking for some deals and maybe seeing if any vendor has one of the new Daiwa 500 bait casters I can get a feel of.  I'd love to pair it with my Rainshadow yellow rod for tossing surface irons, but want to see if it worth that type of coin.

22

Fishing Talk / Saturday Night Bat Fight XVIII - Banter Board

« on: March 26, 2024, 07:27:38 AM »

I just put this up here for sh!ts and giggles.  I was thinking of the old banter from the OC and LA in years past, but now realize that the VC is the real competition now.  Since Donfish ran to the hills, the remaining LA contingent is scattered and splintered and just resorts to catching thornbacks (minus ones).  The OC hasn't been a challenge since Dagodfaja sunk into a razor clam hole and has yet to resurface (and Koga rode the poop chute to AZ so wouldn't know how to catch one).  The VC has organized and may get lucky with a win through just sheer numbers of anglers, but SD has plans to combat that tactic.  Team NorCal... well, their best angler split for the mid-west, so their hopes are up in smoke.

Yep, that's the summary for the start of Bat Fight season.  Let the games begin!

(I wonder if Where'sMyBeer will make an appearance?

23

Outdoor Activities / Chula Vista

« on: March 24, 2024, 10:52:44 AM »

Man, there used to be some great fossil spots in San Diego before the "Big Build" started and all of the land turned into condos and track housing.

Chula Vista is a Pliocene hotspot, but at least I got a few fossils out of there before the tractors ravaged the fossil beds.

3.5' long Manatee Rib between 2.5 and 5 million years old.



I have the electricians coming soon to move my electrical box and have to box up all of my fossils that are in the way.  I haven't held this rib in 13 years, so it was really cool reacquainting myself with it.

So many cool fossils that need to properly be displayed.

24

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Had REALLY HIGH Expectations (3/23)

« on: March 24, 2024, 10:45:30 AM »

Went to the puddles with high expectations on trout, cats, and red ears!  Perfect cool cloudy conditions and expectations were high!

Spot #1:  skunk

Spot #2:  skunk

Spot #3:  skunkaroo

I'm back to hating the puddles.  lol

25

Outdoor Activities / Native Palms and Desert Pachyderms

« on: March 24, 2024, 10:43:17 AM »

Took the family out to the desert for a hike to the palm oasis and even stopped to see the desert statues.  It was gorgeous out there and probably the busiest I've ever seen it.  LOL

Come to think of it, spring break and a lot of people who are Koga's age out there right now.

Somewhere up there is a Palm Oasis.



The flowers were in full bloom and there was more greenery than I think I ever seen before.



I was astounded by the amount of rushing water and even multiple waterfalls!





















It was a great 3-hour hike before heading to check out the sculptures.  We didn't see them all, but did a drive by and checked a ton of them out.









We hit Julian for a lunch and road tripped our way back through some scenery before heading to Lowe's and picking up the new Water Heater.

Great way to spend a family day and the weather was absolutley perfect out.  I wish we spent a few days out there, but the girls were good for just a day trip.

Thanks for reading.  Cheers!

26

General Board / Sediment Trap

« on: March 24, 2024, 10:31:16 AM »

I wish I really knew that these are a must on extending the life of my water heater.  I've cleaned my burner 3 times over the years, but it finally went kaput.  Since it was 3 years over the warranty period, I just went ahead and put in a new one (Had a buddy do the heavy lifting).  Figures, I forgot to get a sediment trap again, but it will be installed!  lol

27

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Peaks and Deep Valleys (3/21)

« on: March 21, 2024, 08:32:56 PM »

Yesterday after the 7 pounder I was just going to quit trout for the rest of the spring.  I went to get my follow-up visit at the doctor's hoping to be cleared for duty.  Turns out I'm healing really good.  Bad news is I'm still a few weeks away.  Ugh.

Got to work for an absolute mess, so talked myself into striking while the iron is hot and maybe back-to-back Lightning when I get home.  Got home just in time for my water heater to crap out on us.  Girls want hot water, but we already planned a desert trip and I'm not cleared for heavy lifting...  Peaks and Deep Valleys all day.  (I can't believe what it costs to have someone come out and install a water heater these days!)

I ran to the puddles with 2 hours to spare and try to figure out how I'm going to get this all done.  Texted my buddy Shaun who was more than happy to help even install the water heater.  I just wanted help getting it out of the truck and onto the raised pad!  Still, the rods say silent...



I checked my bait and it was all gone.  Pond Chickens?  Panfish?  Who knows....

Just like yesterday, 15 minutes before the gates lock and the action pichs up!  Missed the first, but got him on the second rod!  Huh... 7# yesterday  ... 7oz today... LOL



I put two more baits out with 5 minutes to spare and both got plucked.  I'm pretty sure they were these tiny trout!  lol

Oh well, still fun and the trout keep coming.  Thanks for reading!

28

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Dropping the Mike on a Zombie Trout (3/20)

« on: March 21, 2024, 06:37:55 AM »

I was at work for 13 hours on Tuesday and came back from a busy day at work Wednesday trying to unwind still from the hectic day.  I get a last-minute Teams meeting after I get home and have to jump onto a meeting that goes 30 minutes past the time it was supposed to end.

I look at the clock and decided to run down for an hour to the puddles just to get some serenity and different scenery.

Lake was crowded, but with mostly bird watchers and walkers.  Not many fishermen at all. 

I set up in a slightly different spot than I have been since it's been pretty slow lately.  It's amazing how fast an hour goes and no bites.  I decided to pack it in so I can get home for dinner when I didn't see the strike indicator on my line!  Then I realized I had a slack line that quickly turned into a screaming reel!  Fish on!

Once again, I knew it was a heftier fish!  Then I saw the bright flash of gold in the distance in the late day sun!  I also saw a lot of red when it rolled and thought I had a crazy one with a really big red stripe on it!

As I got it to the net, my excitement turned to a little grossness.  I went to grab my phone and it was nowhere to be found... WTF?!?!?  Well, there was no way I lost it, so I must have  forgot it at home.

I examined the wound on the fish and thought it may be from an osprey's talons and it got away, but I would find out for sure when I got home.

I got home and there was my phone right where I left it.  I was losing light so took a few pics and got a weight on her before carving her up.  25" and 7.11#!!!  My fifth Lightning Trout of 2024 and 6th trout over 5.26 pounds for the season!  Wow!



From the outside it only looked like the skin was melting off and the flesh looked okay, but it was on both sides by the tail.  I filleted it and the meat was spotless and pink, but I couldn't get myself to use the rotten skin parts and just discarded the tail sections.  I kept the shoulder sections since they still looked good, but quickly decided I wasn't going to eat that either but one of my neighbors wouldn't care and gladly accepted it.  At least it wasn't a total waste!

Well, I'm not expecting anymore real trout since they seem to be melting now, but I'm dropping the mike on my 2024 trout season with just a stellar "Whopper Count" besides the shear numbers of quality fish.  I do love all of the pink meat also, just not the melting red sort of stuff.  LOL

29

General Board / CA Insurance

« on: March 21, 2024, 06:20:16 AM »

Friggin was dropped by my last insurance this past summer.  Finally found a new insurance carrier that would cover me, but after a few months they came back to say I needed to move my electrical panel on the house or they would drop me too.  SDG&E said, I need to upgrade from the 100-amp aluminum wire to 200-amp copper wire and they are charging me for any work that is being done on their end (which may include chopping down my trees and ripping up my driveway).  I set the wheels in motion back in September and here we are at the end of March and everything is crawling at a snails pace, but worried it will turn into a flood here quickly.

Ugh, hopefully it doesn't cost the 10K I'm being led to believe it could.  That would seriously cut down on my fishing trips this season.  Oh well, C'est la Vie I guess. 
I also have a lot of fossils to move in the garage so they can work on the wiring of the new box, so I'm not sure where I'm going to put them.  lol

30

Fishing Talk / Thunnus has Arrived!

« on: March 21, 2024, 06:10:30 AM »

Besides, Bluefin tuna showing up in the counts again, a MARCH Yellowfin has been recorded in the counts!  WTH!?!?!