Topics

16

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.

17

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.

18

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?

19

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.

20

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

21

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!

22

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

23

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!

24

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

25

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

26

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!?!?!

27

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / The Ides of March (3/15)

« on: March 16, 2024, 08:36:59 AM »

Well, after work, I ran down to the puddles to see if I could get one of the last big trout in the lake, but beware of the Ides of March.

There was a bass guy fishing near me, but was giving some space.  I get my first casts out and the baits were perfect.  Then some older trout dude rolls up right next to my rod and casts right over my line.  As he's reeling up my line, I'm heading down to keep him from f@cking up my entire line.  He goes, "It's not a fish, I' snagged your line"  where I responded "No f@cking sh!t".  Needless to say, he couldn't even untangle his lure out of my line, so I had to clear his mess.  Ugh... Ides of March...

Fishing was slow and apparently smaller red ear moved in and just kept plucking my bait to pieces.

I finally get on the board, but it was absolutely the smallest trout I've caught in probably a decade!  What a runt! (swallowed the damn hook though and bled out so it's going to be a "neighbor's treat").



I look over to the bass guy and he hooks a monster!  Definitely the one I've seen the past few weeks and it was a whopper!  I guessed it was a 10#er when I initially saw it last week, but he got a measurement and weight with his wife taking pics for him.  9.7 pounds and what a slug!  A few casts later and he got the male, about 2-3 pounds before moving on.  I did have my bass gear and did some casting, but no dice for me.

I saw a few trout swimming the shoreline, but couldn't get them to hit a flylined crawler. 

A kid walks by and asks if he could trade a few hooks for a bobber, but he was the most courteous kid I've bumped into, and I gave him my only pencil bobber in the box.  I wish all kids had this kids etiquette. 
He said he saw a 10# trout swimming the shoreline and went back out looking for him. 

About an hour later, I saw a trout head pop up in front of me and it was leaving a wake.  I saw it and it was a roughly 6# rainbow!  Something wasn't right though as it was swimming funny and seemed like a zombie.  I dropeed a flylined crawler in it's face and cast some tube jigs in front of it, but all it did was change directions and wanted nothing to do with it.  I'm thinking the trout are all crapping out now and It's probably going to be Cats from here on out.

Well, at 6:30 a black cloud rolled in with winds and a temp drop of probably 10 degrees!  I decided to pack it in and give the Ides of March the unanimous win.

Well, the healing is coming along and I have 9 more days before I have my re-evaluation.  Until then, have a great weekend everyone!

28

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Deja Vu (3/13)

« on: March 14, 2024, 03:41:45 PM »

I got home from work and needed to get my quick fix, so ran down the street again.  I missed one screamer since I'm still operating at 1/4 speed, but got a little line twitching bite shortly after!  Not much of a fight and probably the smallest trout I've caught since last season.  Looked more like a DFG than a Mt Lassen.



Next few hours and nothing.  Not even a nibble.  I had about a half hour left and was going to call it.  A guy driving around asked if I got anything, but I said no as it was probably stocked as a bass bait.  lol

I then got a second trout with 15 minutes left before the buzzer, but same thing, another little squirt.



I started preparing to pack it in, but still had both rods out (no strike indicators).  I look up and the noodle stick was doubled over!  New reel got a work out and the drag was humming!  I couldn't believe it, but another big Red Ear!  At least an inch bigger than the one yesterday and a Male from the bright orange chest!





I let him go to breed and my other rod went off!  I could tell it was another red ear, but it popped off, so I recast one last time.  Within seconds, I was on again and I thought it was going to be another red ear, when I realized it was another trout!  Holy cow! 

I broke off the hook, but decided to cast my other rod out for a quick 5 minute soak.  Well, within one minute a snowy egret flew into the 2# and got all wrapped up.  This was the first Snowy Egret I've ever caught and trying to remove the line and hook was daunting.  They are so light and fragile, but success.  Nothing harmed and flew away with no jewelry.   I decided to call it after that and got home late for dinner.  My wife gave me stink eye because I promised I wouldn't be late.  LOL



Fishing has been slowing down and the trout stockings have ended.  I'm still hoping for one more giant out of here though.....

Thanks for reading!

29

Fishing Talk / Santee Lakes

« on: March 14, 2024, 07:02:05 AM »

I'll get another report up later, but I have to admit that I'm absolutely amazed on what I've been catching in there all of a sudden.  Just this year, I have my PB Lightning Trout, PB Rainbow Trout, PB Blue Cat from there and some honorable mentions that are pretty friggin close to my records for Channel Cat and Red Ear Sunfish!  Well, strike while the iron is hot as I usually say, but I'm looking forward to getting back out in the salt air soon as my wound heals up.

30

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Afternoon Santee PB (3/12)

« on: March 12, 2024, 08:56:44 PM »

Getting out even for a short time was addicting and I needed an afternoon fix.  My wife decided to join me to keep an eye out in case I did something stupid to hurt myself out there.  She grabbed a c*cktail and just chilled while I just chilled and fished.  14 days without a drink for me and I'm pretty stoked.

Well, I got hammered, but I had to get to my rod at "Dave" speed  in order to prevent any surgical complications.  I felt something at the end of the line and it was gone just like that.

A few casts later and the same thing, only after the bite there was nothing.  I reeled in a bare hook, so I got robbed!

30 minutes later and I see my strike indicator take a fast drop!  As I waited for the rod to load up, i felt the fish drop it.  Ugh... 0/3.

My wife had enough, so went home to get dinner ready.  I stayed until the last possible minute and packed up everything except for one rod I left for last.  I even pulled the SI off it.  As I was putting the net in the back of the truck, I heard a screaming reel!  WTF?  On the last second of the last cast!

I knew it wasn't a catfish, trout or turtle.  I thought bass, but that didn't feel right either.  New virgin reel was singing and it was a lot of fun!  Then I see it.  My personal Santee Lakes PB Red Ear! (I measured it against the rod and have to double check, but it was 12-13 inches from eye balling it. 



Well, time to hit the road and get some shut eye.  I'm going to try and go int work for a half day tomorrow since my work is getting so far behind.  Not having anyone else in my department sucks because no work gets done when I'm out, (I'm also not a real good 'work from home' type of guy).  Well, it's nice to see something new from here.  I've only caught Bluegill here, so this is also my first Red Ear from the puddles!  Great way to end it.

Thanks for reading and still looking for the 10# trout.