I like you, but you're crazy!

Sometimes I feel a little crazy as a fisherman. I mean who goes out on a lake fishing when it's freezing and raining? Awesome anglers that's who! I had these images on my camera from when I went out the weekend before a tournament at Lopez Lake to do a little pre-fishing and had some success so I decided to share. This trip was in early to mid February and the weather had been pretty brutal. I think air temps were in the 40's-50's along with some serious rain. If you have the proper equipment and gear (rain suit and boots) it's really not that bad. If you like solitude on the lake then this is your favorite time to be on the water. I mean look at the boat ramp, it's just me:)

The one and only angler on the lake.

Winter time bassing for me = rip baits, suspending jerk baits & crankbaits, drop shots, and jigs. The key words for winter time angling are slow and slower (kind of like dumb & dumber). Depending on the water temperature deep water is also a key for success. A basses metabolism slows down considerably in the winter time and therefore doesn't eat as much. Given the basses predatory nature you can still catch them if you get close enough to them, enter their strike zone and move at a speed they are comfortable with, or you cause a reaction strike where they don't have much time to think, they just react.

Something to consider is the temperature of the water and if the lake is turned over or not. In the winter time at some point the temperature towards the surface becomes cooler and denser (aka heavier) and sinks taking a lot of oxygen down with it. During this time the lake stratifies or develops layers. A thermocline separates the two or three major layers of water.  The thermocline is the area where greatest change in temperature with depth occurs. Below are a couple of articles that talk about the thermocline:

Simply put, the thermocline is a thin layer of water in a lake which is sandwiched between the upper layer of water (the epilimnion) and the lower, colder layer of water (hypolimnion). During the summer months, surface water is heated by the sun and the surface temp could be 80 degrees or more. This floats over a layer of colder more denser water called the hypolimnion. Now, between these 2 layers you have a thin layer in which the water temp drops substantially. This will be the thermocline. The temp at this level may be high 60's and up in about the middle of spring.

Graph for ocean of depth vs.temperature. Reference site.

The temperature in a lake is seldom the same from the surface to the bottom. Usually there is a warm layer of water and a cooler layer. Where these layers meet is called a thermocline. The depth and thickness of the thermocline can vary with the season or time of day. In deep lakes there may be two or more thermoclines. This is important because many species of game fish like to suspend in, just above, or just below the thermocline. Many times baitfish will be above the thermocline while larger game fish will suspend in or just below it. Fortunately, this difference in temperatures can be seen on the sonar screen. The greater the temperature differential, the denser the thermocline shows on the screen. 

During the late winter there is usually no stratification on most lakes. As a result the water will undergo a temporary oxygenation process. Strong winds, feeder streams feed the lake with spring rains and plant growth begins. So under normal conditions the deeper end of a water body will be quite saturated with oxygen. Since the lower layer is much colder than the surface (averages 10 to 25 degrees difference) the deeper portions can retain the oxygen molecules sent its way during the pre-stratification. 

Why does the hypolimnion lose it's oxygen? The thermocline and the upper layer of water are continually replenishing their oxygen supply and the hypolimnion gradually loses it for several reasons.Probably the most important reason is there is very little or no plant life beyond the 30 foot level. Unless the water is gin clear the suns rays cannot penetrate the lake deep enough to grow any vegetation.

Key points from this reading:

• Lake turns over in Fall (October, November) when cool water on the bottom is pushed up by the even colder more dense water on the surface (caused by dropping air temperatures).
• Fish will be deep (hypolimnion) when oxygen levels are greater there then near the surface (usually winter).  Also known as the pre-stratification period.
• When the lake becomes stratified or layered (thermocline developed and seen on sonar) most bass will be found in the thermocline because it is most comfortable for them (not too much light and more oxygen then hypolimnion). This is usually late winter early spring.

The bass below was caught on a rip-bait, a 4 in. River to Sea bait to be exact. I was fishing the inside of secondary points on steep angled banks targeting suspending fish. An interesting thing happened during this outing that is worth taking note. I caught my first fish after I got a backlash and was messing with the line. The lure was out there and down to its running depth of about 8 feet. While I was messing with the line the bait was suspended and not moving at all for probably close to 30 seconds and that's when the fish hit! This told me I needed to really slow down! I caught 2 fish in 3 hours and developed a good pattern because both these fish weighted more than three pounds. 

The only problem was the next week the weather totally changed on me! The front passed and there was high pressure and clear blue bird sky's. I was able to catch two keepers but my original plan fell through and I had to scramble to catch those two. I forget what the winner caught them on but I think the bass were not suspending but were relating more to the bottom. 

Makes the trip worth wile. Three pound late winter bass!

Below are a couple of instructional videos on how to fish a suspending jerkbait aka rip bait:

It's not all about the fish.

My brother from another mother Henry David Thoreau (American author and over all boss hoss) laid down some serious knowledge with this quote;

 "Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."

Neck Beard = Immense knowledge listen to what I say!

This quote speaks to me on a couple of different levels. When I do go fishing I am trying to catch fish, especially during a tournament. But there is much more to it. The whole experience of being outdoors and trying to figure out a species that lives an an environment that is foreign to us is awesome. It takes a lot of imagination because most of the time you can't see the fish you are pursuing (although modern technology is catching up to mr. bass). Fishing can be a real escape for people. I like to totally forget about what's going on in my life and focus my energy to try and figure out what the fish are doing, where they are, what they are eating ext... My mind is always racing when I am fishing, I compare it to a duck swimming along the surface of the water. To the human eye the duck looks calm cool and collected but below the surface the ducks feet are paddling like a hamster in a wheel. 

What are the bass doing down there?

I also love the scenic beauty of the Central Coast. The landscapes are inspiring and nice to look at when the bite is slow. Attached are a few pic's from my adventures on the water:

Back side of Bishop's Peak, a small farm pond I grew up fishing that is no longer there:(

There is the pond!

Pituophis catenifer catenifer - Pacific Gopher Snake. Get back on land!

Know your snakes!

San Antonio Lake

Santa Margarita Lake, bass in the grass.

Lopez Lake trollin.

Cachuma Lake, looks like they are fishing a flat.

Cachuma Lake

Cachuma Lake

Fire above Santa Barbara.

Nice Cachuma Lake Largey! Hit the 5" swimbait.

Get er done mom!

Hell yeah Ty.

Give that bass some love.

It's spring and my hands smell like fish.

4/17/2011

The second tournament with the Castaic Bass club kicked off at Piru Lake. I drew Walt as a boater, a young ambitious angler like myself. I looked for some good spring time water on the map and Diablo cove as well as the cove near the marina seemed like good places to start. I also wanted to try to fish a little in the river portion of the lake.

My baits of choice for this tournament were the senko, spider jig, spinnerbait and a crankbait. I left my drop shot at home not realizing that it can be a very productive tool for shallow bedding bass. Walt was catching them left and right on the drop shot. 

Between the two of us we caught 16 bass, I caught 4 of the 5 keepers. We had a limit by 8:00 am. Walt fished the drop shot most of the day with a 4" roboworm in oxblood on a short leader. I caught bigger fish because I was fishing a larger profile bait. The senko is a bulky 5" bass inciter that shimmys slowly to the lake bottom. I prefer to fish it weightless and wacky style. 

Our total weight was 10.55 pounds good enough for a third place finish out of 14 boats! A big key for us was the decision to fish the cove by the marina the hour before weigh in. We caught three good fish there enabling us to cull two of our smaller fish. The winner came in with 12 pounds and said they used spinnerbaits, although I was not that convinced they were honest. Fisherman tend to fib from time to time. 

Another bait I am starting to hear more and more about is the Ika. Made by Gary Yamamoto fished on either an okachobee rig or weightless reverse Texas rig. It has a slow fall similar to a tube. 

Ika rig:

If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you are with.

3/10/11

Since I can't fish the lakes I love, why not love the lakes that are near me now? That is exactly what I did when I attended my first meeting of the Castaic Bass Club held in Valencia, Ca near Magic Mountain. The club meets the Thursday before the tournament at El Torito restaurant. The Club fishes Castaic Lake, Castaic Lake Lagoon, Pyramid Lake, Piru Lake and Cachuma Lake. All with in an hour from where I live in Santa Monica.

The membership year will run from January through November. All members will pay the following dues or fees:

Annual Dues-$25-payable upon joining the club in January, reduced to $15 if joining in July 1 or later.

A. Monthly dues-$10.00 each month, including the month of joining. All fees are due at the monthly club meeting. Members must pay their dues before tournament day!

B. Monthly tournament fees-$10.00 for each tournament fished. $5 big fish option is available for interested members.

C. Non-boaters are required to pay their boater fishing partner the following minimum amounts to cover their share of boat operation expenses.

Castaic Lake: $30.00*

Piru Lake: $35.00*

Pyramid Lake: $35.00*

Casitas Lake: $40.00*

Cachuma/Lopez Lake: $70.00*

My first tournament with this club was to be @ Pyramid Lake and my boater was Brian. Castaic Bass Club fishes a team tournament format, which is great because it builds camaraderie. Gate opens @6 am the low was 41 F,  high 68 F and partly cloudy. Weigh in was at 3 pm at Yellow Bar.

Brian and his boat.

Brian was a great guy, new to the sport. We did not have the best day because this lake was new to both of us. I should have done a little more research before hand as well as map study but I thought Brian would have a good game plan. We caught two keepers on the flick shake, which I will find to be a common occurrence in this club.

Me giving my signature thumbs up! 

Why is it called Pyramid Lake? I don't know:(

Here are a couple of videos on the flick shake:

Take home lessons from this tournament were to step in and make suggestions, especially when fishing with someone who is new to the sport. Also learn more about the flick shake! 

Wiggle, wiggle, make those bass giggle

With a flick, flick here and a shake, shake there

Uh oh! Here comes Billy Bass...

BEWARE! 

!CHOMP!

Slaying the dragon! aka Nacimiento night tournament

7/24/10

A July Naci night tournament! Oh yeah! Boats launched at 7 pm and weigh in was at 3 am. I really enjoy night tournaments, especially at Nacimiento. The lake can get really crowded during the day in the summer months, which means lots of boat traffic, muddy water and sad bass:( Studies have shown that bass do most of their foraging at night in the summer so night tournaments give us anglers an opportunity to take advantage of that. Because of the low light conditions your sense of touch/feel is enhanced and when a good size spotted bass blasts your lure it really gets your heart racing. 

Look mom! A dragon. Bring your drop shot lets slay this beast. 

My game plan was to drop shot until it got dark then throw reaction baits (spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits) and some jigs/chatterbaits. Started just outside snake creek and didn't catch a thing until it got dark. Boo. 

When night finally feel upon us, I was able to catch my first fish on a black spinnerbait with a #5 size willow leaf blade. The black profile of the bait shows up better under low light condition (aka moon light). It was a really nice spotted bass so I was pumped! Ended up catching 4 total and pops had 1. If we were fishing a team tournament we would have done well, but since Ambushers is an individual tournament we didn't do so hot. Think I finished 11th or 12th. Winner won with jigs by the dam.   

One of the key take home points was to have some back up blades for my spinner baits. During the tournament a fish busted the blade off my spinnerbait and I did not have another one of that size (#5).

Naci is a lake with a lot of spotted bass that are about the same size (fisherman call them clone fish), around 2 pounds. If you catch 10-11 pounds of fish you are looking good. One fish in the 3-4 pound range to add to the clones and you're set. There are largemouth bass at Nacimiento and it is a good strategy to go for a couple of them either around a dock or in some stick ups. I feel the spots hang around the rocks @ Naci more than the largemouths.

I attached some instructional videos for how to rig a drop shot. A great Nacimiento bait. If you are going to fight the dragon, bring a drop shot. The pro in the video is Skeet Reese a big time bass slayer. 

sky man out like a trout. 

Lopez, an old friend of mine.

6/24/10

Last time I had the pleasure to fish Lopez I caught a monster! A six plus a bag of chips pound fish, see pic below caught on a spider jig (Gary Yamamoto):

6.65 pound bucket mouth fatty aka Lopez Lunker :)

I figured Lopez in the summer would be a great day. The weather started off cool and overcast which is nice because Lopez has a reputation of howling like a hungry wolverine. I started off fishing in the Lopez arm with reaction baits. My dad and myself caught a lot of fish but most were dinks, probably young fish a few months old. Pop caught a nice keeper on a senko but we had to make a move because we needed size.

The rest of the day I concentrated on main lake areas with my spider jig and drop shot. Ended up with 3 keepers for an 11th place finish, not that great. Winner worked drop shots on main lake points.

Take home lesson was to fish main lake in the summer and leave the shallower areas for spring time. If I do fish areas with shallow water, concentrate on the deeper portions where fish can recover in post spawn. On a positive note if I had not made the adjustment during the tournament I could have skunked (zero'd).