Fish Chris

Kind of a weird day. Too windy to seriously sight fish.... could not find any that wanted to eat the Hud (for quite some time) and so I just kind of bounced around and cursed the wind for a few hours. Finally, I found a long stretch of bank which was fairly wind protected. Saw some nice sized, but spawned out, cruising Smallies, and stuck them on my micro-light with a fly lined crawler. Caught 3 on that stretch, up to 4.0 lbs. Then I came across a BIG Northern Largmouth. I stopped to check it out, and here comes 2 more ! I'd say they were all between 8 and 10 lbs. Of course I had barged right on top of them, and they were not going to play no matter what I threw at them. So I bounced all around the lake for 3 more hours. Finally, I sneak back up on the area with those 3 big ones. I kill the gas motor 200 feet down the shore, and get within about 50 feet with the t-motor. I knew right where they had been, by some shore markers. Fired a long cast just past that point, about 12 feet out, and parrellel to the shore. Started my retrieve, and just as the Hud got to my shore marker... Pow ! Fish on ! This thing freaking ripped too ! Ended up being a nice, healthy 9.3 lb'er :-) So, I took a few photos, weighed, and released it. After that, I had drifted back "away" from my spot. Cool.... there were 3 of them there earlier :-) I t-motor back to the same spot. Fire out another long cast.... reel.... Pow ! Another fish on ! Turns out to be a nice 8.0 lb'er :-) (sorry, didn't bother with photos of that one) Right before dark I played with a big, spawned out Smallie on a bed. I might have gotten her to go on the Basstrix... But I was running out of light, and resorted to a crawler :-) She fought better on the micro-light anyway, and went 4.4 lbs. Another fun day on the water :-) Peace, Fish ....and a verticle shot of the same fish: PS, Note the bottom edge of her tail. Obviously she had been on a bed very recently, but I didn't see any beds in the area the three big ones were cruising. Maybe deeper ? Either way, she doesn't look completely spawned out yet, huh ? SuperMatt and I were recently discussing how rare it is for spawning bass to come up off of a bed to hit a swimbait, but it seems to happen at this lake fairly regularly.

Awesome fish buddy ! :-) You da' man ! And BTW you guys, I know sometimes it's a little harder to really get to know somebody through type print on a PC monitor, so let me just say this; I've known Matt for 4 or 5 years now. In fact, I was just talking with him this morning {until his cell phone died ! ... again ! Dude, you gotta' get that fixed soon ! :-)} So anyway, I've just got to say, Matt is one of the best big bass sticks in Nor Cal, he puts in some hard-core time on the water, and on the road to get there, and he's one of the nicest guys you would ever meet ! Nobody deserves hawgs like these more than Matt. Keep on em' buddy :-) Peace, Fish PS, Don't feel bad you guys.... He didn't even tell me where he got them.... although I have a good idea ;-)

I've been fishing them for years {although I fish them less and less, as I shift towards swimbaits}. I've found that their are a few lakes near me where they work REALLY well, a few more where they work just so so, and then a few where they hardly work at all. Interestingly, even the places where they don't work well, have lots of crawdads ??? I prefer to just live line them.... That is, my line, and a hook on the end, with the dad hooked through the spine on the nose, like this: I also prefer smaller dads with thinner shells, lighter brown to greenish coloration, and smaller claws. These are the females. Dads are not good for covering water, but are better for fishing areas that you already know to hold fish. Just to reiterate; Dads can be great, and they can be lousy. I believe too many people go into live bait fishing with unreal expectations, and when it doesn't turn out to work like "magic" they give up too quickly. Dads are just another tool for catching fish. Peace, Fish

Even if the spawn was over, who cares !?!? Fish eat all year ! Personally, I'm anxious for them to hurry up and get done making babies, so I can go out and stick some that are actually looking for a meal..... even if its windy like it always is around here ! However, with this said, fish will actually come back up to a spawning bed, well after they are completely done laying eggs, and go through the motions again, anyway..... I mean, even "months" later ! They will often be tougher to sight fish at these times, "but possible". I caught the 15-12 in my avatar on August 27th, in a spot that looked like a bed.... but in late August ? ...and don't let that huge belly fool you, that is a straight up "trout-gut" :-) Take care of that leg ! Owwww ! Peace, Fish

Well Syfer, I have been told that the only for sure way to tell a Northern strain and a Florida strain apart, is through a DNA test..... However, since the Ca DFG has never planted Florida strain bass in this particular lake, its a pretty safe bet it's a Northern. Hey Long Mike, I've caught a few fish this big before..... but none the less, a catch like this certainly takes a bit of the pressure off :-) The other thing I have to remind myself of, is that even though she wasn't a 10 plus (my usual goal) she was afterall, a Northern strainer, and from this standpoint, she was probably as big a deal as a 12 or 13 lb Florida strain. Peace, Fish

hey Raul, I just meant that I hate it when the fish are on beds, and its too windy to sight fish them...... and believe me, the only reason why they don't call my town the "windy city" is because Chicago had already taken that name ! {Speaking of which, do you know why they call PMS, PMS ? Because mad cow disease was already taken ;-)} Hey PA, yes, I knew that.... and that's probably a good thing in PA, as I hear that because of the shorter growing season, bass spawns are condensed into a much shorter period, and those fisheries are much more likely to be damaged from bed fishing. I think that in most places where sight fishing might cause problems, that states F&G pretty much already has regulations in place to protect those fisheries. In Cali on the other hand, as I have said before, "over-recruitment" seems to be a much more common problem, than under recruitment. Peace, Fish

The fish in my avatar weighed 15 lb 12 oz. She was only 24 1/2" long, but had a 24" girth ! Definately my 'fattest' big bass. And BTW, that fish was caught in late August.... well past the spawn. Do you think she might have eaten her share of trout bars ? :-) Peace, Fish

I mean, don't get me wrong, as I have said for a long time, I sure don't think its 'cheating'... or unsportsman-like.... and it's typically not harmful to the fishery.... I'm just saying, fishing for big bass during the spawn, is only good when 1) you can find a big fish to fish for, and 2) it's not freaking WINDY ! I hate wind. Of course even a slight breeze which puts a little ripple on the water is enough to ruin a day of sight fishing. So my point is, yesterday I went to the lake, and had a pretty tough trip. It was too breezy to effectively sight fish, but the fish were thinking a lot more about making babies, than they were about eating :-( The whole time I was thinking...... I'll sure be glad when they get done spawning, and start eating again ! {of course had I been able to stick that 15 lb'er while sight -fishing the day before, I'd probably be talking about how 'great' sight-fishing is :-)} Anyway, I did finally get one bite on a swimbait, and it turned out to be a beautiful 9.5 lb Northern strainer :-) She didn't look beat up, or spawned out, but she wasn't really fat either. Just healthy and clean....... and BTW, she was hooked solidly in the roof of the mouth, with that rigging I showed a while back, but she was able to spit the lure itself outside of her mouth, and then snap her mouth all the way shut ! {a fish which can't close its mouth all the way, because of a big lure, can't run very fast or far... too much drag from that big open mouth} So what I'm saying is, this fish fought REALLY hard ! Couple of big, long, FAST runs, followed by crazy back flips and somersaults :-) Yeee Haaa ! :-) Peace, Fish

I've found a few monsters in the last couple trips.... but no luck putting them in the boat :-( Tues. I found two bass on beds about 50 ft apart (couldn't quite fish both from the same spot, so I kind of bounced back and forth about once an hour) that were about 11 and 13 lbs. Ended up fishing for these fish for about 4 hours.... then the wind came up, and it was all over :-( So yesterday (Thurs) I decided to go to my home Lk. Berryessa and throw swimbaits all day. I was so sure this was all I was going to do, that I didn't even take a lighter rod.... Only two swimbait rods. So I pull up to my very first spot, reach for my swimbait rod, look down below the boat..... and Holy $&% ! I see a for sure double digit fish just kind of meandering around. I watch her for a bit and she circles back around to a little depression (a bed) with a little male waiting. It was kind of lame using my swimbait rod for sightfishing, but I had to improvise. I had probably fished for her for about an hour, when one time, on my retrieve, she followed my lure up towards the boat.... And Oh my God ! Turns out that water was deeper, and this fish was MUCH larger than I was thinking before ! I'd guess at least 15 lbs ! To make a long story short, I ended fishing for this one fish (never even pulled up the anchor) for 8 1/2 hours ! The closest I got was to get her to take a little nip at the tail of a 10 inch power worm. BTW, the little male beside her looked really tiny. My guess would have been 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. Then, at one point, I accidentally hooked him. Tried to get him to shake off, but he was determined to come see me. When I pulled him out, I couldn't believe he was a solid 3 lb'er ! Then I let him go and he swims right back down beside the big girl, where he instantly looked 1 lb again ! Anyway, after a full 8 hour shift of pulling my hair out, the breeze comes up, and it was all over :-( Now, I know there will be people who say, "I won't do this because its just not fun" and I hear what they are saying, as admittedly, getting into a 6, or 8, or 10 hour one on one match, can be pretty miserable for me too..... But I promise you guys, holding a 15 lb bass by the jaw is just SOOO much fun, it makes it worth all the effort when it finally happens. Then, there is the part that always gets me; The guys that think sight fishing is SO easy. You just flip a lure in there... She gets mad, picks it up, and POW ! You drag her in the boat :-) Yea'.... Come to Cali and try that with a 15 lb'er. I've yet to find an easy one. Maybe today :-) Peace, Fish

Hey Bassmachine, I'm really sorry to hear about this. Hardly a day goes by (and I guess this day will be no exception) when I am not reminded of how fragile, and fleeting life really is. I'm sure Deric would tell you, to catch a big one for him, and have fun doing it ! God bless Deric, and all of his loved ones, Fish

Well, I agree that strippers can be a lot of fun..... But this is a "fishing" forum ! ;-) Fish

Since it is a broad question, I will answer will answer broadly; Patience, Persistence, and Perseverence. As for baits; The Hud 80% Any small soft plastic (usually the Basstrix Bluegill, but not that critrical) for Spring sight fishing 10% And finally, live bait for a big cruiser (crawlers or dads) 10% {I love fishing live bait, and would like to do it more often, but artificial lures most often make it "easier" to stick big bass} Peace, Fish

It only takes one fish like that to make it a REALLY good trip !!! :-) Big congrats, and continued success to you, Fish

Zebra Mussels breaking your line ? Wow ! Those things must really pull ! Doh ! ;-) I'm sorry, I couldn't resist :-) Seriously though, braid "might" work great..... OR it might cut easier than mono. Braid is weird like that. You will just have to try it to find out. But if one braided spectra line works great, they all will. If one does not, none will. You might also try a high quality fluorocarbon leader such as Seaguar. With fluorocarbon, abrasion resistence might vary from one brand to the next. Peace, Fish

Ha ! :-) LOL That oughta' at least be worth like a Snoopy combo or something, huh ? :-) Honestly though, I was thinking about getting the guy a nice rod and reel combo "before" I came up with the idea for a replica. Not both. I mean , yea', I'm a nice guy and all, but I'm also a poor guy ;-) Now the big problem is, we haven't been able to find a replica for a Smallie this size and shape :-( There is such a technology as 3D laser scanning, and CNC milling, or Rapid Prototyping (which would allow us to choose a 6 or 7 lb'er of the right proportions, and scale up by any %)..... But we might be looking at $5000 to $6000 for two replicas !!! Yikes ! I guess for some guys, that might not be a problem...... But for me, 5 to 6K is a LOT of cash ! But anyway, its pretty much like sticking a big bass in the first place..... If their is a will, their is a way ! :-) Peace, Fish

Thank you squid :-) Nope. These are Nor Cal fish. So Cal has the bigger Largemouths (a couple lbs at the top end) but we definately have the bigger Smallies :-) Peace, Fish

Yea' buddy ! :-) Geez, how I would have loved to caught a fish like this one during any of my last 3 days off ! Keep after em' T-rig. I think there's an even bigger one out there with your name on it :-) Peace, Fish

Ya' know, some of you guys have probably heard me talk about how I get skunked "a lot" when I go out throwing nothing but the Hud all day, and only looking for one BIG bite. And I'm totally okay with that. If I don't get that "one big bite", so be it, that's just a part of the game. But what REALLY kills me, is just to be flat weathered out :-( My fishing days are Mon, Tues, and Weds. So this week, the storm "BLEW" in early Monday. Rained a little too {which isn't so bad, as I have raingear}. It then "BLEW" all day Tuesday, mixed with a little more rain.... and cold. Okay, so I didn't even try to fish Monday or Tuesday..... But Wednesday, it was supposed to at least be clear, and warming..... So I drug my boat to my home lake Berryessa..... Only to have the strongest, most constant North wind that I have seen this year, rip ALL day long ! I'm talking 30 mph, with 40mph gusts ! And it was coming from the North, with me on the far South end of the lake :-( I never even got to leave the cove I launched in :-( My whole point is, if I fish 3 days and don't catch a fish, so be it. But not even getting to fish is just the worst :-( But enough of my whining...... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On a brighter note :-) My 23 day vacation starts in 3 more days..... and so far, the weather looks great and stable :-) Yeee !!!! Haaaaa !!!! :-) Fish

Yes...... So many times, I hardly bat an eye anymore. Really common with the smaller male bass, while sight fishing. Even when you try not to hook them, some just come back again and again. To catch a fish twice in one day, that's just feeding.... Well, rare, but I've done that a few times too. But your not specifying in one day, your just saying, to catch it twice, at all, correct ? Okay, with fish under 3 lbs, back when I used to fish for fish under 3 lbs, I might have caught several hundred.... heck, maybe a thousand of them twice..... But rarely, did I identify them as fish that I had previously C/R'd. Skipping forward to 9 years ago, my buddy and I both caught a big one, 1 week apart. That one was a big deal for us, because it was both of our PB's (13.2 for him, 12-11 for me) In the years since then though, it has become SOOO common for us to C/R then re-C/R the same exact fish later, that now we are like.... Oh. Ok. Ho Hum. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anyway, the point is this; I think if a guy goes out and catches and releases 20 small to medium sized fish in a single trip, then goes out the next week and C/R's 20 more, the odds are "really good", that he will have caught at least 1, or maybe even 2 or 3, of those same fish from the week before. Likewise, if a guy goes out and catches 20 big fish, over 10 lbs each {of course with a LOT more time on the water, than a single day trip.... like say, 150 trips, during a 4 year period} the odds say that at least one of these big ones will be caught twice, or even two or three will be caught twice. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bottom line is, when you get to the point where you can so easily see how common it is to re-catch fish, it becomes so incredibly obvious why C/R.... especially of the big ones, is so important. Peace, Fish

Awesome fish Doghouse ! Continued success to you :-) Fish

Nice ! :-) If I don't get blown out today, I think I might catch one too ! Peace, Fish

Thank you electrikal. Welcome to the forum. Lots of positive minded anglers here, with tons of great info. BTW, those are some darn nice Smallies you have in your avatar there ! Peace, Fish Chris

Hey John, if you haven't already, you can read the full "Whooo Hooo" thread below, with all the details..... But to answer your question specifically, she weighed 8.50 lbs on a certified digital scale. Peace, Fish

Here's a post copied and pasted from a Nor Cal Bass forum: >> Oh and about the whole "hybrid" issue; I'm really curious about this myself. Most of us have seen and / or caught, some of these weird "intermediate looking" bass, at one place or another. But several things come to mind. First, taken from one of the articles that NaCl posted the link to (thank you Dean) > An "odd" looking smallmouth or spotted bass may not necessarily be a hybrid. < And some of the biologists that I have discussed this with, stress the very same thing. Second, you have to figure that any lake which is producing giant Smallies like Pardee has been, has obviously got to have some very special stuff going on. I mean, lets face it, Smallmouths of this size are just flat out "not normal". So, why should anyone be so surprised if the coloration of some of these fish was not exactly normal either ? Third, Smallmouths and Spotted bass will interbreed quite a bit more readily than Smallmouths and Largemouths, however the fact is, Spotted bass are unheard of from Pardee. How could it be that nearly everyone who fishes Pardee with any regularity has caught a Spotted Bass X Smallie hybrid, while no one has caught a straight up Spotted Bass ? So what, do they come over from Camanche just to spawn, then go back home when their finished ? {what happens in Pardee, stays in Pardee :-} All of this said, I'm am slowly beginning to believe that "even" the ones that look like straight up hybrids, might in fact be pure, but rather unusual, Smallmouths, with booming, but unnatural food supplies, in the form of Kokanee trout. << So anyway..... Oh, and just to reiterate; While most people will compare one fish to another, judging by coloration first, most trained fisheries biologists will quickly tell you that color is often so changeable / variable, that this is usually the "last" criteria for which a species determination will be judged upon. So, yes, I'm curious, but strongly leaning towards pure Smallmouth. Peace, Fish

Hey buddy, sorry I almost missed your post. Those are some sweet fish you guys caught there ! Yea' buddies :-) Don't you just love it when your reeling a swimbait nice and steady..... and everything is just so quiet and peaceful.... and THUNK ! Fish on !!!!! :-) You can't imagine how many times during my workday that I replay these events over, and over ! Then, when I'm actually on the water, I feel like this is going to happen on nearly every cast ! .......even if I have been casting for 10 hours without a hit ! I still imagine its going to happen before its over. Then, often after pulling the boat off of the water, and packing up all the gear, I still have to go back to the ramp and chuck a swimbait around a few more times :-) Never give up ! Congrats again to you guys on the great trip. Peace, Fish PS, There are a lot of ways to hide your location, without using photo shop. 1) Have the back ground SOOO far away (preferably, the other side of the lake) that one still cannot pinpoint where you are at "on this side of the lake". 2) Have a steep bank SOOO close behind you, that they are seeing such a small area of shoreline to study, then fill up most of the frame with the fish and yourself anyway. 3) have the camera man, or tripod higher, and yourself and the fish lower, so that the back ground is all water. 4) Have the camera man, or tripod lower, and the fish and yourself higher, so that the back ground is all sky. I prefer options 1 and 2. Anyway, people just don't get so goofy, if it doesn't look like your trying to conceal the background..... Even though I often am ;-)