schplurg

I've gone to great lengths to rescue $4 lures, sometimes just for a laugh, but I wouldn't risk my life, or even worse, cash.

Those look great thanks!

Go bank fishing. I carry pretty much what you described. Two rods max, two Planos max. Water, scale, whatever fits in a backpack. Sometimes I just T-rig all day.

Cool, good tips all! I've fished Clifton Court for stripers. I used to live in Manteca and would head to Lathrop area often and hit the San Joaquin. Never caught black bass the few times I tried, but I'm better now I do have a kayak but my tendinitis is keeping me from using it (paddle only). I could take it easy though, hmmm. I really should use it especially on the Delta. Could launch at Mossdale, Tracy Oasis or Lazy M. My first trip I will bank fish for sure though. I used to fish the levy near Tracy too, just explore like you guys said. Lot of levy access north of Tracy. I may just do that. At least I'm familiar with it so it might be a good idea for a first "camping" trip. I know where I could park and sleep etc. Probably in town so I don't get robbed. Might even walk out to Disco just to check it out. Haven't been there in decades. Good stuff! I very much want to do the trout thing. All I need is a spot to hit. My cousin likes Electra Rd east of Camanche on the Moke River. I don't trout fish but I want to learn creek fishing and explore. It's actually what I had in mind when tricking out my van for camping.

One of my favorite days fishing was me and a friend surf fishing for perch and making a competition out of it. I recorded it all complete with an onscreen scoreboard. He won 13 - 12. He says he's never even come close to catching that many before. Was my first time fishing the surf. Friendly competition is fun. We were scrambling for fish, shouting, messin' with each other. And not a bass to be found. Was a total blast!

Second shot today. Feel slightly buzzed in the head. I think it's from the shot haha. Only been about 9 hours though. Just between us, my farts are especially bad, I guess that's a side effect. Even the dogs left the room! "Don't blame us, we're in the kitchen!" ETA: <Looks down> wow that was quick

I'm customizing my van so I can camp/sleep in it for multi-day fishing trips. I live in San Jose and want to find some lakes I can bank fish that are out of my area. Creeks might be cool too. I want my first trip to be one night, maybe two. Say from Sacramento area south to, I dunno actually. Anything 3-4 hours from San Jose. Motherlode area is in my range etc. Small or large water bodies. I want to be able to drive up and walk to shore and fish like I can where I live. I'd like to go this weekend. - shore access - places to park near enough to reach the water. Side of road, whatever - I am willing to walk a bit to get to the water - not looking for specific spots, just names of lakes would be fine. Not sure what else. I am familiar with Lake Tulloch, though there's no real bank fishing there. I could do the Delta but not sure where to fish for black bass from shore. I lived in Manteca so I've fished in that general area for stripers. For example, I drove by north shore of Camanche recently and that looks inaccessible. Lake is far from the road. Too bad because my cousin lives there. Thanks.

Can't decide which brand of line to use...

You just answered your own question!

Prices add up. My driver's license is half the price of my fishing license. My local waters are poorly maintained, full of mercury and not stocked. If I want to fish a stocked fishery it costs extra. In Cali we pay extremely high taxes and nothing seems to be included. Those seemingly low prices add up quickly. Coyote Lake: Launch a boat $9 Boat inspection $7 Parking $6 $22 total Fishing (certain lakes charge extra) $5 and more. Many lakes are a lot more expensive to launch. Coyote Lake is extremely low right now, is a very small lake, and the fishing in this entire region is quite poor these days. https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/CoyoteLake.aspx

No superstition. If I have a crappy day it's because I suck. If I have a good day it's because I'm a pro quality angler. I don't blame or credit the supernatural for either.

Most of the fish I've lost at shore, which isn't many, was when I grabbed the line. I try to pull it up in one smooth motion. Usually the fish I've dropped were over the shore already. I have most of them on video. Just my experience so far.

After reading the other thread I can see why. Got my first shot. I'm only 53 but my job puts me on the list. Not putting my own health or that of others at risk. It's pretty simple, your odds of staying alive and healthy are much better with the shot.

Don't give up! Fishing is designed so that the first day is rough, which gets rid of all the anglers who aren't serious about it I agree with Bird - try some weedless setups. Senko type baits rigged as shown above will be much less frustrating.

I use a GoPro 6 mounted to my hat. Image stabilization is a must for this. Also, I have trained myself not to look down when I close my bail after a cast. Makes me seasick watching it. You don't realize how much you move your head until you strap a camera to it! I prefer the head mount over the chest mount for a few reasons. First, anything I see will get recorded, unlike the chest mount. Also my arms are not in the way like with a chesty. Can't stand videos like that. If I see birds flying overhead, or some other cool stuff, all I have to do is watch it and it gets recorded. Every fight with a fish, the fish is always dead center on the screen. I edit out any shaky footage and cussing. Having my PBs on video, as well as other memorable moments is so worth the small expense and setup time. I have almost every catch from the last 3 years on video. Here's an example of my head mounted cam...

I don't display mine I keep it in my wallet. I fish all of these places and I've never even heard of having to display it. I wouldn't worry about it (find out if it's an actual law but as far as I can find it is not) but you can get a lanyard and hang it around your neck if you want. I keep it in my wallet so I will never forget it. I'm happy being asked to show it, I paid good money for it. If I learn I need to display it I will. Almaden Lake is the worst place as far as I'm concerned. Coyote Creek and the ponds are good for numbers, and you can get bluegill there if you don't find bass. Uvas is good except the water is very low. For the barbless places I have a separate set of baits and tackle just for those places. They will check your hooks! Just pinch the barb down with pliers. By the way, Coyote Creek is long. There are so many places to fish along it, I'm going to explore it more intensively this year, especially more towards the bay.

I used my fishfinder once in my kayak and has been where it belongs ever since...in a box..

Maybe at some point we will need to be more strict with our definition of the word "fishing". To me, the biggest aspect of fishing is locating the fish. If you have a computer do it for you then what are you really doing? Winning money maybe, but that ain't fishing, not in my book. If someone else or a computer is telling me exactly where to cast, well I'm nothing more than a computer peripheral holding a stick. Plug me into the USB port, we're going fishing! You could automate the entire thing...casting, hook set. It would not be difficult. One reason I fish is to "get away from it all", not bring it all with me! Geez I'd feel like I'm at work with all that computer crap in my boat.

Yes, get the good seat, your butt will be in it all day.

A plastic bait is gonna go flat? I leave 'em on until they can't be used. In fact I find YUM Dingers get better action the more they get torn up. Heck I've caught fish with plastics I've found on shore. And many of my plastics have been opened for a year or two. Send me your flat and tasteless plastics, I'll even pay for shipping

Oh I'd believe they saw something but what they saw is not paranormal. With all the cameras everyone wears in their pockets these days I'm pretty sure we'd have incontrovertible evidence by now of at least one of these things. We don't. However as we have seen recently, people don't need evidence to support their conclusions. People will believe what they will.

One of the two lures I mentioned in the "Just Two Lures" thread.

YUM, though I wish they came without the slot for "weedless" rigging. I think they weaken the worm and are unnecessary. I rig em backwards or sideways to avoid the slot. Never used a GY Senko, too expensive. Someday I will. If you need more action just cut a very small slice or two into it. I notice when 'Dingers get a bit chewed up that they have more action. I've never tried cutting one but I'd guess it would work. Someone mentioned biting a worm in half. I bit one and it was disgusting. Never again, they rip easily enough with the fingers

Not me. You could have PBFS, (PB From Shore) etc I suppose but PB is PB. There can be only one