Zippo Guy

We got a bunch of wind and rain here in Northern California. Lake Oroville has gone from 629.6 feet two days ago to 652.1 feet right now. Our historic low last week was 628 and full is 900 so it has made a big difference. Tree tops and islands that were common the past couple of months are gone. So is our ramp to get to the shuttle to go out to our houseboats. Mudslides into the lake from the wildfire scared shore up here is keeping the water brown and churning. We might be able to launch boats again with a little more water.

We have a couple of 14 foot long outdoor shade screens on our houseboat. Last week I was lowering one as we were getting ready to start the BBQ for dinner. About a dozen bats flew out as I was lowering it. Some were under the covered area flying around like crazy. Really shook up my wife as she was just coming out the door. After they were gone I lowered the starboard screen and only one dead dried up bat dropped out.

What do you call an empty hot dog? A hollow weenie.

It was hooked in his mouth. He put up a good fight when I started to bring him in. Water temp was 73 degrees where he was located. The line was in the water about 3-4 minutes before I noticed it wasn't vertical, I was starting breakfast on the BBQ. I usually cast along the side of the boat and let it swing down to the vertical, then reel in a couple of feet and set it down.

We have a houseboat on Lake Oroville, currently sitting in about 125 feet of water. Because we have no boat launch facilities left because of the draught we haven't had any bass tournaments for the past couple of months. I know that bass stay under our houseboats and I've caught my share of them. This morning my rod had a ned tied so I threw it in and leaned it again the rail. The water was perfectly still and the line usually hangs vertical at about 10-15 feet. I was was watching both the line and the tip of the rod, no movement at all. It was hanging at about a 45 degree angle away from the boat. My wife came by and asked why it was hanging out instead of down. We both stared at it for about 5 minutes while drinking our coffee and nothing moved. I finally picked up the rod, felt some weight and a fish diving down under the boat. After a short fight I was able to reel in about a pound and a half smallmouth. My question is this, what was he doing and how did he do it without moving the line or tip of my rod? He was there when I picked up the rod and started reeling in and definitely not a strike as I was reeling in. I'm new to bass and thought you could shed some light on their behavior.

Lake Oroville is at 628.65 feet today, down from 900 feet when full. The electrical power plant was shut down for the first time over a month ago. All boat ramps have been closed for about the same time. The shore has about 30 feet of very soft mud between the water where you can stand to fish. We have a walk of about 40 yards over very fine dust, then plywood planks down a steep slope to get to a ramp where the shuttle comes by to take us out to our houseboat. They took out over 80 houseboats out of the lake at the beginning of summer in anticipation of this problem. The houseboats are now very close together and bang into each other as they swing on their buoys. It is maybe a 50 yard hike up the steep paved ramp to get to where you can park your vehicle. This is still the middle of September and no rain in sight for the foreseeable future. Yes, there is a draught in California.

North or south of the Bay Area?

My wife and I got our two shots as soon as they were available. Our oldest daughter got her two shots at that time, too. She has Crohns Disease and Angolonie Spondylitis and takes a well known and advertised drug for them. Her immune system is compromised and is in two Crohns trial studies at two major medical centers. Her follow up tests showed no viable vaccine in her system. She has received her third vaccination already and we are waiting to see some improvement. Our younger daughter and her husband got their first vaccinations when first available. He was in good health, maybe 10 pounds too heavy. Before he was able to get his second shot he started coughing and went to the emergency room. They admitted him and he died ten days later from Vivid. He left behind our daughter and two small boys at the age of 44. I'm sorry, but I don't understand what took some of you so long to get your vaccinations or why some of you plan on ignoring this disease. It won't go away by itself.

What part were you fishing? What were you using? We plan on going back over there in the next couple of weeks.

Very nice looking fish. My grandson is 13. It is so interesting to here him talk about fishing and what is going on in his life. Certainly not the 1950s and 60s of my youth. Being in their lives is so important to both them and you. Nice going.

I normally fish with my grandson, sometimes his Dad, our son-in-law comes along. Today my grandson asked why I always waited for everyone to cast and retreave their lines before I make my first cast. It has become such a habit that I really don't even think about it, it's just something I've always done. It doesn't matter how many people I go with, I don't make my first cast until everyone else has cast and retreaved their line. My grandson thinks it is weird, but it is ingrained in my fishing as a ritual I guess. I've carried a Gerber Pixie Trout and Bird knife in my tackle box or bag for the last 50 years. I check to make sure I have it before I leave every time. Lucky charm, good luck piece, or just a habit, I must have it everytime I fish. Am I strange or do you have a quirk, a ritual or a lucky charm to help you catch fish? or

That is a great feature. Thank you, found what I was looking for.

Which Google Earth do you use for this type of information?

Mt. Konocti on Clear Lake, CA.

I see Sportsmans Warehouse has the Sierra on sale for the same price as the Fury. In store only, but our local store doesn't have them. Means an hours drive for me, but sounds like it would be worth it.

Really nice fish.

Only boat launch open on Lake Oroville is very muddy 4X4 only. Most aren't risking it. Losing 1 to 1 1/2 feet of water a day. Mud is too soft to get close for bank fishing. River in town and Afterbay area are being flooded by the release from the lake. Must keep the saltwater out of the Delta. Clear Lake was a joy to fish. Good luck over there. Forgot, power plant was shut down for the first time ever yesterday.

We were there last Sunday through Wednesday. No smoke, a little heat, and lots of Bass. My grandson was so disappointed, he was really hoping for at least one catfish. He had three largemouths very close to 4 pounds each. At 13 he did better than the three adults. Loved every minute of it.

Started cigarettes while living in my fraternity house in the middle 60's. $2.00 a carton while in the Air Force and my wife started at that point. She quit when our first daughter was born. I was teaching at a small school and one day ran into a bunch of my students out riding ATVs. They all lit up with my brand of cigarettes. When I asked why, they said because I smoked them. I quit that day then and there. That was 1978 and haven't touched them since.

Welcome from Lake Oroville. Actually heading to Clear Lake for a week of fishing. Have a friend from high school with a fishing resort. Family loves it there. Rick

Here in Northern California we are in severe drought conditions. Lake Oroville just closed last boat launch other than single lane 4X4 area. Lake is dropping a foot and a half to two feet a day. Still fishing from shore and catching, but mud means standing 10 to 15 feet from the water. About to shut down electrical power plant because of low water levels, 100+ day temps, water rationing in effect, and constant danger of forced evacuations due to local fires, just another day in Paradise.

I was able to get 35 bags of Z Man Ticklerz at a garage sale for $20.00. There were 17 different colors, most were 2 bags of the same things and only one bag had one missing. Rick

I just bought the Phfluger President 30X for my Diawa Aird 7 foot medium light rod and really like it so far. Rick

I live on Lake Oroville in Northern California. It is a State reservoir so the water goes to water crops, drinking water and hydro electricity. We are in another draught and our lake is usually the one that the major news uses when showing the effects of our draught. The lake is at about 30% of its capacity (900 feet when full, currently at about 680 going to about 620 by fall and will have to shut down the hydro electric plant at 640) and only one boat ramp open. That one boat ramp has a launch ramp that only one side can be used and room for one boat to be launched not using the ramp. The parking lot has room for about 40 trucks and trailers, the next parking is a couple of hundred yards away. The lower parking lot is filled by 7 in the morning and an absolute zoo by 10 in the morning with fishing boats coming in and wake boaters and houseboat owners trying to get out. This will end shortly after July 4th when they close this ramp due to lake of water. They are lowering it about a foot to a foot and a half a day. What does this have to do with heat? It has been over 100 degrees every day for the last couple of weeks and is going to stay that way through at least the next 10 day forecast. Possibility of dipping down to 99 maybe one day next week. It is hot and tempers flair, especially at the launch ramp. Our swimming pool temp was 92 today. I turned on the hose to try to cool the water, not much luck. Water restrictions are already in place. We usually have a warm summer, but usually not until the end of July and August. At least ours is a dry heat. Sorry, had to throw that in.

About 2 months ago I ordered a rod and reel from TW. They said it would be 3 weeks before I would receive them. About a week later I got 2 emails from them. They were being shipped separately and both left SLO at the same time. Both arrived in Visalia at the same time. I live in Northern California and saw the reel go to Sacramento. I received it the next day. The rod went to Cottonwood, CA., about 2 hours north of me. After watching the rod not move in Cottowood for 3 days I called the shipper. They said it was lost and I needed to deal with TW. I called TW and they said they would need to investigate the situation. 3 days of not hearing from them prompted my next phone call. They didn't know what I was talking about and would have to investigate the situation. 2 days later I again called TW and they said I needed to talk with their claims department. After leaving a detailed message with their claims department I waited 2 more days before I called back to see what was going on. Their claims department didn't know anything about my situation, but they would look into it. The next day I called back and they said they would send me another rod and I would get it in about 3 weeks. I asked for a different shipper so they used UPS. I finally got my rod. Won't be using TW again. Rick