I've been chasing a rumor that there's pike in this lake for months. I don't see many people fishing this lake, and ran into an old man out on the water who told me there's some big pike here. I've never caught a pike before, so I set to it, and have been fishing here as much as I could. All I had to show for it was dink bass (1-2lb'rs), few buddies of mine kept asking me why I bother with this spot, it's not productive enough.

 

Finally caught my first pike. The grind finally paid off, amazing feeling.

 

 

 

36" ruler 

Only fish from recent trip to Folsom Lake.

Great pike anywhere @superkamikazee.

It was nice to clear a little 2020 SIP funk and take the boat out for a few hours. I found gin clear 52 degree water with a little wind chop to start my session. And while I did get ‘em on a jerkbait, it was a crankbait is what put this 4.4lber on board....

10 minutes ago, J._Bricker said:

52 degree water

What?!  I assumed water in the tropical Republic of California never got below 80 degrees!  Nice fish, but I think he's from out of town.  

• Well, I wish I could fish right now, but this time of year of it gets very challenging to catch a bass up hear in Michigan with the cold weather. I thought I'd post a picture of this bass, which is my PB, that just a is crazy fat for a fish. The thing was only 21.25 inches long and was 7.07 lbs. I didn't measure the girth but it had to be more than the fish actually was length wise. I did release this fish for anyone wondering. 
•    

50 minutes ago, Procon said:

• Well, I wish I could fish right now, but this time of year of it gets very challenging to catch a bass up hear in Michigan with the cold weather. I thought I'd post a picture of this bass, which is my PB, that just a is crazy fat for a fish. The thing was only 21.25 inches long and was 7.07 lbs. I didn't measure the girth but it had to be more than the fish actually was length wise. I did release this fish for anyone wondering. 
•    

 

Great Michigan bass!

13 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

What?!  I assumed water in the tropical Republic of California never got below 80 degrees!  Nice fish, but I think he's from out of town.  

Hahah! I think San Francisco leads the nation in hoodie sales 

21 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

What?!  I assumed water in the tropical Republic of California never got below 80 degrees!  Nice fish, but I think he's from out of town.  

I think you’ve been watching too many re-runs of “Baywatch” lol. Granted, in my younger days I probably would have been up in Tahoe skiing, not out on the water chasing green fish....

 

* BTW @BigAngus752, I can’t remember the last time I found 80 degree water in the Delta?

22 hours ago, Procon said:

• Well, I wish I could fish right now, but this time of year of it gets very challenging to catch a bass up hear in Michigan with the cold weather. I thought I'd post a picture of this bass, which is my PB, that just a is crazy fat for a fish. The thing was only 21.25 inches long and was 7.07 lbs. I didn't measure the girth but it had to be more than the fish actually was length wise. I did release this fish for anyone wondering. 
•    

That is a pig and a half; great fish!

Caught a 2.64 pounder today.

 

Had some terrific weather on my days off this week, and the fishing was right there with it. 23* when I got to the ramp Friday. My buddy was working some OT and wasn't going to get there for a couple hours so I decided to start around the ramp and see if I could do any good. 42* water and good clarity, lost one on my second cast with a jerkbait and then caught 4 more little ones that were tagging the bait. I had seagulls flying all over, fish breaking the surface, and birds diving. Then I got to one of my favorite little pockets and knew I'd found some fish.

I dropped a spoon, A rig, 110+1, nothing. I had a blade bait rigged up and finally convinced myself to try it. It was almost every cast I was getting bit, I wasn't landing many, but the whites and wipers were just piled up on that spot, plus a bonus channel cat and I snagged a monster buffalo in the head and fought it to the boat before it thankfully popped off.

I didn't go to the back of the boat ramp cove to start but the gulls diving called me back there. Had a good fish pull off a jerkbait, then I pitched into a big tree and had mush when I lifted it, never felt like a fish, just didn't feel right. Hooksets are free and my only jig fish of the day was the results of me cashing in on a free hookset.

A couple cast later my jerkbait got wrecked.  I wish she was more filled out but still not complaining.

About then Jon showed up and we went back to work, catching them pretty steady on jerkbaits back down the bank I'd already fished. Cut across to another little cut, Jon caught a couple dinks and I was watching my line when it just raced off and I swung into solidness. Big, heavy headshakes and a known smallmouth producing spot had us hopeful, but then I saw the big green side and black stripe. She stayed deep the whole time while Jon tried to figure my net out but we got her landed.

It was a lot of bouncing around and 1-2 pounders after that. Jon's jerkbait filled with water so I loaned him a Duo 110. We'd just talked to a guy trout fishing and not having any luck when Jon went back to back cast with these two, I could feel the daggers getting stared through us from the dock ?

Just when we were about to call it a day I caught my own slime dart.

 

Then Saturday morning I went to a local lake in search of wipers. My wiper spot was barren so I went to another spot that I'd always considered trying but never had. First cast with a blade bait, lifted it twice and it got thumped. Wasn't what I'd hoped for, but it was still a fun fight from 40+ feet of water.

I lost a couple other fish, including another hard hit, before catching one of the fattest saugeye I'd ever seen. I hauled them around for a buddy that said he wanted them, and then changed his mind right before I left the lake, so they got a glamour shot at the ramp and then released.

Only caught 2 bass, but they sure are pretty when the water is clear and cold.

I've been saying that I didn't want to deal with the cold so much this winter but couldn't resist trying for a little bit this afternoon. It was 33* but not much wind. Just fished for about 45 min. and caught one but it was decent. Ned rig did the trick.

We've had some really stable weather (actually wish we'd get some storms!) and the water temp is down to 56*, but the spots still aren't biting like we'd expect and it was another single digit day out there.

 

On a positive note, I was pretty happy to see they've started planting at least some trout again. Picked up this fella on a Keitech as I was casting around the ramp area waiting for my dad to arrive.

 

Nothing too exciting as far as size goes, but Pops did pick up a pretty solid one.

 

52 minutes ago, NorcalBassin said:

We've had some really stable weather (actually wish we'd get some storms!) and the water temp is down to 56*, but the spots still aren't biting like we'd expect and it was another single digit day out there.

 

On a positive note, I was pretty happy to see they've started planting at least some trout again. Picked up this fella on a Keitech as I was casting around the ramp area waiting for my dad to arrive.

 

 

Nothing too exciting as far as size goes, but Pops did pick up a pretty solid one.

 

Those clear water bass are gorgeous.

7 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

We've had some really stable weather (actually wish we'd get some storms!) and the water temp is down to 56*, but the spots still aren't biting like we'd expect and it was another single digit day out there.

 

On a positive note, I was pretty happy to see they've started planting at least some trout again. Picked up this fella on a Keitech as I was casting around the ramp area waiting for my dad to arrive.

 

Nothing too exciting as far as size goes, but Pops did pick up a pretty solid one.

 

Glad you're still getting out there!

Cold and windy yesterday made for a tough bite, but @Siebert OutdoorsDredge Brush Jig came through as it has all year.  By far best jig I've ever used in the thick stuff.

Got a couple in a pond on the work route again. Caught em on a watermelon red yum dinger...

I haven't been out much at all the last few weeks, seems the only days worth fishing I am at work. Tomorrow and Sunday look like junk as well so I was bound to hit the lake today after work even if for just an hour or so. Fished about 10 min and hooked into a good one, got it up to the boat and couldn't get it landed. After re-playing it in my head I realized it was just a poor hookset by me. About 15 min later I felt a tap and swung for the fences, came back with nothing, I mean nothing. I knew I should have either tied a fluoro leader on or checked my braid more often. Finally about 10 minutes before I was going to head in I was watching my line and it started to move sideways, swung hard and stuck this one. Only weighed 4-8 but he was a fat one. 

For some reason when I woke up today I felt like I should target smallmouth instead of white bass or trout. I was driving upstream and passed the massive school of white bass without stopping.............. (rare for me) ..............  and then I saw an impressive sunrise and knew it would be a good day 

 

On my way upstream I saw some repeated splashing like something was busting a shad. I decided to cut the motor and investigate with the jerkbait (rattlin rogue). First cast and BLAM! 19” fat smallmouth. Decided to target smallies and that happens on first cast?? I nearly retired for the day but glad I didn’t. 

 

 

 

(^same fish in both those pics )

 

After taking pictures and measurements I motor back upstream to try that again and hook up, a 17-18” looking smallmouth jumps off. A few more drifts and no luck, my buddies say they are upriver a ways so I drive up there to listen to the basketball game with them. They start catching fish immediately while beached to let the dog run, dragging bottom baits. I figure I’ll try the jerkbait, nice fat 17.9999” smallmouth bites it. 
 

We floated down a ways, my buddies catching some smaller fish and I hooked up a big one on a jointed swimbait that pulled off. Picked the rogue back up and got dinner ! 

 

my buddies took off and I tried dragging one more spot with one of @Bluebasser86shakey heads and hooked up another 19” 

 

 

 

(^same fish in the last two pics )

 

got soaked With rain on the way back to the ramp but it was worth it 

 

Are those hush puppies?  Care to share the recipe?

I entered a free, month long kayak fishing tournament open to anyone around the country that runs all month. Figured it would be good practice for me and no risk since it's free. First place is already almost 100" and the only place that gets a prize, but there's a drawing for prizes for those that get a 5 fish limit also, so that was my main goal. Didn't get a limit my first time out at the lake by my house, but even the 4 little ones I got put me in 10th place. I feel like I'm starting to somewhat get the hang of the blade bait thing. Caught several fish with it last week and a few more this week. Turns out you have to actually fish them to catch fish ?

Got a real quality clam shell with it also, which felt a lot like a fish on the initial lift.

Friday I went back to the same lake I fished with my buddy last week. It was not nearly as nice as the week before. I was harassed by big trout all day. Every time I'd think I had a big bass, it would come up and start thrashing around on the surface. Fun fights, until they got into the kayak, then I just wanted them to come off. I caught 7 or 8, every one was way bigger than the biggest bass I caught on the day (15"), and every one ate a 6th Sense Provoke 106.

 

On a major downer my dad lost two buddies to covid this past week that sure seemed to have a lot of good and productive years ahead of them, so it was great getting the opportunity to head out for some lighthearted fun and escape from things. On cue the fish cooperated and he probably outcaught me at a 2:1 pace... I couldn't have been happier with the way the day turned out.

 

First of many for the day.

 

 

Even picked up a few trout.

 

Longarming like a boss

 

Ned delivered time and time again.

 

Only cookie cutters for me but it didn't even matter.