I am such a dum-bass !!!

So, I haven't been out for about 3 weeks. Saving some gas money. Doing a lot of weightlifting, some mountain biking, and a little photography...

But decided to go out for a short 6 hour trip, on my home lake Berryessa. I got slammed once on a Hud, but didn't hook up. That area is known to have a lot of big aggressive Spotted bass, so it was probably a 3 to 5 lb Spot that just couldn't get it in it's mouth.

I also had 4 nice fish follow my 9" MS Slammer up on another stop.... Then, about 12 feet from the boat, the biggest one (only a 7 or 8) blasts it, but it didn't hook up either. Oh well. At least it wasn't a 15+ ! Then I'd be crying

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But here was the highlight of the trip >

I went across one long, tapering finger point, and saw a bunch of sunfish beds ! Couldn't see the fish at that point, as the water was a little choppy, but I flipped out half a crawler, on a smaller hook, on the micro-light, and Bam ! First cast, I get a fat, 13", approx 1 1/2 lb Red Ear Sunfish ! Yea' buddies Fought SOOOO hard !!! I LOVE BIG Red Ears So, in the next 45 minutes or so, I ended up sticking about 15 Red Ears, and they had to have went 15 lbs !

So, almost like a knee jerk reaction, I let them all go.

Now, about 1 hour later, I'm heading for the boat ramp, and I start thinking about what I'm going to have for dinner.... And I think, "maybe Tilapia fillets" ? Then I realize > Doh ! Tilapia are just the Mexican version of a Red Ear Sunfish ! What the heck was I thinking ?

I might have to try for them again next week.... Of course now that I'm thinking about keeping some, I probably won't catch a freaking one !

Oh well.

It was a beautiful day on the water

Peace,

Fish

love fishing for them when the bite is slow for bass.

Big red ears are a challenge, they seem a little pickier than other sunfish. I know what you mean about not being able to catch them when you're planning on keeping them. Seems like anytime I catch a few crappie or walleye and decide to try to keep it and catch a couple more to eat the bite stops!