NorCal Fishing BS

this is the sort of damage that happens to the main gear of a penn 6000 (or 5000) spinning reel when you tighten the drag all the way down with the 50lb test and haul in crabs from the ocean. There an especially hard force required when it's a large rock crab holding onto the rocks.

 

Yikes! That’s some serious weight/pressure on the gear!

 

Well Minnesota has been decent so far when it comes to fishing. There's a tiny river that comes through town so ive been going there when I can. Already caught a few smallmouth out of there that have been bigger than any smallmouth ive caught in CA over the last few years - pretty wild! Also hooked my first pike from the same river, but lost it at the edge of the bank. Temps are definitely dropping, so the fishing is likely going to slow quite a bit until the ice shows up.

 

A few pictures:

 

that last smallie is DARK!! good looking fish!

 

Yeah they are healthy fish in this river that’s forsure!

 

I’m not ready for winter bass fishing. I’m just not good at it.
Yesterday was an eight hour slog-fest. Went to Clearlake solo, but found some guy I know on the water and we worked together. We kayaked 8 miles. Five bass limit for me. All nicer fish tho.

 

Winter is here.
Fishing sucks. Haha.
I did catch pike minnow. A fish with a face only mother can love.

 

A bad day of fishing is always better than a good day at work.

Hey, atleast you can say you didn't skunk..lol

 

Got out yesterday. Smacked em’

 

You willing to share general area?
I'm planning a trip to either bodega bay or Tomales bay pretty soon here.

 

Went out today on the delta and slayed some stripers...epic day if you asked me. Don't really see girls like these alot nowadays. All fish was C.P.R.

My friend the boat captain with his 36", 14lbs beast!!


My other friend with his 26" 7.5lbs girl


And me with my 30", 10lbs mama

 

Down here on the central coast, we went long and made the run to Purisima Point off Vandenberg Space Force base. Minimal pressure down there due to typical weather conditions.

That's my Vermillion. I stuck a bunch of this class. Hookup Baits 'Pink Dog Dick' color was my secret weapon for the day.

My buddy stuck this PIG of a Ling. It was 36" @ 23 lbs! We let it go. That's what we want in the gene pool. We caught our ling limits of 8 for 4 anglers and kept the 25+ inch class of Lings for table fare. Limits of the big reds, as well. Cleaning 40 big rockfish and all those lings was crazy. Distributed lots of good filets to friends and neighbors!

 

Eagle Lake trout are the bee's knees.

 

Northern California is starting to stir. Spring is almost here. 2022 is starting off okay. I even took bass in January which is usually my skunk month.

 

The big toads are moving down here, too! All the Plums have blossomed. Always my telltale for when it's time to start looking for the bigs! My buddy just stuck an 11# and a 9# locally here. Got my boat restocked with gear. Gotta start making my daily runs up to the lake before we run out of water to launch!

 

Jealous! Glad you were able to find some fish! It’s still ice season out here in Minnesota, but boy oh boy has the fishing been good through the ice this year! Looking forward to the spring jig bite though.

 

Damn. you cooked in the ice tent!! badass. i can smell it from here.

 

It was super tasty! That’s why I have a pop-up hub and a 1-man flip over shack. The hub - although more of a pain to put up and take down, gives me enough room to be comfortable. That’s what allowed me to do a catch and cook - tons of room to fillet fish and cook ‘em up!

 

Yesterday.