NorCal Fishing

My mom has passed on to the great white north so I selfishly take each Mothers Day as an invitation to fish in her memory. This year I decided to tin can it at Del Valle as that is 20 mins from my house. $23 and a quagga inspection had me launching at 8:00 AM. I ran all the way to the dam in hopes of striper boils but none were evident. Halfheartedly trolled on top and was too lazy to deploy downriggers. Started pitching senkos and various plastics and the large and small ones were on it. No… Read more

Mike and I launched from Russos to 20+ MPH winds and full on Victory at Sea in Franks tract. We pounded out to Mandeville and found fishable water. A tournament guy tipped us off to crankbait bite and we had a steady pick of rags. Some spinnerbait fish and a couple of looks on the frog. Mike stuck a pig in Mildreds on a chrome blue rattle trap in lesss than 2 ft of water. Bendo! I lipped him up a 9#er despite it having 2 sets of trebles in hits maw. Mike is Dangerous Trebles after… Read more

Had the pleasure of camping with the Stellmans and Neo this weekend at Naci. Dam fog Perfect campsite, yaks galore, decent fishing, party barge narrows excursion, great food and copious drankin conspired to deliver a relaxing weekend. The lovely crew narrows Rare Dahls porpoise sighting Cliff diver Jerry 50 ft up and 50 years old Balls of Steel Jerry’s daughter Stephanie chip off the old block We fished a  bit off the yaks. pedallos Albinobass White roostertails are money at… Read more

My friend Turhan who was my Delta sensei turned me onto the spotted bass bite  in April at Oroville 8 years ago. I have been back every year since then. I never met a lake I did not like but Oroville is special. Bass Condos I have had days at Oroville where I landed 70-80 bass in a day most right up tight to the bank in the top 6 ft of water. Light spinning gear is all you need here as a 3# spot will be a big fish. This year Randy and I hit it 4-19 and of course 4-20. Weather was hot and… Read more

Noticed this disturbing object as I was hooking up the trailer. Tidal influencer Dropped off some dollars and picked up a Larry at Glory Hole. An off duty guide advised us iphone pics and all of a hot bite east of the 49er bridge. Also saw pics of a 17# largemouth caught 4-6-12. headed down to the ramp Lady hump Launched to very nice conditions. Melons and Black Death 5 lines out 2 double stacked riggers and a long line on top in the middle. We were hot shit. Action was non stop not Zen master… Read more

After contacting 5 different people with not takers I decided to roll solo. Had not fished Berry this year so  that was the destination. Weather report was rain, T-storms, hail and wind. Actual weather excellent! Hit my usual bakery stop in Winters that is open early and stocked up for the day. Stopped at the dam for a quick pic. Glory hole not spillin, trout fishin was illin Launched from Markley Cove and commenced to trolling. Little misty in the AM Assholes fished here Pick up your trash… Read more

Mike and I popped the new tin can cherry on Camanche Sunday. 88 east Yours truly Headed west to Hat Island Hats We put em in Trolled around a bit water 54 degrees, air 48, wind building Wasted an hour and fled for the narrows ? Narrows Nothing doing so headed up-river. All kinds of evidence of mining activity Battlements Stone werx Some cool geology at the river mouth Fishy locale Rain, hail, and later wind Moke here More werx So after approx 6 hrs of skunkage we head back to the narrows. For… Read more