LAB 4/28 with pic's

So went to the LAB today, on the water at 6:10 am, very calm out, was sunny and birds dive bombing baitfish every where, even saw a BIG boil next the los alamitos yacht club..

The 2 baits I used were a big hammer spotty special, on a green tri head on my spinning rig, and a 3/8oz warbait skirted jig head with a kalin 3" grub in motor oil with red flakes. Presentation was the same as last week, when we killed it on big spotties, but today, only the sandies wanted to play, at least for me..lol

Wound up with 6 fish, 5 legal, and 2 of those were close to 3 lbs. I had 1 grab my b.h. at the wall, and I swear it had to have been a solid 4 to 5 lb sandie, I almost lost my rig, it hit that hard, the peeled some drag, and poof, it was gone, must not have had the hook in it's mouth...next time.

Wasn't a great day, but not to bad considering the lack of tidal water movement, and a lowish tide. Saw waxon67 out there, and another member, sorry I don't recall his name, hope you guys got some fish. Also, sorry for the lousy pic's, I used my cell.. Till next time...Tight Lines

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Sad pic, that was one of my better fish.

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And my tube..lol

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Congrats hammer in your outting. I'll be out there tonight

nice day, i know you might be reluctant to give out info but when you say wall, it is the wall that is on the side of davies launch ramp at the first bend, correct?

Nice fish Hammer thanks for sharing your post and photos I'm itching to get out in the salt.

wirelessbass wrote:nice day, i know you might be reluctant to give out info but when you say wall, it is the wall that is on the side of davies launch ramp at the first bend, correct?

Not reluctant to give some details..The wall I was referring to is the north wall (the corner) at the Los Alamitos yacht club. Whats even better is that's the hardest I've ever had a fish Slam my bait at the LAB, so that's a good sign, and the fact the fishing has picked up considerably over the last few months.

So yeah, I'll give some info. but not All of it, guys need to put time on the water, and learn what the fish want, and where they are, just like me, and countless others have done. Think outside the box and you might just be rewarded. Hopefully next week is even better.

Good job on a less than optimum, outgoing low tide!

...You gave away plenty of info already



Wirelessbass, use google maps on satellite view and zoom in
You'll see some likely spots to hit up and do some exploring for yourself
It's getting time when they are starting to wake up

Nice pics.. I might try getting out there tomorrow sometime.

Jay, if your going after say 9am..I'd go surf fiahing, wind came up, plus with the crumby tide movement, things got slow by then. But it's your call. Take your 3" spotty special..

Very cool report! Thanks for sharing! It's picking up boys! Go get them!

Hell yeah, senco!!!

You own that bay!!!

flyfishingfool wrote:Hell yeah, senco!!!

You own that bay!!!

Thanks, but I wouldn't go that far...btw, who is this senco you speak of..?

Hammer 4 wrote:

flyfishingfool wrote:Hell yeah, senco!!!

You own that bay!!!

Thanks, but I wouldn't go that far...btw, who is this senco you speak of..?

He used to be my photographer.
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Oh..lol

You've inspired me enough to get out and go fishing
I'm going to be there 6amish
Only going to give it a few hrs
Heading to the show in OC afterwards
Been feeling kind of depressed lately, need a dose of vitamin F

Thanks for your inspiration Hammer!

Just went today because I got inspired to go because of the pics.. But got skunked unless you count a 5" halibut , but I dont

IN2DEEP wrote:You've inspired me enough to get out and go fishing
I'm going to be there 6amish
Only going to give it a few hrs
Heading to the show in OC afterwards
Been feeling kind of depressed lately, need a dose of vitamin F

Thanks for your inspiration Hammer!

Dude, that is awesome, I'm happy as hell to be of some help, and now you have inspired me even more to do whatever I can for the sport of fishing..Hope you stick some toads.

aj7798 wrote:Just went today because I got inspired to go because of the pics.. But got skunked unless you count a 5" halibut , but I dont

Hang in there AJ, with the out going tide mid morning, the bite is Tough for everyone. Sometimes luck plays a big role in catching fish at those low tide times.

I covered a BUNCH of water yesterday, and also threw a bait I've never used before, and my retrieves are also different than the normal slow roll. Think jiging for LMB's..

aj7798 wrote: But got skunked unless you count a 5" halibut , but I dont

I'd take it!

When I have a long skunk session going, I'll take anything to shake the stripe.. small halibut or even a lizardfish!

Hammer 4 wrote:

IN2DEEP wrote:You've inspired me enough to get out and go fishing
I'm going to be there 6amish
Only going to give it a few hrs
Heading to the show in OC afterwards
Been feeling kind of depressed lately, need a dose of vitamin F

Thanks for your inspiration Hammer!

Dude, that is awesome, I'm happy as hell to be of some help, and now you have inspired me even more to do whatever I can for the sport of fishing..Hope you stick some toads.

Thanks Hammer
Your report made me want to go!
Got out for a few hours this morning
Traveled light this time because was unsure about the access to the launch area
1 rod
No rod holders
Fish Cat w/backpack straps instead of the loaded Prowler
Good thing I traveled light
Would have had a problem getting the prowler thru the narrow walkway
I like how much water movement is in this area
Managed 2 spotties on a rainbow trout 3" swimbait
Tried the 3/8oz head and a spottie special at the beginning but no bites
Switched to a 1/4oz head and stuck the two

This was good therapy... a dose of vitamin F
This also gave me a chance to test some new 1/4 and 3/8 weedless swimbait heads that I poured recently.
I think these new heads are going to work out good for the bays
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WTG..Nothing like catching spotties in the morning..

Good call switching to the 1/4 oz heads. When I used the 3/8, I got fewer fish than with the 1/4 oz. Color is always a guess, you got it right..

Hammer,
Do you drag your swimbaits the same slow speed as let's say, your small grubs?
I was retrieving the speed which allowed me to fill the bait bumping the tops of the rocks and eel grass
The weedless head was doing a good job keeping my bait from snagging
I have some that I'd like you to try and give your opinion about them

IN2DEEP wrote:Hammer,
Do you drag your swimbaits the same slow speed as let's say, your small grubs?
I was retrieving the speed which allowed me to FEEL the bait bumping the tops of the rocks and eel grass
The weedless head was doing a good job keeping my bait from snagging
I have some that I'd like you to try and give your opinion about them

Yup, imho, it gives a better chance at getting a good strike vs swimming it say 2 or 3' above the bottom, unless your targeting WSB..Also, as I mentioned, bouncing/jigging them off the bottom has been a good approach lately.

I'd love to try them. I mainly use the big hammer heads, and it get old having them getting snagged or filled up with weeds, ect. Just let me know, I'll be at the LAB Sat.

"bouncing/jigging them off the bottom has been a good approach lately"

Hmmm, that must have been in another report that I missed
I don't usually use that technique when it comes to swimbaits
I bet sluggo type baits rigged weedless might work good also

My heads are BH shaped with the hook eye moved all the way up to the front which helps keep the weeds from wrapping on the front of the head and keep the head from catching on a rock as easily
and a weedguard added on but no eyeballs (flat stick-ons can be added for the ones believe in them)

If I'm not fishing somewhere else next weekend, I"ll head over to lab

IN2DEEP wrote:

Hammer 4 wrote:

IN2DEEP wrote:You've inspired me enough to get out and go fishing
I'm going to be there 6amish
Only going to give it a few hrs
Heading to the show in OC afterwards
Been feeling kind of depressed lately, need a dose of vitamin F

Thanks for your inspiration Hammer!

Dude, that is awesome, I'm happy as hell to be of some help, and now you have inspired me even more to do whatever I can for the sport of fishing..Hope you stick some toads.

Thanks Hammer
Your report made me want to go!
Got out for a few hours this morning

Nice thread jack there
Traveled light this time because was unsure about the access to the launch area
1 rod
No rod holders
Fish Cat w/backpack straps instead of the loaded Prowler
Good thing I traveled light
Would have had a problem getting the prowler thru the narrow walkway
I like how much water movement is in this area
Managed 2 spotties on a rainbow trout 3" swimbait
Tried the 3/8oz head and a spottie special at the beginning but no bites
Switched to a 1/4oz head and stuck the two

This was good therapy... a dose of vitamin F
This also gave me a chance to test some new 1/4 and 3/8 weedless swimbait heads that I poured recently.
I think these new heads are going to work out good for the bays
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Nice thread jack lol,

No, it's a report within a report
Totally related