Home
This morning was once again Alamitos bay. I've decided LAB is my home water. This is a big decision for me, as home water gets awarded privileges other water doesn't:
1) its the tie breaker. When conditions look good all over, I'll head to my home water
2) Its walk away fishing - if its a tough day, or it becomes a grind, I can walk away. Because its home water... I'll always be back, so breakfast is an option if fishing sucks. This is important - as if I drive a ways to fish, or even if its a local spot but not home water....I'll often over stay when it gets slow. Hate that. Home water, if it blows, I bolt. I love that freedom.
Home water is a distinction I award carefully - LAB now has it. It's earned it. That makes me smile
I put in at 5:40 AM, and fished until about 8:50 AM before I made the long kick to the exit.
This was a weird day. It started SO SLOW.... I was ready to bail at 6:15.... I stuck it out, and it got better as the morning unfolded. My fishing rarely does that - usually starting off hot in the early AM / first light, then chilling as the morning rolls on.
I liked it.
No wind, only had to change out one leader (kept breaking off... it felt fine but you never know... so I changed it and didn't break off another the rest of the day...
)
Today, like last Sunday, was the day of the toad. 5 of the first 6 fish I caught were legals, with an 18" phatty and a 16" gordo tossed into that mix.
1 kayak fisherman, three tubers and a trio of fly fishermen working the shoreline - practicing their double hauls and roll casts.
Secret fishing hole this is not.
The Fish
22 total
* 20 Spotted Bay Bass (probably 10 legal... an 18"+ corn-fed toad, a 16" bullfrog, a 15", several 14"s)
* 1 Halibette (maybe 9 or 10" long...lil feller) - my first LAB Hali
* 1 teeny Yellowfin croaker
The Gear Section
* Hookup Baits. 1/4 oz Minty Fresh, 1/4 oz Sardine the Dream, 3/8 oz Sardine the Dream, 3/8 Glow Green. HUB Crustacean (red) scent. All four rigs were catching fish today.
* Reconfigured the Enterprise a bit - working on a re-build, so this is mid-build. Moved rod holders and the FF and phone. All good. Really liking it.
What I learned
* I wasn't slamming them today, so I made the circuit pretty quick. I needed to stay patient a few times and work the pilings. It payed off at least 4 or 5 times. I don't like to work an area too much....but they just weren't hitting in the usual spots and my confidence was waning. When I put my head down and focused, the fish came.
* Hook Up baits rule. That is all.
* Almost everything made it into the tube today (stripping apron and net are often left behind....) today's orphan: My towels.
Notes for next trip
* I don't like to grind. And today started to feel like that, as I didn't boat a fish for the first 30 minutes or so. For LAB that's never happened to me before, as I usually start picking them off at the launch. I'm glad I didn't fold it up, as it got better.
* After last weekend's ripping tide swing, this was super mellow. Easy kicking, easy to hold position.... very nice.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
What a morning. So grateful I get to do this.
-Ken
1) its the tie breaker. When conditions look good all over, I'll head to my home water
2) Its walk away fishing - if its a tough day, or it becomes a grind, I can walk away. Because its home water... I'll always be back, so breakfast is an option if fishing sucks. This is important - as if I drive a ways to fish, or even if its a local spot but not home water....I'll often over stay when it gets slow. Hate that. Home water, if it blows, I bolt. I love that freedom.
Home water is a distinction I award carefully - LAB now has it. It's earned it. That makes me smile
I put in at 5:40 AM, and fished until about 8:50 AM before I made the long kick to the exit.
This was a weird day. It started SO SLOW.... I was ready to bail at 6:15.... I stuck it out, and it got better as the morning unfolded. My fishing rarely does that - usually starting off hot in the early AM / first light, then chilling as the morning rolls on.
I liked it.
No wind, only had to change out one leader (kept breaking off... it felt fine but you never know... so I changed it and didn't break off another the rest of the day...
) Today, like last Sunday, was the day of the toad. 5 of the first 6 fish I caught were legals, with an 18" phatty and a 16" gordo tossed into that mix.
1 kayak fisherman, three tubers and a trio of fly fishermen working the shoreline - practicing their double hauls and roll casts.
Secret fishing hole this is not.
The Fish
22 total
* 20 Spotted Bay Bass (probably 10 legal... an 18"+ corn-fed toad, a 16" bullfrog, a 15", several 14"s)
* 1 Halibette (maybe 9 or 10" long...lil feller) - my first LAB Hali
* 1 teeny Yellowfin croaker
The Gear Section
* Hookup Baits. 1/4 oz Minty Fresh, 1/4 oz Sardine the Dream, 3/8 oz Sardine the Dream, 3/8 Glow Green. HUB Crustacean (red) scent. All four rigs were catching fish today.
* Reconfigured the Enterprise a bit - working on a re-build, so this is mid-build. Moved rod holders and the FF and phone. All good. Really liking it.
What I learned
* I wasn't slamming them today, so I made the circuit pretty quick. I needed to stay patient a few times and work the pilings. It payed off at least 4 or 5 times. I don't like to work an area too much....but they just weren't hitting in the usual spots and my confidence was waning. When I put my head down and focused, the fish came.
* Hook Up baits rule. That is all.
* Almost everything made it into the tube today (stripping apron and net are often left behind....) today's orphan: My towels.
Notes for next trip
* I don't like to grind. And today started to feel like that, as I didn't boat a fish for the first 30 minutes or so. For LAB that's never happened to me before, as I usually start picking them off at the launch. I'm glad I didn't fold it up, as it got better.
* After last weekend's ripping tide swing, this was super mellow. Easy kicking, easy to hold position.... very nice.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
What a morning. So grateful I get to do this.
-Ken
