* May 9th - Palm Beach
It was a foggy May morning at Palm Beach (Pajaro Dunes). The day before, Tom Bradley and I talked about going to San Luis Reservoir for Stripers, but we had to be back too early to make it worthwhile, so we agreed to meet at Palm Beach about 0630.
The surf was a bit nasty, Tom commented that it looked better for surfing rather than fishing and wondered if we should even stay there. I said "Let's stay, we're here already and should catch something".
An hour later I had caught a few perch, Tom only one. I gave him my favorite fly I call my Orange Ruffy. I moved out of a spot, he moved in, cast a couple times, then BAM, he caught this 29" Striper! A little while later, same spot, he caught a 20" Striper as well, but on a white Clouser.
It was a great morning. I was almost as excited as Tom. - Sam Bishop
* May 10th - Surf Perch Fishing
Brand new member Jim Mitchell met up with Sam Bishop for Surf Fishing 101. Here is his first day and first surf perch! Amazing how such a little fish can get one so excited. But it does. - Sam Bishop
* Snakes in the Float Tube at Fish Hook Point
I kept a dreaming that I was locked into my sleeping bag and kept struggling to get out.I could see, just over the hills behind my neighbors starter castle, the high Mammoth Alps with its beautiful crystal clear mountain lakes. Finally after hitting the snooze alarm about 6 times I was able to get my lazy butt in gear and head to the San Luis Reservoir and Forebay on what I call a "scouting mission". I was armed with Lee Haskin's most excellent maps and my notes from his April visit to MPFC and earlier visit to SCFF clubs.
I have never looked at, stopped, or fished the San Luis Reservoir. I've only done a drive by from Route 152. But today I was going to check out in some detail, especially those locations described by Lee and notated on my map. First up was Dinosaur point, it comes up fast as it's just after the peak after a long uphill climb and the turbo is still pushing gas into the Volvo 4 cylinder engine making it feel like a...V8 or actually a /V6. It's a quick hard right and a long down hill ride with wonderful views of the reservoir. Right into the wind, I might add. Toward the bottom and off to the right is a nice looking protected cove that looks like it would be out of the wind and float tubeable. There was an interesting line of partially submerged willow running diagonally, water level was about -8000. The ramp area is very open to the wind but off to the left are another series of coves that might be fishable if you could get to them. Access is probably from the other side by a series of 2 or more pull outs off the main highway before the rock wall. At this point (0930) the wind was starting to rise but the windmills on the ridge were not yet turning.
There are about 5 turnouts after the rock wall. Some have nice large parking lots. Everything was empty of fishermen on this AM.
Next turn off for me was the Romero Visitor center. There was a closed gate preventing access, probably related to homeland security policies. It was not clear if you could access the areas below for fishing. According to Lee walking over the damn and down to the water about midway is an good approach to fishing the Reservoir. The points are also good areas to work. There is a an under water hump about 1/2 mile out that is a good area to target. Seemed to me that if the prevailing wind was from the north it might be difficult to get back to the area of the visitor center if the wind velocity increased significantly while you were on the water. Lee warned us to watch out for snakes when climbing down the dam to launch.
Next, after returning to the main highway Route 152, just after the dam is the Basalt turn off. It's the access to the south side of SLR. On the way in is a nice developed campground on the left and it appears to be in a valley probably protected from the wind.
Next down the road is a gate with a fee of $6 for day use, but there is a SENIOR DISCOUNT of $ 2 so you can get in for $4. A bargain, I think. The road loops around. First land mark is Fisherman's Point with a large parking lot. It provides access to the waters immediately behind the dam. Next is Willow Point a smaller peninsula and the marker buoy is between it and the next landmark, Goosehead/ Fishhook Point. This is another good float tube area because it is protected from the wind. If you launch your float tube here you will be paddling into the wind and the wind will be behind your back when you want to return.
By this time it was late AM and there were 3 guys bait fishing the area. They had their rods in holders on the shore and were sitting (sleeping?) in their trucks. Didn't look like much was happening, fish wise. I though I would rig up my rods and inflate my tube for a possible test run as I have never been on the water at the big reservoir. As I was messing abound, trying to remember how to tie a Lefty loop, an older Hispanic bait fisher came over and we started to chat. He had been here since early AM and hadn't even had a nibble. He said to be careful, especially in the summer when it was hot to be on the look out for rattle snakes. Then he told me that one time he was fishing there and there were a couple of float tubers out on the water. Suddenly there was some very loud yelling. Apparently, when the rattle snakes get overheated or want to migrate from the Goosehead area they start to swim. While on the water they like to find a dry place to rest. So maybe a snake hook / gripper should be carried along with your net :). Or maybe some antivenin?
After that conversation, and the lack of any bite I decided to go over and explore the Forebay. I've only actually fished there once and caught a very nice striper using a gurgler to fish the holes in the weed beds. Harry S. and I launched kayaks from San Luis Creek area as it is protected from the wind. I wanted to find and go out to check #12 at the north end. I stopped and started to walk north toward check #12 but quickly realized it was a long, long way to walk. I found that the road continues past he San Luis Creek area all the way to a parking lot by check #12. There are group (outing for club?), family and other campgrounds on the road out to check #12.
I launched my float tube at check #12. It was now about noon but I did want to get wet and try out my Buddy fishfinder. I've used it only once and still haven't figured it out. When I got on the water and tried to turn it on nothing happened in spite of the fact that I had installed brand new batteries. Finally I reversed the batteries, opposite to the polarity marking on the battery case and it worked. The water was running about 63 to 65 degrees. There is a trench/ deep cut on the edge of the opposite bank, about 25 ft. max. which tapers to shallower water as you go south. Few fish were marked, usually about 8 to 10 ft deep. Absolutely no bites, strikes and my left tube continued with its slow leak (had my pump with me on the tube, just in case). Has anyone had success with deep midges and a strike indicator?
I paddled around about 1 & 1/2 hours with no success. The buddy went on strike after I started messing around with the settings. (Note to self: read the directions). When I left the water about 3:30 it was absolutely slick, no signs of fish, little or no insect activity. An argument for trying a different location, or being in a kayak or boat so more water could be covered and scanned with a WORKING fish finder. - tight lines, Tom Pelikan