Go Fish!
by President Sam Bishop
Seems like there are fishing opportunities everywhere now that Spring is here. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am.
I hadn't fished Lake Nacimiento since before I got into fly fishing, so with fellow member Bill Schuette and our friend Rod Seigle, we fished for three midweek days in April. This was right after one of the big storms that rolled through, so the fish were laid down and scattered. White bass are the main reason people fish there. Planted in about 1965 by the DFG, the white bass multiplied exponentially. The DFG is so concerned that this mistake (?) shouldn't happen again, that they require you to immediately kill any white bass you don't release immediately. They are great sport, especially if you are fortunate to find them when schooling after the spawning season. I only caught a couple, but there was plenty other action with black bass and Crappie. A couple of weeks before that, Harry Petrakis and Dougald had some great fishing there.
As I write this, I am on a business trip in Cancun (yep!), Yesterday I strayed off to Ascension Bay to try a day at bone fishing. Wow, did it turn out great, with 15 fish to the boat, including bones, snapper, ladyfish and a tarpon! I have never even heard of a ladyfish before, and I sure don't understand why it gets no respect. While fishing for tarpon, I hooked one of those babies, about two feet long, and it flew straight up out of the water, at least 8 feet! I had another one on the line later; my rod was bent over facing forward, when I saw a fish jump off my left side. It was the fish I had hooked! He had raced over 30 feet and come out of the water before my line and rod even caught up to it.
I am coming back to the Pesca Maya Lodge, so join me. www.pescamaya.com.
Our program on Sierra Horse Pack Trips for Golden Trout will be quite interesting. Yes, I realize that most people will not actually take the trip, but we can dream can't we? I don't visit most of the places our speakers talk about, but I can sure vicariously enjoy the trip and the experiences.
Oh yes, please bring and wear your name badge at the meetings.