I know, some of you are wondering if this is still a fishing blog. Let me assure you it is still a fishing blog. I'm using the tour of the Historical Markers as a fill in because, as you all know, I've been hexed since November 12th.
Well, today the hex was broken. Left this morning at 0730, temperature a mild 24 degrees and headed to New Melones Reservoir. Rolled into the parking lot just before 0900 and just got set up when my friend Jim and his dog Bear showed up.
I barely had my rods in the water before the first one started the "fish on" bounce. The long and short of this was between 0900 and 0945 I put four on the stringer. All on rainbow Power Bait, of course. We were waiting for Yuki and Marisa to get there and I didn't want to be done and on the way home before they did.
I grabbed my little Okuma and did a little experimenting. I started with a red/white Crappie jig. When that didn't do anything I changed to a yellow/red one. That didn't do anything either so I went to an 1/8th oz. silver Kastmaster. Then an 1/8th oz. gold, but couldn't interest trout one.
Then I went to an 1/8th oz. black/gold Panther Martin. What Rainbow in his right mind could refuse one? Apparently every fish in the lake. They also refused the yellow/silver one.
10:00 rolled around and no Yuki and Marisa yet so I put out one rod and within minutes I had the fifth and final for a limit. I decided to put some of my gear in the truck and suddenly, racing across the parking lot came Yuki and Marisa.
So I sat and chatted for an hour or so with Marisa catching one and Yuki catching one (Jim had put four on his stringer), but nothing stellar. At 11:00 I thought it best that I get the hell out of there so they could catch (you know the "I go home and they catch fish" thing) fish.
I got home at 1:00 pm and as I mentioned above it being a mild 24 degrees when I left, it was a balmy 36 degrees. I don't know about you, but 24 AND 36 are still stinking cold to me.
So the hex that Mel put on me has been broken and I still have 26 days left in the year to catch some more fish. It didn't hurt that the DFW stocked New Melones this week either. They are also stocking next week and the week after. So if I can get out, we're expecting somewhere around 5 to 8 inches of snow tomorrow, I think I'll hit there another time or two before the end of the year. Seems to be the only place with the fish biting.
I got an email from Yuki a few minutes ago and both he and Marisa limited. See, good thing I went home.
Till next time.
Ok Mark, I've stopped shipment of the Powerbait and salmon eggs. Great to hear the hex is broken.
ReplyDeleteMark
ReplyDeleteYou are back on track to score another haul before the end of the year--persistence paid off--thanks for sharing
Glad to hear you got back into some fish!! Nice job!
ReplyDeleteBoy, Mark, am I glad to hear that! I was beginning to think that the "hex" had really attached itself to your local waters and I had lost all my hex busting skills. Nice to see smiling again!
ReplyDeleteGood old stick to it and get it done mind set there Mark.
ReplyDeleteI love the variety of your blog.
Good for you but way to cold for me.
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