Their major complaint is that they aren't catching dozens of fish, in the 10 pound range, every time they go out there. Poor baby's. Just a reminder of what this lake is about, they used to grow their own Cutbows until warm water closed the hatchery. Now they import fish from the Mt. Lassen Trout Hatchery and are at the mercy of Mt. Lassen's delivery truck. PLUS, where they used to put mongo trout into the lake, now they're putting in some good sized ones with the catch-able ones.
To support them in their effort, I headed out of La Casa Kautz at 07:45. I got to the lake and checked in, purchased a carton of crawlers (I had a plan), and drove out to the point by the spillway.
I carefully worked my way down to the water and found a very precarious spot to park myself. Take a look at the pictures below and you can see how precarious it is on the side of the lake.
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Plan A - Put one rod out with a crawler on three feet of leader under a bobber. Used the little Okuma with a pink Kastmaster to work the area. That didn't work.
Plan B - Put one rod out with a crawler and a couple white floaty things to keep it off the bottom and the other rod with rainbow Power Bait. Sit carefully and consume coffee and donuts (picked up on the way). That didn't work either, but the donuts were good.
Plan C - Same rod with crawler and pink Kastmaster on my little Okuma. I tried several other colors too. That didn't work either.
Note to readers: I only have a two rod license. If they allowed three rods, I'd have that one too, but they only allow two.
Plan D - Go home. That worked.
I didn't see anyone one catch anything, nor did the two guys I talked to on the way back to the truck. There is no doubt in my mind that there are big Cutbows still in the lake and many Mt. Lassen Rainbows, but I just couldn't interest any in what I had to offer.
Add that to the treacherous decent and ascent and I think next time I'm going back to Lake Camanche. I'm just to old for mountain climbing.
See, I got you thinking about falling in didn't I? I'm glad you're getting out, but really sorry that fishing is so tough out there now.
ReplyDeleteThey ran the lake levels the other day. New Melones (which we like to fish) is only 23% of capacity. They plan to stock it on the week on 1/25. Now that's scary.
DeleteA hard day not catching but it happens Mark, I take it that's a man made lake?
ReplyDeleteHi John. Most of the lakes I fish are man made. They are either for Hydroelectric Power (Like Tiger Creek Reservoir) or water reserve for some area. Example: Lake Pardee and Lake Camanche are water storage for the Bay Area (San Francisco area). You have to get way up high in the mountains to find (If you remember Burnside Lake from last summer), a natural lake.
DeleteBe careful, Mark, I sure would not want the wife to not allow you to go fishing again...............
ReplyDeleteThat being said, if you never fall then a Geezer should never worry about getting back up again.
The wife and I talked about falling last night. She clarified that I wouldn't have to stop fishing, she'd just beat me into submission. Don't take that literally.
DeleteThey say days like that build character.
ReplyDeleteOne would think that after 68 years, I'd have enough character.
DeleteHey no worries I fished Camanche north shore and pond friday and same story zero fish for me and everyone else I talked to, so maybe not the lake just the times. I think biggest complaint with amador is that they plant 1,200 pounds every one or two weeks instead of 5,000 a week like the used to for basically same price of entarance fee.
ReplyDeleteHey Turkey 2003. Thanks for stopping by. Since they closed the hatchery, the cost of buying trout is prohibitive and they are at the mercy of Mt. Lassen to make the delivery. I guess we just have to keep trying.
DeleteAll those loose rocks on a slope like that are screaming "Danger!" careful out there. At least you're smart and know you're limits. There aren't any other accessible spots around the lake for you?
ReplyDeleteHi Justin. There are other spots, but with the water level what it is, it's the same distance down and up. You can give up the shale for the big rocks at the dam. Six of one, half dozen of the other.
DeleteDamn you sound like me - no luck but bad luck - keep trying I am sure you will get some tight lines
ReplyDeleteHey Robdog. Thanks to you also for stopping by. Guess that's why the call it fishing, huh.
DeleteMark
ReplyDeleteAt our age when a fall occurs it takes twice as long to heal. Stay safe out there and be careful---thanks for sharing
Hi Bill. It takes me a day just to get over the trip even if I don't fall. Price of being a Geezer.
DeleteI don't even want to talk about falling... broke my new fly rod last week. Hey, Plan E... go back with a brown leech or an olive wooly bugger on a fly rod. = )
ReplyDeleteHi Emily. I thought about the fly rod, but I'd probably have to float tube it. With the way the shore is set up, there is no back swing. You're back's against a wall, so to speak.
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