Mr T Experience

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Joulebox

Larry and I shoved off from Sugar Barge at a gentlemanly 8 AM. We made our way over to the West side of the SJ and worked it the last of the incoming. 10+ MPH winds made it a bit of work. Couple o grabs but no stickers. We shot up the north fork of the Moke and worked some great looking water for a few greenies. Wind was much more manageable but needed to connect with a striped one. Broke for lunch which was Pork tenderloin samitches and Red Stripes.

Rafted up for a bit with markdashark and crew and traded lies.

We pounded the SJ in windy conditions all afternoon but could not bring the fish up.

Last call in Franks and Larry finally hooks a decent striper on top to save the day.

Delta Greenery

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Joulebox

Murderous Trebles and I launched little red from Sugar Barge Saturday with high hopes and high clouds.

3 of 3 early DWB “The Pickle”

We navigated up the North Fork of the Moke hucking wood and other TW implements. Stripers were shy but the pickles wanted to play.

Swimbaits on the troll during lunch attracted some attention.

Traffic was heavy

We fished North and South Moke, SJ shoals, false river, Washington Cut, Mandeville, MIldreds, and finally Franks at Sunset.

San Francisco City Streets March 2015

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Joulebox

Debra and I try to make a habit of riding City Streets. Once a month they close off a neighborhood in SF to cars and let the freaks, geeks, dykes on bikes, midgets on trikes etc take over. This month’s ride was from our home port at AT&T park along the Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf. Beautiful weather, good company and the amazing views of San Francisco made this a really fun day. Enjoy the pics!

4X speed vid of the ride here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwCmt03PbZM&list=UUc7hQqO1wM3ZqojnP7allUQ

Mokin it happen

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Joulebox

Last minute hitchiker post was ignored so I blew out of the Barge solo Wednesday. Overcast skies and light rain coupled with previous reports had me droolin for schoolin. I messed around a bit in the SJ before heading up the Mokolumne. At the turn I saw a bit of bait being pushed outside sparse tulies in the middle so started working the DWB proto. Quick action ensued. This fish dug under the boat and kept crashing into the keel trying to dislodge his new-found jewelery.

Hot fish, great fight.

Next cast whammo, nice greenie!

My guess? 8 lbs?

Largemouth were very active on top but I only managed a half dozen stripers.

The Moke is new water to me so I am still trying to figure the spots out.

As I was working my way back to Franks near sunset I got a text from Bernard who had blown his motor way up north. I found them and towed them about a mile from B&W where they went all hardcore and asked to be detached from the tow so they could finish out the night on their trolling motor.

It was an interesting run back to Sugar Barge in the dark!

Delta 3-8-15

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Joulebox

Got out with Randy to enjoy some of this fabulous spring weather.

We went ghost hunting up the Moke but only found greenage.

Lots of miles covered.

Home made stuffed cabbage is much better than cold Safeway sammys!

We had an alien encounter off of the SJ.

Largemouth were active and would we have focused on them a big bag could have been had.

One Lane Into Pyramid

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Joulebox

Debra and I scrambled over Donner Pass Friday afternoon just as the storm was sputtering to life. We checked into the Silver Legacy after a stop at Cabelas. We met the Schaffers on the casino floor for some wagery. Dinner at Pearls Oyster Bar inside the Legacy (so so) and back to gaming. Debra did well on the slots as usual. Late to bed and 4:30 AM came too early.

Mike and I motored out Pyramid highway in steady snow. At one point the whole sky lit up green with snow lightning. It got more and more sketchy as we climbed up the ridge slipping and sliding in the pitch dark but we pressed on to Blockhouse.

http://youtu.be/zK4FE23MGLM

I debated whether to park up top but figured the snow plow would bury the car so we slid on down to the beach fully expecting to be found there frozen to death several days later. 10 MPH winds, snowing full on, 34 degrees at lake level. PERFECT for fishing Booty style.

We threw hardware from 6-9:30 for one small fish.

Snowed hard the entire time. 4 other trucks there but we saw nothing caught. I had 2 BIG followers practically beach themselves chasing a green/white little cleo but they would veer off at the last minute. We made the call to head north.

The Nets were packed with ladder nuts surfing the rollers.

We left the ladders and waders behind so we headed past Crosbys

Snow let up but it still rained on and off. The views were grand.

Just before Pelican I spied off in the distance a fish being netted so we wheeled down to the rocks just south of the ramp.

It was on. We saw 40 plus (no shit, ask Mike!) fish caught in a 4 hr period up to 20+ lbs. Copper john and small green fly off a dropper loop under an indicator was HOT. I ran an F5 frog flatfish carolina rigged about 2.5 feet below a chain swivel 1/2 oz weight. Water was about 20 feet deep and I was crawling this over the bottom. This worked! Fish juggling ensued

HARD fighting fish in spawning colors. Mike switched to a flatfish and got on board.

A guy next to us whacked at least 15 fish including this 20 lber!

The drive back to Reno was awe inspiring with the desert covered in freshies.

All lights were green coming through Sparks. We celebrated that night at Ichiban in Harrahs. Not bad.Casinos Saturday night were PACKED and money was flowing. Had a few beverages…………

I woke up Sunday morning a bit groggy and pointed us up and over the pass it was great to see snow down to 4500 feet.

I feel lucky to have hit a hot Pyramid bite. I may go back next weekend.

New Melones February 16, 2015

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Joulebox

My son joined me for Presidents Day trout fishing. We launched off the dirt at Glory Hole rather than wait behind the 6 guys lined up at the concrete ramp. 70 degrees, light wind no clouds to hide behind. Lake was up 25 feet from when I last went. I motored directly to Coyote to find stained water.

Lots of prop killers floating about. We hit 2 average size fish at the creek mouth drifting and casting Thomas Bouyant spoons in the trees. Slow going back there so we headed for clearer water. Firetiger Rapalas on the downrigger 25 ft down brought a couple of fish east of the 9er bridge. We also got hit on Cop Car Needlefish with flasher and 2 oz diving weight. We feasted on homemade Split Pea soup with ham and smoked turkey cooked on board. Thanks Debra! Weather got hot and a few over-priced IPA’s were sacrificed. Thank god for the Bimini top.

We ran one rod on top all day and that was not touched despite changing baits several times. Meter showing lots of arches 40-60 ft down. Caught a nice bright multiple jumper at the dam.

There was a floatplane doing touch and go-s repeatedly. Fun to watch.

8 fish for the day with 3 rods out. All released today. Off the water at 4:00.

Good to be out with my son!

Land of the rain so hard you hide behind a rock

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Joulebox

Took some much needed R&R with my partner and made our first visit to Maui.

Maui is nice……

Hyatt pool

broke da mouth LOL

she blows

the road to Hana

Southern end

George Carlin after conversion

Willie Willie tree

Roads can be tricky

Banned lead cache

Camp here

Something was burned here

Oxidation Nation

Lava conflict

Creepy Canyon

Diorama panarama

Hotel Sunset

Crater view

Big island across the straits

Lunar scape

Thin air

Big things happened here

Debra holding on for dear life in 40 MPH winds

Spewage

BFF in the Cloud

Where is the escalator?

RIP

Needs no caption

Catholic conquest

Debra in her new bikini

Lava cakes

Northern tip of the island

A maze

SO many shades of blue

Tribute with shell necklace

Achoo

The Palani Fish Boast

Crazy tiny road on the north side

Cocksure

Mamas Fish House in Paiai=AWESOME

View from Mamas looking north and east

A glass of Grenache from the lanai

where is my pole

Caption this?

Hawaiian Princess

Obligatory Mai Tai toast upon arrival

Let’s talk extremes:

From sea level lush tropical beach thru upcountry and cresting at 10K ft+ lunar crater landscape in a 2.5 hrs drive. Felt like we drove every inch of the island but stopped plenty to explore. Road to Hana-Check. Haleakala National Park-Check. Mamas Fish House-Check. Olivine Pools-Check. Leodas Pie House-OMG CHECK. White sand, black sand, red sand beach-Check.In our 4-wheel steed we circumnavigated the island over 5 days hitting most of the coast and interior. Some really hairy roads. The contrast between north and south and east and west is stunning in terms of flora and weather. Really bummed I did not book a one way ticket.

Don Pedro de la Muerta

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Joulebox

It has been 10 years since I have fished Pedro.

Plenty of water in DP. We started in Big Creek arm. FT Rapala as usual gets hit

We spent an hour there but it was very quiet. I motored us upriver to Cut Foot Cove.

Ask my nephew Jared about Cut Foot Cove.

We continued east to the bridge. I hit several spotted bass on a silver rapala 30 feet on the down rigger but the toplines remained quiet.

Debra hooked us up with hot sloppy joes.

Time to head up the Tuolumne arm and Moccasin Point.

They have placed a prophylactic device preventing penetration of the river arm

Slow day overall but glad to be out on the water with my BFF!

New Melones 2 day operation

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Joulebox

I drove up solo Friday morning and launched from the Glorious Hole at 10:00 AM. Cloudy, no wind and 50 odd degrees. Perfect.I ran all the way up Angels Creek tossing a silver kastmaster on the prowl. Had many big followers swipe at it right at the boat but they would not commit fully to the relationship. After an hour I pulled up and motored east of the 9er bridge, the site of former carnage. It was on but slower than weeks past. Had many bald eagle interactions.

Still plenty of willing takers up the C creek arm.

I explored the Stani river arm sightseeing.

I fished until sunset.

The dreaded contrails were milking their deadly spew into the sky.

I checked into the Jamestown Railtown Hotel (not bad) and had dinner at the Willow Steakhouse (est 1862, two thumbs way up). Steak, shrimp, baked potato, salad, bread, stoly grapefruit and a bottle of Bogle Zin!

Saturday morning I was joined by Chef Jerry and Dr. Gallaty at GH Sports 7 AM. We launched in the fog and headed east.

We were the first boat back in C arm.

Fishing was decent.

A beautiful January Global Warming day.

Steady bite .We traveled as far east as we could.And as far west as we could

Jerry whips out his stove and proceeds to grill up Sauteed shrooms, burgers with OA red chilli flakes, proscuitto, 2 kinds of queso on Ciabatta bread. OMG!

Lots of bait and a couple fish at the dam.