Hit the delta Saturday with the Man of Stell and Brother Randy.  9 AM launch from Lauritzens to flat calm weather. We ran first to the steel but tide was not right.

Wasted too much time there. Early lunch was spectacular with O cut lamb chops  on a bed of rice pilaf with mint jelly. Thanks Jerry!

We bounced all around but ended up back in sherman chasing birds late afternoon. Swim bait bite started heating up and we had a steady stream of singles and double on schoolie size fish.

Very fun. At least 60 fish boated. Slight  topwater snap at sunset. Put the boat on the trailer at dark.

Back out Sunday for salmon out of Rio Vista. 2 rods out with sardine wrapped Kwikfish. Trolled for 6 hrs.  No hits, runs or errors.

Reports were that there were still salmon around so I gathered up a crew of the usual suspects, my son Pat, brother Randy, Mike G and Dangerous Potatos. We pushed off at 8:15 in punishing 72 degree 0 wind conditions.

We ran up the line and joined the fleet circling the buoy.

We had 5 rods out in 80-90 feet of water with  herring and anchovies. Bait was thick and dimpling the surface. Meter often blanked out with pelicans gulls and terns slamming the water.

Some nets flying, I saw maybe 15 fish netted on other boats.  Mike and Randy ran the gear agressively but we managed  3 drivebys and no fish. Obligingly a mama whale with jr in tow put on a show for us.

We pulled the plug around 4. Easy ride back while listening to the 1-0 Giants game on the radio.

Little did I know I would still be watching this game 5 hours later!

Debra and I took half a day of Friday and headed for Sugar Barge. We found birds and bait at light 57 on the river. They were hot for swimbaits. Debra landed 7 and I landed 10 before the school disappeared. Small fish, big fun. COld front made for a mighty cloud show.

We hopped all around the south until dark enjoying the weather and company. Was so nice Debra suggested we go again Saturday.

Found this little guy puked up in the boat from the friday session as I was installing the new rocket launchers so I resolved to match the hatch

This time we went out of Lauritzens so as to explore the western stuff. Fish were in at the Steel.

Steady action all day from Honker bay to Big Break. Swimbaits mostly. Threw the new S waver for long time for zip. No big ones again today.

Sunset from the Break

My son, his bud Randy and Dangerous Tamales joined me on Lake Pacific for possibly our last salmon run of the season. Spied Jeezy’s gold plated Lambortion getting towed near the marina

Folsom street fair celebrants were about

Out the chute approx 8 AM

New cruise ship terminal had a tenant

We flipped the coin and hung a right at Bonita and ran up the line. Found the fleet Southeast of Dux. Mike got 4 rods in the water in nothing flat and we quickly picked up the first fish

Lots of nets flying. #2 came an hr later

We worked rips, baits and birds amongst the crowds.

We converted 3 bites for 3 fish’

SLow afternoon so we headed in around 3

Mike ran the deck in expert fashion and cleaned the fish to boot

Roughly 24 hrs after they were swimmin free their final purpose was realized

Scalloped potatoes, home grown grilled peppers, siracha soy marinade on the fish, figs and crenshaw melons

Hell yes!

Randy and I launched the new rig from Sugar Barge at 2:00 PM. Loving the new boat!

Predicted clouds were a no show, 80 degree temps and reasonable wind. Tide just starting to go out. We made a couple of stops in Franks for zip and headed out the northeast end towards the SJ. Rounded the corner and saw a couple of fly guys on some small ones near the bank. I could see birds out in 35 feet of water at light 49 but did not go to check for an hour or so. Finally could not ignore them anymore and rolled over there to find a very large school of aggressive small fish chasing bait up top. Easy pickings with half a dozen fish following each hooked fish back to the boat. We landed about 20 in this spot but could not get through to the bigger fish. Lucky pointers SP128 in Ayu worked.

Two jet skiing assholes blew right through the school coming within 50 yards of us on a mile wide stretch of river WTF? and put the school down. Tempted to shoot a flare up their asses as they passed by. We headed south and east trying to find the birds again.

Could see the King fire mushroom cloud.

We poked around picking up singles here and there until dark. Wind started coming up with the approaching front.

Got to test the Kingfisher in some strong wind/waves and really pleased with the performance. Spot lock on the MK Ipilot  is an amazing tool! No more back aches from the foot pedal and freedom to move all about the boat.

I am looking forward to running the striper trail hard this fall.

We are liking our new south of market digs.

35 minutes from Pleasanton and we are aboard with a movie and a bottle of red. Saturday we ate our way across town. Lunch was at Millers East Coast West on Polk.

We took a ride out to Ft Point and found dolphins playing on the break
Bay was busy

Ft Point is one of the best free attraactions in the whole bay area.

Saturday afternoon matinee at the Kabuki was the ultimate foodie movie 100 ft journey. See it.
Dinner that evening was at Alexanders Steakhouse on Brannan. Pricy but interesting. Back on board with a DVD of Hungover Games. Randy and Thelma joined us aboard for the night. Dangerous Thimbles arrived promptly at 8:00 AM Sunday and we were off.

Weather very nice, swell and wind negligible

Found the fleet at the last set of channel buoys and then a couple miles south. Slow pick but Mike put 2  like this on board.

Whale show, molas, dolphins, jellys, birds, bait everywhere.

Tried at Dux and off of Rocky in the afternoon but 2 was it for us. Dinner was special.

Debra and I met friends up on the northeast side of Lassen for some cabin camping at Lake Manzanita.

Located just inside the northeast entrance to the park the cabins at Manzanita are small, cheap,  and clean but basic:  a place to lay down. Fishing was frustrating as each evening was non stop hatches of whatever accompanied by hundreds of feeding trout completely oblivious to our offerings despite significant bucks spent at Redding Fly Shop. Here is a pic of one of the stupider but pretty trout thereGreat time camping and hanging out with the Schaefers as usual

We had a epic road trip Saturday heading north out of the park to Hat Creek and on to Burney falls. Stopped on the way at Subway Caves

Halfway point was Burney Falls a must see if you are in the area.

Fished Hat Creek half heartedly and also marveled at it’s source which bubbles up directly from volcanic rock.

Late that afternoon we motored on into the park for some amazing vistas.

It had been 20 years since I had been NE of Lassen. SO much to see up there. I need to go back and spend some extended time exploring.

With 106 degree global warming predicted for our house we bolted for the coast. We were off to ride the Sunday Streets San Francisco where they close off parts of the city to cars and let it all hang out. Next event here : http://www.sundaystreetssf.com/richmond-71314/

We were joined by my son, brother Randy and Thelma. We parked near Seal Stadium and rode into the park.

We glided (glade?glode?) through the park and out to the great highway. Debra was rocking her Spurcycle Bike Bell which we make in our shop.

We witnessed a somewhat sad but still sweet attempt to break the world record for skating centipede

Lunch and drinks at the Beach Chalet on the Great Highway. Then it was time to pedal back uphill. Light turnout overall as far as Sunday Streets goes but the bubble lady made it. Her faithful bubble man in tow forever intoxicated by her bubble trail.

Fun day with the family.  I saw Sonny and Cher.

JFK drive was hosting the normal Sunday JD skate thing. Worth a half hour of your time if you like people watching.