First off, I think everybody knows how crappy San Pablo Dam Res has been (and seemingly getting nothing but worse as time goes on).
Then, many of you probably know that I have been severly sidetracked this year, with my whole new passion of photography.
But anyhow, in light of the recent news about the Dam at Pablo, and the likely draining of the lake, I decided to go back for one last trip of rememberence. I would have given myself about 5% chance of catching anything at all, and maybe about .01% of a double digit bass.
I started at about 11 am, and spent more time talking with my friends at the concession area, than I did fishing. But I did throw the the trout lure around on most of the likely spots, without so much as a sniff or a follow. Flipped crawlers around with my ultra light too. Again, not even a sniff. Where are all those dang Spotted Bass ?
Anyway, I end up back at the ramp at about 3:30pm. Lake closes at 4:30 now, since daylight savings time changed back. I decide to stitch a crawler around beside the ramp for a bit, before I pull the boat out. I actually stuck one 1 1/2 lb, one-eyed scrub of bass after about 15 minutes :-) Ha' ! That was more than I really expected. Well, just a few more casts..... Tick.... Wham ! Fish on ! This one was really staying down too, and just kind of wobbling around..... and I was thinking, Wow ! This feels like a pretty good kitty ! Come on 20 plus :-) It never made any long runs, but just basically hugged the bottom, while slowly circling the boat about 1 1/2 times. I think I had the fish hooked for a solid 5 to 7 minutes, when it finally surfaced, for one small, labored jump.... and wholly $#!+ ! It was a bass ! And a good one too ! It ended up going 11.1 lbs, and I just can't think of a more fitting ending, for a place that will always be a part of my strongest memories. I have decided not to go back in the next two weeks before Pablo closes, as I want to ensure that my last trip there (possibly ever) was a great one :-)

http://www.trophybassonly.com/c56ef7f0.jpg

Peace,
Fish