LOST: Ex$pen$ive fish
LOCATION: Lake Nacimiento, right below the lodges
DATE: Saturday, 2/28
DESCRIPTION: Spotted bass, 2+lbs, culling clip hole in lower jaw

First, congrats to Mitch for finding those bigger fish.

Now the sob story...I actually had the winning fish in the net, in my kayak, in my hand, and was snapping the culling clip closed on its mouth when it wriggled off the hook, hit the side of the kayak, and splashed back into the lake. x(DOH!

Day 1:
Went towards the dam, didn't find fish on traditional stuff (points, rocks, etc.) so I started fishing the stuff that most people usually go right past (flat, sandy-beach type stuff). Picked up 3 on pumpkin/chart spider jig before the fog burned off. Then I had a long dry spell as I worked my way over towards the lodges. I worked the banks along there with a carolina-rig 4" pumpkin/chart lizard, but could only pick up one keeper. Then I lost the afore-mentioned fish on a 1/8oz darthead with 4" morning dawn/chart tail worm.;( One fish was short so I only weighed 4 for 5lb, 10oz.

Day 2:
Worked my way towards the dam on the far side from the marina, did not even have a bite until 9:00. Hit a great spot and had my limit by 9:15, all on the spider jig. Crossed back over to the marina side and culled a couple of squeakers. Found a steep bank with some christmas trees and small broken rock, looked very fishy to me so I picked up my money bait (darthead) and cast out. Shook it a couple times and fish on! Turned out to be #2.1, tied for 2nd day big fish with Mitch. Day 2 weight was 7lb, 1oz, for a total of 12lb, 11oz, good for 2nd place.

The weather was beautiful (after the fog burned off), almost shorts & t-shirt weather. I had a great time!

the godfather