Yet another damn irvine trout report - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ful-rac · 12-17-2012, 12:15 PM

Tough fishing today...was a bit rougher than it was last week, at least I perceived it to be. Started the day with cloudy dark skies, cool but not cold temperatures. I expected high pressure and traffic today with the christmas tournament and all but ended up with surprisingly, pretty light pressure. I had high hopes of good quick limit fishing but didn't get that at all. Peddled out right at dawn, and had my first hook up at 8:30....not a big one but an early bite, hopefully it was a sign of things to come....then it seemed like hour, after hour of endless trolling, switching lures....downrigger up...down....checking...rechecking lures. Finally a second bite...wham! the downrigger rod gets hit...! Hmm this one feels good! Here she is, it's decent! Ok reach for the net....one shake of it's head and it's off....crap! Ok...back to punishment...I picked one off here and there, every hour or every other hour from then on. Seemed like they prefered the downrigger this week. Out of 8 hookups I got during the day, 6 were on the downrigger. So I ended the day with limits of trout again...but it was a hell of alot of work, and my knees are killing me...again...

Since I don't have much experience running my own downrigger, last week while using it I had noticed a loud humming noise while running it, so loud that, the whole Pa would vibrate. Apparently this is normal, so not knowing if this is a good thing or a bad thing I replaced the downrigger cable with 135lb spectra. No more humming noise. There is still a tiny bit of vibration, but now it's hardly noticeable.

The lures that always get bit..for some reason didn't work for me this week, the owner mira shads, rapalas..little norman cranks....just could not buy a bite. I finally found a little magic lure in my tackle box that I never have luck with...the Thomas bouyant. This little sucker saved the day for me, landed 4 out of 5 fish I kept on this sucker, all on the lure that doesn't work....at least for me anyways...

I think I had my fill of trout for now...it's time to catch a toad halibut or something...

Deamon · 12-17-2012, 12:28 PM

Nose hook and send them back down on the rigger...use a stinger.

Amish Ed · 12-17-2012, 01:56 PM

Good job finding your limit. Funny how picky fish can get, then you find that perfect choice for the day... Had a day in Newport once, nothing got got bit all morning. Finally got around to throwing one of my lesser favorite colors and it was game on the rest of the day.

blitzburgh · 12-17-2012, 05:05 PM

Hard work paid off. Good job!

jorluivil · 12-17-2012, 06:10 PM

Tony, I'm beginning to think you're going the other way.

You won't fish saltwater with us anymore

StinkyMatt · 12-17-2012, 06:13 PM

Irvine surf launch = 2inches

Pacific ocean launch =bigger than 2 inches

Someone please que up the famous video......

Tony may be a little tender still.

ful-rac · 12-17-2012, 06:25 PM

Dont worry ladies plenty of me to go around! I'll be hangn up the trout gear for a week to go get that giant halibut with you guys....

wiredantz · 12-17-2012, 07:24 PM

LOL tender.... Tony you have to get ready for surf launches again!

I can even give you some good video of my landings!

roby · 12-17-2012, 08:38 PM

The last time Tony and I were at Irvine, he almost capsized at the launch.

Irvine kayak launch is NO JOKE....

Way to get 'em Tony....

12-17-2012, 12:15 PM	#1
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Yet another damn irvine trout report Tough fishing today...was a bit rougher than it was last week, at least I perceived it to be. Started the day with cloudy dark skies, cool but not cold temperatures. I expected high pressure and traffic today with the christmas tournament and all but ended up with surprisingly, pretty light pressure. I had high hopes of good quick limit fishing but didn't get that at all. Peddled out right at dawn, and had my first hook up at 8:30....not a big one but an early bite, hopefully it was a sign of things to come....then it seemed like hour, after hour of endless trolling, switching lures....downrigger up...down....checking...rechecking lures. Finally a second bite...wham! the downrigger rod gets hit...! Hmm this one feels good! Here she is, it's decent! Ok reach for the net....one shake of it's head and it's off....crap! Ok...back to punishment...I picked one off here and there, every hour or every other hour from then on. Seemed like they prefered the downrigger this week. Out of 8 hookups I got during the day, 6 were on the downrigger. So I ended the day with limits of trout again...but it was a hell of alot of work, and my knees are killing me...again... Since I don't have much experience running my own downrigger, last week while using it I had noticed a loud humming noise while running it, so loud that, the whole Pa would vibrate. Apparently this is normal, so not knowing if this is a good thing or a bad thing I replaced the downrigger cable with 135lb spectra. No more humming noise. There is still a tiny bit of vibration, but now it's hardly noticeable. The lures that always get bit..for some reason didn't work for me this week, the owner mira shads, rapalas..little norman cranks....just could not buy a bite. I finally found a little magic lure in my tackle box that I never have luck with...the Thomas bouyant. This little sucker saved the day for me, landed 4 out of 5 fish I kept on this sucker, all on the lure that doesn't work....at least for me anyways... I think I had my fill of trout for now...it's time to catch a toad halibut or something... __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

12-17-2012, 01:56 PM	#3
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,906	Good job finding your limit. Funny how picky fish can get, then you find that perfect choice for the day... Had a day in Newport once, nothing got got bit all morning. Finally got around to throwing one of my lesser favorite colors and it was game on the rest of the day. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

12-17-2012, 05:05 PM	#4
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Hard work paid off. Good job! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

12-17-2012, 06:10 PM	#5
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Tony, I'm beginning to think you're going the other way. You won't fish saltwater with us anymore __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

12-17-2012, 06:25 PM	#7
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Dont worry ladies plenty of me to go around! I'll be hangn up the trout gear for a week to go get that giant halibut with you guys.... __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

12-17-2012, 12:28 PM	#2
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Nose hook and send them back down on the rigger...use a stinger.

12-17-2012, 06:13 PM	#6
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Irvine surf launch = 2inches Pacific ocean launch =bigger than 2 inches Someone please que up the famous video...... Tony may be a little tender still.

12-17-2012, 07:24 PM	#8
wiredantz Currently @ MLO Territory Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Under the Shadow Posts: 2,290	LOL tender.... Tony you have to get ready for surf launches again! I can even give you some good video of my landings! __________________ Team: Disbanded You only have one chance in this life...make the right decision(s)...so you don't regret it

12-17-2012, 08:38 PM	#9
roby CEO of Team Roby Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 905	The last time Tony and I were at Irvine, he almost capsized at the launch. Irvine kayak launch is NO JOKE.... Way to get 'em Tony....