Lake Vail 5/9

[taggermike]

Been hearing good things about lake Vail out east Temecula. I could have picked a better day than right after a storm, but Saturday was my day available to fish so I made the drive up from SD. First off, its a beautiful place out in the hills with no development around. Second, its kinda of pricey imo. 20 to park, 10 to fish, and 20 to launch a kayak.

Fishing was pretty slow for me. Managed 6 bass on weightless jerk baits and drop shotted robo worms. Shad were thick in many places but the bass weren't on them. Birds were getting busy though. Early in the morn I saw a slay-fest right on the bank. Grebes and comorants had a huge shad school pinned against the bank and a mixed flock of herons and egrets were on the bank killing the shad from that side. Those shad were Between the Frying pan and the fire for sure.

There was a thin layer of algae right on the surface that made the lake look green but under it the water was clear, 6' feet of vis at least. The lakes not huge but there were only 3 boats, 3 yaks, and a float tuber on the water.

I got tired of trying to get the bass to bite so I pulled up next to a steep bank and soaked some mackerel chunks. Didn't take long for the whiskers to find me. Ended up with 2 channel cats at 6 and 8 lbs. I haven't caught cat fish in a looong time. What a blast, they fought amazingly hard. Even on my heavy flipping out fit they were ripping drag and towing the yak. The bass went back in the lake but the cats came home with me.

I'll head out there again, but on a better day. Mike