Castiac Wednesday

[Fiskadoro]

Short version: Fished Castiac for slow fishing in the West arm, saw a few boils early and had a few strikes but never got it to go, and did not see any fish caught. It was happening the day before and after just hit the wrong day. Had a good time though, beautiful day, little hot but great for October fishing.

Long version:

Took the wood kayak up to Castiac to fish some stripes and try out the new meter.

Got there a few minutes after it opened, and when I pulled up to the gate the "West Ramp Closed" sign was out. Since I wanted to fish the west side I pulled up anyway and asked if it was actually closed. The girl said it was open and to head on "up the Mountain" so I payed and headed on up..

Only two other cars there no boats just a few shore guys fishing the ramp.





Took a few casts myself off the dock and then unloaded the Kayak.



Still loving my loader for this yak, she's pretty but seems heavier all the time...


Launched and then headed down into the PWC area where I saw a few boils that looked like stripers. It's always weird kayaking in there because about every four trips one of the lifeguards throws me out. Seems they do not buy my a kayak is a PWC argument. Found bunch of fish and bait piled up on a bar but could not get them to go. When drifting around I like to dead stick a trout swimbait usually a BBZ1. It's not the right time for it but I figured what the hell and put one out while I threw my pencils and spooks.

After about an hour of working the same basic area I had a large fish boil up on the BBZ and it smashed the hell out of it. Saw the fish, I'd say generous DD stipe but it did not hookup, or comeback when I twitched the BBZ for it. After that the wind came up pretty good from the ENE so I decided to paddle across to get in the lee of the east side of the ski arm.

Since I had the strike on the BBZ I decided to put out a Hud R16 along with a chrome Rat Trap for the troll. Got to the other side found some fish and when I went to reel up the Hud saw a follower on the meter. Stopped the Hud let it sit then reeled fast and the fish closed in and Wham!!! I',m thinking this is it, but he did not take it deep enough and I missed him.

Worked up the arm in the lee and ran into some guys fishing bait above Kong Island.


They said they had fish but only schoolies. I told them I had some hits on trout and they gave me a weird look. Can't blame them I mean it is the wrong time of year, but I'm like "Hey" whatever the F works..

Found fish on half a dozen places but no go. Threw maybe a dozen baits at them. I'd slow troll from school to school then drop swimbaits megas traps and hops on them, but no buddy was all that interested.. Most of the fish suspended and not moving, they were hanging about twenty feet down off structure. Saw some really nice marks like I always seem to do at Castiac but nothing.

Only bite I got was another fish on the Hud up by the buoy line.
.

Once again a fluke. I'd stopped to take that pic, and the Hud settled down then when I reeled it up to check for moss ( lakes full of green stuff) a follower came up behind it, right off the bottom, on the meter and then finally hit it when it was still about twenty feet down. Smashed it hard but didn't hang. Love those Huds because they get bit but it is hard to hook fish on that eight inches of rubber trout, even with a BB rig. You just got to get one that eats it head first.

By now it was hot as hell, and it felt 95 or better. The wind died which only made it hotter, then finally swung to the SW but it was barely blowing as I worked back down the west side in the lee looking for shade. I hate fishing east winds, as I kid I learned the old "Wind from the east, fishing the least" "wind from the west fishing the best" crap and it's stuck for better of worse. So I'm thinking it might be looking up, with the SW but now I can't find any fish.

Nothing to speak of on the meter except for a couple of spots, mostly looked like bait down deep.



I took of my T-shirt and soaked it in water a few times then put it back on to cool off, and generally took it easy. Glassy calm, nice to get in the shade as the sun started down.



Stopped a few places to throw poppers tight to the shore, and man it drops off fast in places.



Ten feet of shore with a 6 to 1 drop. Like the new Garmin, very bright and sharp screen, but I'm still dialing it in.

Worked down the line and saw two boils, single fish, put a spook right on one but nothing doing.

Started to get late so I decided to pick up the pace, and headed back towards the ramp... still beautiful conditions.



Went back down to the PWC area and made a few drifts over the areas that had fish on them in the morning but they'd moved on.

Finally gave it up about 5:30..


Well sort off

Actually just put the yak on the truck and then went down by the dam and threw pugs off the shore till closing. I hate being rushed when pulling my yak out of there is they will ticket you for staying late.

Speaking of tickets I almost got one. While I was loading up a life guard boat crossed the lake, and two twenty sum-thins came up to F with me in their fancy Baywatch shorts.

""West Ramp Closed" you are in clear violation they said." I told them That "Hey... The chick at the kiosk said it was not only open but gave me directions."

Fortunately I had all my paperwork so the let me go, but I got a warning which means I can't get away with it next time. Damn bureaucrats and their stupid rules. Like it matters which side I launch my kayak on anyway.

So there you have it a long kind of leisurely day with no fish for me. Skunk never smelled so sweet though, as I had a decent time anyway.

Jim