Castiac Wednesday - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Fiskadoro · 10-15-2010, 10:12 PM

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

RedSledTeam · 10-16-2010, 07:16 AM

Beautiful boat, beautiful day, too bad no fish, but still way better than work! Thanks for sharing your experience. Tell us more about your yak. What is it?

Jzo · 10-16-2010, 09:59 AM

Thx for sharing, great pics.

Also very nice looking boat.

10-16-2010, 02:15 PM

Jim,

that place looks beautiful! And your wooden kayak,
classic!! What a day.

Does the lake only allow sit-inside kayaks?

LakersFan · 10-16-2010, 05:59 PM

Very nice pix and what a great looking fishing kayak! Yeah, I like that unloading cradle idea too.

Fiskadoro · 10-16-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSledTeam

Beautiful boat, beautiful day, too bad no fish, but still way better than work! Thanks for sharing your experience. Tell us more about your yak. What is it?

It's essentially my design and I made it myself before I even started kayaking.

It's my first kayak and actually the first one that I ever climbed into. Still love fishing the thing espcially when it's rough or windy.

Technical wise.. It's built out of Loyd certified Mahogany, essentially stitch and glue (West epoxy) though I used more tape then wire to form it.

I based it loosely on a CLC design the Cape Charles 18

It's a one of a kind boat though, with unique hull, built form scratch, so it's not kit boat. Essentially I made it exactly to fit me, and the fishing I was doing at the time, with a nonstandard hull. I built it more like a combination of displacement sailboat, Dory, and kayak technology.

The idea is it has a very sharp entry and exit.....

......with a deeper mid section for stability and speed in rough water.

Technically it's a wave piercing hull that cuts through chop while staying level. Most kayaks like the Cape Charles above ride over waves, and therefore loose inertia to the up and down motion of their bow and stern. Lost inertia means you have to work harder to keep the yak going. With my design the kayak stays more level do to less displacement at each end and that combined with a lower center of gravity (like a sailboat) allows it to travel faster then chop then a normal kayak.

That was kind of the idea form the beginning since I built it to fish Santa Monica Bay in the winter in rougher conditions.

Of coarse that low displacement in the bow and stern that's great for paddling in rougher seas, makes it a bitch to surf launch and land.
Everything is a trade off. So I use the wood Kayak mainly out of harbors, or in lakes on days when the forecast predicts wind or seas, and fish my plastic yaks in the surf.

So there you have it. I love my wood Kayak.

Jim

Fiskadoro · 10-16-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yani

Jim, that place looks beautiful! And your wooden kayak,
classic!! What a day.Does the lake only allow sit-inside kayaks?

They allow sit on tops. Yakrider was fishing there the next day in his hobie and actually caught some fish

Some lakes like DVL are sit in only but Castiac is cool, just no tubes in the main lake.

Jim

RedSledTeam · 10-16-2010, 06:27 PM

That was a great presentation of your fine craftsmanship! Thank you for sharing.

Fiskadoro · 10-16-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakersFan

Yeah, I like that unloading cradle idea too.

Saves my ass. That kayak is 18 feet long and the hull is lightly glassed so it's pretty heavy, but I really built it just to keep from scratching that kayak up.

It does come in handy though as it's easy to tilt the kayak up and once secured to the cradle it's a no worry way to transport the kayak.

I'm building an even bigger kayak for open ocean fishing, when it's done I think I may motorize that cradle so it will go up and down at a push of a button.

Call me lazy but I'd rather put my energy into paddling then fighting to get the yak on top of the truck at the end of a long day

Jim

Jzo · 10-16-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Day

It's essentially my design and I made it myself before I even started kayaking.

Jim

Awesome!

StinkyMatt · 10-17-2010, 07:29 PM

Great post Jim, That is a beautiful classy looking kayak. And the best thing is all the fresh water ain't coroding your gear up if you are tired/ lazy and don't wash it off right after your trip.

IntrntFshrman · 10-17-2010, 07:44 PM

Jim thanks for taking the time to show all the pics/details. This is what makes BWE and our community so awesome!

Fiskadoro · 10-17-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StinkyMatt

... the best thing is all the fresh water ain't coroding your gear up if you are tired/ lazy and don't wash it off right after your trip.

I hear that!!!

The best thing is when a fish splashes you in the face at yakside it doesn't even sting your eyes

I got nailed good a while back and I was like: Hey!!! Cool!!! I could get used to this

Jim

10-15-2010, 10:12 PM	#1
Fiskadoro ....... Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,509	Castiac Wednesday 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

10-16-2010, 06:27 PM	#8
RedSledTeam Daddeo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OC Posts: 660	awesome! That was a great presentation of your fine craftsmanship! Thank you for sharing.

10-16-2010, 07:16 AM	#2
RedSledTeam Daddeo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OC Posts: 660	Beautiful boat, beautiful day, too bad no fish, but still way better than work! Thanks for sharing your experience. Tell us more about your yak. What is it?

10-16-2010, 09:59 AM	#3
Jzo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 344	Thx for sharing, great pics. Also very nice looking boat.

10-16-2010, 02:15 PM	#4
yani Guest Posts: n/a	Jim, that place looks beautiful! And your wooden kayak, classic!! What a day. Does the lake only allow sit-inside kayaks?

10-16-2010, 05:59 PM	#5
LakersFan Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 92	Very nice pix and what a great looking fishing kayak! Yeah, I like that unloading cradle idea too.

10-17-2010, 07:29 PM	#11
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Great post Jim, That is a beautiful classy looking kayak. And the best thing is all the fresh water ain't coroding your gear up if you are tired/ lazy and don't wash it off right after your trip.

10-17-2010, 07:44 PM	#12
IntrntFshrman Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Posts: 82	Jim thanks for taking the time to show all the pics/details. This is what makes BWE and our community so awesome!