California Reginal Kayak Bass Fishing 10/15

As a follow up tournament for the state challenge, KBF held a set of regionals California was its own region. I was ready and this was, as an opportunity to extend my 2015 fishing season. The event was hosted by TournyX.  I put in two, five hours days on the water at Rancho Seco, looking to a few giant bass to see if I can boost my chances on qualifying for the National championship in 2016 on Kentucky Lake TN. On my first day I landed three fish.  My fish came on the S waver, and dropshot. My last fish was a little 12.75 and I almost did not photo graph it thinking that I would most surely will be upgrade that fish that day but no more bites. I finished the day with 42.75. 

 

 

 I waited until the new moon and it was also a few days after a few nights of frost. I was hopeful the bite would be good, and on my second cast, I set the hook and I could tell it was a good fish, I landed the fish shortly and my great day of fishing started, as I put it on the hawg trough it went 21.25. I continued to work a weed line as I made my way out to the main body of the lake. I was watching my graph and saw a nice arch suspended in 12 feet of water I quickly make a toss behind the boat, and as the boat costed pass the line and rod loaded up and I set the look it felt like another solid fish, it spun the boat around and pulled drag I began to back reel the fish until I could get the boat in the correct position.  As it came up I grabbed the net and landed my second fish on my seventh cast and another 20”+ fish this one went 20.5”.  Wow! I have never had over 40” for two fish, could this be the day to get to 60”? I continued fishing the same bait, as I was working my way out to some offshore structure. I hooked up on a small fish and as it jumped the hook came out.  Not the size of fish I was hoping for, I position the boat on top of a rise I casted it deep and let it sink down to about 18’ before I began the retrieve. With about 10 rotations of the reel, I was setting on another fish. This could be the one to get me to 60, I was thinking it was fighting much more than the other two, and it had the advantage he took me into the weeds. I could feel my line rubbing against them and I could not fell the fish fighting any longer. I used the rod, reel to get over the fish and as I gave just a little bit of slack hoping the fish would free its self. Nope no pull back, it must have gotten off and my hook must have stuck in the weeds. I put my hand on the spool and began lifting the rod, I expected the line to brake but as the rod bent over, it came free, I was pulling up a big pile of weeds from the bottom as it came up slow I would pump the rod and reel down. When the weed were just visible I saw just a little white from the fish is lower jaw. I kept moving the weeds and fish up to the edge of the boat and netted the whole mess as I pulled the weed free, I was almost in shock that the line did not break. I put this fish on the board and 20” on the dot.  I got to 60” for the first time ever and it was in a tournament. I continued fishing, and has three more fish two 17” and a 15”. I went home an culled all the fish on TourneyX and posted these three to take the lead in the tournament and eventually win, clinching a sport in the Kayak Bass Fishing 2016 National Championship.

California Kayak Bass Fishing State Challenge: September

California Kayak Bass Fishing State Challenge

Hook 1 and Kayak Bass Fishing started to run some remote tournaments using TournyX.  The first event that I signed up for was the CA KBS State Challenge Series.  It was open for California kayakers to fish any body of water in California.  California had the largest turnout with 37 anglers, it ran for a month starting on September 15 till October 15^th.   I was able to finish in 11^th place with my top three fish.  I fished three days all at Rancho Seco my big fish came my very first day. In 35’ of water on pumpkin with red flake wacky rigged senko. The others came on drop shot on spybaits. Of course I brought a first mate with me to help hold the fish down on the board.

 

 

College Kayak Bass fishing

I was fortunate enough that the College Kayak Fishing tournament directors alowed masters, and doctorate student Complete.  I am completing my Masters in Kinesiology through Fresno Pacific University. The only down side was that all event required a partner. That did not stop me, I paid the entry fee for the team and fished in two online events solo, just for the experience and one of the local tournament that eventually was canceled. The total results cumulative points would determine a National Champion.

My first event was the College Kayak Bass fishing April online event. It was open to any public water ways, I fished one day on the California Delta and was able to score four fish for 64” which was good enough for second place. Had a spinner bait and drop shot bite going I would wait in shallow tulle flats and target fish that were moving up to feed.

The second event was the College Kayak fishing national Championship for Bass. I was held as an online event that ran through the month of June.  I had 12 days on the water that month but I was not catching many quality fish at the beginning of the month and had to start taking pictures of 11-13” fish.  I knew I still had some time I called up the Angler or the Year (AOY) for Delta Kayak bass Series (DKBS) Bryan Buterbaugh A.K.A. HobieBlue. He was happy to take me out on the California Delta and show me some things, while we fish differently, I was able to watch and learn. I found a nice long point on high tide a caught a nice 17” fish on a buzz bait. One more13.5” on a senko. Now I was feeling a little less pressure.  It was June Friday the 25^th I had my son with me and we went out to Rancho Seco, I had been in a rut a Rancho Seco, a lot of small fish but today I hooked into something big and it began pulling me and the kayak all over the lake. It seemed like I had the fish on for about 10 minutes before I even saw the flash. As the fight continue I told me son we has a monster, in my mind the fight was coming to an end I got the net and as it was coming up I could see the white of its belly coming up from the deep with the mouth open and out of the water it jumps swings his head and out comes the hook.  Total let down but let but had a few days left to fish. I can remember posting on their Facebook page Wednesday night good luck all tight lines. I knew I was going to be on water for the last two day of the event but did not know what to expect but I went right to where I lost that fish the Friday before, my first cast on that spot let that bait sink as and as I engaged the spool the fish was already on and it was pulling hard. I was luck it went deep because I was on the light tackle, and fishing weeds. I fought it for only a few minutes and into the net it went, Catch, Photo, and release (CPR) and let the son hold him for a photo opportunity and only fish of the day.

 

Got home and posted the picture it was my new personal best from the kayak and having my son with me made it that much better 21.75”! Wow with one day left to fish I was so happy to land this one but deep down I knew I needed to find another 18” fish so last day of the tournament I get up early paddle out to the same sport the day before and begin casting, nothing I repositioned the kayak and continued to cast in the same location. As I am reeling the bait just stops in the water I set the hook and the line just peels off the spool and the drag is just creaming.  Hooked up and this fish is not happy about it, deep to airborne, running to the boat and then away from it. I have to put the paddle down and just hope I can land this fish once it get tired out.  Mean time my son is just happy as can be eating raisins and asking if it is a monster and I have to tell him “yes”.  As I finally tier out the fish and it comes to the boat and land it in the net, put her on the hog trough yep another 20+” fish 20.25”  These two fish catapult me to 3^rd  place for the Championship and with my accumulated point I finish 3^rd for Fresno Pacific University out of 18 other universities.

 

Lake Pardee Media Day

Had a good day on the water with my brother and my son. This is the big one 6.5 largemouth, had 5 fish total not to bad for post-cold front conditions. We had a little 20 minute rain shower go over about 10:45am but the sun came out and we kept on fishing. We got to meet some of the pro anglers form the BASS Elite series and see some other local pros as well. 

Western Kayak Bass Series event #2

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the first event, due to and emergency surgery; I'm ok and back to fishing.  This event was held on the California Delta out of Sugar Barge Marina.

The forecast was for bluebird skies and wind. The wind did not disappoint it was all of the 14mph.

As we launched me and two other kayakers went north into the wind. One stayed within the marina heading towards Rossos and a Hobby angler and my self went out into franks track.  By the time I got out to franks a short paddle that Hobby was out of site. I fished the tulle clumps and small channels within the tulle. My first fish came on a spinnerbait, undersized 11" knowing I was in a good casting position thanks to stakeout pole and anchor trolley.  I would fan cast the spinnerbait towards good ambush positions then I switched rods to drop shot. My first cast the line jumped within seconds of hitting the water, I reeled up the slack and set "fish on" no real fight from her she came to the boat fast and I lipped her fast 20". 

I continued this all morning moving the boat into new positions, but I stopped getting any hits on the spinnerbait do I went straight to drop shot I caught a 12" and 12.75" fish as I was hoping he would go the 13" but only with mouth open so back he went. Two cast later I felt a tic and a nice pull. Dropped the rod tip down and set the hook. This fish went airborne instantly, my next keeper I was thinking. The fish made three more jumps then under the boat I was able to keep it out of the tulles, as it came up got it in the net. 18" fish was my second keeper.

The wind has shifted and it was a struggle to position the boat I moved just a little further up in the tulles I got my second to last fish yes 13" on the noses.

I put the rods in holders and back to cover I paddled. It was a little dicey I had white capes and rollers on my way back to the marina. I was so glad to get behind the break wall, I picked up one more dink off a dock but I was undersized also made my way to the dock loaded up the boat sent in my pictures and I went home. I submit my three fish for 51" found out the next day I had won.

So looks like I'm in the TOC. 

Bass Fishing Family

Form the time I was born, I was on the water fishing, my brother was the same way. Today I am teaching my son how to fish. Fishing was something that my parents had a love for and I have the same passion for; I just wanted to share some of out experiences and give thanks to wonderful parents.

I love you and thank you Mom and Dad

From Addison, Ernie and Jack

Kayak Photo Shoot

I took some close-up photos of my kayak and made a short clip