Hit Union Point from the bank for about an hour this morning before work. I got there around 5:45a and started pitching plastics to holes in the grass along the riprap. The water is pretty much stained, so I was just targeting the light spots. Hit a solid 2.5 right of the bat. Continued down about 20 yards and hit a 3.5 when I made a pitch back towards my starting point. For some reason I decide to continue down the bank to the pumphouse thing and did so without getting bit. I fished the pumphouse for about 30 minutes and decided to head back and make a few more pitches where I had picked up the earlier fish. First pitch to the bamboo...THUNK...SWING...Fish On!! Then this fish realizes its been hooked and takes off. Keep in mind that I am 10' or so above the waters edge trying to chase this fish down a riprap bank without breaking an ankle.:) Long story short, I land the fish, its a good one, and I don't have my camera or scale. Now, I am not sure about the ethics involved with this, but I wanted to document the catch. So, I called my wife and told her to get the camera and scale, I tied the fish off in the water with some nylon cord and went to work. Four hours later my wife met me on the water and I retrieved the fish in excellent condition. My wife took some pics I weighed the fish and let her go. The fish went 8.5 lbs on a digital scale. Its not often that I am able to pull 14+lbs from the bank in about an hour. I still can't believe I left that bite for work!!



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Here fishy, fishy, fishy......

Clay

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GREAT JOB MAN!

What did you get them on? Senko's? Brush Hogs? Tubes?

That fish looked HEALTHY!

Congrats again!

"ROD"

Thanks Rod! I really hate to do this, but I promised the guy that turned me on to the bait, that I would keep a tight lip on it. But I will say that is was a crawworm type plastic, rigged on a 3/0 EWG Gammie and a 1/8th UNPEGGED bullet. I was pitching it to light spots in the grass on 15lb Yozuri. The most important thing seems to be keeping it on the bottom. No hopping, shaking, or swimming. Slowly drag it on the bottom. When you feel the bait come ove a weed clump let it fall straight back down and sit for a second(or 20) before moving it. I am half convinced that some of these light spots are beds. I was there at low tide and these spots still had 1.5-2 feet of water on them. If you are in the area here feel free to hit me up and I'll show you what's been working. That is if this weather doesn't screw it all up.

Here fishy, fishy, fishy......

Clay

COOL MAN!

Hey, I know about secrets! I club fish, and sometimes I'm TOO generous with the info, if you know what I mean.

KEEP that bait to YOURSELF! HA HA!

I live in So CA, so I don't get to the Delta much, but was there last May and it was a blast!

If you ever get down my way, don't hesitate to look me up!

Keep Stickin' and CPR'n

"ROD"

NICE FISH!

Dont take women fishing more like it! haha. Took my girlfriend catfishing and she ended up dropping a 50+ pound stringer overboard!
Congrats on your fish, that things a hawg!

Bryan

Hey Rod,

That's what I really love about fishing with a club. For the most part there are no secrets. There are exceptions, but for the most part, the seasoned sticks in the club really go out of there way to educate us lesser sticks. The guys I fish with would give you their last "hot" bait, break down the presentation, and even tell you where to throw exactly. Believe me, if it was my pattern to share, I would. (or would I ?!?!) We had a pretty good system move through yesterday and dropped the temp quite abit. I'm gonna head out there in a few to see whats crackin.

Here fishy, fishy, fishy......

Clay

Clay,

Ok... I'll lax on this bait after Sun 5/4/03 as I'm fishing the Delta Federation. Seeing as the number of fish we caught with our last trip and you recent outing at Union Point I don't want to see 20 other guys fishing this thing without doing their homework. :D After that time I'll let you decide if you want to share the info with everyone else.

I'm surprised that you were still fishing it with the 1/8 oz weight. Did you find that they were picking the bait up on the fall or when you were dragging along the bottom? When we went out I was using a 1/4oz weight to get a better feel for the bottom.

Maybe I should have said that you can use this bait just as long as you're not fishing against me in a tournament! Ha!

Good job buddy, tight lines.

Vince Borrego
vince@theblankslate.com

After your Fed Tourney, please clue me in to the "Secret"
I'm in So Ca, and won't be anywhere near the Delta for another year or So.

Very Best of Luck @ the Tourney. Do me one more favor, WIN!

Stay tight!

"ROD"

Ok, I'll post a report after the tournament with the info. Just don't tell Rich Caro... sounds like he's on fish and I need the extra advantage! Har!

Vince Borrego
vince@theblankslate.com

Hey Vince,

I just couldn't get bit on the 1/4 oz. I did throw it first. Maybe it was stirring up the bottom too much. I have no idea, but the big fish ate it on the fall and the other two bit as I was dragging tha bait on the bottom. Good luck out there on the 4th and let me know how you did.

BTW I hit Union Point the following day after the storm and found nothing but guarding males. Little ones too! Just FYI...

Here fishy, fishy, fishy......

Clay

Thanks for the info. I'll try it both ways seeing as how the larger fish hit it on the fall which might be the key for picking the female off of the nest. During the last rain storm the water temp has been dropping so the larger fish not locked on the bed most likely have moved off onto a little deeper water (back to the staging areas). From shore it's pretty hard to get the fish when they move out away from the beds because you have to make longer casts and cover more water. Unless the boater I'm teamed with has some water that far south, I doubt I'm going to make it to Union Point on Sunday's tournament so I'm going to apply the approach to new water during the tournament.

I also figured out what the problem was with my boat. Looks like there was a small piece of wood that clogged the exit hole for the water pump. I was able to remove it using a small drill bit while flushing the engine with a garden hose while in idle. Looks like that saved me a couple hundred bucks sending it to the mechanic.

Anyway I'll talk to you later.

Vince Borrego
vince@theblankslate.com