I did another after work shorebound trip to Lopez today. I started out under the bridge and got a small thump on a spinnerbait, but that was it back there. I made my way over to whittenburg for the last 45 minutes and continued to get a few more bites on the spinnerbait, but nothing that held on. I'm gonna try a trailer hook next time. After getting frustrated with the blades, I grabbed my senko rod and started throwing those. Five minutes later I was hooked in to a nice one. I got her landed took a few pics and continued fishing for the last 20 min of light for nothing. The fish I caught didn't get weighed because I forgot my scale DOH! So you guys are gonna have to guess the weight. Keep in mind that she was full of eggs and her stomach looked like it was going to pop. Here she is.

http://www.calfishing.com/dcforum/User_files/3c8ed097736273ca.jpg

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)

Nice fish dude! Hey, about senkoing lopez, what you are throwing at, because for the most part, there isnt much standing timber and other what not that i know of atleast. I know the Wittenburg arm, but what kinda structure are you throwing at. I flip a lot of senkos, but guess i don't consider throwing them in open water too often. Please lemme know where you are fishing, and if you would rather email me, im at boatless4now@cs.com. Thanks, and that fish looks like what 4? Maybe we can go float tubing there soon, you sure have been putting a nice hurt on them, and ive heard a lot of other great reports from friends.

Joel

That fish is a pure chunk ball right there. I love those :-) Phil buddy, pretty soon you are going to get the camera and the scale working on the same trip and then you are going to be dangerous! Har, just hassling you.... nice report.

-Rob

Joel,
Back there in wittenburg arm there are quite a few exposed stickups right now. When I tube, I go straight across from the shore and there's enough stickups to keep a guy busy all day. When i'm on the shore i'm basically just blind casting in open water. I've been fishing that rocky shoreline for awhile and I have a pretty good idea of where the submerged cover is, but I think there are alot of fish that just relate to the rocks too. And Rob, Pete has a digital scale on order for me, so look out for some better reports with accurate weights, but that was kinda funny, I got a chuckle :-)

I'm jealous of you getting out there during the week!!! ;) What you need now is to go with me so I can get some pictures with you in the frame, not just your hand! What color and blade setup do you like to use on your spinnerbaits this time of year at Lopez. I'm pretty new at this and have never been able to get any fish on spinner baits. I think that I just need to stick with them more!
Ken

Ken- I have fished Lopez a lot. I prefer a big (3/4) VPR blade in chart/white. For the Senkos, they work just as well on rock as they do on wood.
Bill

Thanks for the advice, Bill.
I have some chart/white spinners but not the VPR, I'll try to pick some up. Does Pete carry them at Wilderness Outfitters? Do you use a trailer or a trailer hook? I've been told that what I should do is throw just spinner baits for a whole day(or two) and not bring anything else so that I'll build confidence in them. I'll chuck them for a few casts and with no luck I go back to Senkos, worms and Flukes. I'd also like to get into the crankbaits.
Ken

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!

about 8 lbs 5 ozs

Phil,
Another great fish for you from Lopez! Those are the kind of fish the lake is noted for, big and healthy with lots of fat. Which Senko are you throwing one of the big ones or the 5"? You don't have to give up any secrets if you don't want to. Have you fished the Senko in S. Marg lately? That was a really good bite this time last year but I haven't heard of a lot of fish being caught on it yet this year. Great job on another good one.

Pete,
I was throwing a 5" in motoroil. I haven't devoted alot of time to the 6" senkos, but I bet they would do good too. I just need to build some confidence in them. As for Santa Margarita, I haven't been up there in several weeks and I didn't throw senkos at all.
Ken,
I don't know if the spinnerbaits I use are the best ones for Lopez or not. My favorite is a 3/8oz strike king with a white skirt, silver willowleaf and smaller gold colorado blade. It's really nothing special, but it's produced when others haven't. From my experience, if the water is stained, like it was yesterday, then a chartreuse skirt and gold colorado blade usually works better.