06-29-2008, 09:25 PM
Luck by my definition is: Extreme planning ....well executed!
On the 22 of June I took one of my friends and went to Yuba fishing for northerns. As fate would have it or as luck blessed us, we caught a 38 inch, 15 lb northern. The weight was determined by a IGFA Certified Boca Grip scale. Now there might be some of you that think this is no big deal, but it was a big deal to my friend that caught the Northern and it was a big deal to me.
A review of the Yuba posting showed that for some reason a lot of northerns and some big ones were showing up at Yuba. Fish up to 40 inches were being caught. I decided to rig specifically for them and spend 3 or 4 days after a big one instead of a Flaming Gorge trip that I had in the planning stage.
Friday morning, my brother-in-law and my self hooked on to the trailer and my boat and headed south. I launched the boat from west beach and was ready to fish when he showed up at 11:00am.
We began our pursuit directly east from the beach camping area,trolling close to shore working our way slowly towards painted rocks. Around 2:00 PM my brother-in-law, Glenn had a hit. It was obvious that it was a big fish that took his Rapala and pandamonium broke out in the little boat when the fish finally broke the surface. The northern was at least three feet long and in the 10 to 15 pound class. The first thing I noticed when the big fish came up was that there was no steel leaded attached to the lure. Just as I was about to voice my concern, the line parted and the northern dropped back into 6 feet of muddy water. Glenn was heart sick. I told him that the 15 pounder we caught the Sunday before was caught without a heavy leader but that was sheer luck, Little consolation. We fished until late friday evening with nothing to show for it but a bunch of perch.
Saturday was long hot and mostly uneventful. The reservoir was like a circus on water. Boats everywhere. There was not much chance of catching a fish with those conditions but we were determined to follow our game plan. We finished the day with only perch and 1 little 14 inch northern.
Sunday morning we set off early retracing our steps from friday. I was trolling a perch rapala count down on an outside flat line with a rebel lure in the prop wash. Glenn had 2 rapalas out on the starboard side of the 16 foot smokercraft. We were fishing in tight to the bank approaching the narrows when my outside line went off. The line was 20 lb braid with a 30 lb steel berkley leader.
The big 8.5 ft G Loomis bent in half as the rapala was stopped cold in the water by a fish. The cliker on the daiwa started to sing as the fish ripped line from the reel. I killed the motor and had Glenn clear the other rods to give me room to fight the fish.
Fifteen minutes and many long runs passed before the fish came to the surface 30 yards from the boat. His broad tail splashed with red looked a foot wide. He was the fish I had come after.
Finally he was wallering around near the boat. The net was undersized but I was confident we could get him in the net especially since the lure was deep in the fishes throat. As Glenn started the sweep of the net I lifted the fishes head up slightly and then quickly dropped it. The big northern swam in the net, at least the first 2 1/2 foot of him that would fit and then he was swung into the boat.
The fish was mine. The planning paid off. 40 inches long. Just over 20 pounds on unofficial scales. I put him in the live well and sat there looking at him in awe. The largest freshwater fish I have ever caught except silver and king salmon.
Now another search begins. This one for a taxidermist who will prepare the great fish for his final resting place......on my wall.
[inline "northern steve copy.jpg"]
[inline "sjh 20 lb northern.jpg"]
Tight lines
[signature]
On the 22 of June I took one of my friends and went to Yuba fishing for northerns. As fate would have it or as luck blessed us, we caught a 38 inch, 15 lb northern. The weight was determined by a IGFA Certified Boca Grip scale. Now there might be some of you that think this is no big deal, but it was a big deal to my friend that caught the Northern and it was a big deal to me.
A review of the Yuba posting showed that for some reason a lot of northerns and some big ones were showing up at Yuba. Fish up to 40 inches were being caught. I decided to rig specifically for them and spend 3 or 4 days after a big one instead of a Flaming Gorge trip that I had in the planning stage.
Friday morning, my brother-in-law and my self hooked on to the trailer and my boat and headed south. I launched the boat from west beach and was ready to fish when he showed up at 11:00am.
We began our pursuit directly east from the beach camping area,trolling close to shore working our way slowly towards painted rocks. Around 2:00 PM my brother-in-law, Glenn had a hit. It was obvious that it was a big fish that took his Rapala and pandamonium broke out in the little boat when the fish finally broke the surface. The northern was at least three feet long and in the 10 to 15 pound class. The first thing I noticed when the big fish came up was that there was no steel leaded attached to the lure. Just as I was about to voice my concern, the line parted and the northern dropped back into 6 feet of muddy water. Glenn was heart sick. I told him that the 15 pounder we caught the Sunday before was caught without a heavy leader but that was sheer luck, Little consolation. We fished until late friday evening with nothing to show for it but a bunch of perch.
Saturday was long hot and mostly uneventful. The reservoir was like a circus on water. Boats everywhere. There was not much chance of catching a fish with those conditions but we were determined to follow our game plan. We finished the day with only perch and 1 little 14 inch northern.
Sunday morning we set off early retracing our steps from friday. I was trolling a perch rapala count down on an outside flat line with a rebel lure in the prop wash. Glenn had 2 rapalas out on the starboard side of the 16 foot smokercraft. We were fishing in tight to the bank approaching the narrows when my outside line went off. The line was 20 lb braid with a 30 lb steel berkley leader.
The big 8.5 ft G Loomis bent in half as the rapala was stopped cold in the water by a fish. The cliker on the daiwa started to sing as the fish ripped line from the reel. I killed the motor and had Glenn clear the other rods to give me room to fight the fish.
Fifteen minutes and many long runs passed before the fish came to the surface 30 yards from the boat. His broad tail splashed with red looked a foot wide. He was the fish I had come after.
Finally he was wallering around near the boat. The net was undersized but I was confident we could get him in the net especially since the lure was deep in the fishes throat. As Glenn started the sweep of the net I lifted the fishes head up slightly and then quickly dropped it. The big northern swam in the net, at least the first 2 1/2 foot of him that would fit and then he was swung into the boat.
The fish was mine. The planning paid off. 40 inches long. Just over 20 pounds on unofficial scales. I put him in the live well and sat there looking at him in awe. The largest freshwater fish I have ever caught except silver and king salmon.
Now another search begins. This one for a taxidermist who will prepare the great fish for his final resting place......on my wall.
[inline "northern steve copy.jpg"]
[inline "sjh 20 lb northern.jpg"]
Tight lines
[signature]
]