11-25-2013, 02:12 AM
When I arose at dawn it was cold, cloudy but with a promise of being a decent day so I loaded the boat and headed for Yuba in hopes of finding that elusive 30 pound pike I've lusted for.
It was cold (33 degrees), Foggy and storm clouds threatened when I arrived. The parking lot at the Oasis launch ramp held six boat trailers and there were anglers on the bank. Surface water temperatures were at 42 degrees and the reservoir was flat. Aside from the cold the morning looked promising.
As is my custom I was going to try a new tactic today. One rod would hold a treble hook embedded chub minnow fished on the bottom, while the second rod, an ultralight would cast spinners and small jerk baits. The ultralight rod with 2 pound mono had proved effective on earlier trips, but the dead bait on the bottom was an experiment. I rationalized that since a dead bait soaked below a bobber or on the bottom was the most effective method for pike on Redmond, it might also be productive on Yuba, but I am much to fidgety to sit in the cold and watch a rod. I have to be casting a lure, experiment or not.
Three hours passed and not only hadn't the sun made an appearance as predicted, it felt colder. The only warming event of the time passed were two pike, one a hammer handle and the other a decent fish caught on the little rod. The experiment was a failure and the day was a success.
In spite of the cold I enjoyed seeing several friends on the lake whom also had caught pike and as always, being on the water beats sitting at home wishing I was fishing. Fishing should remain fair to good for northerns until Ice over.
It was cold (33 degrees), Foggy and storm clouds threatened when I arrived. The parking lot at the Oasis launch ramp held six boat trailers and there were anglers on the bank. Surface water temperatures were at 42 degrees and the reservoir was flat. Aside from the cold the morning looked promising.
As is my custom I was going to try a new tactic today. One rod would hold a treble hook embedded chub minnow fished on the bottom, while the second rod, an ultralight would cast spinners and small jerk baits. The ultralight rod with 2 pound mono had proved effective on earlier trips, but the dead bait on the bottom was an experiment. I rationalized that since a dead bait soaked below a bobber or on the bottom was the most effective method for pike on Redmond, it might also be productive on Yuba, but I am much to fidgety to sit in the cold and watch a rod. I have to be casting a lure, experiment or not.
Three hours passed and not only hadn't the sun made an appearance as predicted, it felt colder. The only warming event of the time passed were two pike, one a hammer handle and the other a decent fish caught on the little rod. The experiment was a failure and the day was a success.
In spite of the cold I enjoyed seeing several friends on the lake whom also had caught pike and as always, being on the water beats sitting at home wishing I was fishing. Fishing should remain fair to good for northerns until Ice over.