Castaic Lagoon: 2.25 lb. Smallmouth 4.19.10
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 3:14 am
Got up to the Lagoon a little later than I had planned. Pulled into the parking lot around 10 AM and noticed that besides me and the lot attendant nobody else was there.
That is one of the really nice things about the Lagoon and Castaic in general. Sometimes it has the feeling of a private lake and there isn't a soul around except me.
Weather was very comfortable short sleeve made to order. Air temp was 77, water temp was 66. Warmest I've measured so far this year. Barometer was 30.88 and steady.
Water was moderately clear, level was still pretty high. Lots more being let in from the upper lake steadily now for weeks. Sky was clear and sunny, a fair breeze was blowing from the SW approx. 10-15 mph. but steady not gusting.
One other guy finally came around in a nice bassboat.
Started out with the smaller goodies on the DS. Fishing same set up that I got hit on last trip. No dice on those.
Switched over to one of my favorite rigs, Yamamoto Fat Boy Ika.
Fished weightless, T-rigged on 10 lb. Seaguar Fluorocarbon, 7 ft. medium hard action Bass ProShops Xtreme rod with Quantum Energy PT left hand crank baitcaster.
Cast this out as far as she would go into approx. 25 ft. water. Fished real slow, stop and go etc. Finally got a very crisp strike from this very nice 2.25 lb Smallmouth.
This is the first Smallmouth that I have caught in the Lagoon. It came on "VERY" strong and fought like crazy at first. I did think it was much bigger than it ended up to be and was not only surprised by the size but also very surprised by the intensity of the fight and that it was a Smallmouth.
One other interesting thing that I did notice about the way this fish fought was the fact that it put it's full energy on full tilt with no let ups until it was completely out of gas and then was done very fast. Completely exhausted itself in one constant run.
There were no stops for a rest and then second and third runs like the LMB usually do. It was running down and away for deeper water. No jumps or heads up tail dancing. Just one big effort to escape till all was lost.
Fish was released after photo op.
I had to leave early again to pick up my kids from school. When I left at around 2:30 weather was still perfect and I still had the whole south end of the Lagoon to myself.
Memorable day of fishing, unusual catch for me but pretty exciting even though the smallie was my only one today. Very nice time today indeed!!!!!!
That is one of the really nice things about the Lagoon and Castaic in general. Sometimes it has the feeling of a private lake and there isn't a soul around except me.
Weather was very comfortable short sleeve made to order. Air temp was 77, water temp was 66. Warmest I've measured so far this year. Barometer was 30.88 and steady.
Water was moderately clear, level was still pretty high. Lots more being let in from the upper lake steadily now for weeks. Sky was clear and sunny, a fair breeze was blowing from the SW approx. 10-15 mph. but steady not gusting.
One other guy finally came around in a nice bassboat.
Started out with the smaller goodies on the DS. Fishing same set up that I got hit on last trip. No dice on those.
Switched over to one of my favorite rigs, Yamamoto Fat Boy Ika.
Fished weightless, T-rigged on 10 lb. Seaguar Fluorocarbon, 7 ft. medium hard action Bass ProShops Xtreme rod with Quantum Energy PT left hand crank baitcaster.
Cast this out as far as she would go into approx. 25 ft. water. Fished real slow, stop and go etc. Finally got a very crisp strike from this very nice 2.25 lb Smallmouth.
This is the first Smallmouth that I have caught in the Lagoon. It came on "VERY" strong and fought like crazy at first. I did think it was much bigger than it ended up to be and was not only surprised by the size but also very surprised by the intensity of the fight and that it was a Smallmouth.
One other interesting thing that I did notice about the way this fish fought was the fact that it put it's full energy on full tilt with no let ups until it was completely out of gas and then was done very fast. Completely exhausted itself in one constant run.
There were no stops for a rest and then second and third runs like the LMB usually do. It was running down and away for deeper water. No jumps or heads up tail dancing. Just one big effort to escape till all was lost.
Fish was released after photo op.
I had to leave early again to pick up my kids from school. When I left at around 2:30 weather was still perfect and I still had the whole south end of the Lagoon to myself.
Memorable day of fishing, unusual catch for me but pretty exciting even though the smallie was my only one today. Very nice time today indeed!!!!!!