woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

There you go...
And I was leaning towards the new fishing friends direction.

One of the things I picked up from some of the guys here is that as I was trying some really productive lures I was trolling them about 1/2 a mph slower than their recommended zone...and I haven't had a chance to get out there and notch it up.

I told my friend he'll spend $300 to fish with a guide, and fish for eight hours not catching anything if they aren't biting, and then we hammer eight stripers towards the end of the day doing the same exact thing. But I don't hear him whining about wanting to do something else like he does with me.

I like your my boat my way strategy...

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

I've been looking at hooking up with a couple of guys that are dialed into the given lake, we can use my boat, and I will turn over the control of how we do things like they are the guide.

Once you see what's working it puts you in a zone where you can try the various lure options that can work in different conditions.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Hey, I've owned a boat for a long time and I've fished with Brad for several years too.
When we're in Brads boat we fish however he wants. When I'm in my boat we fish however I want to fish.
You can use anything you want to use but we're fishin where I want to fish and at the speed I want to go according to what I'm using. Good luck to ya is all I'll say.
If you don't want to fish with me, that's OK. I've got plenty of people that want to fish with me.
AND, if no one is available when I want to go, I have NO qualms about fishin by myself. Sometimes, I would prefer it.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I think that's a great idea. Nothin wrong with learnin from somebody that knows that particular body of water and knows what works for catchin fish there.
Once you learn, you can go back there anytime and repeat it any time.

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

I’m nowhere near being a guide my friend, but I have fished Lake Berryessa for nearly 40 years. It’s my go to lake for trout and salmon fishing. I’ve tried many techniques over the years. Back in the day( prior to the federal government taking over the lake, which closed down a lot of the private businesses on the lake)Research it. I was able to buy live minnows, can’t now because 90 percent of the resorts could not comply with the bureau of lands management regulations And are now out of business. I understand their reasoning. Private property owners restricted access to federally owned property which we are all were entitled to access. Completely changed my approach to fishing the lake for trout.
Had to adapt.can’t tell you how much drifting live minnows made for great results!

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Hey buddy. I believe I'll pass this time. Y'all will have a pretty full boat with 3 people fishin.
We just got back here in Windsor and I need some time around here just to unwind.
Hope the weather and the fish cooperate. Please let me know how y'all do.
Still lookin forward to April and hope I'll be able to join y'all for at least a couple of days then.

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

sounds good my friend. Not sure what Thursdays trip will bring. Could be tough with this weather. Will let you know how we do.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Thanks man, good luck.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Pardon my long technical ramble on the first page. I read your post pretty well but did not catch the concept of what you were really driving at! I was thinking you were seeking some alternate ideas to try when everything else was failing.

It sounded like you already had plenty of well rounded plans of execution, so I do have to admit that I missed your point!

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

As people are saying, no worries...I read it back and realized I had not made the point I was really getting at, that I had rambled around across a wide unfocused number of things. You actually helped me focus on the point...which had to do with the fact that there are little details to work within different strategies, and it's best to persist and refine the details rather than give up and jump around to different things.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

Wood... you are making a valid observation. I can think back on a couple of friends, even one son, where the first couple of trips we were in conflict over how to fish. Today, that son is the person I fish with the most. We often talk about how well we fish together now. So maybe it takes a little time to develop but, I agree with Saw... you are the Captain!

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Thanks Steve for the vote of confidence.
The way I look at it is that the objective of a fishin outing is to catch fish.
Granted, it's nice to just get out and enjoy someone's company sometimes. However, you can't tell me that the main reason anybody goes fishin is to try to catch fish.
Otherwise you could just go for a nice country drive with your buddy, stop someplace for a nice lunch and have a beer with them at the end of the day. You might even save money doin just that.
So if the main reason is to catch fish then it only stands to reason that you should use the proper lures/bait and present it in the most effective way that might produce the best results. IE, catchin fish.
That said, if you take someone out fishin and you are catchin fish, MOST of them will start usin and doin exactly what you are doin so THEY can catch fish.
If they don't and they keep usin their own lures and tactics and remain fishless then they are either

stubborn
not a very serious fisherman
not very smart, or
just plain STUPID.

And I hate STUPID people.
I don't have time to mess with them.
Therefore, I don't really want them as a fishin partner to begin with.
Now that's not sayin I might not still want to be friends with some of them. They might really be great guys, BUT not fishin partners. Just Sayin.

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

Hey Steve. We are still heading to Berryessa tomorrow. Weather report says that there’s no rain in the forecast, should be clear with light wind. Being that we will basically be fishing the same water and structure I’m gonna concentrate on the crappie while George and Steve work for the bass. What ever works we will concentrate on. Even if it turns out to be just a nice boat ride, it will still be a great day fishing with my two buddies!

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

That sounds great. Keep me posted how y'all are doin.
Good luck to y'all.

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

Hopefully will have some nice pics 👍👍👍