Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

I participated in the Anglers Press NTAC (NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge) - Trout Tournament at Collins Lake in Browns Valley this past Saturday. Arrived after about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Livermore, CA. It was windy at some spots on the way there, but at the lake it wasn't too bad, yet :-)
After getting registered, I launched my kayak from the boat marina near Elmer's Cove. I trolled some dark colored Kwikfish and Spinners. It was overcast and it seemed like it was getting darker. After my first lap in the cove, i caught and released a 16" Spotted Bass. It hit my Kwikfish pretty hard! I was hoping it was a trout since it was a trout tournament! LOL! Anyways, After trolling around for a few more hours and getting hits but no hookups, I tried trolling some Berkley Gulp Worms behind a flasher. I had a lot more hits but no hookups. It might have something to do with the Death Hooks I use to make the worm spin. I was bummed. I did managed to hook a 1.1lb Rainbow though! I wished I would have hooked up more on the other hits. They were hitting that worm HARD! It was raining off and on all morning and the wind was gusting up pretty good creating whitecaps. I must have trolled around 8 miles that morning. I quit around 1pm. Great exercise while fishing. You can't beat that. :-)

After I weighed in my 1.1 lb trout, I bought $10 worth of Raffle Tickets for fishing gear and gave them to a little girl who was holding 3 of her own raffle tickets. I said, "Good Luck!" as I left the scene.
Until next time!!!

16" Spotted Bass


1.1lb Rainbow Trout


Rough Waters on the way in :-)

Bassmatter Loc: Rohnert Park Ca.

Well atleast you caught a couple! Better then a skunk! I no you wanted that big trout! You’ll get em next time, I have no doubt about that! Your a great Angler, just a matter of time!!! Good luck and be safe out on that
Kayak!!

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

I feel your pain Ed, but at least you caught one of the target species. That's better than I did, we had some nonforcasted wind out here too. Nice Job on the raffle tickets. Thanks for the pictures.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Good report brother. However, doesn't look like a lot of fun to me with all that wind and waves. But I hate fishin in the wind.
Glad you caught at least 1 trout to enter in the tourney.
Both nice lookin fish, congrats brother.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I see. Good for you. Thanks for the photos.

Slvrsur

You are a die hard man! 8 miles, great exercise though the hook-ups for trout were not that great. Question, toying with a kayak for fishing. Do you recommend a pedal kayak with rudder over a standard kayak? Any great advice is appreciated.

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

It really depends on what type of fishing you plan on doing. If you will be bass fishing and going from spot to spot, a paddle kayak should work fine. I do a lot of trolling, especially when I am going to fishing spots and for different species, like trout and salmon. Having peddles with a rudder is a blessing. You really can't beat hands free kayak fishing. It also helps on windy days having peddles and a rudder.
I would definitely try one so you can see the difference for yourself.

michael4now Loc: wilder id

Mooseman65 Loc: Seattle

Don’t know what a death hook is. But I get more hookups when I take off the treble hook and put on a J hook. Sometimes shortening the length of the worm helps too. Good luck

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

Thanks Mooseman. A death hook has a bend on the shank so when you troll a worm on it, it spins or wobbles :-)

Mooseman65 Loc: Seattle

Thanks for the pic. Never used before. I have pulled worms before tho with great success. So maybe just smarter fish 😆😆😆😆. Well good luck my friend and enjoy the water

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

I always enjoy the water :-) Thanks Mooseman. Catching fish is just a bonus :-)

Mooseman65 Loc: Seattle

😁👍🎣

Slvrsur

Thank you, your info helps a lot. I fish mainly trout and starting to fish for bass more too. Looking for a great kayak where I won't find myself trading up for few years, so trying to choose wisely.

Thanks again, happy fishin!

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

Yeah, I was mainly a trout angler from shore then I got a float tube. My first kayak was a paddle kayak and I would troll and fish lakes. When I first saw an advertisement on the Hobie kayaks, I knew I had to have one of them. After a couple of years of fishing from my paddle kayak, I got a Hobie Revolution with Mirage Drive (2009) and I still have it, plus 2 more newer ones :-)