Fishing Report: “Labor Day Bass”
Location: Rancho Carlsbad Golf Club (legal to fish)
Date: 9/4/16 7:00PM, 9/5/16, 7:00AM
Weather: 80 degrees, overcast
Water: very clear
(everything released)
Mike reporting…
I wanted to try out some gear in a spot where I knew I could capture fish so I could work on technique, try different attractants, experiment with different retrieve speeds, and get some of it on film.
I used only Jackall Lures topped with Liquid Mayhem scent. First I went with the Giron (Orange Belly Bluegill) and landed a nice fish on my fourth cast. It was getting late so after a few more fish on the Giron, I switched to Pompadour Jr. (Bloody Core) and immediately captured one bass. On the next cast, I got hit again, but lost the lure because of (1) light line, (2) poor knot connection. With a few minutes left of daylight, I switched to Iobee Frog (Black) and managed a few more. Everything was slathered with Liquid Mayhem (Garlic Crawfish). I captured about seven bass in 30 minutes.
The next morning, I wanted to film battling a fish underwater, so I rigged up the Water Wolf to an Owner Hook 1/0 Twistlock Light that held a Jackall Lures Flick Shake Worm (5.8” Watermelon Pepper). It took some time to land a fish because the splash from the camera was dramatic and the weight of the camera changed the action of the worm, but I finally got one on film!
I finished the day with an Owner Hook 1/0 Weedless Wacky Hook holding a Flick Shake Worm (4.8” Watermelon Pepper) and got a lot of strikes, but landed very few.
For the first time, I got a hook deep into my finger. I had to do some Rambo, on-the-field surgery, but I survived!
*** The Formula 1 ***
Real: Fish Shimano Casitas 150HG
Rod: Fish Shimano Zodias 7’6” MH
Main Line: 30# Power Pro Maxcuatro
Leader: 3’ of 15# Seaguar Fluorocarbon Red Label (attached with Albright Special knot)
Lure: Jackall Lures Giron (Orange Belly Bluegill)
Attractant: Liquid Mayhem Garlic Crawfish
Technique: Medium retrieve
*** The Formula 2 ***
Real: Fish Shimano Stradic CI4 1000
Rod: Fish Shimano Zodias 7’ ML
Main Line: 10# Power Pro Maxcuatro
Leader: 3’ of 6# Seaguar Fluorocarbon Red Label (attached with Albright Special knot)
Lure: Jackall Lures Flick Shake Worm (5.8” Watermelon Pepper)
Attractant: Liquid Mayhem Garlic Crawfish
Technique: Slow sink, twitch, slow sink, repeat
*** Lessons Learned ***
(1) I got bit like crazy on the wacky rig, but only landed about 10% of the fish! I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. I think fishing wacky from the shore means a different type of hook set verses fishing from a boat. I need to experiment.
(2) If you tied your knot in a hurry, and you’re not quite sure if it’s good, STOP, and START OVER; trust your gut. This is easier said than done.
(everything released)
