Hey guys thought I'd share b/c I always enjoy reading your reports.
Season finally opened. I was out on a sunny day. Fishing bays, towards the back end (shallow end). Water was crystal clear. Water temp was 67-70. After a couple smaller guys (2-3lbers) in the pads I backed off and caught a couple 5 lbers (big fish up north!) off a submerged rockpile in 6' water and a stand alone log in 6' water before 9:30am. Caught a few more 2-3 lbers in different sets of pads bringing me to lunch.
Wind picked up in the afternoon and started blowing onto one side of the bank laced with pads, I fished along that bank and picked a 5 lber off a laydown with pads around it and a bit deeper water pocket. I picked up a 4.5 lber from about 6" of water in the pads.
Everyone of the big fish came from the same rig: 7'0" MH Daiwa Procyon, Shimano Citica, 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid, 1/8oz sinker, owner off-set worm hook, 8" lizard and one fish on a zoom speed worm. The rest of the fish came from a typical frog/braid set-up. One or 2 little guys on a crank bait set up. Nothing on my jig rod (I didn't fish it much as the super clear water forced me to downsize to the worm/lizard setup described above).
I wanted to comment on the fact that everyone talks about yo-zuri being a great line on baitcasting gear. I must admit I was extremely happy with it compared to all other mono/FC lines. For the price I can forget about expensive FC lines and it responded so much better in sensitivity and stretch (lack there of) compared to mono. Casts great. I tend to hammer my hooksets on a fairly stiff MH rod and I had 0 breakoffs or knot failures with 12# (san diego jam) where I manage to break 17-20# FC.
Best of luck out there guys!
(all fish caught and released)
