April 20th-22nd, 2012: Colorado River Trip

BorregoWrangler

Rendezvous Conspiracy
I wasn't planning to do much this past weekend due to a serious lack of funds. I was hoping to get out and fish with a few friends but my plans fell through. My wife and daughter were out of town so I figured I could get some stuff done around the house. Well, that is until I got a last minute invite to the river with my parents along with my brother and his girlfriend. I showed up at their house with some of my gear at 5:30 Friday morning, load up their truck and boat, and soon we're east bound and down, loaded up and truckin'!

We launched the boat at Squaw Lake, just upstream from Imperial Dam. I unhook the trailer and drive the truck around to meet them at Ferguson Lake. It was a bit warmer than usual for this weekend, at about 103. Low 70's at night. I slept on the dock, with a cool breeze, shooting stars and a couple catfish. The bluegills were everywhere. After a few minutes I figured 10 would last me the weekend. If not, just catch more! Around 10pm the first night, the clicker on my spinner started screaming. Pulled up a 3lb channel cat that ate my biggest bait! I guess he was really hungry... About midnight my bait caster started making noise. Now here's something I just thought about: Whenever a channel cat picks up my bait its a very fast run. Clicker screaming and line peeling off the reel. Flatheads just pull away at a slow and steady pace. That's my experience at least. So I bring in this next fish and its a 10lb flathead. Nice. No more runs for the night. All fish CPR'd. (Catch Photo Release)

On Saturday we spent the day out on the river at a sandbar, swimming, drinking, and BBQ. I got to sleep early that night, woke up at midnight and fished until dawn. No bites. However, just as the sun was coming up I notice a lot of activity at the surface just off the dock. Baitfish being chased. I grabbed my bass rod with a crank bait and soon I was into a school of striped bass. It was awesome! As the morning sun burned away the night sky the water around me danced to the commotion of predator and prey just below the surface. The flashing sides of the bass was like an under water fireworks show. I caught 6 but only kept 3 for the freezer. They ranged from 2 to 6 pounds. Then after a few hours spent on the river we packed up and headed home. Should have put on more sunscreen but at least my sunburn has stopped hurting now.

The striped bass were delicious! Salt & pepper on one side and garlic salt on the other side. Pan fry the fillets in butter and they're good to go in under ten minutes! :D


I only have a few right now but I'll try to get more pictures from my brother later.

FergusonLake.jpg


Lake.jpg


Riveroverlook.jpg


Catfish.jpg


threestriper.jpg


Fillet.jpg


Bait.jpg
 
Last edited:

BorregoWrangler

Rendezvous Conspiracy
Nice Job! I wondor if those are the same spieces of striped bass we have in the salt here on the east coast...

I think so. Here's what I found:

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were introduced as a sport fish from the east coast to the lower Colorado River, California in 1959 and into Lake Mead, Nevada in 1969, with successful reproduction documented in that reservoir in 1973. The species also was introduced into Lake Powell, Utah-Arizona in 1974, with successful reproduction in 1979 in the Colorado River inflow and along cobble shoals.

I know that the record striper for the Colorado River is about 67 pounds.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,528
Messages
2,875,553
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top