Uncharacteristic Lake Casitas...

socalsean · Post by **socalsean** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:59 pm

If you see the shad, they are 5 and 6 inch pieces. Huge rolling schools of bait. More than I have ever seen. 4 shad will provide the same size meal as a trout and they are not more difficult for the bass to catch, on the contrary far easier. Why? Easy, because every bird of prey on the lake is kicking the crap out of the shad all day long. All the bass have to do is sit underneath the school and wait for the dying shad to fall in front of their noses or swim through the school with their mouths open. My take is that the fish are not feeding on trout right now because it is too much work. Simply no reason too. Period.

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:07 pm

As soon as you can make bail, we'll be expecting you.

littlebailey wrote:i wish i could make it down to take you all on a guide trip.

BassketCase · Post by **BassketCase** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:35 am

elfish16 wrote:
but you got a couple fish...thats decent. my buddy from Shasta had two that were 4lbs each Friday...it was a tough day man! I chucked to big stuff all day to no avail!

Thanks again Eric!

We had a great time out there. Yes, the bite was slow but between a slow day on the lake or hanging around the house you know which one I will always pick! You are a very cool guy and I really appreciate your kindness! You will always have a backseat for your next trip up north.

Thanks!

Chris

socalsean · Post by **socalsean** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:15 am

Just give it a minute, the bite will get going again. It has been weird. Lots of bait hanging around for a long time the last couple of years. Check it out though, two days straight I caught 3 1/2 lb holdover trout in two foot of water. I don't know if that is the problem but seriously, look at all the friggin bait! No exaggeration I saw a 15 ft thick, 150 yd. school of shad, black out an entire arm of the lake!

I was busy last year guiding (not fun fishing) but the Thigpins had a great swimbait season. It happened late but it happened. The lake goes through cycles year in and out and sooner or later there is going to be a positive side to the lack of traffic.

As for now, no one can deny saying the words, "good old days", in reference to Casitas at some point but bites get worn out. The fish are constantly adapting to the changing cycles of the lake without being nostalgic. Maybe we are the ones slow to accept the change? I have to believe that otherwise eating a bullet would start to sound like not such a bad idea.

Paul when I die I want to come back as a fishing pirate too bro

I fish that lake soooo much, I would love any perspective other than my own. I will take you up on the guide trip but I am not payin!

peace

elfish16 · Post by **elfish16** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:29 am

naw its true...I know that Rod and Tod were whacking them and I know the swimbait bite is coming...and NOT far away. I am just curious to see if there are giants in there...the teeners and up.

My only concern. I am getting the swimbait fish every year and in good numbers ( until recent ) but the grade of fish is much smaller.

I agree Sean that the shad are huge...I've snagged a few pieces lately and its big stuff. I know the shad makes for fun guide trips and make for a good day of fun fishing...my buddies whacking the nice bass to 5lbs and crappie to 3 lbs.

I personally can't wait for the big bait bite to get good!

I too will take you up on the guide trip Paul...but just as Sean says...I ain't paying!

littlebailey · Post by **littlebailey** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:44 am

why dont you put the tout baits away and go with what the fish are eating? sounds pretty logical huh? Dont make me drive down there and charge you 400 bucks to show you!

come on you casitas guys are smartet than that.

im just playin guys. i bet its tuff when you cant see how its done by the real experts. they all moved away!

PS Mark, you can pretty much call this place jail. So yeah your right!

maxe · Post by **maxe** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:04 pm

True dat Pauly. When your bro and Justin aren't fishing there, there's bound to be giants left alone. I just keep doing what you showed me and I am getting them alright.

Just don't tell them about the deadstick.

socalsean · Post by **socalsean** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:42 pm

Paul,

Of course I am fishing with shad it is a no-brainer and you will rope some big ones! Guiding and swimbaits is not a good deal especially when most people, customers, can not even cast a baitcaster.

If I could fun fish 100 days a year that would be insane. Once it gets going even on bad days you can usually get a couple of bites on the swimbaits. Most people, even if they are good, just can't figure it out in one day. I don't even break out the rods most of the time, its just not cost effective when you are trying to get a big tip from someone that can't fish well.

Last time I checked I still got a lot of bills to pay, so for now I guess that I will settle for being the guy that helps novice anglers to catch big fish and believe me, it ain't that easy, not even for an expert like you bro..

We are all looking for the same outcome but some of us just take different paths to get there..

If you need a boat to fish in when you come back to visit, you can borrow mine but I am gonna have to come along for the ride.

peace..