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Thursday, April 26th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 63 or so

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Wife and I tried drop shot off flats and near island; not many takers. Went to senko on edges of bays, very good. Lot of fish just not much size. Mix of small and large mouth. Fished medium banks, not the cliffs.
    City: Santa Barbara

Monday, April 23rd, 2007

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hank-SW Delta has had bed fish since the last full moon. Water warms faster over there. Different forum though. Got on the lake today for my first solo boat trip to the lake. After loosing godzilla smallmouth the other day, I wanted to target smallies. Fished rip baits at the drops of rocky flats about 10 ft deep. That was pretty cool and my confidence was soaring. If it werent for Hurricane Cachuma, my score would have been better. Caught 4-5 mini keepers and one that I was really happy with about 3 lbs. Not a toad but you know when you just feel good about a fish. fished various drop shot offerings adjacent to these flats with little success in 15-25 feet. did the same on steeper banks with little success. Seemed pretty tough but I dont have the experience here yet to know if this was normal
    City: Goleta

    Tips: Dont go up-lake in Gale Wind.

Saturday, April 21st, 2007

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    Water Temp: 62.5

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fish are staging to spawn depending on location. Several 1.5-2lb males caught up tight and frequent female 3-4lbs fishing real slow with recent cold front.
    City: Santa Barbara

    Tips: senkos and brush hogs. VERY SLOW. Delta is more of PRE-spawn than spawn. Big girls are still staging. Very few on beds thus far.

Saturday, April 14th, 2007

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I got three bed fish in the last three days. I do not consider that to bad considering sight fishing from shore with clouds and wind is pretty tough. All three were around 2 lbs. Yesterday, I walked and tossed my swimbait from the start of Harvey's all the way out of the bay. Turned around and walked back and fished the drop shot. Caught several 1-2 lb fish and a 4 1/4 fatty on a 6" roboworm MMIII. In one bay I lost the biggest smallmouth I have ever seen alive. I tossed my MMIII to the other bank and crawled it down to the bottom (15-20ft) then back up my side. One cast, the line just starting swimming out to the main lake. Set the hook, still swimming out. My Medium G-loomis drop shot rod with 8 lb flourocarbon made me pretty nervous but I finally got it to shore. Trying to find some footing to lip her, I gave her slack. She turned, came unbuttoned and will now just be a memory. That was the one I wanted a replica of. The bites were all very subtle. The long pause or even just a slow drag produced. I wouldnt call it a pattern that would win you a check but from the shore it was fun.

    If you like bed fishing, get up to the delta! 2 weeks ago I had a 31.25 five fish limit!
    City: Goleta

    Tips: Submit reports! Lots of guys out there are reading these and even if your like me, and not to sure. All the puzzle pieces help.

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 68

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I have been gone since January. Waters down but I anticipated a good day. Water clarity was spotty.. 63 degree water..water clarity Clear and Muddy depends where you are on the lake. First boat out I elected to fish 20 minutes with a swimbait with no results ( should have been ! ) I took partner for the day John out for his first trip to Cachuma. I caught fish after fish doing pretty much whatever I wanted early on. Since the fish were in tight and beds are evident everywhere you look. I did not realise my partner was struggling until after farming a fish he announced that he was still trying to get number two :( ...WHAT! I took him to deadhorse and he caught 3 in five minutes...Not big but they were very typical of whats up right now...Lots of 1 1/2 pound fish. I did VERY well with my jerkbait and had the best fish of our day (5+) on it. The jerkbait bite gets better when the wind blows folks. I caught a HUGE 4 pound smallmouth that was so egg laden WOW...Our smallmouth are doing something right as they seam more prolific. We bounced around Kelly catching fish and John missing or getting one here and there. I pulled us around a corner out of the wind around 5:00 and the next two hours John will never forget as he has a new pb and a limit weithing about 13 pounds and change for the day ;).... It started with me hanging a few ripbait fish.. Then we slowed out of the current from the wind and we were facing a more shear bank with a lot of boulder and football sized rock. If you pitched any color senko that was dark "red flake is a good thing;)... weedless wacky ...HOLD ON! There was sparse to moderate cover just at or in the front few feet of water for 300 yards...John attacked the same bank with the shakey head. When I caught the smallmouth john switched (SWITCHED???) over to an oxblood light red flake fat 6 inch robo worm. He got a 4 pounder and some three's along with the assorted dinks. I stayed with the senko and had 3... 4 pounders and my big smallie + ripbait five...Over twenty pounds :0...Lots of fish to be had now and we were alone all day. Blade got eaten in half so I stpped doing that..If you stick with plastics you'll do well...I KNOW that the swimbait bite is going on but as it's an up or down thing I kept them honest on it on main lake points that I was on this day but not even a follow..They are there just hope they are eating when you come by.
    City: Santa Barbara

    Tips: Shaky Head for anyone who is new to fishing or wants to catch fish( easy to use and weedless..Keep moving.On more shear banks you need to be tightest to the bank on your casts. Time after time on this day the fish went to the guy who made the perfect cast. The reaction bite with the senko was intresting. Either they eat it on the initial fall or within the first 30 seconds of deadstick otherwise you had to shake it and pull it into some structure you couldn't see in 10 feet for the second bite on the more shear banks. On the other hand the flats that have abundant cover need to be worked on the ledges conjoined with the flat. I used a 127 pointer and did best on a looonnng pause's ( this bait suspends ) and had several instances of having other fish coming up the one I hooked or being able to see the fish come up and committ hari kari. They can come from deep or shallow if you'll fish deep/shallow edges adjacent to the flats. When on the flats go shallow and cast to deep while ripping back.

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    Water Temp: 58-61

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Tough! At least for myself. Partner captured some good smallies today for a EZ day on the lake to brush up on tackle. WIND -- WIND -- WIND! Pretty much the answer for the afternoon. Wind really came up and it was difficult to toss anything other than a crank or jerk. Several jerk takers today near weed and brush lines with a few very chunky smallies in the boat and fair decent LG weighter. Sun came out but morning was still a bit foggy and a chill in the air. Water is down and it shows. Saw several trouters taking in some nice catch;s! Should have trouted for the day! --
    City: SM

    Tips: Lady fish were maybe already up and out on beds as several males were caught and seen but only a few females. CARP EVERYWHERE! Yuk!

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007

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    Water Temp: 57

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Mostly trolling trout with gkids. A small tournament in progress. Beautiful weather and wind not a problem. Did a little scouting and didn't see any beds yet.
    City: Santa Barbara

Monday, February 26th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: since i am in midle school i cant go 60 miles to fish. so post some info about fish coming up to spawn
    City: ventura

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: since i am in midle school i cant go 60 miles to fish. so post some info about fish coming up to spawn
    City: ventura

Saturday, February 24th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 52-54

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Dual tourneys going on today - Ours in Gold Coast and also Anglers Choice on the water too.

    A small cold front was nipping the air this morning while several boaters waited for the lake's gate keeper to rise and shine. Finally, at 6:30 and very abundant daylight, the gate was opened with stoppage by the gate keeper to hand out some flyer about 'mussels'? Oh well -- just doing his job. Blast of at 7:04 and we headed to our first stop. Tossed out some 3/4oz jigs looking for deep fish and partner hooked into a nice smallie keeper. Moved to another location and bang, another keeper from the deep but this a Large and the 'needle' venter had to be used on this one. Another move clear across the lake to a third stop and partner hit again with yet another keeper. Feeling very frustrated, I switched to a drop and hit, finally, but no keeper -- drats! Off to another spot and finally a 4th in the boat. Chatting with friends on the water, the bite was off it seemed as many were only saying 1 or none in the boat. Weigh-in at 3:30 just behind Anglers. Winners in with 11 plus, big fish was 7+ and a really healthy looking fish which made us all pretty happy. Hear Anglers in with 14+ for the winners and also some good weight fish from the deep. I suffered today with a head cold and a lack of fish in the boat. Owe my partner a huge thanks for keeping us in the hunt for points without my asistance. Well all in all, a good but sort of tough day -- For me -- Back to bed to nurse this cold. Adios and Casitas is on the schedule for next months tourney -- A drive but a decent fishery.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Go deep -- Go slow. Maybe?? Big fish today was in 4 foot of water! Go figure???

Tuesday, February 20th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Finally! Finally! Finally. I have been throwing the big swim bait all winter. thinking one good bite. I am fishing for one bite. I got bit 4 times this day. (although one looked like another trout) Still dont really know what I am doing slinging this 4 pound jelly bomb at the fish but I am patient. I got hooked up with one fish but she came unbuttoned. It wasnt a double digit fish. I did fish a drop shot aarons magic to the right of the launch ramp for 4 up to (1)lb. in about 30 minutes. Went up to the Delta last weekend fished from a z19, Greg Hall took us out on his 522 and a the champion rep on their boat. All great rigs but I really liked the Z19.
    City: Goleta

    Tips: teach a kid how to throw the 4 pound jelly bomb! Contact me for a free Custom Rod! We choose materials together, You pay for materials and shipping, I build. I have to get more of my sticks out down here. (First come first serve)

Saturday, February 17th, 2007

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    Water Temp: preety cold

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: sorry to say Bob D it was awsome for me, and it was my first time bassin at the lake. i shook purples and ox bloods on a drop shot rig, proven to be the casitas standby.nuthin to brag aboot in size, but a dozen bass is great.aboot a 2 pounder was pulled.
    City: ventura

    Tips: slow the shake down to a slow speed, small fish were 20 feet, if bigger fish are wanted DEEPER WATER!!!!!!!

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    Water Temp: 51-54o

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Summary??? You want fish today at Cachuma, you needed to bring your own! Tough is the best word here --- Water is really clear and we saw carp, bass and three huge, I mean HUGE catfish crusing by the boat. With conditions so clear, fish were scattering from twelve feet away when they say the boat. We sw bass crusing in as little as 4 feet off the banks in 3-8 feet of water but alas, no takers.

    I basically tied my tackle box on to my line, tossed it out, jerked, dropped, cranked and slow retrived it back and nothing in the box was intereting to anything, even carp! If we had to wight in, only one keeper for the day. SAD! Need that rain before the Gold Coast tourney next week! Water needs to have some stain in it or it will end up being a harsh outing again.

    Looking at the weather conditions for the wee may be the culprit. With the possible front moving in and the extra warm weather, the fish were being finiky. Saw a few boaters hitting on a drop but most takers looked to be smallies that probably wouldn't hang. Water temps are up which is a good sign but the lake is down a lot now and it still is a 'hunting' game for quality keepers. The big producer two weeks ago on the south end walls was a 'skunk' today.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Finding fish near the brushlines or drop off's may be the points to look for. Still looks like fish are holding in that 30-40 foot range and the thermocline was about a guess of 35'.

Sunday, February 4th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 49

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Arrived just before seven and the gate opening so had a chance to chat with a fellow basser. Thanks for the chat!

    Headed out towards Johnson to look at the prospects. Showing a few fish about 35-40 feet but not much activity. Tossed a beaver against the banks and drew it back but no takers. Moved off towards E point and pretty much the same story. Elected to hit Arrowhead Island area and the now exposed ground where reeds were at. Water is down a lot so watch for submerged trees near the toolies. Headed around the point towards the South end of the lake and stopped just inside the 5MPH zone to work the walls. Heaved out a jig head with a spyder grub and danced it around with only one smallie to fess up to. Continued south along the walls in about 32 feet of water, changed spyder grug colors and wham! A nice 3-4 pounder LG just as the guys I chatted with were leaving, saying the didn't score. Tossed back in and wham! A nice smallie but wouldn't hand enough. Continued working the walls out and banged another smallies. This one a good keeper. Two more in the boat with one more smallie keeper and it slowed down so I moved off to another location. Elected to call it a day at noon so I can get back in time for the Super Bowl
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Be alert! Bottom ramp is open and main ramp is now closed so allow yoursel a little extra room to manuver.

    All in all -- It was a great day. Sun came out and I was in my short sleeves by 11AM with just a slight wind. Fish seem to more populated towards the back as I never got a hit around the dam area points. If I tell ya the color then I will let out a secret so go figure it out. Just keep changing colors and you will hit on a popular one that will work.

Saturday, January 20th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 51.5---- 54

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Got to the lake and surprise three club tournaments. I pulled out of line and let everyone go by. I launch and the starter is spinning but not engaging so I went out on trolling motor power and fished the drop offs and humps just to the right but nothing so I came back in. Fixed starter in parking lot re launched it's 10:00. I start throwing the jig and cannot get bit. I toss the spoon and verticle jig it nothing. Start casting the spoon at the walls BAM! two pound smallie. I caught only three smallmouth this day but they all came off a spooon in 35 feet in this manner. After that initial smallie I started a combo "verticle" when there were fish under the boat and "casting" at the wall when there were no fish under the boat spoon run along the walls. It didn't go well until I got to a mainlake point and caught 3 Largemouth in one tiny spot. All 14-15 inch fish. Went in and got lunch and back out to drag a worm king on a drop off from 20 to 70 because they put in trout on this day. No takers so I switched to a 1 ounce hula grub and started catching fish on the same spot in 50 feet. All 14-15 inch fish. I pushed on and caught a few more jig fish and spoon fish on the walls and went to see the weigh ins at 3:00. The few guys that I talked to didn't fair that well....I don't really know the results. I went back out and at 4:00 straight up I caught my best fish of the day. Smallmouth that I won't call a three pounder but a dog none the less. Went to pull the boat out at 4:00 the starter started spinning again ( Good thing I was at the dock ) so I guess I'll have to investagate it. I am sure that the bigger fish can be had on cranks by now and it won't be long before the largemouth that are in 10 feet and not eating will move in for the annual flip bite that's right around the corner. I was bummed that I was unable to fish early as I'm sure that at first light and for an hour there are reaction fish shallow. In this water temp it's been my experience that the fish will turn on very briefly one time a day on cranks...I suppose with the cold water they don't need to eat as often. I see a lot of guys fishing fast. I'm moving along and fishing fast but I'm using the lures speed on my side and not really burning down the bank but picking it apart with the deep water tackle. I had no takers on the silver buddy today but feel that a tailspin will soon be in the mix as the vibration was not the key and the tailspin will allow me a better perpindicular speed type of presentation to the fish. . The trout that they planted were VERY VERY dark. At first glance at the fish cleaning station I was worried that the big bag of fish the guy was gutting were smallmouth. Nope! They are just not those ridiculous Fillmore trout. The trout bite remains very hot trolling on top. Pearl/red needle fish or anything white....Small rapala etc.....I wish I could fish for trout somedays but the weather this day was spectacular...High skies and no wind...That's usually the death knell on this lake. I hope the ABA on Sunday went well.

    Rip
    City: Santa Barbara

    Tips: I notice people look at me like I've got crawdads coming out of my ears when they come up on me when I'm fishing a wall and they ask me how I'm doing. You can pitch a spoon out in 40 feetof water on a wall and catch a fish just as it settles...I know because that's how all three of mine came. Is it luck. To some degree but all three fish came from what I call clasic winter smallmouth spots. Not a Kastmaster with a feather or any other spoon than a..... Hopkin's style chrome 3/4 spoon!!!! will fall fast enough to make the fish really stupid and whack it. That's why the 1 0z. football head for my jig. I can feel them I sure wish I could translate all the bites into fish but I'm just not out on the water enough. Best of Luck,

Saturday, December 30th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: After being sold on the spooning technique, I decided I was going to fish nothing but spoons this trip. I first started off north and fished one of the points open to the main lake. After about 15 minutes I got bit in 60+ feet of water. My confidence level increased 100 fold as I pulled my first spooning fish in. Unfortunately it was a crappie and for the next hour my buddy and I pulled in 10 crappie. We moved off the point in search of smallies and found nothing but crappie and dink LMB's for the rest of the day. We metered good structure in all depths and fished them pretty heavily with spoons but cound not locate any hungry smallies in desire of our spooning presentation. Finally at the end of the day I got bit and pulled in my first smallie in 40 feet of water. It was a dink but I was stoked. Hopefully next time will produce more smallies.
    God Bless,
    Joe
    City: Camarillo

Tuesday, December 26th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Cachuma yesterday for a pretty slow day. The weather was absolutely amazing. Hardly any wind and pretty warm. I fished all depths 10 - 70'. Yeah I know... 70'. You wouldn't believe it but I actually pulled a LMB from 70'. Fishing was slow all day. I used Jigs, Drop-Shot Robo and Spoons. I'm pretty sold on the Spoon concept for Smallies after reading the past reports from Kelly. I'll be up there this Friday and Saturday. I would love to learn some of your techniques. I'll pay for food and gas.
    Thanks and God Bless,
    Joe
    City: Camarillo

Sunday, December 17th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 64

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: An early 6:45AM launch and the skies were filled with the chance of rain. Chilly out and the 'warmmies' were in order so my new snow suit did the job. Parking lot look like a goast town this morning with maybe two other boats seen. I hooked up with a Western Bass friend for a day on the water to go to school via the proffessor Kelly Ripa. A great lesson on spoonin and it paid off as if anyone knows the art of 'spoonin'. Mr. Ripa is the main man. Proffessor Ripa is by far the best finnesse guy I have watched fish and a master intheartof spoonin. If this guy tells you do this or that belive me listen as his knowledge of Cachuma is just mind blowing.

    Thanks for all the info and great time on the water Saturday Kelly.It is and was much enjoyed and much appreciated and I look towards another lesson possibly after the holidays. Your method was right on the money and it proved to me that winter bassin with a spoon is a productive way to get bass in those deeper 45+ foot holding zones. I have to say I didn't fair as well as you but at least I didn't loose any tackle of yours. Thanks! Well one of mine anyway on a stupid line wrap on the tip.

    The water towards Arroehead is still muddy looking and the best bet for clarity is towards the dam. Kelly put us on fish in many places and a few very decent keepers made it aboard. Big swins 1st thing brought no takers and we went right into spoons for the rest of the day. I tried a few kigs cranks and some spyder grubs with only one decent hit so back to the spoons. Most fish were in 50 feet but a few good smallies Kelly nailed were in 25 foot range. All in all, an enjoyable time and I am thankful I was able to have such a proffessional teach me a little art in fishing with a spoon. A 1000 thanks Kelly! Bob
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Hopkins silver spoons were the top taker today. Fish it agressivley over brch but 'don't' jerk up to set a hook if you feel weight. It's probably a stump. The hit on the flutter back down will be your prize. Have needles aboard as deeper fish will need to be deflated to avoid becoming bird bait. Keep your line wet and enjoy the Holiday Season. Merry Xmas To All

Sunday, December 10th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 57.7-58

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: 2/3 of the lake has less visability now. I was hoping to get out in the rain on Saturday but no dice. I did get out Sunday which started out fairly clear but at 12:00 it started to rain. The best thing about Cachuma in my opinion is the Smallmouth/Largemouth mix. I started the day slow on swimbaits on my first hour so I checked the outside edges with a spoon and the fish Gods were happy to oblige me so, realizing I would be able to throw heavy metal all day I went off looking for a swimbait bite. I did get one fish on the Huddleston but not really worth the effort as it was only 3 pounds. I started spooning and did okay but nothing fantastic. I got another huge 15+ pound catfish and had my hands full getting my spoon back. around 11:00 my spoon bite just died. I thought it was because I was getting into murkier water but later I realised that the fish were responding to the weather and were moving shallow. I did best in 50+ feet in the morning but would occasionally get a better fish in 35 feet. I was not seeing as much bait as I would have liked to have seen on the meter but the bait I did see was tight to the bottom. From 11:00 to 12:00 I think I might have caught one fish so I pulled the boat onto the best looking smallmouth water I could find. It had smallmouth written all over it but it was to shallow 25-30 feet. I played on this spot untill I found some nasty stuff that you just could not spoon with my usual method of ripping the bait so I modified my presentation to meet the need and WHAM! 3+ pound smallmouth. Long story short with my new modified presentation and shallow tactic I went back over all the areas I had previously fished during the day and fished the new suicide method. Shallow and in the brush. I didn't loose any spoons this day but I did get 8 smallmouth over 3 pounds : ) ...I was stoked as one was close to four pounds and another weighed 4 pounds 4 ozs. in a weigh in bag on my scale so pretty close to four pounds. Interesting note: one of my fish coughed up a freshwater sculpin? or goby? type fish earlier in the morning which was alive so I put it in my livewell were it made a full recovery so I put it back in. The crappie are still very deep on brush and the rainbows went off in the rain. 1 1/2 colors or right on top with red/pearl needle fish being the better color. The trout guys told me to play with your speed as the fish seemed to want the baits trolled a bit faster.
    City: Santa Barbara

    Tips: Pay attention to what the fish are trying to tell you. When the bite went south at noon I just changed the local of my presentation by going shallow and finding a way to do it without getting hung up all the time and the fish responded.

Monday, December 4th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: took the long walk back by the dam. Its pretty awsome back there. The fishing was pretty slow for me. I noticed the moon out around 3pm dont know if that had anything to do with it. The carp were going nuts in the bays. It was pretty wierd because there were literally hundreds of them everywhere. I basically fished my trusty swim bait on all the fresh water and then went back over the same water with various desperate attempts to find a fish. Caught 6 mini's on texas rigged craw and drop shot Aarons magic. Hope you all are on em. Heading up to the Delta again this weekend to chase the linesides.

    Don
    City: Goleta

    Tips: If you have one, send it my way.