December 2, 2023 Saturday -It’s been five days since I last fished at the Forebay, and I was eagerly looking forward to another exciting and challenging day on the water. The reports from the lake were promising, with Vaughn, Steph, and Brian all showing enthusiasm for the big water. On the contrary, I…
Sunday November 26, 2023 – It’s quite amusing how one often assumes that the best fishing spots are out in the middle rather than where they initially set out. This morning, I launched my boat at Cottonwood onto ONeill Forebay, while there was a frenzy of fish activity right under and around my moored boat.…
The first call that came through to my cell phone as we touched down in Oahu, the midpoint of our journey to Kiribati, also known as Christmas Island, was the news that a Category 3 Cyclone was forcing the cancellation of our trip. All flights out of Fiji had been grounded, likely for a week,…
November 10, 2023 After receiving enthusiastic reports from Frank yesterday, in which he vividly described the spectacle of Striper boils scattered throughout the lake, accompanied by a frenzy of birds working large schools of bait while stripers relentlessly attacked write at the boat ramp. I simply couldn’t contain my excitement. My original plan to tie…
This is a tale of four seasoned striper fishermen fishing the O’Neill Forebay on 4 separate days in a week. Their outcomes varied dramatically, reflecting the impact of social media and our extensive network of fishing reports which allowed us to gather a wealth of up-to-date information about fishing conditions at San Luis Reservoir and…
November 3, 2023 – I decided to try the Forebay today hoping that it would start to pick up as the lake starts to slow down but ended a short day from 9-1 with not even a touch despite all the ingredients for a a great day except feeding fish. I livescoped the entire forebay…
The Kiosk employee informed me while he was de-banding my boat that the temperature had dropped into the 30s this morning. Just a week ago, I distinctly recall sweltering in 90-degree afternoons. The gentle, cool breeze throughout the day signaled the arrival of autumn, and the sight of the full moon last night had already…
When you have the privilege of sharing a boat with a San Luis fly fishing legend like Dan Blanton, it’s difficult to imagine having a truly disappointing day on the lake. Between the two of us, we boast nearly 100 years of combined experience on these waters. My expectations for today were set high, hoping…
Serendipity – the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. “a fortunate stroke of serendipity” October 20, 2023. – Yesterday, I received some intel from the scouts about the fish’s whereabouts. They reported that the fish were congregating in Portuguese Cove and Las Peidros. On the flip side, it seemed…
People often inquire about the most effective fly patterns for fishing in San Luis Reservoir. For years, my response was quite straightforward: Clousers. However, during a recent fishing expedition with Dan Blanton, I posed a thought-provoking question: Does being a skilled fly tyer enhance one’s prowess as a fisherman? Dan’s response was that you can…
Inspired by Muddy Waters in his timeless classic “Hoochie Coochie Man,” the term “Hoochi Koo” symbolizes a state of pure rock and roll euphoria and liberation. That’s precisely how it felt today as I ventured out to fish the Trash Racks at San Luis. My spirits were high, riding the wave of a rock and roll…
Friday the 13th. Oct 2023. I extended an invitation to Dan Blanton to join me for a day of fishing at the forebay and lake, even though it happened to fall on the traditionally unluckiest day of the year. Our plan was to kick off the morning by hunting some surface stripers in the Forebay,…
Friday, October 6, 2023 – The day was ripe with promise, thanks to intel from my compadres, Frank and Brian. It was a day tailor-made for the relentless pursuit of quality Stripers. Frank had ventured into the wild waters of the Forebay Blitzes, just like I had on that fateful Monday before, and emerged victorious…
Wednesday, October 4, 2023, my friends, was a day drenched in piscatorial possibilities. Its been a long two weeks since I fished and all I could do was amp up on fishing reports. But if, by some cruel twist of fate, you find yourself unable to answer the call of the water, fret not, for…
Saturday Sept 24, 2023 – It’s been a couple of weeks since my last Striper fishing outing in the local waters. After an incredible week in Alaska, battling massive salmon, I needed a couple of days to recuperate. Last week, I returned to reports of fantastic fishing from all the regulars frequenting the lake and…
September 5 -12 2013 – The Sapsuk has become an annual pilgrimage for me, a journey to a week of spey fishing for salmon. It’s not often I have the chance to indulge in spey casting for 10-15 lb salmon amidst the stunning desolation of the Sapsuk River in the Aleutian Islands, but each year…
Following the success of last Wednesday, a day subsequent to the full moon, I felt a renewed eagerness to revisit the , full moon late bite hypothesis. Remarkably, the moon was nearly full again last night. Over the past two days, strong winds have swept through the area. Notably, yesterday saw wind gusts reaching…
Wednesday, August 30, 2022. Recently , Its been tough fishing on the lake and forebay. Between the wind keeping us off the lake and the hot temperatures pushing the fish deep, Feeding a dozen fish in a day is a great day. The last couple times out, I just couldn’t crack the code. I was…
Wednesday August 23, 2023 – After last weeks no hitter, I wasn’t planning on fishing the forebay again today but Brian had fished the forebay yesterday and he told me he got 4 fish in 1 1/2 hours. So, I started fishing the power station at around 8:00. Water was coming in and there…
Wednesday August 16, 2022 Sometime I have a day where nothing seem to be working out. I am headed to Meridian Idaho tomorrow for the weekend to hang out with my sister and mom. With the wind conditions ideal today despite the 104 degree highs, I figured I might get a few hours of…
For me, returning to the fish San Luis Reservoir or the Forebay is like scratching a nagging itch – an urge that’s relentless, demanding satisfaction. This compulsion doesn’t care where I am at in the world and I long to get back to my home water even when Im fishing somewhere else. Rain or shine,…
To celebrate 40 years of marital bliss and the final years leading to our semi retirement, Gina and I decided to enjoy life a bit and check out some of the Iconic Fairmont Hotels in Alberta-The Banff Springs Hotel and the Chateau Lake Louise both built in the 1800s by wealthy Railroad Tycoons. Our trip…
In the heart of Chicago, fate led the way, A meeting so fateful that forever would stay, Forty years past, we embarked hand in hand, Together we journeyed across life’s vast land. In the city’s embrace, I found my soulmate, Gina, your name whispered by destiny’s gate, Through the highs and the lows, side by…
July 26, 2023. Wednesday. Despite reassurance from an early morning chat I had with the Kiosk, I arrived at Dino to a frothing lake. Wild wind gust tore through the serene wind pattern that had lulled the lake into a sense of complacency. But I, oh yes, I was not going to be deterred. Hell…
July 24, 2023 – I was hoping to fish today but got “Wind Blocked”. Instead, my buddy Vaughn inspired me to write poetry instead….. Ode to the Red Light In a lake where winds prevail, Amidst the gusts, a tale unveils, Of anglers bold, with hearts afire, To chase the striped bass, their heart’s…
