Quote from: Tim524 on March 17, 2026, 07:58:45 AMWhat do you do with them ?  Garden fertilizer? 

Fish from Lake Elsinore goes to trash dump
https://www.prehistoricsoulforum.com/index.php?msg=40911

Big Bear Lake has a disposal bin and are quite happy when you keep their lake clean.

Just so happened I was going up to Big Bear after going to Elsinore.  Luck me.
And managed two shots on fish with one kill, even though the water was 15° cooler.

Quote from: Latimeria on March 17, 2026, 02:46:09 PMI'm still waiting for your double up on a single arrow!

Did that last year at Big Bear. Three doubles, a triple, and a single one day and another double the next morning.


https://www.prehistoricsoulforum.com/index.php?msg=41207

Air was calm. Water level was up alot from my last trip there. There were quite a lot of small plants in the water along the shoreline.

Got there at gray light so I watched for ripples or plants moving. Saw plants twitching but those were only small fish picking away at the plant.

Sun came up and started to see plants leaning. Missed a few and finally connected with one about 8:40.

As the sun got higher I started heading back, retracting my steps I made in the morning. I could start seeing the fish hiding in the plants. Found one section with thicker plant which was holding a dozen or more. Made a good effort to clear them out and got 4 more. The rest of the way back I picked off one more.





Looks like it's going to be a great spawn this year.



-Keith

Good thing you caught it. It might have starved to death with all that plastic in it.

- Keith

On the anniversary of the maiden voyage of the kayaks, I wanted to ask how often have they used them since.
I'm experienced with kayak fishing. I've gotten three over the past 15 years. First one took out about 15 times and bought a better one with a fishfinder. Used that one about 5 times until I got a truck which wouldn't fit it. Then bought an inflatable which I've used a dozen or more times.
Kayak fishing is a lots of fun but a bit more work. You need the prep time and paddle time to fish in or out of the harbor. Fresh water is easier since lakes are easier to fish.
Cheers to those who put in the extra effort.

- Keith

Great start to a new year, a freezer full of fresh fish.
Happy New Year!

I've been at Doheny Beach campground since Monday and it's been strangely warm and not windy the entire time. Ocean has been a lake with ankle slippers too.
Hadn't done much fishing yet but will today now that the rain stopped.


- Keith

I'd like time and opportunities to fish.
Maybe a "fishing day pass" from my wife.

- Keith

Awesome! Back to back limits.
I need to hit San Clemente pier soon.

- Keith

Those would be some Big Blued at 22 to 24 lbs!
The Real One... make it so!

That's amazing...
One and done. Can't get much simpler than that.

Quote from: jrodda on November 15, 2025, 10:50:12 AM

Quote from: Dark_Knight_9C1 on November 13, 2025, 09:01:32 AMI've got to try throwing a bunch of corn in an area to lure them in and when they are done feeding coming to the surface. 
And I'll feed them a side of arrows.

- Keith

Just make sure you yell "OOPS!" every time the corn comes out of your hand, it is prohibited to chum in freshwater in CA. Though if the lake wants these fish dead then I have a hard time believing local authorities will object.

Roger that!.
I'll have to be careful when putting bait on the rail.

- Keith

Holy cow! The ocean floor must have been covered with them.
The only time I got that many in a pull was San Clemente pier opening day at 6:00 AM. Had about 15 in each of the two on first pull. No legals. As the sun came up, second pull was zero.

Nice to see their out there.  May have to get out the hoops again.

- Keith

FYI
This is what I usually am shooting at


You can see the fish on the left but only the ripples on the right.

The water usually isn't that clear  or it's grey light or cloudy so I look for the ripples, a shadow, or a dorsal fin sticking out of the water like these


- Keith

This is what the groups looked like when the water was warmer.


These have plenty of room between them to miss.
I'm guessing that they may have been closer together since the water was cooler, 57° F.

The theory of why they come to the surface opening and closing their mouths is the are cleaning the silt out of their gills after feeding in the mud on the bottom.

In warmer water it's also possible that they come up because there is more oxygen in the water.

I've got to try throwing a bunch of corn in an area to lure them in and when they are done feeding coming to the surface. 
And I'll feed them a side of arrows.

- Keith

Quote from: Latimeria on November 12, 2025, 08:42:50 AMDoubles and triples?  WTH!?!?  That seems crazy to get them like that!

Well done once again Keith, pretty epic bow fishing if you ask me.  I can't believe they are showing up there like that in November!

I was quite surprised too. But another factor I didn't mention is I was fishing in a marshy area which is landlocked from the lake as the level recedes. These carp have been trapped there since probably late August. So the ones that didn't leave after the spawn are stuck there. The water level has probably dropped at least 2.5 feet since then and the surface of the now pond has decreased maybe 20%.

Still it was quiet unusual for so many to be at the surface and so tightly packed.

- Keith