We went to Isaac’s ranch last yr and had fun but figured for the cost and the time, 2 days were better than one. The lakes are operated by Darc (Desert Angler) and the up one has ‘smaller’ fish and the lower one, pigs. We chose up as a nice lake for mids and other stuff to fling like waterboatmen, buggers an boobies, yes, I did it just to see….
The first day was nuts. By 9 I’d caught 2 dinks and was like wtf? No good fish? After that it kicked off for a couple of hrs, Jim Beams or really any big mid, talking sz6 scud hooks
worked a treat. The big fish turned up and it was a blast, lots of 2 rods going, interest with really fit fish in the 20-22” range. Some came in easy till the boat, some went nuts right from the go and just took off, and others went aerial and all over. After that is was ‘spotty’ if a fish every 10 min or so is bad l…with a few crazy 30-45 min moments again. I was doing well on chromies but at 16-18’ down bit 30% of fish on the up fly. My buddies did ok higher but deep worked really well for me.
Saturday night was fun swapping notes and bsing about our day and of course it was great to know there was another day. Sunday was tougher, the tail end of the Seeger effect was in play as truck frosted over early am but I had 5 to hand by 930 so really still awesome. Sun was out and the wind was a pig being stronger and all over but again nothing to remotely whine about. The fish I got were really on deep chromies or red bugs so I had a lot of fun. The most memorable fish was one that was almost as deep as long, it would come nowhere near the boat and of course my other rod went off to add to the fun.
A memorable one was I chiromomooched to a new spot and had a fish on while motoring but it did not do much so I thought a dink. Anchored and it then went nuts, a piglet.
An interesting place to fish and of course fortunate to do so. Darc was great and on hand if we needed help. It was crazy to hear another sport earlier in the week ploughed into a calf while speeding which caused a shitstrom with the rancher who leases the lake. Darc earned his $ dealing with that and the fool had a $1800 ticket as the calf was toast, crazy. While being known as one to have a lead foot, I was slow as could be around the fields and houses.
A really memorable point for me was the bird life in and around the lake. A cacophony of sounds, I wish I had better knowledge of what many were but it was great background music while I fished. A first was with an almighty wind gust that had me going for my hat and loose stuff, there was an amazing circular gust in the water, not a water spout but it was really trying, never seen that before. It reminded me of Chopaka when stuff goes south immediate as a big squall barrels down the valley. All in all a great trip and of course, all thanks to my friends. I couldn’t wish for better folks to hang out with, not only fish- they’re special in a great way. Without them I sincerely doubt I’d be having so many great trips and experiences over the years. Next month we are off to BC and already looking forward to that.
Dave
The first day was nuts. By 9 I’d caught 2 dinks and was like wtf? No good fish? After that it kicked off for a couple of hrs, Jim Beams or really any big mid, talking sz6 scud hooks
worked a treat. The big fish turned up and it was a blast, lots of 2 rods going, interest with really fit fish in the 20-22” range. Some came in easy till the boat, some went nuts right from the go and just took off, and others went aerial and all over. After that is was ‘spotty’ if a fish every 10 min or so is bad l…with a few crazy 30-45 min moments again. I was doing well on chromies but at 16-18’ down bit 30% of fish on the up fly. My buddies did ok higher but deep worked really well for me. Saturday night was fun swapping notes and bsing about our day and of course it was great to know there was another day. Sunday was tougher, the tail end of the Seeger effect was in play as truck frosted over early am but I had 5 to hand by 930 so really still awesome. Sun was out and the wind was a pig being stronger and all over but again nothing to remotely whine about. The fish I got were really on deep chromies or red bugs so I had a lot of fun. The most memorable fish was one that was almost as deep as long, it would come nowhere near the boat and of course my other rod went off to add to the fun.
A memorable one was I chiromomooched to a new spot and had a fish on while motoring but it did not do much so I thought a dink. Anchored and it then went nuts, a piglet.
An interesting place to fish and of course fortunate to do so. Darc was great and on hand if we needed help. It was crazy to hear another sport earlier in the week ploughed into a calf while speeding which caused a shitstrom with the rancher who leases the lake. Darc earned his $ dealing with that and the fool had a $1800 ticket as the calf was toast, crazy. While being known as one to have a lead foot, I was slow as could be around the fields and houses.
A really memorable point for me was the bird life in and around the lake. A cacophony of sounds, I wish I had better knowledge of what many were but it was great background music while I fished. A first was with an almighty wind gust that had me going for my hat and loose stuff, there was an amazing circular gust in the water, not a water spout but it was really trying, never seen that before. It reminded me of Chopaka when stuff goes south immediate as a big squall barrels down the valley. All in all a great trip and of course, all thanks to my friends. I couldn’t wish for better folks to hang out with, not only fish- they’re special in a great way. Without them I sincerely doubt I’d be having so many great trips and experiences over the years. Next month we are off to BC and already looking forward to that.
Dave
