Finally Fall Fishing Northern Pike!

Fast approaching the end of another great Canadian fishing adventure in early August, we started entertaining the idea of going back in the Fall.  My wife didn't have to ask me twice before I quickly found a gap in my schedule over the last week of September and first of October.  Flights were booked and it was all planning and daydreaming from there.

Fishing in the fall had always been something I read about in magazines and watched on fishing shows, but never able to experience first hand.  Generally I'd fish over 50 days a year, but these days were highly concentrated around school vacations.  Now after 20 years of education and 4 years of post graduate training life looked more promising for a fall fishing adventure.

As with all new adventures much planning and self education is required for success.  I started reading everything I could lay my eyes on regarding fishing the fall bite.  After a few trips to Outdoor World and hundreds of dollars spent on large swim-baits and crank-baits I was certain I had what was needed to put some fish in the boat.

The Horizon Airlines pilot announced we'd be arriving at the Edmonton International Airport in a few minutes.  Gazing out the window I could see the John Deere combines working the fields and fall colors on the trees.  The weather had been great and the first cold weather was set to hit while I was in town. This was fine with me since everything I had read stated a cooling trend in weather turns fall fish on the chew.

My target fish of choice was northern pike as I'd never really caught much over an 8 lb pike in open water.  Pinehurst Lake in North East Alberta has always been a favorite lake to catch summer walleye and monster northern pike through the ice.  I figured given the presence of large pike in the winter this would probably be our best bet to hook into a dandy.  Keep this in mind if you are after trophy fish, you have to fish waterways known to hold them.

The weather report said we could expect a high of 4 degrees C, wind, overcast and rain showers throughout the day.  We geared up and put a tarp on the 12 foot aluminum boat.  Dressing appropriate to survive a day like this is key.  Layer your clothes, wear a rain suit and don't forget to wear something warm on your feet like winter boots or insulated rubber boots.  This will make all the difference on those cold fall fishing days.

We launched and started to troll large crank-baits on the south shore along deep water rocky points.  These are known fish holding structures in the summer and fall.  As the weeds die off the small bait-fish will move to these rocky areas to find cover from predatory fish.  Naturally the walleye and large pike are drawn here in search of food.  After a few minutes of trolling my dad hooked the first pike of the day, but far from a monster.

Shallow weed lines and reeds can also hold large fish as the waters cool to temperatures that large pike can tolerate while in search for a meal.  We next headed across the lake to a very large weed bed and cast large crank-baits.  This seemed to be the ticket as we started having explosive strikes and hookups on hard fighting northern pike.  I knew we were on the fish and it was only time until we found a big one.

Slow retrieving a 6" jointed crank along the surface was drawing some great strikes.  Then it happened.  I could see a freight train of a fish streaking towards my lure and inhale it.  The line zipping across the water and off my reel, then NOTHING!  What happened?  I reeled up the excess line and found my 30 pound fluorocarbon leader had broke.  This brings me to another tip.  When fishing for these toothy critters it is a good idea to use a steel leader or if using fluorocarbon use at least a 100 pound leader.  I found this out the hard way and that pike was now carrying an expensive lure as jewelry.

We caught many more pike before evening approached and my dad started to suggest we head back across the lake closer to the boat launch.  I suggested we try trolling along the reeds where we had seen a lot of white fish surfacing.  Since big pike eat whites and tulibee I figured there must be some lurking.  I cast out the lure and pumped the rod as we trolled along.  BAM!  another big hit on the line and this time the fish is pulling drag.  I slowly coerce her up to the surface some 50 yards away and notice this fish has a wake, not the usual spiraling snot rocket on the surface.   Soon the big fish was beside the boat and into the awaiting landing net.  It really happened, a big pike!  My fall fishing dreams had really come true.  We snapped a few pictures and video before letting the large female pike swim away for another day.

What a great end to another awesome fishing adventure.  I think I have a new addiction that will have to wait until next fall!  Till then check out these pictures and video of the day.

http://www.youtube.com/v/eMyBJtMuudk?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=by_6mQG05IM3f-z6nBT-NA&feature=share&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&autohide=1CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO OF THE REST OF THE PINEHURST ACTION, COULDN'T GET IT TO SHOW UP.

Kokanee Fishing Wood Lake British Columbia

British Columbia is a very attractive place for most Albertan’s to head during the summer months. “Why?” some people may ask since Alberta has it's own stunning outdoors. If you haven’t been to Alberta I’ll fill you in…. Mosquitoes! There are a few other reasons my family enjoys going to the Okanagan Valley including tasty fresh fruit, hotter days, beautiful lakes to water ski on and camp at without that Alberta algae. So what is an avid angler to do surrounded by the watersport center of British Columbia? Quite simply put, they fish! We usually stay in Oyama, which is a town between two adjoining lakes, Kalamalka and Wood Lake.

Kalamalka is known for its spectacular blue green waters that make you feel like you’re some place tropical. Fishermen on the other hand will tell you it is well known to hold some monster lake trout in its depths and fair sized rainbow trout. Wood lake on the other hand is known for a population of fat kokanee that school in the lake. While the lake trout fishing seems tempting we often head out after kokanee salmon to take a little break from water skiing. There is one small problem. The best fishing and calm water skiing times seem to coincide in the early am hours. Lucky for me the kokanee in Wood Lake usually are eager to bite most of the day and later afternoon.

Sadly this past summer (2013) the kokanee fishing was closed on wood lake due to a population collapse from a couple of bad spawning years and fishing pressure.  So hopefully the fisherman leave them alone and let the fish rebound so we can once again catch some kokanee in the years to come.

Like I've said the best fishing is usually in the early am hours when the sun peaks over the mountain.  Fish are readily caught almost all over the lake in depths ranging from 60-120 feet of water.  These fish are usually suspended somewhere between the surface and 60 feet down.

Our typical set up is very simple and goes to show that likely anyone will be able to catch them.  Just get any sort of lake troll or Ford Fender flasher rig.  Then put a kokanee shock leader which helps prevent the hook from being torn out of these soft mouthed fish.  Next you need some sort of lure.  They will bite on all sorts of lure from small spinners, spoons, plastics, and plugs.  Our favorite to use on this lake is the watermelon colored Apex by Hot Spot.  These are killer tipped with a few maggots or just fished bare.  We find these keep the fish hitting even when they've not been biting anything else.  When the fish are biting you can't go wrong with a pink wedding band and a few maggots.

Once you are set up we usually had 1-3 ounces of weight to the front of the lake troll to get it down to the fish.  Typically you want to let out 40-60 pulls of line to start.  Then add more or less if nothing seems to be happening.  One of the most important things is slow trolling.  Go about as slow as possible.  If your boat wont go slow enough then just take it in and out of gear or drag a sea anchor.  The slowing and speeding up action which causes the lure to rise and fall through the water column often causes strikes.  Another way to slow the lines is to troll in an S pattern or make frequent turns.  The inside rod on a turn will often catch the fish as it is moving the slowest.

Having a landing net is a good idea if you want to get more fish in the boat since they like to go air-born beside the boat and will get off right beside the boat if you aren't ready.

Best of all they taste great!  I can't wait till they re-open the lake so we can get back out there and catch some.

Trophies of the Past - Fishing Seibert Lake

The sun was just cresting over the horizon as dawn promised a beautiful day. I was in the back seat of my uncles Chevy listening to the stories of old exchanged between my uncle and his father in law. We were headed off ice fishing and spotting dear in the never ending glistening snowy fields of northern Alberta. Now this may have been over 20 years ago, but I still remember the stories they told about fishing Seibert Lake. That famed Trophy Lake where you weren’t allowed to use bait and the monstrosities of fish would just cruise on by.

Over the years I’ve fished Pinehurst and Spencer, but never stopped to see if the fish were biting at Seibert Lake. That is until this summer.

We were visiting family in Canada and were fortunate enough to have a neighbor lend his fishing boat to us for a few days. I had been researching all the lakes north of Edmonton and decided that the one I’d most like to explore was Seibert. I’d never been there and the chance to keep a walleye for dinner had me excited to go.

Now considering I have a 6 month pregnant wife, a daughter who’s a few months from two, a 15 year old brother and the parents along I wasn’t expecting to leave at the crack of dawn. So we got a late start and headed out to Seibert Lake. If you’ve never been there the last 20 km of road is a sandy forest road. We pulled a 16 foot aluminum Lund behind my Dad’s Escalade and needless to say it was a little muddier than when we started.

The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and the fish awaited us. We launched and headed up to the north side of the lake where I hoped to find some structure. We trolled a drop off with deep diving crankbaits in 20 to 30 feet of water. The fish finder was marking some very nice arches. The only problem was that all these arches (sonar fish) were right on the bottom and were refusing to take our offerings of Rapala and Reef Runner. There didn’t appear to be any suspended fish either which are usually more likely to hit trolled crankbaits.

This predicament required a change in attack, so we sped around to the other side of the lake and found some weed beds. My Dad was the first to hook up. It seemed to be a pike on the line and dragged him right down into the thick of the weeds. We had to position the boat against the wind in order to try and pull the fish out. When we finally got the line free there was only a fishless crankbait covered in weeds at the end of the line.

Nearby a gentle point on this very featureless lake beckoned me to give it a try. I decided there must be some walleye hanging around, so we stopped and anchored off the point in 20 feet of water. We selected lures and started casting. I went with a personal favorite to use on bait ban lakes, the chrome and glow Cicada blade bait.

I started my fan casting pattern to cover the water by tossing it as far out as I could. Let the lure free fall to the bottom with a semi taught line. Using this technique you can tell when your bait hits bottom or a fish takes it on the drop. When the lure contacts bottom pull the rod tip 1-4 feet and let it flutter back to the bottom under light tension. This method may imitate a feeding or wounded baitfish.

It wasn’t long before one of those pops off the bottom led to a subtle tap. Without hesitation I loaded up the
rod and sunk those barbless hooks into a nice fish. After a short battle a fat walleye was in the boat. It measured over the 50cm size limit and went into the ice chest for dinner. After the success my dad and brother switched over to the Cicada and started catching walleye as well.

Soon the afternoon sky darkened as large rain clouds headed our way. We thought they might miss us, but then the down pour came rapidly. We pulled the anchor and headed straight for shore to hide under some trees until it passed. We weren’t even under the trees for 5 minutes when the rain subsided. You have to love Alberta afternoon showers! The sun came out and the lake was glass calm.

We decided to have a little shore lunch since we were already on solid ground. After finding some dry wood we started our fire, dried off and ate some yummy hot dogs before heading back out on the water.

The rest of the evening was spectacular and we continued to cast blade baits for a walleye here and there. It wasn’t fast and furious action, but we did manage to release a bunch and take home a couple for dinner. Good fishing considering we were exploring a new lake in August. What a great way to spend the day with family.

Another great adventure, creating my own story fishing the Trophy Lake of Old.

Cold Lake Alberta Trolling for Lake Trout in the Summer

COLD LAKE, ALBERTA 

Summer lake trout fishing with downriggers was all I could think about when planning our trip up to Canada.  It had been a few years since we last fished Cold Lake and from everything I had been hearing the lake seemed to be on fire!  We flew into the Edmonton International Airport from LAX and headed out to Garner Lake where my Grandpa Les lived.  

We discussed our plans and checked out the weather forecast as this is a very big lake and heading out on a windy day can leave you stuck on shore.  For forecast looked very promising with temperatures to 28 degrees Celsius and minimal wind.  After seeing the amazing Alberta day ahead of us we got all packed up and our gear prepared for the great day of fishing ahead. 

I woke up early to make some lunch and waited patiently for my Grandpa and Wife to get ready and head out on the road.  Cold Lake is about 1 hour and 20 minutes from where he lives so it really isn't too bad to head out for some Lake Trout.  

After a short trip on Highway 28 we arrived at our destination.  We made our way through the provincial park to the boat launch and unloaded the boat for what looked to be the start of a promising day.  Grandpa fired up the engine and headed out of the bay.  We had been planning on heading down to the Saskatchewan side of the lake, but coming out of the bay we spotted a whole bunch of people fishing near by so we went over to check things out.  It appeared most people were trolling with downriggers and a few people were jigging.  We saw a couple fish caught and decided to give this spot a go. 

We were running two downriggers and three lines off the back of the boat.  Our lures of choice for the day were the Manistee, Williams Wobbler and a large silver apex behind a Hot Spot Flasher.  One downrigger was running two lines about 20-30 feet apart.  We would put one at 47 feet which always seems to be our lucky number and one deeper down at 70-90 feet.  It wasn't long before we were hauling in one lake trout after another.  

Now it is important when fishing large spoons behind the downrigger that you use a treble stinger hook or you are not as likely to catch many fish.  The lake trout are notorious for short strikes when trolling and the stinger hook will likely catch 70% or more of your fish.  So don't forget to add this extra special touch.  Also it is important to vary your speed going slower and faster to encourage the following fish to strike.  This can also be done by making turns as you troll.  

Well turns out we caught fish like crazy all day long!  We landed over 20 big lake trout and lost probably twice as many before they got in the boat.  We were catching fish from the surface all the way down to 120 feet.  The largest was probably around 12-13 pounds, but did not have a scale for definite weight.  We were trolling at a good pace in the new boat and it seemed to be working well.  What a day, an epic day! 

  

We only fished till 5 pm or so and the fish were still biting good when we left.  Even got some double headers including one big set fat Lakers!  
If you're planning a trip out to Cold Lake this summer get yourself some downriggers, some large flashy spoons and your are ready for a fishing trip of a life time!!!  




Check out these Youtube videos from our day of fishing Cold Lake! 

Subscribe to my youtube channel for more great fishing videos! Click Here: http://www.youtube.com/Brandonkop

Kayak Fishing Big Bear Lake

Kayak Fishing Big Bear Lake, California, in the summer is a lot of fun!

If you've been stuck on shore fishing and becoming a little tired of watching everyone else out on the water catching fish it might be time for you to invest in a kayak.  Kayaking is a great way to get on the water because there are no California Registration fees with the DMV and the lake access fees are usually less than  motor boats.  You can often find used Kayaks on Craig's List or Ebay for a few hundred dollars.  They also have decent ones during the summer at Costco for around 500 dollars.  If you want all the bells and whistles like rod holders and foot propelled with nice storage hatches and seats then it will likely cost you over a 1000 dollars.  Still much less than any other boats on the water.  Sit on Top fishing Kayaks are very durable  and will last you a long time.

Our first trip out to Big Bear Lake on the kayak was a July 4th weekend.  We paddled out the night before and watched the fireworks from the which is an amazing display over the water.  I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance to go!  The next day we headed out fishing on the Kayak.  We tried trolling from the kayak which works decently, but you have to do a lot of paddling.  Pulling lures on lead line works the best at anywhere from 2-5 colors depending on the thermocline and the depth of the fish.  You can often find this information before you go of from the Big Bear Lake Marina website http://www.bigbearmarina.com/.  You should spool your real with the lead line and then attach about 20 feet of 8 pound fluorocarbon line as the leader.  Then you can attach your lake troll, Rapala's, spoons, or baits to the end of this line.  I'll post another blog to detail trolling at a later date.

When you get tired of paddling there is always the bait and wait game.  In the hot summer months as the lake temperature rises the fish migrate and stack up at the west side of the lake.  So head on down to the dam and grab yourself a big white buoy.  Don't be scared of the big motor boats.  Just paddle on by and tie off to one of the open buoys because you don't need any special reservations.  This area is great for fishing in the summer.

Once you are in position set up your rods with a slip bobber.  It really helps if you have a fish finder, but if not that is fine.  Watch the fish finder and look what depth the fish are marking at.  Usually anywhere from 15 feet down to 24 feet suspended off the bottom.  Set your bobber stop at these depths with a single night crawler hook and thread half a night crawler onto the hook.  Cast the float away from the boat and let the wind and current carry the float.  When you see that float disappear hold on tight cause you are in for a wild ride!  These summer trout fight fantastic.  Warm water conditions in the lake make it difficult to release the rainbows with a reasonable survival rate.  You may just want to keep a limit since you're bait fishing and call it a day once you catch your 5 fish.  If the night crawlers aren't working then you should switch to a small treble hook size 16-18 and put a small ball of power bait on.  This also works very well.

Don't forget to stop by the East or West Launch facilities for a boat inspection and to buy a day pass on the lake which is $15 or a yearly pass which is $45.  I usually get the yearly pass since you only need to go three times to make it worth while.

If you'd like information on how to rig a slip bobber then check out my instructional video here!

For a Big Bear Kayak Fishing Preview check out this video!

A Few More Pictures of really nice hold over rainbows.

Good Luck Fishing!

Hawaii Shark Fishing - Honolulu Oahu

Hawaii Shark Fishing Night Adventure.

My wife knows how much I love fishing so she went ahead and did some research on the deep sea fishing adventures available in Oahu.  Turns out a lot of them are very expensive and some of your most affordable trips are bottom fishing and SHARK FISHING!!!  The Sportfish Hawaii operation offers night fishing for sharks out of Oahu for $125 a person.  They pick you up at your hotel and take you out at 10PM till 1AM.

We were flying into Oahu for a short 4 day vacation, so we had to make every moment count.  We arrived in the evening of our first day and got settled into the hotel.  Shortly after we were headed back to the fish wharf on the shuttle that picked us up from our hotel.  We signed in at the dock and boarded the boat that would take us out into the darkness.

Once everyone was loaded on board the captain gave us the itinerary for the evening.  He then delivered the news that the average catch rate was approximately three sharks per night.  On board there were about 12 fisherman.  Right then I started to do the math... Three sharks divided by 12 fisherman... that doesn't leave much chance for us to catch a shark.  Oh well, I was still excited to go out with my wife on this little adventure with the chance of catching a big shark.  Plus I had a slight suspicion that my lucky fishing history would pay off tonight!

The bait was defrosting on the boat... it was huge.  I'm talking small tuna sized bait.  They cut it into two inch thick steaks that was then threaded onto a large single hook.  The rod and real combos were huge, super duty!  When we arrived to the fishing grounds they set out the sea anchor and we dropped our heavy waits a few hundred feet down with the large chunks of bait to lure in the predators.

The gentleman fishing the back corner of the boat was fishing a fly-lined chunk of bait that was drifting along with the current.  It wasn't long and his rod started to scream.  Now I was thinking... man just my luck, should have tried that corner bait.  After a good fight the fish was lost at a distance before we could see it.  Now I was excited that the fish were biting and I had a shot at catching one.

Then the guy on the back corner gets nailed again!  Drag is clicking, he's cranking and getting worked like I've never seen before.  After an amazing fight the 5 foot Pacific Gray Reef Shark is beside the boat.  Everyone crowds around to see the magnificent creature.  After a few snapped pictures the crew on board uses large bolt cutters to cut the hook and set the shark free.

Wow, now I was really excited!  What a fish!

We moved to a different spot to see if we could find some more willing sharks and then the back corner went off again!  This time it was the guys wife.  I'm thinking these two should buy a lottery ticket since they are the only ones getting into all the fish.  She pulls in another nice Pacific Gray Reef Shark which is soon released after a few pictures.  My wife was fishing right beside her and I'm thinking maybe she has a chance... but judging by this picture you'll see I wasn't too hopeful.

I was standing at my post as we drifted along doing exactly what the crew said.  Drop the weight to the bottom then crank it up ten cranks and wait.  I did this diligently, over and over and over.... to no avail.  THEN IT HAPPENED!!!  I got the sensation that something was pulling on the end of my rod!  Click, click, click the drag started to be pulled out.  Ok, something definitely has taken the bait.  Do I wait?  Do I set the hook?  So I start cranking as fast as I can and set the hook!  I feel the resistance and then the fish starts pulling drag.  I crank with all my might, but it takes everything I have just to hold onto the rod.  With some help of the crew I'm able to get the fish beside the boat for some pictures.  It is another Pacific Gray Reef Shark.  After some pictures the bolt cutters come out and set the shark free.

I was absolutely thrilled to have been lucky enough to hook up and land one of the sharks of the night.

The rest of the night had some more action with a few bites that didn't stick and one more hook up off the bow of the boat.  This turned out to be the largest shark of the night.  A 6 foot Gray Reef shark that probably went 150 pounds.  What an amazing looking fish.  After the release of that fish it was pretty much time to head back in.

It was a fabulous adventure and I was glad we took the few hours to go out at night for the experience.  If you enjoy fishing I recommend you check out night shark fishing on Oahu.  If you'd like more information I'm just volunteering these websites of the charter I went with.  Good luck on catching the big one if you get to go out!
http://www.sportfishhawaii.com/sharkfishing.htm
http://www.sportfishhawaii.com

Big Bear Lake Early April Rainbow Trout Fishing

Fishing Big Bear lake in April had been hot!

With the success my brother and I had just experienced I thought I would head back to the lake my next day off.  I checked the forecast and it was looking like a great day for fishing.  The sun was shining and it was much warmer than the previous time out.  The snow was melting and completely gone from the South shore as well.  The snow was melting and pouring off the hills into the lake.  

I had arrived early but only a few fish were interested in biting and action was kind of slower than usual.  As the day progressed the melt water from the snow started to run off into the lake.  With all the construction going on with the new bridge being built there was a lot of dirty water running into the lake.  Right at my feet there was this large dust plume developing in the water and extending out from shore.  I couldn't see into the water at all.  As time passed I started to see fish splashing right next to the shore in the muddy water.  The fish were going crazy in this murky water.  They were like sharks prowling in the ocean for unsuspecting prey.  They were so close to shore though I had trouble presenting a jig to them.  

I set up a bobber with a very short line about 24 inches long and tied on a small hook.  I had some american sliced cheese with me and decided to try some.  I know, cheese, how elementary!  Sometimes the most simple techniques produce fish and you should never get too old to go back to the methods that worked when you were a kid.   

I left the bobber sit a few feet off shore and started casting a jig with a Berkley Power Nymph in grey along the shore where I could see fish splashing in the water.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that my bobber had disappeared.  I reached down and grabbed the other rod and set the hook on a feisty rainbow trout.  After setting up again I soon had my jig rod bent over with a large rainbow that had inhaled the Berkley Power Nymph.  The Rainbows stayed very active through the day and I kept catching fish after fish.  

I noticed a fish that was splashing and splashing by my feet.  It seemed odd that he was staying there for so long.  I finally reached down into the murky water and grabbed a hold of some old fishing line.  I could feel the fish tugging on this line.  It turns out he was snagged on the fishing line.  I pulled the fish in and untangled him.  After unraveling the trapped fish I set her free to live another day.  She is pictured below struggling in the muddy water.

I ended up taking a limit of rainbows home for some excellent eating and to share with some good friends

Big Bear Lake Mini Jigs for Rainbow Trout - April

Big Bear Spring fishing is usually pretty good in the beginning of April.

I was post call after a long night in the VA hospital and my brother was done working the night shift in the ER.  He called me up and asked how the fishing had been lately.  I told him pretty good and I could guarantee him some action.  You see my brother Dallas and I have grown up fishing together, but now that he has better things to do he'll only come fishing with me if I can guarantee him we will be catching rather than getting a big skunk!  It was already around 2 PM so we got things together and headed up for an evenings fishing.

Since we didn't have much time and it was mid week nobody was fishing by the dam.  So we jumped out of the car and headed down on the North side of the dam.  It was quite COLD and something was blowing in, but we got straight to fishing.  We both tied on a small mini jig lure in yellow and white and started fishing the shore.  I cast out the jig and let it sink down for a ten count.  I slowly reeled it in with a slight bouncing action on each cast.  Then I got a hit.  A rainbow trout slammed the jig and took a run, leaping out of the water and creating all kinds of excited laughter.  The beautiful rainbow was soon in hand and released after a quick picture. 

                                                                                                               Had to Keep This one       

The action continued to heat up with my brother hooking up as well on a few nice rainbows.  We decided to see what was swimming around the South side of the dam so we packed up quick and walked over the bridge.  We could see the fish swimming around near the dam and along the rock wall of the shore.  One of these fish soon decided to take a chomp out of Dallas' jig.  After a short battle with this worthy opponent the fisherman and fish were posing for a picture. 

As the sun sank in the sky and more dark clouds moved in the temperature plummeted.   With the dark coming the fish were becoming more difficult to convince to bite.  We decided to avoid frost bite ourselves and head back down the hill.    

Turned out to be an awesome after work fishing trip and it was back to work the next day!

How To Make Smoked Rainbow Trout

You may be wondering how to smoke your rainbow trout... well look no further this entry is for you!

Smoked Rainbow Trout is in my opinion the most delightful way to devour fresh caught rainbow trout.  So how do you get those slimy fish all prepared and ready to smoke?  Read on and check out the pictures to see how I do it.  

First of all you will need to clean your rainbow trout.
#1 Gut the Fish
#2 Cut the head off
#3 Cut the spine out of the fish and tail off
#4 Leave Skin on Fish and Rinse
#5 You can leave ribs on or cut them off
#6 Cut the fins off

When Done they should look like this.

Next you should make your Brine to soak the fish.  There are plenty of recipes online but here is one I use!
  #1 You will need a large pail that can fit in your fridge
  #2 1 Gallon of water
  #3 1 1/3 cups canning salt
  #4 2/3 cup of brown sugar
Mix all the ingredients until the sugar and salt are dissolved.  Then take your fish and layer them in the brine.  Place the pail into the refrigerator over night usually 12-18 hours will do the trick.  Rinse the fish off and lay out on counter to dry.  The flesh should get a night sticky shine to it.  This will be the best time to put it in the smoker.  If you can't wait then you can put it straight into the smoker.  I have a Charbroil Upright Propane smoker which I use.  There are many types that will work though.  This smoker gets very hot so it doesn't take as long.  Usually you will put some wood chips on the pan.  Hickory, Mesquite, Apple, Cherry... whatever you like or have available. 

Place the fish in the smoker on the racks.  Usually you can set the temperature on low with a propane smoker.  You don't want to heat the smoker to high or the fish will dry out.  As they cook the flesh will get shiny and the moisture with drip off.  With the temp set on low in my unit the fish will take 3-4 hours to cook.  They may take longer if the heat is lower in your unit, from 6-8 hours.    

The finished product should look something like this depending on how fast it was cooked.  The flesh should turn a nice golden brown and still have some moisture.  Now it is time to enjoy some fresh Smoked Rainbow Trout.  Keeps well in the refrigerator and great eating cold!

Big Bear Lake Rainbow Trout Fishing the end of March

Headed back to Big Bear Lake for some more Rainbow Trout Action!  

Started on the North Side of the dam and only caught one rainbow trout on a slip bobber with a night crawler at 12 feet down.  I looked over to the other side where I had fallen into the water a few weeks earlier.  The snow had now melted back and was no longer hanging out over the water looking slightly less dangerous.  I could hear the fish calling, so I decided to pack things up and head over to the other side.

I made my way down the snowy embankment carefully with my fishing gear and got into a somewhat safe position to be fishing from. Once in position I rigged up a couple of slip bobbers and night crawlers with varying depths anywhere from 8-15 feet in depth.  A short time elapsed before the bobbers started systematically disappearing and I pulled in a few nice fat rainbows.  It was a beautiful sunny day and once again caught my limit of big rainbows for the smoker.  Yum, love smoked rainbow trout!  Will post how I make smoked rainbow trout a little later.

TIP FOR THE DAY!  If the fish down seem to be biting well on the slip bobber try varying the depth.  Also cast that float as far out into the lake as you can to get it where the hungry fish are waiting!  Good Luck out there.

No near death experiences this time to share about.

EXTREME FISHING - Big Bear Lake Spring Rainbow Trout Fishing

Big Bear Lake Spring Rainbow Trout Fishing

Spring has arrived in Southern California and one of the most exciting fishing opportunities to be found is the Fabulous Rainbow Trout Fishing starting in MARCH and going right on through MAY.  Starting usually in the first few weeks of March the large spawning rainbow trout will start to find there ways to the streams that run into the lake.  While fishing for these fish in or near the streams is illegal you can usually find them close to the shore around the lake.  They will swim by looking for any trickle of water running into the lake.  I've even seen them leap out of the water right onto the rocks where a small trickle was entering the lake.

One of the best ways to catch these fish is using a yellow and white mini jig or crappie jig.  Use a light action rod with four pound test and a 1/32nd ounce jig.  Cast it out and let it sink down for ten seconds.  Then slowly reel it in with a small bouncing action.  Wait for the rainbows to chase this presentation right to shore and hold on.  Strikes can be violent and sometimes really soft, so pay attention.  Tipping the crappie jig with a meal worm sometimes helps.

There I was early in the morning standing on the side of the lake.  I could see fish swimming near the shore, but they really weren't that interested.  It was a slow morning and I only ended up landing one fish, so I decided to try the other side of the lake.  There was a huge snow pile on the other side that was still overhanging the water.  It looked pretty dangerous which was good for me because no one else was fishing there.  I went around to the other side and slowly worked my way down the mound of snow.  I toed my foot holds one at a time on this steep bank and carved out a platform for myself to stand on.  I then created steps down closer to the water to net any possible fish I'd catch.

Turns out that I made an EXCELLENT choice as my bobber vanished within a few moments of casting it out.  I had a slip bobber rig out with a night crawler sitting from 12-15 feet down in the water column.  The fish kept coming and it was turning out to be an excellent day fishing.

THEN IT HAPPENED!!!!    As I was making my way down the steps the snow drift broke off and I fell into the FRIGID WATER up to my waist.  I was now stuck waist deep with nothing but a shear cliff of snow and ice above me to try to climb out on.  I clawed my hands into the snow and with all my strength pulled myself out of the water.  To this day I have no idea how I was able to pull myself out.  Check the pictures out.

It wasn't too cold out so I just kept on fishing and dried off slowly.  Caught my limit of 5 nice rainbow trout and released a few more to grow up for another day.  We'll Chalk that one up for another crazy adventure with the Fishing Doctor!

My Fishing Platform on the Snow Bank

 Where I fell in and the chunk that fell in with me.  Notice the angle, straight down!

The Days Great Catch Well Worth the Effort!

Kayak Fishing La Jolla

La Jolla Kayak Fishing - Valentine's Day 

I had been reading about the amazing fishing in La Jolla even prior to getting my very of Malibu Pro 2 Tandem Kayak.  I had been reading the forums and intrigued by the giant fish that lurk in the near shore waters of La Jolla.  Pictures of Huge Yellowtail and White Sea Bass litter the internet and I couldn't wait to sink my hook into one.  

I convinced my wife that Valentines weekend was perfect to go and visit La Jolla.  So we booked a hotel and headed down for the weekend.  Valentines Day we got a late start... really late.   My wife is not a morning person and getting her to go fishing in the early am is like waking the dead. 

We head out to the La Jolla Shores launching area and unload.  The sun is now high up in the ski and people are already packing it up after the morning of fishing.  We load up the kayak and jump in for the paddle out to the fishing grounds.  We make it out past the protected area and try to drop down for some bait.  No such luck for any use able baitfish.  

Good thing I have a few Irons and read a ton about Yo-Yoing fishing.  So I hook up an Tady and start casting it out and letting it fall to the bottom.  Then crank it back to me at a good pace.  Dropped it down here and there and everywhere for absolutely nothing.

Then ALL OF A SUDDEN!!!  It Happens!!!   No not a fish but a loud spout of water and air shooting into the air right behind us.  About 50 feet away from us two Grey Whales on their migration past La Jolla decided to surface for air right beside us and swim along the surface.  We paddled a bit closer to them before they dived down out of site.  Wow that sure made the paddle out worth it. 

Before finishing up we caught a few small whitefish near the bottom.  None of the Huge Yellowtail Homeguards I had been reading about.  I knew the odds were against us with the late start.  This place is awesome with so much sea life I was determined to come back and give it another shot!  

TIP FROM GUYS WHO OBVIOUSLY KNOW MORE THAN ME:  Saw some other guys who were out there much earlier then us and caught some yellow tail and WSB on weighted live bait, mackerel or sardines.  So if you want to give it a try I'd recommend their method fishing near the bottom in 80 to 100 feet of water.  Good Luck out there and watch out for the Great White Sharks!  

Crappie Fishing Big Bear Lake

It was the beginning of November and my younger brother Tyson was visiting us in Southern California from Canada.  We decided to head up to Big Bear Lake since the fish usually start biting well as the water cools down in the fall.  We stopped at the North Side of the dam and were trying to use slip bobbers and power bait   It was a very slow morning and we only managed to catch one small rainbow trout from shore.   

Since fishing wasn't the greatest we decided to head off down to Big Bear Creek.  From the Dam you drive down the hi way a little over a mile until there is a large turnout with a gravel road leading down the mountain.  If you have an all wheel drive vehicle you should be able to make it since the road gets a little rough towards the end.  Drive down to the parking area and then hike down a short but very steep decent down the valley.  We arrived to the creek and started making our way down.  We saw a few brown trout but they were not paying our mini jigs any attention today.  Seems like the fish were in an off mood today.  After giving it a good try we decided to hike out and give Big Bear Lake another try for the evening bite.  The hike out is pretty tough.  My younger brother was calling out for the Mountain Lion to come put him out of his misery.  We made it out though and headed back to the lake.

Back at the dam we cast out our slip bobbers with pieces of night crawlers.  Right away our bobbers started going down.  It wasn't trout pulling them down though, it was crappie.  We started to catch a bunch of crappie and had a great time as the sun set.  Turned out to be a beautiful fall day and a bit different of an experience for my brother since he had never caught crappie before.