Gonzaga Fly Fishing help - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

walrus · 09-19-2016, 10:55 AM

Update on fishing conditions at Makobob's from Sept 6Th thru 14th trip.

Water temps 79F, last year 85F+.
Visibility, clearly saw the bottom at 30 feet.

Bait is everywhere, with micro baits on the surface down to 15 feet for two solid miles. Medium and large size baitfish hanging down below the micro baits in small to large baitballs. Larger baits were scattered around from the shallow water to deep waters.

The bite was slower than usual for the area due to the amount of bait fish. Most fish caught had their mouths full of bait, indication lures provoking a reaction strike. No large fish were caught, and fishermen who spend four or five hours on the water caught thirty to forty fish a day.

Fish species caught this year:
trigger fish
spotted bass
cabrilla
gold spotted bass
sierra
orange mouth corvina
rivera grouper
gulf grouper
pufferfish
grunts
damselfish
needlefish
wrasse
kelp sculpin
skipjack

I hope this helps you pick your flys. Movement noise, and splash will win the day down there right now.

A lot of roosters are crowing next door and roosterfish are feeding on mullets along the shore.

brew · 09-19-2016, 06:03 PM

Domtesta,

Please don't buy a 12Wt setup. I have one and never use it! you are welcome to bring it on Mako Bobs Oct trip to try out. Hopefully you will need it! I have the reel and an intermediate clear tropical line for it (Tarpon in FL).

It is a 3pc Sage 9' 13Wt (RPLXi) and a Pflueger president 12Wt reel w/ 500yds of 50lb braid backing.

I use an 8wt personally. I just use heavier tippet if the fish get big. I'm not sure I could even fish much heavier than 30lb from a kayak. A big barracuda on 20lb pretty much kicked my ass in FL.

Tim

makobob · 09-20-2016, 08:36 AM

Brew, FYI, some of these fish will be UNSTOPABLE on an 8 wt fly rod. BUT the same fish might be unstopable on any fly rod. Hook a cabrilla or grouper over the reefs and they will be in the rocks before you can say BAJA. Done deal and gone, better luck next time. However hook a large WSB, Roosterfish, YT on a heavier rod and your chances of landing should be increased. Tight Lines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brew

Domtesta,

Please don't buy a 12Wt setup. I have one and never use it! you are welcome to bring it on Mako Bobs Oct trip to try out. Hopefully you will need it! I have the reel and an intermediate clear tropical line for it (Tarpon in FL).

It is a 3pc Sage 9' 13Wt (RPLXi) and a Pflueger president 12Wt reel w/ 500yds of 50lb braid backing.

I use an 8wt personally. I just use heavier tippet if the fish get big. I'm not sure I could even fish much heavier than 30lb from a kayak. A big barracuda on 20lb pretty much kicked my ass in FL.

Tim

monstahfish · 09-21-2016, 06:16 AM

I own a 12 weight even had a 15wt for a while and never used them because it's so heavy to cast. The ten weight should cover most things. On of the best things about fishing from a kayak is you're going to go with the fish and it will turn into a vertical fight sooner than later unless you're in shallow.

09-19-2016, 10:55 AM	#1
walrus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Baja fish camp Posts: 478	Update on fishing conditions at Makobob's from Sept 6Th thru 14th trip. Water temps 79F, last year 85F+. Visibility, clearly saw the bottom at 30 feet. Bait is everywhere, with micro baits on the surface down to 15 feet for two solid miles. Medium and large size baitfish hanging down below the micro baits in small to large baitballs. Larger baits were scattered around from the shallow water to deep waters. The bite was slower than usual for the area due to the amount of bait fish. Most fish caught had their mouths full of bait, indication lures provoking a reaction strike. No large fish were caught, and fishermen who spend four or five hours on the water caught thirty to forty fish a day. Fish species caught this year: trigger fish spotted bass cabrilla gold spotted bass sierra orange mouth corvina rivera grouper gulf grouper pufferfish grunts damselfish needlefish wrasse kelp sculpin skipjack I hope this helps you pick your flys. Movement noise, and splash will win the day down there right now. A lot of roosters are crowing next door and roosterfish are feeding on mullets along the shore. __________________

09-19-2016, 06:03 PM	#2
brew I Exercise Fish Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: HB Posts: 44	Domtesta, Please don't buy a 12Wt setup. I have one and never use it! you are welcome to bring it on Mako Bobs Oct trip to try out. Hopefully you will need it! I have the reel and an intermediate clear tropical line for it (Tarpon in FL). It is a 3pc Sage 9' 13Wt (RPLXi) and a Pflueger president 12Wt reel w/ 500yds of 50lb braid backing. I use an 8wt personally. I just use heavier tippet if the fish get big. I'm not sure I could even fish much heavier than 30lb from a kayak. A big barracuda on 20lb pretty much kicked my ass in FL. Tim

09-21-2016, 06:16 AM	#4
monstahfish Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 406	I own a 12 weight even had a 15wt for a while and never used them because it's so heavy to cast. The ten weight should cover most things. On of the best things about fishing from a kayak is you're going to go with the fish and it will turn into a vertical fight sooner than later unless you're in shallow.