Casting everything in the box at an indifferent four-pounder

I thought I'd check out Lake Jennings yesterday and warm my bones in the welcome sunshine. Such a pretty little lake sometimes that you can almost imagine you are in the wilderness somewhere, far from any populated city. Anyhow, lots of big trout cruising the shoreline and getting hungry. It took me a while to get the first one, as I kept impatiently changing tactics. It's hard to see a four-pounder cruisin' by and just sit on your Powerbait when you have lures in the box. It's hard to keep casting everything in the box at an indifferent four-pounder teasingly swimming by every few minutes.

Finally committed to a fly-lined nightcrawler on 4-pound test with a #8 mosquito hook casted 20 to 30 yards offshore and left to drift down in 10-20 feet of water. Walk it in slow and replace it with a fresh one when it stops kicking. I was literally drowning worms, but some were eaten. The trout seemed to bite on the sink or just after in hits bottom, so no need lettin' it sit there too long.

Turns out they liked that idea, and I finished the day with two fat Rainbow Trout of 16 and 18 inches, a 3-pound bass, and a big red-ear sunfish (shell-cracker). I released the bass and the sunfish. I lost one trout of maybe 5 pounds that found some brush, broke off, and split the scene looking fine. I, on the other hand, was left standing thigh-deep in the water with limp line and a net looking stupid. That bank can be slippery.

December 4 dock totals

Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 20 Anglers, 1 Boat, 1 California Halibut, 6 Barred Sand Bass, 2 Kelp Bass, 1 Mako Shark Released, 18 Kelp Bass Released

H&M Landing 92 Anglers, 5 Boats, 173 Rockfish, 95 Yellowtail, 4 Skipjack Tuna, 35 Bonito, 11 Bluefin Tuna, 14 Bocaccio, 1 Sheephead, 2 Whitefish, 1 Lingcod, 108 Halfmoon, 2 Sand Bass, 9 Sculpin, 1 Calico Bass

Helgren's Oceanside Sportfishing 14 Anglers, 1 Boat, 3 Yellowtail, 7 Sand Bass, 32 Sculpin, 2 Calico Bass

Point Loma Sportfishing 24 Anglers, 1 Boat, 4 Sand Bass, 6 Sculpin, 93 Bonito

Seaforth Sportfishing 62 Anglers, 3 Boats, 48 Bonito, 6 Skipjack Tuna, 24 Bluefin Tuna, 48 Yellowtail, 3 Sculpin, 1 Calico Bass, 13 Sheephead, 168 Rockfish

25 Anglers aboard the Chief 1.5 Day trip boated 168 Rockfish, 82 California Yellowtail

The Invicta 1.5 Day trip with 20 Anglers aboard reported 4 Skipjack Tuna, 35 Pacific Bonito, 11 Bluefin Tuna, 6 California Yellowtail caught

The Tribute 1.5 Day trip out to Tanner Bank produced 16 Pacific Bonito, 6 Skipjack Tuna, 24 Bluefin Tuna, 33 California Yellowtail for the 9 Anglers aboard.

41 Anglers aboard the San Diego 3/4 Day run to the Coronado Islands put 13 California Sheephead, 168 Rockfish, 17 Pacific Bonito, 15 California Yellowtail in the gunnysacks