Tough weekend at Round Valley

[briansnat]

I spent Fri through Monday at Round Valley. No fishing Friday because I arrived just before a line of T-storms moved through. Went full speed across the lake to beat the storm and the storm hit as I was driving in the last tent stake.

Sat morning I planned to fish, but there were heavy winds overnight and apparently the waves were breaking all night over the stern of my beached boat. The gas tank was floating and my two batteries were submerged. I spent the morning bailing out the boat with one of my cooking pans.

Late Sat morning two friends showed up, one in his 21 ft Lund fully outfitted for fishing. Two electric downriggers, really nice Lowrance. On the water by noon and we fished until after sunset. We were marking a lot of fish between 20 and 50 feet so set one DR at 45 and another at 25 (varied them periodically, going as deep as 80 ft at times). Also two lead core lines on planer boards down about 30 ft. Trolled Rapalas and spoons all afternoon, near shore and out in the deeps, pretty much everywhere. Varying speeds, changing lures, colors, everything we knew, but not a bite.

Sunday we were on the lake at sunrise and trolled until 2, dragging 6 lines on the DRs, flat lines and lead core on the planers. Caught one 17" rainbow just before we headed back in.

My friends left (along with the nice boat) and after dinner I took my boat out and drifted a few shiners while jigging and dropshotting for bass in 10-40 feet of water until after sunset. Nada.

Monday I broke camp by 9 and trolled until 2. One downrigger and two lead core lines. Tried the DR throughout the water column, but not a fish.

The kicker is I get to the launch and a guy fishing from shore next to the ramp had two bows on the beach.

This lake still beats my ass.