been having a lot of fun fishing poppers for bass evenings after work in some local ponds and lakes. have only been getting smaller males up to 2 lbs but they fight like hell on a five weight. its sacrilegious to some, but most large bass ive hooked the past few years, like 4-8 lbs, have been on a clear intermediate line with a hook and rubber zoom lizard/worm and split shot, but pretty hard to beat the topwater bite when theyre in the shallows. Have you guys hooked some larger bass flyfishing poppers? Its fun with these smaller ones on a 5 weight, but think itd be pretty underpowered for largemouth over 4-5 lbs. i know a lot of folks will use 7-8 weights for LMB. Lightfoot on this forum really helped me with some rigging and general advice a few years back that got me into the bass thing, and its been a lot of fun every spring and summer being able to get fishing in so close to home.
The most fun I've had on topwater poppers was at AJ's pond (A few old timers know it) outside of Vacaville. Drop down a couple line sizes and head to the semi stagnant water behind Winters.
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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.
I did topwater fishing for pike off of the kayak last summer but used poppers and baitcasting reels. My big fish was right around 36 inches or so but most were in the 20-22 inch range. The little ones here are referred to as hammer handles.
Bass/pike season doesn't open until May 15th in this area. People are still taking quads and snowmobiles out on the ice for splake and lake trout. A buddy picked up an 11 pound laker 2 days ago on a hand line but I'll pass due to crappy ice conditions. The ice should blow out in a couple of weeks, then it's game on pending covid-19.
Berryessa should be fishing well.
Stay safe
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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.
