Wow what a day!

[Paul Zoch]

Had the most incredible day of Bluegill fishing in my life yesterday at Lake Barrett (San Diego). Wide open bite on my fly rod that lasted all day. Fish averaged about a pound each, most over 10 inches. It was the kind of day I dream of, had to quit about 4pm after landing about 300 bluegill and a handful of bass.Yes, literally bit on almost every cast. Actually cramps in hands told me to quit. About half caught on Cypet (Mylar) minnow and half on chartreuse popper in the shade of the dam. Fish on the spawn- unfortunately they used my waders as part of the process. (I had wondered why kept bumping into my  legs). So many colorful fish including the sunfish, Here are some pics.

[Jim Gronaw]

Now, see...some anglers would yell 'too much to pay', but if you have the chance to do it once or twice a year then it is, in my opinion, well WELL worth the time effort and money to experience a day that you will always remember. And on the fly-rod, too! Just incredible, those SoCal bluegills!

I recently had one of my top two or three all-time days on gills just last Friday as I caught and released about 2 dozen fish over ten inches and a PR pumpkinseed at 10.25 inches from a local private pond. Had another day in May recently where I got 13 over 10 inches at another 'bass' lake 4 miles from home.

I am currently blessed with 4 private and 3 public venues close to home that are yielding good numbers of 10 inch and larger gills. No, not like Southern Cal or Abney's blackwaters, but definately high-end gilling just about anywhere in the nation.

Congrats again!

[Paul Zoch]

Thanks Jim. Just FYI Lake Barret now has individual Float Tube spots for $20 plus service charges (about $34 total). Anyone interested can reserve a spot through ticketron.

[Jim Gronaw]

Congrats much...a career day for just about all of us!

Jeff Soto has told us about Barrett...tough to get into but worth the wait and effort!

Bravo!