Hey David

[PaulC]

I ran into one of your buddies today while looking for corbina.
He wanted to say hi but wouldn't smile for the camera:)
That little bugger banged a perch fry bendback and took off.
Lots of pull for their size.
-Paul
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Cronin/Paul_Leopard2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Cronin/release.jpg

[David Lee]

YEAHHHHH !!!!

Fine lil' 'black-phase' Leo -

I heard thru the grapevine you had some Mako action .... any reasons you didn't share the photos here ?

Got a perch fry fly photo ??????

Killer catch !!

David :D :D :D

[PaulC]

Sorry David. Things have been crazy lately with a Critical Design Review 600 slide monster the week after the trip.
I've cut and pasted the report from the bulla board below.

Off all week chasing beans with some striper friends from up north coming down later in the week. We'll end their trip again with another mako trip with Capt. Dave.
The corbina fishery is really starting to turn on.
The sun is out, I'm just sitting here drinking a coffee waiting for the sun to get higher up on the water.
Today should be a good day.

The perch fry was a sample a friend gave me a while back to try out. Its now eyeless so a pic wouldn't do it justice. I'll post a pic later of a fresh one.
-Paul

Hey Guys,
Got back late last night from a trip with Jeff Priest and Dave Trimble looking for makos.

The start of the day was a motor out under grey skies but super calm waters.
Dave spots a "finner" milling around and we quietly slide up within casting range. Looks like a nice fish probably in the 80 lb class.
No chum slick and chances of getting this guy fired up near the boat are not looking good.
Jeff is up to bat and Dave throws out the teaser hoping to get this guy going.
It charges the teaser, fly pops in and first take pops loose. Damn!

A quick toss of the teaser again, switched out with a nice cast from Jeff and the fish was on. Not a jumper this one, but gave Jeff some nice pulls on the 16wt.
Tagged and released and onto a spot to setup a slick.

After about 30-45 minutes, the first shark shows up which was a small 40 lber. I threw a large orange FPF fly I tied at him for starters on a 10wt but could not for the life of me to get the fly to stick.
This fish would take the bug, immediately run right at me shaking his head to throw the bug.
Eventually the ticket was a big pink popper which brought new meaning to chuck and duck on a 10wt.
Chuck the popper at the teaser, rip the teaser out of the water, fish circles, give the popper one good chug and inhaled. Fish on!
Got one nice jump out of him by the motor close enough to tap him with the fly rod almost.
When tagging and releasing this guy, Dave notices a line scar near the mouth indicating he'd be caught before.
Definitely wised up from his last hookup is seems.

After tagging and releasing this dude, the next fish shows up in the 60lb class.

Jeff's up and gets this guy hooked up almost immediately.
A couple nice runs and surface explosions and the fish was released on a 12wt.

We set up one more slick and only managed a couple small blues on Jeff's squid patterns and 10 wts.
Those squid patterns are just wicked in the water.
That was it for the day.

Beautiful day on the water, great company and a top notch guide. Saw some whales and porpoise everywhere.
No pictures this time, just video. I'll rip a few pictures from the framesets later tonight and compile some sort of video clip over the next couple weeks.

I hope you guys found some fish out there Randy. I couldn't remember the channel you suggested. We were periodically checking 72 but it was a bunch of dudes chattering about the yellowtail tournament.

Out again in a couple weeks for round three with Brendon from last year. That fishery out there is amazing.
P.S. I've taken slow shots from camcorder as stills, but apparently too much motion makes it pretty grainy. Live and learn I guess.
Some pictures from the footage below.
-Paul

The hookup
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Cronin/hookup.jpg

On the bow
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Cronin/jeff1.jpg

Release
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Cronin/mako_2.jpg

Speak softly but carry a big stick!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Cronin/jeff2.jpg

[David Lee]

Makos that learn !! Who'da thunk ?!?

Good hunting this week , hope you get 'em !!!!

David :D :D :D

[PaulC]

Thanks David.
Here's a link to the pattern on my friend Jeff's website.
I'm not trying to plug his guide service, but his webpage shows a nice comparison of the pattern and the natural.
http://www.eefishent.com/perch_fry.htm

I'll be sure to post the results of the next mako trip.
Hope I can get these guys into fish.
One is a hardcore pacifica conventional guy transitioning to fly.
This trip will hopefully give him a jumpstart on the transition.
-Paul

[David Lee]

Paul -

If anyone can get them dudes into fishes , it'd be you .

Again , great fair-hooked Leopard !! I see you have the shark-hold down .... :lol: Twisty lil' devils , ain't they ??

Ed and I are off this morning for Smallmouth in the bush - I'll send you some pictures :idea:

David :D

[PaulC]

Right on. Hope you guys do well.
The corbina were definitely active this morning and managed a couple fair hooked fish to hand.
I had a bunch more on the reel but lost connection when they threw the hook.
The highlight was a high 20's if not 30" bean that took off a good portion of my backing before the line went limp. Doh!
That was the biggest bean I've seen yet. Oh well....he's still in there. Maybe tomorrow.

You got to make a trip down here sometime. I think you'd dig it.

Here's a fat kid from this morning with my lucky hat. He inhaled the bug, good thing it was barbless.
-Paul
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Cronin/bean1_062507.jpg