Ninja Bassin'

Mothers Day weekend in Oxnard led me to a presearch for some fishable waters near my Mother-in-laws. A quick look through Google Earth came up with Lake Casitas, only 20 miles away, near Ojai. Casitas is a big bass fishery with two of the top 25 bass coming out of here (see previous post). How could I resist? Oh wait, I know how, it costs 15 dollars just to drive in, 2 dollars more to bring the dog. Jeez...Welcome to Southern California.

So this little guy came on what has become my goto, guaranteed fish catcher- the 4" thin Senko (thanks for the tip B.H.). I had a 3lb leader on for added effectiveness. I know, I know, there will be zero chance of catching a DDB with this setup but with the entry fee as it is, I wanted something to show for it...Oh well, it was nice to enjoy the day with my ever-expanding wife (remember, she's preggo) and our little dog Seamour. Unfortunately for Sea, her two dollar entry included four paws worth of briars....

How do you avoid ridiculous fees and pressured waters? You go Ninja my friend, thats how. Me and my buddy hit up a local pond in search of some lunkers. He got this nice one.

Unfortunately, he also missed a bite on a 16" worm, definitely DDB style fishing. 

I got this little guy on the Ika. Because of the abundant cover and snags, we had to fish weedless and the Ika supposedly can catch some big ones. Not satisfied, I tried to throw the swimbait, and got it hung up second cast. I left that place with three lure-less rods and a giant birdsnest of a backlash...Better luck next time.   

By the way, I wonder if the Japanese call sneaking around in the dark at forbidden areas, in the wee hours of the morning, "Ninja" style. For some reason I doubt it. Maybe here in San Diego it would be more appropriate to call it "Ghetto Style Tresspassin' " or something. But then it might lose its nostalgic charm and we wouldn't feel like kids, more like criminals, sneaking around in the dark at forbidden areas, in the wee hours of the morning....