J ROD MCGINNIS FIRST PERSON REPORT

BAD WEATHER BASS BY J ROD MCGINNISPublished: May 18, 2009

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WON READER REPORTS   It started as  a challenge to get my son back into fishing. It seems we were having a bad start, as we had tried several times at  Lake Pardee, Camanche and then switched to Lake Amador. Then I made a decision to go to Clearlake with a professional guide. I knew we needed badly to get some fish on the hook, or I was going to lose my son Ryan due to not hooking  any fish. We all know the frustration of the feast or famine when it comes to fishing. I decided to contact the owner of a tackle shop ( Limit Out Tackle ) in Clearlake Oaks and Bob Higgins’s wife referred me to a new guide on the lake by the name of Steve Perkins. I had several conversations with Steve and explained to him that we needed to get some fish on my son Ryan’s line or he might back off from fishing. What I got was more than I bargained for and more than what I paid for.  Ryan and I fished two half days with Steve and I will say he worked to get us hooked up.   By the end of ia rainy cold Saturday we had caught  almost 30 bass ranging from 3 to 6 ½ pounds. Most caught were in the 4-pound range and made for an exciting time, even in the cold rain that I had insisted on fishing in. I had to try and beat my sons 6 ½-pound hog bass that he had caught the prior day. I only had to tie him or  get one 1/4- pound larger. Well, I lost, but it was a experience that my son and I will remember. Its not every day that you get to watch your son pull in a 6 1/2-pound “hog “ bass. Oh, you’re probably wondering what we caught them on. Well, for that you’ll have to ask Steve Perkins, our guide. I highly recommend Steve--you may not get that 6 ½ pounder every day, but he will get you on the bass. He recently hooked a 12 pounder. If you’re looking for a guided trip, give him a call. Ryan and I will be going back soon so I can try and redeem myself with at least a tie.