Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3820 Sept 13-27 | Page 7

Sept 13-27, 2019
VOL.38 • ISS. 20
5
Spotlight On Kayak Fishing...
Sponsered by
Kayak City
in Citrus Heights, CA
Kayak City.Com
916.565.1400
Go Explore!
By Kevin Hofer
So, this is not a “how to” article nor one telling all the secrets to
catching big fish, instead a story of one of my recent adventures and
how the willingness to explore can turn a fun but difficult fishing trip
into the trip of a lifetime!
A lot of people I know find a lake they like and they fish it over and
over and often times they expect different results… Isn’t this close to
some’s definition of insanity?
Yes, certain lakes have their appeal and reasons to return, but, for
my friend Matt Davis and I, we enjoy the thrill of exploring new water
whenever possible.
On our latest adventure together, we loaded up the yaks and made the
long haul to central Nevada to try and catch some species of fish that we
had never caught before.
Hundreds of miles later we were trolling and casting in 90+ degree
temps and 15-30 mph winds. After a day and a half of this with one
small walleye and some tiny catfish to show for our efforts, the talk of
Kevin Hofer landed this huge high mountain trout during a kayaking trip that started deep
plan B was heavy around the table in the small bit of shade we had.
in the Nevada desert and ended in the High Sierra.
As we hydrated, we talked of “what do you think?” And “where
Photo courtesy of KEVIN HOFER, Fish Sniffer Magazine.
should we go’s”. As two avid trout fishermen, it wasn’t a huge surprise
that we decided to go in search of what we know best!
lakes that we discussed as we drove and just before dark, we arrived to a lake
It didn’t take us long to get a couple of kayaks loaded on the truck and to
I had never fished.
start making our way back west toward the Sierra. There was a handful of
Excited to try and redeem myself from the struggle of days’ past, I unloaded
the kayak in the dark and got it prepped for the hike to the shoreline in the
morning. A quick dinner while chatting of tomorrow’s strategies and then we
were off to bed.
Before the sun had a chance to come over the mountains, we already had the
kayaks in the water and were getting our troll on.
Covering ground looking for fish and just getting to know the place is
how we started. I struck first with a nice feisty brown that was patrolling the
shallows near the inlet, the sun was high in the sky before the next bite came.
This time it was Matt, I could see his kayak being turned in circles,
something only a big fish can do, so I immediately made my way over to him.
I made it in time to snap a couple pics of him with his personal best German
brown.
As Matt took some time for his heart rate to go down and body to stop
shaking, I started taking a few casts as we chatted. Both of us were completely
caught off guard when my lure got smashed and the next thing I knew, I was
being towed across the lake.
Now it was my turn for a racing heart and shaky arms as I hold up my
personal best German brown so Matt can take a picture.
After traveling hundreds of miles and hours down unlabeled dirt roads we
were both so incredibly thankful to have come across such epic fishing.
You never know what you are going to find, could be a windy, murky lake
with a tough bite or you could stumble upon one of those lakes that offers
good reasons to come back and visit. There is only one way to find out… go
Just before Kevin landed his monster brown, Matt battled and release this beauty.
explore!
Photo courtesy of KEVIN HOFER, Fish Sniffer Magazine.
Fisherman’s Warehouse Fall
Bonanza Sept. 20 & 21
F
isherman’s Warehouse locations
are having a huge
fall sale sponsored by
Berkley, Shakespeare,
Fenwick, Gulp &
PENN.
During the event,
you’ll enjoy super
savings and great
promotional incen-
tives. For example,
if you buy $250 worth
of PENN products you’ll
receive a free PENN dry
duffle case. Buy and Abu Garcia
C3 or C4 and get a free trolling rod…
Of course, there is a lot more saving and
incentives up for grabs. For all the details,
check out the ad up toward the front of
this issue of the Fish Sniffer!
Fisher-
man’s
Warehouse
boasts three locations. In
Manteca, they are located
at 2201 E. Yosemite
Ave. [phone]. In
Sacramento find them at
9035 Folsom Blvd. (916)
362-1200. In San Jose,
Fisherman’s is at 1120
Branham Lane. (408)
266-6209.
AMERICA’S FAVORITE
LANDING NET BRAND!
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