12/5 Cuyamaca is ON!

pattyho · Dec-06-2006, 01:05 PM

Lines in the water 7am, threw everything in the book at them until noon, that’s when we got our first bite, once we figured out the pattern.......

5 fish between 16 and 18 inches, all fatties, the biggest being about 3 lbs, a couple small guys got in the mix or I'm sure I would have put together the heaviest stringer for the week.

Most of these were hold over fish. I could tell by the orange/pink meat they had, almost like salmon.

I think I’ll put a few on the smoker and see how they turn out. Any body got a good recipe for smoked trout?

**Smudge** · Dec-06-2006, 01:09 PM

Sweet! Nice pink meat!... Might have to go today...

reel fun · Dec-06-2006, 01:14 PM

damn. some chunkys for sure

TATTED JONNY · Dec-06-2006, 01:30 PM

I think the distinctive color difference has to do with them being the Alpers they stocked awhile back.. Does anyone else know? Very nice haul none-the-less!!Congrats...

TATTED JONNY

Nawcitoff · Dec-06-2006, 01:31 PM

WTG nice limit. what was the pattern?

sdfishkiller · Dec-06-2006, 01:34 PM

It would be nice if you shared with us the pattern that produced for you. It's not like trout are a limited resource. Fellow BDers helping other Fellow BDers. I personally would like to know(Although I haven't fished Cuyamaca in 5 yrs.) and I'm sure some BDers with kids and a family would like to have some success during their time off for the holidays. You know you like seeing those smiling little faces on the front page holding up a trout 1/2 as tall as they are.

Brine the fillets and smoke with a combination of mesquite and apple wood

Google up some recipes. Sounds good.

FISHY · Dec-06-2006, 01:38 PM

traditional salt sugar brine with alder

**Smudge** · Dec-06-2006, 02:12 PM

I like the apple/mesquite combo too. Brine with one full cup of dark brown sugar, one half cup kosher salt, two cups of pineapple juice and enough water to fully cover the fish. Best to brine at room temp for 30 min. Set fillets on wax paper and ensure they dry fully before smoking to ensure a good pellicle.

fishstick-er · Dec-06-2006, 02:22 PM

Sounds like the temps have put the fish on a late bite. As we get in to winter it is just as well to sleep in and do the afternoon session at that lake.

Bottom Line · Dec-06-2006, 02:23 PM

Nice Alpers!

**fishnfool** · Dec-06-2006, 03:00 PM

It isn't all temps. When it comes to fish there are many things that can/do/will effect the bite.

Right now I would say the water temp is only part of the equation. The full moon, and lack of cloud cover makes for some very bright nights so they feed all night. They then go deep and lay low during the day until mid-afternoon, early evening when the sun starts to drop and the surface temps cools again with more bugs also falling into the water that get to cold midflight to reach their destination. Along with those things add in the barometric pressure, water clarity, other food sources ie: nymphs, minnows, fry, etc... ok now I'm rambling. I think you get the idea.

Cuyamaca is fishable year round for trout because the water temps stay cool. I have had incredible mid-summer fishing for trout there. The temps can get to low as well which will slow the bite considerably. You may have to fish in shallower water, or deeper water, and present lures much slower to get bit when that happens. You have to be able to adapt, and be willing to try different things to get bit consistently throughout the same day as conditions change.

My point is I don't believe any one thing effects the bite so much as a combination of several. If you limit yourself to thinking one factor determines your success or lack thereof you may stay in bed one morning and hear from you Bro that it was on fire that morning and you missed the best bite of the season just because there was a full moon the night before so you decided to sleep in for the afternoon bite that never happened for you because between the morning, and afternoon a low pressure front moved in, and the bite shut down completely leaving you disappointed and unfulfilled.

In summary I would recommend that you just go fish, from sun up to sun down every chance you get so you can maximize your chances of being there whenever it is the fish decide to cooperate, and jump on the end of your line. Good luck...that is all...for now.

Oh...nice fish Keith. Didn't mean to jack your thread.

WAR · Dec-06-2006, 03:03 PM

WOAH NICE!