Submitted by Leapin' Bass (ip 209.179.44.144)

Date Fished: 8/1/2003
Water Clarity: 4 feet or greater

Made an early morning run to the Santa Ynez River on Friday. Hiked to the 2nd pool where Brian Kettler began to show his sunfishing skills on a popper. At the 3rd pool I snuck up on decent sized smallie, pitched a 5 inch Assalt Salt Shaker Worm and nailed him (about 13 inches). Brian continued with his sunfish massacre on the popper. He just couldn't get the bass to go topwater. I threw a buzzbait at each pool today for no biters - the buzzbait is usually one of my best morning baits up there. Anyway, we continued to the 4th pool where we saw a nice (17 to 18 inch) bass that just didn't want to play.

From there we continued to the 5th and 6th pools where both Brian and I got several decent smallies (along with lots of sunfish) to play on the 4 inch and 5 inch Salt Shaker worms.

After that we hiked up to the 7th pool (my favorite). Brian fished near the rock and I started hiking around to the other side. Just as I was crossing the river I got side tracked and found another pool just above that usually isn't there when the water isn't running. I hid in the bushes and saw a few decent smallies along with one big fish (at least 18 inches). While my heart was pumping I found a way to pitch my Salt Shaker through the trees and nailed one of the smaller fish (14 inches). After landing it to my surprise the other fish came back with two more decent fish. Once again I pitched the worm out and nailed another (13 inches). Same thing again for my 3rd fish. Then they didn't come back but I pitched the worm out anyways. My stomach tied itself in a knot as I saw the big fish approach the bait as it just sat on the bottom and slurped it up. I set the hook the best I could within the trees and brush. The fish took off like only a nice smallie can, jumped and came unbottoned! Brian heard my very loud (&%#$!!!) and thought I had broke a rod or something. To my surprise the fish didn't leave. I pitched the worm out again, it turned toward the bait as it fell but a smaller (13 inch) fish shot out from nowhere, freaked out the big fish, and nailed my bait. Just after I released it Brian showed up. The pool was very interesting as just this lower end of the pool had clear water. The upper end was very cloudy. We also noticed that the water entered the pool just a few feet from where it exited (down at the lower end). Which just so happened to be where all those good fish kept coming back to. Definetely a "fishy" spot.

After that excitement I made my way around to the other side of the 7th pool and nailed 2 more nice smallies - again on the Salt Shaker.

I pretty much stuck to the 5 inch Green Wienie Blue Salt Shaker and Brian used the 4 inch Oxblood Red and 4 inch Black Grape.

Anyone who hasn't fished the Salt Shaker Worm should give it a shot. This was my first time really using it and that little skinny tail has an unbelievable action. I caught most of the fish Texas rigged with a small bullet sinker. To experiment I rigged one of the 5 inch baits weightless and the action as it slowly fell was awesome. I thought I had found something new until later that day I found out that the Salt Shaker Worm is Mark Rizk's (2nd place Bassmaster Classic a couple years ago) favorite weightless worms.

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