Lake Tulloch & The Four Day Hall Pass

My journey to Lake Tulloch last weekend will definitely go down as one of the most memorable. The scenery, the fish, and the overall learning experience was like no other fishing expedition I’ve been on. If you ever get a chance to get out there make it happen.

A big thanks to my buddy Jay for extending the offer and for cooking some of the best damn tri-tip around. Thanks Jay, really. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate my brithday … Continue Reading

SanJoseBass.com Gains Momentum

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to SanJoseBass.com. We now have 23 members signed up to the forum and most of you who signed up sent me positive feedback on the site, which I fully appreciate. Like many of you anglers out there I thought it was time for someone to create a site dedicated to the lakes and reservoirs we visit so often. As I stated in my previous post, I grew up fishing these places and now it’s time for us to share our experiences with one another in our quest to land the big one … Continue Reading

2005 Crestliner 1700 Mirage

I guess you can say that my Dad received the best Father’s Day gift last year – A brand new Crestliner with some electronic goodies to go with it. My Mom approached my brother and I with the idea last year and being that he and I enjoy spending time on the water I feel we were both on the same page from the start. We wanted a boat that was versatile and could be used in a variety of different environments and could also act as a “family” boat when needed. We did tons of research – I looked at the Trackers, Lunds, Ranger, and couple of no-namers. I checked out the construction quality, warranties, and motors and in the end – I felt the Crestliner was right for us. We all did and luckily we located one at Salinas Valley Marine.

Since we’ve almost had the boat for a year, I thought it was time to give my

100% honest opinion on the Mirage. First off, I really like the design – the storage is great and the configurable bench seat is a must have in a smaller boat like the 1700. The only issue I have with the seat, is that it had a design flaw. When the bench seat was flipped over, it rubbed against the sidewall and tore the vinyl. Our dealer made some metal brackets to cover up the sides and protect the sidewall. This should have been addressed by Crestliner at the factory. The instrumentation is nice and we added a Lowrance fishfinder and GPS module at the driver’s console and bow. Since most boats come with nothing but the standard gauges you usually have to spring for the good stuff. Some manufacturers offer packages but you can usually negotiate the boat price down and buy the stuff yourself later and still save money. We also added a boat charger and Minn Kota trolling motor. We added the 55lb thrust model (per the dealer suggestion) and I wish we would have gone with something with more thrust and voltage. It does also have a livewell and rod locker. We rarely use the rod locker but I do like the fact that they made it accessible if the bench seat is up or down. This was well thought out so they get a plus on

that one. We also chose to go with the vinyl type flooring instead of the traditional astro-turf like material. It’s user friendly and cleans real easily. The seats are comfortable and they remove with the click of a button. You have the option to buy additional seats but with the bench seat already installed I don’t really see a need to purchase them. The boat did not come with a boat cover so I went online to boatcovers.com and they had our particular model on file. You just choose your engine model size (115 4-Stroke in our case) and location of your trolling motor and they take care of the rest. It’s fits like a glove and was delivered in roughly 10 business days. Overall, we are extremely pleased with the boat. It does have it’s quirks (see below) but it handles very well and the craftsmanship is some of the best out there.

Model: 2005 Crestliner 1700 mirage

Pros: The boat handles various types of water great. The workmanship on the aluminum hull is near perfection and the interior is nicely designed as well. Does not have that “cheap” feeling when you grab and shake the console or windshield. It’s a very sturdy nicely designed watercraft and could be one of the top in its class.

Cons: Bench seat tore the sidewall vinyl. Steering seems to be a little on the stiff side. Moving from neutral to forward sometimes seems like it’s grinds into gear. May need some adjustments from the dealer. Livewell pump went out on us while in the delta.

Dealer: Salinas Valley Marine – These guys are pretty good. They have been responsive to our needs but I do wish they would have recommended a larger trolling motor. Like I said, the 55lb gets us moving around but something with a little more power would be optimum.

Hidden Treasures – Calero Reservoir

Being that Calero Reservoir is only at 47% capacity it gives us the opportunity to view structure(s) that aren’t usually visible. Hidden treasures is what I like to call it. Take a look at some of these photos and keep in mind that this is just the tip of the iceberg. There must be tons of hiding and breeding places for these bass. Typically Calero is full of vegetation and quite often you’ll find yourself spending quite a bit of time on cleaning your lure. However, right now it’s a different story. You’d be lucky to find anything green in that lake at the moment and most of the fish we caught today were actually feeding on muddy banks out in the open.

… Continue Reading

Welcome to San Jose Bass

It’s my intention to make 2007 a big fishing year for me. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’ve caught my fair share of bass but this year I am looking to catch myself a Trophy Bass weighing in the double digits. This is why I created this site – I’m going to need help and plenty of it. The forum should be the place where you can share your ideas, suggestions, recommendations, etc.. I’ve also added a photo upload section that will allow you to quickly and easily upload photos of your most current catch.

San Jose has plenty of great fishing holes and while I spend most of my time on Calero, Coyote, and Anderson that doesn’t mean I don’t make it out to the Delta every once in a while. The Delta has big fish of different sorts and while I’ve spent more time wake boarding on those waters I know what they’re capable of producing. Coyote and Calero have some big fish and since those lakes are close to where we live I’m sure I’ll be there most often.

During this past year I learned how to use the crank bait, buzz bait, senko (wacky), and jig. I used to rely heavily on spinnerbaits and rattle traps but my brother took it upon himself to show me the way. While I know how to use each of these baits/lures I am still learning how to present and set them effectively. With the weather as cold as it has been, I’ve relied heavily on using the jig. In fact, over 37% of last years BASS tournaments were won by anglers using jigs. I personally feel that you can fish with that thing 365 days a year, it’s awesome.

Funny thing is when some of my friends and family read this they’re going to think I am crazy. They may be right. Actually, fishing is extremely budget-friendly (after your initial investment) and being on the water is somewhat therapeutic.

I hope you enjoy what’s to come and be sure to look around and don’t be afraid to contribute!

Marce