Dusty Britches' here along with "Cuss Cussler" and "Slick". My apologies for not making the article deadline last week, lots going on. Again, Mt. Lassen didn’t disappoint. Last week we have had rainbow trout coming out of the "pond" up to 12 pounds-2 ounces. We have been waiting for this. We knew that it was going to happen, and that it was a matter of time before everything busts open. Ranger Jay Blaylock predicted it.

A little story on the BIG catch. Burt and Eric Predmore of Ramona were fishing the north shore at Chamber’s Park when they decided to get something to eat at the restaurant. Eric offered to run over while Burt watched the poles and, wham, Burt ties into a 12 pound 2 ounce rainbow…….on Eric’s pole. By the time Eric got back, the fish was on the stringer. But Eric didn’t take long to hook up a 5 pound 5 ounce "bow". The two walked away with smiles on their faces on a cold day and stringers of fish. Josh Ernst reeled in a 5 pound 8 ounce "bow", Dave Miller of Encinitas limited with his largest weighing in at 8 pounds 4 ounces. The bait was pretty generic using green glitter or pink power bait, night crawlers, or pink and white mice tails…..the mice tails were bounced across the bottom on a slow retrieve.

"Crappie John" nailed an 8 pound Florida strain largemouth bass at the boat dock. No pan fish like crappie or bluegill taken that we know of. No catfish or sturgeon either. Please remember that "Waterfowl Hunting" happens on Wednesdays…all day, and Sundays until 10:00 a.m. During those times we still allow fishing, but it is restricted to the north shore between the dam and the handicap fishing dock at the north end of the dike. The bald eagles and junior golden eagle are stirring up the fish on the east side of the south end. The recent rains have been a blessing. Water levels are coming up and we are hopeful for much more of the same. I can remember when the upper lake basin had been under water all the way to Sunrise. The El Nino, hopefully, will smile down on us and mother nature will co-operate. Our winter season usually is January, February, and sometimes into March. We are waiting with great anticipation.

Bobby Morgan is spending mega hours in the restaurant getting the food out for their customers and running the show in the kitchen. Rebecca Romano, Barney, and front wait staff are chomping at their respective bits waiting for any fresh meat that comes through the front door. So, if you have the "hunger pangs" while driving through the Cuyamaca Lake area, stop in and try out the food. Lastly, I would like thank the folks who periodically come up and graffiti our property. It gives us a chance to keep up on our graffiti cleaning skills and a reason to lock the restrooms during non-peak periods.

"Tight Lines and Bent Rods"……."Dusty Britches"