Lake Hodges 9/22

[Pourboy]

Hey all I I headed out to Hodges yesterday for three hours in the morning. I got there at 5:30 AM and was the second car in line. The gates didn’t open till after 6 AM and I was on the water around 6:30 AM. The water was way down from the last time I had been out there, and was color of bad gravy. I figured I would throw a crank bait, spinner bait, and a few bottom bait to see what the action was like. I ended up missing one that was around a pound on a small crank bait, and then catching one shortly after that, a little smaller than a pound. Heading down the Del Dios Arm I did pull one Around 2 pounds on a Carolina rig. I kept going past the floating bathrooms and ended up landing a 5 inch fish on an Ned rig there. It was my wife’s birthday so I only stayed out until 9:30 AM. Then went home and barbecued for the family. It was nice to get back out on Hodges, but sad to say there was not enough content to make a video from the day, I did want to update everybody on how the conditions were out there and I hope they continue to pick up towards the finish line in October. I look forward to getting out there again sometime soon and hopefully the fishing will continue to improve. Cheers all!

[JWall]

Hey all I I headed out to Hodges yesterday for three hours in the morning. I got there at 5:30 AM and was the second car in line. The gates didn’t open till after 6 AM and I was on the water around 6:30 AM. The water was way down from the last time I had been out there, and was color of bad gravy. I figured I would throw a crank bait, spinner bait, and a few bottom bait to see what the action was like. I ended up missing one that was around a pound on a small crank bait, and then catching one shortly after that, a little smaller than a pound. Heading down the Del Dios Arm I did pull one Around 2 pounds on a Carolina rig. I kept going past the floating bathrooms and ended up landing a 5 inch fish on an Ned rig there. It was my wife’s birthday so I only stayed out until 9:30 AM. Then went home and barbecued for the family. It was nice to get back out on Hodges, but sad to say there was not enough content to make a video from the day, I did want to update everybody on how the conditions were out there and I hope they continue to pick up towards the finish line in October. I look forward to getting out there again sometime soon and hopefully the fishing will continue to improve. Cheers all!

Hey thanks for the report Chris. That was my go-to way back in the last century and the memories are special. You triggered one saying the gate didn’t open for 30 minutes. I can almost smell the smell and hear the sounds of long waits in the Hodges lines outside the gate in the 90’s. Then once inside the gate, the line to buy paper tickets for launch and permit. Your bud could do that line while you waited to launch and the timing was almost perfect. Man I hope that place returns to form someday!! Are you saying even the deep water by the dam is brown? Thats just sad.

PS had to find a pic of a much younger JWall waiting in line at Hodges with my first bass boat. Bought it used and it leaked like a sieve. Thank god for the floating bilge pump switch! lol

[Pourboy]

That’s awesome! Yes, the smell for sure. I went there not long ago and when I got out the car the the smell took me back to being 12 and playing around the lake. I didn’t make it all the way to the dam but by the floating bathrooms it was still dark water. I’m ready for the new dam for sure!

[Kenroe]

Only 10 years or so , if we're lucky, based on the City of SD ineptitude & CA state stipulations....

[Pourboy]

Only 10 years or so , if we're lucky, based on the City of SD ineptitude & CA state stipulations....

I think it would be fun to start a bet on when the new dam will be done and the lake full again. I’ll throw out 2038. Man! That sounds a long time away but we are already 1/4 of the way through the century!