Cochiti - April 5, 2009

This was the first trip out with the new (used) 16' Alumacraft. We knew Cochiti is always tough and especially tough at the tail end of a cold front, but we just wanted to get the boat out.

Got the boat in the water about 1:30 and out of the water about 4:30 or 5:00. We trolled, drifted, and fished a few coves on the east side. We managed one hook up while we were trolling. Actually, we weren't paying attention and we finally heard the drap zipping off the reel. My first reaction was that were hung up or snagged, but when then I started to gain line and felt a few head shakes I knew it wasn't a snag. I fought the fish for a probably another 10 or 15 seconds before it came off. Not sure what it was, but whatever it was it was big! My oldest son caught a Northern on a silver X-Rap out of one of the east side coves. My youngest boy had a good hit on a swimbait (Yum Money Minnow). I fished a plastic Texas rigged in some of the coves to no avail. Overall though - we had fun and it was nice to get the boat out; although I really wanted to see what it would do and can't do that at Cochiti.