Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to O'Neill Forebay with two of the best striper fishermen in the area - Roger George and Chong Yang. In fact, the idea was to go out and get some video and photos for our audience at fresnobee.com. Things didn't turn out as we had hoped.
Anglers know that each and every fishing trip is different. Sometimes things go great, and sometimes you get skunked. That's why it's called fishing - not catching.
A few days prior, Roger and Chong went to O'Neill Forebay and had great success. They predicted this would be a great time to invite me and the video camera to get some footage of how it's done. The fish and mother nature had other plans.
Video of Chong Yang's striper techniquesWe met at O'Neill Forebay about 5 p.m. The weather was overcast and windy.
We launched Roger's nicely equipped boat by 5:30 p.m. and headed out for adventure. I was surprised to learn that such a large body of water was mostly very shallow - 4 to 10 feet. Using the GPS and fishfinder, we headed to the channel somewhere out in the middle where the depth was between 20 and 25 feet. Ah ha, now we're seeing fish on the screen.
Roger and Chong begin plugging the waters, switching lures about every 5 or 6 casts. They try numerous lures from their arsenals. The fish just weren't into it.
We zip across the water to various locations, stop and they're back to it again. Still nothing seems to get the attention of what we see on the fishfinder.
Chong challenges Roger saying, "Whoever catches the first fish, the other guy has to do 50 pushups." Roger laughs and says, "You're on!"
Finally, Chong has one on. And guess which lure it is - a Fluke. He says it's nothing special. He reels it in and unhooks a striper weighing about 2-3 pounds and maybe 17-18 inches long.
The conditions were just strange. Windy, water very choppy, overcast and the temperature is about 63 degrees. Roger said the fish are suspended, which I guess means they are reacting to the atmosphere and conditions and just not in the mood to feed. We could see a lot and in schools according to his gadgets, but nothing seemed to work.
About an hour later, Chong has another one on the line. This one is also about 3 pounds and less than 20 inches long. I take a brief video, again, he caught it using a Fluke...
Chong Yang at O'Neill Forebay
Roger is getting skunked. About a half hour before we have to get off the water (by dusk), he gets a big strike, but is unable to set the hook. When he reels the lure in, he's trying one of Chong's Flukes, the lure is almost ripped apart and coming free from the hook. Roger said it felt like a very nice fish had hit it and the appearance of lure would back that up.
Time is up, we head back to the dock and get the boat out of the water. We head out of the day use area and the guys give it a try along the shore as darkness sets in. Still not much luck.
I thank the guys for a great adventure and a taste of experience of what it's like to be an avid striper fisherman. I'm sure this happens in this sport, but sure wanted to see one or both of them catch a big trophy. Maybe I'll get the chance to go again, try it myself and all of us have better luck.
And about those pushups, We decided to let Roger off the hook since both fish caught were not considered keepers ... so Roger did have a bit of luck after all.
Earlier that day in our studio, I took video of Roger and Chong discussing the techniques that Chong uses to catch trophy stripers like his 
Millerton Lake record-setter ...
Video: Big striper techniques
I find it amusing that the Bee is doing so much to try and show that this guy is telling the truth about how he is catching these fish. The people that work for the Bee appear to be the only ones that believe him about how it is being done. Everyone I talk to at every place I go, no one believes him. I am certain you are getting plenty of emails that are like mine. You can send photographers with him and pay for his fishing everyday for a year and he will not catch another one. But you let him fish alone at night when the lake is closed to boating and witnesses, and then he might catch another one the way he is really doing it. I have been fishing for stripers probable longer that he has been alive and I know that small bait catches small fish most of the time.
If you can get it on film that he really can catch a big fish on the fluke then I will belive, I would even accept a 20 pounder, I will be shocked if he could even catch a 10 pounder on that fluke.
man ohhh man. those are some big fishes. you know ive caught some big fishes with that fluke b4. but never that big.... u are the man Chon Yang. Still i hear of all the stories......but i tell u guys one thing, ive witnessed this Chong Yang and Mr Roger George walk right pass me at San Luis Resevoir. Those guys are crazy. They walk for about 1.5 hours b4 they even get their lure wet. it amazzes me to witness that. Thats why i know you are telling the truth. ive seen it guys. dont worry about my family spreading those dumb rumors. All the hmong are killing themselves through you Chong. You have to be strong and break another record so they could hate you more b4 they realize why the HMONG dont have a country. They all want what you got......remember that and youll be alright. And to Roger George, you are the inspiration in this young mans life. Without your encouragements, your ego, and your respect, Mr Chong Yang could have gone a different route. He has finally found a true and sincere friend. And you are truly his friend. Some say that he "was" a criminal, but we all have to put our trust in the system, and hope that he is rehabilitated. You cannot bring up one mans past cause he has something good going for himself. Thats just wrong. You should be happy for him. For you have never walked in his shoes. CONGRATS TO U MR. CHONG YANG. YOU ARE THE BEST HMONG ANGLER............ so far...:)
it is sad to say that i am ashamed of being a hmong. heres a man that is trying to make a striper club for his people, and all gets from them is discouragement. Screw them Chong. Why waste your time with that. IF you do start one. what guarantees do you have that the same guys who have been slurring your good name, wont be in the club. these Hmong people are SNAKES. Its a good thing Im Hmong American. no old culture here. no i hate you cause youre beter then me here. Just nothing but grattitude.....Thats right fellas. Hmong Americans are the best fishermens in the world................
Congats on all those big fish. I live in the Midwest and we use the same jigs and flukes that you use. We catch Wipers a hybird of white bass and stripers with that exact lure. These fish we cuaght arent as big as your stripers but the ones that we do catch are pretty big for wipers. They range from 18 pounds and under. Im pretty sure that if there was a big one there it would hit that lure. Trust me he is not lying . For anyone who ever doesnt beleive that big stripers hit small flukes ask Shaw Grisby a professional bass angler. I seen him do it on his television show. Dont let all these other hmong bring you down. And yes I am hmong also. Fish on...
To tell the world the fluke works it chatch the big ones i bagged 30 to 45 lbs i even bag 30 plus lbs in the sacramento river with the fluke so to chong keep doing what youre doing