NorCal Fishing BS

Damn. Comanche is 2.5 hours away! That’s like “taking time off work” far!

 

That was another trip that a few of us had to put on hold this fall when the fires were in full rage. We were going to get an Airbnb over there by Sonora and fish Don Pedro, New Melones, and McClure. Definitely a drive out there, but there are a ton of awesome lakes all in a row that you could hit.

 

when Covid is over, i imagine it would be economical to load up a truck with a bunch of kayaks and hit it up. save gas money.

my dentist LOVES Comanche..i have a visit with him on Jan 3. i am bringing a printed map and a sharpie to mark some spots...i'll nitrous gas his ass to get him to talk.

 

i think they call those the "mother lode" lakes after the gold rush (?)/.

 

i'll just say it.

in NorCal we have almost too many options. personally, it takes me time to learn a lake. mostly blind fishing trusting luck to hit good locations.

i bet we have 10 quality lakes. that is a lifetime of learning. you almost have to pick two as a favorite and pick them apart. hell, the Delta is like 10 good spots alone.

 

Would agree. Its almost overwhelming to think about. The Delta ALONE is something like 800k acres in total. I've talked to some local old guys who have been fishing the Delta their entire life and they still haven't been to all the places they want to hit around there. Crazy to think about. The good news is once you figure out a good technique or two, and understand the general fish patterns, most bodies of water (out here in the west) can be treated the same for the most part. That's been my experience at least.

 

i am going for sure. i will be north of the big ass bridge. last time, there were huge clouds of bait directly under that bridge, but its like 80 feet deep. seems like trolling past with outriggers was the strategy to pull out big trout. me and my feeble drop-shot was pretty ineffective. i will be looking for bass in the 20-30 foot range.

anyone with a Kayak is invited!!

 

Have you tried a blade baits or spoons out there? That could be super effective too.. especially around the bridge pillars and whatnot. Not sure how much the fish are hugging the bottom out there right now, but maybe a ned rig can do wonders out there too? Little less action, but still bouncing off the bottom.

 

Does anyone fish for striper in the Sacramento River around Sherman Island? The waters are 35-40 feet deep and I need to get lures that will make it to the bottom.

 

I throw on some football jig style heads and hook on some swim baits that mimic split tail. They always attack it. You gotta cast it far and give it time to sink. I like casting into the current and letting it take it before reeling.

 

Spoons and lipless cranks are killing it.

 

The other badass thing about spoons and shit is you can get more than one species. Trout/salmon, crappie, just about anything will tap a spoon. Be fun as hell to get a mixed bag.

 

Looks like their campgrounds are still open up there. TW camping and fishing trip may be in order.

 

Thank man! Just sold it a couple months back... Kinda miss it. Also have a small zodiac we restored I'm considering letting go soon.

 

Any you Berryessa guys ever fish Cache Creek via Buck Island? Fun little drive out there off Knoxville Rd. Last time the lady and I were there we saw a mountain lion and bob cat in the same day. Great views and you can drive your truck right down to the water, holds some good smallmouth. Heres a shot of my old truck out there that was totaled last week. Picking
up another regular cab 4x4 on Sunday and can't wait to get back out there and return the rental!!!

 

The new too me truck..coming soon.

 

Sounds good to me!!!!!!!!!

 

Ah man. Sorry to hear your other truck was totaled. That sucks! I have heard about Cache creek but have never ventured out there to check it out. Sounds like that needs to change. I love creek/river fishing and hanging out along the shores of them, so any new place is a win for me. Is it decent out there this time of year? Fishing-wise? Or is it best to wait until spring/summer?

 

Im not the best to ask (sorry), honestly do most of my fishing above 6'000ft, trout bum here. I've only been in December and January ( 2 times only) with moderate success with smallies on top water plugs (on the fly, no pics ). Theres an abandon campground out there that has better pit toilets than active ones I frequent. Some of my buds do fish it a couple times a year and always report back with better luck on sinkos, spinners, and spoons. Definitely worth the drive.
As for the old truck....
some local kid hit it parked in front of my house. He’s stopped, knocked on the neighbors, called his dad. Wasn’t intoxicated in anyway.Insurance provided a generous offer, so more just a huge time suck/ logistical haphazard than anything else. Luckily my buds neighbors just go a new TRD and I got a killer deal on his 2011 reg 4x4 w/ 2.5" fox with ome springs in the rear, fox with sway away coils in the front.
3 years newer, 90,000 less miles

This is more my realm.

 

Would anyone else be interested in this? It's not too far for me. I'm free the next couple of weekends, would be nice to socially distance myself by the water for a day or two.