NorCal Kayak Anglers

General => Introductions => Topic started by: Spetzen on July 24, 2017, 02:09:30 PM

Title: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Spetzen on July 24, 2017, 02:09:30 PM
Hi all,
I was raised in the Napa area, but during my childhood summers I lived in my grandmother's travel trailer in Fort Bragg and Mendocino (Albion) fishing the days away in a 12' aluminum skiff. We did the grunion runs (I had my own 'A' frame surf net at 12), dug for clams, dropped crap pots, and lived off the ocean for 3 months of the year.

That's why it is always so special for me to return every year, which we did last week.  This year I ponied up and got myself the new 2017 OK Trident 13 and rigged it up nice with the Humminbird Helix 5 Di/GPS, only to be met by the 7-8' swells (with the occasional 10-12 peaks) that were rolling through. We managed to get out to the mouth of the inlet between the rocks but could not make it out to the shelf where the bigger lingcod live. Last year we killed it out there with my 11' Wilderness Systems kayak, so it was disappointing we couldn't follow up this year. The Dungeness crabbing was good however which saved the trip, although the local game warden told us the Dungeness season was over.  Luckily I had my reg. book handy and showed him the July 30th end of season date and asked if there was a moratorium I was unaware of...not sure why he was not aware of the dates. I decided not to push it and let sleeping dogs lay.

On Friday, we ran from Mendocino to the Carson River up by Markleeville which saved the weekend as far as fishing is concerned.  We weren't on the yaks, but pulled a 21" rainbow out of the river near the Carson River Inn. The river is still flowing just under 1,000 cf/sec so it's pretty fast for floating any flies, but the roostertail lures were hitting pretty well in the rough water.

We live up in the Sierra Foothills now above Sacramento, so it's quite a haul to get out to Fort Bragg and it's not just an overnight trip. So my first inquiry to the forum would be to ask if there are good kayak fishing areas a bit further south (Jenner, Bodega Bay, Point Reyes) that we can make a quick weekend trip out of?

Looking forward to contributing to the sport and making new yak fishing friends here!

Mikol Maitland
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: DG on July 24, 2017, 02:20:22 PM
Welcome aboard. 

You can get some monster fish without venturing to far or even out of the mouth of Noyo.  So even on the rough days you still have a good chance of getting some great fish. 

I made it out Saturday and Sunday and Sunday was way worse out there. 

As for locations more south they tend to be farther launches for kayaks unless you are at a campground with easy access.  I usually only go south of Mendo a couple times a year so hopefully others will give you ideas on different locations. 
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Spetzen on July 24, 2017, 02:34:51 PM
Thanks DG, I just checked out the harbor mouth on Google Earth...those rock formations are awesome on both sides! Do you know how deep that mouth gets? I assume the further and deeper out the better chances of hooking into a bigger cabezon or ling cod. I was out Mon-Fri last week and I still feel the swells sitting at my desk when I close my eyes.

Yes, hauling the yak across the terrain to launch is a pain without an ATV really good friends so ease of launch would be most desirable. That's why we launch out of Caspar when we come over. I must assume there is some places near Bodega that can be accessible with medium effort.
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Willha on July 24, 2017, 03:03:43 PM
Do you fish Union Valley reservoir?  I feel like i might have seen you out there a few months ago.  probably not given that theres a bunch of tridents out there but who knows.
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: DG on July 24, 2017, 03:12:12 PM
Near the mouth its probably 20-50'.  Next time you are up here let me know and I will give you some pointers based on conditions. 
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: sandshred on July 24, 2017, 03:35:18 PM
 Timber, Stillwater, Ocean Coves.
 If you have the means, Sea Ranch is hard to beat.
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Spetzen on July 24, 2017, 03:37:37 PM
Thanks Sandshred,
My family lives in Gualala, so I am sure I'll be testing those waters soon!
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Spetzen on July 24, 2017, 03:48:15 PM
Hi Willha,
Not me, I do have a friend who just bought a trident on my recommendation and I believe he has been trying it out on the lakes up there.  I think my next lake stop is going to be Caples.
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Hojoman on July 24, 2017, 04:29:16 PM
Welcome, MIkol.  :smt006
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Willha on July 24, 2017, 04:31:06 PM
Hi Willha,
Not me, I do have a friend who just bought a trident on my recommendation and I believe he has been trying it out on the lakes up there.  I think my next lake stop is going to be Caples.

Nice a good friend of mine had some luck there last week on the emigrant creek tributary side.
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Tote on July 24, 2017, 04:34:00 PM
I'm in P'ville.
We should hook up for a beer.
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Spetzen on July 24, 2017, 04:55:02 PM
Can't ever turn down a cold one Tote! I'll PM you when I am back in town...working down south mid-week.
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: cal.ndn-yakin on July 24, 2017, 05:15:35 PM
Welcome bro.  I live up here myself and relatively new to kayak fishing but i have hit slypark , union and one other lake thats not local.  I wanted to hit wrights , caples, silver or bear this weekend couldnt find a partner to go out so had to settle for striper and shad fishing in the AR on the bank. I will be busy the next 4 weekends but hopefully one day you, tote and me can hit the lakes together. Or striper or salmon on AR.  Sorry im not ready for the big blue but any of our beautiful lakes im down.   

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: HamachiJohn on September 13, 2017, 12:49:42 PM
Timber, Stillwater, Ocean Coves.
 If you have the means, Sea Ranch is hard to beat.

Where is Sea Ranch is there shore access for those not renting/owning a home there, because when I tried to explore Sea Ranch, all the roads were private, except for the public coastal access roads. We explored Stengel Beach, but was disappointed by the infestation of sea urchins and with no ab population other than occasional abalone.

I was wondering if you have any recommendation for an access point for shore diving in Sea Ranch.  Not looking for honey hole info- just an access point, where to park, etc. to explore on our own.  Thanks .

Jonathan
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Sailfish on September 14, 2017, 09:09:17 AM
Welcome to NCKA  :smt006
Title: Re: New Yakker from Placerville
Post by: Tote on September 14, 2017, 03:47:50 PM
Still waiting for the cool beer hookup.