Fordyce Lake - 411????

May have the opportunity to hit Fordyce Lake; any locals got the intel on this lake?

Will be up in the area over the Labor Day Weekend....

Thanks,

Glen

I'm not a local up there, but I camped there about 3 years ago.  I needed 4 wheel drive to get to the lake.  It took about 1 -1/12 hrs. from the freeway to the lake.   You'll be 4 wheeling with cliffs on one side.  If you meet vehicle coming from the opposite direction you or he may have to back up. 

It got cold at night. The days were pleasant but not hot.   Mosquitos were really bad.   Needed a lot of deet. 

Camped right next to the lake which was nice. 

Caught a couple of trout.   1 on power bait from shore.  1 on a kastmaster trolling near the dam.   

Thanks for the intel; maybe I'll just stick to dirt biking. Or maybe strap a rod on the dirtbike and take that to the lake....

Either way, kayak will probably not see water this weekend....

Glen, you might PM CohoJoe, he is not on NCKA much, so probably wont see your post. His family and their crew have been going there to hunt and fish since the 30's. He knows the area well. He will be leaving tomorrow eve for So Mendo Coast.

John

 

  Can't say much about the lake, but the trail leading past it, I've been over a few times during my wheeling years with the Santa Cruz four wheel drive club.  The run we did was called Sierra Trek and it starts out of Cicso Grove and winds it way up and past Fordyce lake.  The trail was KNARLY back then with 5 "Winch Hills"  My club, then, along with many other 4x4 clubs manned each winch hill we did winch hill 3 some years and winch hill 5 others, the other clubs manned the other winch hills.  A stock 4x4 will have trouble on that trail getting out unscathed.  The road into Meadow lake (Campsite for the Sierra trek) is not bad (Unless under snow) and maintained dirt, didn't need 4x4 on it as I remember.  Been quite a few years since I've been on it though.