Looking for camping spot suggestions

Hey folks,

I'm looking for some suggestions on a kayak-friendly camping spot for Memorial Day weekend. I'd like to find a spot within 4-5 hours of the East Bay where I can escape to the wilderness and do some trout fishing from the yak. The more rustic (less developed/crowded) the better. No facilities, pavement, etc, required.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

~Alex

Go to Lake Berryessa, Lupine shores looked real good last week at the salmon slam.

Berryessa is a good one. My girlfriend and I camped out there a couple months ago and did some kayaking. Had a great time, but didn't catch any trout.

I'm looking for something a little higher altitude for this trip. More pine trees, granite, etc, fewer (or no) power boats.

 

Berryessa is a good one. My girlfriend and I camped out there a couple months ago and did some kayaking. Had a great time, but didn't catch any trout.

I'm looking for something a little higher altitude for this trip. More pine trees, granite, etc, fewer (or no) power boats.

Your problem will be finding a spot to go camping during the busy holiday weekend.  Not sure if the campgrounds around Caples and Silver Lakes will be open then. 

Frenchman Reservoir, the trout bite has been on fire!!

I'm a big fan of Blue Lakes - right on the Mendocino/Lake County border - 2 great lakes, one is awesome for trout, the other for bass... and Clear Lake is only 15 minutes East for some killer bass/catfish...

Plus cold creek is within 15 minutes of there for more trout.

Frenchman Reservoir, the trout bite has been on fire!!

Best idea so far!

The 108 corridor above Pinecrest is a thought. Both Pinecrest(more crowded, easier access) and Beardsley(much less crowded, mush more difficult to access) are there for yak fishing, plus you've got the various forks of the Stanislaus there if you want to walk the water and pitch spinners or bait. Lots of nice, quiet forest service campground in th area -  a favorite of mine being Clarks Fork.

Frenchman definitely sounds like a solid plan, too. Berryessa will be a zoo unfortunately - I make it a point to stay away from there on holiday weekends especially.

Bucks Lake near Quincy could be an option.  The lake is chock-full of rainbows, browns, brookies, kokanee, and mackinaw.  Plus there's a good chance of hooking into a monster mack--the word is they're getting a lot of fish in the teens lately and it's been very light pressure.  There are a couple USFS and private campgrounds scattered around the lake.  I took my kayak up there a few weeks back and was very pleased with the whole scene.  It's not too big to be intimidating for a newcomer, yet not so small that you'd get bored with it after a couple days.

Frenchman Reservoir, the trout bite has been on fire!!

Best idea so far!

South shore is where the action is now.  By the south boat ramp.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I'll look into them.