Los Padres Dam

Can anyone tell me when the fishing window is open for los padres dam? I do know that you can only use artificial bait. Is it open for fishing now? And what species. Thanks. Bulldog

Los Padres dam is located on the upper stretch of the Carmel River, and creates Los Padres Reservoir.

The Carmel River is home to steelhead. So there are very strict fishing regulations. If I can remember off the top of my head: barbless artificials only, you can keep 5 trout but only 2 rainbows from 10-16 inches, and it closes October 31. It is a very unique fishery. All of the fish are wild and you have the chance to catch a big steelie or brown. And please keep any browns you happen to catch.

All of the standard trout lures/flies work. Best fishing is early in the AM and late in the PM (mainly due to the fact it gets so hot in Carmel Valley). Fishing from the shore is usually difficult because there is limited access, but the water is so low that access is better; albiet muddy now. The dirt road from the parking lot to the dam is about 1.5-2 miles.

Here's a link to a report from there last year:
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,6076.0.html

I might go up there this wknd because the marine WX is so bad.
PK

Read the link you posted. Guess the christmas sleigh ride came early.

Why is it that you recommend keeping the browns? Is there any restrictions on hook size, besides being barbless?

Gonna try and make it up there before closure.

There are not many brown inside the actual reservoir. Most of them are in the tributary above the lake. But its a good idea to keep any browns you catch because they are voracious predators and eat the baby steelhead. It is not known how they were introduced to the lake/watershed. I've only seen a few caught but have seen a picture of a huge brown that was caught deep in the lake.
I might not make it up ther this wknd because I've got tix to a concert in Monterey this wknd: www.montereymusicsummit.com
PK