Collins Lake 6-28/29

We went to Collins for the first time. The campground was terrible. It was 150 for two nights and 2 two families. I don't mind paying that much but we had port a potties instead of toilets and the showers were a mile away. We went to the showers and they charge money to use the showers. The place was packed and we were a long way from the water. 7 or 8 hours of multiple people fishing and we caught 1 crappie and 1 10" bass.  The Clear Lake campground is much better.

Yeah we thought about camping there but it did not look too good plus the lake is small and crowded.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience, We have been going to Collins almost every year since my kids were small and it's our favorite place we always book a lakefront site a year ahead and $45 a night for a lakefront with full hookups is not bad only $25 after summer. True the porta pottys are not great but they are super clean and the wife is the only one who uses the shower the rest of us are in the lake constantly. The lake can get crowded on the weekends from the day use crowd that's why we always go during the week. We use it like a base camp taking day trips to places like the Yuba river,Bridgeport,Nevada City,Feather River,Malkoff Diggins etc. pretty much just spending the mornings and evenings there. Not a place that I would target but for a family it's tough to beat, with the surface temp close to 80 the fishing can be challenging but we have always managed a decent amount of nice fish. If you find a better place in this area please let me know so I can try it out. Did your kids like the Play area Sandy beach and Ice Creams and zero bugs?

Sounds like you need to have the place dialed like Mike.  $150 is a weird number to hear in conjunction with camping for a couple nights!  Especially when you have to pay to shower too! 

Go with Mickfish next time!   

Live and learn - thanks for sharing the info with all of us, amph and mick.   

We didn't use the playground because our kids are older. The water temperature was nice for swimming. Has anyone had luck out there for catfish?

The kids have always done well at night using Ballparks best spot has been by the launching ramp.

We didn't use the playground because our kids are older.

Day Trips Cliff Diving at Bridgeport just watch out for the rattlers.
Bridgeport is awesome just don't go on the weekend we walk way up river and float back some pretty good gold panning up there, I saw a guy pick a nugget right off a beach about the size of a 22 slug.

Have to Agree with Amphibian,

I had a Great Experience as a kid there, nailing SMB on top water, got into a entanglement with a Big Wolf,

 took my Boys there last year and was very Disappointed, We were right on the water's edge, but 2 rv's on either side were Blaring soap opera's during the day...

100 degree temps, no fish and packed,/.. Cut my Losses, threw in the towel and shot up to Circus Circus,

 For the same price of Camping I got a suite and the Kids loved it.....

 Fishing was even Better.....