Pardee Yak Fishing

Was thinking of hitting the Pardee opener on 2/2/08. Anyone ever yak fish Pardee? What is the quality of the fishing, paddling and scenery?

Thanks! Scott

Bring your combat gear.
I fished the opener one time and vowed never to return. Granted I was in a float tube; but it was a joke.
I literally counted 52 boats in the small area near the launch.
Every stereotype of a dork fisherman I can think of I saw that day.
It was hilarious and dangerous at the same time.
I saw guys fall out of their boat, launch w/o the drain plug, run into each other, have the motor fall off the boat into the water, forget the gas tank, pull forever and the motor wouldn't start, drunk, argue, snag each other big time and on and on. You can forget any kind of courtesy because you are in a yak but you will be much better off in the yak than I was in a float tube that is for sure.
When you see someone hook a fish, or worse YOU hook a fish, be prepared to be immediately surrounded by every yahoo who witnessed it. Especially if they haven't caught anything in the last 5 minutes.
Get there early too as people line up to get in at the opener.
Good luck, be safe and I am REALLY looking forward to your report.

Mike, I think that can be said of any opener anywhere...combat fishing and opening day definitely go hand in hand. On any other day, it would be a scenic ride with good chances for black bass and trout. It's normaly not as crowded as Lake Amador can get. Having said that, I still prefer fishing Lake Amador over Pardee.

Howard

Lake Pardee...?   is the lake that can not touch the water?   how you're gonna fish there w/ kayak...?

Thanks Guys!

Looks like I will pass on the Pardee opener.  Mike, the thought of you in a float tube surrounded by dorky guys in PB's just cracks me up. I will probably fish the San Pablo opener if I can get Adam and the East Bay Slayers to protect me.

Scott

Scott,
I say Skip the Opener at Pardee. But do not skip the chance to fish this lake. It is a very diverse fishery and the fishing is hot in Feb-March.
The reason why Pardee receives more pressure than other lakes on its Opener is because of its unique Opening Date. If there were 200 other lakes Opening the same day, it wouldn't see as much pressure.

My secret is to fish above the log boom. The Lake Concessionaire essentially owns the lake up to the log boom. So they are able to shut down the main lake to all fishing during the winter (and re-open the beginning of Feb each year). But they do NOT own the upper portion, above the log boom. And it is perfectly legal to fish there from shore. Not sure about launching a yak there but it might be possible (with the caveat that the log boom is there specifically to prevent boaters from accessing the upper portion...so common sense would say that you can't launch a yak up there).

Good luck,
PK

Scott,

Not to thread jack but what about the Loch Lomond opener on March 1st?  I finally decided I was going to take the day off work this year until I figured out that it is a Saturday.   Not sure if it will coincide with the San Pablo but I will post a hook-up when the day draws near. Hopefully it won't be too hectic.

Michael

I second PK's suggestion of fishing Pardee although according to Tote, it sounds like skipping the opener would be wise.  I have fished Pardee a half dozen times and done well.  Many boaters fish damn near off the launch ramp but I always ventured into the arm of the Mokelumne.

PK, how do you get to the log boom?

Michael

PK - I will hit Pardee the second or 3rd week in February

Michael - I have the Loch Lomond opener on my calendar.

I will post in hookups so let me know if you want to hunt some trout.


Scott

I lived in Ione back in the late '70s and fished Pardee often. Now I enjoy taking my dad there.
We fish from my old Valco and usually end up trolling along the bluffs near the mouth of the Moke.
It's a very nice lake...but I would pass on the opening day craziness.

Al

Uminchu beat me to my question about body contact with the water in this reservoir.  Mandatory wetsuit/waders or anything goes?

http://www.pardeelakerecreation.com/

Here's the fishing map, showing the location of the log boom upriver.
http://www.pardeelakerecreation.com/lakemap3.gif

Couple of years ago a group of kayakers were arrested after they kayaked down in to the lake. A sit in side kayak may be acceptable but I think they might stop a sit on top kayak from launching.

-Brian G

Lake Pardee...?   is the lake that can not touch the water?   how you're gonna fish there w/ kayak...?

Here is a nice article by Tom Stienstra
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/03/25/SPG5A5QPLO1.DTL

"The focus here is often on fishing, from boat, shore and float tubes (full waders required), and low-speed boating, such as with a canoe or kayak (10-foot minimum). Water-contact sports are prohibited, such as swimming, personal watercraft, boarding, tubing and skiing."

I believe the same rules apply to all EBMUD reserviors including San Pablo.

Scott

Thanks Guys!
 I will probably fish the San Pablo opener if I can get Adam and the East Bay Slayers to protect me.

Scott

...got yer back bro!     ....and look what i found on last years OPENER (usually a thurs or fri)