Lake Sonoma

Fished lake Sonoma this morning windy 18" chop. Started at first light trolling Shadraps on
surface. Put out 1 pole while putting out 2nd bam hits lure 20' behind boat. 16" LL
Steelhead. I thought cool they are on top trolled 4 more hours no hits, bummer. Talked to
a couple PBs they caught 1 or 2 per boat at 30'. It needs to get cold, after the sun came up
it was warm and calm like summer. saw more Deer and Boar than Fish.

I have often wanted to go bow hunting for pigs up there.  I know it is legal for a few months in the fall.  I am pretty sure that it is open now.  What part of the lake where you seeing the pigs? I was thinking I would kayak in with my bow and try to make a stalk on some pigs.
Dave

I have often wanted to go bow hunting for pigs up there.

Me too!!!
Dave, if you want some company let me know.  I've been wanting to arrow a hog too.  Scouting them from a kayak would be fun.

Do you know if it's bow only in that area?

-Chuck

Dave/Chuck,
I’ve hunted Lake Sonoma a couple of times but that was many years ago.  Its by special drawing and they also have a turkey hunt too.

For pigs, I recall there being 2 areas (rifle and a shotgun/bow).  Averages were better on the shotgun/bow side.  I never got one, but the last time there, I went with my wife.  Were were sitting on a nice spot and I said “lets go”.  She wanted to relax a little longer but I said “naw, lets head back”.  Part way up the hill, we stop to take a drink.  As I’m glancing back, here comes porky, walking past the spot where we were sitting.  I won’t go into detail, but you can imagine what she said.

Overall, that place is really nice.  It has quite a few deer and turkeys too.  If you get drawn, you might be better off going by boat to some of the more remote areas.  Some of the terrain is steep.

If you guys are serious about pigs on public land, IMO, the best spot is at Joice Island.  The DFG has a special hunt there each spring(?).  The limit is two and the year I went, the average was a 1.X success rate.  I didn’t initially draw, but since it was so successful, they extended the hunt another month and called me up.  I got the very last hunt.  Driving in with Fred, we saw a freakin huge pig.  I tried stalking it (shotgun only), but it bolted.  Never did see another one, though we ran across several gut piles.  That’s the hunt you really want to draw for.

Stuart

Yeah... I drew a permit for Sonoma a few years ago for a shotgun hunt.  I heard a pig and that's about as close as I got to one...  there was one hunter on our end of the lake who shot a pig that day.  Almost stepped on a Rattler too.

Problem with Lake Sonoma is that it is surrounded by vast expanses of private land.  When the pigs get spooked it's nothing for them to bolt off into the private land.  

Where is Joyce Island?

Erik

Oh yeah, Fred and I also TRIED to hunt Tehama WA.  We got drawn, for a fall hunt but couldn’t cross the creek due the rising water.  We decided to chase quail instead.  It was Mid Nov and Turkey was also open.  Stupid me only brought my 20gauge, thinking we’d only be hunting quail.  While quail hunting, we ran across some turkeys twice.  Had them in close, but couldn’t close the deal.


Here’s some info about public pig hunts:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/pig/specialhunts.htm
Joice Island, if its half as good as it was, would be your best bet.


And Turkeys:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/gbh/wildturkey.pdf
Daugherty is very, very good, followed by Spenceville.  In the fall season, you can shoot anything, but in the spring, its bearded toms.

Erik,
Joice Island is near Grizzly island.  There are waterfowl hunts there (Sundays only, starting in Dec), but the pig hunting area is several miles in, past the wetlands.

Stuart

Erik,

Looks like Joice has changed a bit.  Its now a weekend hunt.  Used to be one day only, for 2 hunters.  Also, Jr's get first crack.

We did this hunt the very first year it was run.  Maybe 6-7 years ago.  If they allowed rifles, I would have left a gut pile on that god forsaken island.  I couldn't estimate weight, but all I can say is that it was BIG.  Made my NV mulie look tiny.

Stuart