Loch Lomand Lake / Santa Cruz / March 1st opener

trout and bass kayak people = let's get together and have a BBQ!!!

When: March 1st opener

I'm totally game!!  Any of the next three weekends, I'll be around and down to get my trout on.

grooovey  And if we have a good turn out, maybe we can do a swap meet for fishing stuff  (we didn't get to do this at the Ono awards ceremony cause it was a last minute thing)

  The Loch won't be open till March (I belive the 2nd weekend) but I guess it's never too early to start planning it!  I work every other Saturday night,  so, if possible see how everyone feels about a Sunday get together?

I'm up for a BBQ/fishing anytime,

But the swap meet really sounds like a great idea.  I can never have enough stuff. 

Craig

I'm up for it...   Molbasser, SCAllen, and I did the opener last year and it was a good time.

Here's the info for Loch Lomond
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/wt/llra/llra.html

The Loch opens Wednesday, March 1st, at 6:00AM.  We found a line of folks waiting to enter last year so I suggest trying to arrive around 5:45 so you can park somewhere near the water (although you can unload right near the dock).

There's a launch ramp for boats (electric only) and a dock that is low enough for kayak launching.  The lake is nice and big, and will be freshly stocked with trout.  Due to its depth and cool temperatures, there are trout there year-round but the stocking will make it much easier to find one.  Bass fishing is historically spotty, although some big ones have been pulled out in the past.  The shallower upstream parts hold some nice cover and reed beds, etc.

Anyway, I suggest an early start that morning and lunch-time BBQ (perhaps on the island accessable only by boat?)

  I made an opener a few yrs back and we were 18th in line at 5am!  I think people started to arrive the night befor.  LoL  The line went down the hill quite a few blocks behind us.  I will avoid the openers from now on because of the rush of people that go just to  say "I made the opener"  Big deal, go the next day and you could be the only one on the lake.
  I am glad the it's opening soon though.

The Loch opens Wednesday, March 1st, at 6:00AM.  We found a line of folks waiting to enter last year so I suggest trying to arrive around 5:45 so you can park somewhere near the water (although you can unload right near the dock).

How about just parking where ever and wheel the kayaks down to the ramp?

Anyway, I suggest an early start that morning and lunch-time BBQ (perhaps on the island accessable only by boat?)

Lunch on the Island sounds fun!

looking forward to this!

Honestly, parking isn't that big of a deal.  The best bet if it's busy is to just dump the kayak by the pier and one of us will watch them while everybody parks in one of the further lots.

As far as a busy opener, I think there were maybe 25 folks total at last years...   it might be "busy" in comparison to a normal day but it wasn't bad at all compared to launching out of the SC harbor on a weekend, for example.

I think they have already dumped some trout in, if not they are doing it in a week or so.

Stupid.  All those early trout are now bass chow.

This lake is great for bass in terms of average size, but not numbers.  All the bass I have caught there have been over 3 pounds.  Strange, but I have never caught a small bass there.

I will be there bright and early.

I have one word to say for the bassers here.  Swimbaits.

Bring 'em.  Throw 'em.

Last year I heard relatively reliable news of a 22# sack (released) of bass on swimbaits with an 8# kicker.

I have also had good luck on pig n jig.

This lake has no shad (more stupidness) so the bass have to forage on bluegill, trout and crayfish.

I have no idea why they don't plant shad in this lake.....

MolBasser

 A neighbor of mine last season landed a 14+lb slab!  He made the Valley Press with it.  Had the rangers weigh it, and there may be a photo of him posted at the shack!
He's wheelchair bound and I think he landed it in his (or a buddy's) little boat.  There are biggun's in this lake.

14.... That's awesome.  I think that is pretty close to the lake record (which is around 16 I think).

The lake is very clear, and I never fail seeing a bass in 10# range cruising around.

There really are huge bass in this lake.

I am quite stoked to hit it up.

MolBasser

I realize that wednesday is the opener and many people may not be able to get the day off.

Do you all want to meet up there Saturday or Sunday for a kayak picnic?

I will be there opening day, but would love to get as many yaks on the water as possible.

I'll bring some skirt steak for carne asada tacos.  We'll need a hibachi or grill....

MolBasser

14lb bass , never fail to see a ten pounder cruising Mol talked me into it. I'm bringing my 9 wt and some big flies.

I'll try to get a Wednesday (the 1st) off for this event - anyone else?