Pardee 2-18

We really wanted to get way back up in the river arm but thats quite a paddle up there from the only launch. Plus the wind was coming from the dam so it would have been a real bitch. The first day we should have been OTW at first light but the inspection dude has to be dealt with. Pretty expensive to camp and launch . Blew me away at the cost of it all. I saw some huge LMB's while crusing across the points in the midday. Over 7-8 pounds easy.

If you ever fish with Craig, youll find he's got an eye on things on shore a lot of folks pass by, like that Kingsnake that day. Great place for a fish weekend, we saw lots of hog bass, but only a few caught,. smallies on the craw-jig.

Probably should bring some koke gear come to think about it! kokes are very plentiful in this lake but are on the smallish side! Definetly not gonna waste my time fishing within the rec. area unless i havnt got a fish by the end of the day! Lets pray for good weather!

Ricci we marked a ton of kokanee where the river arm starts going back. Right at the opening on the south side there are some steep cliffs and the depth right goes down to over 150 if I remember correctly. Lots of schools down there. BMB was trying for them. He was the only one of us set up for trolling that deep. Are you going down that Friday Ricci? For just the day?

Not sure if I'll make the 18th opener due to the crowds. If not, will definitely hook-up with folks after that. 

If you hit that lake opening day and want a great laugh just keep an eye on the boat launch; hilarious.
Boats out for the first time of the year totally unprepared, fishermen on a boat for the first time ever totally unprepared, drain plugs left out at launch, motors that won't start, couples arguing, things falling overboard, boats bumping each other, people falling into the water, same gas from last year causes non-starting motor and the boat drifts too far from the dock with no paddle on board. If you've ever seen a Bill Dance blooper film chances are you will see the same stuff happen on opening day at Pardee.
Please make sure to get it on video. 

i was talking to pat about those kokes on sunday...plenty of them in the lake from 35-50ft down upriver...all tiny, 8-10" this time of year. 12-13" max later in the year. they just don't grow very big in the lake, too large of a koke population and its nutrient poor.

the smallmouth bass get big, lmb get big as well, but they are really hard to catch because the water is gin clear...you need really long casts or you'll spook em.

Ricci we marked a ton of kokanee where the river arm starts going back. Right at the opening on the south side there are some steep cliffs and the depth right goes down to over 150 if I remember correctly. Lots of schools down there. BMB was trying for them. He was the only one of us set up for trolling that deep. Are you going down that Friday Ricci? For just the day?

If i make it, ill be heading on the opener for fishing and just for the day..pardee is not that far from me..yea the river mouth and the steep cliff sides up the river arm are the normal and known spots to find the schools of kokes! I'll be honest, ive fished pardee quite a few times on the opener and honestly it ain't that bad out and beyond the rec. area. The zoo is within the rec. area because of the launching, bankies, and rookies who are all trying to chase down the recently planted, white meat, pebble fed, hatchery trout/ Trophy bass bait! I could give a rats ass about them trout. If you want the stronger, brighter, and pink meated trout YOU HAVE TO PADDLE OUT AND BEYOND THE REC. AREA and out in the main body or creek arms. BIG TIP: Pardee has extremely clear water and light line is a must! No bigger than 4lb.-6lb for leader for trout, and 12lb. flouro top-shot for the bass(if your throwin swimbaits!). Also, using a small side-planner for trolling will greatly improve chances of hooking up here. Ive been there where the only guys who had side-planners caught most of the fish. The key is too be about 30-50yds from shore and let the side-planner get your offerings close to to the shore. SEPS makes a good lil side-planner that  doesn't put on a lot of drag. If you dont have a side planner then a set-back of 150'min. would be ideal. Most of the trout here will be in the top 15ft zone as will the kokes! Im gonna try to go for a grand slam of catching a Koke, Lm, smallie, and trout!

The kokes in this lake are small, but I am like Ricci, I would rather eat two kokes, than one white meat planter trout.  There are some huge browns in this lake too. I plan on trolling a J-11 broke back, silver and blue (looks like little koke) on one rod, and a J-9 black and silver broke back on the other rod for a while. When the sun is up and high, I plan on hitting structure for the bass with jigs and swim baits. I am going to target mostly bass this time, and a few trout for the smoker from around the rec area.  I am heading back witht he kids on Saturday, non yak to catch trout. Should end up with a mess of them to smoke up.

Ok so whos all hittin the lake opener this weekend? I was thinking the 18th was on a sat. but just realize its this friday. Fantastic, so whos all gonna come slaying with me? If it aint windy im still going, rain doesnt bother me much as long as there is no wind! Lookin forward to a great hookup!

If I go it will be on Monday, there may be slightly less traffic.  the boat traffic tends to scare the bass.

Think im staying local this weekend    For the moment, i'd rather be skunked at home    Good luck out there guys 

My ex gave me a gift, the kids two days early this week! They are out of school, so they will be with me too on Friday.  I plan on only bringing one kayak, and taking turns with the kids on it, and fishing the shore for trout with the one that is not using the yak. Not sure if I will get out to catch some bass or not, but I will still be there with bells on!

I have plenty of room for lots of people at my house in Lodi, everyone is welcome Thursday night and Friday night, hell, Saturday night too!

I think I am game to go.  If others in Sac want to carpool we can save some $$$.

I have one car that holds 3 yaks, the other 5....let me know

How the heck am I going to win AOTY, when I keep taking all of the competition to my hot spots? JK, should be fun if the weather holds for us.

I'll be there on Wednesday or Thursday.  Sorry I'll miss you guys.

Ben, do you think you'd be able to postpone your Monday trip?  Smith and I would love to hang out with ya.