SBA Mendo tourney(Going Friday Morn.?)

I plan on driving up Friday a.m. to fish first-thing in morning then find someone w/campsite or get my own.Is anyone planning the same?I've read so much(homewrk.) I can't remember where the Livebait shop is located?North or south lake? 7:ooam is open time,I remember.I hope to get bait/intel. launch wherever is closest to good intel. then fish..........then set-up/find camp.Does this sound Feasable/doable. estimated drive time from 101N. San Rafael to Mendo?I'm getting excited if you can't tell!

My buddy Bob and I will be there in the afternoon on Friday. Probably between 1:00 and 2:00PM.

Take the Lake Mendocino exit off of 101 and follow that to the baitshop, then to the south launch. The campground is at the north end of the lake, I can't remember which road to take to get there. Also, not sure about Friday and Saturday but on Sundays the bait shop doesn't open until at least 8:00AM, and sometimes as late as 8:30AM. This was according to the gentleman that was working the counter yesterday.

If you drive like I do it should take you around 2 hours to get there from San Rafael. Traffic and slow people in front of you could make it a little longer.

Rock Hopper,Thanks for the info.that's what I wanted to hear!!and I'm gonna drive like you.See ya Friday

I will be fishing Friday am...see you there.

Scwafish,I've got a ?,after baitshop on Mendocino Dr. is it easiest to drive north on Lake Ridge Dr. or a different route to get to campsites/N.Lake.Any word to get us fired-up on the bite?you metioned TOPWATER action.Is Night fishing O.K. or not allowed like most lakes.Cant wait til Friday.I'm seeing the band TOOL Thursnite in Oakland then try to get some sleep before the 2.5+hr.drive.GOODTIMES!!

I'll be out there first thing Friday morning too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hopefully with my new fishfinder.    Dark Green WS Tarpon 140. 

Thanks Sean!!!!!!

Hitdog

You can take back roads to the northern campsites.  Night fishing is Ok

YEESS!!Thanks for the intel.on the roads everyone and other ?'s. And who is up for some night fishing for nitetime fish?

Can anybody tell me if it is cool to soak a line from shore if I get to the lake  at 3 in the morning? I think I might try for some catfish b4 the derby. Will have squid for anyone!

You are OK but if you ask Bill prime time for kitties is high noon.

Channel or Bullheads? Shore o :smt003r what depth, location?, bait? How Big are we talking?

Oh,  and since I will be coming from highway 20 from williams is there a road  to follow to the launch area?

And nobody forget their Cash- Ola for the Derby!

Caught at the 1st Annual Bendo @ Mendo.

I really had no idea what I was doing, just soaking bait to kill time. 

I was dropping my line a ways off shore from my kayak, right on a drop off. If I remember the drop-off was from 10' to 15'. My setup was my striper rig, #2 hook with a minnow and 1/4 weight, not your classic catfish rig but it worked out well. I landed 3 that day with the one in the pic going 20 lbs. Maybe this time I will catch a striper!

Heading up Friday at 9 or10, from Marin, Baitshop then campgrounds. See 'ya!

...check out the belly on that dude  ....oh...and the catfish too