New to California....Looking to catch all of your crappie :)

I have been looking through the forums for good spots to crappie fish...from what I read the weather is still a little cold. 

I have no boat, but I am willing to get a kayak...anyone have any luck last year with any particular lakes/ponds etc.

I live in the Bay Area and would be willing to travel to get a chance to fill the cooler.

We typically would run two or three poles with a cork, weight, and minnow.  We would tear them up.  Even in the middle of the night.

Thanks for any input to a new Cali resident that just moved here from Texas.

Best Regards,

Crappie Sniper

IDK about fillinf the Cooler....But Clear lake, Lake Berryessa, & Delta might be willing to give  few up 

Welcome to the Madness and Cali

Umm yea, the only cooler filling you'll most likely get , is from the beer you take out to search for those crappies!    Thems there is an elusive little fish here is our parts from what I've tried and heard. I'm sure you can occasionally get on a few but probably nothing like back in Texas. Round here we target those nice tasting rockfish but that takes kayak skills or patience off the rocks. You might also look into surf perch fishing in order to fill up that cooler with fish. Welcome aboard!

WTTM.

InformativeFisherman on YouTube has a video on crappie fishing the delta.  The marina he was fishing from looks like Tiki Lagun.

I can't give you any personal advice, as I have only seen them through my monitor and skunked last year on crappie at Lake Hennessy and Del Valle.   

JB

There is quality crappie fishing here and there up here in the north counties... I really don't know about the Bay Area.  When it comes to panfish, my opinion is that California fisheries tend to be more oriented toward perch and sunfish varieties. 

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the information...It does seem without surprise that the bay area, as well as a lot of CA, loves their saltwater...I am going Kayak shopping soon...kicking myself now because I had a decent one that I sold last year. 

I have actually looked into the Abalone and spearfishing...I just can't fathom spending the $ on all the gear, then drive 2 plus hours, not to mention having a dive buddy when I am new to this area...So I think the kayak and the pole will work just fine.

Thank You to everyone for welcoming me.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the information...It does seem without surprise that the bay area, as well as a lot of CA, loves their saltwater...I am going Kayak shopping soon...kicking myself now because I had a decent one that I sold last year. 

I have actually looked into the Abalone and spearfishing...I just can't fathom spending the $ on all the gear, then drive 2 plus hours, not to mention having a dive buddy when I am new to this area...So I think the kayak and the pole will work just fine.

Thank You to everyone for welcoming me.

Buying dive gear is often not that bad. Keep checking ebay and craigslist , and of course NCKA classified and you can find all things cheap plus most of the gear can be used for starting out kayaking. I still wear my wetsuit almost all the time on the ocean since I often do both.  Once you get down there looking for abs and fishing off the kayak in the ocean you'll join the MAdness!!!

Compared to the rest of the country, our crappie fishing is garbage. They are around, just not like you'd find in other parts of the country. Don't expect much and you won't be let down.
I was reading online that supposedly Discovery Bay ha a good crappie bite going. But I didn't see any pics, so you know what that means.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the information...It does seem without surprise that the bay area, as well as a lot of CA, loves their saltwater...I am going Kayak shopping soon...kicking myself now because I had a decent one that I sold last year. 

I have actually looked into the Abalone and spearfishing...I just can't fathom spending the $ on all the gear, then drive 2 plus hours, not to mention having a dive buddy when I am new to this area...So I think the kayak and the pole will work just fine.

Thank You to everyone for welcoming me.

If you want to AB dive or spearfish there are several of us over on Norcal Underwater Hunters that would be happy to get you out there. There are several guys on this site as well. It is a ton of fun and very addictive! -Matt

Welcome!!

I'd say rent or borrow dive gear before committing to buy it...a lot of guys think they will like it and then try it and realize that they are not that into it for whatever reason and then they have a bunch of dive gear they don't want anymore.

Just my 2 cents...

There's quite a few active divers on here (and over on NCUH like matt just said   ), so any questions just feel free to ask...

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Welcome to California and NCKA mbc2083.  I'll be hunting for Crappier sometimes in April when they're moving into shallow for spawning.  Look for my post in Hookups thread and you're welcome to join.

there are 18+" crappie in Rollins lake! I seen um! Caught a couple I tell ya! Huge they was...  Good luck out here... If you find a school feeding you might get a few before they figure out your there and split... If you get it figured out let us in on the trick 'cause I been round and round with that fish and catching is not what I've been doing... lots of fishing Good luck and welcome to the madness. NOW go get a yak and join us at Black Butte for the fresh cats tournament there ARE Crappie there Sniper

Love the hospitality...I feel like I'm back down south!

Wait till the first pot luck That's when you'll know your Home @ NCKA

there are 18+" crappie in Rollins lake! I seen um! Caught a couple I tell ya! Huge they was...  Good luck out here... If you find a school feeding you might get a few before they figure out your there and split... If you get it figured out let us in on the trick 'cause I been round and round with that fish and catching is not what I've been doing... lots of fishing Good luck and welcome to the madness. NOW go get a yak and join us at Black Butte for the fresh cats tournament there ARE Crappie there Sniper

Have Ron take you out to Rollins for Crappie.  I'm sure you will have a blast fishing with him, just don't ask to see any pictures of his 18"ers.