Mendo Friday, 10/27

I don't know where to get live bait up there.  This will be my first time, so I just figured I'd be using lures,etc.  I can meet you in Vallejo, just give me a location off the fwy and a time.

Jody

I don't know where to get live bait up there.  This will be my first time, so I just figured I'd be using lures,etc.  I can meet you in Vallejo, just give me a location off the fwy and a time.

Jody

Why don't we meet at the bait shop in Vallejo at 6am.  I'll post the direction to the bait shop before noon.

Sonny

Baitshop is on the way to South Launch.It opens at 8:oo and has what you need LIVE JUMBO MINNOWS.Read the section on Mendo(opening NCKA page)written by:Sean-The Master.If you are launching from S.Launch you will pass the shop,then only minutes to lake.The Lake Mendo exit off 101 takes you straight to the S.launch,a few turns(follow signs-easy)

Quantity or Quality?  We ave been getting between 2-5 fish a day/kayak, many of the fish have been nice.  The forebay seems to produce #'s but the fish seem small to me.

From my experience @ Forebay and your fishing videos I'd say you're right. I see a lot of people catching but I haven't seen anyone pull in anything larger than 5 pounds.

Z

I totally agree - I have not seen a striper over 5 pounds at Forebay ....yet. But it seems to me that they are easier to catch at the Forebay compared to Lake Mendo. IMO: the Forebay stripers will attack almost any lure (or fly) you put in front of 'em (casting,trolling,live baiting). The only time I have caught striper on lures at Mendo is when they are boiling on top. It seems to me that the stripers at Mendo almost always go for the slow-trolled-live-minnows - Sean's method has always been best way to hook a mendo striper (I have tried, again and again, trolling rapalas and spoons at Mendo but to no avail )

oh....and if the stipers at the Forebay are "lip locked", you can go to plan "B" and go for the Large Mouths....they seem to be willing to "play" at anytime of the day

Either way you go will be good.....as long as you're "afloat" 

Baitshop is on the way to South Launch.It opens at 8:oo and has what you need LIVE JUMBO MINNOWS.Read the section on Mendo(opening NCKA page)written by:Sean-The Master.If you are launching from S.Launch you will pass the shop,then only minutes to lake.The Lake Mendo exit off 101 takes you straight to the S.launch,a few turns(follow signs-easy)

Thank you for your info. & suggestions.  Jody & I are not familiar with this lake as this's the first trip here for both of us.  We would appreciate any pointers as where to fish as this is a big lake.

Sonny

Hi Jody,

Let's meet at the "C-Biscuits" bait shop @ 312 Curtola Pkwy Vallejo CA 94590 (707) 552-5319.  Map to this bait shop below:

http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps2.py?Pyt=Typ&name=C-Biscuits&desc=(707)+552-5319&csz=Vallejo+CA+94590&country=us&cs=9&ed=2M_Mu6160Sy71E_sl0TfHquudcHgu8f9VNgvVd6R1O9DttZsg04su07rYMjCyDtER7Ugsw--

See ya there tomorrow at 6:00am sharp.  I'll be driving a Teal Tacoma pick-up.

Sonny

Buy your miinows down here and use a air pump in a 5 gallon bucket to keep them alive.  Buy a good air pump $35 to 50. Jumbo minnows.  There is a bait shop near Clear Lake (Lakeport) that has bester bait than the one at Mendo.

Ken kickfish

Buy your miinows down here and use a air pump in a 5 gallon bucket to keep them alive.  Buy a good air pump $35 to 50. Jumbo minnows.  There is a bait shop near Clear Lake (Lakeport) that has bester bait than the one at Mendo.

Ken kickfish

Hi kickfish,

Thank you for the tip, but I don't know the Clear Lake area either.  I'll check with Jody and work-out a plan for tomorrow.

Sailfish

Alright you guys.......the baitshop that is ON THE WAY to the south launch has the BAIT.You don't need a air pump because in 5min.you'll be at the launch and thats where the stripers are.You should read the 3-pages of info. before you go.All you need is a EGG TYPE 1/4oz. wgt.on mainline,a swivel to keep the wgt. from sliding down on the leader,   approx-4ft. of 20+lb.FLOUROCARBON LEADER and a size2 live-bait hook, hook through bottom of lip,then poke the tip of hook through the nostrils TROLL less than 1mph.This is the simplest way,but you should read the words from SEAN/SCWAWFISH its his backyard.
Goodluck and dont spend $ on the pump yet if you dont need it
Now keeping them alive while your fishing is another story.........BAIT TUBE or one of those FLOATING BAIT BUCKETS with the holes in it works great. A 1/2doz. MINNOWS should last one fisherperson all day.

You also only need a few minnows..4-6. If there all gone, you've had a hell of a day.  No pump needed, just put em in a little ice chest or a small bucket...they will last hours without air at a low density.  The bait at the shop is now much better than it used to be.

Have a bait rod for trolling and a spinner set up for topwater.  It has been pretty chilly in the am, and WARM by 1000...wear peelable layers!  I may be there tomorrow, if I am I will need to focus on my clients, but would love to say hi.  Good luck!

Sean

Thank you all for the tips.  We'll give it a try.  Even if I don't catch any fish, I'll take lots of pictures to include in my report.   

OK.  I'll see you at the baitshop at 6am.  I drive a Silver Ford Expidetion with a big a__ yellow Malibu two on top.


Jody

Quantity or Quality?  We ave been getting between 2-5 fish a day/kayak, many of the fish have been nice.  The forebay seems to produce #'s but the fish seem small to me.

Sean, your are right. we know there are big Stripers in the Forebay, but frankly it probably gets at least 20 times the fishing pressure Mendocino does. Most Stripers don't last long past a few inches over the length limit. There are shore anglers everywhere in the Forebay. The fish are significantly bigger in the reservoir, but with 60 miles of shoreline, one has to know where to go and the wind is also significanlty bigger which to date has been a deterrent. There is a place we've nicknamed the 'Bay of Pigs' that has show 10-12 pounders regularly but I am sworn to secrecy on its location. http://www.danblanton.com/SanLuisstripers.html  I'll be trying there later in the season.

I would love to go to Mendocino, but the ideal deal for me would be to leave at noon, get there about 1530 fish the evening, camp, get up early fishing the moring and head home about noon. My wife has worked every Saturday this month (4 in a row) and has limited my range for fishing substantially. Soon I'll be free.

Map to South shore of Lake Mendocino (click on label to enlarge)

Map to South shore of Lake Mendocino (click on label to enlarge)

Thank you for the map and "hot" spot Marmite!

Jody,

I also bring my yellow Malibu Mini-X.  See you in the morning.  Sleep tight ...