FreshKATs.com Rollins Lake: Results

Greenhorn and Peninsula campgrounds don't have hook-ups according to their web sites and Long Ravine gets terrible reviews.  This will be a scouting expedition for a decent campground and maybe a little fish scouting too.  The plan is to arrive sometime next Tuesday and stay a couple of nights.

Martin

Let me know where you end up and I'll take a drive up and fish with you guys after work.

I've checked out all the campgrounds around the lake for the event.
1. Peninsula was OK and had great access to the whole lake but no RV hookups. No worries, it's a small lake.
2. Long Ravine really didn't work, the campground setup kinda sucked.
3. Greenhorn was pretty sketchy to say the least but could work if I can get these guys can get their shit together. Just not very professional.... "duck tape should fix er" kinda attitude. No One wants a bad camping experience at one of these events. 

4. Orchard Springs definitely seems to be the best option. No real lake access from the individual campsites so you'll have to take a short stroll to the water. But the campground is setup beautifully with lots of amenities. Great group outing/BBQ area that TexasBoy would be proud of  even has a stage with power... haha we'll make you famous! I'm working with them now but they are NID(Nevada Irrigation District) so I'll let you know what we can workout if anything. This might be a straight up camp thing with no deals. I'd rather pay a premium than camp at a shitty spot for the weekend.

http://orchardspringscampground.com

I heard the fishing has been slow lately but should turn on.

Mike

Thanks for the intel report!  Looking forward to making a reservation and therfore locking myself in to NOT bail.  Ha! 

The folks at the Orchard campgrounds are very nice.  And the stock truck backs up right there and dumps trout in the lake.  Great fishing spot. And some really clean smallies are very close.

But Greenhorn,  that's a killer spot to fish. Crappies and spots galore.  And I found a lotta trout there as well.

Looks like I'm in - picked up a Pro Angler 12 yesterday.
Greenhorn works for me: 11 minutes from my house, driveway to ramp.

Got out on Rollins yesterday for a shakedown cruise.  The PA12 is very nice!  Didn't do much serious fishing, just kind of trolled around testing the kayak.

Rollins was very quiet.  Only 2 power boats passed me once.  The rest of the time it was just me.

I may need help fishing here.  As a kid I fished all the time in the midwest and did pretty good, but since I moved here 16 years ago, haven't done much and I really don't know how to fish it here with these California fish.

Drop shot anything in April...... It will get picked up by hungry bass.....

Troll a rapala, that is how I fish for EVERYTHING here, and do as well or better than most. I will screw around with bait from time to time, but a J11 black n silver will deliver!

Drop shot anything in April...... It will get picked up by hungry bass.....

 

I did troll with a Rapala for quite a while, until it snagged and I lost it.   I'll give the drop shot a try.   Are they partial to any specific plastic lures?

try a zoom pearl super fluke no weight. toss and let it drop... spots love it. Crank baits that dive 10 to 15 ft fished stupid slow will get er done. Mostly right now it is about slowing down presentations and getting ON the fish. use the fishfinder to get in close then drop ??? to the fish. rocky walls and points in or next to deep water. also early and late bites may be the rule. Last week at Englebright, you couldn't buy a bite after 8am. fish didn't start moving again till 6pm... they will probably be staging for the spawn soon. brawl time should produce some good fish. I'm exited and hope somebody finds that 20" crappie

I was trolling but probably too fast, since I was mainly testing the kayak.  Also, was about 3:00-3:30.  No fish finder yet, so I'm just guessing.

Winter ain't for guessing. fish school up and you need to find them to catch them. Rollins is no exception

That's why I'm asking.

MX21

I've never fished Rollins Lake but it sounds like quality water as a candidate for your home lake. You also have Bullards Bar which can also be good (especially for spotted bass).

This time of year is tough. People in the know catch fish but they have the local knowledge of their water.

I came from the midwest and yes, things are easier there. Lots of fish. The difference here is you are fishing reservoirs vs natural lakes. The general rule is you're going to be fishing a little deeper. When you learn the ways you will be impressed by the size of the fish out here! Maybe not as many but better quality (especially panfish).

Buy some 10-15 foot running crank baits. I would start with Rapala Shad Raps (SR5). Get a couple shad colored ones and the crawfish colored ones at least. These lures are my bread and butter search lures. They work for bass, crappie and even trout. Many others work too. Use quality line. I prefer 6-8# test Trilene mono and troll it well back from the boat (100 feet plus/minus). Troll slower in the cooler water season but you do want to get it down to its running depth first. General speed limits: Crappie tend to like a slower troll. Bass and trout a little faster.

Will you catch crappie and bass this time of year with the crank bait? Probably not because the water might be too cold still. Trout yes. By April, the lakes are primed for really good fishing and all varieties and presentations (crank baits, jigs, worming, etc. all work). You will catch fish on the above lure during all the warmer water season. Just troll it along the fishy looking shores behind your Hobie. Adjust your speed to the depth of bottom and what the fish want on that given day. Make some passes offshore if you spot some bait on your FF. I don't use a FF and manage quite well working the fishy looking points, shores or offshore. A FF definitely helps though.

Get that crank bait trolling down and then you can branch out from there.  Good luck and congrats on your new boat.