Who is in the lakes and streams?

Where is your favorite place to go if not in the salt water?

Thanks!

Delta/sac river

I suggest you find your best local lake and begin by learning one small section at a time, you will develope a working knowledge of that body of water. I just returned from Lake Almanor and stuck to a small section of lake for a day and a half, when I return I already know where to find structure and have an idea of the average depth of that area. This has helped me learn several of my local lakes but I am still learning and that is part of the adventure. good luck!!!

I fish the fresh more than the salt.  Clear Lake and the Delta are my favorites but I spend a lot of time on Lake Hennessey too just because it's close.  If I had a pickup to haul my Pro Angler I would spend more time at Lake Sonoma but since I use a trailer and can't use Yorty launch I don't go there much.

Sloppy Wood,

I am trying to figure that out...every lake I look up seems to be shore fishing only...or some refuge...jesus at the regulations...I need to move to Florida.

Thanks Ring King!  I will look them up! 

I am trying to get a nice list of places to justify me buying a new angler kayak...

Best Regards,

Berryessa and the delta for me.

New Melones in the winter. Delta in the spring and fall. Oroville RIGHT FREEKIN NOW. On fire for spotted bass.

New Melones in the winter. Delta in the spring and fall. Oroville RIGHT FREEKIN NOW. On fire for spotted bass.

Confirmed.  Bass boats were reporting 30-60 fish per day today.

Probably 90 percent of my kayak fishing is done in freshwater, and most of that takes place on Lake Almanor.  Brown trout, rainbow trout, Eagle Lake strain rainbows, landlocked Chinook salmon, and smallmouth bass are at the top of the list of species to pursue.  There's also Sacramento perch and largemouth bass available.  And all of those species have the potential to grow very large--these ain't your typical round-tailed stocker trout  .  Average size for the trout is 15-20 inches, 18-21 inches for the salmon.  It takes a fish over 25 inches to raise the eyebrows of the locals.  Every year a few 12-16 pound brown trout are landed as well.

The rest of my freshwater fishing is spread out around NorCal.  Trinity Reservoir for smallmouth.  Bucks Lake for mackinaw and kokanee.  Butt Lake for rainbows, browns, and smallies.  I often have trouble leaving Almanor for other lakes simply because Almanor tends to fish so well, and it's only a few minutes from my house.

I'm up and down the Eel River all seasons, and the Humboldt Lagoons, Mad, Smith and Klamath Rivers too.  I wish I had more lakes to choose from, but it's all about streams and ocean for me.  That's fine.   

Clear lake- bass, catfish
Lake Sonoma- bass , steelhead
A couple local lakes in SR

Sloppy Wood,

I am trying to figure that out...every lake I look up seems to be shore fishing only...or some refuge...jesus at the regulations...I need to move to Florida.

Is that because your looking at South Bay Lakes?   There you have few choices, the 4 that are open and expensive with inspections.  Head NE and you will find a large variety of bodies of water to fish.  Check out sites like USAFishing.com and read their reports, find a hot bite and hit it!  But you have to drive... 

Love, love, love me some Lake Sonoma

Thanks for all the help. 

I am trying to not have to drive 4 hours to go fish...if thats all there is for the peninsula I may or may not buy a kayak...for all the money spent on gear I could go charter fishing in the ocean once a month for a year...

LOL. I'm seeing the same crap to deal with when fishing as I did when I had my dirtbikes...I spend more time on the road than in the kayak or on the bike. 

The peninsula is over priced and doesn't have much to offer a country boy.