Shadow Cliffs 10-14

considering shadow cliffs tomorrow. I don't mind a little rain trolling for trout. I have the correct outerwear . Just don't know if the wind will be to much of a factor ? Wind predictions are forecasted 10 to 20 mph. Anyone fished there with these kind of winds ?

Haven't been out in a while. May just give it a try.

Are they inspecting kayaks there now ?

Thanks .  Alex

considering shadow cliffs tomorrow. I don't mind a little rain trolling for trout. I have the correct outerwear . Just don't know if the wind will be to much of a factor ? Wind predictions are forecasted 10 to 20 mph. Anyone fished there with these kind of winds ?

Haven't been out in a while. May just give it a try.

Are they inspecting kayaks there now ?

Thanks .  Alex

Yes, they're inspecting.  Wind can get pretty nasty there because its a big gravel pit, but its still a lake thats like 100 yards across.

Also, not sure how well the fish are biting yet, water temp is probably still a little warm.  I've seen a few boats out recently but not a ton.

So I guess I would have to get there before the rain actually started or I wouldn't pass inspection ? I will have to see what the morning brings. Would be a bit of a ride from Salinas if I didn't pass inspection. 

So I guess I would have to get there before the rain actually started or I wouldn't pass inspection ? I will have to see what the morning brings. Would be a bit of a ride from Salinas if I didn't pass inspection. 

Sorry I didnt see this message earlier or I would have asked.  I just took a walk around, pretty quiet. no shore fishermen with fish, although one guy got a bite while i was there.  only one boat on the water, a pro angler who looked to be tossing a kastmaster - no stringer hanging off the side.

the kiosk guy said they have a contractor who does inspections during the weekend and most weekdays until 2:30pm.  after that they do inspections up at kiosk. the boat inspection area is down near the launch ramp now so you have to go down there and might as well launch there instead of at the concession dock.  water level is good, the color was a nice green color, not as clear as usual, but got more clear the closer you get to the panhandle.  wind wasn't too bad, around 10-15.  because its a small lake that is an open gravel pit, the wind can be pretty strong but rarely chops up the lake too bad as it just doesn't have enough distance to chop it up. I've fished there in 15+ plenty of times and had no problems trolling.

if i were you, i'd either try to make it before the rain or bring a towel and try to towel it off best you can in the bmx parking lot on stanley before going in.  they probably won't be too picky if the bottom of the hull is wet.  I have never done an inspection there before so i dont know the process, i imagine its the same as at quarry or del valle. del valle is a PITA.

Thanks for the reply Ben. I have actually fished there about 3 times from a yak and twice from shore. Pulled a few nice lassen trout from there. A six and 10lber, but haven't been there since they have inspections now. Was nice when you didn't have to be bothered with that. That was the reason I quit going to quarry lakes.
Here is a pic of the 6lber and 10 lber. They don't fight too much but its fun pulling a log in on 4lb test .   
The guys at work enjoy when I bring one in and smoke it for them. Gotta keep the troops happy.

I'm probably gonna be there on the 15th or 16th, whichever day is less windy / rainy.

About the boat inspection last time at Los Banos it rain on us before inspection we passed because it was raining do aite water was ok can't stop nature
Different co.differnt make but same rules

About the boat inspection last time at Los Banos it rain on us before inspection we passed because it was raining do aite water was ok can't stop nature
Different co.differnt make but same rules

I would imagine they would be lenient on the exterior but still want to inspect the interior. I usually have my kayak upside down to help prevent any moisture getting in.

 

Last year, I went to San Luis and drove thru a bunch of fog, and failed the inspection. But, I think it has more to to do with the mood of the inspector than anything else. At Lexington, some of them don't even ask me to open a hatch---some of them don't even seem to know what a hatch is---and others are more thorough.

Hey Alex -

I haven't been Shadow Cliffs lately but have gone twice on a trolling only trip at Quarry Lakes, its a few minutes from my house.  EbParks says both lakes received heavy trout plants in the last month.  Water temp should be the same at both lakes which I track to have a successful trolling trip. 

As for Quarry on my last 2 recent outings within the last 5 days, water temp averaged 70 degrees.
Last Saturday I launched just before day break, water temp was already 68 degrees then rose to 70.
I got skunked as well as 3 other trollers I spoke to.
Based on my experience, water temp of 60 to 62 degrees is prime to get trout to bite a trolled lure.
It was slow for the bank fishermen too. 

Mel

For the last two years, November and December have been the best months for me at sc from both shore and from kayak.  I've caught fish into the beginning of January but then it slows down to almost nothing for no good reason whatsoever.  Maybe the stupid truck trout freeze to death in mid Jan.

Anyways, drove by earlier and saw a kayak on the water near the boat ramp - not sure if it was Alex but hope he's doing well if its him.

Quarry Lake has been good to me trolling from November to April.  Last year there was a big flock of cormorants hanging around at Quarry during the trout planting season and big numbers of White Pelicans.
A ranger told me they do this if there is no food in SF Bay.  I am pretty sure they ate most of the trout plants.

I was also told that during trout plants, bird distracting devices could no longer be used because the bird lovers are complaining that the birds are getting harassed.  So they eat all the dumb trout they want  . 

Wheres your report from the trout derby? Slacker.

Wheres your report from the trout derby? Slacker.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=74493.msg856215#msg856215

Right here Homie. I didn't post much of a follow up do to lack of responses. Bunch of Lurkers . 
Had a great time with my Dad. That's all that really matters. 

Will post up report for Shadow Cliffs after I make dinner for the Familia. The guy doing the inspection was pretty intense. Then he mentioned that it had rained slightly there like hinting that my kayak might be wet. I was pretty lucky all the way there from Salinas. No rain! Wunderground weather showed rain not likely till 10 am this morning, that's why I took the chance . Heck, if not I would have fished from the bank. Report to follow. It was a good day !!!!!!!   

Alex

So I reached SC at about 6:40 am. Paid 18.00 bucks for parking, fishing and kayak inspection. Guess its not 2 bad if your able to pull out a few of those monster lassen trout. The guy inspecting ( Dustin ) even went so far as to look inside the tubes of my paddle. Made the inspection and suited up.

On the water trolling about 7:15. Trolled the perimeter of the lake 2  and a half times. I caught and released about 8 three inch bass. 
On my second pass around the lake by the boat dock I spend a minute or two speaking to a guy that is in a little bass pontoon. The kind you row. He is telling me that he caught two yesterday out in the middle of the lake drifting bait. Thank him and continue trolling.

So about 9:30 or so I am looking to take a rest from trolling and decide to drift the middle of the lake with bait. Pretty quick drift pushing me north to the main road. I quickly get tired of that. Breaks over back to trolling.

By this time I am thinking I will call it a early day being that I have not caught anything, the guy in the pontoon bass boat is gone and the two shore anglers I spoke to caught nothing.

Of course we all get that thought in are head that you gotta make one more round and so I did.

I head to one of my favorite spots for the last hurrah ! Mind you , I have gone through about 6 to 8 different lures. The lure that i did so well at Mcswain had no luck that i thought for sure was going to kill them. Nope !!!

I switch to another one of my favorites and  start my last troll before heading to the barn. I look to my left and it looks like i have snagged bottom. My fish finder reads 18 feet deep. I had come as close as 8 feet deep with no problems. My rod is bent back pretty far and there it is.... THE TUG !   

The wind is moving me along pretty good. By the time i land the fish i am up against the bank. Land the fish which looks to be about 2 or so pounds. Paddle about 10 feet from the bank and reset in hopes of maybe a school of trout there. Begin releasing my lure out and it doesn't get more than 20 feet and as the line is going out it looks like something is hitting it. I am not sure because i have the bail open but the line is really being pulled out to quickly. i set the bail and BAM !!!

This one feels a little heavier with a little more fight. Wind pushes me back up against the bank. Net what looks to be close to 4 lbs. Troll the area for about another 30 minutes and head to the barn.

Stopped at the kiosk for a photo .