Greetings from Chico!

Newbie post here!  My name's Ben and I'm from Chico.  Hoping to get some ideas for my new kayak, fishing gear, techniques, etc. 

I've been out kayak fishing on the north coast a few times, but it's been years and was on borrowed gear.  I picked up an Old Town canoe last year mostly for family trips, and have done some fishing on that in various lakes around Chico.  It's a great canoe, but I wanted to be able to get back out on the ocean.  I ended up picking a Field & Stream Eagle Talon 120 kayak from Dick's for $399 for my starter kayak.  I REALLY wanted to get the Ocean Kayak Trident 13, but it's a little too steep for me at this point.  Once I get some experience and figure out what's really important to me, I'll be ready to upgrade.

Welcome to NCKA Ben, look for hook ups, we have a great bunch of guys up here !
Jeff

Welcome Ben!  What local lakes are you fishing?  I fish Almanor once in awhile.     I have to ask, student or worker bee?

Bret

Bret, the Afterbay is about 20 minutes away and that's where I go most frequently.  Mostly bass as soon as the water temperature warms up, but I've also hooked some decent sized rainbow trout as well.  I also like the Diversion Pool near the Oroville Dam.  Unfortunately it's been closed due to the damage to the spillway, and will likely remain that way for most of this year.  I've only ever sailed my Hobie Cat out at Black Butte lake, but it's supposedly some good crappie fishing out there and is only about a 40 minute drive.  I'm looking forward to re-exploring the local spots...but this time from my kayak! 

Oh yeah, worker bee!  I drive a desk 

Bret, the Afterbay is about 20 minutes away and that's where I go most frequently.  Mostly bass as soon as the water temperature warms up, but I've also hooked some decent sized rainbow trout as well.  I also like the Diversion Pool near the Oroville Dam.  Unfortunately it's been closed due to the damage to the spillway, and will likely remain that way for most of this year.  I've only ever sailed my Hobie Cat out at Black Butte lake, but it's supposedly some good crappie fishing out there and is only about a 40 minute drive.  I'm looking forward to re-exploring the local spots...but this time from my kayak! 

Oh yeah, worker bee!  I drive a desk 

I've never done the Afterbay.  I've done Black Butte, Oroville, Paradise Lake and the Diversion Pool, but prefer heading up the hill to the big fish.  I work on campus that's why I asked.

I got my computer science degree there, and haven't been back since!  LOL

How is the fishing in Paradise Lake?  Have you ever fished Lake Oroville from the yak?  I'm thinking about an overnight camping trip to the boat-in campground at Bloomer Point.

Welcome, Ben. 

Welcome to NCKA, Ben. 

C-H-I-C-O!!!! Welcome Ben

Hello.. welcome aboard... I hear ole Black Butte sure isn't the crappie hole as it used to be.. it was fished extremely hard years ago before they put a limit on them.. another good spot and they happen to be hitting very well is on Lake Britton in Burney..nice lake.. bass and crappie and a few trout... hope to meet up one day

I got my computer science degree there, and haven't been back since!  LOL

How is the fishing in Paradise Lake?  Have you ever fished Lake Oroville from the yak?  I'm thinking about an overnight camping trip to the boat-in campground at Bloomer Point.

Paradise Lake is fun for a quick trip.  I hear the bass fishing can be really good at times, but I've only fished for trout there.  The last time I was up there fishing a couple of years ago, there was a family of otters that were targeting the planted trout.  It wasn't the dozen fish of evening fishing I was used too, so I haven't been back.  Oroville can be fun for numbers but not size.

Who wants to catch 12" bass when you can catch these and not deal with ski boats all the time?   

Thanks all for the warm welcome!

Welcome Ben, look forward to some fishing reports.

FYI for all you Chico/Oroville/Paradise kayakers, we are talking with VA Caregiver Program about a HOW event on Lake Oroville.

I have been talking with Forebay Aquatics about holding an event where they do their summer camps. Looks promising will keep you posted.

https://www.forebayaquaticcenter.com/

Bryan