Lake Merced Skunk - 2/28

Hi All,

I got work done early to afford an afternoon fishing on Lake Merced (North) as I saw it was scheduled for trout planting during the week.

I've never fished the lake, but I live about a mile away so it's been on my list. I've heard only negative things about it, but thought I could re-write that narrative.

Anywho -> got out around 3pm and paddled around with my fish finder to try to locate anything that would bite. I tried dropshotting orange powerworms and drifting nightcrawlers for nada.

The lake felt very dead. Didn't see any shore anglers pulling in anything either.

It's noteworthy that I was metering A LOT of what I am guessing are baitfish? Anytime I found myself in 18-22 feet of water, there were consistent markings... Please see attached photos.

At any rate, has anyone on here ever had luck on this lake? Any advice?

-Pasha

Used to fish it all the time when they used to have a trailer that sold fishing gear. The lake was stocked alot. And the old guys that used to live in the apartments used to make their own bait out of garlic powder and Velveeta Cheese. Fun for all. They used to rent row boats also. When the droughts started happening the golf course kept pumping out the water, as they had a contract to do. It did its damage the guy who paid the extra for the stocking.,took  and the bait shack took off rest was history. I've always hoped they would bring it back, as Iam now one of the old timers And something for the kids to do on their own.
Thanks for the update. Think I will look into it more.

It's hard to tell on that fish finder. Looks like fish not bait! Bait usually shows as a big blob, not individual traces. I'd be dropping jigs on those marks... Good luck out there!

The fish you are marking are various species of carp that may or may not be native species.

Ive seen the Mainland Chinese guys (the ones on the pier with the cane poles)  fill up coolers of them in the warmer months, they use home made dough baits consisting of combinations of potato and corn starches.


If you speak Chinese, you should try talking to them and learn their techniques. They fish with completely different techniques/gear in comparison to what most us are familiar with.

The fish you are marking are various species of carp that may or may not be native species.

Ive seen the Mainland Chinese guys (the ones on the pier with the cane poles)  fill up coolers of them in the warmer months, they use home made dough baits consisting of combinations of potato and corn starches.

I was just thinking yesterday how I didn't consider the likelihood they were schools of carp! Thank you for confirming. I shoulda brought corn! Next time.

  I always thought kayaks are not allow on there since I never saw any.  Hell, I'm only 3 blocks away.   Since you can fish it in a kayak, think I'm going to give it a try.  Although the south lake looks much better.  Especially near the bridge for bass.  A good way to goof off and give it a shot.  Thanks for the inspirational idea.

I take my kids there to practice casting and to pull up little sculpin at the docks.  As said, the Asian guys do fairly well pulling in carp.  I think the cormorants do the best job catching the DFG stocker trout.  I've heard old stories about bass being from the tall grass on the northeast side of the North lake.  I've also heard stories about dead bodies being pulled out of the South Lake.  Either way, the water quality for both lakes is questionable, so I'd recommed catch-n-release.

I take my kids there to practice casting and to pull up little sculpin at the docks.  As said, the Asian guys do fairly well pulling in carp.  I think the cormorants do the best job catching the DFG stocker trout.  I've heard old stories about bass being from the tall grass on the northeast side of the North lake.  I've also heard stories about dead bodies being pulled out of the South Lake.  Either way, the water quality for both lakes is questionable, so I'd recommed catch-n-release.

The story about pulling a dead body from the South lake is true, it happened 1995 or 1996.  As far a a bass pulling from the tulle in the North lake is also true I've caught some 8lbs flipping jigs in the tulle and that happened many years ago   

I am tempted to launch out there and throw a Ned rig out to see what happens..

  I always thought kayaks are not allow on there since I never saw any.  Hell, I'm only 3 blocks away.   Since you can fish it in a kayak, think I'm going to give it a try.  Although the south lake looks much better.  Especially near the bridge for bass.  A good way to goof off and give it a shot.  Thanks for the inspirational idea.

I didn't think it was allowed either til I read it here: https://www.sfparksalliance.org/our-parks/parks/lake-merced

"Boats: The General Public is allowed to launch personal boats that are not gas motorized in the North Lake Merced only."

However, I did see people on the South lake... can anyone clarify why that might be?

my guess is no one cares to enforce such rules there.

Bummer dude!