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Thursday, November 8th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 62.2 - 65

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Tried my luck again this weekend, didn't get skunked but then again only a couple were keepers and barely at that. All caught at the very begining of the river where the boom is. All in 5-10 feet in the big rocks, tried spoons but caught mostly stick fish. Used purple/brown jigs to catch mine, threw ones with red in them in the clear water by the dam end, but no takers, threw the hudd ROF 5 for a spell but again no takers, tried the deep BBZ for about an hour but no followers or takers, got caught up on rocks and brush though, got the BBZ back with out problems. Will try a different spot next time to the previous two outings...maybe jackrabbit flats or the cistern area near the dam.
    City: Lompoc

    Tips: Throw what ever they are biting on.

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

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    Water Temp: 63-67

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished with a nice guy ( Sam ) looking to further his understanding of the lake today. We had a tough bite and took it in stride. I believe we would have done much better if we had had the wind from a few days earlier but on this day it was very minimal. While that makes it easier to fish...it makes it harder to catch! We caught fish on spoons, jigs, and dropshot worms. The shad all seem to be from Santa Cruz to the river. We ( I ) wasted alot of our day looking for fish on the ledges off of the flats but there was nothing going on there or on the shear walls. Very different year than last. Did catch a crappie on a spoon and briefly had a big carp on the line ( again! ). We could see fish in 4 feet of water so we left them and came back an hour later where I caught one of the healthiest 4 1/2 pounders (weighed on a scale) I've seen in the lake this year. One bigger 2 1/2 pound smallmouth ....Things were downright tough. The largemouth was in 10 feet of water on a Peanut butter and jelly 1/2 0z. jig with a brown black and red flake trailer and the smallie came on a chrome 3/4 oz. spoon cast to a ledge and hopped back to the boat. The smallmouth was hacking up really large and red crawfish so I think oxblood light red flake is a good worm choice and a little orange or red on the jig might help too.
    City: Ojai

    Tips: The lake is turning over to some degree and will be tough for a while if there is no wind. If the wind blows do not retreat but get out a blade (shad in nature) or a ROF5 Huddleston ( shallow running swimbait) and fish the wind blown banks. The fish that are eating seem to be the shallow ones. I think the deep fish are full ;)

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

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    Water Temp: 62.8

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hit the lake today 0700, tried Big Cachume bay and teh shelf leading to it, nothing on top water, jig, drop shot. Went into BC and still nothing. Flew to Santa Cruz only to find....nothing....tried the end near the dam...noting, saw a few but they didn't want the spoon, jig or drop shot, fished the wall doing what felt was 20 mph, the wind was unrelenting on the main lake with only a few sheltered areas to find. Maybe the swim bait bite will improve over the next few days...saw the fish tanker entering the park as I was leaving..this weekend could be great swimbait bite..then again maybe not the lake seems to be turning over in areas Left the lake at 1330 with nothing to show
    City: lompoc

    Tips: Beats me, I tried jigs in watermelon, purple/brown, red/brown, drop shot in oxblood, water melon, and shad.... nothing

Friday, October 26th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 65-68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Killer jig bite shallow early on down to 40' Decent spoons too, but not too many decent spoon fish . Probably 30 fish between spoons, senkos, and jigs, but only 5 or 6 "good" ones. Best 5 might have gone 12 lbs. Lots of drop shot small fish, but we didn't waste any time on them. River ledge seemed to be deserted too...
    Water is getting lower and lower, most of the flats are getting real skinny. Didn't really try any worms
    City: Camarillo

    Tips: I'd bang your favorite points with jigs early, then slip into spoon mode.

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 67 ,VERY WINDY

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: REACTION BAITS AM,CRANKS,JERK BAITS,THEN GO TO POINTS AND FISH OUT IN DEEP WATER,ALSO RIVER LEDGE,SET IN 21 FEET AND THROW OUT AND BRING UP THE LEDGE,FISH ARE SETTING RIGHT AT BOTTOM OF LEDGE,ALL YOU WILL FEEL IS WEIGHT,IF YOU CAN FIND MOSS PADS OF THE BANK WORK FROGS AM.SOME 3LBERS BUT MOST WERE 12 TO 15OZ FISH,BUT WERE KEEPERS
    City: LA CANADA

    Tips: REACTION AM,THEN GO DEEEEEEEEP.JIGS 1/4OZ,YAMAMOTO,WATER MELLON-RED FLAKE.DARK RED CRANKS,JERK BAITS AM.THE FISH CAUGHT IN DEEP WATER YOU WILL NEED TO BLEED AIR BLADDERS OR WHEN YOU RELEASE THE FISH THEY WILL DIE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO GO DOWN, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

Friday, October 12th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 66-67

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Water is down 3 feet from last visit. Is that 1 foot a week? Took out a newbie to spoon fishing as he wanted to try to learn this technique. The weather was clear to start but ended with isolated showers. We fished from 6:30 ( lake opens ) until 6:30. It started very well with my partner catching a nice 3 pound largemouth on his first cast. I caught a nice fish on the huddleston ( ROF 12 ) and than switched up to a Black Dog Lunker Punker which got smacked in the first two wiggles of my first cast. I was caught offgaurd and missed the fish. My partner then scored a very nice smallmouth and then things died down a bit. I decidid to travel along a similar path to my last visit and after an hour it was evident that the smallmouth and largemouth had vacated the easy topwater pattern however I was fishing little george type baits (Revenge) and enjoying no success either. Hmmm? After a brief stop in the marina we went out to try and find the spoon fish. I had a spot that had produced before but there was no bait and no love there so we high tailed it out of there to try some more areas. We eventually found a spoon bite off shore and did well enough. Scoring the usual mixed bag of largemouth, smallmouth, redear, crappie, a cat fish that staightened out my partners hook ( but left the telltale slime coat on his line ) and another of the 20 pound carp that I seem to have a nack at snagging. We were having a good time when I decidid to have some fun and try the Punker again while my partner was fishing deep I laid the bait up into about 2 feet of water and had to rip it away from a very persitant Osprey at least a half a dozen times. When it finally gave up I got the cast back where I wanted it and Whack! Scored a nice heafty largemouth for my troubles. We caught fish on spoons, spinner baits, Cranks (I had two on my bait at one time when I got it in!)dropshot, senkos,silver buddies,Revenge tail spinners Huds,and the Punker. It was down right fun to be fishing and we hated to go but it was dark and they kind of insist that you get off the water.
    City: Ojai

    Tips: Smaller fish on the spoons however I dumped several 2+ pound smallmouth right at the boat. There was a time during our day that it was best to not drop the spoon all the way down but rather half way down as the fish were suspended in 25 feet while sitting in 50. I'm sure just about anything you choose to use will catch you a fish but if you want some bigger fish you'll have to go with the bigger baits. I hope I can come back soon as it's always worth the drive.

    Rip

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 60's

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Ferndog - try tossing senkos and drop shot. easy fishing. your wife will catch something. spoons are (literally) over-rated.
    City: Buellton

Monday, October 8th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Corrected e-mail address mikessyderek@ca.rr.com

Thursday, October 4th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished the lake for the first time in a long time with limited success. I depend on Kelly Ripa's reports. Where's Kelly??? Please e-mail me I need info. Camping out this week with the Mrs. and she gets cranky if she does not catch fish. Please help Desperately Seeking Kelly
    City: Lomita

Friday, September 28th, 2007

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    Water Temp: not measured

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Went evening bank fishin' along the south shore from 5-7 pm. Tried roosters in purple, white, and brown, kastmasters in silver and gold (I always do this for some reason). Worked a lot of water at different depths--different speeds. Got little guys (bass) and tossed 'em back. Tried jerking top waters (Zara)--nothin. A little windy and cool but beautiful. Encountered nobody.
    Very peaceful. Saw a few big ones jump.
    City: Goleta

    Tips: Banks are steep! Get your surfin' legs ready to slide with a few rocks if you try this. Maybe bring the fly rod next time. Had fun--didn't fall in.

Saturday, September 15th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Took out some folks over the last two weekends. Smallmout on little points and along the shear walls on pop-r's ( rico ). Largemouth occasionally. I caught some nice buzzbait fish but was really there to make sure the others caught fish. Around 10:00 out comes the spoon...Largemouth,smallmouth,crappie,red ear, trout....and one brusier( 20 pounds or more ) of a carp. I would have wacked it over the head with an oar but I just pulled out the hook after letting the folks with me reel it in and took their picture. Awesome spoon bite should be in the next few days and should last for months. So far the best bass on a spoon was a smallie caught by my partner John Younce that was over 3 pounds....but better things are around the corner. To bad it costs me so much to drag the boat there.....I'll just have to wait for the same bite at Casitas.

    Rip
    City: Ojai

    Tips: Read prior posts from my fall trips and it's all the same just a different water level.

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

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    Water Temp: 72-73

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Clr near dam, very stained at narrows. No smoke! No evidence of the fire. Conditions second ramp still in use but the third ramp is emerging and almost needed. Watch out for exposed new land near the water intake. Update! Money just came through for new launch ramp facility, construction this winter I hear. Found a couple of fish on rocks nr dam and a couple more in Cachuma. Using plastics on the walls.

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 72

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fog - Fog and more fog. Well, that's what it offered when the gate opened to the launch this morning. A heavy layer mixed with smoke filled the first 30 feet of the top water and conditions were really critical. I followed the edges to the right of the marina all the way towards the island then finding myself boat deep in some unexpected stickup's to the point I had to raise the motor to pull myself off the soals. Really a critical mistake on my part as I could have 'beached' myself. Fortunately, the 3-5mph speed kept me from getting stuck. So BE CAREFUL out there. The Zca smoke was lingering much of the day but the sun finally popped through about 9, giving way to clear skies less the smoke.

    Hit some walls by the cisturn with my new CLU 'yellow' eye top water and scored on the third cast, making me VERY happy about this new creation from Kelly Barefoot and CLU Lures. I was eager to try my Casitas Black Buster but wanted to wait for a better area like back in the river. Finally some clearing and I followed the outline of the island around to the reeds, seeing a distant light off a boat fishing the soals. We chatted for a bit and both boaters said the ride out was really a scary effort asd they too found the stick-ups and shallow water. Made it to the river and started tossing cranks. Two hits but dinks. Went to a lipless shad crank and scored a 12 incher alond the walls, tossed a jig with no takers nor on a drop which surprised me. Hit little Cachuma, Santa Cruz and Johnson with only minimal hits and called it a day at noon with the wind just coming up to speed and the sun coming in with some heat. Lake was pretty empty today considering. Think the fire has people spooked away.
    City: SM

Sunday, August 5th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 76.4-76.8

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Started out around 7ish, near the dam on points right of dam. Had two good hits on a jig but nothing else, worked the wall all the way down to little cachuma, with only a few to keep, several dinks, 3 good ones on a drop shot. Ran to the island and caught nothing near or across from there. Ran into Big Cachuma and caught on on a jig in 20-2 feet. Stopped once I was across from the floating Jon. No other fish. Wind up and lots of waves.
    Gave my batteries a good checkout as I just installed the second trolling battery yesterday. No discernable loss of power even though it was on max for most of the day into the wind.

    Left around 1300. Not a bad day.
    City: Lompoc

    Tips: color didn't seem to matter today...just slow presentation

Saturday, July 21st, 2007

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    Water Temp: 73

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I was on the water by 6:30 am. There was an Anglers Choice tournament going on with about 20 - 25 boats. I did not stick around to see what the largest fish or largest weigh in was. I started off at the cistern and threw my favorite Cachuma go-to rip bait, the Rapala X-rap ghost white. I caught 2 small smallies real quick but nothing else. I switched over to a weighless wacky-rigged senko (oxblood) and caught 3 lmb's, all about 1 pound. I cruised over to Johnson's bay and through my X-rap again and caught a 1# smallie. I worked my way down the cliffs/walls and did not catch anything. I then cruised back to the cistern and worked my way into Harvey's cove only to get a couple small fish and a few taps. By this time it was about 11:00 am. I decided to try my luck off the drop offs down south. I cruised over to drop off next to buoys between Santa Cruz point and the Tunnel Area. I through a weightless senko wacky-sytle and caught a 1 1/2 # lmb. I then decided to switch over to one of my custom made jigs with a green yamamoto twin tail grub. I caught my cachuma personal best off the second cast. 4 lb's 7 ounces lmb. She fought amazing and I ended my day. I probably caught a total fish of 13 bass and my partner unfortunately could not catch a break with only 3 bites and no fish.
    City: Camarillo

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Started out about 7am with a new guy. Clr skies and light wind. Went towards dam and threw senko. A few fish with best 3.5 lbs. Pattern that worked for me was throwing to rock shores. Didn't see many fish on cliffs or flats but a couple on drop shot. He ended up with about 7 fish and had maybe 10-12. Really think braid . with fluoro leader and circle hook is the way to go on this technique. Quit about noon. Wind not a problem (or smoke).

Saturday, July 7th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 73

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Arrived at Cachuma about 6:00 am. There was an Anglers Choice tournament with about 20-25 boats. Not crowded at all though. Didn't get to see what the biggest bass or largest bag was. I started off at Harvey's cove and threw a Zara Spook. I had a couple small smallies hit it but nothing major. I then moved along the Cistern and caught about 10 smallies and largemouth on a Rapala Xrap. Largest around 2 pounds. After that I cruised over to Johnsons canyon and worked the walls. I caught another 10 - 15 smallies and largemouth on Rapala Xrap's and Senko's. Nothing huge. I just wish I could catch some bigger fish. Maybe next time. How did everybody else do?
    City: Camarillo

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 74

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished 3 hours this morn. Per last report, nice fish along cistern rocks. Senko. Fish were 3-4 lbs. Went to Cachuma rt side for a few small fish. Water coloring up slightly, clr but not quite as clr as last week. Made a quick pass on flats across from marina, small fish on screen, no takers. Ditto far end of jackrabbit.
    City: Santa Barbara

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    Water Temp: 74

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished 3 hours this morn. Per last report, nice fish along cistern rocks. Senko. Fish were 3-4 lbs. Went to Cachuma rt side for a few small fish. Water coloring up slightly, clr but not quite as clr as last week. Made a quick pass on flats across from marina, small fish on screen, no takers. Ditto far end of jackrabbit.
    City: Santa Barbara

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007

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    Water Temp: 68+

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Walked the Cistern shore line and saw plenty of Bass. Drop shot with the Ol' Ox blood red flake again and caught 2 Large Mouths and 1 smallie. All around the 1.5 lb. class. Bigger Bass where moving along the shore, but were not interested in the worms. Tried a Texas rigged power craw and got followers but again no takers. I only fished for 2.5 hours so I'll take and release the 3 fish, just wish they were a bit bigger.
    City: Santa Ynez

    Tips: If you are set on catching Bass from shore, drop shot a ox blood red flake roboworm. The fish seem to like this better then anything else from the shore. Wacky rigged or Texas rigged senko's are the second choice.
    After talking with a few campers and some locals the trout are still biting on e-point on green and rainbow power bait, but the fish are smallish and the bite is nothing like it was in March and April. Don't waste you money on worms as of now, cause the fish are not even looking at them.