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Merced Lake and Reports

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Thursday, February 15th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: So, hows the Merced bite doing?
    City: SB

Sunday, January 28th, 2007

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    Water Temp: cold

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Well - I didn't get any today, but Carl got 2 nice 4.5 to 5.0 lb large mouth at the South Lake.

    One of the fish had some bad skin lesions or sores. Don't know what causes them at this lake, but woudn't be surprised if the coromorants have something to do with it.
    City: Daly City

Saturday, January 27th, 2007

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    Water Temp: cold

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished for a couple of hours at South Lake pier and bank next to the bridge and impoundment. Took 2 rods 7'0 spinning rigged Carolina Style w brass and glass and 4" blue/black creature bait. 6'6" casting rod w/ 3/8 oz rattle jig and 3"YUM catapiller trailer. Water is very cold and we are in a weird weather pattern with showers all day. 2 hours and skunked - again! Go figure...

    Can't wait for springtime.
    City: Daly City

    Tips: Fish real slow...

Saturday, December 30th, 2006

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    Water Temp: Cold

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished South lake from 2:00pm to 3:30pm today. Water was cold, but the weather was pleasant, on the cool side, but nice. Fished a 3/8 oz blue and black jig with a black 6" curley tail plastic worm trailer. No fish today - maybe tomorrow.
    City: Daly City, CA

Sunday, December 24th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Joe in San Bruno - Thanks for the report...I have fished this lake for a number of years (about the last 3 years excusively for large mouth bass). I believe the Lake has a few trout depending on the DFG stocks (North and South), catfish (South) carp (North, South and Impoundment). Take a look at a San Francisco map to determine which part of Lake Merced you are fishing. Across the road from the boathouse where the picnic tables and barbecue pits are is the North Lake. There are a couple of fishing piers there. One can be reached from the Lake parking area by the boathouse. The other from Sunset Circle along a walking trail to the west of the parking lot. The South Lake is the largest piece, with the boathouse and boat docks at the north end and the bridge at the south end. On the other side of the bridge is Impoundment which is the smallest part of the Lake and the most environmentally sensitive as well.

    Good Luck with fishing with your uncle
    City: Daly City

Monday, December 18th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Went to nasty old Lake Merced today. Used hotdogs, nightcrawlers and through castmasters. My uncle hooked a MONSTER CARP on a kastmaster!!! As soon as i bent over to try and land it the carp spit the hook! I wanted a pic with that monster. Huge fish were jumping......


    Ok Everyone, me and my uncle live a couple minutes from the lake and would like to know how to fish it. People say there are barely any fish in there but were seen tons jumping! Big ones too!! I think we were fishing the South Lake(we fished on the bridge). I dont really even know which lakes are what. Which one is south, north, east, impoundment? I would GREATLY appreciate it if someone could email me some tips, stories, and facts about the lake.

    THANK YOU
    City: San Bruno

Sunday, October 8th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished sunday for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. Water had green slime on top. Threw carolina rig (shad grub) on north lake. Hook up a 1.5lb LMB. Got only one more bite, missed it.
    City: ssf

    Tips: Slow, make the most of the bites you get.

Wednesday, September 20th, 2006

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    Water Temp: N/A

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: AT 5:00PM I fished the South Lake after being away for awhile and threw nothing but dark colored senkos and spinners.No luck at all with worms today but did however manage to stick a 8 pound hog with my favorite spinner in about 6-8 feet of water.I swear these fish only eat when they want to.
    City: SAN FRANCISCO

    Tips: Senkos,Jigs,and Spinners all work at this lake. You just got to apply the right technique to the right situation and know that presentation is everything. Rule of thumb for lake merced is to always fish sloooooowwwww! goodluck

Tuesday, August 29th, 2006

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: went fishing with 5 friends for about 3 hours. Saw fish jump but didnt catch anything. We used powerbait, So basically the fish werent biting
    City: san francisco

Monday, August 21st, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Nada.... Total skunk. Tried everything and not even a bite. This lake is terrible.
    City: South SF

Saturday, July 15th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Went to the impoundment a couple of times this week. Bass have been jumping up and scattering the carp fry in different spots, close to the bank. Last trip out was this afternoon. Fished for 1.5 hrs with my ultralight gear (Rapala floating minnows, small Hula Popper)drop shot rigged a Roboworm minnow on my favorite baitcasting outfit and tossed a Gitzit Paddle Fry with a 7' spinning rod and Shimano Sedona spinning reel. Nothing today, but the fish are coming in shallow to feed periodically.
    City: Daly City, CA

    Tips: Stick with it - try different 'fish' type lures. As usual, work it slow...

Sunday, July 9th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished South Lake and Impoundment from 10:30am - 2:00pm. Tossed GULP!6" nightcrawlers, 4" Senko (black w/blue flake), Gitzit Paddle Fry minnows.

    I managed to stick a couple of bass on the Paddle Fry and Senko baits fishing from the bank. I have had great success with the GULP! baits at other lakes, but haven't got one here at Merced, yet. Water levels are starting to drop and the carp and bass fry are still plentiful. I've bank fished the Lake 3 or 4 times the last couple of weeks, without any luck. Looks like it might be turning on again.
    City: Daly City

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished north lake off beach for about 2 hours.
    split-shotted robo worm no takers. Did get a big trout 3-4 lbs on PB on my other rod.
    City: ssf

    Tips: ??? no bass for awhile,for me anyway.

Friday, June 30th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: FINALLY BACK TO MERCED TODAY AND MAN,THIS LAKE IS GREEN GREEN GREEN....STAYED IN THE NORTH LAKE AND TOSSED SPINNERS/CHATTERS/AND SENKOS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WITH NO LUCK. WONDER WHEN THIS LAKES GONNA CLEAR UP.
    City: SF

    Tips: TRY FISHING ANOTHER SPOT FOR NOW

Sunday, June 18th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Got the float tube out and hit the South Lake today from 1:00pm - 4:00pm.. Threw a ZOOM Baby Brush Hog on a 3/8 oz. jighead almost the whole time. I worked the tules on both sides of the DPW pier, dragged the bait along the bridge - casting to the pilings. I also drifted down the tule line opposite the DPW pier for a couple hundred yards. Got 2 bass for the day. Not too big - about a pound a piece. Pretty fish, though, but I really worked for them (with the wind on the Lake)
    City: Daly City, CA

    Tips: Try tubing or a small boat. It improves your chances

Saturday, June 17th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Was out of town all week and haven't been to the Lake. Saturday, went fishing from 4:45 to 6:30pm. Weather was very nice, mid sixties with slight breeze. Fished the impoundment and south lake. Baby fry that disappeared a week back have reappeared, larger, but not as abundant. Seem to be a number of carp fry. Although, many of the fish schools have a distinctive green coloring (bass). Tossed a spinnerbait, Rapala floating minnow and drop shot rigged roboworm...got completely skunked. Had a great time trying and smoked a pretty good Nicaraguan 898 Diadema.
    City: Daly City

    Tips: I did see 1 small bass in shallow water, but the fish are not in the numbers that they were at this time last year. The fish are probably holding out in deeper water, since the spawn may be done with. The water levels are a lot higher than last year as well.

Wednesday, June 14th, 2006

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    Water Temp: -

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: just wanted to know hows the trout fishing at the north lake??? havent fished at lake merced since '98-99'...hehe. thanks..
    City: san francisco

Saturday, June 10th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Well...fished a couple of the usual places on Saturday. Impoundment and South Lake. Zoom baby brush hog on 7'0" spinning rod, Rapala #7 sinking minnow Countdown in gold and black color, Rapala #9 floating minnow in silver. Tossed a perch colored Booyah spinner bait/brass tandem willow leaf blades with the baitcaster. Had one bang on the sinking crankbait. That was it. All the millions and zillions of little fry seem to have moved out. (Can still see some of them flick the top of the water when the baits and occasional fish move through). Did see a cruiser, but didn't get it.

    Cold and windy, overcast, foggy - not a very nice day, unfortunately. Some sun would have helped.
    City: Daly City

    Tips: Talked with Carl at the Lake for a bit. Folks have been catching - just be patient and throw everything you have at them. If you have a float tube or small boat - your chances might improve considerably

Saturday, June 3rd, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished the South Lake and bank at the Impoundment for 2 hrs. this afternoon. Tossed a chartreuse spinnerbait and wack rigged 4" blue Fat Senko. There are bass cruisin' around. Two of them followed my plastic in close to the shallow flats near the bank, then bolted off. I met 2 brothers - Tim and Howard. They launched a couple of tubes. It was the perfect day for them. I wonder how they did? No fish for me today, but had a good time in the sun, smoked 2 terrific cigars (Dominican Partagas Perfecto and a Nicaraguan Perdomo Exclusivo Eminencia).
    City: Daly City

    Tips: Keep on pluggin'...With the amount of fry in the water, there is going to be a lot of competition for your lure offerings...

Monday, May 29th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Cruisin' Bass at Lake Merced today...one about 3 lb the other around 1 lb. The small one followed my Gitzit minnow bait almost to the bank, but did not strike. The bigger fish was just swimming around. Bustin' the fry in boils as it moved through the deeper water adjacent to the shallows.

    Yakked with Petey Pete about his Delta fishing trip and his pic (posted in the photo secton). My son came down and threw a Blade Dancer with me for a while - but no fish today.
    City: Daly City, CA