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Santa Margarita Lake and Reports

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Monday, January 7th, 2008

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Just a note to boaters visiting Magi! I took a stop over today to ask the ranger about lake conditions and this is the recent report as of 3PM this afternoon

    LAKE SPEED LIMIT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE IS 5MPH!
    A huge debri area is covering much of the lake and there are several just-under the surface obstacles. The lake is more or less carmel colored right now with the shoreline showing some clearing. Fridays rain dropped a huge 4 FOOT increase Saturday to the lake so good reason that it is pretty muddy everywhere.

    Just a heads up guys!
    City: Santa Maria

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

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    Water Temp: Low 50's

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Hit up Margi this afternoon. Fished from 12:30 to dark...Lake is in full swing turn-over, water is Rootbeer color every where and cold.... Over all very tuff fishing.
    City: Paso Robles

Saturday, October 13th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 66o

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: A romp to Magi to get in a day of 'scouting' before the 'Off Limits' starts for Gold Coast. Pretty tough out today -- Temps were low and it certainly was warm jacket weather until maybe 1:30 when the sun finally took a peek. Started at a point looking for jig fish but no takers - Tossed senkos and resulted to a dropshot still with no takers. Saw a few club members saying that they had three good keepers [gee? where was ours?] Partner landed two very nice keepers totalling about 9+ pounds on a spot we certainly will revisit and with a lure we certainly will use again!

    One really good thing today was a black bear in the 5mph zone by the dam, walking close to waters edge then abrutly, swimming across to the other side. Got somewhat closer to take a few snapshots of this 'close encounter of the bear kind' with him looking at us as he was churning water and he finally made landfall. He dashed about 10 yards up a hill, stopped, turned sideways to look at us then ran at a lope up to the top of the hill. He looked small from a distance but seeing him closer up on the hill proved that he was a fair sized 'blackie' in the maybe 150 pound range or possibly close to 200. A decent bear for sure and it was great to see one of these critters close in to Margi! A good sign that the area can support some of these great animals.
    City: SM

    Tips: Look for fish and keep working your favorite bait - Possibly the front pushed them off today buit, they will be back! Start getting your winter stuff out. Some fish seen crusing closer to the top following smaller schools of shad. Watch the birds! A good clue shad are close by.

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: This morning was nothing like last weekend. Put my buddy on a 6 and thats it for bass. I did catch my very first Squawfish though....WTF is that thing....And on a BBZ? I didnt know if I should feed it to the birds, or throw it back...I threw it back. It was about 20-24 inches...What a crazy basstard..Has anyone ever seen one of these at Margi?
    City: Atown

    Tips: If you want Squawfish, throw the BBZ

Sunday, October 7th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: After all the long and very early mornings, today finally pays out for me. Never have I got bit, yet landed FOUR quality swimbait fish in one morning at SML. We get there @6:10 This morning, buddy pulls in a 6.5 on the kreature pretty much instantly once we hit our spot. I'm chucking the 9" trout only, expecting to get a fish or two. First fish hits it (6 lbs even) twenty mins later, second fish (this time on the sink 6.7) third fish maybe 5 mins later (on the sink as well 7.2) and finally, just about to take off @ 11:30am 4th fish (6.3)all on a slow sink trout. This swimbait season is off to a GREAT start seeing as the 1st stock was 3 days ago. :)
    City: A-Town

    Tips: Big bait = Big Fish

Friday, September 28th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 71o

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Final points meet for Gold Coast Bass. A brisk morning hit the attending 20 team boats for a final points chase for the year. Weather really changed as a small front has been lingering in the area, bringing 20o cooler temps. A super great turnout out today making this last points meet a super day for all. The sun took it's time waking up as beings that time of the year and blast in the bleak daylight wasn't until 6:48.

    A very hard day for all in this the first 'long' day of fishing now that the F&G rules for noon is finally off. Partner and I hit all the favorite spots during practice but little to show for our efforts as it was for many. Winners in with 16 and change, big bass in with 6.94. Team of Skou/Long took home the bacon today as well as Angler Of The Year honors, L. Fernandez/Touey in for second place prize and Thomas/Langley team captured the 3rd place prize as well as big fish.

    Talk is they want to make Margarita a trophy lake and in doing so, would make the slot zize change in order to create a better fishery for bigger fish. Will see what F&G comes up with in the months ahead.

    Gold Coast fish-off for qualified members will be at Margarita this year in the last week of October. Should make a great closing season for the club if the fish elect to staert hitting! -- Oh well, that's why it's called fishing!
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Senkos and drop seemed to be the ticket today. Some reported swim bait fish hitting the scale and a few frog fish but mainly, it was pretty hard bite today.

Saturday, September 22nd, 2007

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    Water Temp: 73o

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Another venture toMargarita to seek out the possiblities of finding better fish. A brisk morning at launch with only my partner and I filling the parking lot. Was still fairly dark at 6:20 so figure in a few more days, light won't start your blastoff till maybe 6:30-6:40AM so plan on a wait if you come too early.

    Cloudy skies greeted us with a possiblity of maybe a few rain drops coming down. Barametor must be going nuts today and that won't make the fishing good at all. Water has receeded slightly since last visit and we headed towards the dam area and the flats past the 5MPH zone. Pretty slim pickins right off the get-go with maybe a few fish showing maybe a top water sign but we never tried any cranks or tops all day- Just wasn't worth the efforts right now. No takers at all in the weed lines or mats so we headed to another spot. Fish showing but again, no takers. Stayed pretty much with jigs and dops. Partner pulled in a dink but it least gave some outllok. Finally tagged a keeper on a drop but working the area proved nothing else. Headed to jackass with nothing to show, hit the river on the westside with nothing to show. Saw one boater get what looked to be a keeper just across from us. Called it a long day at noon, leaving us scratching our heads for the upcoming Gold Coast meet on next Saturday.
    City: SM

    Tips: Hopefully, the pressure will change with this passing storm fron t and the fish will be more active. Oh well -- Still better any day at work!

Saturday, September 8th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 77o

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: A second trip to Margarita to locate possible spots. Partner and I arrived early at 6AM and were surprized to see there were already a few trailers in the White Oak launch and boats on the water. Hit a few points across from launch tossing a jig around rocky spots and I pulled in a nice 3+ maybe 4# keeper, giving us both a ray of hope for the day. She was shorter than usual but pretty round and looked quite healthy which made us both smile. Means the population is in good shape. Kept working the area but no other takers. Headed to the 5MPH zone towards the dam and started a drop shot as well as jigs. No takers. Saw a few of our club memebers and one pulling in a decent keeper across from us and the other saying 'where's the fish?' Headed towards the river and finally pulled in a shorty on a drop but still, the fishing is a bit slow still and working the walls and rocky points on the lake will probably produce if the critters are in the mood to attack. Pleasant day out with little wind and more of it sure was needed but it just didn't produce. Hit Jackass and pulled another possible keeper but still was a shorty. Headed in at 12:30 calling it a day. Will make another trip before the months end meet.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Cranks and top water still not producing. Hopefuly in a few weeks things will change. Dropshot and jigs brought in three fish for a 6 hour days work. Not very productive but -- That's Margarita! Mornings seemed a lot cooler now Sept is here so may be advisable to bring along something warm just in case.....

Friday, August 31st, 2007

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    Water Temp: 78

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Can't stand not seeing reports up on my local lakes so here is one....Been hitting up Margi for the last couple of weekends in my kickboat, fishing (for me) has been great on Dropshot,shakey head, Spook and the frog. Havn't been able to get any of those jig fish I hear about, but then you have to throw it to get something on it. Two weeks in a row now I have got a 6 on the frog, yesterday I had a 5.5 and a 6 on the frog. A picture of the 6 is in the photo section. The spook bite has been going great for me early in the morning got a 7.5 a couple of weeks ago, with numerous blow ups yesterday. It is still pretty good just need to be out there early before the sun comes over the hills. I am usually out there on Friday mornings, and I am looking for a team partner (with a boat ofcourse) for the Won Bass Central Coast region.
    City: Paso Robles

    Tips: For me, the frog(Spro Natural Red)fish I have been finding are on sparse clumps of slop in shady areas of coves. None have come from main lake slop. The drop shot/shakey head (Robo Worm Ox/Red)(Zoom Trick worm Green Pumpkin)fish have come from main lake points.

Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

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    Water Temp: 78o

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: A day after the hot 108o at Margarita proved to be a setback as the fish went someplace other than Margarita despite the nicer 92o. Well, it wasn't all in error as we did manage a decent 5 and 4 pounder and one ez 13incher but it was a tough go. Dam area gave one up as did the area at the river 5MPH zone just up from the boat dock. Chatted with reporter Bryan and he said he tossed frogs with no takers. Give it a try next week....
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Cranks were off in the AM as was top water. Senkos worked near rocks

Sunday, July 29th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 77o

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: A visit to Margarita with my son and to enjoy my birthday with him and to check out conditions after a three month absence. Water is noticably down with some structures just below the water line in some spots so be extra careful out there. Went to the narrows with absolutly nothing interested. Went all the way to the river and the water ia about 4' deep with stickups every where and not manuverable very much. Tried Brush Hogs with nothing taking any offers. Only saw three other boaters and chatted with two both saying it was pretty tough. Headed to the dam area and worked the walls. Water clarity is far better on the dam end as is the water color. Located a decent spot with water level in the 18 foot range dropping to 58 feet so we elected to texas hook a watermelon red flake 5" MadMan craw to help attract passing fish. Son slammed into a heavy and the fight was on but I managed to net her seeing that she wasn't going to get unbuttoned. His best ever bass with a nice high 6 pounder maybe 7.
    City: Santa Maria

Saturday, June 23rd, 2007

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    Water Temp: 72

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Started off at around 5:30am had a limit by 7:45am around 14lbs drop shoting and cranking.In the after noon bit slowed way down had to fish slow.
    City: taft

    Tips: Drop shot green weenies first thing in morning crank in afternoon.

Monday, May 7th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 66 on surface a

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: One small bass with a rattle trap . silver. Not many boats on the lake . Didn't see anyone with fish . Slow day .fished from the damn to the shallows. Was a nice sunny warm day about a 10 up to 15 MPH wind all day....not much to report.I think I will try San Antonio lake next week. Anyone have any recent input on the bie there?
    City: Maricopa

    Tips: TIP: B.Y.O.F. Bring Your Own Fish.

Saturday, April 28th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 62-66

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Gold Coast Bass results: Winners in with 28.21, second in with 25.52 Big bass in at 7.39 -- Days total for 22 boats: 227.96 lbs weighed

    Morning started off with a more pleasant 510 and slowly climed to a warm 860 by 3PM weih in. A good turnout for today with everyone chasing both ends of the lake for a good bite. Winners were culling by 7:45AM with most others by 10AM. Bite went away and it was a long hard final 5 hours with many not getting even a small fish. Dam and river both held quality keepers but the temps did some strange things and fish went towards banks rather than deep. Several fish taken had already spawned as that 'flat belly' look was there. Many schools of fry and 2-3 week old bass were chasing around in the rocky parts, trying to capture offered baits but only a few females were around. Basically, if you hit fish then you were pretty much in the area and tossing the right bait and slow goin did the trick.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Some crank fish were taken as was a few on blades but most were on plastics fished towards the shallow parts of the banks. Seemed fish were holding better there than anyplace.

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Nice warm day. Shad are all over the lake. But only hung 3 small bass. When shad disappeared so did the bass.Morning activety ended at 11:00 for me .Had trouble with my boat at 5:00 and had to get outta the water. So I missed the evening bite. Damn. The lake is very clear. 8-10 visibility!! Good luck to ya.

    Tips: I netted shad a little late. Try to have shad in the bucket and fishing by 7:00 and you should do all right.

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Made the mistake of fishing on Wed (the 18th.) Bad wendy cold day. I lasted 3 hours are wimped out .No fish seen and no fish caught.Froze my little boney ass off!!!
    City: Maricopa

    Tips: Water was clear 2-4 feet before the wind came up.Saw maybe 5 boats toughing it out. Smart ones stayed home.

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    Water Temp: 57-61

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Shad are up spawning, cold front blew though today. Overall very tuff day, couple bed fish in the mix. NO reaction bite what so ever, to cold today. Bass were'nt even on the shad in the shallows,that should change very quick though!!
    City: SLO

Thursday, April 12th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 64

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: What a day! Got on the water at around 7am, launched the Kickboat from the end of Vaca flat and intended to row to the river. Instead stopped at a point before the first "remote camp". Started chucking the Huddleston, third cast I get hammered and feel the pull, I reel as fast as I can, it comes up and out and comes unbuttoned about 6' from me. It was at least 7-8lber, Heart breaking. Ended up fishing that same point for most of the day and getting a 4 and countless 2's dropshotting and dragging Brushhogs. Second stop was in the back of Salsipuedes bay, rain and wind was getting old, started throwing the blade and was rewarded with a 7.5 and a couple of 2's. Ended the day with at least 17.5 lbs for 5. Can't stop thinking about the one that got away...I would of topped 20 lbs easy. oh yeah, did I mention I was in a kickboat :)

    Tips: The storm that came across was a big plus for fishing today....didn't bother with bed fishing. Points seemed to be good. If its raining or really overcast throw the swimbait or spinnerblade

Thursday, April 5th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: overcast all day . But not cold . 3 bass under 12" and 1- 1 1/2lbs. On rattle trap,crawdad color
    City: Maricopa

    Tips: no tips. If I had any I woulda used em myself!!

Thursday, March 29th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 63

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fish are on beds....Go to any tule patch and you will see. Good luck tho ;)
    City: Atascadero

    Tips: Tule Patches... You will see some toads!