best "sleeper" lake in california

parker · Post by **parker** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:15 pm

just wondering

mac (Doyle McEwen) · Post by **mac (Doyle McEwen)** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:18 pm

You asking about quality or quantity..

mac

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:23 pm

!!!!!

Read the reports pages......

FIVEtenthz · Post by **FIVEtenthz** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:24 pm

Mac might agree with me on this since he lives in San Jose, I'm gonna say Calero Reservoir. Its a small lake but has numbers, has the size and no trout fisherman! I have not fished Coyote or Anderson lakes but I know Anderson is great for numbers and Coyote has HUGE fish in it. So if you want both, I think Calero is the best choice.

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:22 pm

I plead the 5th!

mac (Doyle McEwen) · Post by **mac (Doyle McEwen)** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:38 pm

Several years ago, I lived right across the road from Calero..It can be a great place, but it can also be very frustrating..I have had 50 fish days, but nothing of any size..I have seen some large fish come out of there, but I never caught any..My largest was around 4, but most were 2 or less..

mac

parker · Post by **parker** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:38 pm

mac (Doyle McEwen) wrote:You asking about quality or quantity..

mac

either way
i guess it depends on personal preference

Chaozu · Post by **Chaozu** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:12 pm

FIVEtenthz wrote:Mac might agree with me on this since he lives in San Jose, I'm gonna say Calero Reservoir. Its a small lake but has numbers, has the size and no trout fisherman! I have not fished Coyote or Anderson lakes but I know Anderson is great for numbers and Coyote has HUGE fish in it. So if you want both, I think Calero is the best choice.

SHHHH..... My PB is outta there. Calero sucks, dont go there. Damn jet skiers everywhere. Go to lexington

bassindon69 · Post by **bassindon69** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:24 pm

I have been to a few sleepers this year ... I say Modesto Res. this lake is still sleeping and has been for years

So I say Modesto is the "best sleeper"

Don.

Micropterus salmoides · Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:32 pm

Not a lake, but the best sleeper water is the Los Angeles River. Them bass love the concrete.

Sean Graf · Post by **Sean Graf** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:04 pm

As for sleepers Parker, I beleive the time we met at Sports authority in Daly City you mentioned that you lived in that general area.

Try Sonoma, theres a ton of wood in the lake and a great population of blackies.

Did you ever buy that reel you were looking for? That Daly CityS.A store had a curado or 2 in stock today.

Greg_Cornish · Post by **Greg_Cornish** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:05 pm

IVR If you can get to it.

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:09 pm

mac (Doyle McEwen) wrote:Several years ago, I lived right across the road from Calero..It can be a great place, but it can also be very frustrating..I have had 50 fish days, but nothing of any size..I have seen some large fish come out of there, but I never caught any..My largest was around 4, but most were 2 or less..

mac

those are million dollar homes, you should have satyed.

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:11 pm

Parkway lake, off 101 between San Jose and Morgan Hill.. hottest lake in the state,

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:23 pm

Best sleeper lakes in the Bay Area you have to wear Como to fish.... and yes i have spent 6 hours in Santa Rita jail for fishing them.

phishenphool · Post by **phishenphool** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:24 pm

Greg_Cornish wrote:IVR If you can get to it.

shhhh! Greg...there are no bas in that lake and they are not kokanee feed...but the road and launch is a great deterent!

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:28 pm

Sean Graf wrote:
As for sleepers Parker, I beleive the time we met at Sports authority in Daly City you mentioned that you lived in that general area.

Try Sonoma, theres a ton of wood in the lake and a great population of blackies.

Did you ever buy that reel you were looking for? That Daly CityS.A store had a curado or 2 in stock today.

did yo get approval to talk here?

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:36 pm

I've heard rumor's that Crystal Springs Reservoir west of San Mateo on the highway headed over to Half Moon Bay has got some GIANT'S in it......Too bad it's off limits to fishing

Steve Reed · Post by **Steve Reed** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:58 pm

I think berryessa holds more big fish than anyone really knows....i think once they start putting resorts on the lake there will be some tournaments and people will take notice

justflipit · Post by **justflipit** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:06 am

IVR that has no bass or smallmouth just squawfish in it dont go there the dirt road is to bad.

Greg_Cornish · Post by **Greg_Cornish** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:15 am

justflipit wrote:IVR that has no bass or smallmouth just squawfish in it dont go there the dirt road is to bad.

Trying to keep it a secret huh?

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:50 am

we call it Rambo Fishing, you get all camo and a small backpack... "The Pits" are loaded with Smallies, just listen for the helocopters.

parker · Post by **parker** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:08 am

Im will probably stick to the delta and clear lake mostly because of the limited time on the water

just curious and i ran out of shows on the dvr last night

Mr. Graf,
I saved up and got a couple swimbait rods since we met in sports authority

bss_hunter,
all catch and release for me. . . I dont really like the taste of fish anyway

As for those rambo waters slippy,
I got my dose a long while back when my dad and i used to wade a small river and fly fish for bream. it was on private property but it wasn't owned by like a resident-no one was ever there- one day we found a deer that looked like it had just been shot no more than a day ago why it was left there i dont know but that was enough for me to leave and neve go back and be mistaken as a deer.

Dan Stahlman · Post by **Dan Stahlman** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:52 pm

You didn't hear the Helicopter did you. It take two guys, one watching and listening and the other fishing.

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:48 pm

Dan Stahlman wrote:You didn't hear the Helicopter did you. It take two guys, one watching and listening and the other fishing.

Helicopters yep, were used to hear them all the time.

MikeSouza · Post by **MikeSouza** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:40 am

Shadow CLiffs and Del Valle have some toads in them. Both get over fished by groups of people and they take EVERYTHING they catch, it's a real shame. Both lakes hold a lot of fish in the teens, especially Shadow Cliffs. Motor and speed restrictions seem to keep some folks away. Thow a hudd on eaither one will put some great fish in the boat.

CORAL 96 · Post by **CORAL 96** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:59 am

Calavaras or Crystal Springs are my choices!!

But then, your not supposed to fish them, so that's why!!

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:25 pm

CORAL 96 wrote:Calavaras or Crystal Springs are my choices!! But then, your not supposed to fish them, so that's why!!

rambo fishing...... = illegal.

aNNieNsaLTIE · Post by **aNNieNsaLTIE** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:03 pm

parker,

there a lot of good lakes that produce big quality in the bay area. as much as i wished i live on the delta or clear lake.

we got pheonix, spring, the delta, Sonoma, berryessa, del valle, spring, and even merced. yes i said it. a true sleeper, moody, challenging body of water. it does not get any boat traffic(hardly), you can float it. and those bass are big and unfished compared to every other lake. flip those tulles over and over and those 5-9lb bass will start showing especially with this weather lately.

saLTIE-

Colebass · Post by **Colebass** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:31 am

is a big sleeper! It has huge largemouth and some really big spot's in it. It also doesn't get ton's of pressure for bass. They stock the thing with 1000's of a trout a year! I've seen fish in the high teen's just off the bed's.

The great thing is you can take the family, camp, swim and even trout fish a little.

Kevin Evans - Kap · Post by **Kevin Evans - Kap** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:09 pm

Round Valley...

Kap

BigJeff · Post by **BigJeff** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:31 pm

Lake Isabella. There be some TOADS swimming there. Enjoy the wind!

Bill kizer · Post by **Bill kizer** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:36 pm

Small lake, full of bass, easy to catch, 0 pressure for bass. Don't ya love the trout guys. That's all the hints I'll give out.

Try out ****'* **** in ******** ******** ******, **.

I sent him a PM on this one.

And yes, it's a real sleeper lake.

lionkiller · Post by **lionkiller** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:43 pm

Steve Reed wrote:I think berryessa holds more big fish than anyone really knows....i think once they start putting resorts on the lake there will be some tournaments and people will take notice

I think BLM has a tournament fee on Berry now....will be a tournament deterrent for a lot of clubs who don't have the bones to pay it. What do big fish & less pressure add up to?....hmmmm....

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:55 pm

lionkiller wrote: What do big fish & less pressure add up to?....hmmmm....

More wake boarders!!!

BassManDan · Post by **BassManDan** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:04 pm

This is more of a hopeful guess...
For those of you inclined to give it a shot...

Englebright, not a magnificent lake, but I just got a feeling that there is some nice spots lurking in there.

It is a small narrow lake, but in the one time I fished it, I had a few nice spots and I saw 3 spots that would probly go over 3 lbs.

Interesting lake though, nice scenery, and clear as a #%#*&@*! hence my limited success.

A suggestion, if you think a spot way ahead of you looks like a good fish holding place, cast to it from the farthest distance you can, or else they will see you coming!

BassManDan

Quasi · Post by **Quasi** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:55 pm

Salt Springs in Copperopolis in the spring

185vsfrog · Post by **185vsfrog** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:00 pm

I guess the best sleeper lake is Shadow Cliffs but its not so sleeper anymore since some dude just posted a 17 lb fish on the photos section......LOL

Chaozu · Post by **Chaozu** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:20 pm

185vsfrog wrote:I guess the best sleeper lake is Shadow Cliffs but its not so sleeper anymore since some dude just posted a 17 lb fish on the photos section......LOL

I fished Shadow Cliffs yesterday, there's one guy that practically lives there. He's there every time I go, he caught an 18 pounder on a Hudd about a month ago. There are some nice fish in there, but you have find them. Once you find the spot, dont move. My buddy landed a 14 and a 7 pound rainbow dropshotting there too. I hear of Giant catfish too. With all that said, I'm asking every one I see on the water if they visit this forum. I'll be in a little aluminum john boat with a scruffy beard, say hello if you see me but do not, I repeat, do not cast within 100 feet of me!

-GO SHARKS!

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:55 pm

LAKE OF THE PINES!!!!!!!

....but good luck getting in. I had the 1 time chance of fishing this small lake, and it was one fishing day I will never forget!! Me, and my buds Hackney, and Jacob got to get on the lake for 8 hours. We were lucky that Hack had a friend that lived there cause this is one place where you would be very lucky to fish. its a private community, and its real hard to get into. In that 8 hours we caught over a 100 fish in the 3 to 6 pound range. It was a numbers lake with go quality fish. We had snap offs that were much bigger, and the action was non-stop. each of us had over 20 pounds for the day.

Just ask Cooch, he use to live there, but as I said good luck getting in...

CN · Post by CN » Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:49 pm

Ok better have a 4x4 and alot of battery but Loch Lomond up by Scott's Valley.Huge fish full of Trout but crystal clear.

I say this becouse the Swimbait guy's figured Pinto Lake has potential go figure.

big bass beckstrom · Post by **big bass beckstrom** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:15 pm

CN wrote:Ok better have a 4x4 and alot of battery but Loch Lomond up by Scott's Valley.Huge fish full of Trout but crystal clear.

I say this becouse the Swimbait guy's figured Pinto Lake has potential go figure.

2nd. I wouldnt say it is the most under rated but it is a really nice little reservoir, only electric, no water contact, and crystal clear.

CN · Post by CN » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:48 pm

big bass beckstrom wrote:
CN wrote:Ok better have a 4x4 and alot of battery but Loch Lomond up by Scott's Valley.Huge fish full of Trout but crystal clear.

I say this becouse the Swimbait guy's figured Pinto Lake has potential go figure.
2nd. I wouldnt say it is the most under rated but it is a really nice little reservoir, only electric, no water contact, and crystal clear.

Ever fish Hernandez in South San Benito County..............permission only strickly private property.....but WOW.

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:05 pm

bassenvy wrote:whatever happened to putting time in? are we tivoing the best sleeper lakes now?

He asked a simple question, I don't git it? Folks ask about what we think is the best rod, reel, boat, swimbait all the time, where's all this negative BS come from guys?. PUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:07 pm

Cooch wrote: He asked a simple question, I don't git it? Folks ask about what we think is the best rod, reel, boat, swimbait all the time, where's all this negative BS come from guys?. PUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Contra Loma !!

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:12 pm

That pond in Pittsburg at Los Medanos City College!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only way ta fish it is in jogging shorts and tenny runners with a pocket Fisherman, Two laps around the lake, stop at the bench bend over ta stretch and cast, reel in the pigs, turn it loose and run another lap Quick! Then stop ta ctach yer breath, cast and keep moving! Only way ta catch a pig in there and not git caught! HAR! HAR! HAR!

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:16 pm

2 problems with fishing LMCl ike that .....

If you run to fast you will be chased by security .... and if you run to slow you will be tackled by security.

-- At your age now Coochie !! I think you can start doing the Elderly gig ...... and get away with it.

Har ! Har ! HAR !!

bassenvy · Post by **bassenvy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:00 pm

Cooch wrote:
bassenvy wrote:whatever happened to putting time in? are we tivoing the best sleeper lakes now?
He asked a simple question, I don't git it? Folks ask about what we think is the best rod, reel, boat, swimbait all the time, where's all this negative BS come from guys?. PUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!

equipment and tools are one thing. Finding a good "sleeper" lake should be earned imo. I'm sorry I thought that was good forum etiquette. Should we start naming off everyones spots that they have put time in on?

Tin Can · Post by **Tin Can** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:07 am

big bass beckstrom wrote:
CN wrote:Ok better have a 4x4 and alot of battery but Loch Lomond up by Scott's Valley.Huge fish full of Trout but crystal clear.

I say this becouse the Swimbait guy's figured Pinto Lake has potential go figure.
2nd. I wouldnt say it is the most under rated but it is a really nice little reservoir, only electric, no water contact, and crystal clear.

Big bass there but the fishing pressure is crazy and the water is crystal clear. This makes for some spooky bass, it's not an easy lake to fish by any means. I think there are only northern strain in there.

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