Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

...as we want to go since we are located in Orange County. Our fishing club is getting ready to vote on a lake to fish in November for our top ten tournament. We were considering the Delta but really have never fished there at that time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated (Preferrably a lake with a lot of dumb fish that bite well at that time of year)

Keith

Delta, Shasta, Oroville, and Clear lake are a short list of exceptional Northern Califonia Lakes.....

Delta might have a ton of striper around then. They're fairly aggressive biters too!

Thanks, but I don't want to travel any further North than the Delta. What is the bite like at the Delta?

Bring 'em on up Keith... the water's fine, and there are plenty of launch and accommodation options available.

The fish should still be fattening up for the Winter and there's plenty of water and options to explore, so good times should be had by all!

Roger

The Delta can be good in November, expect Jerk Baits, Swimbaits, Topwater - it can also snap me off and have me wondering WTF am I doing out here....but hey that is most lakes for me.

If you are looking for a great November time lake, San V was always a fun fall bite, same with Castaic, as for coming up North Berryessa would be on my list for a Big lake that can put out some BIG WEIGHTS.

Cachuma
Nacimento
Santa Margarita
Lopez

All with in 3 - 4 hrs away.

Havasu or Pyramid

Kbeever wrote:...as we want to go since we are located in Orange County. Our fishing club is getting ready to vote on a lake to fish in November for our top ten tournament. We were considering the Delta but really have never fished there at that time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated (Preferrably a lake with a lot of dumb fish that bite well at that time of year)

Keith

Any lake that has a good population of northern strain LMB or smallies should work for you. FLMB can be difficult during the cold water transition period.
Just depends on what your top 10 want to catch; numbers or size. The delta could produce both IF you know how to fish tidel water, have good rain gear and GPS to find your way back.
When you learn where dumb big bass are located in public water, please let us know.
Tom

When you learn where dumb big bass are located in public water, please let us know.
Tom

Please do tell.

Keeth; Whats wrong with Hodges. Plenty of big fish and water should be warmer than the north, plus only 1 hr from your location. I know it is only open certian days but is a great lake. Ken

I dont know how Cachuma has been fishing lately but that would be a fun one....

DVL is good and close to home. Cachuma is low and has the quagga mussel inspection issues, Castaic, Piru and Pyamid are going OK. Lopez, Santa Margarita are OK, Naci & San Antone are both slow. San V is closed for a decade. The C river lakes can be good or horrible depending on the weather.
Alamo in AZ isn't too far from OC and is a good winter lake. Toss a name in the hat, good luck.
Tom

New melones just had a solicitation for tournaments up, sounded like they wanted to help sponsor. Glory Hole sports is the contact, and Johhny C posted good action on spots.

Glory Hole kicks butt - they're the best in the area as far as I know.

New Melones is a good lake - lots of water to fish, with spots and largemouth to be had, Seems like it can fish tough at times, but we had some decent success the first time out and enjoyed it!

Roger

Thanks guys. I like the idea of fishing a new lake like Berryessa.

Cachuma still haunts our club. One year 2 fish won it for a two day tournament....maybe it is just our club.

You guys would like Berryessa, and would feel pretty much at home there. It is a very good-sized lake, with lots of variable structure, and it has all three species of blacks so something should be biting. I really liked it up there when I went for the first time, earlier this year.

Good facilities at Pleasure Cove, from camp sites to cabins for rent, and a good launch ramp.

Biggest problem with Berry is the disarray when the long-term leases expired and many of the facilities were closed and ripped out... not many facilities to choose from now.

I've heard that it is a zoo during the season, with all the boarders, skiers and water toy crowd, but outside of that it is a great place to be. I was thinking about taking the motorhome back as soon as I get the schedule cleared.

It's a bit further North than "the Delta", but I'd say certainly worth the trip.

Roger

Roger

If you are willing to travel that far, continue up to Clear Lake.
Tom

The bonus for either clear lake or berryessa is that your families could do a napa trip while your fishing.

Change it up come to the delta. It is so different from what you fish down south, nothing compares. For the top ten, they should enjoy competition in a very different enviornment. I fished down there for a long time and going to a central coast lake doesnt really challenge you as far as style. Neither does a mother lode lake, they fish the same as most lakes in so cal. The Delta is the ultimate contrast to what you are usually fishing. Every club I know down there freaks out about the safety of the delta, but that time of year if you avoid former islands like little franks, little mandaville, and certain sections of mildred, no problems running. That is unless you decide to fish Sherman or Big Break or do something stupid like run so far south it looks like up river at havasu. Bottom line, almost every bank has fish, maybe not the ones you are looking for but it is truly different and a far different challange than so cal fishing. BTW, if you do decide to come, tell the members to lose the drop shot on 5lb. These fish are strong and love to run anywhere they can to break you off, besides you really likes throwing little sissy rigs when you can crack em with a hook set and ski em to the boat!
Smitty
PS dont get me wrong I gotta get my light rig on goin once in a while but if I fished south all the time like I did before, if I traveled I would want to break out of the box and throw some 65lb braid.
smitty

Smitty wrote:The Delta is the ultimate contrast to what you are usually fishing.

Boy - isn't that the truth!!!

Roger

Smitty wrote:Change it up come to the delta. It is so different from what you fish down south, nothing compares. For the top ten, they should enjoy competition in a very different enviornment. I fished down there for a long time and going to a central coast lake doesnt really challenge you as far as style. Neither does a mother lode lake, they fish the same as most lakes in so cal. The Delta is the ultimate contrast to what you are usually fishing. Every club I know down there freaks out about the safety of the delta, but that time of year if you avoid former islands like little franks, little mandaville, and certain sections of mildred, no problems running. That is unless you decide to fish Sherman or Big Break or do something stupid like run so far south it looks like up river at havasu. Bottom line, almost every bank has fish, maybe not the ones you are looking for but it is truly different and a far different challange than so cal fishing. BTW, if you do decide to come, tell the members to lose the drop shot on 5lb. These fish are strong and love to run anywhere they can to break you off, besides you really likes throwing little sissy rigs when you can crack em with a hook set and ski em to the boat!
Smitty
PS dont get me wrong I gotta get my light rig on goin once in a while but if I fished south all the time like I did before, if I traveled I would want to break out of the box and throw some 65lb braid.
smitty

+ 1

I'm going up for just 2-1/4 days there and I'm starting from further away.

Mc clure, the spots are always biting, great camping and security . Don Pedro, lots of great camping and great security, the bass should turn on any week now.