Lopez Lake and Reports
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Saturday, February 17th, 2007
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Water Temp: 50-60
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: fishing has been pretty good. caught 5 fish 4+-one 6 pounds.....pitching brush in the early morning. crankbaits and spinnerbaits the rest of the day.pretty soon theyll be biting everything that moves tryin to put on weight.
City: AGTips: pitching brush in the early morning. crankbaits and spinnerbaits the rest of the day.
Sunday, January 28th, 2007
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Water Temp: 48o
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: Season opener for Gold Coast Bass --
15 boats out for a 6:30 launch with weather sitting in the low 50's which was a far cry from the cold temps last week with ice on the dam road all around to Pozo turnoff.
Partner and I headed out to our first stop and were surprised not seeing any one else there as we were 10th out. Partner jammed on 4 quick fish all keepers then like a light, the switch turned off about 8:45. Headed to second point and I hooked on to #5 filling the limit but it was on a 11-1/2 hang so back in she went. Hit several other spots tossing almost anything trying to get bit. No luck. Rains came in spurts then at 2:45 - it hit good and the drops were heavier. Most everyone in the same situation - Fishing was tough! Winners in with 17+ pounds and big fish as well with a nice 6+ heavy winning both the 1st place cash and big fish cash and the two choice high dollar reels for big fish prize give-a-way. Winners said last two big fish came in at about 2-3PM and were deep. Partner and I in with a 6.70 on 4 but placed in the middle. Several boats zero'd or only 1 fish today. Front really shut the fish off. Next stop Cachuma in late Feb.
Barometer was going crazy as a front was heading in with possible showers on the way.
City: Santa MariaTips: Darker Watermelon colors seemed to work best.
Sunday, January 21st, 2007
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Water Temp: 48
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: Bring something warm! The 'Icy' road signs were out at the dam clear to the Pozo turnoff so be careful coming in at least for now. Both launch docks were almost white with ice so be extremly careful or you will get wet!
Was another slow day at the Lopes with only three fish in the boat and nothing to brag about. Charted fish pretty much all over but they were really deep and the fish that were shallow were pretty finiky. Chatted with several boaters and the answer was the same-- Only hot thing was the coffee! Remakably, the sun popped in about 11 or so and it was nice to shed the snow suit. The wind actualy laid down from about noon till we left at 2 and that was great! Use slow going actions as the fish are really slow to react in this colder weather.
City: Santa MariaTips: Bring hot coffee -- AN warm shoes! Brrrrrr.
Monday, January 15th, 2007
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Water Temp: 48
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: Worst day I have ever had at lopes. My Partner and I caught as many trout as bass(while fishing for bass i might add) 1!! we tossed robos, jigs.Tuff bite. targeted fish in the 15-30 range.
City: san luis obispoTips: fish Slo
Saturday, January 13th, 2007
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Water Temp: 45
Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: A later 8:45 AM launch today as we had already heard that the bite was off -- a lot--. Went out with my new partner to a 'get aquainted' practice for this months season opener at the Lopes. Really a brisk morning out with the temp in the 32o range at launch. Headed out to the 1st stop tossing a brown jig -- Slow going for sure and charting fish was the biggest activity for the 1st half of the morning.
My partner got some good bangs on the jig but I wasn't as fortunate so changed colors from the blk/blu to a brown with a peoples worm trailer. One or two hits but no takers and several 'nips' probably from crappie or brim. With the jig bite so-so, We both tried droppin and partner hooked into a fair keeper by the dam and another smaller one as well. Worked the weed lines east of the dam with no takers so moved off towards another favorite point and tossed more jigs and drop worms with no takers. Called it off at 3PM and headed in. Wind came up and the cold weather started coming back in but for the most part, the sun did come out late and the water temp came to 50-51 in spots. Still --- A good day to practice as the lake was pretty slow for traffic.
City: Santa MariaTips: Might wait until the temps come up a bit. Jigs will work and I am sure droppin will with ox blood or war mouth robos but still, you must fish it slow to get bit. Keep Wet Lines! For those interested -- Gold Coast Bass Club of Santa Maria meets on 24th of this month. Email me for more info..
Monday, January 8th, 2007
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Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: For Calwater --- Know what your saying about the minimal bite. I was chatting with Proffessor Ripa this last week and he mentioned that the 'spoon' bite was off a lot, especially at Cachuma. Might try to toss a blu/blk jig in the same zone. Might be able to bring in a few or ---
find a depression off a bankline by a feeder stream and you might be into some good takers. Really think that spoons will still work but you really have to work them slowly and with confidance. Give it more than 5 minutes! Try a darker color drop worm maybe in the june bug and hook it on a weighted jig head. Try using maybe a 4" or 5" then hooking the head about a 1/4 in down, and pinning it on the long shank hook until the point just comes through. A Zero 3X worm works well if you just slightly dance it on the bottom as it has an action that keeps the tail upright if hooked properly. It works best on more clear ground than in heavy vegetation. Might try it! Good Luck
City: Santa Maria
Sunday, January 7th, 2007
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Water Temp: 50 - 51.6
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: Hit the lake this weekend, to try my luck for the first fishing trip of the year. Water stained in the feeder creeks form the rain runoff, the main lake was clear with > 4 foot vis. To say it was tough would be an understatement...winds 15-20 knots, rough for my light boat, metered fish from 20 - 90 fish, only got a few nibbles in about 25 feet near the bridge. Tried drop shot, spoons (using some of Mr. Rippas tech, or what i've read) and carolina rigs. Treid varying hte spoon vertical presentation to no avail. Couldn't stay on the fish I metered due to the wind. hope someone else had better luck. Was the first boat on the water at 0700, next ones didn't arrive for another hour. Didn't see anyone pull in any fish, not even the trouters. Even threw the crank bait of choice with no takers. I thought the wind would be helpful in the bite, but was sadly mistaken. Always next week..
City: LompocTips: Tried 5 different colors, styles, with only one nibble at the bridge.
Don't loose any rod/reels like I did. Good thing it was old. Now have an excuse to get a better drop shot rod/reel combo.
Sunday, December 31st, 2006
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Water Temp: 54
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: Took a break from all the Xmas days to try and relax with a day to check out Lopez for a January meet. Water is visably down as the reeds under the bridge are in clear view now and almost impossible to navigate deeper into the reeds. Headed out towards Vasquesz area for some more training on Professor Ripa's school of 'jig spoonin'. Not to many takers as I dropped in the 55 foot range where fish were showing in hopes of utilizing some of Ripa's methods, Pulled up a few 10" 1-1/2 pounders but nothing bigger. Tossed a Spyder Grub in 26-30 foot with two takers both smallies. Weater reallt started to change and I never did get out of my snow suit. Thinking a possible chance of showers, I feel the baramator chenged the fish habits and they were really off the bite today. All in all it was still a good day to practice.
City: Santa MariaTips: Should have went Saturday as I hear the bite was better.
Saturday, November 18th, 2006
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Water Temp: 61
Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: Fish a tournament sat. with golden empire.had 14 boats show up and weather was nice at 74 with a slight breeze.Well started throwing cranks and topwater, caught 4 quick fish from a 1lb to 2lbs on cranks at a point near the bridge. Then we moved to th wittenbirge arm and got a lesson in dropshotting from my partner. He would find a nice one on the graph and drop down a bam. He would keep doing this all day( Great job jason).Well I ended up riding my partner all the way to a 5th place finish best all year.
City: bakersfield -
Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: Not a very pleasent report today. Headed to Lopez for the ABA tourney and Empire from Bkf;d was also on hand with about 12 boats and ABA epecting about 30+. Wasn't sure what happened but only 7 boats showed. Heard WONBass had something in San Antonio so figure the posted entry fees made already went out the window for them.
Anyway -- I hooked up with a partner at the last minute got the use of a boat and we headed out for what I hoped was a good day. NOT! Motor failed to keep runing and we never made it out of the marinaso we trailered it and I headed home. BUMMER and a $$ loss of cash today for entry fees. Hope everyone had a better day.
City: Santa Maria
Sunday, November 12th, 2006
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Water Temp: 61.3
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: A day on the water with my partner to decide if we want to do ABA next Saturday. Left Santa Maria at 5:45 under a brisk a hard 14mph wind! Now we were wondering, Oh oh, Lopez, wind -- Well lets go see first. Wind was slight upon arrival and we headed to the cove oposite of Whittenberg to toss top water. A few dinks and we related it to the increasing wind on the water breaking it up a lot. Hit the points with drop shot with absolutely NO TAKERS and fish showing in 25 feet under small balls of shad. Headed to the back of the lake and tossed a few cranks and gonzo's. A few small takers in the 12" range but that was all. A bit more wind so we headed into a few coves and the sun popped out, we shed a few heavy clothes and enjoyed the brief warmth before heading out towards the open water looking for deeper fish and more power to hold the boat from the wind. All in all -- A sad day with very few hits and we headed off to the ramp at 3:30, sad with our efforts for the day.
City: Santa MariaTips: Fish were there but ?? We never found any schooling herds like the week before. Arrons Magic was working the best for drops with a few Robo Warmouth taking some and a few shades of Gonzo's [Spyder Grubs] and Zell-pops for top water. Next weekend will be a tough go. Barometer was 31.6 when we launched and was 29.8 coming off but it didn't affect the fish that much. Wear a warm jacket -- weather is turning colder in the early AM.
Sunday, October 29th, 2006
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Water Temp: 63.4
Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: Fish-Off for Gold Coast Bass -
A two-dayer this weekend at Lopez and all are looking towards a share of the $4400 up for grabs. 14 boats for the Sat AM launch at 6:45 from main marina.
41 degrees out and a bit chilly - Partner and I hit the edges of Whittenburg inlet and around the side to the down big tree. A small buch of dinks on Rico's and Pop R's but thats about it. Headed across to the otherside of the inlet and hit the banks. I lost a good 4-5# on my Rico with a stupid mistake of pulling back too soon and the bass was off and running - away from my lure.
Trolled around and hit the walls across from the marina outlet without a taker. Headed to another point towards the dam with finally a keeper. Small but it will bring us the $100 even if we are last. Chatted with a few others and most said the points were offering but slow.
With only one in the well we headed in for the 2PM weigh. Saturdy's big closer was a nice 19 plus on 5 and everyone came in with fish. Big fish was 6+ and netted the owner a nice $175 kicker.
Sunday launch was at 6AM [time changed] Cold cold morning! Everyone was layering themselves with anything for warmth as the day started out with a very brisk 35o at the marina ramp!
Hit the usual Whittenburg and partner hit on a 11" after the second cast. Thinking the day would produce, we hit the walls hard with cranks top watr and blades with nothing more to show. Lousy deal... Hit the point of Whittenburg with dropshot people worms and nothig -- NADA! Another one of those days it seems. Headed to the main lake area looking for balls of shad and used drops and jigs to lure out some takers. Finally nailed a 2 punder on a Robo MadMouth and that was it! Nada - Partner got skunk today and we wighed in only the one keeper.
Winners $1100.00 with 25+ for the two days 2nd in at $700 and $500 for 3rd. Big fish and second big fish went out at $175 and $150. All in all a good season for Gold Coast Bass and we all are looking towards next year. Anyone interested in Gold Coast 2007 season, contact me at the above email addy. Good winter to all and see ya on the waters.. Keep the lines wet!
City: Santa MariaTips: Hit the points - Some cranks worked but drop shot was the best bet..
Saturday, October 21st, 2006
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Water Temp: 67.4
Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: A day to pre-fish Lopez in pursuit of the grand prize for next weekends two-dayer for Gold Coast Bass -- For those in the club remember -- The lake is 'Off Limits' at midnight Sunday until the tournement on Saturday.
The morning hours are chilly so bring warm clothes and maybe a hood as it was cold when we hit the throttle. Day ended up being totally hot and beautiful with shorts being the call for the day with only a mild wind.
Hit Whittenburg for top wter takers andmy partner missed a light hook on a cetain 4 pounder. A few smaller LG's but nothing for size. Hit the banks just across from the marina entrance with little activity = Top water shut off so we opt to dropshot a various selection of soft baits looking for a stable color that would bring bites. Tossed a few jigs and some sweet beavers. Crannks were woking early for some but takers were in the 2 pound range.
City: Sata MariaTips: Rico's and pop R worked for top water light and darker watermelon spyder grubs worked later in the day with a few decent takers on Oxblood light Robo's and some senkos worked whacky on the banks but only small takers on the senkos. Maybe the weather change for the slow action. The fish holding on the points last week were adios and we didn't locate any good numbers. Still Whittenburg area points showed some promise but work them slow.
Wednesday, October 11th, 2006
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Water Temp: 66
Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: Caught quite a few LMB in the 2 - 3lb range on topwater first thing this morning. Once the sun came up it was a flipping bite.
City: Santa Maria
Saturday, October 7th, 2006
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Water Temp: 66-68
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: Gold Coast Tourney -- 10 boats with a launch at 6:20 AM [really dark]
A group from Bakersfield managed to toss out all the rules and elected to launch before the allowed time, putting them on fishing spots before the regulated fishing times at the lake. Hey you guys! Next time be gentelmen and get in line like everyone else. Being line busters is not favored so think about it next time!
Partner was in the hospital so did a solo today with another solo boater. Hit the walls across from the marina outlet with top water but nothing around. Started droppin and that was the ticket for the day as it went. A few smaller ones and my super nice partner for the day Mike, hit a keeper on a senko going whacky. Headed off to a point across from Lopez arm looking for fish and located a school in 45' off a shelf. Started droppin Ox Blood Robo's and hauled in a nice 5.29 for then it seemed to shut off and I had to accept the two fish weigh in with a small 6.80. Winners took it with 14.5 and also big bass of 6.12 edging me out of the big bass cash! Oh well -- next time
City: Santa MariaTips: Fish were deep and the bite was soft and little so locate a point and work it! Droppin Ox blood, peoples worm and a spyder grub on a brown jog head seemed to be working for todays fish.
Sunday, October 1st, 2006
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Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: Just for the few that I saw Sunday trying to get into Lopez. I really think someone should possibly ask why the entire ramp had to be shutdown from 6:30AM till Noon for the triathelon that was going on? At least Lopez operators could have maybe reduced the ramp to a one-lane ordeal until the meet was over. I saw and heard some pretty PO'd people sitting in line trying to get in and were given a 'gee' I am sorry answer.
City: Santa Maria
Monday, August 21st, 2006
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Water Temp: 73
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: A day of practice to checkout some new gear --
Headed out at a 6:35 launch and went out towards the left side of Whittenburg across from the marinaemtrance. Started with a top water ico working the bank edges for takers. Pulled in a few smallies but all were only dinks - Moved towards the old down tree standup and pulled in a 1/2 decent smallie then one 10 inch large -- Thinking top water was working with this Rico, I elected finish off the troll before headeding across the reeds into Whittenburg. Passed the tree up and tossed to the left side and 'WHAM'! A fight was on as I knew I had a good weight on the end of the Rico. Fubbeled for the net and she finally broke water. Huge Bass and I scooped her in. Pulled out my so-so but close scale and she topped off at about 6-9 or 6-12 in that area. Nice nice keeper weigh fish so I reached for my camera and took a picture then recouped her in the water and watched her slowly swim back into the tree! YaHoo! What a nice start for the day!
A few more top water takers as I crossed the reed line but then like the light switch -- It was off. Headed to the back past Vasquez with only two dinks, eased up to the dam and fished the sweet spot with a dop and pulled in 5 smallies then that to shut off so I headed in. A great day at the Windy Lopes....
City: Santa MariaTips: Rico's and drop was working. No cranks today or and only one blade fish on a Strike King Chartruse with a holographic blade.
Sunday, August 13th, 2006
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Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: My bro-in-law and I were on the water about 6 a.m. under a thick blanket of fog, which made visibilty very limited. Although familiar with the lake, we headed to the dam in slow but steady pace as not to crash into any rocks or shorelines anywhere. At the dam I began throwing some beaver looking thing in black, but nothing. My partner threw chartuese blades and nothing. We switch over to topwater. I threw a Zara Spook in baby bass and a sammy in shad, but only got a splash at the sammy and nothing else. Darn fish missed it. At about 6:40, my partner was throwing a salt water super Zara Spook in baby striped bass color and all of a sudden I hear a big splash in the water and lots of commotion at the back of the boat. My partner is yelling that something big just hit his plug. I make my way to the back of the boat and see the fish jump out of the water about 40 yards from us and continued to watch him fight that thing for a least four minutes, at the end of which the fish races towards the boat. Made quick use of the net and my partner just landed the biggest fish of his short fishing career (lucky bast@$&). It went about 7 pounds. Cought at the corner of the dam where it meets the overflow dispenser. Biggest fish I ever saw, live. He didn't catch anything else, but a baby bass on a bluegill dives-to crank about as big as the fish. I cought four smallmouth fishing the dam area. Two on a jig and pig, black with blue flake jig and Zoom super chunk in black with blue flake. Two more on a brown and blue with red flake weenie style worm, drop shot. Left early (9:40am), business calls, Damn!!.
Too bad the picture I took with the cell phone is a little dark, but fish is visible. Too foggy for cheap pictures. I would like to post it , anyone know how?
City: Santa MariaTips: Water is the highest I have ever seen it. New places to fish. I gonna try to get out there again real soon.
Saturday, July 22nd, 2006
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Water Temp: 75.3
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: RESULTS FOR GOLD COAST BASS TOURNEY --
Looks to be a great day and a quick count indicates about 16-18 boats for this open tourney.
Blastoff at 5:47AM -- My partner and I headed for the back of the bridge area looking for that great biteof 2 weeks before. Hit the top water with Rico's, spooks. Sammies and blades with only minimal takers. Lost a nice one on my Rico as it headed to a bush and got wrapped up. Before I could work it out, she broke off... Boo Hoo -- Was a sad one as we needed that weightbut 20 minutes later, I saw my Rico floating near the same tree area so -- Oh Well, at least the Rico's is in my box!
Headed out towards the bridge hitting a nice Smallie keeper on a Spider grub on a Black Jig head. With no more response we elected to head off to our second spot, the Dam area.
Tossed a few cranks and blades with no takers. Grabbed the 'drop-shot' and tossed out in the drop off just passed the brushline. Partner hit a good keeper, then another a few minutes later another good 3 pounder for the well. I tossed into the brush where I pulled out the 5 and 4 a week before but nothing was active so we puled off into 25 foot of water and started droppin again. With only 1/2 hour left, partner yanked in another keeper letting us 'cull' our #3 fish. Finally, with only 10 minutes left before heading back to weighin,I landed a very nice 3-4 to add to the tank.
FINAL -- 1st place in at 12.78, Second in at 12.35, 3rd in at 12.06 and my partner and I in 4th at 11.80-- Big fish was 3.88.. So all in all, partner and I faied out nice with only a few ounces from taken home the $650 plus winners share and the $120 big fish share.
City: Santa MariaTips: Dam area produced the better fish and nice 2-3 pound smallies on Sweet Beaver watermelon and Robo Ox blood red flake and People Worms dropshot. Rico's were hot in the early morning and jigs were doing well back in Arroyo Grande arm.
Sunday, July 16th, 2006
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Water Temp: 74.9
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: Last weekend to pre-fish for the 22nd Open Tourney .
5:45AM launch and we headed to the walls and points just to the north of the marina entrance. Some light wind but the weather is warm. Hit some decent larges on Rico's, sammies, pop r's and Z-pop's and a few Strike King blades but nothing over 12 inch. Headed towards the dam area and got into some smallies on drop shot and cranks. Eased off and headed towards Vasquez and found a [sweet spot] I wont brag about and hit a 5-8 and a 4-6 on a peoples worm within 5 minutes and 100 feet of each other. OK -- Time to leave this sweet spot alone until this weekend . Finally -- An afternoon bite location that will work for sure!
City: Santa MariaTips: Picked up a few smallies that were 'spittin' up craws when I was removing hooks... Keep that one in mind.. People worms and a Summer Shad Robo worked. Lots of smaller larges feeding on top at Vasquez ientrance on the points. Huge amounts of shad in the area!
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