Santa Margarita Lake and Reports

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Tuesday, March 13th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: HEY! AINT ANBODY FISHIN MARGARITA THESE IT HAS BEEN MANY MOONS [DEC] SINCE A POST ON MARGARITA! SOMEBODY HAS BEEN THERE I KNOW -- POSTS????

Thursday, March 8th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fihed Margarita on marc 8 . One 7 lb. largemouth. no other hits . On a nightcrawler in 4 feet of water . No weight. Let it lay on bottom . Also tried my luck on the 13th. About the same report. Two hits one bass at 31/4 lbs. B ut got him on a rattle trap near rocky banck. Not many boats out.Weather was cool in A.M. and warm from noon on . slight wind. very sunny. Got 7 lb at 2:30-Got 31/4 at 8:30 A.m.--Hope I helped someone and sorry for late post
    City: mARICOPA

Saturday, December 30th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 46

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Friday and Saturday. It was VERY cold both mornings, but both days turned out beautiful. Fishing was slow. Caught four on Friday and two Saturday. Tried a variety of techniques, but all fish were caught by dragging a jig very slowly in 15-20 feet of water. No fish worth bragging about, but all were chunky and healthy.
    City: Vandenberg AFB

    Tips: Dress warm if you go out in the morning. Fish slowly around rocky points.

Monday, November 20th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got my new PB today! Flipped an 8lber on blk/blu revenge jig w/ NetBait blk/blu trailer. What a hawg. Partner pulled in a 5 or so, lost a few other nice ones. And the few of the rest were in the 2-3 range. Not too bad a weight for few hours fishin.....
    City: Atascadero

    Tips: Fish the rocky points and any wood....The fish aren't as deep as we think they are....

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

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    Water Temp: not sure

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: In the last 2 days I caught 23 fish biggest just over 3 lbs. My bigger fish came on reaction baits near grass and tules. Lots of fish under 2lbs on dart head Beaver, off of rocky points in 2 to 10 feet of water. No flip fish and not from a lack of trying. I caught fish everywhere damn to the river.
    City: Atascadero

Saturday, September 9th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 73

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: A day out to relax with my son. 730AM launch at White Oak.

    Only saw two trailers at marina launch and White Oak only had two when we got in the water. Headed to the narrows to check out the possibles -- A very large 'bloom' was present with fish hanging in the 20 to 28 foot range so we worked the walls and only two dinks on top water. Changed out to a drop with a 'Peoples' worm and the same situation, a few dinks. Only two other boats in the back and both said they can see a lot of fish, but no takers on anything that normally works. Headed out to Jackass and started with a drop by the bouy's. Second cast was a hit but only a 11". Three or five smaller ones so we headed out again towards the cove across from White Oak launch. Only two more hits with dinks and we elected to call it a day and have a bite to eat. A great day as the sun was out and the crows was really small. Only one more boat trailer in the lot when we left so must have been the weather change?? Still, any bad day is a good day with your kid.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: ??? People worm on drop was working in 25 foot. Rico only got one top water today.

Friday, August 25th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Since I havn't seen any reports on here in awhile, I will. Went out to Maragrita, launched at White Oak and fished from 6am - 2pm. The fishing is fun right now with plenty of those 12 inchers to be had. Flipping Senkos and brush hogs all day. With spooks in the morning in the wind protected coves. Most all the fish were caught just off the bank in 2'- 4' of water. Only ended up with two real keepers but caught at least a dozen for the day.
    City: Paso Robles

    Tips: If you want to go for Quantity an maybe a Quality, tie on a Senko!

Saturday, July 29th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 82-85o

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Gold Coast Bass Tourney -- 17 Boats - White Oak Launch - Blastoff @6:02 - Weigh in @ Noon

    Surprise weather conditions as the 112o temps two days before, were down to the pleasant 80's with high cloud cover. Partner and I headed towards the 1st boat ramp amile in towards the narrows and started with top water. No takers and we were really surprised that we saw no fish breaking the surface. Elected to hit it up and down on a two pass, then decided that the bite was off and headed towards Jackass. Picked up a nice 3-8 and several dinks on drop shot and weightless with a small sized Sweet Beaver. Several boats came in and left with nothing to show and conversations with other boaters were saying the same -- Seemed like the fish in this area shut down. Well, in other areas it was was a good day for the boaters.

    1st place in with 11.99, 2nd in with 11.94 and second also took big fish with a really nice 6.8 -- We finished a distant 10th and was a let down compaired to last weeks good weigh in.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Drop was working but the area we were in was slow. Some were hitting towards the store areas and the walls back in the narrows but never did get a positive location -- Will know where later Monday.

Monday, May 29th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 73

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched 5pm at white oak. Still busy from big weekend! Headed east, fished main lake rock walls and small cuts since most traffic would be in the less windy bays and narrows. Threw spinner baits (windy)...first fish 2.5lbs off isolated wood, then three dinks over 2.5hrs. Getting dark...headed to back bay,threw top water...nothing. Saw schools of shad, crappie slapping around, and people killing the bream and crappie...but no "bass strikes" anywhere. What's up?

    On all the smack about tourney guys v/s. non-tourney guys...There will always be different views...let's here them on the Forum page!
    City: San Luis Obispo

    Tips: You got me? Margarita can me an absolute mystery at times. Maybe I'll have to learn to fish a drop-shot? Didn't get skunked but nothing to brag about...That's how it's been for me lately. Maybe I need to learn how to fish? Or maybe it's too much pressure from the tourneys? HA:--)

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    Water Temp: 56.5 to 61.6

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Gold Coast Bass -- SM Lake Tourney -15 boats- White Oak Launch
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    Boats off at 6:02am Cold and foggy morning.
    A crisp morning but reports state that the day will clear and sun is on the way -- Hope so -- Sure was cold!

    Hit across from launch and started with top water-tried Sammie Shad 1st, then Storm swims with no hits. Switched to plastics and started looking for colors. Hit small dinks on a few fifferent colors but ended up using Watermelon 3X. Hit a keeper and lost a very nice 6+ 3 feet from the boat. [boo hoo]. Tapped out the points and moved to Jackass. Tap - Tap - Tap! All day long with only dinks to show - All the boats we stoped and talked with here in the same situation - dinks. Fished the stickups at the back of the narrows but no hits. Headed back to orginal stop and got more taps and 8 more but only hit 10 1/2 to 12 inchers. Getting late so we hit the store marina area on the walls. Tap - Tap - Tap . One hit but a dink -- Days over at 3:30 with one in. Sad-
    Winners: 16+ on 5/Big fish was 6.4 All winners fish were caught on watermelon color hooked Wacky.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Robo worms were out today -- NADA. Some fish on swims but only a few in the narrows.

    Todays big bite was on Watermelon color - 3X worked well on 14# Sensaline. Cast it and leave it lay - Them two or three cranks in then let it lay.

Sunday, April 23rd, 2006

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    Water Temp: 56

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Pre Fished for next week tourney --

    A kwel and a bit fohhy morning and I was forced to put on my snow pants!
    Water was clear and I really didn't seen anu signs of muddy water even in the back narrows. A few boats out on a 'fun' tourney with a lot of locals trying out for a $20 a head pot.

    A tough bite! Used robo Ox blood drop shot and maybe a few nibbles. Talked with sevral boats and pickins were slim. Only saw three people with keepers at the White Oak dock. Just a tough bite - Used up every color combo in my bag with only a few dinks to show and one pretty nice crappie. My partner was out as well but didn;t get a chance to ask how it went -- Guess we will know come next Saturday.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: Drop shot FX peoples worm

Monday, April 17th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: For those wondering -- Margarita is back open
    City: Santa Maria

Saturday, April 15th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Kern County Bassmasters tournament 04/15/2006, 12 boats. Winners smoked the field 32.04lbs club record. Second place 18.50lbs.Tough day for most teams.What a fishery. Big fish 10.96lbs
    City: bakersfield

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    Water Temp: 60-61

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: got to the lake at 6am and headed to white oaks launch ramp. lake was very muddy and still overflowing. Some out of towners had a tourney and I dont tkink they did very well. started off the day with a fat 6.7 on the main lake. then got a nice 3 back towards the river. hooked into what i thought was a huge trout but it was a mud fish and went about 5 pounds. it was a very tough and slow day. around noon i hooked into a good fish, she went 4.7 lbs. shortly after i hooked the most ugly bass i have ever caught. the 1 lb male was so beat up he loked like he was protecting a nest and was having to fight off all kinds of fish. it began to rain around 3 so i headed in. ended up with about 15 lbs. with the four fish. when the sun comes out, the rain stops and the lake clears, its going to go off!!! tight lines to everyone

    Tips: wait a week and it will be awsome, if the conditions improve.

Thursday, April 13th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Paper reports that Margarita may be open next weekend [weather permitting with incoming new storms]. Marina had 9" of water and some big damage to inventory at the store. Owners state that fresh mackeral and crawlers will be on the way...
    City: Santa Maria

Sunday, April 2nd, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Pre fished Margarita looking for bed and holding fish for this months end tourney - Cool AM temps - Water temp was 53.2 at 7AM crusing to about 56 for the mid-day temp. Worked narrows early AM with only small dinks to brag about. Robo Bold Bluegill worked on these stick-up fish. Hit areas at 1st dock on the walls with cranks - Pulled in my very 1st 4.6 pound on a black and blue buzz - Only seemed to work once - Probably a crusing fish. Lots of Bluegill in the 20 to 10 foot range so used a bigger Robo with a 3/0 gama hook. Landed one more 3# but it was a hit and miss deal. Fish are there but never really hit a stable patteren. Day turning gloomy so I headed to the dock at 2:30. Hit rain coming back in Pismo. Will try again this Saturday weather permitting.
    City: Santa Maria

    Tips: -- Keep looking on the inlets -- Saw a guy with two nice 5 and 7 pounders taken off the inlets back by the narrows. Naturally, he wouldm't fess up to the bait used. Oh well -- Keep pluggin....

Saturday, March 4th, 2006

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    Water Temp: Low 50's

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Since there havn't been any reports on Margarita since Oct. I thought I would add to it. Launched out of White Oak at dawn and went to the south end. With the rains we just got the south end was really muddy (less then 2' vis) and cold LOw 50's. I power fished all day with no success, threw Rattle Trap, spinner bait, Threw the Hud. and dragged a big BrushHog. There was an ABA Tournament going on that had a low % of limits. But one guy brought in a fat bag of over 25lbs.
    City: Paso Robles

    Tips: The lake is at full capacity. Give it a week of sunshine (and clearing) and it should go off. Word I got was fish were bitting lite line finese worming.

Sunday, October 30th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 64

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Still slow but continuing to get better. Catching one or two good fish early and late on sinking rapala in 3 to 8 feet of water near weed beds and reeds. Moving to deeper water during the middle of the day using smoke colored 6" worm with large black flakes (sheer rock drop off to 25 feet). Nothing but dinks with worm. Catfish and bream still doing well with meal worms and night crawlers according to people at cleaning tables.
    No jet skis or lake lice, gotta love it!!!!
    City: Arroyo Grande

    Tips: keep throwing rapala till your arm hurts.

Monday, October 17th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Caught about 5 small bass in about 4 hours. We fished jigs. They seem to be biting on the purple and green. While fishing for bass we hooked a 10 lb catfish. Took about 15 minutes to reel in on an ultralight rod.
    City: Santa Margarita

Saturday, April 23rd, 2005

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    Water Temp: 60-62

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Some areas have cleared up a lot in the past week, while others are keeping torn up by the winds every afternoon. Last week I caught a few prespawn fish down by the dam, and quite a few post-spawn on the main lake. Today, I think they were all either on beds guarding fry, or post-spawn.
    City: Vandenberg AFB

    Tips: Senkos and drop-shot were the tools of choice after the weather moved in. Last week there was a good shallow bite in the morning, and a good jig bite later in the day, but it was OFF come trny day.