Quote Originally Posted by plumbertom View Post
No longer a Cali boy. Was until Feb of this year though.
Couple of Lakes you might try for big crappie, San Antonio and Nacimiento over near the coast west of 101.
Both are still suffering from the drought But Naci can be fished by launching from the Resort. I'm pretty sure San Antonio is still hand launch only. Canoes and Kayaks.
Just a word for those that do not know anything about these lakes. Nacimiento has the only fishery for white bass in the state and they must be killed or returned to the water immediately upon catching them. Big fines for having them in your boat alive.
San Antonio has one of the best fisheries for striped bass in the state when the water is up. They are probably stacked on top of each other with the water as low as it is. Last time I remember fish very low water there it was almost like fishing in a bucket. In addition to Crappie, stripers and good black bass fishing, there is a little recognized but highly productive Channel catfish population in the 'Tone. I always took some chicken livers when I'd go there. Even if you can't find your target fish, the cats will invariably keep you from wearing the skunk stripes.
Ah, thanks for bringing back the good old memories of Nacemiento. I had great times out as a youth fishing with an older buddy who has long passed away. Haven't been out there for many years. Yes, that place is infected with white bass and I bet it still is. I used to fish for them at night under a green crappie light and it was so effective. In 40 ft of water if I drop my line only 10-15 ft down, I'd catch crappie. If I drop it 25 ft down, nothing but white bass and when they get bunched up on the sonar, I mean so many red arches on the fish finder, boy "O" boy, it's thump after thump. My only problem is, white bass has a stench I cannot stand and meat is a little tough.