starcraft1

We were "high class" out here, we had 4 channels 3, 10, 13, & the one I'll never ever forget, "THE PERFECT 36", and I have a valid reason for it! Back in the late 60's & early 70's The raiders wide rec. was Fred Bilitnakoff (please excuse my spelling) and he had a girlfriend named Carol Doe-ta, and she was the lady who stood sideways when she said "the perfect 36". She wasn't lying! Did I say she was also a head line stripper! OH YEA, THE DAYS OF MY YOUTH! Almost forgot, it was some guy named something Bell who fished the Cal. delta and local lakes around central California.

A dug out?, I guess you'd call it that?, on the side of Hwy 99 in downtown Chico, Ca. They pulled gravel out of it back in the 60's for the highway. I guess someone stocked it?

When you get out there, check with local bait shops. I was talking to a guide who was out here of a T.O.C. on Clear lake and he told me there's 4 or 5 (don't reminder which) around the St. George area that local clubs fish. I think you'll find the people very friendly and helpful.

Ore. Native, Your right about the deer & fall. I've heard stories. Went down to check water levels last Friday and had to wait for 4 does to decide to move out of the road, plus a few turkey buzzards to leave their mid-day meal. All in the middle of the road just as you turn into the park. The big problem now is mountain lions. We've got so many of them there going after fawns and have been seen on the west side of the lake near some great L.M. coves. Lots of bush busters fish those coves and it could prove to be a big problem for them. In the last 16 yrs. of fishing Oroville, I've only seen 1 lion & 1 shadow of a lion, but it's spring and they'll be out in force ,all the wild life. Bears, lions, deer, turkeys, buzzards, eagles, osprey, and whatever else ma' nature has to offer! Please, NO WOLVES!!!

I've been lucky so far, but a good friend and lake Oroville guide was hooked in both the ear and head with a 7" spook by one of his clients while teaching him how to top water fish. Off to the E.R. he went. Ouch!

Great story! Things like that make you just stand there and say "NEXT? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN - NEXT?

Keep an eye on cabela's for sales. I picked up both bibs & jacket for 1/2 price last spring. Pro guide wear. Well worth the $$$

In N.Cal there's quite a few. Bullards for big spots, Oroville for #'s, also spots, and of course Clear lake for big bucket mouths. Note: The best (safest) place to launch on Clear lake is the casino, consent police presents. Thief is a big problem on that lake!

Thanks Mike (MRam10us), had a great time also. You've got to call again later in the spring. With all this rain we're finally getting the bite should be getting better. 25 fish on Oroville at this time of yr.? BAD DAY!, I'll get you a better one soon! As for now, the trailer is down for repairs & up-grades (brakes, lighting, side boards, bunks, & new receiver/ hitch) should be ready in a couple of weeks. Also working on the stalling problem. Looks to be a prop problem. REMINDER, THE JERKY IS A DEAL BREAKER!!!!!!!!!! LOL! The trailer will be lit up like a Chirstmas tree after all is done, after all I live in a town full of old bay area drivers! They like to run into things!

I agree with jhoffman. We've been known for a "few" better than average lakes out here also. Just can't afford the travel $$$. Towing a 20' Skeeter with a 14 yr. old 1/2 ton chevy doesn't make much sense to me to go that far. If we had one on Clear lake or some other lake in N. Cal. or S. Oregon I'd make it. It would also bring in most of us from the 6 western states (Cal., Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, & Ariz.). Just my 2 cents.

With the amount of water left in our foot hill lakes right now and the air temps. in the summer we've (a bunch of old vets/const. workers) decided to move our O.F.T. ( old f#rts tourney) higher in the air. Most of us have fished Alamanor and some Butt & Walker lakes. Does anyone know anything about any other in N. Cal.? We like to keep it some what local, within a 100 mile area of Chico. Please keep in mind that Bullards, Collins, Shasta, & Oroville are out due to wake boarders/water skiers, party hounds and water amounts. Any info would help. Thanks Bruce Gibson Appointed T.D. only after a serious amount of kickin' & screamin' on my part! (I lost the bet!) Any interested in joining us please P.M. me. Thanks again. P.S. More info on tourney in a short while. Great food, Good drink, Lousy company, Better than great time!

Being a jig man myself, I couldn't agree more about the crank bait. I've also got to learn more about the "cast and retrieve" bait. Not to worry, the jig and tube bite is really on right now on Oroville. Out here the reaction bite is (or use to be) mostly a winter or summer thing. Now it seems the swim bait has taken over that time slot, all thou Clear lake had a great crank bait bite this last winter and out shined both the swim bait & jig.

Why not, I'm heading for Clear lake soon, got plans for Bullards in late March & Alamanor in may.

Meat hunter, man you picked a tough week. I talked to my friend who has a American Bass tourney the weekend prior (Russo's) and the Lucas oil (A.B.A.) the following weekend. I'll be down their (maybe?) on the 25th or 26th to help out with the craziness. We do plan a day trip out of B&W or the state park (Brandon state park) on one of those days. Stay in touch.

Sorry for the delay on replying, I'll call a friend who lives near the north end of the delta and see if he's open during those dates. We need to fish together anyhow. He's one of the R.D.'s out of Russo's for American bass. Keep in touch.

Tried it once, found out quick it was a bad idea. He jumped off the back after some ducks. Their went fishing for that day.

Average for my "home" lake would be 25 to 30 fish - winter & summer, 45 to 60+ spring & fall. We're lucky to have year round fishing. Lake Oroville, N. Ca.

What part of the delta? West (Bay area, ect.) or east side (Stockton, Lodi,ect.)

The plug, well once, and I do check it every time -- NOW! never leave biting fish - learned that one too! Always take off your boat / trailer straps- That's my opps! Pulled that one last summer, couldn't figure out why the boat was floating off to one side then the other? The trailer was to! Man was I glad nobody was around then.

It looks as if our winter has just started! 54 days with on rain, snow, ect. has got us worried. Rain for the last 5 days!!!!! Another 25 might just help!

In N. Cal it's 50' in tourneys, and with a lake of 160+ miles of shore, 150' while fun fishing. I've had them hit my boat on Clear lake and get ticked off for me saying something to them!

Drunk wake boarders and those idiots on jet skies.

Does N. Cal. count? I'll be fishing a lot of so.Og. this spring, summer, and fall. I've heard all about the Rouge for salmon & steelies, but I'll be looking for smallies. I was also told about 5 lakes around the Grants Pass area. One holds the state LG record. Looking forward to it. Got a buddy in Merlin to hold up with. Two more months!

Two things, both Mt. lions. One on a big rock right over our heads, didn't really see it, just the shadow, the 2nd. scared the hell out of both of us. A lion cased a deer down the bank and both jumped in the lake about 25' away. The deer won that one, out swam the lion. We left in a hurry!

Dave Gliebe, Dee Thomas, Gary Dobbins, Gary Klien, Shaw Grisby. The 1st. 4 I know and 3 of them for yrs. Shaw I met when the Elites were out here at the delta & Clear lake. The one I respect the most would have to be Gary Dobbins. I grew up in this sport with him and saw how much effort he put into what he is now. I can honestly say he earned all he has, and it wasn't easy.