Best Bass Fishing In California- Lake And Guide Recommendations

[Amarley]

My wife and I are doing a 9 day tour of California in September. I can't go that long with out fishing and want to catch some bass while I'm out west.

 

We are planning on flying into San Francisco, spending a day or two in Napa, then heading down Hwy 1 to spend the rest of the trip with some friends in San Diego. 

 

Should I fish, 1) California Delta, 2) Clear Lake, 3) anywhere else. Also, who are some guides you would recommend?

[WRB]

My wife and I are doing a 9 day tour of California in September. I can't go that long with out fishing and want to catch some bass while I'm out west.

We are planning on flying into San Francisco, spending a day or two in Napa, then heading down Hwy 1 to spend the rest of the trip with some friends in San Diego.

Should I fish, 1) California Delta, 2) Clear Lake, 3) anywhere else. Also, who are some guides you would recommend?

Contact Andy "Cooch" Cuccia fishing guide for the delta and ask him about Clear lake in Sept. Clear lake can be algae bloom problems if the weather is still hot there, the delta is a river system that isn't affected as much by weather.

The drought has had a major impact on both central and SoCsl bass lakes, down about 50% water levels.

San Diego, take a 1day sport fishing boat out on the ocean for excellent surface fishing in Sept. Yellowtail, tuna are still around.

Welcome to CA, enjoy your vacation.

Tom

[Amarley]

Contact Andy "Cooch" Cuccia fishing guide for the delta and ask him about Clear lake in Sept. Clear lake can be algae bloom problems if the weather is still hot there, the delta is a river system that isn't affected as much by weather.

The drought has had a major impact on both central and SoCsl bass lakes, down about 50% water levels.

San Diego, take a 1day sport fishing boat out on the ocean for excellent surface fishing in Sept. Yellowtail, tuna are still around.

Welcome to CA, enjoy your vacation.

Tom

Wow, I did not realize the drought had such a huge impact on the lakes in California. I've just seen the effects on my produce prices at the grocery! Hope you guys get some rain soon and thanks for the advice!

[MikeinFresno]

Clear lake or Delta. also salmon and striper in the Delta that time of year. SoCal has some good lakes too, but i dont know much about them...Diamond is one of them.

[Supermat]

Dink,

  September is a great time to be here! The Fall transition will just be starting. There's still plenty of topwater fishing but you'll have a shot at some swimbait, crankbait, and jig fish as well. I love that time of year! Don't worry about the algae blooms. For whatever reason, the water is already clearing up. We've got 3-5 feet of visibility in places we normally have 0-3" of vis.

 

I guide on Clearlake, Berryessa, and the CA Delta. In September there is no question you should be at Clearlake. By the time you get to Napa you'll have already done the bulk of the driving. Its roughly an hour from there to the lake. There is a reason Clearlake was just ranked the #2 lake in the nation. Its an AMAZING fishery! I love the Delta but it is more complicated and in the fall can be heavily influenced by weather. Clearlake on the other hand is generally quite consistent and offers a shot at GIANTS.

 

My home is in the Delta but I choose to do the drive (and guide) every week on Clearlake because the fishing is that much better much of the year. They're both worth experiencing just to say you've done it but if you want a shot at fishing you'll never forget, do the drive. 

 

I'm not here to push my business but feel free to contact me on everything from fishing to winery recommendations. I'm not on the board that often anymore but feel free to call/text 707-514-9704. I hope you guys have a great time on your tour of California!

 

Matt Allen

[Amarley]

Dink,

  September is a great time to be here! The Fall transition will just be starting. There's still plenty of topwater fishing but you'll have a shot at some swimbait, crankbait, and jig fish as well. I love that time of year! Don't worry about the algae blooms. For whatever reason, the water is already clearing up. We've got 3-5 feet of visibility in places we normally have 0-3" of vis.

 

I guide on Clearlake, Berryessa, and the CA Delta. In September there is no question you should be at Clearlake. By the time you get to Napa you'll have already done the bulk of the driving. Its roughly an hour from there to the lake. There is a reason Clearlake was just ranked the #2 lake in the nation. Its an AMAZING fishery! I love the Delta but it is more complicated and in the fall can be heavily influenced by weather. Clearlake on the other hand is generally quite consistent and offers a shot at GIANTS.

 

My home is in the Delta but I choose to do the drive (and guide) every week on Clearlake because the fishing is that much better much of the year. They're both worth experiencing just to say you've done it but if you want a shot at fishing you'll never forget, do the drive. 

 

I'm not here to push my business but feel free to contact me on everything from fishing to winery recommendations. I'm not on the board that often anymore but feel free to call/text 707-514-9704. I hope you guys have a great time on your tour of California!

 

Matt Allen

Thanks Matt. I will contact you when we get our travel plans finalized to get a date!

[starcraft1]

I'd check about lake level and Algee bloom on Clear lake. Call one of the following shops; Clear lake bait & tackle, Limit-out tackle, or Clear lake outdoors. The last I heard was the south end had Algee getting bad and the north doing fine. This was last week. Mt. revs. are hurting for water. Folsom lake is out, Oroville is down to Bidwell marina, down 170+ ft., Shasta still has water, down around 100+ ft., Berryessa should still have water, but I'd check with Department of water resourses (DWR). There's also Sanoma lake? The delta will be your best bet. Salmon will be in full swing, line sides are always in there and the bass frog bite will be great along with the jig, punchin', spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits.

Good luck, Matt will steer you straight.

[Slade House]

I would check with Rich Tauber for guiding on Lake Casitas. US open champion, and the bite has been slamming at lake casitas (it's actually on your way from San Fran to San Diego.  if you can make clear lake go there first 

[smartwilson]

Clear Lake...

 

Also see Bassin' with Bob...very active guide who lives on the lake...https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bassin-With-Bob-Guide-Service-Clear-Lake-Ca/167151570060975?fref=ts

 

Lake level is very low but better than most lakes in NorCal. Water condition surprisingly good. Weeds have gone through lifecycle already. Here on Cache Creek, the only outlet of the lake, we have 'pea soup' water but no hard algae mats and no smells.

 

Also see our Lake County Chamber of Commerce FB page...where there are recent comments regarding water quality on the lake.

 

https://www.facebook.com/lakecochamber?fref=ts

 

Best...Lisa

[benthinkin]

Swimbaits on Clear Lake. Probaly one of the best fisheries in the world and certainly the best in cali.

[BasshunterJGH]

I would check with Rich Tauber for guiding on Lake Casitas. US open champion, and the bite has been slamming at lake casitas (it's actually on your way from San Fran to San Diego.  if you can make clear lake go there first

X2. I'm going fishing with rich at casitas in a couple weeks. Casitas is an awesome lake:)

[fisherrw]

Lake trinity is a good place caught lots of quality bass on strike king square bills in early summer. There is Mike Esler guide service up there but that's about all.

[bmlum415]

If you haven't came to Cali yet or booked a trip,Andy Cuccia is on some good fish on the delta right now. Guides for the delta that I'd recommend are Vince Borges or Andy Cuccia, both are phenomenal guides out there.

[David P]

Clear Lake should be your number one choice if you only make it to one. Hands down best fishing in California. The Delta CAN be good, but there's many other factors playing into a good day on the Delta given the tides and junk. To have a great California fishing adventure, Clear Lake is definitely going to put the odds in your favor.

 

   If going to Clear Lake, booking a trip with Matt is certainly the way to go, he knows his stuff up there and will not only put you around big fish, but will teach you a ton. 

   If heading over to the Delta, Bobby Barrack is a Delta stud. The guy is out there almost every day of the year as a guide. Mostly known as a frog guy (Snag Proof Bobby's Perfect Frog named after him), he is excellent all times of the year out there as a guide and can show you a great day of fishing, along with educational tips.