New to Fishing and Want to Bring Little Nephew to Fish in Bay Area

[gunawanfish]

Hi Anglers ,

 

I'm an amateur bass fishing, just started couple months ago. I caught small 4 large mouth bass so far and it was fun! I have been going pond fishing last week at Lakeshore in Newark and Shinn Pond in Fremont but has no luck.  Perhaps because I'm still not sure how to feel when the fish bite.  

 

Anyhow, I got to spend with my little nephew for the weekend and was thinking to bring him to do some fishing. I think bass fishing is way to tough for them. I could spend 5 hours with no bite or catch anything. So I don't think I want to bring him for bass fishing but then I don't know how to catch any other type of fish or where to find them. 

 

Could you all please let me know where a good place in the bay area to bring kids to fish and can catch small fishes. I want him to have fun! And could you also please let me know how to rig the line. 

 

I'm also looking for fishing buddies if anyone up to do pond/lake fishing in the bay area. Would love to learn more for you all!

 

Thank you in advance!! 

 

 

 

[J._Bricker]

Gunawanfish, welcome to the Forums and Bass Resource! With a little guy in tow and it appears you live near Fremont, maybe check out Lake Elizabeth of the quarry lakes. Lake Elizabeth did have as I remember bass, crappie, and bluegill as warm water species. I've seen the ponds off of 880, but I've never fished them. Maybe some one else can help you with info on them.

 

As as for a fishing rig, I'd start with the basic float/bobber with a red worm weighted down with a split shot. Maybe bring a bucket so he can look at any fish that is caught before letting it go. I remember those days with my little ones being about a 30 minute excursion. Good luck and have fun, JB 

[gunawanfish]

Hi JB! 

 

Thank you so much for the respond and a reminder to bring a bucket! That's a really good idea. I live in Fremont doesn't necessarily need to fish in Fremont. I actually will be in Sunnyvale and planing to drive south. Do you know any other place to catch fish? 

 

I walk at Lake Elizabeth often and I don't see a lot of people catching fish there.  I saw one or two. So not sure if I want to take my nephew there. 

 

I saw youtube and some said that bluegill is easy to catch. It that right? 

 

[J._Bricker]

Haven't been to Lake Elizabeth in 25 years and I didn't know how old your nephew was when I posted. If people still feed the ducks there then you might also try a small, salmon egg sized piece of dough on a small hook as well. Again, just trying to get the little guy a chance to catch a fish, because if he doesn't he isn't going to want to go. Our job when fishing with little ones is putting bait on the hook, casting, untangling lines, and celebrating them catching a fish. When they want to go, happily pack up and head to the car...

[WRB]

Try looking around Morgan Hill, the Coyote creek parkway has several ponds called Parkway lakes just south of the golf course that I believe has public access next to a RV park?

Tom

 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

Good luck and hope you and the nephews catch a lot!

[WRB]

What type of fishing tackle do you have?

Bobber fishing is a fun method for young kids 6 to 10 years old. I suggest using pre rigged size  8 bait holder snelled hooks, they come in various sizes and Eagle Claw is a good brand. You will need BB size split shot clamped onto the line about 6" above the hook, a round red & white clip bobbers set sbout 2' above the hook. Another choice is 1/16 oz crappie jigs in lieu of the snelled pre rigged hooks. Both the hooks and crappie jigs and be used with meal worms or small earth worms. If your nephew is older pre teen or younger teen using size 4 bait holder hooks and collar hooking live night crawlers, with or without a bobber and size 4 split shot may be a better rig.

If you want artificial lures search this site for the "slip shot rig" and Roboworms.

Good luck and enjoy your outings.

Tom

[gunawanfish]

12 hours ago, Darren. said:

Welcome aboard!

 

Good luck and hope you and the nephews catch a lot!

Thanks Darren!!

[gunawanfish]

11 hours ago, WRB said:

What type of fishing tackle do you have?

Bobber fishing is a fun method for young kids 6 to 10 years old. I suggest using pre rigged size  8 bait holder snelled hooks, they come in various sizes and Eagle Claw is a good brand. You will need BB size split shot clamped onto the line about 6" above the hook, a round red & white clip bobbers set sbout 2' above the hook. Another choice is 1/16 oz crappie jigs in lieu of the snelled pre rigged hooks. Both the hooks and crappie jigs and be used with meal worms or small earth worms. If your nephew is older pre teen or younger teen using size 4 bait holder hooks and collar hooking live night crawlers, with or without a bobber and size 4 split shot may be a better rig.

If you want artificial lures search this site for the "slip shot rig" and Roboworms.

Good luck and enjoy your outings.

Tom

 

 

Hi Tom!

 

Thank you so much for the detail on fishing. 

 

I mostly have lures for bass but yesterday I bought small rods, hooks #10, 4lb line, and small bobbers. I do have small spit shot too. 

 

My nephew is 5 y.o. and I have one niece 3 y.o. that will tag along with us. I bought her a rod too. In case she is interested on catching a fish. I really hope we catch something though.

 

We decided to go to Lake Anza since we are planing to hang out around Berkeley area for the day. I didnt see any info or picture about ppl catching fish at google though but I will take a chance.

 

Wish us luck guys! Hope these kiddos won't get disappointed. 

 

Thanks!!

[blckshirt98]

On 6/16/2017 at 8:33 AM, WRB said:

Try looking around Morgan Hill, the Coyote creek parkway has several ponds called Parkway lakes just south of the golf course that I believe has public access next to a RV park?

Tom

 

 

There's access to Coyote Creek there but keep in mind of regulations where artificial lures and barbless hooks are required, and, there are a lot of ticks around there.

[gunawanfish]

Hi All, 

 

We went to Lake Temescal instead. We stay there for about an hour, from 7-8pm but we didn't catch anything. We say fish passing buy but we didn't catch anything, not even a bite. I cannot believer fishing bluegill can be so hard. I use bread and slim jim. Perhaps I didn't rig it right and didn't have the right bait??

Well next time I will us night crawlers. 

 

Use slim jim because I learned from youtube and I didn't need to deal with night crawlers. Honestly, I'm a little scare touching it. hehehe... 

 

Thank you so much for the responds and infos. Will let you all know if I finally catch one with the kiddos.  

 

 

[zeth]

lafayette reservoir

 

[gunawanfish]

On 6/20/2017 at 1:37 PM, zeth said:

lafayette reservoir

 

Thank you Zeth! Will definitely try the reservoir one day!

[blckshirt98]

Anderson Reservoir is generally regarded as the "best" place in the South Bay for numbers if you want to take kids fishing and give them the best chance at catching a bass, especially in the springtime.  Try posting on sanjosebass.com for more info, it's not a very active site but there are a few regulars that will post/reply to threads.  I've seen some ridiculous crappie catches at Calero and Anderson as well, but usually by people with boats.

[J._Bricker]

10 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

Anderson Reservoir is generally regarded as the "best" place in the South Bay for numbers if you want to take kids fishing and give them the best chance at catching a bass, especially in the springtime.  Try posting on sanjosebass.com for more info, it's not a very active site but there are a few regulars that will post/reply to threads.  I've seen some ridiculous crappie catches at Calero and Anderson as well, but usually by people with boats.

 

blckshirt98, what's your opinion of Lexington as far as another potential destination for gunawanfish to try?  

 

Also, what's everyone's thoughts on a crappie/ micro jig suspended below a bobber as suggested by WRB given gunawanfish being inexperienced with using bait? 

 

Continued good fishing all, JB 

[blckshirt98]

On 6/25/2017 at 9:16 AM, J._Bricker said:

 

blckshirt98, what's your opinion of Lexington as far as another potential destination for gunawanfish to try?  

 

Also, what's everyone's thoughts on a crappie/ micro jig suspended below a bobber as suggested by WRB given gunawanfish being inexperienced with using bait? 

 

Continued good fishing all, JB 

 

Sorry for the late response, been MIA for a bit.  Lexington has historically been a good place for me but with all the water that came in where Lexington topped 100% capacity the place really got thrown for a loop.  I take the Bear Creek exit and park right there in the dirt lot and fish the southwest shoreline (highway side).  All of the shore spots I fished were underwater and the water had risen up to where all the poison oak was so I avoided the place this year.  The water is back down to 80% so shore access should be better but the southwest shoreline is fairly snaggy and could be annoying to fish.  The more kid-friendly location would be the dam and the northwest shoreline (exit Bear Creek, loop around back onto the freeway and go north to the Alma Bridge exit).  Can't speak of the bite quality though, haven't seen too many reports (just a couple earlier when water was at capacity, from a guy that took a kayak out and said it was tough).