!!!!!!NEED HELP IN CALIFORNIA!!!!!!

[SixRustyHooks]

I am taking a family trip to California and I want to get a guided fishing trip. I live in Texas and all I hear is that California has massive amounts of GIANTS, but I know nothing about the state and lakes. My family is either deciding to go to the LA or the San Francisco area. I am willing to drive to get a good guided trip. Does anybody have any ideas about what lakes to go to and which guides are preferred. I have only gone on one guided bass trip and that was to lake fork in TEXAS with Lance Vick(who is the best guide and I recommend him to everybody) and he helped me catch my personal best which was a 6.5 lb...site fishing. I want to do the whole BIG SWIMBAIT California fishing experience. It doesn't have to be swimbait fishing...I just want a good trip. I fish all of the time at ponds(at least 4-5 times a week) due to not having a boat and I want to have the chance of catching bigger bass in a lake instead of 1-2 possibly 3 lb pond bass. I know that fishing is not guaranteed because it's fishing and anything can happen. Please give a couple of suggestions. Thanks for your time.....HELP!!!

[SixRustyHooks]

Is this a stupid question??? Sorry....just talking to myself.   :'(

[UrbanAngler]

I never hired a guide before, but I've read many great reports about these guides in socal.

http://www.petemarinoguideservice.com/

http://artberryfishing.com/

http://www.vaillakeguideservice.com/

They mainly deal with socal lakes like Diamond Valley Lake (the jewel of Southern California ), Lake Perris, Skinner Lake, etc... which all hold nice size bass.

I hope this helps.

[Branuss04]

Urban gave you some great info if you guys decide to do the LA area.

I don't do the guide's either, but if you go to San Fran I would consider the Delta.  Definitely a prized fishery in Nor Cal.  The only guide that I can recall is Cooch.  I've seen him in tourney's before.  Kind of a weird old man but there's no doubt that he would keep you entertained lol.

http://www.coochsfishing.com/

Also something that popped up on a search - http://www.valleyoutdoorsmen.com/fishing/deltafishing/deltafishinginformation.htm

Good luck!  California fishing isn't as easy as it some people make it seem.  But hiring a guide is a good first step.

Brandon

[SixRustyHooks]

Sweet!! That helps tons. I would rather not use a guide but I have never been to California and don't want to be clueless. Someone told me about lake casitas. Is that a cool place. The other problem is that I don't own a boat...that's why I decided to go the guide route.

[Hammer 4]

If your looking for Quality bass, I would consider San Fran and go to the Delta, or Clear lake..I assume your planning on visiting during the summer..?

If not there, then I would opt for Diamond Valley with Art Berry. Sorry I don't have any recomendations for guides up north, but I'm sure you could google guide service for ther delta.

[SixRustyHooks]

quality bass would be the ideal thing to go for but if I were to catch 4-6 pounders consistently would be perfect with your occasional 8-10 pounder. I think we are leaning towards casitas. Any info on that lake?

[b.Lee]

http://www.russnyders.com/

Great Guy super nice, he will take you where ever you need to be in Northern California.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

Clear Lake or the delta.Randy Pringle

[camman]

forget Casitas in Socal...look at Diamond Valley

[SixRustyHooks]

What is wrong with Casitas

[Hammer 4]

Nothing "wrong" just that the bite can sometimes be tough there, same with any lake..DVL has a rep for catching quality fish, sometimes in numbers. But you have to know Where to go on that lake. I know there are 1 or 2 real good guides that fish casitas. You might google casitas lake guides..

What is wrong with Casitas

[SixRustyHooks]

Which of the two guides do you consider to be great. Most of them look to be wishy washy. I'm not concerned about how much it costs, I just want a guide and a lake that will give me a chance to be productive and have fun. I've seen guides who say about a total of 15 words all day. Don;t want to get one of those.

[Hammer 4]

Which of the two guides do you consider to be great. Most of them look to be wishy washy. I'm not concerned about how much it costs, I just want a guide and a lake that will give me a chance to be productive and have fun. I've seen guides who say about a total of 15 words all day. Don;t want to get one of those.

Check Your PM'S...

[NorcalBassin]

No Cal = The Delta or Clear Lake. Can't recommend anyone ever go to So Cal.

;D