Went to Cachuma yesterday Sunday. Water was 58.5, 13-15 ft visibility.... :shocking: and foggy for about an hour after getting on the water.
For a Sunday there were more boats getting inspected than I've ever seen, There must have been at least 15 boats waiting in line to get inspected. Sure was glad to just motor by and launch. There were already 9 boats in the water by the appearance of the trailers in the lower parking lot.
Anyhow got on the lake just after 7am, with lots of fog so didn't go too fast (like mine boat does) to the shelf straight across from the marina. Threw some top water for a spell with nothing, water was 58.5 there. Trolled down the bank and into Big Cachuma catching one smallie about 2.5 pounds on a wacky senko. Picked up a LMB about 1.5 on the right side of Cachuma bay in the backs of one of the coves, and pressed on, didn't catch my next one until 45 minutes later. Rounded a bend and caught a nice 3lber smallie off the point..pressed on still, went into a sheltered cove to check out any late spawner's and saw two 5 lbers sitting on a bed, couldn't tell if they were guarding or getting ready. Saw another 5lber a short distance away, none were having the treats I gave them initially, The two that were together were locked jawed, but the loner ignored my jig in a 1/2 version, so I downsized to a 1/4 ounce and a paca craw trailer and after a few minutes he sucked it in...damn those new rods are sensitive... hauled the fish in and weighed him, 5.1 ounces. Motored to the floating jon and after completing a pit stop proceded to the other side of the bay, stopped short of a point and threw a crankbait and caught another 2.5 smallie, further down the bank caught another on the crankbait another 2.5 smallie, jeeeeeeeeez where are the bigger ones. ;D turned into the wind and went back towards the mouth of the bay and caught just one more smallie about 1.5 pounds. That was the last one caught. I stayed in Big Cachuma pretty much the whole day. I saw huge bass just cruising the shore line with no particular place to go. Probably should have gone further back tot he shallows to look for big mamas but witht he wind up decided not to as it was blowing straight into the bay
This lake is definitely better than last year for sure. overall for the day caught like 11-12 pounds. If the wind hadn't obscured the bes could have gotten more weight, but its hard to fish when you can't see the bottom.
Great report! I love reading about some of my old stomping grounds ~c~
Nice cal we gotta meet up their some time.
GL maybe we will after i complete the STREN series in may. Last one is the Delta, After that I'm pretty free
Went to this place today. Spent about 15 minutes waiting for an inspection, 10 minutes in line to pay, 15 minutes waiting for a wash... then I hear starting May 1 you will pay $30. for a wash and they wash all that aren't tagged for Cachuma. They still don't take any other tags, and when I asked, they said yes you will have to be washed even if clean and dry. Lopez and Margarita both adjusted and said if clean and dry they wouldn't require a wash, but if Cachuma wants it that way... Then May 1 the boat fee is going up to $13. so if you haven't been there in a while or are tagged for another lake even, it will cost $51. to put your boat on the lake! That is $24. more than Naci used to be! ^-^ Cachuma for me.
On a better note, I only spent a few hours and had 3 nice footballs between 2.5 and 3# and a couple little smallies thrown in. Then lost a pretty good fish in a tree that probably would have gone between 3 and 4#. Overall the lake is doing well, but not worth making it the only place I can fish and not worth $51. to launch.
holy ~xyz batman...$51 to fish, man are they putting the hurt on boaters. Getting to where you need a boat for every lake so youdon't end up paying Thru the nose.
With the increases that means next year the annuals will go up as well. I was at SanAntonio over the weekend, didn't take the boat, but threw a lazy line in the water to try for some carp of catfish, nothing, the lake is at a level I've never seen before, very low that is.....N shore ramp is barely in the water, when you stand on the bank it looks like looking into a canyon is so far down. The place we amped this time was under 40ft of water last time, now its dry. Didn't see the second ramp. Directly across from the N shore ramp on the other side of the lake the trees that were mostly under water are now totally out of water by at least 50 ft to the water edge. The humps outside of Cemetery's creek are now islands, and the trees are dry land. The shore line south beyond the house boats are high and dry, house boats I heard are in 10 feet of water, hope they get them moved before they become dry docked.
The good news is that my disabled vet's pass let us stay camped all weekend for FREE. If I had pulled the boat it would have only cost me $18 for the weekend. Finally someplace in California I can use my pass.
Did spot the golden eagles across the lake in flight. Sure was glad to have my nocs
Wow......$30.00 for a wash! Even if they detailed and waxed it wouldn't be worth 30.00 Seems like they are taking a different angle than Casitas.......Cachuma will try and make it so that the tournament angler who fishes multiple lakes will not want to go there except maybe once or twice a year due to the excess washing fee.........I mean who can afford to keep going back and forth paying $30.00 for the boat wash. I knew they were going up with gate fees but had not heard about the boat wash fee being that expensive.
I'm thinking the smart thing is for teams to use one boat for Cachuma, and the other boat for Lopez, Margarita, etc. That is how lots of guys are doing Casitas now. If you keep your boat tagged for Cachuma it is still $21 (unless you have an annual) but at least you don't deal with the wash charge and all that cr@p! I don't want to tie myself to Cachuma, and don't plan to drop $51. for a day on the lake so that is probably my last time on Cachuma until they start taking other lakes' inspections. They still say they are working on the linked database, but that won't help if they don't accept inspections done somewhere else anyway! Cachuma won't even accept one done at Casitas... that is just crazy.
They are not charging $30.00 to wash a boat. I was reading a post of an e-mail of the head ranger I beleive who stated they did increase the boat launch fee by $5.00 which will pay for those who do have to get washed but they are not charging $30.00 Bye the way Margarita charges $5.00 to wash your boat, I didn't know that until today Stan said he saw it on one of the signs at the gate. So somewhat good news but it still stinks that they went up $5.00 on the boat launch.
I read on a thread on westernbass where the head of parks said they won't make you get a wash if its clean and dry. That is BS because they DID make me get a wash even after the inspection, and specifically stated that next month they will be charging $30. for the wash. I then asked if they would require the wash if the boat was already clean and dry, to which they said "Yes, any boat that is not already tagged for Cachuma will have to be washed." Hopefully that guy is right that said the extra $5. would cover that required wash.
As a side note: Margarita set the same wash everything policy, and then ruled that, if clean and dry, they wouldn't require the wash. Great idea! :-* Most guys are showing up with their boats all wiped down and dry, so how would they move a quagga anyway?
Yea, Cachuma has never been on the side of common sense.
Just got back from the sand box and boy am I ready to fish. So what is the deal with the lakes and all these fees for washing boats? For 30 bucks they better wash my truck and my wifes car.
Welcome home Chris.........Cachuma is going up $5.00 in entry for the boat only to offset the cost of spaying boats down. They will also be offering to wash your hull for $30.00 don't think people will take them up on that. I was just telling Stan the other day that you should be back soon.
I saw your buddy towing your boat a couple months back I figured you had him take it out and either run it at the house with a hose or take it to the lake.
ABA Pacific coast has a tournament on May 2nd at Cachuma then the Central coast starts there Cachuma series in June.
You should try to fish 5 and make it to the TOC at Clear Lake this fall, that is the goal for me and Stan.
Welcome home Chris its good to hear your back.
Welcome back Chris, good to have you back.
ABA Pacific coast has a tournament on May 2nd at Cachuma then the Central coast starts there Cachuma series in June
Tom,
You and Stan doing both or one or the other.
Yea,
We are fishing the May 2nd with Pacific Coast and then switching over to central coast for June, July, and August. We are going to go through the travelers for TOC qualifying.
In fact we went out and pre-fished today and had an outstanding day but nothing over 4lbs but lots of fish.
Stan...how many brownie points did you have to earn to get both our Saturday and Sundays as trnys days for Jun-Aug? ::)
Well Tom good luck to you and Stan in the runnings. Next year I plan on more trnys closer to home...just have to find a partner
I will be hitting the lake sometime this week. I also will hit the tourny this weekend, but i think I will be solo because my partner used his kitchen pass on this past weekend for the Anglers choice at Marg. Hope to see you all soon.
Just got back from the lake. Didn't know the water leverl was down the way it was, so it was a new lake for me. It ended up being a good day. Didn't set the hook on to many fish trying to save that for this weekend. Ended up having 21 bites, hook set 3 of them to see what they looked like and 1 of those 3 was 4 1/2lbs. Found some bedding fish, played with them for awhile and then moved on. Didn't find a strong pattern it was pretty much junk fishing all day. The wind was cold and strong, water temp stayed at 61 all day. Hope it works for this weekend.
I will be heading out tomorrow to pre-fish.
How is the lake level?
Did you hear that the pass got 10.32 inches of rain? I bet the lake has come up at least 10 ft in the last couple of days, The bite should be on fire in the creeks right now. Anyone going?
I may go this weekend, if the deep sea one dosen't pan out, its looking not too good as the winds are expected to be 15-20 knts with gusts up to 25knts on sunday, the day I want to go. need to fill my yrly stock of fish
Went to Cachuma to get tagged today and the lake is 30 feet low. Gonna be some good spots to fish if it stays at that level, right Tom!
Well looks liek I'll be doing more local trnys, there is no STREN this coming year for the west unless you want to do FLW NG. And no clear lake venues at all. looks like, WON, AC, ABA and others will get my $$ this yr.
Stan
What did it cost you to get it re inspected for Cachuma. I'm headed there this weekend
Did they change something? I thought the inspection was the same price as entry
Cgris I have an Annual pass, so was wondering if they charged an entry fee or less if you have a pass. If its a fee then I'll know to take a $20 with me.
No fee
Did they wash (get it wet) again for the re-inspection?
Not yet, i get a 14 day quarantine every time I go back because I have out of state registration. But they didn't say anything about a fee to get the hot wash. And they did say that when I come back they would wash it.
ok, we'll se this weekend what happens
If the water is in the mid to lower 60's you should definitely try the spoon.
Ya I picked up a couple of Lake Fork spoons to try. If they don't work I'll switch to the tungsten ones
Have fun and good luck!
They can never make up their minds. After mine came out of the 14 day window I pulled up they took the tag and I went. No washing at all. I don't like the lake because of the people who run it.
I think what they have decided to do is to make the wash an optional thing, and if you want it it cost $35. I can wash my boat myself thankyou!
Ya I can wash mine too.
Chris, Stan, Tom you guys have the best of luck at Clear Lake, I'll be rooting for ya.
Thanks let us know how your day of fishing went.
Well Cal how did it go out at Cachuma?
An interesting day to say the least. Got on the water around 7:30 after getting the boat "washed"? Not much of a wash job.....hot water from 10 feet. Anyhow, finally got on the water, sit down in the seat and my sump is running, hmmmmm WTF..guess what?.......yep you guessed it, I forgot to put the plug in after the kerfuffle of getting the boat inspected, washed and in the water. So i take off my jacket reach down behind the boat and put the plug in (thankful for an outside and arms reach hole) Boat finally finished pumping out all the water and I head to my first spot before Santa Cruz pt. Throw a big jig and nada for the whole length of the bank. So I switch jigs to something different and go back over the same bank, bang...a 12 inch smallie, fat and very healthy. Continued the same bank and saw part of a stump sticking out of the water, I thought to my self....there has got to be a bass near that, its shady, near deeper water, perfect. So I throw the jig next to it, as I start dragging it out it gets hammered, (almost set it self), I can tell its a good fish as its really taking some effort to get it up to the surface. When I finally get it to the top its a very healthy 6 pound.......... catfish...WTF on a jig? Anyhow finished the day with 9-10 fish, most on a jig, 2 on a spoon (not the Lake Fork one either), caught one 3 lber on a swim bait. All I needed to make it a multi-species day was to catch a bluegill.
Drove down to Cachuma around 1130 got the boat inspected and tagged then headed right back home.
Yesterday: Water temp 55-57, Wx perfect, 7 bites 4 fish, slow day.
That's better thant he one bite one fish 2 weeks ago. What did you catch them on
Stan,
What day are you going this week??
Probably Wednesday works best dor me. In another week or so I'm gonna ramp it up to 2 times a week though! Any word on the CBC Regional Qualifier Lake?
Went to Cachuma yesterday, windy, very windy. boat was doing 6 mph according to the GPS, without the aid of a motor! got off the lake early like around 1230, couldn't take anymore wind. Boat is just way to light for windy weather. Had alomost wished it rained all day because the wind was abssent while it was raining.
I didn't realize the cost of getting your boat on the lake went up so much. $16 for the boat and $5 for the truck. Guess they are making $$ on the boat due to the missing mussel at Cachuma. Now the annual park pass is $130 for military/retirees
Cal,
You are getting that GS-9 money, retired money, va money..........time to get a heavier boat.................... lo
Stan,
On Western bass they are saying it will be Big Bear Lake. Just looked it up it's 4 hours 47 minutes from Santa Maria and it's at altitude. If that's the case I will not fish Naci in hopes of qualifying. Way to far of a drive to pre-fish.
Unfortunately Tom, the new roof, mortgage, and soon the new kitchen overrides a new boat. Then there is the savings for old age (much older) ;D
Guess I'll start playing the LOTTO
I think big bear is for region 1 I'm waiting for region 2 info!
According to the CBC web site the region 2 is BlowPez
Chris and Mike,
How did it go for the Tri-Valley trny??
We caught some fish the Bass are close to beds. Very very skittish.
We didn't weigh in some guy did the most unthinkable thing. We were in the back of a cove working toward a small log jam about 15 yds away when this guy out of nowhere uses his big motor to pass us and cut us off jammed his boat into the jam to cut us off. We got into it and pretty much a yelling match, I pulled away and we started to work out of the cove when the guy started to leave and ran over our lines, once again it started again. We had 3 in the boat and we were catching a lot of short fish but the cove never came back to life. We left and tried other areas but no luck. We went back to try to see if the cove was ready and still no bites. Mike and I was so P$#@ off that we threw the fish back in and left. Once again California showed me another reason not to fish here anymore.... I can't wait to get to Louisiana.
When are you going to Louisiana?
So what guy was it and what type and color boat. Did you talk to the TD about it and at least file a protest?
The guy was in a white Ranger, He was an older guy his fishing partner was a younger Asian guy. No because I learned they won't do anything unless another competitor saw the infraction.
I will be stationed there after Korea.
That's why I keep my cell phone on hand ...a pic is worth...ya know the phrase. Sorry to hear about the pi$$ant a good shape charge will take care of him.
I should have took a pic, you know the bad thing is the tournament before this him and I were at the ramp talking and joking around. Off the lake pretty cool guy, on the lake not so much..... The other part of it is his parnter wouldn't fish the spot he just kept his head down and looked away from us because he knew they were in the wrong.....
I felt bad after the fact because there was an older couple on the outside of the cove and they heard everything and well lets just say if they were missing any words in their vocab I filled them....
Chris, was it a solid white Ranger? Yea you should have taken a pic then you could have posted it here and on centralcoastbass.
What? Nothing on here about Cal's break-in skills? ;D
O.k. he might have caught more fish than I did yesterday, but my truck let me in! ;D
Dean,
What are you talking about?
Cal,
I heard you caught 25lbs on Friday?? I guess you must have had a magic last hour because I thought you left before me and I only stayed an hour and half after I talked to you and you only had 12 or 13lbs at that point.
I didn't get off the lake until 345 or there close, the last hour of the day I caught 2 6ers to go with my 2 five + and several 3-4s, yep top 5 went easy 25lb, best day in a long time, then only got 10lbs the next day, of course different directions for the winds, more clouds and I didn't go back to the "area" because it was too dam windy. I must have caught between 20-30 fish, many dinks, but some really good ones too.
Days take: 6.02, 5.15, 5.11, 5.08, 4.11. and i didn't get pics cuz my cell died again - probablby last time I'll see that much in one day this year. The 4.11 was the first of the day
As for my breaking and entering, it was mostly sliding and slipping, locked my keys in the truck at the entry parking lot. Back door wouldn't close or lock, so was hitting the central lock to try and get it to move, eventually had to manually depress the lock so the lock mech would be in the open position, but forgot I had moved the locking several times and closed the door after getting it to close...ooppppsssssssss..sssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhtttt now the doors are locked. managed to open the rear slider and slipped in the truck, well slipped, crashed and crawled in the window...comical when all you see is my legs in the air as they dissapear in the truck.