The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I fly fish a lot but have never visited PL.Finally taking time to do it this weekend. I'll be fishing but mostly checking things out. Can you camp anywhere there?

Do I absolutely need to have a ladder? It looks more comfortable but I have heard I can succeed without.

Comments?

Thanks.

Yes, camp anywhere you like, but stop at Ranger station, or at Crosby's bar and get a fishing permit and a separate camping permit ($9/night, $9 day fishing). Probably better not stay at north or south nets (can't fish there, but I think camping is still allowed---but you will be visited by the Ranger if you do). Most beaches have a porta potti, but not all.

Ladder not absolutely critical, but: it keeps you higher out of some very cold water, it keeps you above the waves that can be so big that they will keep you on shore otherwise, and you get much better casting leverage from a ladder. Tough to cast for distance if you are waist or chest high in water. Make sure you take it out of the water when you go to shore. Watched many a person try to find their ladder that went over in the waves. Also, it is the law.

Good luck.
Betty

Make sure you are fishing barbless also. I'm heading up early thursday morning myself and probably staying back in town. It looks like Saturday may be an ugly wind day so you may want to try to look around then.
Betty, any last minute advice? Fly's, spots, whatever?

Thanks,
Rich

Keep your eye on the fish. If they are in close, and they can be, you can be standing and casting beyond where they are cruising (particularly with the surface riffled and the wind in your face).

Get an old medium size detergent, bleach, water, or similar plastic bottle, seal the top and use a string to tie it to your ladder. I got off mine to take a picture last week when the wind and particularly the waves were up and it blew over --- saved by the float. You don't want to swim in 48 deg. water.

If you ladder happens to have a small footprint or worse just four rods, you need to drill and bolt a piece of angle iron, across the front and back so it still folds but doesn't sink down into the sand. G et a flat stable spot before getting up on it.

Skitt fiske!

Thanks Betty and Marty. Since I won't have a ladder this weekend do you have any advice of where to fish? And the most centrally located area to camp near the majority of spots I'll be trying?

Fish anywhere that you can besides the nets.Camp anywhere you want except the east side of the lake which is now day use only.Try Pelican Bay as a starting area.It will be busy there but there are plenty of fish in that area.Or do what I like to do...explore.Miles and miles of shoreline that can be fished.Good luck!
Jay

Betty wrote:
Make sure you take it out of the water when you go to shore. Watched many a person try to find their ladder that went over in the waves. Also, it is the law.

Good luck.
Betty

Betty,

I am sure that is just a second hand report....

Looks like this weekend will be plenty busy. There is a tournament this weekend, so LOTS of folks will be around. Pelican is a very big beach. Good fishing there and lots of room to camp, but with a tournament, who knows. It usually turns into an RV park on these tournament weekends. Most of the folks fishiing the tournament will be boat fishing. Mostly, this won't affect you if you are fishing from shore, unless there are a lot of boats in the Pelican area or they get too close to shore. Another good place to stay that should be less crowded is Separator, although there will be trailers there also. Might want to think about Windless--which is the bay next north of Pelican. Seems to get less pressure; or even the beach right in front of Crosby's is an OK place to camp. All of these (except the crosby's beach)are 3-5 miles north of Sutcliffe. If it is not too crowded, the rocks to the south of Pelican can be quite good for indicator fishing. Wouldn't need a ladder there.
Good luck, let us know how you do.
Betty

As I said in my reply to original poster, it will be crowded this weekend. Productive places in past month (that I have fished or have had reports from) are pelican, separator, wino, lone tree, blockhouse. Best flies for me have been large midges---in past I have used size 16 thru 12. This year went big: size 8 and 10. Red and black have been good colors. Also red copper johns and pheasant tails. Caught a BUNCH o'fish in last two trips with these flies. Best flies for dragging have been white over chartreuse beetle and midnight cowboy. I really think there are fish all over the lake. When they turn on in one place, they usually do in others also--provided the wind and waves are up. Good luck!
Betty

Thank you kindly Betty. I'll report back on Monday.

Rich

Thanks Betty. I will indeed let you know. Hope the weather is ok for camping (calm at night then pick up for fishing in day).

Walt

wind from the west to 25mph on friday...sustained at 25mph from the west with gusts to 40mph for saturday and 30% chance of snow.Should be sporty!