The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Ok, so my daughter is only about 2 years old now, but she loves watching fish on the rare chance that I catch one or feeding them in stocker ponds etc, and I’ve even have her excited about pictures of fish etc.
Anyway, I live up in Sonoma County, a long drive for most trout fishing, and want to include her and catch some fish.
Does anyone know a good place in the region for catching some easy, dumb fish so I can show off to my daughter, make her think I am a mighty fisherman, but mostly share the experience with her?
I’m not too familiar with panfish, but understand there are a few of those options in the area?
Any suggestions would be great and much appreciated.
Thanks all!
-Glen

Smith's Trout Farm outside of Callistoga...in the phone book but may be closed for the season now...you pay for the fish and they discourage catch & release (because they want you to buy the fish you land) however...if the points of the fly hooks are filed down to shorten the length of the point (which makes them barbless), after a fish takes the fly, usually throwing a slack loop of line at the fish will allow the short hook to disengage with the apparent result of "loosing" the fish before it gets to the shore...when you want a fish for your daughter, switch to an intact fly and bonk the fish on the head when it gets to shore...Olive beadhead wooly buggers have worked well for me.

Paul

Hey Glen,

You have a few options in and around Sonoma County. If you live near Santa Rosa you might try Lake Ralphine. Lake Ralphine is stocked with trout in the fall/winter months. Matter of fact DFG will planting Lake Ralphine on November 18th.

If you don't mind driving a little bit, you might head to Bon Tempe Lake, Alpine Lake, or Lake Lagunitas in Marin County. I know Bon Tempe and Lake Lagunitas are both stocked with trout (as recent as November 4th); I am not sure Alpine Lake is stocked. Be sure to check the regs. for these lakes...I think Lagunitas has some special restrictions since it is managed as a wild trout fishery. Also, these lakes do not allow human contact since they supply water for Marin residents. One other thing, be sure to bring money to park.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the tips guys. I seem to have the worst luck on those Marin lakes though. Any easy bluegill action in the area?
Thanks again and hope to get out soon!
-Glen

I agree, the Marin lakes are tough for trout on the fly. However, I did pull a few blue gill from Alpine Lake in August. I caught them in the channel below Bon Tempe Dam. The water was low and very clear so the fish were easy to see in the weed beds. I haven't been out recently, so I am not sure the blue gill are around with the cooler weather.

Hi,

I've had great times on tiny bluegill at the Marin Cheese Factory: http://www.../ComeVisit/Overview.aspx

For a 2-year old, the bonus are geese in the pond that need chasing. Also the a small deli with soda and icecream (as well as cheese and crackers)

The fish are tiny, and take pheasant tails pretty regularily. I've fished when the weather was a bit warmer; I don't know about now.

Good luck,

John