California Catfishing

[DARK30]

Anybody have any tips on catfishing in southern California? We're going down to visit family near Laguna Beach the last week in March. I MUST work in a little fishing time. My brother has me set up for some salt water fun but I've been doing a little surfing and it looks as though there is some catfishing to be had in some of those canals and reservoirs

[sparcebag]

I use to live in Vista Ca.Inland from Oceanside,The resovoirs are full of channel Cats and they get big I've seen one 43 lbs.But its costly Ca. fishin Lic.User fee to fish the res.at that time 1980s $12.00 if ya land a boat it was $22.00 extra. not much shoreline to fish because of restrictions ya got to remember thats their drinking water and all canyon land steep shore.If ya would go, motor away from dam up a canyon as far as possible fish shallow flats 4ft. and down to 6 inches! the cannels are also realy steep I used to go out to the saltin Sea around cochilla fish cannels there also steep and hard to fish, ya go in good luck gettin out! But I've had fish on I could'nt stop ,running up the cannel me runnin the bank behind only to break off 30 lb. line its fun.Ya by the way my best bass out of lake Henshaw east 0f Escondido on Hwy.76 16 lbs.4 oz.Lake Elsinor is great.If the people your visiting fish they'll know where to go Good Luck! Oh ya Get Mackeral or Bonito for cut bait OILY FISH Cut 1 inch wide 2 inch long good chunk NO WEIGHT let the bait act as weight in the resevoirs they dont drop it as often without weights on.Best thing by (look on a map Cochilla canal by chocolate Mountains) Is while sittin in a desert fishin you can watch the air force I think The ThunderBirds Practice their precision manuvers Its GREAT Bring LOTS of cold drink!

[Katman]

NICE! Right in South Orange County. I just moved up here almost 3 years ago from Mission Viejo...which was like 5 miles or so from Laguna beach. For saltwater....wow...you can go anywhere. From Dana Point harbor all the way up to Huntington Beach...Theres fish. If you have some time...head out to Catalina Island for some yellow tail action. Theres so many places I can name...but..that will take a while. Surfing isn't that great at Huntington if you were going to go. Laguna beach to me had ok swells...but I'd rather go to Newport or Down to Oceanside. Back to fishing....The Santa Ana River runs right into the beach there by Huntington beach. I use to fish for sharks right at the meet. No great whites but large 4ft browns are doable. You'll even get a few stray halibits there. I'm not sure what kind of sharks they are actually...but they are brown..so we named them browns. If you are willing to travel a bit for some nice Cat action...I'd suggest Lake Elsinore and Lake Skinner. They're both by Temecula..around the same area. Elsinore reminds me of Lake Winnebago for some reason.....I've pulled a few nice cats from there. But Skinner would be my pick. Skinner also has LARGE Stripers too! We used a regular carolina rig w/ a non slip with cut anchovies. You'll get both cats and stripers with that. You'll love that 60 degree weather there. You'll be in shorts while the rest of them californians will be in their "winter" wear..hahaha. OR...you can test your luck for cats on lake miramar down in San Diego. Or Dixon to steal the WR largemouth. Let me know how far you are willing to travel to get to them cats....I'll let you know whats around. I've lived in Southern Cali all my life. I can point you to some nice spots. I can go on forever here....just let me know how far. But one neighboring park I know that has some cats is Laguna Nigiel Regional Park. Its not too far from Laguna Beach. Has moderate cat action. This is a manmade lake so it wasn't too deep. But If I remember correctly...they did stock rainbows in there. But I haven't fished that like for maybe about 8 years now. If you know anyone that lives in Mission Viejo..they can get you into Lake Mission Viejo. Its also a manmade lake...but a pretty dam good one. VERY deep and has HUGE CATS. There are sections where you can't fish...and trust me...the size of the cats and largemouths that just sits there...will get you going. Trout is also stocked there. HAHA...there I go again. I'll stop here. Let me know....

Linh

[DARK30]

Uh Oh, Now I'm thinkin it should have been two weeks.

I can deal with fires, mudslides, earthquakes, fruitcakes ....but canals that catch fisherman? Like I said, I got the salt water fishing covered. I think I'll look for a guide to find me some catfish...does a guy named "Catmando" sound familiar?

Looks like they got some serious trout fishing too.

[Katman]

hahah...1 week is never enough! Good luck to you wherever you go. The only spots that aren't really good for clean cats are city parks. But I do know of a few that had huge cats right in the city. Enjoy the nice beaches and weather! I'm sure jelous right now! Home sweet home! Trout is a pretty commonly STOCKED fish in lots of the lakes there. They do get pretty dam big too. Enjoy!