Know any shore/bank spots in the Bay Area?

[bassinhopeful]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and a beginner. Been trying for largemouths for a while, but no luck. Been to a lot of bass sites, read a lot of magazines and also watched some videos, but still haven't hooked into one yet.

Do you know any really easy spots from the shore/bank? I'm pretty much land-bound. Not trying to land trophies at this point, just hoping to have some fun. Looking for anywhere up to a two-hour drive from Oakland--anything around the SF Bay Area or Delta, etc. If you have specific locations with descriptive landmarks to make them easier to find that would be great!

[Caudawg]

Welcome aboard! Please let us know when you finally break the ice and catch a lunker bass! You might give Del Valle Reservoir a try in Livermore or Lake Chabot in the east bay. Both have some decent areas to fish from shore.

I would highly recommend you study up on how to fish a Yamamoto "Senko" or a PowerTeam Lures Sick Stick to get started. Senkos/stickbaits work year around and are fairly simple to use. If you need help learning how to rig and fish with these, there are lots of posts and videos available on our site and on YouTube. You may also get some good information from Hi's Tackle Box in south San Francisco, or Fisherman's Warehouse in SJ. Or Coyote B&T near SJ.
If you are in the north bay, Outdoor Pro Shop in Cotati is another great place to shop and learn.

Good luck!

[opie]

When I was in your shoes my favorite place was whiskey slough. The first 200 feet past the whiskey slough marina launch is posted no fishing, but the rest of whiskey and then empire cut has lots of spots to pull over and fish. There are largemouth right up on the bank, especially on high tides. Its a popular area for shore anglers, but I've been told not to leave my car unattended due to possible break-ins. I usually park, fish up and down the levy a couple hundred feet or so , then move my car to the next bunch of tules and repeat. I see people hand launch small boats down the levy and leave there pickup, so it can't be that bad.
Senkos or split-shot plastics are effective ways to pick apart each spot. Soft swimbaits are also popular for shore anglers there because you can cast across the slough and both stripers and largemouth will hit them.
I caught a 10lb 13oz largemouth from the shore there fishing around midnight.

PS Always bring your license, I've been checked there by dfg at least three times.

[bassinhopeful]

John, thanks for the word about sick sticks. Never heard of them. Will check em out. Any colors work especially well in the delta? ( I try to fish with senkos all the time, and will continue to try)

Opie, thanks much! Best info on a delta spot I've gotten from any of the forums I'm on! Is the road that you travel and fish along up to Empire Cut called W. Lower Jones Road or is it the opposite road on the east side of Whiskey Slough? Also, is it safe to assume that Whiskey Slough Marina Launch is the same as Whiskey Slough Harbor on my map? What color and length senkos do you recommend? Any particular swimbait patterns? Hope that's not too many questions

[jimmy87]

5 and 6 inch senko. Green pumkin black flake. Cant go wrong. color 301 is another popular color. wacky rig or texas wieghtless. etiher way will get em.
Start your fishing on high tide and fish as its out going.

money minnow is a good bet for a swim bait. Stripers eat em too.

do not forget the brush hog. That bait is plain dynomite
John Walton at Waltons pond in san leandro will put you on fish. I recommend you go see him if the shop is not too far from you. He has the latest information of where when and how along with all the tackle you need.


Good luck!

[opie]

West Lower Jones Rd. is the one I am talking about.
For colors, I use black/blue during night and at dawn and dusk. Green pumpkin and watermelon red are the colors I try during the day. On still sunny days I have alot of confidence in the four inch watermelon red Yum Dingers. They are senko copies that are less expensive and have a little slower fall.
White is the most popular soft swimbait color you will see people throwing. If the water is fairly clear I've had luck with clear/gray paddle tails. My buddy, who usually outfishes me, uses a white fluke on a quarter ounce jighead. He likes to let it fall to the bottom, then yo-yo it back. I get too frustrated trying to get the exposed jighead hook through the grass. But he catches lots of largemouth and stripers.

[bassinhopeful]

Opie, thanks for all the great info (and humble honesty )!