Don't know if you fellow Sonomans saw the Press Democrat the other day, but the Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of some of Hanson Aggregate's property (three lakes included). So, that means that some of the famed gravel pit lakes will soon be part of a public park that will allow non-motorized boating. The big one, with all the downed brush, chalky water, etc., is still being actively gravel-mined & apparently isn't part of the new park. The park is supposed to open in about 1 year.

There are good & bad points to public access, but this will make a terrific park. The lakes are big enough that, even with shore anglers pounding them, they'll still have excellent bass fishing. Plus, there's river access, which is severely lacking in Sonoma County. There should also be some decent, though limited, mountain biking in the park.

If you want to check the story, you can read it at http://64.42.5.135/local/news/08park.html.

Hip Hip Hurry !!!!!!!
Wouldn't it be great if they started write off the bat as a catch and release park ? So meat eaters couldn't come in and do what they have done to Fountain Grove by over harvesting the funest of all the fish, the big breeders. Wow, some new legal water to fish, just when the lakes seem to be getting ever so crowded, BANG, new waters. Oh Yea Baby. Thanks Andy for the flag, I wouldn't hane known. I did read the paper that day.

Funny you should mention that. I was just in the chalky looking one on Monday(Yeah, I'm back on 4 day weeks!!), and fished all day while the trucks and earth movers were going up and down the road, and nobody bothered me over it at all. They just waved as they drove on by. There are some big fish in that chalky looking water. I only managed 4 fish before the wind blew me off the lake, but all but one were over 4 lbs(4.1, 4.4, 4.7, and 3.6). The bigger pond where they are going to make the park is loaded with fish, and is very clear water. One side is all live wood hanging over the water, and the other side is mostly tulles mixed with nice thick grass. I went into that one a few weeks ago with two other folks, and we caught about 40 bass between us up to 4.3 pounds, but most were 2 to 2.5 pounds. That one also has a huge population of BIG MAGNUM sized carp, and a bunch of catfish. One of the guys I fished with caught one of the cats on a baby B-Hog for 7.5 pounds on my scale. There are also tons of bite size bluegill and crappie for the bass to munch on and get nice and plump. From what I understand you can fish in there if you don't park as to block the drive going back into the vineyards. That has been known to result in broken car windows in several cases. Nobody bothered us on that lake either. The way I understand it, if the county owns the water, you can fish it. I'll continue to fish it unless someone comes to run me off for good reason, but I don't think that will be happening.

I also hope that the county stipulates catch and release only for bass when they open it up as a park. I wouldn't mind seeing a bunch of the carp thinned out of there though.