I saw this in the Press Democrat! Just thought i'd pass it on! it says the two former gravel pits have become recreational lakes for fishing and nonmotorized boating.

Go now because the fishing is going to go down hill fast as people come in there and rape the lake of the easy pickings. Be ready to see five fish limits on stringers. To bad they didn't make it a catch and release park from the start. Im out of here and Im going fishing. I will see all there Saturday morning.

Rich

I was going to go to fountain grovc but i guess its the ponds for me too. Does it open at around 7:00? Hows the fishing out there carson. Which pond is the best.

FINALLY! Rich you are right about it going downhill over time, but it will take sometime though because its tough shore fishing there and has limited access along the bank.

Dave, i am planning on fishing there friday and saturday, if your going i will see you up there. The water still doesn't have that great of visibility, but the flip bite/jig bite is going to be on with all these conditions how they are. I dont have a "favorite" out of these 3 but i will most likely be fishing the back lake.

Yeah, Rich, I hope they don't go downhill too much. To tell you the truth, all 3 of the lakes in the new park are somewhat overpopulated with undersized bass, so some harvest won't necessarily be a bad thing. Also, if you know some young people that you want to take bobber fishing for bluegill, these lakes rock. I've taken little kids there & they really get a kick out of it because you can catch panfish on almost every cast.

Unlike Ilsanjo, though, these lakes do have some quality fish in the 5+ lb range. I've heard guys claim they've caught them up to 9 lbs in the big, deep one near the redwoods (I think it's called Benoit). I've heard rumors of landlocked steelhead in that one but haven't hooked up with any.

The best lake for quality fish - the huge one with all the brush & timber & dingy water - isn't going to be part of the new park from what I understand.

Me and my Dad will be there on Sat....Been waiting 4 long months for this.......


Rich you gonna make it? Criley see you out there around 7:00?

Deacon

deacon ill see you there at 7! and everyone else fishin it!!!!!

I hit the water around 2:00 PM yesterday and I had the big lake nearest the redwoods all to myself. I had never fished this lake. I thought there was going to be this brand new ramp for me to pull up and unload that great heavy plontoon boat, but no such luckx( Any way, I lugged my boat down the area thats marked for fire access. It wasn't that bad of a haul. I started flipping and casting down the bank. I wasn't down the bank 20 yards when some thing big nailed my four eyed bait and took me for a ride. After a great fight I landed a sweeeeet 6 pound fish. Im totally jacked by now and can hardley beleive Im fishing new water legally in this great kick boat, just 15 miles from home. So I thought I would try some thing new for me, I sort of flipped a Drop Shot rig on my flipping stick. The banks are very steap at this lake and the water was alittle off cooler do to the runoff. This was the perfect lake for heavy Drop Shotting as I caught three fish in about a half hour doing this. Nothing over 2 pounds, but it was fun using a new method of flipping and having it work for me.

I zipped across the lake to this shallower tulli point and started throughing a Buzz bait through some weeds. I only did this because the bait was already tied on my rod from my last trip. I was only planning on doing a few cast before changing this bait when out from the weeds came a hog of at least 6 or 7 pound. It slurped the Buzz bait down and the fight was on just long enough for him to stick just his head out of the water and shake my bait lose and laugh at me as she swam away. Now the sun is going down and I head back to my launch area. I was ripping a pointer over open water on my way back across the lake when out in the middle of this lake some thing slammmmmms my pointer and runs for the hills, pulling drag all the way
and then gets off. I don't know what it was, but it was big. I got over to the bank and fished a little while longer before calling it a day on a new lake.

So far this lake was great and I will probably see every one there Saturday morning as I will be ariving at around 7:00 am, God willing.

Rich

Great report, Rich. You got into some nice fish for those lakes. Are all three now open to the public? I'd join you on Saturday, but I'm headed to Berryessa for some pre-100% tournie fishing with Russ.

you know how were fishing highland twice couldn't we fish highland once tne fish the ponds insted of highland.

Im not sure Andy. The park is still in the rough some what. I didn't look to far as I was at the mercy of this heavy plontoon. If I had to walk to far from the truck, that ment I had to carry the beast too. So I put into the nearest water from the parks paved road and that is the big lake nearest the redwoods. I saw another lake next to it, but there is a parks sign that say's to keep out? Im not sure what thats all about, but do you know of another lake, a third lake that might be part of the new park ?

Rich

If you enter through the gate that most of us have used through the years, you quickly come upon two lakes, one to the north & one to the south. The one to the north is a little smaller, the one to the south is bigger, with more shallow water. Then, if you went along the road that borders the east side of the southern lake & go past the redwoods, you'd soon come to another, much bigger lake. Those are the three lakes I'm thinking of.

There are two other, much smaller lakes by the river, & of course, the big, muddy lake with all the downed timber that's hawg heaven. I don't think any of those three are going to be part of the park, at least anytime soon.

Man Richie, you got me all jacked up. I was going to call in sick today and fish the ponds but decided to go to work. Can,t wait till Saturday. Nice to hear of some toads in that lake. See everyone on Saturday.

I'll be there

Ok Ok Ok Ill spill the beans for what I know about these ponds.....

I went back today just to scope it all out(I was as happy as a school boy) just to be back in the ponds again.

I talked to the foreman there and he said for the time being the smaller pond on the right will not be open to the public for a few more weeks/max 2 months. There will be 3 fully operational ponds by the time spring is in full swing.For now there is just the 2. The water was up about 6-7 ft from last time I was there it had about 12 iches of vis. I wouldnt say it was blown out but definatly had some color to it.

When you first drive in the pond on the left has lots of different structure(just wont tell you where) Has a few full size trees laying down, a few large humps and and large area that is shallow and flat. I have also heard a rumor that a truck accidentaly made it in there too. I have personally seen a 4-5 lber. Seen pics of a 7 outa there. Lots of 2s-3s. Heard of a 10 lbers here

The Larger of the 3 ponds is the one on the far left(by the redwoods. This pond has quite a few toppled over redwoods, rock piles and the same large flat shallow area. This one gets almost gin clear in summer while the other 2 have a nice color tho them. I have fished this one a couple of times and has a #### load of fish. The vary in size. Biggest I have seen was a 5 lberand the smallest was fry. I have heard of 11-12's caught in this as well......

The short of this the fish here are nice...very aggresive when the time is right.

Please do what we can to help keep this great fishery.....great!!!

Hey Bill Sweat...I reccomended to Rich at the mega bucks tourney about a turkeyshoot there. For 1 count me in and Ill do everything I can to help!!!!

Deacon

Does anyone have a map with directions for the ponds?
I might want to take a drive up to give them a try too.
I'd be coming from SJ. Also, Can you really get your
kickboat in there or is it a hassel? I made wheels for
my KB so I can wheel it to the water. Is there a trail
or a dirt road? Also, What are the fees for the park?
Parking, Day fishing, launching a KB, etc? Is there a
web site that shows the layout of the ponds?

Lawrence, see if this map works: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ed=jOxg4Op_0TrgqKrfOA.xsdp3J7rTAALuwhu.&csz=Windsor%2C+CA&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=

I'd take 101 N to Windsor. Get off at the Central Windsor Exit, go west under the freeway & follow Windsor River Road until it T's into Eastside Rd. Take Eastside left (south) until you come to the park entrance on your right.

It's usually $4 - $5 for entrance into Sonoma County Regional Parks, no additional fees. It sounds like they haven't yet put in the launch ramps, so you would have to carry your kickboat a little ways - I'd say 30 - 50 yards or so.

Good luck. It would be worth hitting these ponds soon - the opening hasn't yet been heavily publicized, so it's still almost "virgin" farm pond fishing.

ill be down there today, leavin in 30 minutes, ill post how it was with some pictures, and just some general pictures of the park for anyone who hasn't seen it...

So Andy, If I go down the road along side of the redwood grove on the south side of the south lake I will come across another lake thats even bigger than the lake on the left at the end of the road? If so, whats that lake like? Should I get a wheel for the plontoon and travel on down that road and if I did is it easy to get into the water with a plontoon? Or will I have to scale a shear clif and risk my life?

Rich

You are correct, sir, although it's actually the east side of the south lake. Anyhow, I've marked it on the attached - I hope my doctored-up map makes sense.

Anyhow, it's a deeper, steeper-sided lake than the other two. I don't like it as well as the other ones, but, I've heard stories of bass up to 9 lbs out of there, plus those legendary landlocked steelies. In addition, I've taken my son & one of his buddies bank fishing there for bluegill. Bank access is very good in spots & it is loaded with bluegill

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/3196.jpg

I played hooky today and fished the pond by the redwoods. I caught around 10 with a 5.2 and a 4.10. Two came on a spinner bait and the rest on jigs. You can launch a kick boat but its not real easy. If you want to fish the lake in the back its way to far to cary a kickboat. I saw a lot of fish jumping out in the middle first thing in the morning. I have no idea what they were but a couple of them left a pretty big splash. I havent made up my mind if i am going back to the ponds or hit fountain grove tomorrow. I might bring my lightweight tube and try the back lake. Saw Carson and some of his buds out there this afternoon.