Hi folks, I've been enjoying my role as the "uncle that takes the kids fishing" and as the kids are getting a little bit older (8-10) I think it's about time to take them on a camping trip some where. Right now they're still bait fishing but it's pretty reasonable to expect these guys are going to eventually get hooked on fly fishing. Between them and their friends I could end up with anywhere from 2-5 kids, all of which I've taken out trout fishing or bass fishing at least a few times. They'd be willing to sit in a car for up to 3 hrs of driving from the bay area (mid-peninsula), and I'm looking for a campground that has bathroom, showers, fun places for them to run around and explore, good shore fishing for trout (planters are fine), and they're even doing some stream fishing as well. Planters are fine for these guys, and the likelihood of a fish has to be very good. Additional non-fishing things to do are a plus as well, but no kidding, my nephews especially are becoming fishing machines, 24x7, all fishing, all the time if they had the chance. Some first thoughts are to head up towards Arnold or Pine Crest and maybe tie in some exploring at Columbia and the vicinity.
It's crazy, these kids are so busy with sports and school they never have quality "wilding" time, so I'm planning ahead here to get the schedule locked in, perhaps Memorial day weekend at the latest, but if there are other suggestions for good winter spots for kids then maybe I could get them out sooner for a day trip. My nephews are at the point where they can untangle their line if it's not too bad, bait a hook, cast, and even tie a knot (kinda, working on that still). Depending on the number of kids I'd have help from one or more of the (non-fishing-but-always-there-to-help) dads. Hopefully this will be the first of many trips over the years
Depending on the snowpack this year, the rivers and streams coming from the Sierras could be unfishable in May as they were last year. One possibility is Solano Lake, right below Putah. There are campsites on the lake, and they plant pretty heavily in the spring and summer. The best fishing on flies is from a boat (a canoe is great, or a float tube) stripping olive woolly buggers.
Kids like to run around and arn't always that attenative to what they are getting into. Keep in mind that poison oak is rampant around Putah and most other lower elevation fishing areas.
Does it have to be trout?
O'neil forebay for stripers or bass?
No idea on access to showers around Pinecrest or most other places. You can always pick up a portable shower system and go that route. It would free up a LOT more opportunities.
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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.
When i was a kid my family always did a few camping trips a year to either pardee or comanche resavoir. We always caught alot of nice size planted trout, lots of catfish, and if there up to it hike the bank and cast for bass. This was a good place for kids because they had a really big nice swimming pool with slides and stuff, and playgrounds, a consesation stand, and a few marinas that always have small 12 foot or so motor boats to rent. Now that i think about it pardee is the only place me and my brother used to catch bluegill on a bare hook !!!! Then if you wanted to get away for some "serious "fly fishin you can definetly take a float tube and fish some coves for smallmouth and largemouth bass, especially good all spring long.
My family and I used to go to Fowler's Camp on the upper McCloud River near the town of McCloud every summer. Early season would probably not be good due to spring runoff, but if you're looking to go a little later in the year, it is an awesome place. It is ideal for learning to fish streams (that's where I learned to read water). There are plenty of planters willing to hit just about anything you can throw at them. There are also lots of swimming holes in the area around Fowler's Camp. If you go above the falls, there are lots of brookies. They're always fun. The views are incredible. There are three waterfalls in the area--upper, middle, and lower. The camp is right at the base of Mt. Shasta, so you have a nice view of the mountain as well. There aren't showers, but they do have bathrooms. Actually, it's been about ten years since I've been there, so they might have showers by now. The drive is a little long (about four hours from the bay area), but I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a place to take their family on a quality camping/fishing trip.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Hey windknots, doesnt it take 3 hours just to get out of the bay area? J/k. An awsome place that I really enjoy is Sardine Lake at the base of the Sierra Buttes. There is great trout fishing, there are over 15 lakes in the area that are mostly small and give you the high elevation backcountry feeling (Packer Lake, Snag Lake, Goose Lake...), and plenty of wildlife, trails, and trouble for the kids to find and get into. The area has campgrounds and that stuff and is about 10 or so miles from Graeagle. You might want to check it out. Also, there a lot of places to camp on the way up by the I80/89 merge area like the little truckee, and jackson meadows all are awsome fisheries and provide a lot of things to do. Each area is within about 3-4 hours of you I would say. I overlooked your winter camping idea, and most of the areas I mentioned are snowed in until May/June.
These are all some great suggestions from everyone, exactly what I was looking for. Hopefully I'll be able to get them out for a couple of trips each year. The Gold Lakes Basin is very familiar to me from mt biking so that could be a fun spot. Pardee, McCloud, Lake Solano all sound very appealing too.
I didn't even think about O'Neil forebay, how is the bank fishing? I don't have a boat, that may happen in the future but probably not for a couple of years. On a family trip to Florida I took the kids exploring some ponds that were in the middle of some new housing developments and ran into some surprisingly fast action for some nice bass & catfish, that went over big with the nephews, so O'Neil could be a great spot to check out until the melt is over later on this year.
I've already got these kids sold on catch & release, so it's only a matter of time before I get them hooked on fly fishing.
