Recommendations for Santa Fe Dam/Reservoir - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

addicted2sp33d · 04-04-2013, 10:26 PM

I'm planning to wet my lines at Santa Fe Dam/Reservoir this weekend, while my in-laws attend the Renaissance Faire.

Anyone in the area familiar with the water and have some suggestions to share?

I saw on the DFG site they just stocked the lake on 3/31 with Rainbows, so I'm probably going to target Trout & Bass.

Should I bring my Yak? Do they allow personal watercraft?

jruiz · 04-04-2013, 10:45 PM

They allow all nonmotorized watercraft. Kayaks included. I see people catch quite a few catfish there in the summertime. Haven't really seen a trout caught.

tattuna · 04-05-2013, 10:42 AM

That's where I first learned to fish about 30 years ago. Totally different lake now. Best bet is a Kastmaster on 6 lb for trout, crappie or bass. Best location is the north side of the lake walking through the bushes. There's a "point" where the lake narrows. Fron that point west to the end of the lake would be your best bet fer bass. Drop shot would probably be the most prductive. Good luck!

addicted2sp33d · 04-05-2013, 01:30 PM

Thanks guys!

How deep is the water?

jruiz · 04-05-2013, 01:42 PM

I'll ride my bike there tomorrow and give some of your suggestions a try.

addicted2sp33d · 04-07-2013, 02:24 PM

Thought I'd follow this up with a report... of absolutely nothing!

There was a 7-10mph breeze coming from the West, so there was a lot of surface chop. My friend and I hiked along the northern shore and the southern shore that wasn't blocked off by the Renaissance Fair. We tried drop shots, crank baits, worms, grubs, power bait, even some stinky anchovies. Nothing... not even any missing baits coming back.

I talked to everyone that I came across, and none reported success of any kind, not even Bluegills or Crappies.

There was a guy with a PA12/14 fishing around the island in the middle, but we didn't see him hook up on anything either.

As for the depth, some of the locals said it was up to 50 feet deep in some places, while others said the Reservoir is like a giant shallow rice bowl, with a maximum depth of about 10 feet. Based on how long the drop shots would take line after hitting the water, I would guess the latter. At least as far as we could cast from the shore, it was no more than 6-8 feet deep.

There was a decent flock of scuba chickens there. Watching them dive, I would guess the water was not that deep because they would come back up after about 5-10 seconds.

There are also rocks or something down there that snag a lot of drop shot weights and lead heads.

Boat rentals are absolutely ridiculous - $25.00 per hour rowboat.

For better or worse, it was a quiet day. At least I saved the $25.00 entry fee at the Renaissance Faire.

04-04-2013, 10:26 PM	#1
addicted2sp33d Here fishy fishy fishy... Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 774	Recommendations for Santa Fe Dam/Reservoir I'm planning to wet my lines at Santa Fe Dam/Reservoir this weekend, while my in-laws attend the Renaissance Faire. Anyone in the area familiar with the water and have some suggestions to share? I saw on the DFG site they just stocked the lake on 3/31 with Rainbows, so I'm probably going to target Trout & Bass. Should I bring my Yak? Do they allow personal watercraft?

04-05-2013, 10:42 AM	#3
tattuna Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pasadena Posts: 329	That's where I first learned to fish about 30 years ago. Totally different lake now. Best bet is a Kastmaster on 6 lb for trout, crappie or bass. Best location is the north side of the lake walking through the bushes. There's a "point" where the lake narrows. Fron that point west to the end of the lake would be your best bet fer bass. Drop shot would probably be the most prductive. Good luck! __________________ IG @tattuna

04-04-2013, 10:45 PM	#2
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	They allow all nonmotorized watercraft. Kayaks included. I see people catch quite a few catfish there in the summertime. Haven't really seen a trout caught.

04-05-2013, 01:30 PM	#4
addicted2sp33d Here fishy fishy fishy... Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 774	Thanks guys! How deep is the water?

04-05-2013, 01:42 PM	#5
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	I'll ride my bike there tomorrow and give some of your suggestions a try.

04-07-2013, 02:24 PM	#6
addicted2sp33d Here fishy fishy fishy... Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 774	Thought I'd follow this up with a report... of absolutely nothing! There was a 7-10mph breeze coming from the West, so there was a lot of surface chop. My friend and I hiked along the northern shore and the southern shore that wasn't blocked off by the Renaissance Fair. We tried drop shots, crank baits, worms, grubs, power bait, even some stinky anchovies. Nothing... not even any missing baits coming back. I talked to everyone that I came across, and none reported success of any kind, not even Bluegills or Crappies. There was a guy with a PA12/14 fishing around the island in the middle, but we didn't see him hook up on anything either. As for the depth, some of the locals said it was up to 50 feet deep in some places, while others said the Reservoir is like a giant shallow rice bowl, with a maximum depth of about 10 feet. Based on how long the drop shots would take line after hitting the water, I would guess the latter. At least as far as we could cast from the shore, it was no more than 6-8 feet deep. There was a decent flock of scuba chickens there. Watching them dive, I would guess the water was not that deep because they would come back up after about 5-10 seconds. There are also rocks or something down there that snag a lot of drop shot weights and lead heads. Boat rentals are absolutely ridiculous - $25.00 per hour rowboat. For better or worse, it was a quiet day. At least I saved the $25.00 entry fee at the Renaissance Faire.