A perfect weekend getaway that won”t bankrupt you for gas money is tiny Letts Lake.
Located in the Mendocino National Forest, the lake is about an hour”s drive from Lake County. This gem of a lake offers solitude and beauty plus good trout fishing. The lake was stocked with trout this week.
Only small boats or rafts with no motors are allowed on the 35-acre lake and there is good access for shore fishing, including wheelchair access.
The U.S. Forest Service operates two campgrounds at the lake but they are rarely filled. The road going into the lake is well-maintained and can handle travel trailers up to 19 feet in length.
The easiest way to reach the lake is to take I-5 north to Maxwell and turn west to Stonyford. From Stonyford, take U.S. Forest Service Road M-10 to Forest Service Road 17N02, which takes you to the lake. The lake is approximately 15 miles west of Stonyford.
The bass fishing is holding steady at Clear Lake, where most of the fishermen are catching from 15 to 25 bass per day. The size is also increasing as indicated by the results of the WON BASS Pro/Am tournament held over the weekend. The big fish of the tournament weighed 11.4 pounds. That was followed by a 10.5-pounder, a 9.3-pounder and several others that weighed more than 8 pounds. There also was a 13-pounder caught last week by a recreational angler.
Most of the bass are being caught by split-shotting a plastic worm back in the flooded tules. Buzzbaits also have been very effective. Both the north and south ends of the lake have been producing fish.
Crappie action continues to improve and is rated very good in the south end of the lake near Luebow Point. Crappie are also being caught off the docks at Library Park in Lakeport.
Bluegill continue to be caught just about everywhere. This has been a phenomenal year for bluegill.
Ocean salmon action off Fort Bragg is about as good as it can get. On Wednesday, the party boats limited out on kings within a few hours. The salmon are being caught just a few minutes from the harbor and are weighing from 8 to 25 pounds.
Fishermen are cautioned to only keep the kings as dozens of cohos or silvers are being hooked. If you bring in a silver you will be ticketed by the game wardens. Fishermen are also advised that no salmon fishing is allowed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The East Branch of the Russian River was scheduled to be stocked with trout this week and the fishing should be good for the weekend. The only problem with this small stream is that it receives a lot of fishing pressure. The more successful fishermen get on the water early on the weekends.
Indian Valley Reservoir is kicking out easy limits of kokanee and has decent trout action. The kokes are holding at a depth of 35 feet. The best action has been from mid-lake to the dam.
The bass fishing at the lake continues to be excellent and most fishermen are having little trouble catching 15 to 30 fish per day. Drop-shotting has been the top technique. The road going into the lake is dusty but in good shape.
Trout action at Upper Blue Lake is rated as fair to good. Trollers are taking most of the fish but bank fishermen also have been scoring on the planter trout. Bass fishing has been fair.
Lake Pillsbury is worth a try this weekend. The lake was stocked with trout a week ago and the bass fishing has been excellent. This lake also has some of the largest bluegill in the state.
Striped bass are providing decent action at Lake Mendocino. The best action has been in the evenings, when the stripers chase the threadfin shad near the surface. The stripers are ranging in size from 2 to 10 pounds.
