My Top 10 for NorCal lakes

Outdoors, by J.D. Richey, Journal ColumnistThink about it. We?re pretty darn lucky to live where we do. The Golden State is home to some of the most diverse and productive fishing waters anywhere.From marlin in the open ocean off Southern California, to golden trout in some tiny lake in the high Sierra, there?s something for everybody here. But, what?s the best fishing California has to offer?Well, back in the 1890s the California Department of Fish & Game gave the Salton Sea the distinction of producing the best fishing in California ? based on number of fish caught per hour of angler effort. Since then, the Salton Sea has fallen on hard times.So what?s No. 1 now? Since there are so many different types of waters to fish and species to angle for, picking California?s best fishing spot is almost impossible. Instead, I?m going to narrow it down to the top 10 fishing lakes in the north state. My unscientific formula to come up with these rankings took species diversity, average fish size, aesthetic value, length of season, proximity to other attractions and available facilities into account?and occasionally, Rock, Paper, Scissors. So, without further adieu, here?s my list of Northern California?s 10 Best Fishing Lakes:1) LAKE SHASTA: This one was a no-brainer. The lake received high marks for diversity ? king salmon, rainbow & brown trout, largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, sturgeon, bluegill, readear sunfish, green sunfish?well, you get the idea.Not only does Shasta host many varieties of fish, but often produces excellent action. Browns can get huge in here, the rainbows are often fat and the kings can reach impressive sizes. Lunker largemouths have been taken out of Shasta, though smaller spotts seem to be the most dominant bass species now. Due to its relatively low elevation, Shasta fishes well year-round. Like most lakes in California, summer time scenery isn?t the greatest, but it?s beautiful fall through spring ? especially when you get views of a snow-capped Mt. Shasta. Plenty of ramps and marinas make Shasta an easily accessed lake as well. And if the fishing peters out, you can always hit the Sacramento, McCloud, Pitt, Fall and Rising rivers for trout, Whiskeytown Lake for a bunch of different species or head east towards Burney for lots of other fishing opportunities. 2) LAKE TAHOE: What can I say? The surrounding scenery here is unmatched (duh!). Snowy peaks on all sides and that oh-so-blue water. Certainly, a trip on Lake Tahoe is a joy without ever wetting a line ? but it does kick out some amazingly good fishing, too. Big rainbows, browns and mackinaw bite all year long (especially in the winter!), and kokanee fishing is best spring through fall. Obviously, there?s always something to do in the area if you get off the water early ? skiing, gambling, etc. Tahoe?s a truly wonderful destination and fishery, though boat launching is expensive!3) TRINITY LAKE: This huge lake serves up a cornucopia of fishing opportunities in a very scenic setting. Kokanee, king salmon, rainbows, browns, panfish and cats are all available. Not to mention a good population of smallmouth bass (the state record came from Trinity). Summer fishing is good for all species and, though it can be brutally cold in the winter, that?s when some of the largest trout and smallies are hooked. Lots of nice cabins and campgrounds rim the lake, making it very user-friendly for the visiting angler who wants to spend a few days fishing. If you book a room and find that the fishing on the lake has gone into the tank, try nearby Lewiston Lake for jumbo trout or head below the dams and fish the Trinity River?s fabled salmon and steelhead runs. 4) LAKE ALMANOR: In the summer months, Almanor is a consistent producer of black bass (and carp for bow fishermen) and an excellent spot for browns, rainbows and king salmon in the cooler months. The scenery here is also a big plus and there are lots of amenities in nearby Chester ? not to mention plenty of cool things to do in the surrounding area. One drawback, though, is winter can put an end to all fishing here. A great spot for a family vacation, though! 5) CLEAR LAKE: I know, I know, this lake can be as ugly as sin in the summer and the heat can be miserable. Some of the towns around Clear Lake aren?t exactly what you?d call 4-star resorts (to say the least!), but it?s a different world here in the spring when the hills are green and the fish are biting. After suffering through a bit of a downturn, Clear Lake?s famous largemouth fishery is on a serious rebound these days and there?s no better place in the north state to consistently hook jumbo bass. The lake?s once-world class crappie fishery seems to be on the mend as well and there are some absolutely huge catfish out there to boot. You can catch fish here all year long, though the spring and fall are the peak seasons. If you get tired of hauling in huge bass day in and day out, try your hand at trout fishing at nearby Blue Lakes. 6) LAKE BERRYESSA: As it the case with most California waters, this lake is much more scenic in the winter and spring when the surrounding hills are green, but the fishing can be excellent any season. Berryessa has a well-established reputation for kicking out some hawg largemouths and innovative stocking programs have the king salmon and rainbow trout fisheries doing extremely well here as well. Throw in some quality catfish and panfish action and you?ve got a multi-faceted lake that can keep you busy regardless of when you fish. Mix in a little wine tasting over in the Napa Valley and you may even get your wife to go fishing with you. One aspect of this lake that knocks it down in the power rankings is the cost to get it. Not cheap!7) SAN PABLO RESERVOIR: While we?re in the general Bay Area, we may as well add San Pablo to the list. Planted with a ridiculous amount of rainbow trout to nearly 20 pounds each season, this lake can be almost too easy to catch fish in at times. Largemouth bass also appreciate all the planted trout and attain some impressive weights ? fish in the high teens have been taken here. Catfish big enough to scare you fin San Pablo?s depths and sturgeon to 6 feet long have also been caught. As if that weren?t enough, the lake is also known for producing huge crappie. Surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, this lake seems a million miles away from the bustling Bay Area, but it?s not ? something to consider if the fishing is ever slow. A mid Nov. to early Feb. closure keeps this lake from scoring higher.8) BULLARDS BAR RESERVOIR: The color of the water here alone is worth the trip. Bullards Bar?s beautiful emerald waters harbor an impressive population of kokanee salmon, some nice rainbows and browns, catfish, smallmouth bass and panfish. With no development around the lake ? save for Emerald Cove Marina and the Dark Day launch area ? you get a really remote feeling when you?re out on the water. The facilities here are nice, though bank fishing opportunities are lacking and the stench that often emanates from the Dark Day restrooms is enough to drop Bullards down to No. 7. Still, a great lake and some excellent fishing at times. 9) NEW MELONES RESERVOIR: This lake?s got it all ? fat, over-sized rainbows, a few huge browns, kokanee, black bass, cats and panfish. In the spring, the setting is fantastic and the bite often worthy of the scenery. Low water years can make this lake much less desirable, but if the rain keeps coming, it?ll be looking good this season. Fishing can be good every month of the calendar here and there?s always the historic Gold Country nearby to explore if you limit out early. 10) MENTIROSO LAKE: Home of the gigantic heron-eating brown trout. Would score a lot higher if it were actually real! oooJ.D. Richey graduated from Placer High in 1986. He has been published nationally. To reach him, call (916) 736-9031 or e-mail him at JDRicheyOutdoors@aol.com.