OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2024 | Lew Riffle

It’s time to dance with the Fog Gobblins!

Cold crisp Fall air on a lake warmed by summer heat will make it’s own fog as dawn breaks making swirls that dance like ghosts across the lake…wonderful stuff to see amidst all the rest in this beautiful place to be.

The fishing Cachuma has picked up with the cooling weather the past few weeks.  We are starting to see the “Class of ‘23” bite well with some size.  

The top water bite is good un till mid-morning and starts up again after 3 until it’s time to get off the lake at 6pm or so.  

During the day exposed points and headlands will produce with a shad minnow pattern like a Kinky Muddler on a sink head line.  

You got to work across the contours to figure out what depth the fish are hanging out. The lake is about at 92%  which down about 5 feet from full.  The water temperature is just now dropping below 70 and a little warm for this time of year normally due to the late hot spell during September.  

Most likely the first trout plant will come later in November due to this.  

LATE AUGUST/ EARLY SEPT 2024 - REPORT

  • Ted “Doc” Cedar

    • Summer fishing continues to be a early morning, late evening affair, with the bass in the shallow water close to shore.

    • Topwater flies and shallow runner streamers on intermediate lines will get a few grabs.

    • Mid-day is better for bluegills in back of coves using light rods and small nymphs or poppers.

    • There are a lot of bass in the 6 to 9 inch range from the spawn 2 years ago.

    • This means great fishing next spring.

    • Fall will bring the bait fish closer to the surface, so the fishing should pick up for us. 

JULY 27, 2024 - TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! FREE!

Ted “Doc” Cedar

  • It's summertime and the fishing is best morning, and evening.

  • The last years spawn is averaging 7-9inches and are aggressive to topwater and topwater presentations with the best fishing early and late.

  • There is good bluegill fishing at the end if the coves using light rods, and small nymphs.

  • After sunlight hits the water, deeper line with bigger streamers along the rock walls.

  • Fall fishing should pick up with cooler temps and minnow activity close to surface.

  • Next year will be better as the 2 year spawn will be averaging 12-13inches .

Lew “Riffy” Riffle

  • Ah summer…July has been good at Cachuma despite the Lake Fire a few miles to the north up on Figueroa. Maybe a little hot at times but we are enjoying a full lake with two years of a reasonably consistent lake levels. 

  • Bless the morning fog when it comes for keeping things cool until about noon. 

  • Afternoons can be toasty and breezy. 

  • Before the full moon the bass were biting well. Think they have been partying hardy at night and get tight jaws during the daylight sulking deeper.   

  • The back of the bays were showing shad and larger fish were hitting shad patterns in 10 to 20 foot of water on a sink tip.  You can get mobbed by all the young bass if you fish shallower. 

  • Along brushy edges and back coves you can spot blue gill working the surface and cast to them with something like an Elk Hair Caddis. You’ll catch the one that is going to eat it before anyone else does.

  • Shore fishing is tough with a full lake and boat is the way to go.    

  • Boat rentals open at 7am.

  • You can check out the lake conditions and forecasts at this URL: https://805webcams.com/cachuma-lake-webcam/

Cachuma Lake Instagram

10 weeks ago - ”Better late than never! Another 4,000-pounds of Rainbow Trout made their splash this evening. This is the third 4,000-pound trout plant of the stocking season, all courtesy of Mt. Lassen Trout Farms, Inc. The rain may have passed, but the rainbows are here to stay! Plan your next fishing adventure soon, and please be sure to check boat launch protocols, weather and road conditions before visiting the park.”

February 27, 2024

Ted “Doc” Ceder . . .

  • DOC HERE. HAVE BEEN UP, YET GETTING BETTER. LAKE FULL LOOKS TO BE A GREAT SPRING FISHERY. CHECK WITH LEW FOR RECENT REPORTS. I'LL BE UP THERE SOON.

Lew Riffle . . .

  • So you don’t want milk in your tea?  Sorry but that’s just the way it’s gotta be!  Ole Cachuma is brim full with a moderate flow from the Santa Ynez going through it.  

  • The lake seems to have turned over from the recent storms and the stratified water column has had it’s reset button pushed.  Needless to say the fishing is kind of tough with low visibility from suspended sediment making it hard on the fish and one’s anticipation for late winter fishing.  

  • Some fish are to be had and reasonably this will get better as the rain season ends and stay tuned for spring.  The valley is becoming a verdant wonder with all this rain.    

  • Small bass are to be had in along the flooded edges hiding in the brush and logs. You can chuck a fly at them or safely use an indicator and float your rig.   

  • Trout are around and best trolled for. A sinking head and the same fly you use for bass will work fine.  The Kinky Muddlers are a go to fly.  Hook Line and Sinker (tackle shop) has some; and reportedly, Blue Water Hunter down at the harbor will be carrying these flies as well.

January 24, 2024

Cachuma Lake water temps are in the mid 50's and it has gone well into winter mode. Can you expect slow fishing...you bet! But what a place to be on a nice winter day!

There are some bass to had with the smallmouth having a bit of a flurry the past couple of weeks. Trolling for trout between bass spots was also good but has seemed to slown down some recently.

You can use your bass fly on a sinking line to troll rather well. Small shad imitations were working for both on a sinking line along the north shore of the lake while either casting against the cliff faces that drop down into the deeper water. Troll for trout pretty much the same areas.

There are some of Casey Cloud's Kinky Minnows available at Hook Line and Sinker if you need a high confidence pattern for the lake.

-Lew Riffle, SBFF past president