Finally decided to skip the salt and give the little lake a shot. The wind was blowing pretty good so I stuck with the crankbaits at first. Stuck a couple bass on the firetiger Rattlin' Rapala then moved into the canal to get away from the wind. Stuck another on the Rapala and two on a Beavertail grub. On my way out of the canal (with several fish under my belt) I decided to start experimenting. I put on a 5" Mackerel colored Big Hammer. First cast around a point in somewhat deeper water than I usually fish I started the float tubing "halibut" retrieve and nailed one - first cast! Awesome!! Two more casts and I get another! It was wide - I was stoked. Finally, I found an effective way to fish the deeper structure in the pond that isn't boring!! All the fish slammed the bait and inhaled it - they wanted it!! Stuck a nice sized redear a little later on the beavertail grub.

I've fished that lake a bit lately, only from the limited access available from shore, and haven't had a great day yet. Is a float tube the ticket? I've heard there's a christmas tree within casting distance from the dam. True? where's the canal? How deep does the lake get? Any hope of slaying them from shore? any other access points? Thanks!

Getting off the shore will help. I've been fishing the lake for 20 years. It's a tough lake to figure out. I think part of the problem is that there are so many places for the bass to hide (tules) that sometimes you just can't reach them. Don't know about a Christmas Tree. Right now the lake is probably around 12 - 14 feet at the deepest part (near the dam). It gets around 18 - 20 feet and at serious draught conditions (late 80's) I've seen it down around 5 or 6 feet.

Most bass lures seem to work at one time or another. Chartreuse is a good color. Crankbaits with orange bellies are good. And after last night - the #12 Mackerel or #27 Prizm Pepper Trout colored 5" Big Hammers on a 1/2 oz. green Fishco Lead Head. Oh yeah, I was putting Pro-Cure Crawfish Bait Sauce on everything I was throwing.

Catch and release ONLY! Do NOT kill the bass. It's not official yet but now that the park is "owned" by the city of Goleta I'm going to try and make it happen. Not to mention the lake is filled partially by neighborhood runoff - you'd be crazy to eat anything out of there anyways.

That's killer Pete. I've screwed around with swimbaits before but haven't had much luck at carneros. Brian #2 has been fishing it quite a bit and doing very well. It's been pretty wide the last couple days. We were gonna go this morning before school but bailed when we realized all the float tubes were at daniel's house, etc.
-Brian

It was so cool! Just doing a mini-version of the calico retrieve we were doing out at the one-mile. The bites felt similar. It was cool seeing a largemouth come up with that 5" bait all bunched up in it's mouth!!

Pete, how big were the fish you've been gettin, because i have been sticking a lot of small fish from the .5 to 1 lb range, but not much bigger. I think in the 26 fish that i have seen pulled out of there in the 2 days i have only seen two fish that went 2#s so if you have found the way to catch um that's awesome. Just to let you know i have caught fish out there thus far on brush hogs, senkos (lots of fish on those) spinnerbaits and topwater so they are pretty on as of right now!

#2

Brian,

Yeah, it was pretty wide but primarily small fish. They were in the 10 - 14 inch range (like you said .5 - 1 lb.). Actually the 14 incher may have gone a pound and a half. My brother-in-law stuck a nice 17 incher near the opening of the lake on a plastic worm. It probably went about 2.5 lbs.

Pete

i've been sticking some good fish fliping and pitching bursh hogs and tubes, those fish are a lot more quality, but there are fewer of them. so far i have caught about 5 fish out of there that were over 2 lbs in the past few days.

what's the best tip you lake los carneros veterans give a rookie fishing from the shore. thanks guys.

Where is this Lake? Ive never heard of it, of course ive only lived in SB for 5 years now. Whats in it...bass and bluegills? Cool sounds like fun.

The lake is located between Calle Real, Los Carneros, La Patera, & Covington roads in Goleta. It should go without saying but please remember to pick up all your trash and take care of the place. It's an incredible place and amazing that it's right in the center of Goleta. I've fished there since 1982 and would love to have my kids experience it also. Also - DO NOT KILL THE FISH - the lake is not stocked and relies solely on natural reproduction. It is also primarily fed by run-off from neighborhoods so it's probably not too healthy anyways (unless you enjoy eating lawn fertilizer).

From the shore - The dam is really the only area you can effectively fish when the water is at the level it is now (or lower). I've had some decent success using crankbaits and spinnerbaits around the dam. Casting parallel to the dam and working your way back and forth. It's a tough lake to fish if you're not on the water - in fact, even if you are on the water it's kind of a tough lake to fish.