Zero to Hero (Lake Wohlford)

[chatmar]

etucker1959, let me first say that I enjoy reading your reports. They are detailed and very often offer humor that goes very well with fishing. I am a avid lake fisherman. I use to have a couple of lakes dialed in for year round fishing. My favorite and most consistent was lake Irvine. I could catch catfish, trout, crappie and bluegill almost year round. I regularly placed in summer catfish tournaments and I considered this lake my girlfriend (don't tell my wife). MY #2 lake was Corona. Use to catch crappie, trout and catfish during the winter trout season. With the closure of both of these lakes I have had a void in my life (started doing more saltwater fishing since I live only 5 miles from party boats in Long Beach). I have fished Wolford a couple and times and I have been pleasantly surprised. The only drawback I have is with the drive to and from the lake. However, with limited lake fishing options available to me I am thinking about getting a new girlfriend (Lake Wolford). Due to your detailed post I consider you as a Wolford expert. You have been kind enough to share your knowledge and experiences and this is rare. I am also a fan of drift fishing. Especially for crappie. When you drift fish you never no what you might catch. My question is this -since you do a lot of drift fishing for trout at Wolford do you ever catch any crappie or catfish. I am thinking about going this Monday (likely by myself) and would like to get your best recommendations for what I should expect and what I should bring if I am fishing for trout, catfish and crappie? I thank you in advance and please keep reporting. I will also commit to posting my experiences on this forum whenever I go out with my new girlfriend! Best of Luck and many hookups!

[etucker1959]

etucker1959, let me first say that I enjoy reading your reports. They are detailed and very often offer humor that goes very well with fishing. I am a avid lake fisherman. I use to have a couple of lakes dialed in for year round fishing. My favorite and most consistent was lake Irvine. I could catch catfish, trout, crappie and bluegill almost year round. I regularly placed in summer catfish tournaments and I considered this lake my girlfriend (don't tell my wife). MY #2 lake was Corona. Use to catch crappie, trout and catfish during the winter trout season. With the closure of both of these lakes I have had a void in my life (started doing more saltwater fishing since I live only 5 miles from party boats in Long Beach). I have fished Wolford a couple and times and I have been pleasantly surprised. The only drawback I have is with the drive to and from the lake. However, with limited lake fishing options available to me I am thinking about getting a new girlfriend (Lake Wolford). Due to your detailed post I consider you as a Wolford expert. You have been kind enough to share your knowledge and experiences and this is rare. I am also a fan of drift fishing. Especially for crappie. When you drift fish you never no what you might catch. My question is this -since you do a lot of drift fishing for trout at Wolford do you ever catch any crappie or catfish. I am thinking about going this Monday (likely by myself) and would like to get your best recommendations for what I should expect and what I should bring if I am fishing for trout, catfish and crappie? I thank you in advance and please keep reporting. I will also commit to posting my experiences on this forum whenever I go out with my new girlfriend! Best of Luck and many hookups!

I too had the same lakes dialed in at one time or another. Around 2000 I had Corona nailed!!! She was my sex slave, not just numbers but big ones too!!! Irvine the same way but that was a trolling lake for me on the trout. I fished an unique tin boat. I had stickers of trout on one side and Mackerel on the other side. So a lot of people on here probably knew my boat but not me. Trust me Lake Wohlford is the lake you want to get to know! The only thing that kills it, is dirty water from the rains.

Let me tell you every thing I know fish by fish.

The Trout I explained pretty good in my reports. So just a reminder, I wouldn't go down there without any Green Garlic Power bait.(so called Rainbow Power Bait) Bite on Garlic is a must and any other Trout bait you might want to try. Drifting for the trout (East End Buoy's) are from the last air rater all the way's to the reeds. Divide up the area in your mind to 3 area's. Left, middle and right. They can be any where in those 3 areas. (fish them hard once you find the area their most hanging out in)

Catfish mostly the other end of the lake right down the middle. Much deeper so a lot more weight is needed. (3/8 is just about right) Their 3 favorite baits are Night Crawlers, Shrimp and Yes Power bait dipped in Garlic. So far the catfishing is a lot slower then last year.

Crappie or poke me in the eye fish.

The lake has a decent population of them. We never caught one drifting by accident. People catch them slow trolling Rapala style lures in the East End part of the lake. Under the Boat Dock themselves or a place that is called Crappie Rock. It's on the North side of the lake heading towards the East Buoy's. We got cute a couple of times and threw minnows on them. They were there and we found every way to lose them!!!

The Guy's at the Boat dock can be helpful. Ask them any questions you might have and they might know the answer. They have a monthly contest of biggest fish per species. The last 2 months nobody weighed in a Crappie. So if you catch one weigh it in!

Good Luck!

[TUNAVIC]

Thanks for the report etucker I’ve gotta try that lake,I feel like I can’t miss after reading your post,I too like drifting,we used to kill em at Laguna lake drifting and trolling micro cranks,gotta get out there and take me my favorite trout fishing snacks, tins of smoked oysters,crackers and hot sauce,thanks for great info!

Cya Tuna Vic

[DarkShadow]

I came in hoping to read how you shot another mountain lion with a .22 and saved all the boaters and fisherman.

[seal]

I came in hoping to read how you shot another mountain lion with a .22 and saved all the boaters and fisherman.

I heard it was with a slingshot one armed and blindfolded, held the strap with his teeth.