The great kayak fishing in the desert southwest continues with an
expedition out to Picacho State Park in southeast California. Picacho is a spectacular place that is well off the beaten path.
We camped at the Taylor Lake boat-in site. Taylor Lake is one of the many Colorado River backwaters.
Taylor Lake is a great place for kayaking, either fishing or seeing the sights.
The Colorado River around Picacho has a steady and fairly firm current, a day of kayak fishing will leave you worn out.
There are a few largemouth bass in this stretch of the Colorado River, but the main fishing attraction is smallmouth bass.
Despite the remote location and voracious mosquitoes, Picacho is a real kayak fishing location any kayaker would love to visit.
We made it back from Picacho with the truck in one piece, no small feat, and found the
fishing on the Colorado River as hot as when we left.
Hitting it early in the morning is the key. It's starting to get real hot and the fishing tends to slow down in the late morning and early afternoon. Still plenty of nice largemouth bass active early in the day.
While fishing for largemouth bass, I noticed a school of striped bass chasing baitfish. I paddled over as quick as I could, cast into the feeding frenzy and came out with my first real Colorado River striped bass.
I only was able to get one striper, but the largemouth bass continued to be red hot.
Even the locals came over for a few fishing tips.
The desert weather starting to get hotter than our gear can handle, so we are going to try for a couple more days of kayak fishing on the Colorado River, then we will be heading back to the Pacific Northwest.
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