August Aquatic Boat Camp Fishing: Part One of Two

Camps near water offer a host of pleasant options, but draw crowds all summer. Boat to scenic shore camps only available by water access and you avoid 80 percent of the hustle and bustle. You no longer share sites with big RVs where TVs and microwaved popcorn may define the outdoor experience. You no longer listen to small fry firing up their mini bikes at dawn. Instead you hear the lap of waves on the shore. You escape the mobs. You can kick back and, if you like, set lines from camp to catch dinner. Best of all you don't have to leave the water at prime fishing time for a long drive home or because the gate closes. Instead, you settle in and watch the sun set in peace and quiet and catch more and bigger fish.

Shore camping can come with a bonus like a scenic covered bridge with gold panning and trout fishing.

You don't need much to bank camp. You probably have or can rent or borrow a boat. Canoes, inflatables, runabouts and sailboats open up appropriate waters. Larger craft let you stay onboard at safe moorings. Cartop boats open up lakes without ramps and, with decent boating skills, river waters. Gear requirements are simple; common sense safety measures such as wearing life vests and staying off big lakes in windy weather aren't hard to understand. But the most important thing you need is to know shore camping is available. Then how to find it.

Save foothill reservoirs for spring when banks are green and the water line, at least most years, is right in front of the camp. In summer and fall, you do better at higher elevation lakes where the air and water temperatures are cooler. By October foothill reservoirs cool down and delta fishing improves as winds drop. When we lived in California, for example, winter found us in the Delta, Southern California or on the Coast. If you have not camped, or haven't camped lately, start with a trial overnight at a campground within and hour of home. For example, in the Bay Area Memorial Park, Brannon Island or sites around Mt. Tamalpais, Samuel B. Taylor State Park (488-9897 for reservations) or in Santa Cruz let you check your grub and gear where leaving the can opener home doesn't mean a drive to the store or the use of a hand ax.

Once you get your camping skills in order, add your boat and head out for boater's only campgrounds. You should start smaller, more protected alpine lakes. Then consider the rather less protected waters of the delta and rivers.

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