For the duration of this blog I've kept my bass fishing techniques a secret. Boronda Lake, a small pond within Foothills park, is only accessible to Palo Alto residents. Granted, the gate is usually only staffed on weekends so you could probably drive right in during the weekdays if you are willing to take the risk.
Boronda Lake has mediocre bass and sunfish fishing, but both species are mere apparitions during bright, sunny afternoons. The lake is only eight feet deep at the deepest point, meaning that heavy weed growth and warm temperatures make it difficult to catch both bass and sunfish.
To make matters worse the lake is hit hard by many skilled fisherman, and this has made the bass that reside in this pond quite wary. The entirety of this small pond can be fished in 45 minutes.
To give myself an edge over other fisherman I fish in a float tube and cast a six-inch Roboworm to back of the tules an hour before the park closes. The fish become much more active during this time, and my dad has even managed to catch a plethora of bass on a round black popper.
I have also found that trolling a Roboworm at the edge of weed lines in the morning can trigger a strike. The key is to constantly check that your worm is at the edge of the weed bed — right before it drops off into deeper water.
In terms of tackle I use:
- #1 Baitholder hook (barbless)
- Six-inch Roboworm (weightless)
- Spinning Rod spooled with 12-pound monofilament
Because the lake is so small I must advise catch and release to preserve the population of bass.
I've fished at Boronda for 12 years (since I was five), and I've caught some of the biggest bass of my life here. While not the best or biggest bass lake, it can certainly turn out the occasional surprise for the persistent angler.
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