All American Canal info wanted.

[bajav]

I am going out soon and want to fish the canal for cats/stripers/whatever. I have never fished the canal before and I am pretty much clueless. If you guys have any tips or information on locations, ways to fish it, ect. that would help me out alot.

[Sluester]

Where ya staying? Saw some guys doing well on smallish channel cats a couple weeks ago.

[Double Z]

I fished that canal a little and the Coachella Canal a lot. Mostly for Cat's at night and shooting during the day. For the Stripers, a dropper loop and anchovie would work. A three way swivel might help though, due to the twist from the bait. Lures are good, the All American is pretty wide and visibilty can be quite good. I dove it during training a few months back and we had 10-15' of vis. Did not see crap for fish though. We did find one hooked 3lb cat that was tied to a cinder block. Wierd.

[bajav]

Originally Posted by Sluester

Where ya staying? Saw some guys doing well on smallish channel cats a couple weeks ago.

Right now I dont really know, were gonna ride/hunt during the day, and then at nigh just post up wherever has decent fishing.

[Sluester]

Have you ever been to squaw lake or senators wash? To get to where I'm talking about take that turn off. (S-24 or the 95)
I see lots of people fishing the bridge, where it (all american canal) basically starts. Just off the settling ponds by the Imperial dam.
Aprox 4-5 miles south of that bridge there is another bridge that people do well at... Find a bridge and fish it. Both up and down stream. The cats were bitting on stink bait. Was a bit nippy down there last time, 35 at 0430.
I don't know a lot of the road names but I know my way around pretty good down there.

What are you hunting for? Don't know if anything is open right now.
Make sure you have the stamp if you are going to keep any stripers . I have seen this old guy down there fish just off the settling ponds for striper by throwing a bluegill out and walking it down the side of the canal until he gets about 30 yds. past the Y. Then does it again and again? Says he has caught some nice stripers and flatheads that way?

Good luck!

mike

[bajav]

Thanks for the info so far. Is there a good map of the imperial valley that anyone knows about? I would like to get one to familiarize myself with the roads down there. I have been out there probably a total of 8 times, but still forget my way around everytime.

[Sluester]

Has someone told you that the fish are biting on the all ameican?
Where do ya want to go or where have you been?? Dam dude, the Valley is a huge place. I've put 400-500 mi on my truck once I got down there. I hunt/fish over in the Winterhaven/Yuma area. We even found a place where they stock trout! I have hunted from niland to calexico to brawley and holtville.
Sounds like you need to do a scouting/road trip. Buy a map of the area when you get down there. Like I said bridges are the hot spots on any of the canals.
The water temp on the main river was 52 a couple weeks ago. They were letting a lot of water out of imperial dam. Cut outs along the main river were 54. Figure 56-58 in the canals depending on the watering schedule(s) and levels. Water level in the all american is down about 2' over where we hang out. Not the best time of year for fishing but you can do ok.

Good luck!

I was out there last year and saw some guys fishing. He ate shit on his bike next to the canal and went in after it.

[Group Fun]

We usually try to fish for cats near the locks when we hit the canals. When we goto the desert we usually grab a couple of beers and soak some bait at night with decent results on cats.

[L.A.LipRip'r]

bump

My apologies for bumping such an old thread, but I was lookin around for info on the A.A. Canal on the net, and it led me here, home sweet home. Anyway, Has anyone fished for largemouth/stripers in the canal lately? And if so, what lures/bait do you use? Ill be fishing the canal west of Calexico. Any info is appreciated.

[DEMOCRATSSUCK]

I've caught a couple of stripers while using chicken liver for cats. A water district employee told me the stripers are thick below the locks and to flyline nightcrawlers for them. Haven't tried it though.