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SmallMouth From: RedRanger (4.65.163.71), Texas
Congratulations , Very interesting story Smallie From: Doc of BH (67.118.92.164), California Thanks for the blow by blow, Eric. Awesome fish! Where is this canal? Is it one of the concrete rivers that are all over the socal area? What town/county you talking about? If she's on the chew...must be others. Tight lines! Concrete Fishin' Holes From: Eric (4.41.56.207), California About 80 years ago the locals decided to irrigate the Coachella Valley, which was once under water 10,000 years ago. They decided to tap the Colorado which was still undammed, and built a canal to the valley. Big mistake. After completion, the valley was hit by 2 big storms, which blew out the canal and started flooding the valley. It took two years to 'cork the bottle', creating a man-made lake almost 20 miles long, 10 miles across, and 100 feet deep. This is called "The Salton Sea". It is the largest body of water in California, and the only other lake in the U.S., besides The Great Salt Lake, visible from space. After that, the water needs of greedy politicians took over in Southern California, and a reliable canal was needed. The All-American Canal was built, which runs some hundreds of miles from the Colorado, down to the border of California and Mexico, and back to Palm Springs, California. The law doesn't like people fishing the canal in the urban setting (where it's cement lined), though there are 30+ lb cats, 10+ lb largemouths, and now at least one lunker smallmouth in it. I believe that fishing the canal south of Mecca, California is available and fishable. The smallie I caught must have run down from the Colorado, though I don't know how it would survive the 110+ degree days through the summer. They must migrate up and down the canal like a natural river, looking for cooler, deeper, and better oxiginated water in the summer. We'll see... -Eric all-american canal From: socalbass (66.215.224.95), California Where exactly is the canal located? How do you access it to fish? How far from Palm Springs is it? Sounds pretty interesting... All-American Canal From: Eric (4.41.56.207), California The Canal is fished mostly between Niland and Mecca, with access from Hwy.111, which runs down the eastern side of the Salton Sea. I was fishing closer to Indio, which is about 20 miles south of Palm Springs. I started tracking the canal off Monroe Avenue and Interstate 10 (east of the highway). After being asked to leave by a non-fishing state policeman, I tracked the canal, looking for unfenced portions that were basically out of sight. I'm really stoked to fish the canal above Mecca, where the elevation is higher. I'm hoping to find more desert smallies where the canal runs through the Calico and Little San Bernardino mountain ranges. Tight Lines! Eric What using From: devdewboy (207.213.123.170), Virginia What were u using? all-american canal From: Eric (4.41.56.207), California A 5" Intimidator Willow Stick in Pearl. They don't look like much, but they seem to work. They cast great in the wind and for distance. Texas rigging them makes them basically snagfree. I tried other colors, but they didn't get a sniff. The canal is a bright turquois color, so lighter's better. - E All-American Canal From: Eric (4.41.56.207), California Just a little correction. The smallie was caught in the Coachella Canal section of the All-American Canal. This section runs from the Colorado, through Niland and Mecca to Lake Cuhilla in Indio, CA. Went out last night for forty-five minutes, caught one largemouth 15". Have seen huge fish. Probably 30-40lb cats. I also found out there are 16 species of fish in the canal! Eric Where can you fish From: Brandon (96.229.60.250), California i wanted to go to the cochella canal this weekend and don't really know where it is accesible to fish around the niland area |
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