"There are lots of lakes throughout the greater Bay Area, but Loch Lomond is the only one where redwoods and other conifers reach down to the edge of the water," said David Brooks, park ranger at Loch Lomond Recreation Area, operated by the Santa Cruz City Water Department.

The forested watershed that anglers, picnickers, hikers and kayakers now enjoy at Loch Lomond wasn't always scenic and beautiful as it is now. The land around Newell Creek, where the reservoir is located, was logged heavily in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The trees found here are relatively young, most less than 100 years old. Douglas firs are interspersed within the forest, along with pockets of tanbark oak, madrone and live oak.

Anglers often overlook Loch Lomond in favor of the better-known reservoirs in the Santa Clara Valley and East Bay, but the lake has some of the heftiest bass and bluegill in the region. The recreation area is open from March 1 through September 15 each year, offering a great late winter, spring and summer fishery.

"Don't expect to catch big numbers of bass at Loch Lomond, but the size of the fish is fantastic," said Chris Baugh of Santa Cruz, who won first place in the first annual Loch Lomond Kayak Tournament sponsored by the Kayak Connection and Ocean Kayaks as a benefit for the Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project.

Baugh prevailed in a field of 32 other anglers by catching a 3 lb. 11 oz largemouth bass while drop shotting - winning a Prowler Ocean Kayak for his efforts. He hooked the fish using a Robo Worm Aaron's Magic 4" Special FX sculpin dropshot worm on a Clarus 7 ft. spinning rod, teamed up with an Okuma Epixor 30 reel filled with 6 lb. test Stren line.

"I set up the drop shot rig with about a foot of leader between the weight and the worm," he explained. "I cast parallel to the shore in about 15-20 feet of water and hooked the bass while shaking the lure back to the boat."

Baugh fishes the reservoir from his kayak about two to three times per week. "Late April and May are usually the best months for the bass, although they can be taken throughout the fishing season," noted Baugh. "However, it isn't an easy lake to fish and requires persistence."

Not far behind Haugh was Gordon Rydquist, who took second place in the event with a 3 lb. 8 oz. largemouth. Pete Miranda of Aptos placed third with a 1 lb. 8 oz. holdover rainbow trout, while four-year-old Eddie Evans of Seaside swept the junior division with three rainbows he nailed trolling with his father, Ed.

Big largemouths are definitely available at Loch Lomond - witness the "unofficial lake record" 14.7 lb. largemouth taken by an angler last year. "The largest fish I've seen this year to date was an 8 pounder, but one local bass angler catches and releases 8 to 12 pound largemouths every year," said Scott Lange, park ranger.

The surprising thing is that the fish are northern-strain largemouths, rather than the Florida-strain that has dramatically raised the trophy potential of many lakes in northern and central California since they were stocked. The DFG stocked the bass into the lake in the 1960s.

Why do the bass get so big in Loch Lomond? "The fish have plenty to eat," explained Lange. "There are lots of crayfish and lots of bluegill for the bass. They also eat ducklings; there's one duck with a family of ducklings that has gone down from eight to two ducklings this season."

Savvy bass anglers at Loch Lomond use a variety of lures in crayfish, rainbow trout and bluegill patterns. Castaic bluegill and trout swim baits, trout pattern Rapalas and crayfish crankbaits are proven big fish producers. You can also use plastic worms, Senkos and jigs in similar color patterns. Loch Lomond is known for its red colored crawdads, so lures in red/black patterns can be very effective, according to Lange.

Loch Lomond is famous for its abundance of underwater stumps where the bass congregate. Unlike many other reservoirs, the redwood trees were chopped down before the lake filled, but the stumps were left behind.

"Once you leave the lake flats behind, you're in a virtual stump minefield," revealed Lange. "And since they're redwood stumps, they last practically forever. The stumps in the lake are over 40 years old and they the lake will sediment over well before the stumps will rot."

Bass anglers like to fish Loch Lomond not only because it has big fish, but because they can launch their bass boats at the reservoir, providing they use only an electric trolling motor and keep their gasoline powered motors tipped out of the water. As a city of Santa Cruz drinking water supply, swimming and other body contact sports and the use of gasoline motors are prohibited.

Rainbow trout provide the top action at the lake in the spring and early summer months, though anglers who fish deep with downriggers or lead core line can bag them during the summer. The DFG annually stocks approximately 10,500 pounds of rainbows from March until June or whenever the surface water temperature becomes too warm to plant.

During the kayak tournament, anglers reported very good trout fishing because the DFG had stocked the lake with trout that week. For example, Pete Miranda of Aptos landed a limit of trout while trolling.

Ranger Lange also sampled the trout action the day before when he and his friend caught nine rainbows. "We took 3 trout on Rapalas, two on gold Super Dupers and the rest on Berkley Power Bait," he said.

Shore fishing can be very good for trout in the redwood-shaded coves. When I fished Loch Lomond during the season opener several years ago, other anglers and I caught beautiful, hard-fighting holdover rainbows while fishing inflated nightcrawlers and Power Bait from shore in one

Although bass and trout draw many anglers to the reservoir, you can't beat the lake's bluegill and green sunfish for their abundance. "When I fish the lake during the summer with my children, I like to target bluegill from shore," said Allan Bushnell, who writes the weekly fishing report for the Santa Cruz Sentinel and is a co-host on the weekly "fish-talk" radio show Let's Go Fishing! on 1080 KSCO in Santa Cruz and represented Ocean Kayaks at the derby. "A bit of worm or cheese under a bobber is the best rig to use when fishing with kids.'

Loch Lomond produces some enormous bluegill. An angler caught a 4.5 pound bluegill out of the lake in 2005, while two kids brought in a 3.0 lb. green sunfish into the marina last season.

Catfish are somewhat of a mystery fish at the reservoir. The DFG stocked channel catfish during the 1980's, but few fish have been seen since, with the lake record standing at 34 pounds. "Last season I saw only two catfish landed, a 2 pounder and a 2 incher, so we know that they're spawning," noted Lange.

For more information on the Loch Lomond Recreation Area, call (831) 335-7424.

Loch Lomond Reservoir Facts

History and size: Loch Lomond Reservoir is located northeast of Felton in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Newell Creek, a tributary of the San Lorenzo River. The City of Santa Cruz purchased the land and constructed the reservoir in the late 1950's, while the recreation area opened in 1963. As a City of Santa Cruz drinking water supply, swimming and other body contact water sports are not allowed.

Fishing Season: Fishing and other recreation is open March 1 through September 15.

Boating Facilities: A one-lane boat ramp is available right next to the park store. Exercise patience and caution when launching. The park store, located in the lower parking area, offers row boats for rent on first come, first serve basis. Bait, tackle, fishing licenses, hot and cold drinks and snacks are also for sale.

Boating Regulations: All boats must be at least six feet long and have proper flotation characteristics. Gasoline engines are not permitted. Sailboats and windsurfers aren't permitted. Rafts must be rubberized and utilize at least three inflatable changers. All persons in canoes or kayaks must wear life jackets at all times. Boats must contain one wearable personal flotation device per passenger.

Picnicking and Hiking: Picnic areas are provided with tables, barbecues, water and restrooms. Hiking is permitted on established trails. The self-guided Big Trees Nature Trail begins and ends at the Glen Corrie picnic area. A trail map is available, free of charge, at the Loch Lomond's entrance station

Fishing Information: Loch Lomond Recreation Area, 100 Loch Lomond Way, Felton, CA. 95018, (831) 335-7424, www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/wt/llra/llra.html. For more information on next year's kayak derby, contact Mark Pastick, Kayak Connection, , 831-479-1121, www.kayakconnection.com

Directions (from Highway 17): In Scotts Valley, take the Mt. Herman Road Exit. Follow Mt. Herman Road into Felton (about 3.5 miles). Turn left onto Graham Hill Road. Go about a half mile to East Zayante Road. Turn left. Go about 2.5 miles to Lompico Road. Turn left. Go about 1.5 miles to West Drive. Turn left. Go about 3/4 of a mile to Sequoia Drive. Turn right. Follow Sequoia Drive to the park entrance.