Amador Lake and Reports

Limit:
Click for interactive map
Friday, Mar 29
Hi: 56 ° F
Lo: 46 ° F
Today
Rain Showers
Precip: 82%
Tonight
Rain Showers Likely
Precip: 91%

Saturday, February 23rd, 2013

  • By

    Water Temp: 50-52

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I fished here for the first time this year, after eating one of Laurie Lockhart's wonderful patty melts at the lodge. I started fishing about 4 pm and caught a 2 pounder right away on a jig. I threw a Huddleston 8" swimbait for awhile and had a big hit, but lost the bass after 10 seconds. Caught a small bass and then a 3 1/2 - all on jigs. This was in the Jackson Creek arm. Overall, kinda slow. After dark I had the lake to myself, but the bass showed no respect. I didn't have a hit bite for about 2 1/2 hrs and was about to leave. I decided to hit 1 or 2 points in the Carson arm before leaving, using a black/blue Netbait paca craw. I got absolutely hammered by a nice fish an 3 minute or so battle was on. I won!! She went 6 1/2 lbs even and is now on display in the aquarium at the lodge. They will release her next week. I finished at the dam - landing another 2 1/4 lb bass. As always - good fish makes the long trip worthwhile!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I really didn't have enough action to give many tips. In Feb and March - jigs always work at Amador, as do swimbaits if you have the patience. I saw a 14 lb trout weighed in and bass don't eat them. Actually - maybe they hide from them!!

Thursday, November 22nd, 2012

  • By

    Water Temp: 59-61

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: After getting my Ranger Z521 tuned up with the good folks at C&C Marine in Sacto, I decided to head to Amador for a few hours of fishing before heading home. I know the storm was clearing and the bite would be tough. It did clear bringing the bright winter half moon and a cold, damp night. Actually, from about 5 pm 'til 8 pm, I did catch 5 bass with the biggest at 3 3/4 lbs. I think I lost 3. The bite was fair at dark and 2 hrs after, but once the cold moist air set in, the bite died - as it usually does. This was the first night of the winter wet dew which soaks everything in the boat - usually killing the bite. That is why cloudy winter nights are best - the warm afternoon air doesn't rise at dark while cold moist air sinks. Bass generally don't respond well to those conditions - and last night was no exception. I did enjoy my new steel trolling motor rope (cable?) made by Danny Miller. It worked great - no more worries!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I tried topwater before dark with no results. I threw Yamamoto Flappin' Hogs and D&M Piranha swim jigs most of the time. I got bites on both but the hogs worked the best. Most bass were on points with connecting flats. All were about 20 feet deep. All my bites were pretty solid in spite of the crummy conditions.

Friday, October 19th, 2012

  • By

    Water Temp: 70-73

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I took 2 gentlemen out for a "teach the lake" trip on Wednesday. We started about 7:30 am. Topwater didn't happen right away but did happen around 8 am. We caught several up to near 3 lbs with one of the fellas missing a nice one - 4+ lbs. Bass seemed to come up for the baits out of deep water since most of our hits were off the bank. After that we worked plastics of different shapes and sizes and landed a few more - but with flat water and almost hot weather - the bite was slow. I showed them lots of the Amador structure secrets so as to help them with their future trips.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: After a nice, homemade sandwich at the lodge, I went back out for about 2 hrs and caught 2 more on topwater, but the fishing was dead. Shad were about 40-45 feet deep and did not appear after the sun set. NO surface activity at all. Obviously, the early morning is the best time to bass fish until the water cools.

Saturday, September 8th, 2012

  • By

    Water Temp: 78-84

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Friday afternoon I took three people (me, myself, and I) for a relaxing dusk/night trip. Fishing was ok and the night was absolutely gorgeous!! The normal east night breeze forgot to show up and after midnight the last quarter of the moon rose. Talk about peace and quiet in God's beautiful outdoors!!!
    The bite was real spotty, but good quality for early Sept. I saw a few quality bass chasing shad but they would not hit topwater. I caught one on a Blade Runner jig before dark and missed two other - one a good sized bass. After dark I put the 10" Berkley Power worm to the test and most of my hits were on that bait - about 20 to 30 feet deeep. I only wound up with 6 in the boat and 5 or 6 missed bites. They were all from 2 to 4 lbs and looked very healthy. Pretty nice limit around 15 lbs. I caught them all over the lake with most on points. Off-shore structure seemed to be dead for some reason in spite of the fact the lake is dropping. No weedbeds left.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I'll bet the first light bite would be the best time period. I was planning to stay for that and then having one of Laurie Lockharts famous breakfasts, but remembered there was a bike event near Rancho Seco and didn't wanted to have delays on the way home. The lake seems to be down about 25 feet and the ramp is at the left-turn section now - but launching is still ok. Though last night was beautiful, there was no surface action of bait or gamefish - no noise from crickets or birds. Very quite night.

Friday, August 24th, 2012

  • By

    Water Temp: 81

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Took my pontoon boat out for some fishing. Started throwing a buzz bait by the dam and spill way with no luck. Finally broke down and threw a darthead with a zoom trick worm. Green pumpkin red flake. Picked up three dinks in Mtn Spring Arm. I caught two more dinks in Rock Creek, Caught my first keeper off main lake point of Carson.I threw a baby brush hog in a green pumpkin. All fish were caught 15-20 feet. First fish caught at 9:30am. Last fish caught at 2pm.
    City: Gold River

    Tips: Lake was low. Very low. It was nice to see structure that was exposed. Took pics to know where to fish when water level goes up . I had to guess 20 feet low.

Saturday, April 28th, 2012

  • By

    Water Temp: 68-70

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I was able to guide one of my favorite clients last night. Why is he a favorite? He caught my biggest client bass ever a few years ago at Clear Lake - 12 lbs 9 oz. That makes him a "favorite!" We had a nice trip except for the very cold late April night. Temp was 44 and breezy when we left at 3 am. The bite was the opposite of my last trip - not at many bass but good quality. We landed several quality bass from 3 to 5 1/2 lbs, lost a big one , and landed a few small ones. Our best five were almost 19 lbs. I found many deep bass on walls the previous trip but last night the big ones were all shallow and on points! The big one was caught (before dark) on a jig and the others on Senkos, Berkley Havoc baits, and brush hogs (after dark). We fished the whole lake except for the Jackson Creek and Rock Creek arms.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Water was dingy which made seeing nests hard. These bigger bass were all without a mark and looked like they were pre-spawn. Normal spawning areas didn't produce any bass - so it was kinda hard to figure out. Boy, those Amador bass are really hard fighters. They give it all they have!

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

  • By

    Water Temp: 50-52

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I decided to visit Amador since I was already in Sacramento. I launched at 4 pm, after one of Laurie Lockhart's great burgers!! I planned to fish yesterday because of the promise of cloud cover for the night. As usual this year, clouds came - and went within 2 hrs. All stars out by 7 pm. Before dark, I was fishing the Hemphill Special - a brown/orange Blade Runner jig w/ Yamamoto (#180) trailer and found the bite to be fair in the Jackson arm. My first 2 were hooked at 55 and 60 feet. So much for early spring movements to the shallows!! My next one was a nice one, 4 1/4 lbs, at about 25 feet. My final jig fish was 3+ lbs at about 30 feet. Just before dark I hooked another nice one but lost her. After dark, when the clouds left and the dew set in, I didn't have a bite! I left at 11 pm.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: My bass were caught on walls and off-shore ledges. Nothing on points. Lake seems down about 20 feet - just guessing. The trout fishing pressure is simply amazing and am not sure what effect that is having on the bass bite. Another father/son team was fishing for bass and said they caught 5 or 6 fairly shallow before dark.

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

  • By

    Water Temp: 56-57

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I did an 8 hr guide trip with a father-son pair that were new to bass fishing. They had fished Amador for trout before but wanted to learn about bass fishing. We started about 2 pm and fished until 10 pm - so they could sample night fishing. The nice folks who run the lake are pleased with a nice increase in trout anglers this fall. When I drove over the dam on my arrival - I could hardly see the water thru the maze of boats. After dark - we were it!! The son did have 5 or 6 hit and landed a bass before dark and one after dark - about 1 3/4 and 2 lbs. I caught a small one and dad missed 2. Bite was very slow and the weather didn't help. Clear skies and heavy dew always makes the night bite tough. The promised clouds and warmer air did arrive - unfortunately - about the time we quit. Had that happened at sunset, I think we would have done better.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Yamamoto Kreature baits and Berkley Chigger Craws got most of our bites. Active bass were about 15-25 feet.

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

  • By

    Water Temp: 71-73

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I fished Amador Friday afternoon and about 4 hrs at night. The bite was very slow and I couldn't even get the spoon bite to go. I did catch several small bass on Robo worms and finally switched to a jig around sunset. Near the dam I caught a 2 1/2 pounder and a 3 lb 3 oz bass on back to back casts. I then tried topwater and the bite was dead. Still too warm. The night fishing was very slow as the damp, clear fall nights are here. Cloudy nights are always better during fall/winter. I did hook a big fish on a brush hog, but lost her.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: The lake is in good shape - only down about 8 feet I think. The first trout plant happened at the beginning of the week. Cool weather WILL improve the bass bite!

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

  • By

    Water Temp: 78-83

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I had a guide trip with 2 good fishermen - night before last - from 5 pm to nearly 1 am. The bite was pretty good with one of the fellows sticking a 4 pounder pretty quickly, on a plastic worm. The worm bite was best, though I lost 2 nice bass on topwater when I was checking if that bite was on. The fellow with the 4 pounder had a nice limit of around 13 lbs. I think we caught around 18-20 bass, including the small ones. I fished the next morning for about 2 hrs and caught 5 keepers to 2 1/2 lbs on worms and crankbaits. Most bass were surface to 20 feet.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: It was hard to determine how good the bite really was since trip trip was during the second day/night of a major cold front. Actually, the bite was a little better than I expected. Typical cold front night - dew all over the boat (in July?) by 11 pm and only one sighting of any shad coming to the surface during the evening. It was like the dead sea - no wildlife activity at all - except an occasional bullfrog.

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

  • By

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Started at 7pm. Jimmy had two blow up on frogs in Mountain Spring. On the outer edges of the mats.
    Picked up one dink in Rock Creek on a wacky rigged senko. Nothing from 8:30pm to roughly 12:30am. Picked up a 3lb agin in Rock Creek in 20 feet of water. i fished a 1/2 ounce Patrol jig with pork trialer. Jimmy picked up two more dinks at the lauch ramp around 2am with a jig as well.
    City: Gold River

    Tips: We tried to fish the spillway but the insects were too much to handle. The black light must of attracted every bug on the lake. We did meet a nice couple that caught a few in Jackson Creek on a Senko Swimbait. Just wished I had a swimbait with me.

Friday, May 6th, 2011

  • By

    Water Temp: 69-71

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: What a let down this lake is. $32 to launch, what a joke. We found no fish on beds, we caught no fish and we didn't see any fish caught. Im starting to hate this lake just like folsom. We fished shallow, deep, points, coves, brush, rock and threw everything at them besides the kitchen sink.
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: Go somewhere else

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

  • By

    Water Temp: 53-57

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I guided a previous client last night for a 5 hr trip. Unfortunately - the weather gods wern't with me - again! Instead of the sunny afternoon predicted, it was cloudy with no warming sun. Then the cloudy (warmer) night that was predicted turned clear, wet (dew), and quite chilly. These are the conditions that really effect an early spring bite. To top off the good news, my client hooked 4 bass on brush hogs and lost them all. I caught one 13" bass. At least we saw one!!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I did pre-fish for about 2 1/2 hours before he arrived at 5:30 pm. I had two hits on jigs but lost them. About 4:30 I hooked a big fish in about 2 feet of water on the Blade Runner brown/orange jig. Had my drag locked and she still pulled out some line. She got behind a tree and that was that - spit the jig. Water look good - murky but not muddy. The lake is full and has some drift wood around. Lots of trout anglers.

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

  • By

    Water Temp: 56-57

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I made a trip to Amador yesterday to check out my new Lowrance HDS-7. Many changes in the last 4 or 5 years!! My HDS-8 is on the way! I did fish for a few hours as the favorable weather pattern (warm, cloudy) was leaving and the skies cleared about 8 pm. Temp dropped and high fog arrived pretty quickly. That will kill a night bite every time. Heavy, moist air is not good for night fishing. I did manage 3 quality bass from 3 1/4 to 4 lbs and one about 1 1/4 lbs. Four bites and four in the boat - I didn't loose one for a change. The D&M Piranha swim jig that worked well earlier in the week at Clear Lake did not produce a bite last night. All were caught on a big brush hog. I didn't fish any worms. All action was in Jackson Creek arm..
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: The lake is still warmer than I thought it would be. I was the only boat on the lake - lonely out there! The two 3's were caught on back to back casts on a point - only about 10 feet deep. And they nailed the bait. The 4 was caught off to the side of a point in about 25 feet of water - no bite. Fishing might get better when the water temp drops a few more degrees. Just my opinion.

Friday, July 30th, 2010

  • By

    Water Temp: 81-84

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Mike Sperbeck and I fished the lake Thurs late afternoon and up to midnight. The previous algae bloom was gone and the water was pretty clear. bite was real slow in the evening as the delta breeze was very strong and cool. That killed any topwater bite. Mike caught a few 1 to 2 lbers and I had a good moment as I hooked a 4 to 5 pounder on a Power worm but lost her when she jumped. When the moon came up about 10:30 the bite was fair and we caught several up to 2 1/2 lbs. The bite died shortly after. I was using the 10" Power worm all the time - hoping for the big bite. Mike was using a small beaver and was catching the most. I think we boated 11 bass and missed a bunch.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Bass and bait are still in the top 30-35 feet of water. Lake level is holding very well - only down a few feet. The might have dumped in some water from Pardee - I don't know. Weeds are not real bad except in very shallow water.

Friday, July 16th, 2010

  • By

    Water Temp: 85-88

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Went fishing with Gill, from GILL's GUIDE SERVICE on Friday Night from 7 PM to 2 AM. Had a great time and Gill really set me up on some fish. He pulled out some kind of new "creature bait" that I had never seen before. He said the fish would like it... and they did !!! I caught 8 fish... biggest was a 5 lb 13 oz. Gill had a really Big Fish on but lost it at the boat.
    City: Shasta Lake

    Tips: I'd find out what new bait Gill had and head to the lake !!!

  • By

    Water Temp: 80-83

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: The lake wasn't muddy, just a major algae bloom! Yesterday provided one of the most amazing catches in my 29 years of guiding. I was taking a repeat customer - and his 11 year old grandson this time - from Colorado. We started about 5:30 am. After catching 4 up to 3 lbs and losing a few, I took him to a point in the Mountain Spring arm that featured a good drop-off. Near the end of the trip, about 12:40 pm with the temp pushing 100 degrees, he makes a cast with a 4 1/2" custom-made green pumpkin worm that he brought with him. When the bait reached the 20 foot depth, he set the hook and said it felt pretty good. We wern't prepared for a huge bass coming to the surface so we could see her, then diving deep. It took him over 4 minutes to bring her up again - the guide praying all the while that he had good line (he was using his equipment). Finally she jumped again, dove a little more, then came up and dove into the net! A beautiful spawned-out female at about 7 lbs 3 oz. My first reading was over 8, but will check out the scale tonight. Let me put it this way. This is not a normal bite at noon in the heat of summer at most of our lakes. Wow, what a great surprise and congrats to my client that handled the fish like a pro. What made it especially nice for this guide is that he lost a 12 lb class bass with me at Clear Lake about 4 years ago. Redemption is sweet!!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: We only boated 5 bass, client's 2 1/2 and near 2 lb bass on Senkos. I have always found the summer jig bite to be fairly good and it paid off with a 3 pounder for me and a 12 incher - wow! We tried many types of lures and not much worked. He missed one on a spook early in the morning. The lake was absolutely dead in the early morning - NO fish activity except for a few dimpling shad. The lake appears to be dropping a little quicker now as a mudline is now showing on the bank. I think that killed the frog bite - I tried that quite a bit. Most fish and bait seem to be above the 30 foot depth right now.

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

  • By

    Water Temp: 80-84

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: After picking up my boat from Capitol City Marine (little odds and ends to be fixed), I decided to hit Amador for the evening bite. I knew it would be tough because of all the Sierra thunderstorms (they always shut off the bite)and the 4th of July weekend. However, the trip was worthwhile about 20 minutes after launch (5 pm) when I got a great blowup on my green Snagproof frog. I love it when I am so stunned by a blowup that I don't set the hook immediately. Maybe that's why I land most of my frog fish. This one stayed on the hook and she went 4 lbs 5 oz. Not a monster, but fun! I missed another blowup and that was it. I was reading the water as the Sierra clouds drifted over the lake - it became the dead sea. Not a single rise of anything and only saw a few shad dimpling. I decided to throw my B&M Piranha swim jig and landed a 3 pounder and missed another after dark. Just as it turned dark, I fished a Junebug 10" Power worm and hooked a big one but lost her after 10 seconds or so. Missed another Power worm fish and that was my action. I left about 11 pm.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: The water has seen quite an algae bloom in the past few days and visibility is limited. There arn't too many fish below 30 feet right now. The lake looks great - only down a few feet.

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

  • By

    Water Temp: 76

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: First night trip to Amador in 3 years. Pretty good evening. Started at 4pm; had a small limit by 4:45, then it died till about 9pm. Caught alot of fish between 9 and midnight. Bite died again at midnight so we left. No fish bigger than 3 lbs. Will be back in July or Aug. on a full moon.
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: No secret baits on this trip. Just basic dark baits. Caught alot on blue/black hula grubs and bigger fish came on 7 inch black power worm. Tried swimbaits and cranks, no takers. My partner did get one a a zara spook. $32 to get in. Wow!

Friday, May 7th, 2010

  • By

    Water Temp: 76-68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I fished the lake for about 3 hours Thurs evening from 7:30 pm to 10:45 pm. I was surprised to see a small tourny winding down on a Thursday! I was told that it is a group that takes the week off and fishes several lakes. Kinda cool!! I think their big fish was 4lb 3oz. Anyway, I started with topwater - trying to force the issue. Not a swirl which wasn't unexpected with 2 days of north wind. I got a 2 pounder on a Robo worm and then, using a D&M Piranha swim jig on a point - just before dark - I got a tremendous hit and landed a bass just under 5 lbs. Must have been her first post-spawn meal!!! I only fished an hour or so after dark since I had to get up early and figured the bite would be dead after the wind.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: The Senko, frog, and topwater bite should be on soon if the weather ever warms up more that 2 or 3 days in a row. I was amazed that the water temp was only 67 degrees - in May???? It is the cool nights that cause this. Without much heat, the water is very clear now.