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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, October 5th, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Report: California Delta Fishing Report – October 5, 2025
      The bite remains consistent across much of the system, driven by shifting tides and cooler fall conditions that have fish relating heavily to grass and current seams.

      Best Techniques & Baits
      Reaction baits and flipping presentations dominated the weekend. Anglers found steady success with vibrating jigs, swimbaits, and soft plastics around grass lines and current-driven edges. The fall weather pattern — a mix of overcast skies and warming periods — pushed fish into a variety of shallow to mid-depth vegetation where both moving baits and bottom contact approaches proved effective.

      As tides fluctuated, heavier weights and precise flipping around thick mats played a key role in finding quality bites. When the bite slowed, downsizing or changing color tones helped trigger additional strikes.

      Weather & Conditions
      Wind and mild cloud cover created ideal reaction-bait conditions early, while improving water clarity in select areas helped the punch and flipping bite. Most anglers reported strong numbers of catches throughout the weekend, with water temperatures beginning to slide toward classic fall transition ranges.

      The most productive depth zones held fish between five and eight feet, particularly around submerged grass lines with active current flow. As the season shifts further into October, expect more fish to pull toward these zones as bait concentrations increase.

      Tournament Spotlight – BAM Super 60 Pro Tour
      1st – Bryant Smith — 27.26 lbs
      2nd – Ken Mah — 22.88 lbs
      3rd – Randy McAbee — 19.70 lbs

      Smith took top honors after adjusting from a reaction approach to a power-flipping presentation late in the event, while Mah stayed consistent by targeting grass along currented banks with craw-imitating plastics. McAbee locked down third with an efficient punching pattern through dense vegetation, cycling through several grass lines for near-constant action.

      Tips: Flipping heavy cover continues to be the most reliable way to target bigger fish, but anglers should not overlook reaction baits early in the day. The transition from topwater to subsurface vibration baits remains strong in the Delta’s fall pattern. Covering water, reading the tide, and committing to productive grass stretches are key for both numbers and size.

Saturday, October 4th, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Report: California Delta Fishing Report – October 4, 2025

      Bass action on the California Delta has stayed hot through early October, producing heavy weights and steady numbers as the fall transition continues to take hold. Fish are feeding aggressively in classic Delta grass and riprap zones, with reaction baits leading the way for both quality and quantity. The key has been adjusting to daily weather swings and keeping baits moving through productive stretches.

      Best Techniques & Baits
      Chatterbait: A dominant player, especially in stained or moving water. Anglers reported strong bites mimicking bluegill patterns in wind-affected areas and along outer grass lines.
      Soft Plastics: Versatile and effective when fish slow down. Subtle color shifts, such as PB&J or green pumpkin, have been key for pressured fish or when the sun breaks through.
      Jerkbait: A proven choice for generating numbers of bites, particularly under mixed clouds and light wind. Keeping a shad-colored jerkbait in hand has produced consistent limits.
      Flippin’ & Punching: As water temperatures cool, more fish are tucking under mats in the 5–7 ft range. Heavy weights and compact plastics continue to pull reaction strikes from tight cover.

      Weather & Conditions
      Changing skies and shifting tides have played a major role, with overcast periods fueling reaction bites and clearer conditions favoring slower presentations. Cooling temperatures are grouping bait and bass more closely, creating “feeding lanes” along weed edges and troughs. The Delta is showing strong health this season, with impressive catch rates across multiple areas from Frank’s Tract to the West Delta.

      Tournament Spotlight – BAM Super 60 Pro Tour
      1st – Bryant Smith — 27.26 lbs
      2nd – Ken Mah — 22.88 lbs
      3rd – Randy McAbee — 19.70 lbs

      Tips: Cover water and stay adaptive. Early in the day, reaction baits like chatterbaits or jerkbaits can quickly fill a limit, but as the sun rises, switching to soft plastics or flipping heavy cover can trigger key upgrades. Focus on areas with grass in 6–8 feet of water and keep an eye on tide movement to anticipate feeding windows.

Friday, October 3rd, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Report: California Delta Fishing Report – October 3 2025

      Bass activity on the California Delta has been steady with anglers reporting consistent numbers of fish throughout the system. The fall transition is underway, and fish are beginning to group more tightly as water temperatures gradually cool. While some quality bites have come early in the day, anglers are also finding sheer volume by covering water and adjusting techniques as conditions shift.

      Best Techniques & Baits
      Buzzbait: Productive in the early morning, generating key quality bites in the first light hours.
      Jerkbait: A top producer throughout the day, especially once the early bite slows. Anglers have reported catching large numbers of fish by keeping a jerkbait in hand.
      Swimbait & Crankbait: Effective along grass lines and troughs where bait is present, drawing strikes from both roaming and staged fish.

      Weather & Conditions
      Wind and cloud cover have influenced feeding activity but not in a way that significantly disrupted the bite. As daytime highs shift and cooler periods move in, bait is beginning to “bottle up,” creating better opportunities for multiple bites in single stretches. The seasonal transition continues to push fish into more predictable fall patterns.

      Tournament Spotlight – BAM Super 60 Pro Tour
      1st – Marty Lawrence — 26.39 lbs
      2nd – Zack Thompson — 23.94 lbs
      3rd – Aaron Britt — 18.31 lbs

      Tips: Staying mobile remains the key. Early morning topwater bites can deliver quality, but the most consistent action has been found with jerkbaits and reaction presentations later in the day. Covering water and making small adjustments in bait choice have been crucial to success.

Saturday, September 27th, 2025

  • Lake County
    • By

      Report: Clear Lake Fishing Report – September 27, 2025

      Bass fishing remains solid across Clear Lake this month, though anglers are noting scattered patterns. Fish are being caught in 5–15 feet of water around docks, submerged wood, and heavy vegetation. The bite has been described as “junk fishing” — multiple presentations are needed throughout the day. A shad die-off has been reported in several arms of the lake, lowering oxygen levels and concentrating fish in healthier water. Photo in the forum of the die-off from Clear Lake guide Paul Bailey. Bass are chasing bait in short, aggressive windows and spitting up crawdads, showing they’re feeding on both shad and bottom forage. Morning periods are most productive, delivering a strong topwater and reaction bite before fish transition deeper.

      Area-Specific Notes
      South End: Football jigs and chatterbaits are producing around deeper rock and transition structure as bass shift from shallow grass to harder cover.
      General Lakewide: Punching mats and pitching plastics continue to catch fish in vegetation-heavy areas.
      Mid-Lake & Rock Zones: Reports indicate fish are beginning to stage on rocky edges and docks, setting up for fall.


      Best Techniques & Baits
      Punching Heavy Cover: Heavier rigs effective in thick mats and grass.
      Chatterbaits & Crankbaits: Crawfish-colored baits producing especially well in the South End.
      Topwater Early: Frogs and walking-style baits in grass lanes during the first 30 minutes of daylight.
      Jigs & Plastics: Effective on docks, rock transitions, and submerged wood once the morning flurry ends.

      Tips: Avoid zones hit hardest by the shad die-off — fish are moving to oxygen-rich water.
      Start early to maximize short topwater and reaction windows.
      Mix techniques: anglers cycling between punching, cranking, and finesse rigs are finding the most consistent success.
      Focus on the South End for jig and chatterbait action on deeper rock, while keeping mats and docks in play lakewide.

Friday, September 26th, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Report: California Delta Fishing Report – September 27, 2025


      Striped bass activity is starting to build across the system. The most consistent catches are still coming from the west Delta (Rio Vista to Pittsburg), with more fish moving into central areas such as Liberty and Pearson’s Slough. Schools are mixed size, but quality fish are beginning to show.

      Water clarity is slightly stained in several main channels, creating tougher conditions and forcing anglers to adjust presentations. For largemouth bass, the “junk bite” remains in full swing. Heavy cover — tules, mats, and reeds — continues to hold fish, while shallow rock and shaded pockets provide bonus opportunities.

      Topwater action has been strongest in the first 15–30 minutes after sunrise. Once the sun climbs, fish pull deeper and require slower, more precise techniques. Local updates confirm striper activity is “still good” on both live bait and artificial presentations, and trolling remains a steady producer for anglers covering water.

      Best Techniques & Baits
      Stripers: Live bluegill, big glide baits, and walking topwater lures are producing in western zones and near slough mouths. Trolling deep divers remains reliable.
      Largemouth: Punching thick mats, frogging shaded areas, and pitching plastics to heavy cover are producing steady bites.
      Topwater: Walking-style baits and prop baits shine at first light, delivering quick strikes during short surface windows.
      Finesse / Suspended Rigs: As fish slide deeper, drop-shot plastics, slow jerkbaits, and subtle suspended presentations are proving effective.
      Electronics: Forward-facing sonar has been critical in identifying roaming schools and targeting depth transitions.

      Tips: Hit the water early to maximize the short topwater bite.
      Cover water aggressively — success is coming to anglers who rotate spots and stay mobile.
      Keep multiple tools on deck: a glide bait for searching, a punch rig for mats, and a finesse option for pressured fish.
      Electronics provide a major edge in stained conditions and shifting currents.
      For stripers, focus on main river channels, slough mouths, and current seams. For largemouth, target shaded cover and vegetation edges.

Monday, September 22nd, 2025

  • Plumas County
    • By

      Report: Lake Almanor Fishing Report – September 22, 2025

      Bass are being caught in ultra-clear water, holding close to bottom structure and occasionally suspending just above it. Productive areas include shallow rock banks and sparse stump fields, with roaming fish on gravel flats. Consistent movement between areas has proven more effective than sitting on one spot. Weather shifts have been a major factor. Cloud cover slowed the bite, while sunny periods sparked short but productive flurries of activity. The overall bite remains pressured and anglers have had to make constant small adjustments to stay on fish.

      Best Techniques & Baits
      Dropshot / Finesse Rigging: Small plastics on light line, rigged with screw-lock or size 2 hooks. Fluorocarbon leaders in the 10–12 lb range have been standard.
      Color Adjustments: Subtle browns under clouds and green pumpkin under sun. Plastics treated with scent have drawn extra bites.
      Jigs: ⅜-oz tungsten jigs with craw trailers fished in 8–20 feet.
      Topwater: Limited windows produced bonus fish in low light or cloud cover.
      Electronics: Forward-facing sonar has been critical for locating groups of fish and maintaining efficient presentations.

      Tournament Spotlight – BAM Pro/Am Championship
      1st – Brennan Osborn — 64.73 lbs
      2nd – Logan Huntze — 62.15 lbs
      3rd – Bryant Smith — 57.75 lbs

      Tips: Subtle adjustments in depth and color have been key as conditions shift throughout the day. Mobility has remained the deciding factor — rotating spots frequently and covering water is producing the best results. Finesse tactics continue to dominate, but keeping a topwater or jig ready has delivered bonus bites.

Saturday, September 20th, 2025

  • Plumas County
    • By

      Report: Lake Almanor Fishing Report – September 20, 2025

      Current Bite & Conditions
      Bass are being caught in super clear water, holding tight to the bottom or hovering a foot or two above it. Productive areas include shallow rock banks and roaming gravel flats. Consistent boat movement has been key, as sitting on one spot has not produced steady results.

      Weather has played a major role. Cloud cover pushed fish to respond differently, while periods of sun improved activity. Fish grouped up in bursts, providing short but productive flurries where multiple culls were possible. Overall, pressured conditions remain tough, and small adjustments have made the difference.

      Best Techniques & Baits
      Dropshot / Neko Rig: Jackall Flick Shake on a 7’ Edge Black Widow spinning rod (dropshot model), 2500 series reel, 10-lb hi-vis braid to a 12-lb leader.
      Color Rotation: Brown with white under clouds; green pumpkin under sun. Plastics treated with scent for added attraction.
      Jig: 3/8-oz Keitech tungsten jig (dark green pumpkin) with a Yamamoto Fat Baby Craw trailer, fished in 8–20 feet.
      Topwater: Floating Rico-style bait used in shallow water for bonus fish.
      Other Notes: Forward-facing sonar critical for locating fish; keeping presentations moving and covering water was key.


      Tournament Spotlight
      At the 2025 Bass Cat Boats Pro/Am Championship – Day Two, the leaders after two days are:
      Brennan Osborn (Beaverton, OR) – 44.66 lbs (22.70 Day Two)
      Brian Cogburn (Oakdale, CA – Co-Angler) – 20.41 lbs (15.04 Day Two, biggest co-angler bag of the event)

      Tips: Subtle adjustments in color and depth have proven essential as conditions shift. Forward-facing sonar has kept anglers in the zone, while finesse tactics like dropshotting and dragging jigs continue to dominate. Topwater produced bonus fish when conditions allowed. Mobility and efficiency remain the deciding factors.

Friday, September 19th, 2025

  • Plumas County
    • By

      Report: Lake Almanor Fishing Report – September 19, 2025
      Current Bite & Conditions
      Bass are being caught on roaming gravel flats in 12 feet of water or less, with suspended fish reacting to constant movement. Covering water has been key, as staying on single areas has not produced consistently. Pressure is already affecting bass, making the bite tough and opportunities limited. A combination of finesse tactics and long casting strategies has helped trigger bites, though windows remain short.

      Best Techniques & Baits
      Neko Rig: 1/64-oz with creature baits, targeting suspended roamers seen on electronics.
      Dropshot: Wacky-rigged with a green pumpkin Flick Shake; weights adjusted from 1/4 oz (calm) to 3/8 oz (wind).
      Line/Leaders: Light braid with fluorocarbon leaders in the 6–12 lb range.
      Rods: Long spinning rods (7’4”–7’11”) aiding hooksets and long casts.
      Other Gear: Forward-facing sonar, strong lithium batteries, and proper livewell management were critical for maintaining fish health through the day.


      Tournament Spotlight
      At the 2025 Bass Cat Boats Pro/Am Championship – Day One, the top three pros were:
      Brennan Osborn (Beaverton, OR) – 21.96 lbs (Big Fish: 4.54)
      Logan Huntze (Discovery Bay, CA) – 20.62 lbs (Big Fish: 3.87)
      Joe Mariani (Winters, CA) – 20.52 lbs

      Tips: Mobility and efficiency are driving success. Finesse rigs dominate both shallow roamers and pressured fish, while power presentations have played a minimal role. Long casts, quick drops, and electronics-supported targeting continue to produce the most reliable action.

Wednesday, September 10th, 2025

  • Lake County
    • By

      Report: by BigBaitBailey » Wed Sep 10

      We are having a major shad die off the last few days. Catfish are trying to hang on but the bass are managing a lot better than anticipated so far. I was out all day yesterday and every where I went the shad were shooting from my motor roost. Im no biologist but this never happens in September. What ever the cause may be, let's cross our fingers and hope it ends soon. The bass fishing yesterday was decent. We had a couple just over 6 lbs. One on a crank bait and one on a 7' swimbait. We went out to try for big ones and he did get a couple great bites. I always want to catch 30+ lbs when we go out but that just isn't in the cards every single day. It will be interesting to see what happens the next few days with the chad die off. Sometimes that needs to happen for this place to pop off. We are waiting patiently here.

Monday, September 8th, 2025

  • Napa County
    • By

      Report: Lake Berryessa Fishing Report – September 8

      Current Bite & Conditions:
      Lake Berryessa is producing solid limits with schools of suspended fish made up of largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth bass chasing baitfish. Clear water, large flats, steep walls, and offshore structure are all playing a role in how bass are positioning. Fish are being found in the 20–40 foot range, often underneath large bait balls or suspending over deep water.

      When bass are suspended around bait, don’t waste time on the smaller schools. Focus on larger marks or wolf packs of 4–5 fish, and use a flutter spoon or mid-stroll swimbait to trigger the bite. If fish won’t commit, let the bait fall back on a yo-yo retrieve — that change in movement can make inactive bass strike.

      Berryessa’s bass are roaming in schools, feeding heavily on bait. Finding suspended groups of larger fish is key to separating from the smaller schools. Productive depths are 20–40 feet, and anglers who adjust between flutter spoons, swimbaits, and finesse rigs are finding the best success.

      Best Techniques & Baits:
      Flutter Spoons (Jackall, Nicklos, and 6.5” styles) for suspended bass and fish relating to bait.
      Drop Shot Rigs with finesse worms to cull and add key keepers.
      Mid-Strolling presentations with swimbaits (Mega Bass Sling Shad on 3/8 oz jig heads) for targeting larger suspended fish.
      Tube Jigs and finesse plastics near rock piles and points.
      Yo-yo retrieves and moving the bait quickly away from fish helped trigger inactive bass to strike.

      Tournament Spotlight:
      1st: Shisiah – 103.25” (Isiah West & Shaun Leytem) – Big Fish: 22.25”
      2nd: The Lone Rangers (Joey Silva & Jesse Hoover) – 101.00”
      3rd: Quality Control (Reed Fraizer & Nick Doring) – 97.25”

Monday, September 1st, 2025

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 76-80

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Its been a fairly tough August for the bigger baits and day time fishing in general. The hitch never showed themselves on most of the lake after they left the creeks for their Spring spawn. So the fish seem to be eating on their own time. Early in the morning and the 45 minutes before it gets dark. When the hitch are hard to find, the fishing usually is not wide open during post spawn and Summer months. The silver sided minnows were super small this Summer as well. So the grass bite in August never transpired. Most anglers and guides were forced down to the mid lake section to get more than a couple bites a day. Jigs, shakey heads, flipping and crank baits have ruled this Summer. Here we are and its September 1st. We are all waiting patiently for the temps to drop so those bigger shad move up shallow and the hitch come out of hiding. There ARE cooler temps in the forecast and this place is about to bust wide open. Fall is really fun and you can catch them any way you like. The swimbait bite will get going and targeting shallow rock will be the key for that bite. For the bottom baits, the 2-23ft zone around rocks and docks is always golden during the Fall but is relatively spot related. Ledges and rock piles will be the go to for the more advanced anglers. Call me and lets see if we cant get you that big one Clear Lake is famous for.
      Paul Bailey 818-584-5257

      Tips: Pick up your confidence baits and just throw them. Keep moving around and you will find it working somewhere. Thats what great about Clear Lake in the Fall. They bite everything!!!

Sunday, August 31st, 2025

  • Lake County
    • By

      Report: Clear Lake Fishing Report – August 31

      Current Bite & Conditions:
      Clear Lake remains the bass capital of the West, with average fish topping 4 lbs and tournament limits pushing 30–40 lbs. During the Yak-A-Bass West Coast Championship, anglers found success both punching heavy mats and working docks, while others struggled to even get consistent bites. The South End featured deep rock piles and docks, while the North End produced shallower vegetation and mat bites.

      Best Techniques & Baits:
      Punching Rigs: Yamamoto Flappin Hog, Missile Baits D Bomb, and DrancKrazy Deranged EX, fished with 1–1.5 oz weights in mats of cheese, duckweed, and grass.
      Frog Fishing: Early morning topwater frog action produced big bites, with a 23.00” (~8 lb) kicker caught on day two.
      Dock Fishing: Strike King tungsten ½-oz jig paired with a 4.75” Flappin Hog (green pumpkin/black flake) around shaded docks with boat lifts.
      Drop Shot: Roboworm for key fish on grass edges.
      Heavy Line: 65 lb Endurx P-Line braid, 80 lb TPC braid, and 20 lb Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon were used to pull fish from cover.

      Key Depths:
      1–3 ft under mats (punching/frog)
      4–12 ft on docks (day one)
      12–14 ft deeper docks (day two adjustments)

      Clear Lake’s best bites came from punching heavy cover and working shaded docks. Early morning frog action provided a window for giant fish, but as the sun rose, anglers had to rely on punching and dock jigs to fill limits. Bait rotation and persistence in small productive areas made the difference.

      Tournament Spotlight (Yak-A-Bass WCC):
      1st: Damian Thao – 198.00” (Big Fish: 23.50”) – Punching & Frog (Yamamoto Flappin Hog, Missile Baits D Bomb, DrancKrazy Deranged EX)
      2nd: Obedie Williams – 196.75” – Punching & Drop Shot (Roboworm, prototype punch bait)
      3rd: Thomas Willingmyre – 193.00” – Dock Jig (Strike King tungsten ½-oz + 4.75” Flappin Hog)

      Tips: Tip of the Tournament:
      Clear Lake’s big bass are relating to heavy vegetation mats and shaded docks. Start with a frog early when skies are warm and overcast, then switch to a punching rig with 1–1.5 oz weight to get through the cover. For docks, target those with boat lifts — they provide extra shade and consistently held larger fish.

    • By

      Report: Clear Lake Fishing Report – August 31

      Current Bite & Conditions:
      Clear Lake continues to live up to its Bassmaster reputation as one of the nation’s best bass fisheries, producing limits over 30 lbs, with even a few 40-lb bags weighed earlier this season. Anglers are catching an average size bass over 4 lbs, with fish spread across both ends of the lake.

      South End: Deep rock piles and docks dominate.
      North End: Shallower water with heavy vegetation and mats providing prime punching areas.

      Best Techniques & Baits:
      Dock Fishing: Strike King tungsten ½-oz jig with a 4.75” Flappin Hog (green pumpkin/black flake), fished 4–14 ft around shaded wooden docks and boat lifts.
      Punching Mats: Yamamoto Flappin Hog, Missile Baits D Bomb, DrancKrazy Deranged EX, and Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver in Bloody Mary with 1.25-oz weight.
      Topwater Frog: Early morning frog bite produced big fish (up to 23.50”) before fading mid-morning.
      Line Choices: Heavy braid (65–80 lb) and fluorocarbon (20 lb Seaguar InvizX) were key depending on cover.

      Clear Lake is showing both quality and numbers, with big fish pushing past 8 lbs in competition. The most consistent patterns are punching heavy mats and working docks with shade and structure, with the frog bite as a short but explosive morning window.

      Tournament Spotlight (Chris Laird Memorial):
      1st: Thomas Willingmyre – 203.75” (96.75” day one, 107.00” day two)
      2nd: Damian Thao – 191.75” (Big Fish: 23.50”, ~8 lbs)
      3rd: Isiah West – 191.75”

      Tips: Tip of the Tournament:
      Focus on shaded wooden docks with boat lifts or mats with mixed grass and duckweed — these areas consistently held the bigger fish. Start with a frog early if conditions are warm and overcast, then switch to a ½-oz Strike King jig with a Flappin Hog or a 1–1.25 oz punching setup as the sun rises. Staying versatile between docks and mats will help produce both numbers and size.

Tuesday, August 26th, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Report: California Delta Fishing Report — San Joaquin & Central Delta August 26

      Current Bite & Conditions:
      Rising water temps (55–58°F) and improved visibility have pushed striped bass into the western San Joaquin from the Antioch Bridge upstream to Prisoners Point. Largemouth action is improving as the water clears, but it’s still a move-to-find-’em deal—fish are active and catchable, yet there’s no single foolproof pattern.

      Best Techniques & Baits:
      Striped Bass (trolling): Atlas Rigs, deep-diving Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows, P-Line Predator Minnows (limits to ~10 lb; most 3–5 lb).
      Striped Bass (casting): Swimbaits and glide baits produce when you locate roaming schools.
      Largemouth: Chatterbaits, squarebilled crankbaits, and plastics, with the best action on the high tide.
      Live bait (stripers): Effective in the central Delta when drifting deeper channels and current seams. Anglers are also picking off linesides on reaction baits while bass fishing.

      Key Zones:
      Western San Joaquin: Antioch Bridge → Prisoners Point (roaming striper schools).
      Central Delta: Deeper channels and current seams (live-bait drift).

      Tide: High tide favors the largemouth reaction bite.

      Expect a classic late-winter/early-spring mix: roaming stripers that require searching daily and largemouth that respond when you time the tide and keep moving. Cover water with reaction baits, then adjust to where current and visibility give you the best window.

      Tips: Start on the high tide with a chatterbait or squarebill along current edges for largemouth. When targeting stripers, troll proven minnows/Atlas Rigs to find them fast, then switch to swimbaits/glides for targeted shots. In the central Delta, keep a live-bait drift ready for deeper channel seams.

Monday, August 25th, 2025

  • Lake County
    • By

      Report: Fishing Report Clear Lake August 2025

      Current Bite & Conditions:
      Bass are in mixed stages—some still spawning near docks and ramps, while others have shifted into post-spawn patterns. A shad spawn in shallow grass and along tule edges is fueling early-morning activity.

      Best Techniques & Baits:
      Frog: Short, powerful windows around dense vegetation; expect big blow-ups.
      Flipping: Tight to cover, especially in sloughs where bluegill are concentrated under mats.
      Football Jig & Chatterbait (south): Picking off fish transitioning to deeper rock structure.

      Key Zones:
      Shallow grass and tule edges (early shad-spawn window).
      Dense vegetation/mats and sloughs (flipping with bluegill present).
      Southern area: Deeper rock transitions for jig/chatterbait.

      Capitalize on the early shad-spawn bite shallow, then pivot to frogs in tight vegetation or flip mats where bluegill are stacked. In the south, target rock transitions with a football jig or chatterbait as post-spawn fish slide deeper.

      Tips: Start at first light on tule/grass edges, then shift to frogging the thick stuff or flipping mats once the sun is up. In southern zones, work a football jig or chatterbait along deeper rock to intercept transitioning bass.

Wednesday, August 20th, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had a bunch of recent August guide trips so wanted to post some updates. I have been focusing on Franks and spots out west lately with clients. If the wind isn't blowing too hard and the tide is up or coming in we are catching fish in Franks Tract on chatter baits, drop shots and topwater. Focus on current movement areas to catch a bunch of fish. Quality (4+lb fish) have been stingy, but 1.5-2.5lb fish in big numbers is possible. Super fun with clients new to fishing since I've been taking a bunch of kids lately.

      The bite out west is a low-tide deal. You have to get comfortable fishing thick grass flats and current based weed edges to be successful. The quality is definitely better on this bite, but we catch less numbers. Also you have to get used to fishing in the wind since it always seems to blow this time of year out west. Frog, punch and drop shot.

      Good luck.

Saturday, August 16th, 2025

  • Calaveras County
    • By

      Report: Lake Tulloch Fishing Report August 16

      Current Bite & Conditions:
      With months of closure and hand-launch-only access, Tulloch has been lightly pressured and fishing “pretty much wide open.” Main-lake fish busted bait near the surface early, then the bite shifted shallow by mid-morning. On day two, the water cooled and rose about a foot, changing the bite and pushing attention to offshore grass and grass lines. “The boat traffic was insane on the lake.” The lake is ~1,200 acres with ~55 miles of shoreline, up to 140 ft deep, fed by the Stanislaus River, and lined with private docks.

      Best Techniques & Baits:
      Tailspin and chatterbait for early main-lake bait chasers.
      Flipping a creature bait in grass for bigger fish.
      Strolling a minnow to fill a quick limit.
      Magnum spoon under/behind docks with grass; rip the spoon from grass to trigger bites.
      Jig when the spoon bite faded.
      Glide bait drew follows from 6–8 lb fish (no commits).
      Dice (added catches alongside jigs).

      Key Depths:
      Near-surface bait busts on the main lake (early).
      Shallow grass and grass lines.
      Under/behind docks with grass adjacent.
      Offshore grass (scoping for targets).

      Early success came from chasing main-lake bait with reaction baits, but winning adjustments were moving shallow to flip grass and targeting docks with grass behind them. As conditions cooled and the lake rose slightly, offshore grass/grass lines became key to relocating fish.

      Tournament Spotlight:
      1st: Pua Yang – 189.50” (two-day). Tailspin, chatterbait early; flipping creature bait shallow for bigger fish. Big Fish: 21.50”.
      2nd: Max Lee – 170.25” (two-day). Strolling minnow; magnum spoon under docks; jig; ripping spoon from grass; Dice; more smallmouth than past trips.
      3rd: Michael DiTolla – 152.00”

      Tips: Tip of the Tournament:
      Start on main-lake bait busts with a tailspin or chatterbait; when that window shuts, slide shallow and flip a creature bait in grass for bigger bites. If the lake cools or rises, scope offshore grass/grass lines to relocate fish. Around docks with grass behind them, rip a magnum spoon; to fill or upgrade, stroll a minnow and pull it away from fish to trigger commits—and don’t overlook Dice as an additional producer.

Monday, August 11th, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74-76

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched early at Paradise; ran to an old spot haven't fished in 2 seasons so it was like a new spot. Started on tule points and cuts. Hooked up several 1 & 2 lbers with bluegill squarebill, bronco bug, and t-rigged stick worm. Also a few on dropshot. Ran to one of our usual flats hoping for topwater but only managed a single blowup; threw bronco bug and t-rig senko and picked up a few more 1 lbers. Ran back to starting spot and worked down a rock wall throwing squarebill and plastics. I changed to a red craw squarebill and was fortunate to hook up a nice one...7 lbs even; he had the whole squarebill (1.5) in his mouth. Ran back up Disappointment but managed only a couple more bites; decided to quit early at 10:30.

      Tips: As always, not qualified to give tips but here's what worked for us:
      - SB-57 crank in bluegill and red glitter craw
      - Bronco Bug in chili craw, grn pmpkn/blue pearl, and California colors
      - T-rigged senko - junebug
      - dropshot MMIII

Thursday, August 7th, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Early launch from Paradise as always, high outgo, light breeze. Ran to last week's flats but no topwater takers like it was before. Nixed the morning topwater and went to plastics. Started working a rock wall and trough with Bronco Bug in chili craw, just slowl pulling from the rocks through the trough and into/through the weedline. They like this bug; sometimes got bit on the fall, sometimes almost immediately in the first foot of fall. Brother was using a 5" t-rigged stick worm/senko type with same action. Lost two big ones, 1st one just came unpinned, 2nd one broke the leader at the hook so maybe should have retied, who knows. Decided to cut off the leader and go straight braid...no more lost. Buddy also picked up a few on 90 size jerkbait and Livetarget pumpkinseed crankbait, just a couple/few.
      Worked about a half mile of the rock wall and picked up a bunch, but largest only went 2lbs 14oz. Decided to just reverse direction and position a little further from the rock wall as we could see the weeds/weedline more so I brought out the black choppo 90 and started slow twitches and pops. Picked up maybe 7-8 more but only 1lbers. Really like the Drift mode on my new Terrova Riptide... kept us in a nice drift line without a lot of panic from me!

      Tips: As always, not qualified to give tips, but here's what worked for us: note: my buddy and I had Bronco Bugs from about a year ago and I forgot I had them. Then I watched Steve Cooper on In Deep on the Delta highlight them so I brought em out of storage...glad for Steve's vid!!
      - Bronco Bug - Chili Craw, California 4/0 and 5/0 -
      - Senko type stick worms - Junebug T-rigged
      - Jerkbait in 90 size (about 4") - Wakasagi
      - Livetarget Pumpkinseed crank

Wednesday, July 30th, 2025

  • Solano County
    • By

      Report: California Delta — July 2025 Fishing Report

      Current Bite & Conditions:
      Warm summer pattern (around 75°F), with wind often the swing factor. Best power-fishing windows are early/late; when it gets hot and calm, expect to downsize/slow down. Boat traffic is higher than usual. Overall bite is good but variable—you’ll need to move to stay on active fish.

      Best Techniques & Baits:
      Topwater/Frog: Consistently producing, especially on the San Joaquin side and along open-water weed zones.
      Reaction: Squarebills/crankbaits along grass and current seams.
      Finesse (midday/calm): Dropshot and wacky/Senko-style plastics.

      Key Depths & Zones:
      East/central weedlines, tules, and open-water grass.
      Current seams and defined edges once the sun gets high.
      Focus on the San Joaquin side for the improving topwater/frog bite.

      Capitalize on the low-light topwater/frog window, then transition to reaction on grass/current edges as water moves. When wind dies and temps rise, switch to finesse and pick apart edges and holes. Stay mobile—no single pattern dominates all day.

      Hit first light with a frog/topwater over open-water grass/weed edges. As wind fades, rotate to squarebills/cranks on moving water, then slow down with a dropshot or wacky/Senko. Plan your route with tide movement in mind and allow extra time for boat traffic between zones.