Collins Lake and Reports

Limit:
Click for interactive map
Thursday, Mar 28
Hi: 53 ° F
Lo: 40 ° F
Today
Chance Rain Showers
Precip: 51%
Tonight
Chance Rain Showers
Precip: 24%

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008

  • By

    Water Temp: cold

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: decided to hit up collins again, as i heard the water was clearing up. it cleared up a little but not as much as i would have like. Stained, 4-5 feet vis. Water is still really cold. As their was a little bit of a north wind in the morning i decided to fish an area where i thought the wind might push some baitfish into. I started my day fishing the dam at about 7. Using a stacy 90, ripped one on my second cast. Had 7 in the boat within first 30 minutes. Most small, biggest 2.5. For some reason we decided to move off of the damn (buddy in back of boat didnt have same model rip bait, fish only interested in stacy). Fished rubber on entire east side and rock walls, (senkos, grub, worm). Not even one bite on rubber the entire day, fished shallow, deep, slow, fast, etc. Tried other reaction baites, spinner and crank bait, but no hits. Every once in a while id pick up the rod with the stacy and wham, another fish, why i didnt throw it all day i dont know. Caught between 15-20 fish overall, nothing over 2.5. most around 1.5. , mostly spots a few largemouth. Buddy in back of boat caught O.
    City: davis

    Tips: Buy a stacy model 90. shad color or clear. Bite was on all day, not just typical morning rip bait. Fish damn, points, and areas with large boulders.

Saturday, March 15th, 2008

  • By

    Water Temp: 48

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: water very discolored, well not according to the collins lake people the day before i went up but then again their reports never seem to be on point. All about making that dollar! Anyways, fished the entire east side of the lake with highest water temp. Caught two by 8:30, one on green senko, other on brown grub. Fish activity started to pick up by 9 with some coming out, few more bites and fish in the boat, then cold front moved in, and completely shut off the bite. Tried drop shoting after cold front, and had thrown rip bait (stacy-90) and spinner baits early with no takes.
    City: davis

    Tips: fish were in 8-17 feet of water. Fished very slowly, draggging on the bottom. Look for bite to get hot within next week and half with warmer temps, and better water clarity.

Sunday, February 17th, 2008

  • By

    Water Temp: 49-50

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: dropshot draging very slow!!! 30-35ft morning bite good slowed by 11 caught7 fish big fish was 3pounds rest pound and a half to 2pounds all fish were caught on main body
    City: marysville

    Tips: drag 4inch worms

Friday, February 15th, 2008

  • By

    Water Temp: 49

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: caught limit using drop shot near inlet. moved out to main body threw river to sea trout swim bait 4 bumps 2 takers 3.5 & 5+. other than that real slow
    City: sac

    Tips: throw swim bait!!!! its hit or miss

Sunday, February 10th, 2008

  • By

    Water Temp: 40-43

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: started fishing around 11:30 today fished just about every depth i could think of with no takers until about 2:30 then in about 27 feet of water caught a nice 2.5lbs largemouth on a marg mutilator on a shakey head just draging very slowly then at about 3:15 caught a 3.5LBS spot on a hud in about 16 feet of water near the launch ramp since they just stocked on the 8th it seemed like the thing to try and it was at about 4:00 i caught a 5.0LBS spot on a hud near a flat on the west bank in 12 feet of water.
    City: grass valley

    Tips: when the going gets tough relax and enjoy the weather then throw what you have been wanting to try you may not build confidence but then again you just might. other than that i didnt figure to much out but had fun catching big fish on a bait i had'nt caught anything on until today.

Thursday, November 1st, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 63-64

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I wanted to get to the lake at sunrise but didn't make it. Started fishing about 9 am and quit at 12:30 pm. Very bright sky and no wind made for tough conditions. My first Duh! spoon fish was a bluegill about 3/4 lbs in 40 feet of water!! I missed 4 or 5 bites on the 3/4 oz spoon but did land 5 spots to 3 lbs 2 oz. The total weight was only about 11 lbs. I fished the main body structure and did fish some up the river arm. A few bass were working bait but overall kinda slow because of the bluebird skies. One of the bass I lost was a good one, and, I had a brown trout follow my spoon all the way to the boat. Would have been fun to hook her (maybe?)! Oddly enough, most of the ones I lost were on a jig.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: While most bass are still deep, some are moving to more shallow water. Unfortunately, the lake is still dropping, which hinders shallow migrations.

Friday, October 26th, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 61ish

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Took today off to sample collins. Larry posts favorable reports in the fall, so I thought I'd try it myself. $16 is a little stiff to launch for the day. First 3 hours I had 2 pecks on my dropshot worm, but no hook ups. First bite in 16 feet and second at 35 feet. Headed upriver? and saw the bottom go from 45 feet to 27 feet then back to 45 feet. Shad all over the place. Caught 5 decent fish in the next hour and lost/missed 10 more. First two were on a pinched off margarita mulilator. Next three came on a spoon. Lost 3 or4 on the spoon. Though I lost some on the spoon, it was fun to get bites on it. No real size as the biggest may have approached 2 lbs. Did catch one largemouth on the spoon though.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: What did I learn? The biting fish were not everywhere. They were almost nowhere. The one place I found them had an underwater hump with bait up the ying yang. Talked to another boat that had 3 fish for two guys all day.

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 67

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I fished Collins for about 3 hours this morning. had to use the ramp at the dam - but it is in good shape. I caught 5 and lost 1, 3 were nice spots up to near 3 1/2 lbs (the big one was 40 feet deep). I caught 1 largemouth about 10 feet deep using a Rodstrainer jig. The other spot was about a pound. The 3/4 oz Duh! black shad spoon was working best. I caught them all in the main body near creek channels.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I have fished Collins for 32 years and have never seen so many schools of shad. The place is starting to look like Amador!! I saw fish on the meter down to 70 feet. I didn't try topwater, though I should have. I think the jig bite was get better as soon as the water gets into the low 60's. Unfortunately, the lake is still dropping - but lots of water still.

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 71

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I made the short trip to Collins this afternoon, starting to fish about 4:15 pm. I started doing the right thing immediately - spooning!! I was using a Blade Runner 3/4 oz spoon, fishing from 25 to 40 feet. I fished main lake structure and one point. I landed 11 spots to 2 lbs 6 oz and one crappie! I also did some drop-shotting with Basstrix plastic minnows and landed one more spot. My best 5 were pushing 10 lbs. As the sun set I tried topwater with no takers except one blowup on a buzzbait. The water is still to warm for a good topwater bite - but ya gotta try!!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: The lake continues to see the shad population increase - great news! Some of the spots were stuffed. In spite of some rain, the lake is still dropping a little. I threw jigs a little, no bites.

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 72

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I guided two fellows last Sat, wanting to learn the lake better. We had quite a bit of rain and cold (Is this Sept?), so they only lasted about 4 1/2 hours. We used Robo worms and had about 7 or 8 bites with only 3 in the boat. One was a 3 1/4 lb spot however! Two other largemouth in the 2 lb range. The lake is lower than in past years, so off-shore structure fishing is a must!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Bass are still very deep but some are feeding shallow early and late. The topwater bite is usually great in October - don't miss it!!

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 75

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Was the previous report from Collins? - doesn't sound right. Anyway, I guided a husband/wife team Wed at Collins. They were anxious to learn more about the lake and bass fishing in general. I didn't know how the bass would react to our lures two days after the Memorial weekend. To my surprise, the little lady nailed two right off the bat on a Chug Bug topwater lure - one the biggest of the trip at 2 1/4 lbs (largemouth). She caught two more on MMIII Robo worms and I caught four on various Robos. Hubby blanked for some reason but he says she catches the most all the time! We worked some brushy areas on the shore and I showed them some off-shore structure which will hold more and more bass as the summer progresses. The main lake provided most of our bass - the river arm seemed to be slow.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: With the very cool weather this week, the evening bite - and topwater especially - should be the best fishing. That may hold true next week also - we just can't seem to get any hot weather yet. Nice for people but not for bass. Since the lake will be dropping slowly through the summer, look for steeper banks to fish. The brushpiles will hold fish all summer. Senkos are excellent for that type of structure.

Monday, May 28th, 2007

  • By

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: On day 1 the 26th, I fished from the dock at Reel Inn trailer park 3:30pm to about 7:30pm with about 4 other park fishermen. Everyone was catching fish. Biggest went about 4lbs. Most of us were using shakey jig worm tech. Margarita Mutilator worked well and Watermelon. Others were using drop shot. On the 27th went out in the boat with my fish buddy Frank for about 4 hours. We landed 25 fish to 3lbs. Shakey slayed them again. Most all fish were caught were bolders were prevenlent along the shore line. 28th I went by myself and landed 20 in 5 hours on shakey again! I missed at least as many or more though. Most fish 1 to 2 lbs. I stayed in about 20 to 15 feet of water and just cast towards the rocks. Most fish hit on the fall. Wake & Ski boats plus wind made the water rought at times. This lake just is the best I have ever been on.
    City: Windsor

    Tips: Thanks to Scott & Justin from the Rohnert Park Pro Shop for you tip and how to use the Shakey Jig Worm technique! You have to set the hook very hard or else! I was using a light-med spinning rod 8lb test. I think I will upgrade to med-heavy next time though for more hookups.

Saturday, May 19th, 2007

  • By

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Took the family up for a little camping over the weekend. First time on this lake, able to get out for around 3 hours each morning. First morning went well nice quality fish 2 over 4 the rest in the 2-3 pound range. 8 fish total best 5 at 16 plus. All caught on top water Vixen. Started the next morning with the topwater and for some reason they were not taking it as well many hit and misses changed the bait to a Voo-Doo with a fluke trailer worked much better size down a bit but numbers up 15 fish total 5 best 13 plus.
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: I was told the lake level was droping which means suspended fish and they were. The steeper banks with chunk rock were holding more fish than the long tapering points. Fished the main body east shore, some fish also came out of the brush though those were smaller. Worked the Vixen slow and steady no stops. Worked the Voo-Doo with a fast retreve with some stops then a rip to trigger the bite. Both lures in a Shad color.

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Report from Saturday. Worked a little harder than expected for 12 spots. Nothing over 2lbs. Dartheading robos in various colors. Only found fish between 5mph mark and bridge. Better bite with afternoon breeze. Flats and rock both held fish. On at 9:00 off at 2:00...
    City: Roseville

    Tips: Go to Oroville.

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 59-63

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: launched the boat around 10:30am headed up to the bridge. caught 5 spots in my first six casts from 1.5-2.5 lbs. With a full stringer in the first ten minutes i decided to see if i could limit out on crappie too so I found the first submerged tree i could and started working it over with crappie jigs. caught over 100 crappie in about 4 hours. kept 15 males for fish taco's.
    City: yc

    Tips: all bass caught on robo worms in purple, all crappie on shad immitation jigs.

Thursday, March 8th, 2007

  • By

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: fished for about 4 hours today. caught only one fish. it was about a 2lb spot. saw a couple other people out on the water.
    City: oregon house

    Tips: try fishing shallow with reaction baits

Saturday, February 17th, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 50-51

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: My freind will and I decided on collins today have not been there in about 8 months but it can always be fun with good size bass plentiful.Today was no diffrent.started at 10:30 ran to the east side of the lake started with jigs and worms in about 17 to 30 feet with no bites then the wind picked up at about 11:25 so we decided to move to the bank with spinnerbaits and cranks on the big chunk rock within about 15 minutes will hooked in to a nice largey (3lbs) on a white on white revenge spinnerbait in about 2 feet of water fished for about 30 more minutes on the east side then the wind switched so did we over to the mouth of elmers cove and in about three casts I stuck a nice spot(4lbs) in about 1 foot of water on a norman deep little n summer craw 10 minutes later in about 5 feet and on the other side of the mouth on big chunk rock picked up another nice spot (3lbs) finished our day an hour later with no further bites
    City: grass valley

    Tips: In cold muddy water the book says go slow go deep always remember fish cant read. Do what the lake dictates dirty water warms faster than clear and with recently stocked trout that like to cruise the shore in dirty water the big fish moved up to get warm and feed. Use baits that diplace alot of water and make noise

Friday, February 2nd, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 46

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I decided to make my short trip to Collins yesterday to see what was going on - if anything. The fog had reached the 1200 ft level (Collins altitude) in one day - I was shocked. I almost turned around and headed home because the bite is very tough in fog. But I did launch about 2 pm and fished for 3 hours. The fog cleared somewhat for about an hour and I actually got 6 pickups (notice I didn't say "bites") in the 45-46 degree water and landed a 2 lb largemouth and a 1 3/4 lb spot. One of the 4 I missed was a pretty good bass. Everything was off-shore and deeper than 20 feet. All bites on a brown/orange Rodstrainer jig.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: The rumor of rain next week is a good thing. The main thing that will help the bite is rain should warm the water a degree or two and create some runoff if there is enough water.

Sunday, January 28th, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 45

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: In the water around noon..fished 4 hrs. amd only caught 4 fish..dragging brown and orange jig and dart heading a robo worm. caught 1 on the jig and 3 on the dart head in 30+ ft. need some rain.
    City: Marysville

Saturday, January 20th, 2007

  • By

    Water Temp: 44

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished about 3 hrs Sat. Beautiful day sunny and no wind to speak of. Caught 1 nice spot 3.4 #s on a big jig off of a main lake point in about 20 ft. I threw a big jig all day looking for a big bite. Caught 1 nice fish might have caught more on a drop shot or shaking a small worm. 2 people I talked to at the ramp had a slow day as well. I did manage to catch 4 trout for dinner at the boat dock before leaving. Thanks to a fresh dump from the stocking truck. I figured I had to justify my 16 dollar launch fee somehow. Have to be rich to fish on a regular basis anymore. Good luck.
    City: Y.C.