Sonoma Lake and Reports

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Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

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    Water Temp: 75-79

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: The Redwood Empire Bass Club night tournament was held last Saturday from 6p.m to 12 p.m. It was a tough bite with only three teams(13 teams fished) catching limits. The winners: 1st. with 13.88lbs was the team of Paul Facio & Diane Warner with second big fish at 5.57lbs. caught by Paul,2nd. with 13.68lbs. was the team of Jerod Adams & Jim Cottom and 3rd. with 13.06lbs was the team of Steve Adams & Matt Ellingsworth with big fish of 5.82lbs. caught by Steve. It was windy to start and most of the bass were caught with shallow speedtraps, medium cranks and deep diving DD22's. After dark the fish were caught on brushhogs,jigs,worms and yes more crankbaits.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: The Redwood Empire Bass Club is welcoming new members to fish with us. Our next tournament is September 22nd at Clear Lake. You can sign up at our next meeting at 7p.m. on September 12th at the Rohnert Park Community Center on the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Snyder Lane. For more info log onto rebc.net or call me at 707.758.5762.

Monday, August 20th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 72-76

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: WELL I DID MY USUAL WEEK CAMPING ,USUALLY GO DOWN LAKE TO RUSTLER'S,BUT SINCE WATER WAS DOWN STAYED @ BLAK MOUNTAIN 5..BOAT RAN GREAT ALL WEEK TROLLING...GOT SOME CRAPPIE @ NIGHT ON MINNER'S..COULD NOT LAND @ CATFISH TO SAVE MY SOUL..THEY EITHER GOT HUNG UP COMING IN OR BROKE OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT...NO BASS,LOT'S OF SUNFISH ALL OVER THE LAKE ON WORM'S DROPSHOTING.HOWEVER DID GET SOME 3 TO 4 LB STEELHEAD'WAS CAREFUL NOT TO TAKE ANY HEN'S.AS IF U KNOW HOW TO TELL WE CAN GET THE POPULATION UP...GOT MY FISH PAST THE FIRST SET OFF BOUY'S UP FROM THE DAM..ALL @ 46 FT ON A SHAD-RAP...LAKE IS FULL OF SHAD RIGHT NOW SO BITE WAS TOUGH..ALL FISH TAKING TROLLING A LITTLE FASTER THAN USUAL..
    City: San Rafael

    Tips: when it's hot there deeper...be patient,& WATCH FOR STUMP'S....

Sunday, August 12th, 2007

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    Water Temp: idk

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: water is very clear. bite has slown down. water is low(dropped 2-4 feet). fish are jumping but not on senkos, spooks, buzzbaits...caught 1 on a thomas boynton spoon when i was fishing for crappie. crappie is always pretty good over there and the size is not to bad.

    im only fishing yorty creek so probably a better spot would be the mainlake with a bass boat
    City: santa rosa

    Tips: fish crappie if you dont have a boat.

Saturday, August 4th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 78-81

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Went camping with my lady and boated into skunk creek. Campsites were awesome, but the the people surrounding you can be complete idiots. Anyways, as for the fishing, tried the late bite on Saturday...didn't get anything with exception of a small trout going after my crank bait. Sunday morning was not much better, missed one on a spook and only a couple bites on senkos. broke for lunch and a swim and got back to fishing by 4 pm. Already frustrated with this lake and how I was unable to catch anything, consulted a map, and headed back down to the main lake and started fishing the dam. Tied on a deep diving crank and just drove it as hard as possible. After 4 casts, caught my first keeper LM, 5 min later, hooked into a keeper smallie (felt alot bigger than what actually came out). 10 more minutes, hooked into another fat bellied LM (spat out a shad) so I guess I caught these fish while in their feeding frenzy. Few more minutes later, hooked into my biggest fish 2.5 lbs smallie. All in all, those 4 fish made my day and entire camping trip for that matter all worth it. Landed only 7 fish for the weekend, but boy where those the most satisfying 7 fish I've ever caught. Summer Time lake fishing is very humbling especially if the lake is brand new to you. Being a Delta Rat my self, struggling to catch fish made me realize how spoiled i was. Now I know i'm not as versatile as I thought, so I have a lot more to strive for in my fishing endeavors.
    City: el cerrito

    Tips: Fish extended rocky points and just wait for a smallie to nail your bait.

Tuesday, July 24th, 2007

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    Water Temp: very high

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: got there at 4pm. started out with a weedless purple grub and had no luck. then tried crank and no luck. tried senko and then i got two quick 1.5lb largemouth bass in 1/2 hour. switched over to a xrap shad minnow when i saw three big lunkers hanging out. one of them followed it but i didnt have enough room to work with. caught another smallie largemouth but with the xrap and then left. THE BIG ONES STILL THERE BUT DONT SEEM TO BITE.

    but wow! i saw big fish. atleast in the 5 lb category just swimming around waiting for the train of threadfin shad. i tried to drop a senko in front of them but they wouldnt take it. i think they are too spoiled with the shad. the smaller ones are active though because the weather being so hot and all....
    good fishing buddies!
    City: santa rosa

    Tips: drop a senko if you want action and go when the water is clear and not windy!!! you can see the interesting structures in the waters.

    if you want the big game go with a big rapala shad/minnow jerkbait or maybe even a buzz bait.


    good luck.
    if you ever go out there this week or next. call me up or email me. 408 655 3839

Thursday, July 19th, 2007

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    Water Temp: idk

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: fishing was harsh today. lots of wind. decided to quit the senko for the rest of the day and use a thomas boynton for some crappie. one bite. one bluegill haha.

    i noticed the weeks before this day i saw threadfin shad jumping like crazy in the creeks. im guessing there is active bass in the area.im going there when the wind cuts down.
    City: santa rosa

    Tips: go when the wind breaks down

Saturday, July 7th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 68-72

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I was not on a boat. I charged up Yorty Creek to see if there were any cats there but there wasnt, not a single bite. I strapped up a thomas boynton lure and caught bluegills for shits and giggles but there I caught a 2.5pd largemouth near the yorty creek boat launch. A few days later I tossed the same golden thomas boynton on the right of the swimming area and hooked up on 3 good size crappies. (all this fishing was at 8:30pm)

    if anybody charges up to sonoma, i charge there every other day. call me up 408 655 3839...i dont have a boat hahaha
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: just work the weeds and beds on the right of the swimming area and you will succeed. i caught a small bass off of a floating jointed rapala a couple days ago too.( crappies will go crazy in that area if you have a gold thomas boyton/rapala)

Sunday, July 1st, 2007

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    Water Temp: 78

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Two friends from Redwood Empire Bass Club caught 12 Bass up to 3.5lbs on jigs, senkos, and crankbaits mostly in the main lake last Friday.

    I would like to congratulate the winners of our night tournament at Clear Lake last weekend.(10 fish-two weigh ins) 1st place with 54.11 lbs. was the team of Tim Schlander & Brandon Service with an 8.0 lb. kicker. 2nd place with 51.06 lbs. was the team of Jerod Adams & Pat McGee with a 9.04lb kicker(2nd big fish) and third place with 41.39lbs. was the team of Steve Adams and Greg Fina with a 10.53 lb. kicker(big Fish)caught by Steve Adams which was his personal best.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Redwood Empire Bass Club would like to invite new members both boaters and non boaters to fish with us at our next tournament. It's going to be a night tournament on August 18th at Lake Sonoma from 6p.m. to 12p.m.The signups will be at our next meeting on August 8th at 7p.m. at the Rohnert Park Community Center on the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Snyder Lane. For more info log onto rebc.net or call me at 707-758-5762.

Wednesday, June 20th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 70-72

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The Redwood Empire Bass Club Tournament results from last Saturday June 16th as follows: 1st Place with 13.85 lbs. and big fish of 6.18 lbs. were the team of Gene Cardle and Greg Fina, 2nd place was 11.64 lbs. by Rick Camilleri fishing alone and the third place team was Brandon Service and Mike Purtell with 11.13 lbs. and second big fish of 4.29 lbs. There were 11 boats and 20 anglers(11 teams)(10 limits caught)
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: My big fish was caught on a 6" watermel/red/black
    senko wacky rigged in a bush on the main lake. The other anglers caught there bass on crankbaits, top water, senkos and texas rigged worms in both Cherry, Warm Springs and the main lake. The best depth seemed to be 10 to 25 feet.
    I would like to invite any bass fisherman or woman both boaters and non boaters to fish with us next month at Clear Lake. It will be a night tournament on July 28th(6p.m. - 12p.m,) & July 29th(2a.m. -8a.m.) With a full moon and the hot bite everyone should catch a lot of fish. PLease join us at our next meeting On July 11th at 7p.m. at the Rohnert Park Community Center at the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Snyder Lane.There will be a grat raffle with lots of bass tackle to win. For more info log onto rebc.net or call me at 707-758-5762.

Wednesday, June 13th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 68-71

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Sonoma was on fire yesterday, both tempwise and fishwise. Got on the water a little late, about 9:00 am. First few fish off main lake body in coves on 4" watermelon senkos on steep banks with wood. Missed a few short strikes on the senkos, then just started deadsticking and didn't set the hook right away, fed 'em some slack and increased the hookup ratio.
    The real fun started when I went around the corner onto upper body of lake. Just about every shallow cove with some weeds dropping off into deeper water produced. Sun was hot and high in the sky, and fish were just STACKED in about 25-35ft. Marked fish from on the bottom to suspended about 10ft above, so started throwing C-rigged brass n' glass pumpkin lizards, and that was the end of the story. Electronics were key. There would be patches with no fish, and then in about a 30 sq ft area, bingo. Stopped counting at fourteen fish, probably landed about 25-30 in all. Big fish 4.7, couple rats, and a lot of 2-3 lber's. Used lotsa scent (kick'nbass and smelly jelly) . Crawling and hopping the lizard, fast retrieve. Some of 'em followed and hit the rig near the boat! Nothing subtle about it. They're on the feed. Also got a few on t-rigged brush hogs. Action hadn't stopped when I reluctantly headed back to the ramp at about 2:45pm.
    City: San Anselmo

    Tips: If you find a congregation like this, drop anchor or tie up and work the spot thoroughly. Got tired of staying on point with the trolling motor/wind, and worked several of these patches for about an hour each until the bite slowed, then on to the next one.

Tuesday, May 29th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Redwood Empire Bass Club would like to invite the tournament anglers who's circuits have ended as well as past and present members and any new members both boaters and non boaters to fish our remaining six tournaments of the year. The tournaments as follows: June 16th- Sonoma(Team), July 28th- Clear Lake(Team)( 6p.m.- 12p.m)& 29th(2a.m.-8am.), Aug. 18th- Sonoma(Team)(6p.m.-12p.m.), Sept.22nd- Clearlake (Draw), Oct. 20th- Berreyessa(Team) and Nov. 17th- Clear Lake(Draw).
    Our next meeting is June 13th at 7p.m. at the Rohnert Park Community Center on the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Snyder Lane. The guest speaker will be Cliff Liddy of Persuader Baits. Last time he spoke he gave everyone in attendance a buzzbait and donated numerous other Persuader tackle to our raffle. He will be presenting a brand new top water bait that has already caught double digit bass.I look forward in seeing you there. Dues are prorated for joining the club mid year. For further info log onto rebc.net or call me at 707.758.5762.
    City: Santa Rosa

Sunday, May 20th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 63

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Sunday 8am-2pm in some nasty wind. Had a couple hits early on 78 staysee, but no connections. Four in the boat all day, all on senkos in coves around wood off main lake body. Caught 'em from about 3ft to 15ft deep. All little guys, all smallies, biggest 2.4. Tried jigs, blades, curly tails, B-hawgs, threw a crawdad crank, nada. Just Senkos.
    City: San Anselmo

    Tips: #3 ewg w/ a 5" senko t-rigged, no weigh, watermelon or red shad laminate. Do yourself a favor and wait 'till the wind stops unless you're doing the tournament thing.

Thursday, May 17th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Started at 6 am, but only a few small bass going for a sara spook. Ended the day with four bass from 12 to 19 inches on a lizard and a shad colored grub. Fish were in 15-feet of water.
    City: Novato

Tuesday, May 15th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 68 to 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Sorry this report is so late jus't busy..Anyway camped @ rustler's for 5 day's from 15th to 21st.Ten yr berth holder, plus been fishing my whole life..Anyway all fish caught were trout #5 RAPALA..BROKEN BACK no weight about 40 ft behind boat.Lot's of smallie's early in a.m.dropshotting back in yorty creek between 5 to 15ft deep..Got some big cat's late @ NIGHT OFF CAMPSITE.why do they alway's hit the littelist rod..12 & 13 lb's..No crappie even though we brought up minnow's from petaluma sport & dive as dry creek general store's minnow's are midget's..LOT'S OF PREGNANT BLUEGILL'S BIG ONE'S ON HALF WORM BY THE ISLAND...Trolled got one trout about 8ft on a Apex. Lake need's another couple week's to settle down..water is about 15 to 20 ft down...watch out for stump's...tight line's...
    City: san rafael,ca

    Tips: WATCH OUT FOR STUMP'S...& KID'S WITH FAST BOAT'S

Monday, May 14th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 65-70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got to the Lake @ 7AM Fished till 1PM. Not much going on. Caught one on brush hog on a weed line and one on a road bed with a curl tail worm. Missed a few botes. No size to what was caught. Lake has changed since the last time here (close to two years ago). Most the Brush is gone and the weeds and grasses are coming in nicely. Just be nice to know where the fish went. Talk to ione guy around ten up in yorty fishing from a tube who said he had five drop shotting the weed line. I tried it but to now avail. Still rather fish on MOnday than work!
    City: Sonoma

Wednesday, May 9th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 64.5

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Took wed off and was going to fish lake mendecino, but my friend had to be back in SF by 6:30pm so decided to go to stop short at Lake Sonoma. The fog was so thick on the deck you could not see nore then 50 yards, so just headed north from the launch ramp and started fishing the points and coves off the main lake. On ripbaits got smallmouths off the points and largemouths in the back of the coves on Senkos. the fog cleared about 10am and the bite stopped. Headed up the south fork and only got one fish. Then ran all the way up to the north end of the lake and managed a couple of fish on red/black brushogs. in total a slow day, I had 12 fish and my friend had 3. When we got back to the ramp at 3:30 a couple of other boats that launched when I did were there. One boat with three guys had only 3 bass for the day and the other had one for two people. Pretty slow day.
    City: brisbane

    Tips: get there early and fish the points with reaction baits. in the coves use senkos around trees, brush and rocky spots.

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 66-67

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: spawn!!!! caught 1 (prolly gay) fish, hehe
    City: petaluma

    Tips: stay away for a week or 2 :_)

Sunday, April 29th, 2007

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    Water Temp: 62-67

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: My boat was out of the water for over a month and I couldn't wait to go fishing.The boat ran great and the bass were very willing. I took my 12yr. old nephew and my brother. I really wanted to teach my nephew some bass catching techniques. I started him throwing a Senko and within a short time he caught a 3. in Yorty behind the island off a tree. We then proceeded to move to the mouth of Cherry and my brother stuck two 2 lb. on a 6" Oxblood texas rig glass n brass. So far so good but no fish for me yet, so we found some more submeged trees and brush and I stuck a 3.5 on the same Oxblood worm. I tried to teach my nephew how to fish a worm up in the front of the boat with me and after a few misses and a few snags I decided to let him fish alone from the back with a 5" Green Pumpkin senko. Right off the bat he yells I got a fish and out of the water comes a 4lb that spit out the senko. I instructed my nephew that he has to set the hook before reeling next time. Boy did he catch on quick. He proceeds to catch 8 more bass 2 to 3 lbs while my brother nails a nice 4.5. I said enough of this and started throwing a senko myself and caught a 4 and many 2's and 3's. It was a great day for all of us catching 24 with best 5 going 18lbs. Now is the time to take a kid fishing.You will catch alot and make a kid happy.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Redwood Empire Bass Clubs next meeting is May 9th at 7p.m. at the Rohnert Park Community Center at the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Snyder Lane. Our guest speaker is Tony Franceschi a bass pro from the Delta. We welcome new members both boaters and non boaters to fish with us. Our next tournement is May 19th at the Delta. Log onto rebc.net or call me at 707-758-5762 for more info.

Tuesday, April 24th, 2007

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Get your shakey head out(3/16th) and a Zoom trick worm(watermelon candy) or Zoom lizard(watermelon candy) and you will catch fish. You can see them swimming around shallow guarding fry , pairing up and there are some deeper fish I'm sure to be caught. Some are spooky and some are agressive. Flat calm,sunny, warm day. Not my cup of tea. I heard there are some osprey fish being caught and I know if you get ther early enough you can catch topwater fish(spooks, buzzbaits). Saw some nice fish sitting on top of the water in tree branches. SENKO? You guys can have it, I'm heading to the night mode.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: I told my son to try and fish for the fish that you can't see and you will catch the better fish. He'll figure it out. BACK OFF! I never understand why people want to get up on top of fish. Extremely boring. Takes too long. Catch them quicker backing off. You already know they are up there. All this took place in Cherry Creek. Can't stand the spawn. I don't want the fish to move up shallow. Be careful what you wish for. It's got weightless flukes and trick worms written all over it.

Saturday, April 14th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: got on the lake about 10:00 from yorty creek.went straight back to skunk creek.caught a nice 6lb about 15-20 fet down just off some trees.brush hogs and sencos seemed to work best.didnt see any in the creek channels.fished about 4 hours and caught 4-5 all day.all were in the deeper water.water still alittle cold.
    City: petaluma