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Saturday, May 8th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 58-64

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Started late at Sonoma today (06:45) because of a tournament I had heard about. Ran up the lake to get out of the wind and fished really clear water. Found fish immediately and by 07:15 we had 10 bass in the boat. This included one that went 6.2 lbs. We only fished about a mile of shoreline before leaving at noon. We ended up catching 41 bass up to 7.5 lbs. Our biggest 5 fish weighed 28.7 lbs. What a day. There were a lot of 2, 3, and 4 pound fish. The bass were from 5' down to 20'. Mostly on north facing banks with wood, rock, or a substrate change. Didn't catch any bass on blades,cranks,or dropshot. Everything was on plastic. Lost many fish to wood...again. Best colors 194J,221,and 186. Being out of the wind was much easier for detecting light bites.
    All in all, the fishing was too easy and very predictable. Almost every stick that we fished had fish on it. Anyone fishing must have produced some hefty limits of very large bass and I can't imagine the tournament anglers catching less than 20 lbs of bass each. A post from them every now and then would be nice.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Fish heavier line in the wood. South facing banks were best. Anything that feels strange...set the hook.Try and match color to the bank color. Green didn't work on clay banks. Stay barbless.
    http://www.sonic.net/sheehy/FishingFolder/LakeSonoma/LakeSonomaPage_1.html

Wednesday, May 5th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Decided to fish from my tube today. Fished the ramp and main lake for a few hours. Splitshot, darterheads,and senkos did most of the work. Caught 25 bass from 1 to 5 lbs. It was pretty much a 50/50 mix between largemouth and smallies.
    Took some on topwater just after I got in. Bite died after the wind changed direction. Only saw 8 trailers in the parking lot. Nice and quiet up until noon. Broke off 6 big bass to wood.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Bring heavier line to fish wood. same old colors of senkos. 1/8 oz darterheads and Killer Worms in Gray Ghost and Amber.

Saturday, May 1st, 2004

  • By

    Water Temp: 62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the lake in thick fog and found fish immediately. First cast produced a 2 lb smallie while waiting for my partner to return from the parking lot walk. Good start to a beautiful day.
    Our mission today was to find a few crappie for the Lake Sonoma hatchery visitor center. After catching a lot of bass we finally found some willing fish. Then we started actually fishing for bass. Found fish in less than 10 feet of water on wood. The bass ranged from 2 lbs up to 7 lbs. Best 5 went 24 lbs. Lost a few larger fish to the wood. The better bite came after 10am when the sun warmed things up.Didn't catch any big fish in the backs of any coves, almost all came from open areas with wood. Lots of smllies and largemouth in the 3 pound range. It couldn't have been a nicer day. Anyone that fished Sonoma today would have taken 3 limits for sure. It was just too easy. Finding crappie was the hard part. Here is a look at a few fish.
    http://www.sonic.net/sheehy/FishingFolder/LakeSonoma/LakeSonomaPage_1.html
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Find a spot with wood and fish it slow. The bass wouldn't kill it, but would just suck it in. Fished senkos and jigheads. 5" and 6" Senkos in # 208 and # 213. The 213 with a 1/4 oz darterhead.
    Don't forget sunscreen. Great kini day too.

Monday, April 26th, 2004

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    Water Temp: unknown...but t

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: started the day kinda late. total fish was about 20 or soOoo...not that many still on beds. tried the main lake, got a few. ran up to the creeks, way in the back like everyone has been talking about. got some more. biggest of the day was around 3lbs. saw a few big cruisers. but like they say they don't get big cause their dumb.
    City: skittleboy104@yahoo.com

    Tips: usually i fish the bottom. but today my friend boated like 7 before i got one. he was using a jig aswel. the only thing he can do better with a jig than i can is fish them slower and drag them better w/out snagging.
    i got my fish on reaction lures. i guess it was just that i was blind casting and geting protective bass. LOTS OF LITTLE ONES>>>>>>>>>

Saturday, April 24th, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the lake about 1030. Tried fishing for Crappies but no luck. At 1:00 switched over and started fishing for bass while waiting for a buddy to meet me. Caught alot of 1 - 3 pound bass fishing with a F/X shad roboworm and 1/8 ounce dart jighead. bass were all over the place.
    City: Vallejo

    Tips: Fish F/X Shad roboworm along the shoreline jigging it or swimming it. Good fishing and be safe.

Sunday, April 18th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 65

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: arrived at the bridge at 6:20 am & boats awaiting start of torney. only found out one of the two groups in the tourney. a group out of modesto. the line started at just passed the overpass. boats everywhere aprox. 80 boatsfrom the modesto guys. the first hour was good , then it shut off. we threw brushhogs & fished points & trees, all in the 3.5 range. should've stayed home, when the fog passes, it was bone chilling cold, got colder when the wind picked up & the rain started to fall. then on the way home, tire off the trailer sheared off & the production started, being sunday & in sebastapol. it was an experience.
    thanks to sunny, we got everything home!
    City: SF City

    Tips: check for tourneys & check with weather.com CATCH, TAKE PICTURES & RELEASE

Saturday, April 17th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 59F

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Strange weather today. Fog,rain,hail,lots of wind. Lots of boats out today. Started catching bass right off the bat. Seemed they were everywhere until the front passed. Caught smallies and largemouth up to 5 lbs using the same senkos from 2 weeks ago.My partner and I ended up with 25 bass. Not too bad with the all wind. Went looking for crappie, but couldn't find any. The wind was pretty bad at times. If anyone has crappie news, please email me.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Weightless senko fishing with strong wind isn't easy. If something feels strange, set the hook. A lot of the fish would grab and swim at the boat, then spit it. Stay alert.

Sunday, April 11th, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Yorty in my tube. Got on the water @ 630am. Took about 10 minutes or so before got first fish. Got 7 big fish went 2.3. Off the water @ 1115am. Was a quick fun day on the water.
    City: Sebastopol

    Tips: Throw spinners early(white) followed up with craw patterned cranks. Around 730-0800 start in with plastics. Fish banks tight. Wood is holding fish too.

Saturday, April 10th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 58-68

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Took the Kids out for a great day on the lake. Late start but fished till dark. Me and Mikey(6) and Tom(14) in our Boat, Jim and Sean(10) and Ricky(7)in his and John and Jimmy (13) in his. Headed to Cherry and hit some other spots as well. Most of the fish on Plastics, Drop Shot as well as T-rig and weightless Senko/Helix. Jim had some luck with his Jig. No real takers on blades, cranks, jerks, etc. Not sure of all the details but it was a great day. Here's the numbers I recall, Mikey 9 fish! up to 2.1lb. Tom 3 fish including a 2.4 on a topwater Frog (yeah!) Jimmy 4 fish, John 15 fish (personal Best)up to 2.5lbs or so, Sean 5, Ricky 3 and Jim the big fish man with several nice ones and a couple 4+lbs! Not many dinks in the crowd. Tried to pester a few bed fish with limited success. Beautiful day with predictable Sonoma winds and a great day to teach the kids! As always all fish released (after a couple photos).
    City: Pacifica

    Tips: Fish were moving up, mostly the males nono of the fat girls were spotted except one area. With the cold on the way they may get confused.

Saturday, April 3rd, 2004

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: headed to yorty creek with my float tube, got on the water at 2 30. right away i started fishin the riprap by the parking lot. fished it with a spinnerbait. came to a point on the riprap and through a brush hog, black with red flake. as i was reeling it up to make another cast, had a follower chase it right to my tube. came upon a cove inside of the cove and saw some stumps and a nice looking laydown. 2nd cast to the stumps i got a pickup on the brush hog and set the hook, fish didnt have it all the way and i just ripped off the brush hog in its mouth. started throwing into the laydown, 3rd cast got hit and landed the first fish of the day, i healthy 3 lber. threw back over to the stumps and had the mushy bite, so i reeled up quick and half-assed set the hook and had a real good fish on for about 2 seconds, pulled off. a cast with a senko, watermelon w/ red flake, to the laydown produced a 2 lber. after that lost 1 fish in anoter laydown, and landed a 1 lber in some grass on the brush hog. Nothin on the spinnerbait. only fished for an hour and a half in one small spot. fish were on wood in less than 7 ft. of water.
    City: windsor

    Tips: plastics in heavy cover, preferably wood.

Friday, April 2nd, 2004

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    Water Temp: cold

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: got on the lake @6am. pretty windy. tried to stay away from it all day and we did. my friend and i landed about 30 fish. 18 were keepers. and the rest were dinks.two came unhooked both being atleast 4lbs. one i think might even have pushed 6lbs. owells we landed a few over four today too..all in all it was good...
    City: san francisco

    Tips: proper hooksets and a LOOMIS rod w/ a CURADO SUPERFREE.................i LOVE fishing....

Wednesday, March 31st, 2004

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    Water Temp: 60 tops

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Pretty windy today but found fish from 2-20 feet.Jigs 4-6" worms and brushhogs caught most of the fish. Caught 35-40 lmb up to 71/2 lbs. Only a couple of dinks. Lots of 2-31/2 lbers. Lake is really picking up.
    City: novato

    Tips: fish slow with small baits

Monday, March 29th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 61-63

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Water went from a brown color with 6 inches of visability to a nice color of green with about 3 1/2 feet of visability. Fished Yorty all day long in a float tube and ended up with 6 fish. Biggest going around 4#. Had a surface bite in the morning, had 2 blow ups. Didnt get alot of fis but was a damn nice day!
    City: Sebastopol

    Tips: Fish were in less than 5 feet of water. Had to smack them in the face for them to bite. Blades in the morning. Jigs and plastics in the afternoon. Find shadows and pockets

Saturday, March 27th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 58

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Heard how easy the bass fishing was and had to give it a try.Got up to the lake around 06:30 and was surprised by the rain. It only lasted an hr or so, but at least there wasn't wind. My good friend and I fished from 06:30 until 14:00. His frist 2 casts produced 2 bass,even before I was done rigging.After about 10 fish, we decided to photo all the bass we caught. We ended up with 49 bass, smallies and largmouth. Only 5 were dinks, most were males in the 2 lb range, but we did get some up to 7 lbs. Even caught one while putting the boat on the trailer. Over all, if you want to catch a lot of bass, now is the time to take a kid fishing. All the fish were in less than 8'. We did try Yorty, and in 2 hrs of fishing we only managed to get 5 bites, so we went back out on the main lake. It seemed that if there wasn't any mossy weed, we caught fish.Wood,rock and chunk rock with a flat produced best.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Release any females caught. Put on sunblock BEFORE fishing. Use barbless hooks.Used watermelon senkos w/blk flake and red flake (2 dif colors). Fish wood, rock and roads in less than 8'. Fish no moss.Take a lot of pictures. Have a great time. email me if you want more info.

Wednesday, March 24th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 60+

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished for about 6 hours, put 25 in the boat, 5 biggest was just shy of 16 lbs. Pretty easy to catch fish, flipped a jig all day on every piece of wood i could find. Got broke off 5 times because of the wood but thats were they are. Funny thing happend, I was trying to kick a senko off the deck of the boat and i kicked 3 of my rods in the water, about 10 feet deep, spent some time in the cold water but retrieved all rods. That sucked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    City: santa rosa

    Tips: Fish are on wood but there are alot of small males.

Sunday, March 21st, 2004

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    Water Temp: 50+

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Went lmb fishin and got 2 in the boat. Caught 1 2 pounder pitching a senko in weeds in yorty. caught another fishing in brush piles near yorty. Was casting a 1 ounce spinner bleeding shad by strike king.
    City: san francisco

    Tips: fish in brush and logs.

  • By

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: caught the biggest bass of my life at 6 lbs and one more 1 lber. just used a natural color worm and split shotted it in deep water at yorty creek back in the tule area.
    City: Rohnert Park

    Tips: try anything and everything, something will work??

Thursday, March 18th, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Hey Wes, ya better watch out. Cause if your head gets any bigger it might explode. Dude, you are a trip.
    City: Local

    Tips: Hire Wes as a guide.

Tuesday, March 16th, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Yorty from 7 am till 330 pm. Caught 21 LMB. Best 5 went about 14 lbs. Biggest went about 3 1/2-4 lbs. Got 3 on crawdad pattern crankbaits early morning got the rest on plastics. Fish were all over the place, seemed to hit on just about everything. Was a great day on the water/bank. Thanks Dad had a great time!

    Deacon
    City: Sebastopol

    Tips: fish near tules and you cant go wrong.

Monday, March 15th, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: float tubed all afternoon up at yorty creek. threw spinners, cranks, plastic craws, worms, top water, all colors and no luck until about 5:00 pm. I got back in the weeds right where the creek comes in and found the spawning beds. Hooked a huge fish on light line with a split shot rig, 6 inch red worm with blue streek. fish are really white but fight good and fun to catch. endend up catching only one but lost two to my light tackle.
    City: rohnert park

    Tips: try to get back into the weeds with heavy line and most likely a bait cast rod and reel(flippin stick) throw brush hogs or big spinners ito the weeds and let them drop on the beds.