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Sunday, February 9th, 2003

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    Water Temp: 48-53

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Went out with Tom and Tiger Mike Madsen with high expectations. Tiger got a great tip rom a pro riend o his. SO we went right up to the special spot on Cherry to throw our char/wht spinners and Jigs "don't even bring anything else" Tiger told me. When we got there there were 15+ boats and it looked like everyone o them was throwing a char/wht spinner or a jig. No luck. I did manage a 2.0 on my go to bait, a senko.I got to hand it to tiget he went down swinging with his Jig though. Threw that sucker or the blade all day. Fortunately we were in my boat so he had his or rod out the back weightless (that 2nd rod stamp saves us once in a while). He got a 1.5 that Tom brought in or him as he was working the Jig and he nailed a 2.5 on it as well, both with the new Helix rom the San Mateo Show. He also shipped in a beautiul croppie or good measure. We can always gount on Tiger or variety.I managed another on a Carolina and lost one on that rig as well. Nice to see a ish Jump and headshake like that again. We were told by one apparent veteran who saw us with plastics "you can't catch ish on this lake on anything but a spinnerbait", as o very late in the aternoon the two o them in his $35K+ boat has one ish. I am sure the blades / jigs will be back soon but I think the water was too cold or that.Better luck next time to Jim/Jimmy/John! 0-03 is getting to him. Jim don't orget Felt Lake
    City: Paciica

    Tips: COLD - Our ish were not on the bank - 5-25 eet o water

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    Water Temp: i think 50

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: got out there at about 9:30, very cold, luckily my dad and i dressed warm. We went straight to warm springs. tried jigs very thouroughly, didnt get a bite. the waters just too dam cold. I hear that warm springs is too cold, and cherry and dry creeks are much better, thats where the bass are biting. well, another week or two i the temp rises, the bite will get hella better.

    Tips: jigs, ind warm water i possible. catch and release only. good luck

Thursday, February 6th, 2003

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    Water Temp: ?low 50's

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Had a good day on the Warm Springs side. Threw a jig all day. The trick or me was to throw the jig out in ront o the boat in about 15 or 20 eet o water and move that jig back towards me. I stayed away rom the bank today thinking they were a little deeper. They were killing it. About twenty ish caught and I'm sure we would have had more i I could have convinced my stubborn uncle to carolina rig a lizard or baby brushhog. He was pounding the bank with the blade since he had such a good day last week with the blade. Not. Water temperature dropped drastically and the ish backed out like G-Man said. Got to be able to adjust accordingly. Nothing over 5lbs, but who cares, its just great to get bit again.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: Black/blu 1/2oz jig with brown super pork senior. Fish banks with some slope in it. Flats is not happening. I you got somebody in the back o the boat, have them carolina rigging lizards. He'll get bit on lizards. Bite really improves a lot in aternoon. So sleep in a little. Hope this helps. D.B.COOPER

Monday, February 3rd, 2003

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    Water Temp: 51-54

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Well a lot tougher bite than a week ago. With water temps dropping rom 58 to 52 degrees the bass seemed to back o the shallow lats and are ar less active. We caught about 8 ish, best 5 was 14.78 lbs in a T-Shoot. Lucky the rest o the ield only caught 4 ish a piece. We ound our ish on jig-n-pigs ish around brush and timber in 5 to 15 t o water. A ew came early on a Revenge White/Chartreuse spinnerbait. As soon as this cold weather leaves us and the water temps get back to near 60 this lake will bust wide open and be un to ish. Look or a good spinnerbait bite to turn on again. But or now just slow down and ish slow with jigs or Skeet's creature bait. Congrats to Verbouge or the big ish o 4.97 lbs. G-Manp.s. Eric, try to clean up your language on the orum please...thanks

Sunday, February 2nd, 2003

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: well, i inally got out to try out my new minn kotta bow mount trollin motor, and tried my luck on the lake. tried this big long cove or like hella long time. Got there at about 8:45 am. it was soooooo uckin cold, dress warm. we didnt catch shit. using spinner baits, and senkos, and brush hogs.the guy in another boat caught a 5 pounder. i got one small bass to the boat on a baby brush hog in standin timber. i talked to a bass dude that hella knew what he was talkin about, and he said that it was too cold, and in another couple o weeks.he caught 8 on jigs.

    Tips: hella cold in morning, dress warm, (unny how there were wake boarders out there) anyway, use jigs, and ish will be hella better in a couple weeks. good luck,catch and release only

Thursday, January 30th, 2003

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I Caught a 3 lb large mouth on a green pumpkin w black lake senko rom shore around 4:30 PM on the 30th. The weather was beautiul, no wind. This was near the marina and I was the only person I saw ishing. The water is still stained, but getting clearer. This ish was near shore in less than ive eet o water. She looked kinda pale, but was at and healthy. Saw a ew swirls, so I'm going to try top water on the next visit. The lake level is going down. I anyone has a boat and needs a partner, send me an email. Good Luck
    City: greenbrae

    Tips: use a senko, catch a at bass and let em go....kinda silly ain't it.

Tuesday, January 28th, 2003

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    Water Temp: 56-58

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Started o slow with bites ew and ar between in Cherry Creek. Bass seemed to be on the transition rom lats to deep water access. A ew good jig ish to 4 lbs. As the sun started to heat the water (58 degrees)we started ishing shallower (1-5 t)with jigs and an occassional spinnerbait. Ater 5 straight spinnerbait ish we just burned rubber down the bank (lats with cover)and ended up with close to 35 ish rom 2-5 1/2 lbs. these ish are healthy, at and pull like a reight train right now. Thanks to Patrick McGee or a great day on the water. Sorry it's long winded but it's rare Sonoma give's me a day like this. G-Manp.s. We were throwing Revenge Spinnerbaits in White/Chartreuse i that helps....

Sunday, January 26th, 2003

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I p;an to come here during the spring or the irst time. Any body have any tips or seasonal patterns? What is the lake like?
    City: San Jose

    Tips: Any tips are good

Thursday, January 23rd, 2003

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    Water Temp: ???

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: ished yorty and cherry preyyt much all day or nada. The lake is really muddy still with lots o debris everywhere. I also hit some o the creek inlets on the main lake. Fished senkos, jigs with pork, and my shad rap or zilch. Tried the dad trap or some live dads, also nada. Second trip to the lake recently or no ish. I'll rey the sothern areas o the lake next time.
    City: petaluma

Sunday, January 19th, 2003

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    Water Temp: 48 - 53

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I you are looking or cold chocolate milk this is your place. Rains have let extreamly stained water. Lots o wood to manuver on the lake getting to a avorite spot. Went with my son Tom and veteran angler Tiger Mike Madsen. We tried north and down cherry and ound no decent water. Tried Jigs, senkos, plastics, cranks, jerks, traps, blades and got a big at zilch.Went south in the aternoon and arther down the stained water cleared slightly (6-12 inches visability)I was able to get a 2.2 and a 3.0 late in the aternoon. Tom missed one on a tiny spinnerbait and then Tiger hooked a hog. "This is a big ish Dave" as his equipment was getting pushed to its limit. Ater about 5 minutes ighting him he inally got his irst glance at his prize only to exclaim "it's a @#%$* catish. Couple minutes later he had the 9.2 pounder in the boat. Foul hooked (so it elt even bigger)with a Jig but a un ride. ished rom 9-4:30 and only managet those 3 ish.
    City: Paciica

    Tips: ind clearer water i you can.

Tuesday, December 31st, 2002

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    Water Temp: 52

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Not many boats out today.Fished a long time to get a 14" and a 16" largemouth. Got them just around 14:00 ater the sun warmed things a bit.All I can say is ish slower than you have ever ished beore. Big dark 9" Killer Worms did the trick.Good luck and have a great New Year.
    City: Santa Rosa

Monday, December 30th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 50degrees

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: The ish have deinitely moved to Lake Okechobee. Too bad they didn't tell us when they were leaving, because we could have given them a big send o. Har. Anyway I'm sittin here lickin my wounds(new country song?)just like everybody else is doing these days. The Sloooownoma is tough right now and is gonna take awhile to get back to normal. In the meantime, I'm just gonna go to work on my new country song "I'm Sittin Here Lickin My Wounds" to be sung by Randy Travis in the near uture.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: JIGS JIGS JIGS JIGS JIGS JIGS JIGS JIGSPORK PORK PORK PORK PORK PORK PORK PORK

Thursday, December 26th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 51-52

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I ished Sonoma today and just nailed 'em! Everything worked!! I couldn't believe it. Jigs--ish. Brush hogs--ish. Drop shot--ish. Spinnerbaits, cranks, spoons, banjo minnows--ish ish ish ish. I the bite's anything like this or the New Year's tourny, the winning weight will be 18-20lbs., or more i someone catches a kicker ish. The problem will be culling, not catching. Heck, a day like today makes me wanna turn pro at this. See you all there next wednesday! Don't be surprised to see a lot o limits.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: I a word o this were true I'd be on the cover o Bass Stud magazine. Sunday and today were two o the toughest days in my short bassing career. Rain. Cold. Mud. No ish. I swear they are all dead in this lake. Today's day ishing was just a little better than working (still better, though). Bring your own slice o humble pie on wednesday and hope it only goes uphill rom there. Good luck.

Tuesday, December 17th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 54

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Cherry Creek today and it was not happening. Threw jigs on every piece o wood in Cherry. NADA. Threw speed traps and rattletraps or awhile also. NADA. Water is muddy, but I don't think that was the reason there was no bite. It's called "POST FRONT NIGHTMARE". New Years tourney should be real interesting, because there's gonna be unstable weather through the New Year. Make your reservations or drop-shotting at the marina i Cherry is blown out. I think only 16 boats are allowed to ish at the marina at one time. These spots will not last long. I think G-Man signed up or the marina already. He's gonna be dropshotting tournament rogs. This will be a un team tourney at Sonoma on New Years Day. Be there.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: Call Scott at the Outdoor Pro Shop (707-588-8033)or ino on the tourney (1-1-03). As or the ishing, stay away rom the lake on post ront or blue bird days. Throw jigs and reaction baits. I'm outta here.

Thursday, November 28th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 55-58

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Went out with my son Tom. Had a great time. Went all the way up north and tried a rattle trap and a crank bait or two. Then we tried plastic (senkos). I got a hit and then Tom caught a great ish! It was a 4 lb. something? It looked like a huge rainbow, or even a salmon. It had a slight hookjaw and it never broke the surace on the great ight it gave (unlike a steelhead). It gave up it's lie unortunately, we could not release it. Ater I netted it it was bleading out o his gills badly. I tried to revive it in the livewell with no luck.We tried plastics, cranks, blades, etc. with no luck till late in the aternoon. Then I got a 2.8lb LMB on a white senko, it was wrapped on a tree under the surace (what's new at sonoma). It made a great photo beore release. Then I got a 2.3 on the same bait and Tommy closed the day woth a beautiul 2.5 on the same senko. The wind was almost non-existent and there were several boats on the lake all ishiing some trolling and most sounded like they were having a tough time. FYI- The sheri was checking licenses which I was happy to comply.
    City: Paciica

    Tips: White Senko's worked or us. Good size ish compared to last time I was here!all ish were caught on the main lake - the coves produced nada or us this time.

Monday, November 11th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 59

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The lake is still gin clear even ater the rains. Water temp has not dropped much in the last 3 weeks but is starting to go down. The bite is still slow. My son and I caught 4 ish rom 11am to 5pm. Tried many dierent presentations at various depths but the only bite was dropping senko's in the 12 to 25 depth thru stand up trees with lots o branches which made it diicult to land them. Good luck and send me an update.
    City: Santa Rosa

Monday, October 28th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 64

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: arrived riday eveing camped at skunk or 2 nights, riday night caught 1 ish was over 3 lbs. sat caught 6 ish, the biggest was again around 4 lbs again, most o the bite occured between the hours o 3-6 in the aternoon, sunday let at 2 the bite was horrible, caught and released a 5 lb'r.over all was disapointed had been up the prevoius eww weekends and had been averaging about 9-10 ish a day.we saw many ish in the clear water there was hardly any traic, i think there were 3-4 other boats all weekend. they were just not biting ! used my avorites sinkos, my gal partner threw everything else at them with very little succcess.....i anyone one else goes up there oten give me shout :)
    City: DANVILLE

Friday, October 25th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Night ishing good. Ended up with an 18lb limit (5, 4, 4, 3, 2). Got that 5 that I lost last week! Weighed 5.2. Same place, same lure. Didn't get a whole lot o bites, but the ones I got were solid ish. Also got an about 10lb catish. It pulled hard and gave my reel drag a workout. A couple ish were super shallow, like 3', and the rest up to 15'.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: Medium sized plastics got it done or me(big dead ringers, hulas).

Saturday, October 19th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 66

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I love night ishing. My buddy scored the largemouth o a lietime - a 10.4! The bite came at 1am on a brush hog o some rocks in about 10 eet. Fortunately, we had the scale, ruler and the camera, with ilm even! 26.5 inches long. I lost a 5+ at the boat. We caught 3 or 4 more in the 3lb range and a couple dinks.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: Larger plastics (ull size brush hog, 5" hulas, 8" grubs) worked better this evening

Saturday, October 12th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 77

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: What a dierence a ew days make. The Santa Clara Bass Busters had tournament on ths lake October 12. No limits were caught rom sae light to 4 PM...and it was a team ormat! The winner had one ish! All boats weighed ish but it was either one or two. Oxblood worms still did work but too many little ones. Dropshotting the trees was marginal. Better be more than 20 eet down though. Slitshotting or drop shotting on open banks was only a little better. There was a slight topwater bite on spooks in the morning with a couple ish caught. There was a moderate westerly wind in the morning that settled down to a lat calm bluebird day. Ski traic was light. Overall a nice day except or the poor ishing.
    City: Belmont

    Tips: Perhaps when the water cools and mirks up a bit the ish will go again.