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Sonoma Lake and Reports

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Monday, May 21st, 2012

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    Water Temp: 66

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Went back to Sonoma and fished the same cove at the "S" turns as we did last week. Its the cove with the floating bathroom.
    No fish on drop shots this week. tried for an hour or so and did not get bit. tried the super spook around wood with no takers.
    Put on a speed trap and started catching fish. In fact we salvaged what looked like was going to be a Slonoma evening.
    we caught about 20 fish in the last two hours of light. Only a few were keepers with nothing over two pounds. It was still fun catching fish on a weeknight.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: points. secondary points were the best. no fish were seen or caught in the back 1/3 of the cove. best action was on the north bank of the cove where the road bed comes in.

Friday, May 18th, 2012

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    Water Temp: 72 - 74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Friday, 5/18/12 was a beautiful day with air temperature in the high 70s and water temperature in Cherry Creek, where we fished all day, was 72 - 74°. At times, there was little to no wind. We caught a good quantity of fish with my buddy and I each catching at least 25 fish. The fish weren’t large, with only one greater than 3 lbs and few between 2 and 3 lbs. Most were in the 1 lb to 2 lb range and perhaps 10 dinks. The fish were caught mostly casting drop-shot rigged 6-inch Roboworms and wacky-rigged 4-inch Senkos also drop-shot style. Multiple colors were used but we had most success on colors that were red or purple like MM. Only Baby Bass colored Senko were used. We also caught a couple of fish on a small 4-inch swim bait and a Bass Assassin. I did try casting top water baits to stumps with the hope that some big female was below guarding her fry but had no success. Most fish were caught in 5 to 10 ft of water around entrances to cuts and along drop-offs on flats. As it got later in the day where there were shadows on the water, the fish were moving shallower. No fish were caught way back in cuts. During the day, we saw only a couple of fish still on beds. We also saw two large clouds (schools) of fry around stumps. Last year about this time, there were many more schools of fry. Hopefully the spawn is better than what I have seen so far. There were also multiple balls of what I assume are shad. These “shad” were from two to three inches long and were schooled in balls as large as 6 ft across. If anybody knows what these small fish are, please let us know.
    City: Pinole

    Tips: If you are on the lake early in the morning or late in the evening, campers had told us that the top water bait is very good.

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

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    Water Temp: 67

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fishing is very good right now. We caught about 15 bass (most short) in about 3 hours tuesday evening.
    Dropshotted watermelon red baby brush hogs fooled most of the fish with several small mouth taking shallow crankbaits.
    Big fish of the trip was a 6.3 caught in about 10 feet of water near 40 minutes before dark on the drop shot rig.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: stay a little deeper. work through areas quickly. stop and fish thoroughly when you get bit.
    No evidence of any surface activity but it felt like the top water action could start anytime now.

Sunday, May 6th, 2012

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    Water Temp: 62 - 66

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Started fishing around 11:00am leaving from the Yorty launch ramp. Decided to fish the main lake near Loggers and Homestead Camps instead of the Cherry Creek arm. Caught at least twenty fish, probably more than half were smallmouth bass. I even caught two Squawfish on crankbaits. The water was very clear but several shoreline areas were muddied-up in the afternoon from boat traffic and wind waves. Biggest fish was a smallmouth around two-and-a-half pounds and a largemouth about the same size. Although the average fish wasn't as large as a couple weeks ago, the beautiful weather and the high number of fish I caught more than made up for the smaller size.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: I don't think very many, if any, of the fish I caught were nesting. Every fish I caught was on crankbaits and drop-shot, wacky rigged, Senkos. Earlier in the day, a fat ghost minnow crankbait with a 3' - 5' dive was productive. (Great crankbait when Lake Sonoma is very clear.) Once the sun got high and hot, I was only catching fish on a baby bluegill crankbait with an 8' dive. The Senko was productive throughout the day. The fish usually grabbed it on the sink or after the fist bounce. 5" baby bass was the best color. Don't avoid the off-color water! More than half of my fish and almost all of the smallmouth were in the dirty water.

Friday, April 20th, 2012

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    Water Temp: 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Friday and Saturday (April 20-21). The water level is very high and warming up quickly. The coolest water I found was 66 degrees in the main lake and up to 74 in some of the shallow creek arms. Most areas in Yorty had at least 10 feet visibility. Caught at least two dozen bass. Most fish were 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 pounds. Four were in the three to four pound range. Much tougher fishing on Saturday than Friday with the combination of hot, sunny, weather bringing out kayakers and pleasure-boaters and ANOTHER tournament.
    City: Santa Rosa, CA

    Tips: Every fish was caught on a wacky-rigged drop shot Root Beer/Red & Gold Flake 5" Senko. Threw lots of crankbaits and spinnerbaits, but nothing worked for me except the Senko. Although most fishermen on the lake appeared to be sight fishing, I was not. It was easy to locate fish if I fished in areas I knew were mostly left alone. Shallow areas and coves along the main lake were very productive as were deeper shorelines blocked by submerged trees in Cherry Creek arm that were tough to reach in a boat, but easy in my canoe. Dirty water also seemed to be much more productive than the very clear water. Cast right up to the shore line and work the Senko (slowly) to about 10' of water.

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

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    Water Temp: 51 - 57

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Water temp at the ramp at take off was 51', windy and cold. Headed up Dry Creek and into Yorty Creek, threw Chrt/Wht Spinnerbait for 1 1/2 hours, water was dirty and caught nothing. Moved over towards Rustlers camp to get out of the wind. Started throwing the Drop-Shot with Morning Dawn and that's when it started, ended up catching 14 fish 1lb to 2.5lbs. The weather got nice and the wind died down, water warmed up to 57' and the fishing improved.

    Tips: Didn't see any beds yet, young bucks are not yet all the way back in the coves. Upper Dry Creek was too muddy to fish. Should be good in a couple of weeks.

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    Water Temp: 55-57

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: The bite really changed in the last couple days. The reaction bite turned on today in the morning. Totally the opposite of last Wednesday, but of course the weather had changed as well. Fish are starting to move up and the bite should keep getting better in the coming weeks. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits are working now. The Redwood Empire Bass Club just a tourney and it took just over 19 lbs to win. A pait of 6 pounder were also weighed in.
    City: Rohnert Park

    Tips: Get out there and have fun.

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

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    Water Temp: Upper 50's?

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: The bite has been picking up over the past week even with all the recent rain. Bass are still in the pre spawn mode and haven't seen any beds just yet. Will be fishing a club tourney tomorrow so can't give too many details but we should see plenty of fish at the scales. I'll post an update this weekend.
    See you on the water
    City: Rohnert Park

    Tips: Look near the spawning areas. Tomorrow should be interesting with the forecast for clear blue skies and temps in the 60's.

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

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    Water Temp: around 50

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: went out today with my dad in are kyaks we fished from 10am to 2pm i didnt get any bites but my dad caught two a 3 and a 4 lb LM he also lost a couple so they are around all bites today were on soft plastics texas and wacky .We fished YC
    City: Healdsburg

    Tips: The water was pretty murkey but fishable. The lake was about 4 feet lower then usual for this time of year. the bite should realy pick up if we can ever get a couple weeks of steady weather.

Friday, February 24th, 2012

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    Water Temp: 52 to 57

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The lake is at the lowest level since it opened for this time of year.It looks like November level. All the spots normaly fish are thirty feet up the bank.Fishing is not bad if you can figure them out.Only caught two in the 4lb class on Monday. Fished with Gene on this day and he schooled me.Six to one. Most of the fish were in the 2 to three pound class..
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Gigs senkos and shakeyhead did the trick....

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

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    Water Temp: 50 - 52

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Since we have been having such gorgeous weather, I was hoping the fish in Lake Sonoma might have moved into pre-spawn mode. Wishful thinking; didn't get a bite. I tried six different colors, sizes, and types of crankbaits, several different senkos, two different Brush Hogs, and two different football jigs with Smallie Beavers and Sweet Beavers. Fished depths from the shoreline to forty feet. Heck, I even tried to slow-troll nightcrawlers for Steelhead. After six hours on the lake and the loss of $40 worth of my best crankbaits, I called it a day. The day wasn't a total loss, though. Hardly any wind, sunny, and temperatures in the low 60s. Beautiful.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: The water temperature around the lake was still pretty chilly. After the water warms up another five degrees, I'll give it another try. Also, the water level is very low and the lake is as clear as it was in September and October. As much as I hate to say it, we need a couple weeks of hard rain.

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Has anyone been fishing for trout lately. Any signs of trout. Berryessa was hot few weeks ago and just wondering how trout fishing at sonoma would be like.
    City: san mateo

Friday, December 9th, 2011

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    Water Temp: 55?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hey Keith. Sonoma is alway tough this time of year for whatever reason. Letting water out(affects them). Crystal clear water. Lots of food in the lake. You can still catch em, but there's not going to be a lot of big ones caught right now. The big ones will start showing up in January with some rain. For now just pull out a dropshot with a Margarita Mutilator(roboworm 6 inch) and fish between 25 and 45ft in the trees and you will do ok. When you drop down, it doesn't take em long to bite, but don't move it around a whole lot. Just let it sit with the occasional shake. The old saying: you find one, there's more with him.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: Prob use 10/12lb fluoro with the trees. You go lower, you will be sorry. 3/8th oz weight. Robo fathead 6inch. Keep moving til you get bit.

Saturday, November 26th, 2011

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    Water Temp: n/a

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Anybody have a clue why Lake Sonoma is so tough. Plenty of fish showing up on the graph and a lot of small fish following your lure But to hook up with a quality fish is far and end between. I haven't seen a report in years of a big stringer. Help!
    City: sebastopol

Monday, November 7th, 2011

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    Water Temp: n/a

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: this lake is broken. it has been for several weeks now. it is a really good lake to practice casting at. i have my casting down to perfection now. if they ever fix these fish i may be able to catch a few. crankbaits, buzzbaits, swimbaits, spinnerbaits.
    City: santa rosa

    Tips: come back when the fish decide to bite.

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

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    Water Temp: 64 -68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Yup, the bass fishin' has not been anything to write home about ! ? Oct. 26th was my third prefish day. 1st day nothing = fishing mid lake (dam and marina areas) for smallies... NOTHING the water is way too clear ! Some areas you can see down 25 ft. ! Day 2, fished up north. The fish were holding away from the trees in small sub-creek channels. caught 7. Three that were 2 1/2 to 3 pound range the rest smaller. Day 3, went back to the same spots hoping to build off of them,,, the only fish we caught were small-ish . Nothing that would be large enough to be put in a live-well for a tournament..? One more pre-fish day before club tournament next Saturday, Nov. 5th.?????????????????????????????????????????????
    City: UKIAH

    Tips: I hear that Folsom Lake is in the same boat. Clear water and tough ! I guess I would say, don't fall in-love with a area. Keep moving ! Most of my fish were caught off swim-baits and crankin'. ??? The fall fishin' on Sonoma can be a ???????? Maybe the front coming in at the end of the week will turn things on ??
    GOOD LUCK ! Don

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

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    Water Temp: 65-68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Found a very tough bite on Sunday; we blanked. We were at the back of Yorty Creek a few minutes before sun up, and thought we'd try some topwater for about an hour. Trolled all the way back to the mouth with nothing on spooks, buzzbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and drop-shot. There were a lot of small fish busting the surface on the points next to the mouth, but I think these turned out to be the predators, not bait, as I snagged a 6'inch bass on a jerkbait. He had one hook in his mouth, so I think these small fish were doing the chasing and there were no bigger bass in the area.

    We moved out to the main lake and fished in the trees until about noon throwing crankbaits, jerkbaits, and drop-shotting.
    City: Windsor

    Tips: I had it in my head that this day would be all about the crankbait based on the report below. While we were out two weeks later, temperatures have remained pretty steady since that time. We didn't have a huge arsenal of crankbaits to choose from (some Speed Traps in craw, which are normally great at this lake, and some Strike King model in bluegill and red). We talked to one other boat that had no fish.

    I would like to know if anyone did well here this past weekend. Also, please post a report if you go out and fish. Even if you don't do well, the information is helpful for others. I used to rely on everyone else reporting, but then I realized that if everyone else was doing the same thing, there would be no reports, which for the most part, there are not. Post!

Sunday, October 9th, 2011

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    Water Temp: 67-70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Sunny and warm day on the lake. The water was the clearest I've seen this year. Probably ten foot visibility. Didn't start fishing until 10:30am. Tried casting five different colors and styles of crankbaits as well as a Senko drop-shot. Didn't get a single strike for two hours until I switched to a Lucky Craft AT CB BDS 3 Ghost Minnow crankbait. The fish was obese and was spitting up tiny silver minnows. Ended up fishing the rest of the day throughout Cherry Creek, catching nine bass. Largest fish was close to seven pounds, three were around three-and-half pounds, and another three were in the two to two-and-half pound range. The only lure they would strike was the ghost minnow crankbait with a fast retrieve. Talked to a guy who said he fished the lake on Thursday and caught at least 40 bass fishing crankbaits.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Once again, the fish were very picky about what they would strike. Didn't catch a single fish on any of the lures that have been successful over the past couple of months. If you're not catching fish on Lake Sonoma, switch lures. Even the same lure in a slightly different color could make the difference. All of the fish were caught in eight to twelve feet of water and were holding tight to submerged trees. Metered LOTS of bait throughout the lake, so focus on the reaction bite.

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

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    Water Temp: 71-74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I didn't catch as many fish today as usual, but the quality was much better than previous trips. Caught at least a dozen fish, seven of them over two pounds. Biggest fish was a five pound largemouth and also landed two in the three-and-a-half to four pound range. Lost a nice smallmouth just as I reached in to grab it. Was at least three pounds.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Every fish was ridiculously FAT! These fish weren't eating because they were hungry. I diligently tried drop shop and wacky with Senkos, but every fish I caught was on crankbaits with a quick retrieve - classic reaction bite. Although I tried quite a few Lucky Craft minnow-type lures in several colors and sizes, all of my success was on a large KVD Tennessee Shad and a small KVD Bluegill, both square bill with rattlers. The fish were spread out and casting cranks enabled me to cover way more territory. Also, don't be concerned about fishing early morning and late evening. I only caught fish between 9:00am and 6:00pm.

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

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    Water Temp: ??

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Friday after work from about 4pm till 8:30pm in the Warm Springs area. The top water bite kicked on after 5pm using poppers, buzzbaits and a frog. We caught several nice bass up to about 3 lbs. The bite slowed as it got darker.
    City: Rohnert Park

    Tips: Look for the grass areas along the shore. Fish the edge of the grass or over the top with a frog. If you find grass on a point spend some time there. There is a lot a bait jumping in the evenings so keep your eyes open for surface action.