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Trinity Lake and Reports

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Wednesday, May 5th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished yesterday with a good friend,Bud Bailey, and as usual this time of year what was working Sunday didn't work at all early on. Fished flats and willows and caught only a few small fish on weightless worms. Started throwing cranks and spinnerbaits and the bite and the size improved. Bud showed me some of his favorite spots down lake and they did indeed hold fish. This was only the second time Bud and I have fished Trinity together and it was amazing to see how many dependable spots we had in common. He's been fishing the lake in excess of 30 years and I for 14 and yet we'd have the same tales to tell about the same spots. He did introduce me to a couple of new points and we caught fish almost every where we stopped.
    Around 11 the wind came up and we headed back to the same flats that were so slow early and did a lot better. I know that fishing in the wind is a pain but as Bud said " On Trinity the wind is your friend."
    Ended up with several smallies in the three lb. class taken mainly on main lake points with the Pro Gold red flake worm on a ball jig. After the wind kicked up, cranks and jerkbaits produced better fish with Bud picking up a 4+ LM just before we decided to call it a day.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: If any of you see Bud, please explain to him that when you are a guest in another guys' boat and using his tackle, you are not supposed to clean his clock.

Sunday, May 2nd, 2004

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    Water Temp: 60+

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got to Trinity Center just in time to see a good # of boats running up from the So. end. Must have been a club tourney going on. They occupied the community holes right off so I tried some stuff I hadn't tried in a while. Sometimes the fishing gods just smile at you. Caught 2 LM on a senko first 2 casts, both over 3. Fished along the bank another 100 yds.or so with no takers. Turned around and went back over the same area with a model A and caught 5 more between 2.5 and 4.5. Some guys were still on what used to be my favorite honey hole, so I figure maybe some of those fish would like that crankbait coming from a different direction so I started down that same bank again. Shortly the crankbait stops again. This time it's a 6-13 LM. Eight fish in the boat, best five around 20 lbs and its almost 7 o'clock and I'm thinking this is the way Trinity is supposed to be this time of year. I spent the rest of the day hitting spots I hadn't visited in a while. The fishing slowed somewhat but certainly stayed better than it has been in a while.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: Crankbaits were hot early but today I caught fish on gitzits, Pro Gold and Mean Green Pro Worms,senkos, spinnerbaits, and one nice SM on a Long A. When Trinity is hot everything works, when it's not, slow way down. When fishing really got tough around noon a Pro Gold worm fished weightless on a 1/0 hook around willows kept the action going.

Wednesday, April 28th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Sorry I havn't posted many reports lately but things have been a little hectic for me. Been working way too much.
    I came across a quote recently that says it all. " Three-fourths of the earth's surface is water......and one fourth is land. Therefore it is clear the Good Lord intends that a man should spend three times as much time fishing than he does working. Leo E. Nolte" I agree with this quote and am going to try a little harder to get my priorities straightened out.
    Trinity has fished more inconsistantly this year than any year in recent memory. Things started out gang-busters in late Feb and early March. Then we had that spell of hot weather which shut things down completely. Things started to get back to normal and they decided to dump a lot of water for a " safety of dam release". That pulled the fish out deep again. Then at the last full moon the weather warmed up and the smallies went full bore into the spawn ( another reason I didn't report). Follow that with a week of crappy weather which dropped the water temp from 61 to 52 and the fishing turned off again.
    Last Sat. the Southern Ore. ABA had a 4 fish limit tournament where it took 17.5 lbs to win with a 6.7 lunker so maybe things are getting back to normal. 17.5 lbs. sounds pretty good but is 4-5 lbs lower than the winning weight the last several years.
    I fished with a couple of buddies Tues and fishing was spotty at best. Gin clear water and dead calm. Next year I'm going to have a limber 16' rod spooled w/2 lb. test so I can cast a 1/16th oz darter head 100 yds when conditions are like this. Maybe then I won't spook all the big uns.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: Go ahead and get that 16 footer.

Tuesday, April 27th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished with a very good angler and friend of mine, Bill Guinn from Redding launched at Trinity Center at 0530, a beautiful calm morning. Started throwing blades and rip baits at the airport no takers I switched to a MGM black grub and caught a 2.5 sm, after about 2 hours fishing Swift Creek and the Ball Park we went to East Fork and started getting bit on MGM black slugos splitshotting most fish were sm from 1.5 to 2.5 lbs. We landed a total of 14 fish, which was not a very good day for Trinity at this time of the year. Saw alot of fish on beds.
    City: Redding

    Tips: Fish the shallow flats in 2 to 5 foot of water

Friday, April 23rd, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: is nobody fishing trinity anymore, where are the reports?

Sunday, April 4th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 50-57

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Region 5 B.A.S.S. Fed. held their 4th tournament of the year Sunday. Winning weight was better than 8.5 lbs.; now I know that doesn't sound like much on this lake but hear me out. Saturday Alan Hunt sticks a largemouth better than 8 and later sticks a smally over 4. Most of the anglers that fished friday and saturday talked about ripping 4 plus smally's so hopes were high. Full moon and warm weather later we have an abundance of fish moving up. So here it is: Jeep Shaver won it and his bag was anchored with a 5.70 smallmouth- very nice fish. He caught his fish throwing a floating worm. I took 2nd with 8.03 throwing a tube. 3rd place went to Elden V. who by the way fished with Jeep and both his fish were largemouth. He also caught his fish on a floating worm. Several people weighed in smally's better than 4 lbs.. Big fish went to hooknrun with a 5.95 largemouth. Go easy on him guys! Last but not least I would like to thank the anglers for their support, for helping me with the weigh-in, and I would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support. They give us a ton of tackle to give to the anglers and it's all good. Til next time, see you on the lake. Tony, Director region 5 Cal. B.A.S.S. Fed.
    City: Redding

Thursday, April 1st, 2004

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    Water Temp: 50

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Hey Hooknrun what makes you think you would get all those tips from guiding on Trinity Lake? You said because you are not patient enough. You must be the elbow rubber on Trinity Lake. Are you really that good, if so put your money where youre mouth is. Untill then good fishing.
    City: Blue Lake

Wednesday, March 31st, 2004

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    Water Temp: 52

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Little Brady Jr. we are going to have some fun this sunday. I believe its going to be between you and me for heavy weight at weigh in. That is if your not lying about what you said in last nights phone call. I wish I had the patience to guide and Im sure you wish you did to, because I know we would get some good tips from clients on this lake. Untill sunday, dont hook all your tourney fish!!!
    City: Redding

Sunday, March 28th, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I agree with John Gray, fishing is still very slow at Trinity. Fished today with a client from Redding, only boated 3 fish. 1-LM @ 3.9 lbs. 1-SM@ 3.0 lbs and a 1.5 lb SM.
    Still a wonderful day on this great Lake. The fishing this year is like nothing I can remember, this lake is normally on fire for reaction baits this time of the year, but all my fish came on plastics.
    City: Redding

    Tips: A trip to Trinity can be very rewarding or it can kick your butt

Saturday, March 27th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 51+

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished with a couple of Sacto gents today and found the fishing pretty slow. But as often happens, the bites we did get were quality fish. Topped by a pair fo 3.5 smallies. Never touched a LM go figure.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: Fish were caught on Model A's, gitzits, and darthead worms, all in approx 6'.

Friday, March 26th, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I haven't fished Trinity in quite awhile. Is there a boat dock at the dam ramp?
    City: Redding

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I haven't fished Trinity in quite awhile. Is there a boat dock at the dam ramp?
    City: Redding

Monday, March 22nd, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: About John Grays asking us not to get to close while fishing. I come up there 1 week a year, I wish I could fish it every day like him. There are a lot of fish in the lake John. If you are fishing the named spots, baseball field, tailing
    you have to share, you do not own the lake. I have
    also never taken a fish home from Trinity. Catch & release, enough for every one.
    City: Sacto.

Sunday, March 21st, 2004

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    Water Temp: 50+

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished today with a young couple from the coast and had a great time. The fishing was tough although we caught a few,( I should say she caught a few). Started off the AM with a small smally and soon after,I hear a small voice from the back of the boat saying " I've got a fish on" and indeed she did. The fish jumped clear of the water 3 times in the first 20 seconds and then headed deep. After a few anxious moments I slid the net under a 6lb 10oz LM. Great job Devin you can take my back seat any time.
    I'm not sure why the fishing is so tough when, usually this time of year,it is red hot. The only thing I can figure is that the water temp is at least 6 deg. warmer than I have ever seen it in late March. It either has the fish messed up or I am messed up, not sure which. The weather has been fantastic for the last couple of weeks and has sure been a treat, but I'm thinking that a good cold storm would not be a bad thing.
    The hog was caught on a baby brush hog on a 1/4 oz jig. A couple were caught on a Gitzit and several small fish on speed traps in the tailings, and that was about it. I'll be heading back to the lake shortly and see if I can figure out what's happening.
    Except for the Hog LM, the best part of the day was providing lunch for a couple of lake residents.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: For Steve: I've said many times that this fishery is too good not to share. All I'm asking is that you let me run my own trolling motor.

Saturday, March 13th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 47-49

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The bite has dropped off dramatically the last few days on the lake. The major flood control releases that have made the river unfishable for the past few weeks have finally effected the lake as well. The lake has gone down a couple of feet in the last few days and the fish have gone with it. 3-4 days ago Fish were biting good in the 15-20 foot range,now the fish seem to be holding at 30' and are not much interested in biting. We've gone from 25 fish/day to 5 fish per day. As soon as the lake stabilizes or starts going up I expect that the fishing will be right back on hot again. Until then go deep and slow.
    Fish with three guys from the Morgan Hill area the last couple of days, and to say that they made the best of the situation would be a gross understatement. Thanks guys for a great time.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: Fish Gitzits on Trinity. On Thurs past I witnessed or participated in the following catches on a Gitzit. 1 6lb 4oz LM, several 3lb+ smallies,1 5lb 8oz Rainbow, and a bullhead cat approaching 4 lb. Wonder why I like throwing Gitzits?

Sunday, March 7th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 45-48

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got to the lake a little late today and it looked like a lot of guys have been reading my reports as there were 6 rigs in the lot. More showed up during the morning. I guess my having the lake to myself is over for another year. That's just fine though as Trinity is too good a fishery not to share.
    If I tell you how I did today EVERYONE will think I'm lying so I'll just say that I still haven't caught my first 5# smallie yet(came damn close though), still haven't caught my first 20# 5 fish limit of smallies ( came damn close on that one too). I've got clients coming the end of the week so maybe they can help me out a little.
    I'm hearing of a few fish being taken on spinners and jerks but I'm still having to fish real slow. I hope this weeks weather will perk em up a little. Until then we'll just do what we have to.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: The locals on this lake are a courteous bunch and understand that there is a lot of open lake out there, we really don't appreciate other boats dropping in and setting up a cast and a half away. We're willing to share but there's a limit. I understand that this is standard operating procedure on more crowded lakes, but until Trinity gets a lot more crowded cut us a little slack. Thanks.

Saturday, March 6th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 45-48

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Sorry I haven't reported this week but had to go back east to deal with a family tragedy. Seems like someone was doing a very good job of covering my butt, for which I am very grateful.
    Fished last Sun the 29th with the Mello boys and had a great trip. The fishing was slow but the bites we did get were certainly quality. 1 6lb LM and a couple over 4 were the highlights of the day. Several 3+ smallies mixed in made for a best 5 over 20 lbs.
    Its hard to beleive how slow we had to fish but these guys caught on to the trick right off and stuck with it all day and it really paid off for them. Fun to fish with guys who listen, pay attention to the bite, and expand the technique on their own. Great job guys!
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: Use small plastics on 1/4 or smaller jigheads and try to get hung up. If it doesn't take 5 min. to make a retreive you might be fishing too fast.
    Of course that might all have changed by now.

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Urban, I'm sorry that you found my comments offensive, that was not my intention. I can see however, that you have allowed your self to become offensive.

    Thank you for your feedback concerning the lake. It sounds like a great place to fish. I was reading about it on the internt yesterday. I didn't realize it was so far north. I'm sure I'll fish it some day. I will remember the feedback you provided concerning winter fishing in Trinity.

    Good luck to you and to all who fish Trinity.

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Iron Rooster, I was not trying to be offensive toward John Gray and I agree with you that it is nice to get an idea of what the lakes are producing. But you have to agree that accurate reports are important. Is it possible that John Gray is catching all these bass over 4 pounds in the toughest time of the year every time he goes out? When all other fishermen are having tough days fishing on all the lakes including Trinity? Sure it's possible, but not likely. I only asked him to keep it real, is that really so bad? I think it's great that he is making entries about his trips, but he looses credibility by reporting such fantastic results in the most difficult time of the year. Those of us who put the time in, fish hard, understand how difficult fishing is this time of year, we read such reports as John Gray has posted and we can't help but to role our eyes a little. No disrespect intended, just keep it real, thats all.

    Tips: Keep your scales callibrated.

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Iron Rooster, I was not trying to be offensive toward John Gray and I agree with you that it is nice to get an idea of what the lakes are producing. But you have to agree that accurate reports are important. Is it possible that John Gray is catching all these bass over 4 pounds in the toughest time of the year every time he goes out? When all other fishermen are having tough days fishing on all the lakes including Trinity? Sure it's possible, but not likely. I only asked him to keep it real, is that really so bad? I think it's great that he is making entries about his trips, but he looses credibility by reporting such fantastic results in the most difficult time of the year. Those of us who put the time in, fish hard, understand how difficult fishing is this time of year, we read such reports as John Gray has posted and we can't help but to role our eyes a little. No disrespect intended, just keep it real, thats all.

    Tips: Keep your scales callibrated.