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Friday, December 29th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 47

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Made it out for a few hours today. The launch ramp was a bit of an adventure but no problem with 4X4. The fishing was slow with only 6 fish caught in 3.5 hrs, but a 5 lb smallie made it more than worthwhile. Where was he when the camera was rolling? With no weather predicted for the next several days I expect the fishing to improve daily. With luck I'll find out.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: The ramp is a little icy right at the top and it only has a single lane plowed all the way down. The parking lot is an ice skating rink. For those of you who feel they need a little adventure in their lives, it's an excellant time to fish Trinity.

Wednesday, December 20th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: John, thanks for being who you are. I love your reports and your character. Merry Christmas and a happy holidays to you and your family too. Let us know how Trinity is doin' as soon as you get a chance o.k?
    City: san jose

    Tips: Just coz it's cold doesn't mean the fish aren't willing to bite.Most of my best days come in the dead of winter. This time of year means less lake traffic and BIG fish for those willing to brave the freezing cold.

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: O.K. I'm breaking the rules. This is not a report. I want to wish everyone a great Holiday. I want to thank all my clients for a fun year. I want to thank my tackle suppliers for giving me the stuff I need to give my clients fun trips. To all you Moms and Dads out there who have been thinking about taking your kids fishing, DO IT. Fishing is FUN, PERIOD. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Hope to see you on the water.
    City: Weaverville

Monday, December 4th, 2006

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    Water Temp: ????

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: live in south bay look forward to you guiding
    City: mountain view

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    Water Temp: na

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: John, I hope to fish Trinity with you someday. I've been keeping up with your reports for quite some time and have really enjoyed them. I especially love spoon fishing, personally. I have always entertained the thought of guide fishing here in the southbay, but I don't have a clue where to begin. I've been fishing lakes like Calero, Anderson, Chesbro, and have a pretty good knowledge of how to catch them here. Would you help a fellow who's thinking about starting a guide service down this way. Sorry, gang, this is not a fishing report, but I promise to leave reports after this.
    City: san jose

    Tips: spend time reading the reports and go and try the techniques recommended on the reports and DO NOT lose heart if you don't catch fish right away. Everybody get's skunked, but persistence really does pay off.

Sunday, December 3rd, 2006

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    Water Temp: 49

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: When I moved to Trinity from Maine 16 years ago, it was with the intention of spending a couple of years learning the lake, then becoming a bass guide. After 10 tears of periodically getting my butt kicked by this beautiful lake, I finally got enough confidence to go ahead and get my license and permit from the Forest Service. Since then there have been great days, and there have been slow days. For some reason, the worst of days have always seemed to occur when there is a camera in the boat. Chris Shaffer, staff writer for Fishing and Hunting News, who has helped greatly by promoting my business, has never seen first hand what Trinity Lake can really be like. Richard Alves, from The Fish Sniffer, got a glimpse of what Trinity can be like, but not a look at what Trinity can be. Robin Wade of Western Outdoor News got an opportunity to see just how miserable Trinity weather can be. The latest victim was Justin Wolff, producer of the Angler West TV show. He came up to do an episode of True Bass which will air on Comcast, out of Sacramento, next Sat AM, Dec 9th. 2 Hard days of pre-fishing, and a day of filming netted this Trinity Lake veteran a grand total of 7 keepers. NOTHING over 2 lbs. We didn't even catch enough dinks to populate a small goldfish bowl. Trinity Lake, I lay prostrate, humbled, before you!
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: As far as Nor-Cal guides go, you have Lunker Larry, or Dinker John.

Thursday, November 23rd, 2006

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    Water Temp: 54

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: When I was growing up back in Maine, Thanksgiving morning meant hunting deer. This tradition continued through many generations in the Gray family. It continues to this day. Because I'm not there to join in, and because I've stopped hunting since I've been in Cal, now I go fishing instead. Even though I'm not back there with my family,I know we're all outdoors enjoying God's wonders. It gives me a sense of connection, which I cherish. I can only hope that they had as great a day as I did. I was on the water for only about 2 1/2 hrs,( didn't want to stretch my chain too far) but the fishing was great. Caught 10 fish,the best 5 going a little over 21 lbs. 5-10 LM, 4-12 LM, 4-10 smalie, and 2 smallies right at 3 were the best. After struggling with dinks and dinks and more dinks, for the past month, this was a welcome relief.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: For some reason, when the water temp drops below 55 deg the spoon bite really turns on. This has happened for a few years now, (maybe I shoulda been throwin spoons years ago). All my fish today except 1 were caught on Duh Team Spoons (the 4-12 LM was on the Gitzit). Thank you Mr. Tietz!

Monday, November 6th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 58-60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The last Jason Fisher Scholarship Tourny was held Nov 4th. It was a tough day for all except for the team of Sexton and Flanigan. They brought in approx. 18 lbs. with a 6 14 LM Lunker. I didn't bother to set up the scales as they had the only quality fish.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: I had an interesting day as my partner and I fished with the trolling motor only. We would have had 20 lbs if we'd weighed all 40 fish we caught. Thanks Mike and Rob for the tow. I'm headed to the Outboard Center in Redding this AM to re-power my boat.

Monday, October 23rd, 2006

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: RIP RIP RIP. Best 5 went for 23#
    City: weaverville

Thursday, October 19th, 2006

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    Water Temp: n/a

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Okay

Monday, October 16th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The pics should be up on this site soon. I'm working with dial-up here so I get to take a nap while sending E-mails or posting photos. I'd say the fall bite is wide open here but it is very site specific and maybe even a little bait specific. From what I saw on my graph Sat, I'd say that a large population of the bigger bass are schooled up in an extremely small area, porkin up on Kokanee. Find the spot and experience the fishing of a lifetime, miss it and you'll have to go through a 35 fish day like Johnny Mac and I did.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: I've always said that this lake is too good not to share, and I've always been very generous with my information. However I'm afraid that the spot that Mr. Thurber found is a little too good to share for now. At least until I've had a decent crack at it. Stay tuned.

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    Water Temp: 62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hey John,
    Where can we see the photos...??? If you have them then you should post em on your website. Has the fall bite begun?!?!?
    Cheers,
    Sean
    City: Arcata

Sunday, October 15th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Yesterday I had the priveledge of witnessing something really special. I photographed and weighed a 30.19 limit of Northern strain Largemouths. Last Monday I went out with a gent from southern Cal who was going to be camping and fishing on Trinity for the week. After showing him around some of the deeper structure, and explaining how I felt the bass would be keying on the Kokanee this time of year, he took that info and refined the location and techniques and parlayed it into one of the best fishing days I've ever witnessed. He found the proverbial sweet spot on the sweet spot and caught 20 bass over 3 lbs. The largest being 7.97. I watched him cull a solid 5 lber before the bite finally died around 11 o'clock. This happened on a day when Johnny Mac and I couldn't hook a decent fish fishing nearby. Those fish were caught in the middle of the lake in an area about the size of your living room. Talk about a graph lighting up. Congratulations Mr. Thurber. If I couldn't be the one getting my string stretched, I was, at least, proud to be there and watch. Oh did I forget to mention the 8-4 he caught the day before?
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: These fish are in the same area they were holding last Nov when we were catching 25+ sacks. I figure I'll let them settle down for a couple of days before I go out and try to get my record back. The best I'd ever done on Trinity was 29-15.

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: JOHN THANKS FOR THE CONSTANT UPDATES NEED TO GET UP THERE SOOOOON!
    City: mountain view

Saturday, September 30th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 68-70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished the last 3 days with varying success. First off about the clarity of Trinity right now. The fish are watching you flip your bail if you aren't making a 100'+ cast. Throw a heavy, deep diving crankbait as far as you can, and watch it all the way back to the boat. When there's a little ripple on the water, you can catch fish. When it's dead calm, which it has been a lot lately, take a nice nap. Thurs. was a fun day. Had a good topwater bite going on crankbaits, toss em out and let em set. If nothing happens after several seconds, crank em half way back to the boat and stop. This technique resulted in the best fish of the day, several smallies over 3 lbs. Some were toilet flushes on top, some came on the pause. Either way, these fish were taken near the surface, over rockpiles, in water over 25' deep, a first for me. Friday was much tougher. The topwater bite did not materialize and the best fish that day were caught on gitzits and worms on the same piles, but fished slow on the bottom. Not many good fish but for a honeymooning couple from the midwest, 4 lb smallies were a real treat. Today was altogether different. Started out slow like the other 2 days, but picked up around 8 AM. Cranks slow rolled on the surface or just under, accounted for about 15 fish, when that died around 10 we started picking up fish on plastics fished slow on the bottom. Fishing slow on the bottom on rockpiles with ball-jigs sure keeps a guide busy tying knots, but when you end up with a 40 fish day, it's worth it. At least the clients catch something on almost every cast,( once in a while one of those rocks goes airborn) Today the 3-4 lbers went into hiding.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: Pray for rain, this lake needs a good storm to put a little color in the water. Being able to read the Budweiser pledge in 20' of water is not a good thing.

Thursday, September 21st, 2006

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    Water Temp: 68-70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I do my best to post reports when there is something to report. I've been on the lake 5 days out of the last 12. Did you notice that I haven't posted? This lake always goes through a late summer doldrums period where the fishing slows a little for a few days. This year it has lasted for a couple of weeks. A fellow called last night asking for advice as he was planning a trip here this weekend. I told him the best thing he could do was stay home and polish his boat. I have no clue what's happening, but on Mon and Tues this week we could only catch a dozen or so fish a day for a total of maybe 10 lbs,( yes, that's 24 fish for 10 lbs.) I really thought I had these fish trained better than that. I"ve been blaming it on the smoke, but Tuesday it was clear as a bell and was the worst day yet. I've about run out of excuses, so If anyone has any new ones, I could use a little help.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: I'm planning to find out this weekend if things have changed. I'll let you know.

Tuesday, September 12th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 72

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Mon and Tues. Monday was a numbers day, lots and lots of little guys with a few decent fish topped by a 4.92 smallie. Caught a couple topwater fish, this should get going any time now, but most were on worms and, you guessed it, Gitzits. The better fish were caught in about 25' in the center of creek channels. Every stump had 2 or 3 dinks. Not every creek channel held good guys. Saw a nice buck swimming across the East Fork, saw a swimming snake, saw a Kingfisher doing his thing, played with the Eagles, saw a ground squirrel lose a little fur to an osprey, (he survived). You wonder why I love this lake? Tuesday the smoke moved in, and the fishing went to h*ll in a handbasket. Weird!
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: Today the wind picked up near the Pigeon and Bake-Oven fires near Junction City. The wind is out of the Northwest wich will blow the fire back toward Junction City. Winds of 30-50 mph are predicted. Save a spot in your prayers for those folks.

Sunday, August 13th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished yesterday for the first time since my last report. Sure was good to get out. The lake is at the level that I know best. Many years this is about as high as it gets and I've spent a lot of time fishing this level. I've located several rockpiles on the north end and several pieces of structure on the main lake that always hold fish at this level. They were there yesterday. I had a 15 lb limit of smallies on the gitzit by 6:20. Improved the limit with a 5 lb black about 9:00 and upped it to 19+ a few minutes later with my second 4 lb smallie. Off the water by 9:45. Pretty exceptional day for me for August. Sure glad I made it out.
    City: Weaverville

    Tips: The gitzit was the hot ticket early. After the sun got on the water, the Pro Gold worm worked best. I guess they liked the flash that gold line puts out. After another week with my nose to the grindstone I should be on the lake a little more.

Friday, July 28th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished 3 times in the last week. Some days pretty good, others not so hot. Oh, I'm sorry, it was plenty HOT. Just the fishin wasn't all that great. Lot's of little guys but the big dogs are a little tough to find right now. Fished yesterday with a family from way down south and it was a day that I'm sure I got much more out of than they did. The fishing was only so-so, but the obvious bond between Mom, Dad, and the 3 teenage daughters was really something to witness. The respect, politeness, the firm handshake, that I received from teenaged girls was fantastic. They were the girls that I grew up with 40 years ago in a small farming community in Maine. I had no idea that there were still parents out there that were able, in this day and age, to instill a sense of wonder and awe in the things that are natural. The snow on the mountains on a hot day in July, Osprey diving for dinner, Eagles circling, begging for lunch, all had a profound effect on these young ladies, and not an i-Pod to be found. The cell phones never rang. To Mr. and Mrs. Madsen I say: write a book on parenting, the world needs your knowledge. What you have was lost in the sixties. Please, come again, I need days like this to give me some hope for the next generation.
    City: Weaverville

Wednesday, July 26th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 80 degrees

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I went to the lake on 07/22 and 07/23 to do some fishing with my family. It was the trip from Hell. My 6 year old son and I started off Sat. morning catching fish left and right. About 0930 my son accidently hooked his 3 year old sister just under her right eye with a jig head he had on his favorite Gitzit. The hook buried itself into her face. Once I got everyone calmed down I ripped into the Trinity Center Marina, dropped off my boat with total strangers and headed to the Trinity Center fire department. Once there we decided to have my daughter flown to Redding for treatment. This is not a fishing report but a Thank You note. I want to apologize for the wake I caused when I came into the marina, but also want to thank the nice people who took care of my boat and gear until I could return later to retrieve it. I also want to thank the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department for their quick response and the care they provided my daughter. I also want to thank the members of the Mercy Air Team that flew her to Redding and the Staff at Mercy Hospital Emergency Room who all treated me and my daughter with great compassion and concern. My daughter is recovering just fine thanks to the fine work from the people whom I have mentioned. You are all professionals, and very much appreciated by my daughter and my family. (she is still carrying the stuffed bear with her) Thanks Again and Thanks for all that you do for your communities. GOD SPEED.
    City: Eureka

    Tips: I serve in a Public Service profession and have to face challenging situations every day and am very thankful for the people in my profession. If you decided to read this story, I hope the next time you have an opprotunity to meet a Police Officer, Fire Fighter, or Emergency Medical personnel you take the time to thank them for their service and their sacrifises.