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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, March 14th, 2014

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 55-57

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: No wonder we could catch 'em during the day - clum caught them all at night - LOL!! Anyway, it's no wonder Berryessa looked so good for my Thursday trip after being on the water for 16 hours Tues and Wed - day trips. Sort of like being in a giant washing machine! When the "big wind" blows from the south it is hard to find anywhere to fish! Do I love my 521 Ranger, or what??!! Do I remember the past with 3 people in my 17ft10in Ranger in those conditions? How did we do it? It was called "above water drowning!" Tuesday my clients and I did our best but couldn't boat a fish, though we missed 3 bites. It was lonely out there - only 2 other boats. I was actually looking forward to my Wed trip because the wind was supposed to die down some. Yea....Right!!! It was worse! My husband/wife team and I started about 8:30 am in Jago Bay. No wind yet! I was using my brown/orange jig that clum likes so much and - behold! - a bite!! She went 5 1/4 lbs! The lady of the boat soon hooks her first - gets it to the boat - but loses another 5+ pounder. She then caught one near 4 lbs and hubby soon lands one. So far, so good! Until the wind reappears - worse than Tues! I finally give up on the west side and battled our way to the east shore. We spent the rest of the time exploring various structures which were new to them. We wound up with 8 in the boat for maybe 21-22 lbs - best 5. Weird - just as she lost a big fish in the beginning - he looses a big fish on his last cast of the trip. Broke his line - bummer!! Anyway, I felt pretty happy with the results of our trip and the knowledge they gained. Nice people!!

      Tips: Talk about tough conditions - two days in a row! I was not sad to leave Clear Lake. Again on Wed - only saw 3 boats out! Jigs were the preferred baits for both trips - maybe the best and easiest baits to use in heavy wind.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 49 to 53

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Lake Shasta is up to 107' from capacity. Water temps are ranging from 49 in the mornings to 53 in the afternoon. The bass bite has been great in all part's of the lake. We've had report's of people catching them on reaction baits like spinnerbait's and jerkbait's as well as whacky rigged senko's. If you're looking for a bigger fish spend some time throwing 7" & 8" swimbaits as well as jigs.

Thursday, March 13th, 2014

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 53.8

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Although the fishing was spotty, the size was again phenomenal! 5best were 8.4, 8.2, 7.12, 7.6, & 6.14 for a 38.6 lb. limit! Got on the water @ 6:00pm & it was a slow start. The bite didn't get going until after 1:30 am. Wind was calm so we went to Jago & Jones bay but once again caught most of the fish in Konocti. They were back on the jig bite in 15-20 ft. Of water. We used Rodstrainer jigs in Brown/Orange for the trip with various trailers, mostly craw like the Damiki Knockout. Good trip except for the windy Tues. Gonna try to come back in 2 weeks. All of the fish are healthy, strong, & big bellied!

      Tips: We moved around more tonight. When we got bit, they crushed it. We were working it in short hops then deadsticking it for5-10 sec. When you resumed, pow! Hold on when you set the hook, I was leaning the wrong way on one & almost got pulled off balance!

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished today with Jeff, launching at the spillway about 8:20 or so. Launch has 2 docks again, about 6 lanes for the busy days. We did ok, considering the white caps and wind. Damn did it ever blow today. We ended up with 5 spots, all clones right at 15". We would have done better but I lost 3 fish after hooking them, they just came off half way to the boat!!! Fish all caught in 10-25 feet of water, roboworms, bold bluegill did the trick today, half the fish on shaky heads and the others on drop shots.
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat looking for a fish partner, let me know and lets go catch some spots together. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 53.7

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out at 9:00pm, windy conditions. Only able to stay out for an hour,boated 2 around 4 lbs each. The wind literally started howling & we pulled the pin & came in. Stay tuned for tomorrow.

      Tips: Love fishing as much as the next guy, but staying safe is a priority!

Tuesday, March 11th, 2014

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 53.7

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: What a difference from yesterday. Weather much nicer & fishing a little tougher! Started at 6pm picked up a few dinks the 1st couple of hours. After it turned dark fishing improved, we caught good quality fish. They were on more of a Texas rig bite instead of jigs. We managed a few good jig fish, a 7+ & a 5+ but the big fish, an 8.12 was caught on Texas rigged Yamamoto Flappin Hog. We finished with a best 5 of 34 lbs even. They were: 8.12, 7.9, 6.7, 5.11, &5.9.We had to work a little harder, boated 16 with the average size a little smaller than last nite. They were deeper also in 22- 20ft. Bite died at 1:30am. Gonna try it tomorrow if the wind prediction is wrong.

      Tips: Presented the baits much slower tonight, you felt a bump, then they ran with it. Most fish came in front of tules with structure in front. Greens were the popular color. Once again fished Konocti Bay.

Monday, March 10th, 2014

  • Lake County
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Did previous on tablet & it autospells, the values for Ted were personal bests. Also for got to mention the fish were up close within 8 feet off the bank.

      Tips: Turn off autospell!

    • By

      Water Temp: 53.4

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the water @ 7:00pm Sun. 1st strike broke a new Loomis rod on a hookset, thot this could be bad luck. Got lucky tho & put together a nice outing! Fished til rain chased us at 2:45am. Boated 20 fish, all healthy & chubby! 8.8, 8.2, 7.11, 7.8, 7.6; a great 39.3 limit. Tried like the Dickens to get to 40, but when they rain hit, the bite died on us. Fished south in Konocti Bay, most were on jigs with a few on Texas rigged Sweet Beavers. Ted got his phone @ 8.8 & got over 30lbs for his best 5 also a lb. Gonna try again tomorrow if weather let's us! No blade, Seiko, or crank bite, we tried. Smallest fish we caught was 4.7, everything else was,over 5!

      Tips: 1/2 oz. Jigs were the ticket with small hops then slow drag for about 6", the trailers were Damiki creature green watermelon red flake. They picked it up most of the time but a few smacked it! The Texas rig was Sweet Beavers in Big Texan, slow presentation. Would have been nice to have caught one more 8-9 over but we're with what we got!

Sunday, March 9th, 2014

    • By

      Water Temp: 61

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished 4 hours and landed 6 in the 1.5 to 2 lb. range. Skies were overcast with little to no wind. First fish came on a lipless crank bait. Next 5 were all top water. The bite seemed to turn on with the presence of a slight 5 minute rain shower. Saw several other bass anglers landing fish. Overall the lake seemed to be producing for most of us.
      City: Lincoln

      Tips: With the water level rising so fast, be extra cautious of floating debris everywhere.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 56 am

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The big female largemouths were shallow in scattered rock the size of your fist to the size of a head. Lake level is just below the tules now with lots of debris in the water. Tough fishing trees on this lake, just too much fishing line hanging on them. Perfect pitches hang up on the line. I took a plunge trying to get my bait free and had to swim over/thru a tree to get to the ladder around the back of the boat. Lucky I didn't get hooked to the tree. Ironically, 2 women were swimming the lake for exercise that morning! Too dangerous for me - I'd be scared of cramping up and drowning.
      City: dublin

      Tips: Soft plastics only in the places I found fish or you'll be hauling long, stringy, rope-like junk constantly.

Saturday, March 8th, 2014

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 58-61

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: After one of Laurie Lockhart's famous meals, I starting fishing about 4pm (Fri) and had Immediate action - and I mean quick! The second cast with my brown/orange jig produced a great hit and soon a 4 3/4 lb bass. Way to start!! I missed another on the next cast. Within the next hour I landed 2 more between 4 1/2 and 5 lbs! I only caught two more before dark - around 2 1/2 lb each. After dark I was fishing a wall that I have never caught a really big bass, but I continue to fish it. It finally paid off with an earth-shaking hit which let to a tedious net job. She finally jumped into the net and went 6 lbs 1 oz. A few casts later, another good hit and a 3+ pounder found the net. I fished until 11 pm, hoping for the big bite. I did get it, but lost her after a few seconds. So - a 22 1/2 lb limit made the long drive home very easy!

      Tips: The lake is up some 20 feet from the low of 60 feet. There is a little debris floating, but not much. There are still a few submerged tree branches sticking up, so be careful. I threw a crankbait some, along with a swim jig. Even at night I threw a few different baits, but the jig is what seemed to please them. The bass I hooked were right on the bank, from 10 to 20 feet.

  • Butte County
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Dana loaned my his boat so I had to get out today. Launched at Lime Saddle about 6am, off the lake at noon. Slow bite for me, only got 4 spots, 13-14" or so. Water pretty dirty in some areas, almost like mud!! Water has risen now 31 feet as of yesterday and news reported water had risen 3 feet in 24 hours right after the rain. Last look, were 168 feet below full pool. Fished several baits, with roboworms getting all fish.
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat looking for a fish partner, let me know and lets go catch some spots. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net I'm available most of the time, and love to fish.

Friday, March 7th, 2014

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51-56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 6AM-2PM and had a monster day. We didn't get the numbers that I am used to getting at Berryessa, but the quality was awesome.

      Perfect day; sunny, no wind and air temps at 70+.

      Started on the East side of the lake and picked up a 3.2, 5.1 and a 6.4. Next, we headed to the West side and added a few more from 3.5-4.0. Went to my favorite spot up river and got the biggest of the day, a 7.2 slob. We ended the day down in the narrows, but never even got a bite. Marked fish in the 30-40' range, but they weren't pickin up what we were layin down. We ended the day with 12 total, with our best 5 going over 26 lbs.

      The fish are definitely moving up and it appears that quality fish are the first to arrive. We targeted main points from 5-15' and all of our strikes were a very soft pull. Mushy, mushy bite.

      Having fished this lake heavily last spring, I would say that everything is going to be early this year, for sure. If the weather stays warm, Berryessa might be wide open by April 1st.
      City: San Ramon

      Tips: If you want to know what we were throwing, ask Scotty G. I'm sure he'd be happy to tell you after his tournament this next weekend. Good luck Scotty!!

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 58 - 59

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Wednesday 3-5-14, we launched out of Holland Riverside Marina and fished inside and outside of Mildred Tract (Island). We tried many different techniques but were successful with only three of them. We ended the day with 19 fish. Eight fish were caught on a 7-in. Senko rigged wacky style, six by drop-shotting a 6-in. RoboWorm and five on a Reaction Innovation Boom-Boom tube. They ranged from 1 lb. to 5 lb. 2 oz. All appeared to be males with the exception of the 5-pounder which looked to be full of eggs. More than half of the fish were caught on ledges in 5 to 10 feet of water near the bank. Others were caught at the same depth but in the flooded trees.
      City: Pinole

      Tips: The males are starting to stage and it won’t be long before the water temperature is over 60º and large females will be following.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 52-55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: It is really a shame that there aren't more reports for Clear Lake. I enjoy posting them (at least for the good trips!), but I enjoy reading them too. We can always learn something - especially on current conditions. Enough of that! Mike Sperbeck and I hit the lake yesterday about 5 pm and had 11 in the Ranger by dark - with three all around 4 1/2 lbs. After dark, the bite got really weird - maybe because some of the 2 to 3 pounders are showing up. Mike lost several quality bass that just wouldn't stay on the hook - and he sets the hook with quality!!! I had the tail of a 6 inch Yamamoto grub bitten off my jig combo 3 times! That just doesn't happen at night in Feb and March. Very strange. And some of the bites were fierce - but nothing there when setting the hook. Some large fish started feeding about 11 pm and I was able to land a nice 7 lb 6 oz and 6 lb 10 oz bass that both hit a black/chartreuse jig. We were trying for our 3rd 30 lb limit in a row, but fell short at slightly over 27 lbs. We did boat 24 bass on our 6 hr trip - plenty of action! We were pretty happy over our 15 best (3 trips) over 92 lbs - great lake!!

      Tips: I just have to comment on the weather. Clear Lake is known for the wind factor, but most don't know that it can get more calm than any other lake. All Sierra foothill lakes have a down-slope night breeze, east to west, for example. Clear Lake doesn't have that pattern, so nights can get so flat that you have no feeling of boat movement at you go from spot to spot. That is really cool during full-moon nights! Last night was one of those nights. All the shoreline lights were reflected as perfect twins on the flat water. Stunning!! As for baits we used - quite simple. Mike used small and giant Sweet Beavers and I used jigs. I tried D&M swim jigs and Berkley havoc baits (usually good baits), but could only get bit on jigs. So, what else is new? Again, 15 to 25 feet - some at 30. I tried deadsticking to no avail - they wanted the bait moving and twitched a bit.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Is Trinity Center Ramp in the water?

Monday, March 3rd, 2014

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 51=54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I had the pleasure of taking another client from Japan yesterday (Sunday)to Berryessa. He has never caught a bass and very much wanted to catch an "American" bass! We only had about 6 1/2 hrs to fish and my hopes weren't too high after all the fishing pressure from a typical Saturday. I had him fishing a purple, then morning dawn Robo worm. No bites - so I switched him to a green craw Robo and behold - pressure off the guide. He landed his first bass - all of 1 1/2 lbs!! I think he took 20 photos of the "monster!" Very happy man!! I soon netted his second bass - a little larger. At the end of the trip, we stopped at the point where he caught the first one and this time he hooked a good spotted bass - 2 lbs 10 oz. I wish you all could have seen his excitement upon landing that fish! That is when guiding is really cool!!! We wound up with 6 spots and a nice largemouth for a 13 lb limit.

      Tips: We found all our fish on points in the narrows - which I guess had been pounded the previous day. Our bigger bass were all deep in spite of a cloudy, rainy day - mostly 20-30 feet. All his bass on the Robo 6" worm, all mine on brown/orange jigs w/#180 Yamamoto double tail grub. I tried crankbaits some - no takers.

Saturday, March 1st, 2014

    • By

      Water Temp: 51-55

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Overall the bite for the tournament was slow. We caught 5 "CFW cookie cutters" early and then after 10 o clock it died and we only managed 4 12"ers. It took 8 lb for cash and 10.2 lb to win.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: So how was the bite for that tournament today?
      City: Granite Bay

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Annual Tournament at Camp Far this weekend. Verified 21 Boats confirmed so far. Late sign ups at the entrance. $60 dollars for the team for late sign up. Only 20 Percent chance for rain on Saturday. You will receive a number and for blastoff and it will be a random draw for the first to go out. Should be fun. See you out there.

      Tips: Fish with friends and have fun Saturday.