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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, March 24th, 2002

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      Water Temp: 52-54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water by 10:30 headed or Bear Creek. Got the irst one by 11:00 11/2 lbs. on a green crankbait. Ater getting a clone some ten minutes later, the bite went dead. Ater about 45 minutes, headed to the upper lake where I got two more clones. O o the water by 2:30.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: I the weather stabilizes, the bigger ones will be moving up soon.

  • Riverside County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well, or a Sunday at this place there was hardly anyone out here today. The weather was a little brisk and anyone who's a basketball an was at home watching their avorite game! That said, the ishing is starting to slowly pick-up here. Three o us hit the bank in two dierent locations with dierent results at each one. The marina area has some nice sized bass swimming around but with the oot/boat traic above them their not biting very well in the colder water. We also hit some rocky areas that we know o and did score some ish a ew at a time with the biggest being 3.5lbs. The weird part was that once we scored a ish in that area, it did'nt produce a ew more. Very odd or this lake. I know the BIGGER ish are out there but i you are a bank isherman your going to need to cast out as ar as possible. Also I did not see any o those very large bluegill around as o yet, but that action should be comimg up very soon now as well.
      City: Los Angeles

      Tips: As some olks know rom reading my various ish reports I DO ish rom a boat too, but I like the bank action as well. At this lake either way you like to ish, I recommend irst and oremost is lite pound test line. That means dierent things to dierent isherman. For me, the lightest I go is 4lbs test! I tired a airly new stlye set-up or me here. Basically it was a "drop-shot" rig with a #2 spilt shot under a gitzit tube bait on a lite wire hook. In the rocks this outit.....well, ROCKS! When you snag up(which WILL happen about every other cast)in those hideous tackle eaters the split shot simply slides o the bottom leader dropper when you pull back hard and can ish your now no weight outit in nice and slow! Works great! In all the snags I had, I only lost two complete outits all day! Great! Saves $$$$$$$!!! The only draw back is when the wind comes up you will basically have to wait or a "or sure" pull on your line to know a ish has picked up your bait. Tougher, but not impossible. I hooked-up 7 times, got three to shore, one broke o way out there, (you just KNOW that was the big ish o the day, damn!) and the rest popped o beore the hook dug in. My riends did not air as well, but it was just thier luck today. All and all not a bad day early in the regular season! Good luck!

  • Merced County
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      Water Temp: 55 F ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: nada nothing...saw plenty on ishinder but not a strike or nibble...trolled, jigged, bait...the only one I heard being caught was rom a guy anchored and using live minnows but all were under legal size...no bite may have been cuz o a cold ront that had just come through
      City: Monterey

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 49.2-51.6

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: in at Bailey Cove at 0630, air temp 38 with clearing skies and no wind, ran upstream in the McCloud to just south o Nosoni creek and ished a long lat red mud point at the 12-25 t level or 5 ish in the irst ten minutes but al were small with the biggest about 1.5. moved downstream near dekas rock in a creek channel with ish in 30t but couldn't get them to go. Continued south near the Caverns erry and picked up three more and a dink smallmouth. went urther south on the east bank and hit some more including a nice smallmouth all on jigs or a total o 16 with my uncle who got here yesterday rom Indiana. We had 8 apiece. Got out at 1230 or some lunch at 60 degrees and the lake is up near 18t and looking good, water starting to clear and some warm weather will get the spawn going. Hitting the points will produce a ish or two at each stop.
      City: Redding

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      Water Temp: 47 to 50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Pre ished Thurs. and Fri. or the Shasta Cascade Tournament Sat. Tried the Squaw and Pit and ound the Mccloud to produce larger ish. Blast o 06:15 and had a wet ride up the Mccloud past Dekkas Rock. My partner, Roland Erickson rom Gridley did a great job in the back seat. Thanks Gene or hooking us up. He does a great job with a darter head. I ished 3/8 ootball head jigs with a pumpkin pepper twin tail skirted grub. Didn't have any problem getting bit. The quality o ish was the problem. Must have caught over 50 ish through out the day. I also picked up ish on MGM #157 (Jerry's worm). The jig bite was more productive or me. Roland threw a 1/8 darter head with a brown and orange 4" worm he makes at home. Big ish or us was 2.05 and total weight 10.89. We caught better ish Thurs. Finished 25 out o 67, not bad or a couple o beginners. Thanks again Roland, it was an enjoyable three days, even in the rain. We will have to do it again sometime.
      City: Cottonwood

      Tips: It seems like any point was holding ish. Most ish came in 20 to 35 eet o water. Still a sot bite, elt like a little added weight on the jig, set the hook and start culling.

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My brother and I ished Saturday and Sunday. Trout were big and un to catch. Fished several spots around the lake Saturday. Powerbait was the coice to use. Sunday was better. Went trolling around the lake. Caught 3 good size trout and one steelhead.
      City: San Jose

Saturday, March 23rd, 2002

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My dad and I ished the Stockton Bass team tournament out o Ladd's this past Saturday. Didn't preish, but ound these ish about a month ago just oolin' around. Started throwing blades, Speed Trap, and Rat-L-Trap with only one 4lb. striper and a small keeper black to show or our eorts, so it was time to slow down. Went to pitchin' Senkos on slightly deeper banks, and that did the trick. The real key seemed to be the deeper water (at least 8' under the boat) and a mix o rock and tule, not just one or the other. For example, an isolated tule clump or a short stretch o rip-rap was better than a long stretch o either. We ended up with 7 or 22-6, with a big ish o 6-11. All ish were caught in 5' or less. Did lose a real good one lippin a 1/2oz. jig and pork... sucker grabbed the jig as I was liting it out to make another pitch. I managed a hal-hearted hookset, and did eel the weight or a ew seconds. Would have hleped us, no doubt. Key to the Senko bite was a very limited-action retrieve. Cast it out, let it sink, lit to eel or pressure. I you didn't get bit on the all, simply DRAG the bait a ew inches at a time. For us anyway, the less action on the bait, the better. Good luck!
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: Senko was the key or us - 5" watermelon/red lake.

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      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had planned on ishing the Stockton Bass tournament with my buddy JK, but go to Ladds and the tourney was already illed at the 60 boat limit. Bummer. First time we have ever been turned away, but I guess we learned a valuable lesson about pre sign ups. We thought about going home since the weather was so miserable, but decided togo back and launch at Paradise. It was pouring when we launched, but we made the trip up into Potato to try and get a quick limit o Striper. This plan worked and we had 12 in the boat up to 7 pounds in the irst 15 minutes. Ater a 1/2 hour o solid action we thought about going to our tournament spots just to see i the ish were on but decided to eliminate water instead. We headed up around the King Island area and immediately got on some Senko ish up to 4 pounds. We let the area quickly to try and keep it resh or another day. Next, we went to Whites and got 3 more senko ish to 4 1/2 pounds over the next two hours. We ended the day early with 13 striper and 6 bass.
      City: roseville

      Tips: A very nasty, windy and rainy day. The wind was howling so hard that working plastics was next to impossible. For some reason the reaction bite was not on. Did well considering the elements. Senko color did not matter. Fish were really taking the bait down.

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      Water Temp: 52-53

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Two person guide trip today, overcast intermitten rain but not cold. Launched out o Lundborg and tried a ew shallow spots with no luck, so back to deep again. First spot on a jig 3lber about 8' deep, next spot guys loses one about 5 (saw it) I get a 4+ and we get anoother 3+ all in Franks and all deep. So we run arond spot to spot and get a ish here and there all around 2 or so. hen over by Mandeville (not in) we hit this bak that 3 other guys already ished and we get 2-3's and I loose one elt good. Then all o a sudden the guy next to me yells I'm stuck in the weeds, I look over an one about 7 jumps. I started laughing I could hardly lip it. (He will probley read this so I won't mention names)Then went to Mildred and got a ew more no big ones just 2+'s. Not a bad day or a couple o guy's just learing to lip we boated about 17-20 ish with the best 5 going 21-ish.
      City: Concord

      Tips: Jigs and tubes deep and current

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Starte right o with a nice two pound smallie around a submerged rock pile. Friend had a 1.5lbs smallie, 2lbs largemouth, and a 3lb spotted. All had big bellies. Friend also caught two 2 lb trout, one with a 4" greeny weeny and one with a 3" jerk bait (this one the rain was pouring down on us. Top water smallie bite should start soon with nice weather comming.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: baby brush hogs, slow retrieve and stops, ish picking up when stopped.

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

      Report: The weatherman on Friday night obviously wasn

      Tips: just go!

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 48-55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Pre ished Folsom again or 2nd weekened in a row. The bite really slowed down compared to last week and the water is cooler. I am happy to report the water is up and the larger ramp at granite bay is open. Started the morning ishing rock piles in the main body or zero bites, lots o ish crashing on top. Made a run to north ork, water was 52 degrees, ound ish in 20 eet o water, caught a ew 3 pound spots on darter heads with iness worms. Decided to try my partners honey holes in the southork, water a bit colder at 48 degrees. Caught alot o nice ish on brush hogs, We started culling about 1pm compared to last week at 10am, so these ish must have elt the cold ront that passed yesterday., I talked to other anglers that had the same slow bite. I did manage to nail a nice 6pound spot on a lipless crankbait. So hope to see her tournament day! Good luck
      City: sacramento

      Tips: I would suggest ishing it as much as you can to get a deinate bait pattern, I like using hard baits as my partner is a plastic man, so since the bite is inconsistent, I would try what you eel comoratable with and throw it..although I had not dropp shotted I think you can catch more as I saw alot o suspended ish on the graph on ledges.

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 55-57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished in all the wind & rain,rom daybreak to 3:30 pm...We caught rom 40 to 45 ish.All but two over 13 in to 15 in...Fish were caught on Senkos,4 in leaches,6 in worms,skirted grubs & one on a crankbait.Biggest ish was a trout caught on a senko..Fish were caught rom 3 t to 15 t deep.Horse Shoe creek area & Main lake area..I was there 3-21 too & we caught app 25 rom 10 am to 3 pm.
      City: Riv

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      Water Temp: 49-50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: FISHED MAIN LAKE AREAS-RUN & GUN PATTERN, SMALL LIMIT ON RIPBAITS,BIG FISH 2.5LB. LUCKY CRAFT 128 AURORA BLACK. 4 SMALL DINKS ON MORNING DAWN, PUT DOWN THE WORM,PICKED UP THE JIG,AND GOT THE SAME RESULT.WENT BACK TO THE RIPBAIT.CAN'T WAIT FOR THE TOP WATER THIS IS TOO MUCH WORK,I THINK I'LL GO BACK TO WORK TO REST.FIVE FISH LIMIT APPOX. 9LBS.
      City: CHICO

      Tips: LUCKY CRAFT 128 AURORA BLACK,MATCHED W/MARKSTAIL[WWW.MARKSTAILS.COM].YESTERDAY-THE FISH LIKED THE 128 AURORA BLACK AND TENNESSEE SHAD WITHOUT THE TAIL.RIP BITE BETTER YESTERDAY THAN TODAY.IF YOU LIKE TO CATCH DINKS USE THE MORNING DAWN.BROWN AND BROWN JIG HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE PAST,MAYBE I'M JUST OFF THE FISH. HAVE A GOOD ONE, LARRY

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 52-54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: FISHED MAIN LAKE, FISHING SLOW IN MORNING, DID CATCH MY BEST5 ON LUCKY CRAFT 128 IN AURORA BLACK.THREW WORMS, MORNING DAWN WORKED BEST, FISH WERE DINKS TO SQUEKERS. THREW BROWN ON BROWN JIGS THEY WERE WORKING WELLLAST WEEK, BUT CAUGHT SMALL KEEPERS THIS WEEK. MAYBE I AMOFF THE BOTTOM BITE. MY BEST 5 APPROX. 9LBS.
      City: CHICO

      Tips: 128 IN AURURA BLACK WITH A MATCHING MARK'S TAIL.MORNING DAWN IN 6 INCH.BROWN JIG BROWN SUPER PORK.

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      Water Temp: 52-54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: FISHED MAIN LAKE, FISHING SLOW IN MORNING, DID CATCH MY BEST5 ON LUCKY CRAFT 128 IN AURORA BLACK.THREW WORMS, MORNING DAWN WORKED BEST, FISH WERE DINKS TO SQUEKERS. THREW BROWN ON BROWN JIGS THEY WERE WORKING WELLLAST WEEK, BUT CAUGHT SMALL KEEPERS THIS WEEK. MAYBE I AMOFF THE BOTTOM BITE. MY BEST 5 APPROX. 9LBS.
      City: CHICO

      Tips: 128 IN AURURA BLACK WITH A MATCHING MARK'S TAIL.MORNING DAWN IN 6 INCH.BROWN JIG BROWN SUPER PORK.

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      Water Temp: 52-54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: FISHED MAIN LAKE, FISHING SLOW IN MORNING, DID CATCH MY BEST5 ON LUCKY CRAFT 128 IN AURORA BLACK.THREW WORMS, MORNING DAWN WORKED BEST, FISH WERE DINKS TO SQUEKERS. THREW BROWN ON BROWN JIGS THEY WERE WORKING WELLLAST WEEK, BUT CAUGHT SMALL KEEPERS THIS WEEK. MAYBE I AMOFF THE BOTTOM BITE. MY BEST 5 APPROX. 9LBS.
      City: CHICO

      Tips: 128 IN AURURA BLACK WITH A MATCHING MARK'S TAIL.MORNING DAWN IN 6 INCH.BROWN JIG BROWN SUPER PORK.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 49.7

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: FISHED THE SHASTA CASCADE SPRING OPEN WITH A BUDDY FROM GRIDLEY AND HAD A VERY WET DAY ON THE LAKE. ON THE START WE HEADED FOR THE MCLOUD TO FISH MAIN POINTS. WHAT A RIDE WITH HEAVY RAIN AND WIND,I WAS JUST GLAD TO GET THERE SAFE WITH OUT ANY TROUBLE. I PICKED UP A BLADE ROD AND GAVE IT A SLING AND HIT UP ON THE BANK ABOUT 50 FT. I DIDNT QUITE HAVE MY EYES BACK IN MY HEAD BY THEN. MY PARTNER ASK ME IF I WAS HUNTING DEER.GOT SETTLED DOWN AND STARTED TEXAS RIGGING AND DART HEADING IN 25 TO 30 FOOT OF WATER. CAUGHT LOTS OF SHASTA CLONES AND CULLED FISH TO A WEIGHT OF 10.75 LBS WHICH WASNT BAD BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR A PAY CHECK. WE COULD NOT GET THE 3 POUNDER WE NEEDED TO GET IN THE MONEY.A SIX POUNDER CAME ON A RIP BAIT IN THE TOURMENT AND MOST OF THE BIGGER FISH ON JIGS . WE CAUGHT OUR FISH ON MGM WORMS IN A CRAWDAD COLOR. SOME FISH HAD THE REAL CRAWDAD IN THERE MOUTH,THEY ARE FEEDING ON THEM RIGHT NOW. HAD A GOOD DAY WITH SOME GOOD FRIENDS. BRYCE THAT WRITES REPORTS ON THE FORUM WAS FISHING WITH A FRIEND FROM THE GRIDLY AREA, AND THEY GOT US BY A FEW OUNCES BUT IF YOU SEE THIS BRYCE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER TIME YOU AND ROLAND MARTIN BETTER GET YOR REELS OILED UP CAUSE WERE COMING AFTER YOU.
      City: ANDERSON

      Tips: MAIN POINTS ARE BEST IN 25 TO ????

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The Sonoma County Belly Boat Bass Club (SCBBBC) held its second tourney o the year at Yorty Creek and a good tourney it was! 27 braved the mix o rain and sun and brought in some good ish. Winning weight was 18.01 lbs and included ish o 4.95, 4.91 and 4.61 lbs. Another ish o 4.74 lbs was landed including many in the 3 lb range along with 7 limits. Fish were caught on almost every lure and technique including jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs, worms, senkos, etc. A total o 68 ish were brought to the scale with exactly a 2.00 lb average.For more inormation go to http://www.scbbbc.homestead.com and checkout the orum too!
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: Transistion points were the key to bigger ish along with numbers.

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      Water Temp: 53-56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Another ine numbers day at Sonoma. I brought 19 largemouth to the boat. Had over 25 bites. Nothing large - all 1-2 plus pounds. Most were 10-15 eet. Fished Yorty, Cherry, and Warm Springs. Yorty good, Cherry slow, Warm Springs very good. On one point in Warm Springs I caught 6 in about 10 minutes. I got the most bites during periods o rain and wind, not during brie clear spells.
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Spider grubs on ootball lead heads twitching across the bottom. Fish were holding loose to wood and on rocky points.