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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, March 17th, 2002

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51-55 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Guide Trip, took two clients out after a post cold front Saturday. We started out on points first thing in the morning with 4 solid hits>Result 2 fish in the boat (Narrows). Went into Wraggs Canyon for 2hrs with minimal results. Went scouting around look'in for warmer water, it was 51-52 in the narrows most of the mornin and 53-54 at the back end of Wraggs. Went North to Big Island and caught some dinks, left there and went to the East Side North end and picked up a nice 2.8lb largemouth shallow. Missed two more on a ripbait. Worked back down to Markley Canyon. Ended to day with 6 fish. With this Warmer weather comin in this week, I expect the fish to be movin up. First guess would be the smallmouth has they spawn at around 55. Im waiting for the weather and the stability of the water to accur. The weather look's promising. Rich Thiel thielr@earthlink.net
      City: Castro Valley

      Tips: Recommendations: Within the Narrow's system the water clarity is clear. Try rippin on points and across points. If that doesn't work then go to a jig with either purple pork or a roadkill plastic trailer and just work it down the sides of the point (you may have to hope around on points to find a concentration of fish). The fish that are tak'in the jig are quality fish. For the back of cove's (Warmiest water found) throw a spook and hang on. Drop-shotting, carolina rig will always work if you can't move around much just find a major area that you think a transition may occur. Im looking for the East side to turn wide open once the warm weather this week starts to roll in. See ya Saturday the 30th. Rich Thiel

    • By

      Water Temp: 49-52'

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Am I the only one posting reports??????? Why is everyone so secrative? I thought this site was for sharing info???? I know alot of you are fishing tourney's at this lake, but damn, I don't want your fish,,,,just give up patterns etc.... So,,,,,,,,,fished the ABA Sunday,, had pre fished and had alot of quality fish going on rock piles, and in the vineyards. Started on the rock piles,then went to the vineyards without a bite.The weather really affected our bite. Went up the creek around 10 am, finally got on a few fish,missed several,dropshotting,boated four for 6.70.Another donation weekend....We tried fishing from top to about 20'. Talked with a few friends after who said the fish "moved up" around noon. They got limits cranking and ripping. I guess it must have been where you were, because we tried it in the creek w/out success.
      City: San Leandro,Ca

      Tips: I don't know why the fish wouldn't hold onto the bait,,,but we missed at least six fish,,,,even with scent.......

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Out rom B & W at 6 am. Slow drizzle which gradually changed to steady rain & windy conditions. 1st ish at 7:15 on a crawdad medium diving crank bait along rip rap bank on high tide. No more takers on crank or spinnerbait so switched to weightless 6" plastics. Had ive ish limit o 10 lbs. by 9:30 am & now eeling cold & damp so called it a day.
      City: Delhi

      Tips: Outsde edge o tule & weed beds w/some current. Only hard hitter was the 3 lb. crankbait ish, rest were just pickups.

  • Ventura County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: caught a 5 lb and a 4 lb largemouth drop-shotting a 6-inch oxblood worm. Was ishing the grass beds on the west end o the lake at about 9am.
      City: hollywood

      Tips: ishing is on ire right now...haven't gone 1 day without a ish...smallest being 3 pounds. largest being 8 pounds.

    • By

      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Ripped the reeway side or a couple hours mid day and got a 4 and a 2 pounder.
      City: Mountain View

      Tips: Rippin in about 10 eet o water.

  • Merced County
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      Water Temp: reezing

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Excellent Fishing rom the dam. I'm a shore angler so I ishing right at the damn ace. Caught about 10 huge stripers in a 3 day period. Most were in the 25inches + and my biggest is 35inches. My uncle landed a giant and it broke his rod and his 35lbs test line. Fishing is excellent especially at dawn and dust. Best hours are rom 4am-7am mornings. and 4:30pm-6:30pm evenings. All you need is an cast & retrieve rod with ZOOM plastic shads (white) with a 3/4 ounce jig head. Cast out and be ready. hehe. GoOd luck.
      City: Fremont

Saturday, March 16th, 2002

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52-55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: GOT A LATE START AT THE "M",OH SAY ABOUT 8:30,SAT.THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO FLOOD OR SOMETING IN FREMONT,BUT NO,IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.ANYWAYS LOOKING FOR REACTION BITES ON OLD ITALIAN,MY PARTNER WIPS UP A LITTLE WIPPER SNAPPER IN 5 MINUTES ON A CHART.SPEED TRAP,THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE REAL GOOD NOW,NEXT HOUR NOTHING,DAMN.SO WE MOVED ALONG SHAKIN HOLES WITH BRSH HOGS AND MY PARTNER 1/20Z JIG BUT BUT STII NOTHING,FINALLY HIT SOME HOT WATER,WELL NOT HOT,BUT YOU KNOW.IN ONE HOUR HAD 7 FISH,ALL KEEPERS,BUT NONE KEPT,IT MUST OF BEEN 11:30 OR SO AND MAYBE A BITE WAS TURNING ON OR MAYBE IT WAS THE SHALLOW FAST MOVING WATER.SHOULD OF KNOWN. I EVEN TOLD A BUDDY LAST WEEK THATS WHERE THEIR AT THANKS TO REPORTS,AND HE GOES OUT AND NEVER HITS THE MAIN DRAIN,I EVEN TOLD HIM ON THE RADIO HIT THE MAIN,SHALLOW,THEN I TELL HIM,WE GOT THEM ON THE MAIN,I THINK HE GOT BENT.WINDY AS ALL HELL.LRGST.2 1/2LBS-HAD FUN
      City: BRENTWOOD

      Tips: DARKS SEEM TO BE THE WAY,NOT TO MUCH REACTION.BUT WORK IT AND YOU'LL CATCH THEM.

  • Ventura County
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      Water Temp: 59

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: caught two attys (6 lb & 3 lb) right o their beds....I was using nightcrawlers and was ishing o the pier by the coyote launch ramp! Saw these two ish setting up their beds or the upcomming spawn.
      City: hollywood

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The Redwood Empire Bass CLub held its monthly tournament on Saturday under tough weather conditions, cold and windy with a little hail mixed in. Most anglers had a tough time inding ish, but those ortunate enough were able to weigh in 4 ish o 12.5 lb (1st place)using a baby brush hog and 2 ish or 11.5 lbs (2nd place). Big ish was 6.6 lbs caught on a spinnerbait.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Wait until the weather stabilizes and the water warms then go out and throw rip baits.

Friday, March 15th, 2002

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

      Report: Got to the lake around noon, with a good wind gust and air temps being a little cold. But that wasnt the story with the bass ishing. Tubed the carson arm all the way back to the launch ramp, and caught all o my ish in exactly the majical ten eet o water with an orange viper jig and a yamamto twin tail grub trailer. Got a total o 6 three pounders, 3 under two pounds, and the kicker a ten pounder right by those trees to the let o the launch ramp(got pictures to prove it & ive trout ishermens witnessed it.) She put up a good ight and had a belly ull o eggs, and was released to do her thing. Get out there and get em.
      City: san jose

      Tips: Viper Jig was working in ten eet o water, with the 10lber in less than 5t.

    • By

      Water Temp: 56-58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out on Friday with my buddy Ryen Goering to see i Amador was starting to turn on. We knew the bite would be somewhat tough, but were hoping a ew would be up and willing to bite. I hit a nice 2 1/2 pounder irst thing on a brush hog in about 10 eet o water. We trucked around the shoreline or a while looking or early bed ish and did see a couple, but they weren't really locked on yet. While Ryen was looking up shallow I was throwing plastics ahead o the boat and hit one close to 3 pounds on a Yama-grub. About 2 casts later I set the hook on another nice ish in 3 or 4 eet o water and it started ripping out to deep water. When I inally got it to the boat I saw that I had hooked one o those super charged cutbows. She went just under 5#'s and right into the ice box. Around 10 am we were surprised to see a couple bed ish that were locked on and willing to play along. We had to work em a little bit, but inally got both o them to strike. They both went 2 1/2 pounds or so and went right back to their beds when we put them back. What a pretty sight. By 1 o'clock we had landed 10 bass to 3 pounds, with 5 o them coming o beds. Pretty shocked to see them locked on in the cold weather, but I guess they have to get busy some time. We ound 7 ish on beds and hooked 5 o them. Not bad. Around 1:30, Ryen's boat decided to go south on us and we ended up having to use the trolling motor to get back to the launch. Made the most o it by trolling and hit 2 more nice cutbows (2 1/2 and 3 1/2 pounds) and 1 nice crappie. Wound up with 10 bass. Not a bad bass day considering we only got to ish until 1:30.
      City: roseville

      Tips: Amador is just looking or a reason to bust loose. All we need is a typical week o March weather and she should really turn on. This is the one time o year when it's worth the $24 to launch. All bass were caught on light colored plastics and jigs. The non-bed ish were hooked in 8-10 eet o water.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 54-57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Friday March 15 from about 8:30 to dark. Landed 12 bass from 11" to 16". Most of the bigger fish were smallies with one spot about 15". I broke two off and my friend Ron lost a pig that was at least 5 lbs. We were split shotting and carolina riggin' ring worms and zipper worms. Fish appeared to be 5-15 feet deep. All the smallies had bellies that were about to explode.
      City: Concord

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out or 4 hours on Friday. Caught 10 ish with only two o them under 2 pounds. Most between 2 and 3, had one about 3.5 and lost a good 6 pounder right at the boat! Drat! Used evening dawn 6" Magic Worms all day rigged split shot. Caught all ish in about 15 oot o water or less. Find anywhere that resh water is coming into the lake to catch these suckers!
      City: Chico

Tuesday, March 12th, 2002

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55-60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Clovis bass club two day tournament. 5 ish limit, winner had 28.95 lbs including a 8.56 kicker ish. 2nd place had 25.80lbs. Big ish was caught on a sinko. It was not a bed ish.Some ish were spotted on beds but most seem skittish.Jigs and worms and senkos seemed to do the trick.
      City: Clovis

      Tips: 6 or 7 inch worms, I used a Carolina rig, Brown jigs with Cinnamon w/ black lake twin tail yamamoto grub.Go shallow to 30 eet.Good ishing.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: N.A.

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at the Pit 7:15 a.m. went back up the Pit again.Same story tried blades and rippin no luck.Went back to darthead and drop-shot or 14 up to 1 3/4 lbs.Cold north windtook some o the un out o the day.Must be getting old.
      City: Corning

      Tips: ox blood-blue dawn- brown-green combo.25to35 depthdrit-cover a lot o water and look or active ish

Friday, March 8th, 2002

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: chilly

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fish the bridge nothing!! went and hit the points nothing!! decided to go ish the sandy beaches up in the south ork and that was the ticket!!! carolina rigged a june bug brush hog in 10' eet o water and it was on, caught a couple where water was comming in and the rest just dragging down the bank. tried ripping but the weather ront just shut it down, thats it
      City: brownsville

      Tips: sand sand sand

Thursday, March 7th, 2002

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55.5-56.5

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out o Holland on Thursday, 9:30am in rain and windy conditions. Found calm water and caught a 2.5 on watermelon/red lake, 5" senko tight to tulie point, last o incoming high tide. Found seven more to 2 pounds in more shallow (2-5 t.) rip rap or trees on same senko and red or chartruese timber tiger shallow running cranks with rattles. Also saw huge sea lion diving or big catish (our within ive minutes) and ripping the heads o by jerking his head around. He only ate the heads! Fished till 3:00 pm with only one other boat all day. Wind never let up. No complaints here.
      City: Concord

      Tips: We caught all but one on the same bank, went over it twice. Fish were in shallow water and mostly tight to cover on senkos and o a little with crank baits (slow steady retrieve). Mainly worked high tide and didn't necessarily need movement or ish.

    • By

      Water Temp: 55.5-56.5

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out o Holland on Thursday, 9:30am in rain and windy conditions. Found calm water and caught a 2.5 on watermelon/red lake, 5" senko tight to tulie point, last o incoming high tide. Found seven more to 2 pounds in more shallow (2-5 t.) rip rap or trees on same senko and red or chartruese timber tiger shallow running cranks with rattles. Also saw huge sea lion diving or big catish (our within ive minutes) and ripping the heads o by jerking his head around. He only ate the heads! Fished till 3:00 pm with only one other boat all day. Wind never let up. No complaints here.
      City: Concord

      Tips: We caught all but one on the same bank, went over it twice. Fish were in shallow water and mostly tight to cover on senkos and o a little with crank baits (slow steady retrieve). Mainly worked high tide and didn't necessarily need movement or ish.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Ummmm BOB G...maybe you noticed I wasn't talking about Clear Lake lately, just Tuesday the 25th. I knew about the tournament results. But when I talked to six dierent boats with only two ish it seems a little odd. I guess you are right judging by all the awesome reports posted since mine was though...I you have a dierent story then how about sharing it and letting us other guys in on your secret catching techniques, instead o just pointing to some tournament (were you even in it?).
      City: Chico

Wednesday, March 6th, 2002

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I ished Amador Wednesday rom noon 'til about 9 pm, with a one hour dinner break. I caught 11 bass total, with only 3 beore the last hal hour o dark. They ell or the same jig combo that Rick Tietz was using in the previous report. Since it clouded up in the aternoon, I think it might have shut down the larger bass and those three only weighed 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 lbs. I didn't get into the good ish he and Janet did. Near dark I switched to a 1/2 oz brown/orange Rodstainer jig with a 6" double tail #180 Yamamoto grub. Bingo!! Within 10 minutes I landed a 3 3/4, a 4, and a 4 1/4 - about 25 eet deep. They had moved deeper without the sun - just as I had thought!! These were caught in Jackson Creek. Ater dark, I switched to my 3/8 oz Rattlin' Weapon Jig and tried a "honey hole". The "honeys" were home!! Started out with a 4 1/2, ollowed two minutes by my biggest o the trip - a 6-7! Ended up there with a 3 1/2. There was a warm, light rain alling with no wind at the time - perect. I caught a ew more on main lake points about 20 eet deep - all in the 3 1/4 to 4 1/4 pound class. I think this is the most 4 pound class bass I have ever caught in a row at Amador. Nothing smaller or bigger except the 6-7. No complaints rom me. My limit was 22 1/4 lbs, a little better than the 20 1/2 lb limit on the previous trip. These bass were eeding - the jig hits were just like the all, and I had to dig the jigs out o the back o their mouths. Around 8:30 the rain stoped or the time and the wind started rom the east and the temp dropped immediately and the bite stopped just as quick. Never got another bite - are these bass "in tune", or what!! There were about 60 rigs when I got there, and o course, I was the last one to leave. Two o my riends couldn't joint me, so I had a great time landing all these nice bass by mysel. I wasn't even lonely!!!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I agree that purple, or purple/blue/black jigs are working well during the daylight hours. Brown/orange will work too, as will black/red. Jigs needed to be worked slow. I tried Senkos, but I think the ish were a bit deep on Wed. Look or the warmest water you can ind.