Submit
Report

Northern California Lake Fishing Report

Limit:

Monday, May 14th, 2001

  • Yuba County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Arrived around 8:30am only to ind the trophy size all time biggest trout was pulled out two days ago...a whopping 10lb'er! So by this time my buddy Fish Slayer II and I are stoked. Set up to troll like the rest o em, no luck ater a ew hours, everyone passing by seemed to do ok 1 - 2 ish , we didn;t have the ish Gods with us that day....lost mucho molla $$ amount o gear as we pulled into the shalows and dorked out on reeling up in time.....we'll be back!! Used Pink Lady divers with a dodger ollowed behind by a wedding ring with a worm trailer....got two bites but couldn;t land em....see you next time /Fish Slayer
      City: San Jose

      Tips: either drit with worms, or troll at around 30 eet with trolling setup (see above)

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62-66

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Lake is down to 20.46t, temps are holding but will drop a little with a cool shot we are now getting, more post spawn emales being caught with the majority being small males, just about anything working, cranks early, worms and jigs as the sun comes up, spinner baits still good, had our irst death in three years when one o the oregon state kids hit his head ater alling o a houseboat and drowned in ront o three hundred o his riends, many let the same night, a dierent bunch o kids this year, much better group with little o the problems o last two years, slaughterhouse is a bit messy but is being cleaned up, some good lats are at the right level in the mid and upper squaw or early and late cranking, the tournaments should dod well this weekend coming or those who can ind the bigger emales.
      City: Redding

Sunday, May 13th, 2001

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Nat and I went out Sunday, on the water about 0830 off about 1330.. caught one on blades and on on crankbait (bomber Flat A-Baby Bass)..Largest about 1.5..Fish on finder all seemed to be holding around 10 to 15 feet..Never could establish a good pattern..Tried Senkos..No luck there either...
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Try everything, something has to work.......

    • By

      Water Temp: 69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Nat and I went out Sunday, on the water about 0830 off about 1330.. caught one on blades and on on crankbait (bomber Flat A-Baby Bass)..Largest about 1.5..Fish on finder all seemed to be holding around 10 to 15 feet..Never could establish a good pattern..Tried Senkos..No luck there either...
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Try everything, something has to work.......

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64 ish

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Yesterday, I ished the lake or the irst time, with some success. I launched my trusty 14 t Klammath at Redbud Park, went accross the lake and ished the docks near the shallows, with no success. A while later went North or a ew hundred yards, turned the point and ished the docks. Water was clearer and I saw a 5+emale and a 2+ male, on a nest. I spent over an hour throwing baits at them and as they were busy on a courting dance, they did not notice the baits, nor the line, as it touched their backs!!Senkos, lizzards, tubes, inesse worms, brushhogs, all were ignored. Even a couple o males, swiming on and o the rock, where the dance took place, ignore the baits. I need to do more sight ishing!!!.I managed to get a 3.5 lbs and 2.2 lbs, under the docks, while swiming and or shaking a 4.5 inch strait worm (green craw, by Trigger worms). I rigged the worm in a drop shot ashion, and ished it as you might ish a drop shot.I also ished a 5 inch Senko or a while, and had no takers, but I think that I ished it too ast.Great ishing, great lake, looking orward to Saturday and Sunday to preish and ish a Club Tourney with Folsom.
      City: Suisun

    • By

      Water Temp: 62-67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught a two pounder on a chug bug around 7:30 on the southern end in the weed lats. Weeds were about 1-2 eet rom breaking the surace. Didn't catch anything until late aternoon around 2:30. The wind was really bad but we ocused on mudlines with spinnerbaits. This produced another two pounder right at the launch ramp. We turned around and headed back up to make another pass. Caught one more under a pound on a shallow crankbait. South o the ramp with spinnerbaits on the wind blown bank, I caught a 4lbr then another 4lbr on the next cast. Also caught a trout on a spinnerbait which ended up killing it in the end. Pete ended up catching one by the ramp while I was going up to get the car.
      City: Salinas

      Tips: The wind really sucks but it brought the ish up shallow. The weeds are still sparse so crainkbaits and rattletraps can be used shallow. Look or windy banks and mudlines.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Heard and conirmed a juicy rumor today so here goes:FLASH**********LOCAL LEGEND BEATEN BADLY BY FIRST TIME LADY FISHERMAN************ Local legend Ralph White entered a tournament against his old buddy Benny Lentz and Benny's wie, Robin. This was a un event with each participant weighing in their best ish and only one ish. Robin whipped, not only her husband Benny, but kicked Ralph's butt by taking ith place out o 82 entries, Ralph was a distant 7th with a small 2.37 lb spot. So heres to you Robin, I can imagine that Ralph won't have a lot to say or awhile. CONGRATULATIONS ROBIN LENTZ!!!!!!!!!!!!ralph, john coyle made me do it. jerry
      City: Redding

      Tips: Robin caught her big ish on a 127 MGM 4 inch worm.

Saturday, May 12th, 2001

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 77

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the water at 6pm and immediately started catching ish. O the water by 2:30am. 22 bass in the 2-3lb range on 4-6" black/brown worms in the 2-10' t range. 2 bass on a white Buzzbait and 1 on a red shad 10" power worm. Lost one ish that would o approached the 4lb range. No big ish this night and same or a ew others I talked too. Was like all them bed guarding bucks went on a eeding spree. All ish were pretty at. Fish were really active and were really pounding it, no pressure bites. Main areas were Jackson creek and Rock Creek.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Small plastics in the 2-10' range texas rigged.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I was not too sure about life as I drove to Berryessa Saturday morning, preparing myself mentally to do something that I had never done before - guide 4 adults. When I met them at Markley Cove at 7:30 am, I loved them immediately! There was mom and dad, daughter, and friend. We just fished plastic worms and Senkos, since I wouldn't allow any open hooks. Three of them fished at once, and it worked great. Though they hadn't done much bass fishing, they all caught fish, with dad getting the biggest - a 2-2 spot. I fished a little, and did manage a 2 1/2 lb largemouth. We caught some in Markely Cove, but, as the previous report mentioned, the wind and skiers were the main event in the afternoon. But we used this to our advantage, and fished the mudlines with 6" #11 Magic worms (Witches T) and caught several quality bass out in front of Wragg canyon, on points. Our total for the day was 18 in the boat, but, of course, several were lost. I was targeting big fish areas, and as a result, we only caught 2 dinks, and one between 12 and 13 inches. All the rest were bigger. The morning dawn Magic worm worked well in the morning (that makes sense!) in the clearer water, but the darker colored worm with the chartreuse tail was the trick in the muddy water. I'm sure spinnerbaits would have worked well, too. A great time was had by all, including the guide!!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Don't be afraid of wind or skiers - they can be your friends (sometimes). Many above average fish are caught in afternoons (April through June) when the water becomes murky, or form a mudline. Darker color worms seem to work best, along with jigs. If you feel you need to fish a smaller worm (4 inch), use a 6" worm and bite some of it off. That will offer a larger profile bait, and maybe larger fish. We wern't doing that Saturday, but I do that many times, especially in clear water.

    • By

      Water Temp: 69-72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Tried out my new boat on Saturday. Launched at Markley Cove, headed out to main lake points, where we got three dinks - One ripping, two on split-shot worms. No spinner bite. No topwater bite. Wind was killer, and we were forced back into Marklely cove, where we landed 6 fish in an hour. 4 were caught on split-shot worm, 2 on weightless flukes. Bit died around 11 a.m. and continued that way intil about 1 p.m. in Markley, so we decided to go face the wind out on the main lake again. Water was cloudy the rest of the day, with less than 1 ft. visibility at times. Waterskiers and wind were the culprits. Fishing the main lake walls and points in the wind, we managed 9 more fish, 7 on worms, 2 on flukes. Worms were difinately out-producing the flukes, but the fluke fish were all keepers including one pretty 3#er. Would have had a few more fish on flukes, if it weren't for fisherman error:) Called it a day at about 3 o'clock, with 18 fish. Not bad for fishing in a dang near hurricane! Had a blast though!
      City: Vacaville

      Tips: Get out early, and avoid the wind and waterskiers!

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: A unny thing happened on the way to Clear Lake. I was starting to eel sorry or mysel, knowing that I was going to have to battle the night winds o another cold ront, trying to keep the boat in position or 2 clients to ish. I was also doing something that I have never done beore, and probably will never do again, guide two dierent lakes in the same day. Heck, what's a 21 hour day when you're having un! Anyway, the Berryessa trip had gone well, so I was ready or anything Clear Lake could throw me. Sure enough, the wind was blowing, but not too bad when we let M$M campground a 7 pm. I ound some nice areas south o Buckingham that we could ish, and I had my clients ishing 8" dead ringer worms in black, red lake. I tried a Senko in my avorite summer color or the irst time, #240, and soon caught a 4 1/4 pounder. I was worried that we might have to switch to Senkos, 'cause I had a eeling about those worms. About 5 minutes later, one o the guys sets up on a good 'un, and I soon net an 8 lb 10 oz semi-skinny bass. Now I know why we all want to go to Clear Lake! We put her right back ater photos, since we wern't sure she had totally spawned. She still had some girth to her. Another client with his personal best - that is always my biggest thrill! Ater dark, they caught several more, mostly 3 to 4 lbs. The big story is the ones that the other client lost. He broke 17# test on a ish and lost another that was at least 6 or 7 pounds. We wound up with 6 total bass - 5 biggest around 23 lbs. They caught all their bass on junebug and black/red lake worms.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Some bass are moving out o tules and onto rocky areas and walls. Rocky areas with tules are good right now.

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On lake by 5:30 a.m. started catching ish right away. Anything rom 1.5lbs. to 4.5 lbs. Using watermelon with red lake brush hogs. Throwing them almost on shore with a slow retrive. Bite stopped suddenly at 8:00a.m.Caught between 8 to 10 ish in the 2 hrs I was out.
      City: La Grange

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70 - 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Oh Man, what a morning!!!! thier are those o us who love Folsom and the others who cannot stand this Lake. It is not a in between ishery ya love it or hate(I love it) For about two and hals hours Saturday I thought I was Dobyns Nah Kevin Van Damn (I am a nitro owner) I caught my ive ish personal best ever 24 lbs. Anchored with a 8.9 Largemouth and backed up with a 5.8 Largie. and Multiple Spots 3 and better. When I hooked the big girl I knew I had a special ish as she was headin deep then then came to the surace ran me Fritts style around the back three times. Upon landing had to go ind somsetone to take pictures, so into the well she went. I ound some nice olks who were in awe o my beaut, I will guess that i she had not spawned out I would inally be in the 10+ class oh well. Pictures taken realeased and back to my rock pile, not three casts later the 5 lber hit, as I got her to the boat I thought I cannot go ask these guys again that would be rubbin salt in a wound So I let her go no Pics. Man what a morning!!!!!!All in All caught 11 ish but like I said 5 or 24 YEA!!!
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: All ish came on Rock piles with Flukes and Morning Dawn # 2worms I pour my own, say what you will about sissy Pink but this time o year in post spawn ya gotta throw them.

    • By

      Water Temp: ---------------

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My riend Rich and I launched around 6:00 am and headed or Bear Creek. On my 5th cast using a Vyper spinnerbait in a shad pattern, I put a ive# in the livewell. About 5 minutes later Rich boats a 3# on a ratteltrap(chrome & black). Ater missing a ew more, Rich get hit by something real big. As soon as she hit he said that it was a hog, so i tell rich to loosen his drag. The ight was on, he must have ought her or close to ive minutes. When she suraced I could tell that she was going to be a GOOD one. When we inally got her into the boat and weighed her, she came in close to eleven pounds(caught on a bass pattern crankbait). What a beautiul ish. During the rest o the day we landed eight total the best ive probably going somewhere close to 27. We also managed to land a six pound striper. Her is a good one. We were working the point in between two campgrounds(I was using a rattletrap that was nailed by a nice sized Bluegill. This was my best day yet (the irst ten plus in my boat). Needless to say I will be going back.
      City: Antioch

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: uk

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: One bite got away, could o been the BIG one, or a turtle?couldn't see any ish at all when I rowed out in the lake.camping cost seems high at $12.00 a night or one car. this time o year not many camps sites open, will have a good walk to lake.
      City: Clearlake

      Tips: none at this time

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Jones Valley and went up the Pit Arm. Senko's slammed them all day. With three guys in the boat, we caught about 100 ish
      City: Redding

      Tips: Found ish on all structures.Any color.Crankbaits,Spinnerbaits,and even Topwater.Have un,we did!!!!

    • By

      Water Temp: ? really warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I caught 10. Mostly rippin' a Pointer Minnow in a baby bass pattern plus a couple lippin' Senkos. They were all 2 pounds or less though. Any ish capable o spawning seems to be in the post spawn blues. Give it a couple weeks and they'll show up again.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: The lake has been sprayed and a good 70% o the grass is gone, dead or dieing. I the grass is green it'll hold ish. I it ain't, don't bother casting.

Friday, May 11th, 2001

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70-77

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Here is an update from the May 6th Fishing Report. Started the day with my clients (Father & Son) at the North end of the lake around 7AM. Went for the shallow fish bite on Senko's, didn't exist. Backed off to deeper water and started split-shottin Ivino's SP-20's in Spade tails. Found the fish to be anywhere from 8 1/2ft down to 14ft. At this time in the mornin know wind was blow'in at all. The key to this situation is to find heavy grass in their comfort zone. Found it on a smerged ledge some 300yd out in 10ft of water with a drop off to 18-20ft. They limited it out (the Father out fished the son, LOL Grin). Tried Brush Hogs and Grubs. Still the worm out fished everything else for this day. At 4:00PM, we went south into Wraggs where I ran into a topwater bite using a Walkin-Stick. they had fun try'in to set the hook on this hot fish. All the fish were related to wood, either stand up's and laydowns didn't matter. Bigger fish came out of IceBox Canyon.

      Tips: Look for Shad concentration's on your LCR's and the position of the birds in the area's that you enjoy fishin. It is a key to the depth of the fish that you are after, especially in the mid-afternoon. Split-shottin still producing quality fish in depths of 8 1/2 to 20ft at the North end of the lake. For you Drop-shottin Guru's, I'd recommend ledges at 15-20ft on the ly side of the points or mounds (Pending on area of the lake your fish'in). I myself, plan on this scenario in the near future once this weather actually stable's out (Grin). In the afternoon's or even'in, the Top Water bite is definitely on. Should the mornin bite on TW turn on, it will take stabality in weather before you get a magnium bite. This should accur within a couple of weeks. Take Care and see you Next Time Rich Thiel At thielr@earthlink.net (510)-317-2009

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Calero is instituting a 40 watercraft limit per day. The ranger turned us away at 3:00 PM saying he hit that limit at 2:00 PM. They are not letting boats launch even if someone comes off the lake... once 40 is reached they shut down the lake to any other watercraft.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: 39 of you fisherman should meet me at the gate when it opens so we can shut it down for jetskiers and ski boats the rest of the day! Maybe we can turn it into the fishing lake it should be since the lake is really too small for skis.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Calero is instituting a 40 watercraft limit per day. The ranger turned us away at 3:00 PM saying he hit that limit at 2:00 PM. They are not letting boats launch even if someone comes off the lake... once 40 is reached they shut down the lake to any other watercraft.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: 39 of you fisherman should meet me at the gate when it opens so we can shut it down for jetskiers and ski boats the rest of the day! Maybe we can turn it into the fishing lake it should be since the lake is really too small for skis.