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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, May 7th, 2001

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: ????

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out Monday evening with a couple other guys in our tubes and or the two hours we ished (5:30-7:30) we all caught at least a couple each. Mine were allcaught on top water. (Zara puppy and a Excaliber Pop-R) The bass were really active on top or about the last hour o light. My other riends caught ish onSenko's and some other topwater poppers. It looks like these bass are eating shad but I'm not sure exactly what the little ish I saw trying in vain to escapewere.
      City: LIVERMORE

      Tips: When the air temperature during the day is above 95 degrees, top waterduring the evenings is where you'll have your un.

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: this is a test
      City: sacramento

      Tips: test

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: this is a test
      City: sacramento

      Tips: test

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: this is a test
      City: sacramento

      Tips: test

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Tried out my new loat tube yesterday. I checked out the spots behind the heliport as was suggested on this board. Fished or about two hours and netted three ish two at a pound and one about three pounds.
      City: Los Gatos

      Tips: All ish were caught on green/peppered power worms.

Sunday, May 6th, 2001

  • Plumas County
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I just ished lake Almanor in Shasta Cascade Bass Anglesrs club tournament as a guest. My 1st time on the lake, my 1st tournament and my 1st to ish smallmouth on the beds, I inished 2nd with ive ish 14.43 lbs. all aon a Blue Ghost Fidget by MGM Lures.Thank you John and MGM Lures.John McNemar

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 58-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: O.k bite on witches t 4". Small fish.The real story is we have lost the lake to water skiers and jet ski's again. The lake was so rough from people towing wakeboarders that it was just miserable to be there. My 4 year old daughter was with me on the front deck of my Ranger 520 and almost got flipped out of the boat a couple of time from big wakes of skiers. There was even people wakeboarding in the no wake section of putah creek. I wish there was a way to escape these people with the nerve to ski in a no wake zone. I can't wait for 25 more years to retirement so I can go on a weekday. Does anybody know of a lake that you can truly escape these bozo's? sorry you had to hear me cry.
      City: Pinole

      Tips: Fish in january

    • By

      Water Temp: 63-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Here is an up-date on Lake Berryessa has I see it. For the last couple of months fishin at least once or twice a week I noticed this year Berryessa put out a tremendouse amount of Smallmouth, more so than the past couple of years. The water temperture at this moment is 63 in the mornin to 68 in the afternoon. Water from the glory hole is 6 1/2ft down from going over. How I've been limiting and getting quality Smallmouth is similar to a text book instructional article, ROCK (big) earlier this yr on main lake to most recent in the last month to pea gravel or baseball size rock. The average size smallmouth runs anywhere from 1 3/4lbs to 2 1/4lbs bigger in my opinion than the average spot. Where I catch the quality is at the north end of the lake but out in some cases 200-300 yrds from the bank in 8ft to 14ft mark with access to 30ft, rock pile or just a long ridge that runs parall to the main bank. I limit my baits to 30 primary baits, soft plastic, worms in 4-6inch and ripbaits that suspend for a long time. The spawns have taken place (for sure this full moon) for all species, smallmouth, largemouth and the spot. What I see to come is one heck of a topwater bite probably starting soon around the 14th of this month on thru June until the water hits 75 with consistance.

      Tips: Baits and techniques that work for me and my clients has follows: Rip-baits/ LuckyCraft Flasher in a shad or Clown depending on water Color (clarity is the key here). Worms/ MGM's #123, Ivino's Spade Tail 6inch in his oxblood or his SP-20. For soft plastic's I've been using the Thrasher in white pearl or yellow perch made by Snoozersbaits.com, Rainbow UFO's in a Trout pattern that you can obtain thru Waltons Pond in San Leandro and the Senko made by Gary Yamamoto in a lite green with black specks. Grubs would be 4th choice but they seem to produce dinks and just keepers a good back up bait for a tough to get limit. With the Soft plastic baits Rigging it with either nothing (no weight) to peggin it with 1/8oz bullet sinker. Line size I use 15 or 20lb big game, what this does it makes the bait lay horizontal more. The longer the cast the more horital the bait will lay. Well give a report in a couple of weeks and let all you know in what the topwater is like. Anyone that would like to contact me, either by E-Mail at thielr@earthlink.net or by phone at (510)317-2009. TL Rich Thiel's Guiding Service PS. See everyone up their Friday and Good luck!!!

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 64/68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: All and All the fishing was great, I caught better than a dozen quality fish (2.5 to 4.5 pounds)on Live minnows. Also caught several dinks on drab green and black striped 6" perris lake special rubber worm, which also produced a couple of crappie. A crank bait (chartreuse and yellow rapala) produced a couple of fish the size of lure itself (fish began to suspend during mid day). Didn't work any spinnerbaits, but only have so much time and to many lures. Although the temperatures in the shallow went up to 68 degree, I didn't register any fish in this area. Most fish still caught in the 8' to 10' of water (specially after the jet skis stirred up the water). Early Morning fish were holding on structer in or about 4' to 6' range of water. The gate to the Lake will apparently be locked at the entrance for the rest of the season (8:00am entrance time)which held up alot fisherman. Good fishing to all, Rick
      City: San Jose

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      Water Temp: 64/68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: All and All the fishing was great, I caught better than a dozen quality fish (2.5 to 4.5 pounds)on Live minnows. Also caught several dinks on drab green and black striped 6" perris lake special rubber worm, which also produced a couple of crappie. A crank bait (chartreuse and yellow rapala) produced a couple of fish the size of lure itself (fish began to suspend during mid day). Didn't work any spinnerbaits, but only have so much time and to many lures. Although the temperatures in the shallow went up to 68 degree, I didn't register any fish in this area. Most fish still caught in the 8' to 10' of water (specially after the jet skis stirred up the water). Early Morning fish were holding on structer in or about 4' to 6' range of water. The gate to the Lake will apparently be locked at the entrance for the rest of the season (8:00am entrance time)which held up alot fisherman. Good fishing to all, Rick
      City: San Jose

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      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Couldn't ind the ish at all on this beautiul day. Finally a morning without gale orce winds and the ishhave moved to who knows where. Let by 1:00 due to HUGE number o skiers, PWCs and jet boats.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: I didn't see any bass coming up, but the trout isherman were doing OK trolling. Aquatic plant growth quickly closing downthe south end o the lake.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 70 F

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished rom 6:30 AM to 11:00AM. Landed 3 largemouth and a 3 pound smallmouth by 8:00 AM. Nothing and I mean nothing the rest o the day. Lost my ishing license, broke my trolling motor, lost my best jerkbait and still had un.
      City: Dublin,CA

      Tips: Jerkbaits at the south end is the only pattern I know.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Just back rom two days at Shasta. Did get out on this lake last week on one o the howling north wind days. I tested a ew baits in preparation or Shasta. Caught 8 to 2lbs. A couple smallies and one largemouth south ork. Ripped early, then grubs and worms until 9:30am. A little tardy or work, but made it up on lunch. Shasta was the bomb. Magniicent weather, eagles, and it's 15 eet rom ull. How is it that Folsom may never ill this year, Oroville's down 80 eet, and Shasta's so high? Don't get me started. The weekend was the whole upper northern caliornia experience. The Headbanger radio station gave away a ree trip or two to next year's highly anticipated Daytona 500. We cruised around Redding saturday night calculating the rile in back window o the truck percentage. We also enjoyed the astonished looks rom the women who inally saw a man without acial hair. Even my partner said Bret Bodine does the wake-up call at the motel 6 we stayed at. No, that's Tom Bodette, and he'll turn on the light or him. He was conused- he said he took a bath in his Nascar antasy league in Saturday night's Martinsville event. It's all good in Redding. Got spanked by the team in the Zodiac again. It's mounted with a 6hp Johnson that weezes and smokes early, but they say i they don't have the livewell ull (an Am Pm ice chest with an aerator) it gets on plane around 12 mph. We worked with our limitations too- reusing to go out on the second day and cull through 30 dinks to get to 11 lbs or 7 ish in the McCloud again. Instead we ished reaction and came in with 6 ish in the Sac- boy, we showed them! The winners got a 5.87lb largemouth on a bed. Largemouths were rare. 25% o the ish were smallies. Spots were on the beds and so vulnerable. Much o the dock talk was about pulled back muscles and the thrill o the hookset when another 12" spot bit the tail o your inesse worm.
      City: El Dorado Hills

      Tips: On post ront north wind days get out early beore it comes up.

    • By

      Water Temp: 64-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out Sunday and didn`t catch SH!T. Fish rom 3:30 to dusk.Saw a couple o 1-2lb. males but wouldn`t bite.Threw out black blueleck brushhog,jerkbait,spinnerbait,buzzbait,zora spook,jitterbug,and rog.Walk the hole lake.Also, talked to a guy who ishes thier othen and said he was nailing HOGS out here with rogs at nite.HE caught a 2lb. o the bat on topwater,but that was it.Out o the 8 people their ishing or bass{including 4 o those people in boats} thier was only 4 bass caught.The ishing should get better as it warms-up.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: Try going out at nite and throwing rogs.Work the vegetation on the top.Make sure you eel the weight o that hog beore you set that hook.Good luck.

    • By

      Water Temp: 64-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out Sunday and didn`t catch SH!T. Fish rom 3:30 to dusk.Saw a couple o 1-2lb. males but wouldn`t bite.Threw out black blueleck brushhog,jerkbait,spinnerbait,buzzbait,zora spook,jitterbug,and rog.Walk the hole lake.Also, talked to a guy who ishes thier othen and said he was nailing HOGS out here with rogs at nite.HE caught a 2lb. o the bat on topwater,but that was it.Out o the 8 people their ishing or bass{including 4 o those people in boats} thier was only 4 bass caught.The ishing should get better as it warms-up.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: Try going out at nite and throwing rogs.Work the vegetation on the top.Make sure you eel the weight o that hog beore you set that hook.Good luck.

  • Riverside County
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Husband and I went out twice today .... We got our start at about 9:30am. We went over by Rock Climbers Cove and worked that how point with no luck. Had a ew bites and that was it. Than we let and came back at about 6:30pm. We worked the Dam or a lil, I was able to to hook in 2 but they "dinks' I think some o the smalleat ish I have caught there at Lake Perris. My husband caught 0 , so that was highlight... I was able to kick his butt with 2 'dinks...Hope it gets going again.... happy bassin!!
      City: Perris

      Tips: I was shakin with a 4' Purple Dad" That i was able to get rom Clis ishing right by the lake... i you ever get a chance go in and say hi to him he is a great guy, and always gives out good tips...

    • By

      Water Temp: 61

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished rom 0730 to noon. Only caught 3 ish. Caught one on a grub and 2 on senkos. All were caught in 2-4 t near the tules. Had one good top water bite early but lost the ish at the boat. Tried spinner bait, grubs, top water, and jerk baits. Senko worked the best shallow.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Water is really owled with algea which may have aected the bite. Start shallow and work to deeper water i you don't get bit.

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 3 ish...all around 15" in the Island Lake while loat tubing. Caught all ish on east side o lake near the tules. Caught two on Zoom Flukes (baby bass), and one on a black with red leck Strike King tube. Released them all to catch again someday.
      City: DUBLIN

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: ryboy, you can pick up a irst edition Shasta Lake map at most marinas around the lake, a newer 1996 edition is usually available at most bait shops, you can come by my oice at the sheris oice at the Bridge Bay gas dock and pick a lake map up there also. the 1987 edition is the most accurate.
      City: Redding

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: very warm

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: bass where some what o a hard bite. ishing trees in about 20 eet o water with nite crawlers produced nice ish. Panish were doin okay. They are movin out to the main arms, rom their small coves. Ran on to a ew 2 pound bulls, with a 3 or 4 lbr neighbor who i couldn't hook up. Water is really low. I been going out there conteniously or the last 2 months with the exception o may 18th weekend i was in clear lake, but the lake has allen a good 5 eet in height.
      City: RP

      Tips: grubs worked well or panish. Nite crawlers produced nice bass, but a small crappie spinner rig brought in a ew small 8" bass.