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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, March 2nd, 2001

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 59 to 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: We ished or 4 days straight with the last day 4/1/2001. What a trip! We had an incredible time! Perect weather and over 260 bass on the deck between the two o us. We probably lost another 100 and missed hundereds o bite. It was wide open! We could have caught more but we decided to explore the lake some. Mostly spotted bass with a ew smallmouth mixed in. We also caught a 15" bass with bright red eyes. Amazing looking ish which I have never seen beore. Is there a sub-species o the bass with bright red eyes? Most o the ish were in the middle and south orks. The North Fork had cooler water and less ish. I understand there were larger ish in the North Fork but I would rather have the numbers and have the larger ish mixed in.Those o you who care, the ish were mostly slot ish with maybe 40 over the slot. I have had some great trips at Oroville and this was probably the best. What a lake! In the our days we were there, the surace temperature in the middle ork increased 3 degrees. I you're going, better hurry-up.
      City: Danville

      Tips: Carolina rigged six inch morning dawn worms. Also caught some on Gitzits and grubs. Plus there was an awesome evening top water bite. First time I have experienced this on Oroville.

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      Water Temp: 47

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hitting white grubs, spinnerbaits and even on chuggers! Fish along trees and brush. I landed iteen, 5 on top all between 1.5 -2 lbs. I saw at least 40 ish caught by other anglers.ound water to 59deg.
      City: reno

      Tips: stock up on topwater+spinnerbaits

Thursday, March 1st, 2001

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: orty somethin

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: ished or 2 hours around noon... walked the shore toward coot landing. throwing a 9" ms slammer. nothing. the water is really really clear... a lot o loating junk in the water. met a ellow basser...nice guy... shared some bassin tips. the wind was light. a loto trout ishermen with a couple o good keepers.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: i'm waiting or the water to warm up. i don't know i it does?!

    • By

      Water Temp: 57-61

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: the last time i was here, the only thing i caught was a cold ! i showed up around 10:00 a.m. and didn't leave till 2:00 p.m. I COULDN'T BELEIVE THE FISHIN'!!! right o the bat i hooked a 4 pounder ! i was ishin with a castiac trout in about 20 t and worked it shallow. he NAILED it. i caught about 15 ish over a 100 t strech o shoerline. did i mentioned i was shore ishin' ?? i then went to a orange/brown jig with a black pork rog. what happened next blew my head o!! a MAMMOTH bass took the bait and was quick to make a run or it. he jumped twice and had me in ear that i was going to lose him ! i inally got him tired ater a brutal 10 minute ight. when all was said and done, i landed a 11.7 lb gargantuant ! ater a picture and a kiss on the lips, i let him go. ater that, i went home happy.

      Tips: the bass are gettin ready to spawn i not already doing so. use split shotted or carolina rigged lizards, jigs resembling crawdads, and the castiac 4" swim bait. isherman's wherehouse has um. oh, ish in 20 to 5 t depths. start deep and work your way in, it looks like your raiding their nests. the males get real mad

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 46

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had things to do but needed to get out or a change o scenery, in at Bailey Cove at 0905, temp was 41, out at 1230 at 47, overcast and a little rain starting to come down, lake up to 38.25 t, ran over to the conluence o the Pit and the McCloud near the "bubbles", drop a 4 inch big daddy special down and loaded up with a 2.4 lber, moved a bit and back in with the special, bounced twice on a rock or two and loaded up again, 2.6 lbs and I am liking this. Moved north a bit and stuck on a 4 inch MGM blue ghost #69 and tossed it out, steady pull down brought up a 3.2 lber that had a bit o spunk, moved o north again and got bit three more time on the blue ghost but set to quick and got back hal a worm each time. The irst three were in 17-28 t o water, I stayed towards shore and threw out into 50 t o water and pulled the worms up the slope. Worked just ine. Things should improve when the lake starts warming up , we are about 5 degrees cooler than last year and 12 t short on the water.
      City: Redding

Wednesday, February 28th, 2001

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

      Report: Fished from 8-10 Landed 2 on a red/black DUH!!! jig with a purple happy hawg trailer one dink and a 4 lber both fish caught in 5 ft of water
      City: San Jose

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 8-10 Landed 2 on a red/black DUH!!! jig with a purple happy hawg trailer one dink and a 4 lber both fish caught in 5 ft of water
      City: San Jose

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 43-47

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: In at Jones Valley ast 0700, temp 41 degrees, out at 230pm, temp 59, strong winds 15-25 with gusts to 35 out o the northeast, lake up to 38 t and a little bit, the parking on the ramp is disapearing, lots o junk blown onto shore at Jones Valley, ran over by the rockpile or two right o the bat in 17 t on a MGM green weenie color #103, ran up the pit to Arbuckle, zip, ran back down to Blue Canyon, tons o western grebes in the back chasing shad, put on a 3 inch at slug by MGM in smoke ice #5 and also used a 5 inch curly tail in same color (shad color) and caught 6 beore they took o, nice big shad about 4-5 inches long, trout and salmon working them over pretty good in the top 6 t o water, the bass came out o 17 t to 26 t. Wind came up bigtime about 1230, caught all six in 10 minutes just beore the wind hit, watched a patio boat go by and catch 4 trout and 2 salmon, one other basser in there with me, he was pitchin a spinner bait against the bank, saw him hook one small ish, mine were mostly dinks with one to 1.6 lbs.tried jigs with no luck.
      City: Redding

Tuesday, February 27th, 2001

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Holland about 11:00 ran to my honey hole and landed a few small blackies on red/black SpeedTrap.Worked SandMound and picked up a 5.2 blackie on a #39 craw rigged texas style,then on the old faithful SpeedTrap landed a nice 7lb. blackie smiled and thought to myself life is good.
      City: Oakland Ca.

Monday, February 26th, 2001

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Does anyone know where to ind or buy a map that shows the depths and the structe o the back lakes o shadow clis. THANKS,
      City: Livermore

    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fellow Anglers,Would anyone like to help me out with some inormation about Shaddow Clis. I have never been there and I was wondering i someone could answer some questions I have about the lake so I can decide whether or not it is worth makeing the drive out there. First o all, how big is the lkae in comparison to a lake such as Del Valle. I have a ot o expirience ishing smaller lakes or trout and bass and I am looking or a smaller lake with some big ish. I read that someone caught two 18 pounders. Did those ish make lake records? Hoe many ponds are there? Can you ever see the ish? Also, where exactly is this lake, because I have never been there and I cant seem to ind any directions. Thanks or the help...Tight lines!!!
      City: Piedmont

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 43-46

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: lots o stu in the lake but with the wind howling, it's mostly on shore, in at 0730 at 41 degrees at jones valley, out a 130pm at 63 degrees, the have moved Jone valley resort back into their cove, water up to 39.50 and rising ast, came up a oot while I was in the water, wind 25-35 with gusts to 50, ran over toi squaw creek and made a big mistake turning the corner out o the Pit, hit some 6 oters and got airborne twice, unny eeling when u look down and see two eet o air between ur butt and the seat, picked up one small 1 lber over by horsecreek point, wind real bad, ran up to the top o the pit, got about ten short quick hits but wasn't quick enound on the pumpkin pepper jigs, ran back down to the pit by the Rockpile and hit some rocks that just went under, took three out, all at 2.6 lbs on a big daddy special, switched to a spinning rod or these or more distance, boy has it been awhile since I used aspinning rod! Had to run around slowly to get the lline stretched out, water has cooled o somewhat with all the rain and I just got tired o ighting the wind, did see one blue and white ball cap go sailing by, shallowest ish were the bigger ones, all came out o 13t. the irst dink came out o 28 t.
      City: Redding

Sunday, February 25th, 2001

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 46-48

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out o Bidwell around 7:30am. Fished main points with jigs, weeinies and suspending crankbaits with no luck. Managed one nice spot on a twin tail skirted grub. Missed several worm ish due to the subtle bite. We got rain, wind and sunshine but no snow. Warning lake is very very low and ish seem to be in a negative mood.
      City: Suisun City

      Tips: Stay home until the weather stabilizes.

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

      Report: Honey Lake Bass had the irst Tourney on the 25th. It looked like it was going to be a bad day. But it turned out great. My partner and I had a hard time inding ish. We try the Six Shooter worms rom Janesville Ca. Morning darn seem to catch our biggest ish. Also the Six Shooter Green weenies seem to do good too. The little lizards in those colors that they make, seem to work great. We just could not get enough weight to win. Snooks and Cody Team won it with over 10lbs. with 5 ish. Snooks tell me he put it to them with Six shooter Lizards and Morning Dawn worms with a Darter Head. 30 Ft. where the ish were.
      City: Susanville

      Tips: Fish hard and shake the plastics. Main Body in 5 to 35 t. Look or suspended ish. Make sure you have a pair o sun glasses, that sun that pokes out burn up your eyes. Good Luck!!

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 48-50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went up the Warm Springs arm to ind pretty stained water i not muddy at the no wake bouys. Lots o water lowin in everywhere, and the lake level shows it.Stayed on main lake and ished points with rocks. A brown jig/w plastic trailer got me 5 keepers, biggest was not quite 2 lbs. Three times I had the big plastic super chunk pincers ripped o, inally decided to use the smaller version and it worked alot better. Use plenty o smelly jelly. All the ish were caught in 20t o water or less.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: jigs, jigs JIGS!!!

Saturday, February 24th, 2001

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: orty something

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: took the canoe out around 4pm. headed toward the damn. very minimal wind. in between storms.saw alot o suspended ish on the depth inder around 15 t...probably trout or carp. used a ootball head twin tail hula grub. nothing. threw a spinnerbait or a short time... nothing. saw a lot o surace activity.switched to a silver jerkbait... they were trout...i caught 15 incher. no bass this time.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: not sure... still trying to igure the lake out.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 43-44

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well, my ingers are thawed out enough to inally write this report. Because o the storm situation, I guided 16 hours on Friday and into the wee hours o Sat. The day trip was the same pattern or us, except with dierent results. We could only get the bass to eed rom 9 to 11 in the morning, with no aternoon bite. The previous nights snowstorm might have had something to do with that. Unortunately, my clients lost every ish that bit (about 7), and one o them was a 6 to 8 lb ish about 6 eet rom the boat. I have always wondered who suers the most when that happens - the client or the guide. We were both very disappointed! The bass just spit the jig out in his ace!! We again didn't start early, because I though the bite would be better later in the day - it was the previous day. But not Friday. I did manage a nice jig pop and a pressure bite and was able to land them, but they were only 4 1/4 and 4 1/2. All our bites were on brown/orange jigs. We ished rocky areas all over the Rattlesnake arm. A sti breeze came up which limited where we could ish. Believe it or not, the night ishing was about the same - we had about 9 or 10 bites, this time landing 4, with my client orm Alaska landing a nice 5 pounder on a black/red brush hog, on the last cast o the last rockpile we ished. This was his biggest bass ever. That was the happy ending I needed. Our other bass were only 3 to 4 pounds. We had to shake our jigs and brush hogs to get a bite, but when they did bite, they hit 'em good!! Clients on both trips ished well, but the bass just wern't very active on Friday, nor were the big ones eeding as they were in my previous trip. That is winter ishing or you - timing is really everything!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We tried cranking and spinnerbaits or awhile, but they wern't interested. Fishing jigs very slowly was all that worked or us. This was the most snow I have every seen in the Clear Lake area, and on the trip rom Yuba City to Clear Lake. A beautiul sight!

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

      Report: Went out omr 6:30 to about 2:00 and didn't get nothing. We tried to dropshot lil' Berkely Worms, and other inesse baits as well as split shotting white curlytail grubs, Dart heading salt n pepper w/ chatr. tail innesse worms , and Carolina rigged lizard. This was done in a range o 25-50 t o water. Bubba, Do you think you can e-mail me w/ some tips. Thanks
      City: Livermore

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 50-51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: American Bas Anglers Club- launched 5 boats at leming meadowsThe weather was cold, rainy, and windy. The irst ish was caught shaking a worm, this ish required popping ater in the livewellor 5 minutes. Our next ish came on a white speed trap in approx.6 t o water, ater running around on the lake we returned to ourirst spot to pick up another ish on a white spinnerbaitwith double willow leas.First Place reurned with 3 ish or 9 plus LBS. with a 4+ ,second place returned with 2 ish or 6+ LBS with a 4+,Me and My partner returned with 3 ish or 5+ lbs.2nd place 4+ was caught on a spinner baitOlenty o water running into the lake .
      City: Martinez

      Tips: Be prepared or cold weather dress, accordingly,ish are starting to move up rom deep water so keep checking ish ater there in the well to see i they need to be popped,reaction baits seemed to be the ticket or us as a whole,some ish came on jigs and worms.P.P.

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 52 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My wie & I ished McClure today, or tried to. Rain, wind, & more o the same until our hands were so cold we had trouble changing baits. Finally packed it up at 10:30 am. We launched rom Barretts & got to Horse Shoe Bend area about 7 am. Wie hooked a 12 1/2" ten minutes later on a craw pattern worm amber w/chartruese claws. Ten minutes later it was my turn & I hooked a 12" w/brown rod strainer jig and brown pork. Only a couple o misses ater that so with the bilge pump on & our rain jacket hoods cinched tight we headed in to the warmth o the truck.
      City: Delhi

      Tips: On a day like today stay home & read Bassin magazine.