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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, February 16th, 2001

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: n/a, but COLD!!

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: The lake has come up and gotten a bit more stained from last week's storm. Pretty fishing today w/ snowcovered hills around the area. I fished from 8-3:30 today in breezy conditions. I landed 3 really nice fish....4lbs, 4lbs, and 3lbs. I also missed/lost 6 other fish...3 of them felt like 3+lbers. They were short striking the bait or something....couldn't quite figure out what was going on. Anyhow, I did the best I could considering all the wind. The fish were all in a 100 yard stretch....just kept going back and forth. Couldn't get bit anyplace else. All fish were caught on zipper grubs w/ kickn' bass scent.
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: Fish real shallow in the morning, move out to 10'-15' in the afternoon. Don't fish the deep water like I saw some guys doing today. Use very SLOW retrieves.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 49-50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE NICE WEATHER,GOT ON THE WATER AT 12:00 FISHED TILL 4:00 ON THE SAME 50 YARD ROCK/TULE WALL.JUST SLOW WORKING A BLK/BLU PIG-N-JIG.ALL IN ALL CAUGHT 14 KEEPERS, BEST FIVE AROUND15/16LB.NOTHING REAL BIG BUT REALLY CONSISTANT.CONSISTANT MEANING THIS WAS MY BEST DAY IN ABOUT A MONTH!!!IT WAS NICE FOR A CHANGE NOT FIGHTING THE WIND AND COLD AND FIGHTING SOME FISH.
      City: STOCKTON

    • By

      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: tried to post this on the forum, but can't get through, too busy i guess. I would like to thank mike and his great crew at BOATMASTERS II for his great effort. yesterday at berryessa i blew my lower end. called mike on the way home, took the boat down this morning and by 12:00 noon it was ready to fly. I have two tournaments this weekend that are important to me and Mike and Andy put it back together for me. Thanks guy's, excellent service. My apologies for posting this on the fish report, but hey, i just had to let everyone know!
      City: walnut creek

      Tips: if you ever have a boat/motor problem, there's only one place, BOATMASTERS II, DUBLIN.

    • By

      Water Temp: 40's

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went out to coyote because it was a nice warm day. Water was cold and murky. ished live minnows all day without a bite. inally moved to right under Dunn bridge and hooked into a monster. Biggests bass i have ever got. I ished or 11 years now and I've landed many 6 to 7 lbs. This lunker was very impressive to me weighing in at 12.2lbs. got the pics to prove it. Let this guy go right ater a ew photos. Damm I did not think there was bass this big in this lake. I going back tomoroww!!!
      City: S.J

      Tips: take a nice sack o humboldt goo with you. and i suggest a portable bong.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: low 50s

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Friday rom 1-5 PM. Only tried a drop shot rig with a 3/8 Jig on the bottom with a 4" worm 1 t up rom the jig.Caught 4 ish all in the 2 lbs range. All hit the worm not the jig. All were caught past the narrows up against blus in 25 t o water. Bites were solid. Worm color was shad. Went back on Saturday or a repeat perormance. Went to the same places and used the same tactics and could not buy a nibble. Overcast and light rain may have made the dierence. I was too inlexible to change tactics.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Drop shot may not work every time out. Be lexible and be willing to change tactics i what you expect to happen doesn't. I need to take my own advise. I may have caught more ish i I had tried other baits.

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The lake was way down; at least 15eet. And it was very windy so ishing out o my 14t aluminum was tough. Tried the irst point o the main lake at the River arm. Marked a bunch o ish and had a big smallie ollow my spinnerbait. He saw me about the same time I saw him; I killed the bait but he swam away. Nothing much ater that. Tried 4" worms split shot. Pitched some small jigs. Nada. Too windy. Saw lots o people catching trout. Rainbow powerbait, they said.
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: Recent rains may help. Look or them beginning to stage. Be worth a look when the rains or spring thaw get the wateralls going.

    • By

      Water Temp: very cold

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: The water is very cold and the ishing is very slow. I caught one ish, 2 LBS. near the back o the lake by the small island. I ished across the main channel with a worm dragging it across the bottom very slowly. I almost didn't eel the bite. I was in a loat tube so I could only stay in the water or a hour or so.
      City: Gilroy

Thursday, February 15th, 2001

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 41-42

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well, I hope this post brings good news to some. Maybe the bass are inally getting used to the cold water temps!! I think I am as excited as Richard was on the previous report. When my client and I hit Clear Lake yesterday, we were determined to get them to bite artiicials, but ater the irst two back-to back winter storm warnings at Clear Lake in recent memory, our hopes were only or a good bite or two. The main reason or the trip was to teach him how to ish the lake, and he wanted to see how I ish jigs. We started about 8:30 am on a beauiul, COLD morning. We had just started ishing jigs - he with a Rodstrainer and me with a Weapon - both with Yamamoto double tail trailers and lots o Smelly Jelly!! Ater 10 minutes, as I was deadsticking my jig ater it ell o the side o a rockpile, my jumped 6 inches o the water - no kiddin!! I was in shock, but I did remember to set the hook - and landed a nice 5-13. My line has NEVER jumped in 41 degree water!! A ew minutes later my client announced he had the "jig thing" down as he set on a 5-3 bass. Disbelie continued as I decided to crank a red/brown crankbait on the next rockpile - I have never done that in any water below 45 degrees. I was ticking the top o the rocks, ever so slowly. As the crank came o the rockpile, it just got heavy. About the time I realized I had a bass on, I saw it and couldn't believe my eyes - thought I had a 10. Turned out to be an 8-6. Looked over a ew more spots and then worked another rockpile where an 8-13 decided to swim o with the Weapon jig that I was shakin'. Wow, 28 pounds in a little over 2 hours. I didn't want to wake up rom this dream yet! He said "lets get 30" - and we did! Next bass was a 5-4 on a jig which gave us 33-7 or our irst ive. I told him that i we got a small one, we would shake it o, since I didn't believe in catching bass under 5 pounds, Har!! But, a 3-6 inhaled my Weapon jig around noon - couldn't shake that one o. We thought the aternoon would be good since the sun was out, but we never got another bite ater 12:30. I'm sure the ishing would have improved beore dark, but we had to leave by 4 pm - Valentine's Day, you know.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: It was again obvious that the sun is still too low in the horizon to warm the water much. I think the surace temp went up 2 degrees by 3 pm. I don't know i we were just there during the right 4 hour period, or i the bass will start being interested in artiicials on a regular basis. It is certainly worth a try now. We did some rippin', but no takers. I was too bright anyway. All our bass were caught at the 10 to 18 oot range.

  • Ventura County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: got on the lake about 11:45a.m. started trolling around bobcat cove, across the dam,got a hook up on a small at ree shad in bass rye pattern.but ish unbuttoned. kept trolling and hooked up with a bass on the same at ree shad. bass went 16inches. came out o about 20eet o water. tried driting with nightcrawlers,nothing. that was it or my cousin german and I. we'll keep at it. It's going to turn on soon.
      City: los angeles

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 46

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: bright clear morning, in the water at jones valley at 7am, a brisk 28 degrees, lake up to 53.5t, wind out o the northeast at 5mph, the hump at jones valley is going to be unparkable in a day or two, cut the hook o a jig or two or preishing, went over to ort creek, clickapudi and a ew places in the pit or three hours, 7 rubber band type pressure hits, and one that was healthy, whatever it was ripped o the grub, weak ront moved in and it got cloudy quickly, wind down to just a hint at 1-2 mph, Packers bay road is still snowed in, won't be servicable this weekend, out at 10am and met and talked to Terry (ishnt) at the top o the ramp, olks were showing up at a good clip, probably 45 rigs in when I let. temp at 38 when I let.
      City: Redding

Wednesday, February 14th, 2001

    • By

      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Doesn't anyone ish at Black Butte anymore???In early January, my partner and I tried around the dam and saw lots o ish in the 20-35 oot area on the ish inder, but couldn't convince any to bite. At that time, the water was very clear the air temperature was very cold.
      City: Orland

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 47

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Finally, a break in the bad weather!!! The lake is a little stained and the water temp is down a little. The fish appear to be a bit deeper thanks to this latest cold front. We fished near the dam from 10-2. We caught just 2 small bass. There were plenty on the depth finder in about 25 feet of water, but not very active. Nice day though.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Fish Slowwwwwwwwww....

    • By

      Water Temp: 47

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Finally, a break in the bad weather!!! The lake is a little stained and the water temp is down a little. The fish appear to be a bit deeper thanks to this latest cold front. We fished near the dam from 10-2. We caught just 2 small bass. There were plenty on the depth finder in about 25 feet of water, but not very active. Nice day though.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Fish Slowwwwwwwwww....

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: started around 1pm and ended about 6. Fish are starting to move up because o the warm whether. Got 1 on a jig and lost 4 more on the jig one big one. And also lost 3 more on a luke. nothig on a spinnerbait or crankbait this time.
      City: Livermore

      Tips: look or ish in the shallows

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had a good day inally at Sonoma. Fished the Warm Springs side today. Dropshotted all day (10amto5pm). Caught about 25 ish and broke o about 7or8. Got some ish o points with submerged trees. Can't see them trees but can eel the ish coming out o them. Then I got into a little hot spot area with trees in between points. Caught most o my ish in this area working anywhere rom 20to50t down in the tree branches. Most ish hit on deadsticking dropshot. Sot bite(rod loading up). I used the Berkeley 4 inch power worm in the camo color all day. They liked it. The hook was about 6 to 8 inches above weight and no more. Used one hook setup with 8lb green p-line and a 1/4oz weight. You have to be straight up and down with your dropshot. No dragging. They are staying pretty tight to the trees. Be patient and keep moving rom tree to tree. Once hooked, get him up quick or its going to be ugly. You are gonna have some snags and break os. Its part o the deal right now. Just retie and back at em. The bad part is no ish over 2lbs, but lots o action. Hey Sheehy, I think the spawn is over now.(har har) Sorry Scott, but I can't seem to put the drop shot away like you said. But some day I will. For now you'll just have to call me DROPSHOT MCGEE. Hey Adam, i you need any pointers just give me a hollar. I know how much you love to ish Sonoma.
      City: Petaluma

Tuesday, February 13th, 2001

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the far dam from 8-10 Missed one right away in about 10 ft of water Landed a 4 lber at about 9:30 in about 7 ft of water on pumpkin/green spider grub with an extra pumpkin grub trailer
      City: San Jose

      Tips: fish grubs SLOWLY with an occasional pause

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the far dam from 8-10 Missed one right away in about 10 ft of water Landed a 4 lber at about 9:30 in about 7 ft of water on pumpkin/green spider grub with an extra pumpkin grub trailer
      City: San Jose

      Tips: fish grubs SLOWLY with an occasional pause

    • By

      Water Temp: 40

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: testing the waters
      City: San Jose

Monday, February 12th, 2001

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Dam from about 12:30 til 4:30 Partner landed a 3.5 lber at about 2 in about 10 ft of water on a pumpkin spider grub. About 4 o clock I landed a solid 3 in 5 ft of water on a green and pumpkin colored spider grub
      City: San Jose

      Tips: fish grubs and jigs SLOW

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Dam from about 12:30 til 4:30 Partner landed a 3.5 lber at about 2 in about 10 ft of water on a pumpkin spider grub. About 4 o clock I landed a solid 3 in 5 ft of water on a green and pumpkin colored spider grub
      City: San Jose

      Tips: fish grubs and jigs SLOW