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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Thursday, February 1st, 2001

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I heard on the radio the weather was going to be good so it became imperative that I use it to my advantage by going ishing! Knowing that it was going to be colder than Siberia in the morning we didn't actually get on the water till 8:30am - sun shining with a very minor breeze coming rom the South. We stayed in the narrows throwing Mepp's or the irst 30 minutes along with a ew shore ishermen with no action at all. Hence, we moved to the rock wall on the right (past the narrows) and tried a new technique "drop-shotting". Even had to get out the paper that shows how to tie a Palomar knot. My partner and I were trying this or the irst time so we thought it would take some time. Wrong! First drop down my partner pulled a at, chunky 2.1 lb largemouth that came up out o the water like a water-logged stick. No ight at all. We thought it was dead. Ater CPR, the ish came back to lie. It was probably in shock because it wasn't caught by Bubba o Fremont. Instead, it was caught by Tom o Fremont. On the second drop, Tom nailed a bright 16" Silver Salmon. Now that was a beautiul ish. Both o these were caught at 30 eet. Next, we went across the lake to the other rock wall. We drited the entire wall at 30' deep with no hint o a strike. So we moved to 50' and guess who nailed another beautiul Salmon - Tom ! I was starting to think drop-shotting was only or people rom Fremont. We headed to the mouth o Badger Cove and I picked up 4 Largies in 45 minutes (1.8, 1.7, 1.3, 1.0). OK - Now I'm eeling better about this drop-shotting thing. Tom eventually picked up a small largemouth just beore leaving that spot. (Tom-4, Gary-4). We headed to the dam and ished the rock point to the let o the dam. Nothing doing and no ish marked on the inder. We needed to break the tie, so with only 20 minutes let in the day, we headed to the rock wall to the right o the dam. First drop produced a 1.4 largemouth or guess who ! (I you guessed Tom - you were wrong). Now, with 5 minutes let, Tom needed a miracle. We drited over the cement piling and Tom got the 'TAP' signaling 'miracle about to happen'. So he 'set the hook' (which, by the way, is what you don't do when you are behind by 1 ish with only 5 minutes let) and he pulled the bait right out o the ishes mouth. So, we inished at 3:00pm with 9 ish. My ive bass would have gone about 7.2 lbs.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Fish were 35-40 eet deep. Drop-shotting is a viable technique or winter bass ishing.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 46-48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished rom 1:00 to 5:00 with my Dad.Tried everything without much success. I gave my Dad a split shot worm on a spinning reel,[i I give him a baitcaster I get a birdnestin return ]We ished a creek channel up north, I had enoughwas telling him to reel in and lets go in,he did and had a 13'' spot on the end o his line. So much or my day as a ishing guide.
      City: Granite Bay

      Tips: Fish painully slow or wait til it warms up !

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This is just a quick report to say that I eel the bite at Oroville is ok, but not as good as it was two weeks ago. I ished with a riend today or about 3 1/2 hours in the morning. We had six bites on Rodstrainer jigs and landed 4 - all over the slot - one o them 17 inches! They were deep, 30 to 45 eet! We also landed a 14 incher shakin' a worm. So, about 9 1/2 lbs in a little over three hours, or 5 spotted bass. We ished several good areas without a bite. Since my riend will be ishing some tournaments there, I won't say where we ished. We did try some rippin' and spinnerbaits, but no takers.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Look or steep banks - that's where the ish are. Most o my jig bites were during deadsticking periods. Stop your jig oten - you can get away with that at Oroville without snagging too much.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 47-49

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: in at Jones Valley at 1015 am, temp at 43, no wind and overcast, lake up to 57.5 t 39 rigs on the ramp, motored over to the back o ort creek coves, my stumps are disappearing slowly, tossed in a MGM 109 idget and it got whacked on the way down at about 12 t, nice 1.9 spot, toss it back in again and bump on the way down, another 1.9. nothing ater that so ran to Clickapudi or my creek bed and tapped a 1.8 on the big daddy special, ran out side o clickapudi and about 400 yards upstream in a small cove and picked up a nice 2.2 on the green 109 idget in 38 t. sosme more debris today but nothing dangerous yet. iddled around looking or a ew dierent spots as the wind came up out o the south at 115 pm and seemed to cool o a bit. headed home or some honey doos, 51 rigs on the beach when I pulled out at 145 pm. Talked to another guy on the way out, he reported no ish caught in over 4 hours.
      City: Redding

Wednesday, January 31st, 2001

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

      Report: Rolled out with Zipperworm to use our ishing licence one last time or the year. Caught a couple about 2.5 lb. each and Zipperworm caught one slightly smaller. Zipperworms comment "the bottom is eatureless" or "I am not marking any ish here" preceded all ish caught or what it is worth. Two caught split shotting (the humanity) and one caught on a jig and pig. P.S. Props to Zipperworms wie or the great meal she prepared New Years Eve.
      City: Gold River

      Tips: Fish in areas with no cover/structure or anr evidence o aquatic lie. Water is clearer in main lake and rising ast!

  • Leon County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: ished or trout. caught one dink, one slightly larger. she turned out to be lake record. 14-7 and a bag o chips. waaaasaaaaaiiii. read it in the contra costa times, or go to the lake - our picture is there.
      City: Piedmont, ca.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 47-51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: late start today, in at jones valley at 115pm, air temo 58, bright and clear, wind out o the north at 15 with gusts to 25, lake at 58 t and airly clear, some debris starting to show as the lake comes up but nothing major, went into the back o the ort creek coves, irst 7 casts netted 5 dinks on a big daddy special, moved south about a block and popped a nice 2.2 on same worm, pulled out an MGM idget in color #109 and caught 3 to 1.8 lbs, moved upstream in the pit a bit near the rockpile and dropped the idget down next to a stump or a 3.2 that was initially wrapped around a stump, got over the top o him in 28 t and pounded on the rod butt a bit and he came unstuck, used to see my dad do that, it worked, nice at spot, caught three more at 1.4 - 1.6 on the green idget and let. out o the water at 345pm air temp still 58. took the ish in 28 to 41 t o water. spoke to a local gent and regular who claimed 25 on green worms between 9am and 330pm, he doesn't stretch the truth so I believe him. Saw him boat 3 just a couple hundred eet rom me.
      City: Redding

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I went out trolling on Wednesday. I launched out o Yorty Creek. The recent rains did not change the color o the lake. It is still green and good visibility. I was trolling or trout using lead core and a downrigger line. The water depth is low. The downrigger hit structure at just 8 eet. I lost one bass while throwing a watermellon red sinko next to some submerged trees. The ish hit just as the sinko was about to hit bottom. Tough day.
      City: Cloverdale

      Tips: Worms, grubs, sinkos thrown next to structure or protected points. Fish were at 20 eet down!

    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Largemouth bass are spawning o and onn. Stange year. Water is very warm compared to last year same date. Good news is that bass are easy to catch - too easy. We need some good heavy rains and very soon. Our bass today average just ove 4 pounds 9we had our this size. The larger Killer worms worked OK - 14 to 23 inchers. No smallmouth on this trip - probably down below the 20 oot region we were ishing. Fished slow - took about our hours to cover 100 yards o shore line.
      City: Healdsburg

      Tips: Fish slow - mask scent o your boat. Use very sot baits.

Tuesday, January 30th, 2001

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I was fishing at the Steel Park resort and I was walking along the bank to look for a spot to fish for when walked apon a lunker bass. I was using a spinner bait becuase it was sunny out and I knew that bass are atrackted to shinny obgects so thats what I used. On my other fishing pole I had a light greenish colored lure on. Then I casted out about thirty feet in front of it and it took off right at it and befor I knew it I caught the lunker bass. Then I went to the Marina and got it weighed in and the guy said,"You got your self a 11 pound lunker bass.
      City: Napa

      Tips: Use a spinner bait when it is really bright out or when ever. You can use worms when ever you want to. ever thing else you can basiclly use when ever you want.

    • By

      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I was fishing at the Steel Park resort and I was walking along the bank to look for a spot to fish for when walked apon a lunker bass. I was using a spinner bait becuase it was sunny out and I knew that bass are atrackted to shinny obgects so thats what I used. On my other fishing pole I had a light greenish colored lure on. Then I casted out about thirty feet in front of it and it took off right at it and befor I knew it I caught the lunker bass. Then I went to the Marina and got it weighed in and the guy said,"You got your self a 11 pound lunker bass.
      City: Napa

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: still cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Played hookey and fished this Tuesday out of the Hook. Got a late start and the wind was HOWLING out of the north on a typical bluebird day. Ran to some new sheltered water further north and had a decent day. Cranked/ripped 10 blackies and one striper. Fish were all decent, running 1.5 to 3.5 lbs. The key was slightly clearer water, 10 ft or greater depth 10 ft from the bank on tule/rock levees with some evidence of bait nearby. Most fish hit a red Normans little N cranked as slowly as possible making bottom contact. Started using 12 lb Sugoi fluorocarbon and the feel is much better and the bait seems to be easier to crank down to depth. All blackies came off the above type of area, while the striper hit off a tule berm point where the depth broke from 5 to 12 feet or so. Missed several other stripers and had 4 blackies come unbuttoned. Fish are still bunche up some - I'd get 3-5 hits within a small area, then move down further and do the same thing again. I left early and they were still hitting. I seem to do better in the central/north end of the Delta, while the South end is eating my lunch! Out of town for the next week, so good luck to all and God Bless! (Gonna run to the ISE before my flight today!)
      City: Half Moon Bay

      Tips: Any sloughs with clearer water, good depth, rocks and bait seem to be holding some fish. Hard to stay on the blackies when you know the stripers are nearby and hungry as well. Once again the fish were out from the bank. I was cranking deep weeds for most of the green monsters. No luck on blue/chartreuse crank (another favorite for me) in same water or dirtier water that was nearby. They seemed to prefer something with red in it.

    • By

      Water Temp: 46

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: For how much wind we have had in the last week the water color isn't that bad. Started fishing blacks near Holland looking for deep weed beds with good water color. Worked an area I know well looking for the any subtle depth changes or wood in 10-15'. Fish I was seeing were either suspended and not active or on the bottom and willing to bite. In four hours of slow dragging many different types of plastics I got five in the boat and missed two. One was skinny and barely legal the other four were from 2-3 pounds apiece. You almost had to be dead to catch them. Dead stick was the way to go again. Decided to check on the strippers. Thank God for the Delta strippers!!! Checked one spot and spent the rest of the day there. A long breakline in Franks has been holding strippers for months and today the spot was loaded with bright fresh fish and very aggressive. Threw cranks for the first hour there finding the holes they were sitting in and switched to swimbaits and had a real good time! Finally a decent stripper day! Caught 14 fish from 5-15# and missed many, many swipes that didn't take. Looks like the bite for them may be coming on #'s wise.
      City: Mountain View

      Tips: Fish confidently.

Monday, January 29th, 2001

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Three of us fished from 10am until 3pm. Marked a lot of fish on the electronics in 25-30 feet of water. We fished the main lake points and rocky areas. Had only 1 bite all day! Used small plastic worms, plastic lizards and jig and pig combos. Weather was sunny and breezy. Only 1 other boat on the water.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Use small dark colored plastics or jigs off points in the main lake. Early or late in the day seems to be the best bet.

    • By

      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Three of us fished from 10am until 3pm. Marked a lot of fish on the electronics in 25-30 feet of water. We fished the main lake points and rocky areas. Had only 1 bite all day! Used small plastic worms, plastic lizards and jig and pig combos. Weather was sunny and breezy. Only 1 other boat on the water.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Use small dark colored plastics or jigs off points in the main lake. Early or late in the day seems to be the best bet.

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 47-50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: looking a bit cloudy out but took off for Jones Valley anyhow, in the water at 915 am, air temp 43, went over to Clickaudi, two in the boat onan MGM blue ghost fidget, one was 1.8 the other was 1.4. Took off upstream for the points around Arbuckle, tossed in a big daddy's special for another 1.8, moved to the other bank(eastside) and popped two more at 1.5 apiece, went alittle further north and caught 6 in 6 casts on my standard pumpkin pepper twin tail skirted jig on a 3/8 oz jighead in 21 ft of water, poked around a few points with a green fidget from MGM and caught two more, both small dinks. 13 total but smaller than recent trips, water still pretty clean but some brown starting to show at places where the water is running in after recent rains, lake up to 58.2 ft, bites more aggressive today, only one pressure bite, the rest hit with some authority. Had a doe swim across Clickapudi right in front of me, first deer I have seen down at lake level in a month, got out a 230pm air temp 61 degrees. Sky cleared up at 1pm, off came the frogg toggs and the wind quit, it shifted around out of the north at 2pm, water very flat.
      City: Redding

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

      Report: MY bro richard and I arrived at the lake about 9:45a.m. We started trolling rom the pump house towards the dam. We used 4lb outits and richard used a mepps syclops that he used the weekend beore and I used an orange thomas bouyant lure that I had ound on the road. Richard caught 2 trout on the syclops,I caught 3 trout on the thomas bouyant lure. richard attached a mepps spinner onto a small spinnerbait arm he had and caught a trout on it. I anchored across the marina on the oppisite side o lake and caught a trout on an inlated worm. total 5 trout kept 2 small dinks released. we were o the water by 3p.m. perect day on the water. ish on ellas.
      City: los angeles

      Tips: get on the water beore it gets too crowded later in the year.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 48-50 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: ished saturday and sunday,snow on the banks but the ish did not seem to care,caught keepers in 10 - 40 t o water on purple and cinnamon worms using a darthead in 1/4 oz. ished the pit and squaw arms on clay banks with rock and wood. ish were aggressive you knew you got bit.
      City: hayward

      Tips: dress warm it is cold out there

    • By

      Water Temp: 47-50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went and stuck my report or today on Shasta in the wrong column, it in the Delta report spot. sorry about that.
      City: redding

Sunday, January 28th, 2001

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Another tu day or me.Same story,I got my bites at 20-25t. I landed a couple and missed a ew.I trolled or trout with a blue/silver rapala and a yellow/white jointed rapala at 100yds.They both cought ish up to 3.75 lb.Very risky ish.It was another nice day with Bald Eagles at the lakeside,turkeys gobbling and a couple o deer.One gentleman ished a spot right behind me where I missed a bite and he was happy to say he got a 4lber and a 8lber. OUCH!!That hurt! But I may have learned something that I'll try later.
      City: Manteca

      Tips: I tried 20 and 12 lb test,black/red jig,brown/brown jig,zoom trailer,pork trailer,rattle,no rattle.For me I recieved the same result.