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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, January 15th, 2001

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: It was a very tu day or me.I managed six bites,two hit and runs,two came o at the boat and two solid keepers.All bites came on jigs in 20-25t,except or one minnow bite in 20t.Nothing or me on cranks or live dads.I always use 20lb big game when jig ishing,maybe lighter line would work better under these conditions.Very cold day,clear water and occasional breeze.
      City: Manteca

      Tips: When you get bit make sure he's on . Be more patient.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I've decided to learn new water/techniques, so have been launching from Orwood and fishing south/central Delta. Went out Saturday - tough time again. Started ripping just outside harbor entrance off and on down to Disco - saw someone in a small boat, so moved on to let him have the water. One striper (8 lbs) in Disco on blue/chartreuse Norman's little N. The fish was hooked on the outside of head, not in the mouth. Missed two good hits along docks, no other takers. Was straining water for active fish, figuring if I got hit I could go back through with plastics or jigs. Ran up to Middle river, cranked outside weedline on main channel by Bullfrog - no hits. Cranked/ripped a fairly reliable area in Mildred-Nada as well. Decided to look for slightly clearer water, ran to Whiskey - water was a little better in some spots, but no rip bite. Threw plastic worm, no hits. Started straining water with crankbait - 3 hits, but no hookups. Could not figure it out, hooks were razor sharp. Finally decided that the fish may not have been blackies, but stripers that were swiping at the bait but not taking it. Flipped weeds/tules last hour of daylight in Turner, same story. A tough day for me. It's hard to discipline yourself to fish new water in an effort to not wear out your regular spots where you are more confident of pulling fish, but I hope to find some new areas over the next several trips to add to my list. Better luck to everyone else!
      City: Half Moon Bay

      Tips: The last two trips working newer water have been tough, but I still can't wait to get out there whenever time allows. I may sneak up to some of my old reliables midweek!

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 45

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well Scott and I ished Friday beore Cooch came up and got em pretty good. Then on Sat. With Cooch well, read his report. The next day was THE DAY! We spanked em hard with Scott taking one 9-11 in three eet o water. Caught twenty ish over ive lbs. Best ive went nearly 38 pounds. I've been using my camera exclusivly to locate rockpiles with ish. Cooch and Scott loved it. Saves time.Gotta tell this ish story rom saturday when Cooch came up: We're down to our last two minnows and we been killin em or the last 1-1/2 hours. Cooch throws in where we had seen a giant earlier. It bites and Cooch sets. Nothin! Gets back a bare hook. I throw in and he hits me. We see him shakin his head and its a dawg. He comes up and comes unbottoned. Cooch says hey there's my minnow loatin on top. The thing is barely movin as Cooch scoops it o the surace and pins it on his hook. He throws in there and that big monster hits him AGAIN! Cooch lands em...OVER TEN! Outta minnows. Fish another hour senkos etc... nothin. Great day with Scott and Cooch. We had a blast.
      City: Salinas

      Tips: Artiicials work ine at night. During daylight hours it's utile compared to the minnow bite. Use small #4 octopus hooks and the ish get it in the tip o the lip every time. No swallowing the bait.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished usual spots, did well on the splitshot crawlers.Looking or live crawdads , i anyone knows where I could score some the ino would be much appreciated.
      City: Dublin

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 47-50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: did a little quick thing out o Jones Valley with the wie, wind blowing hard and very cold, lake up to 61 and a little bit eet, some water lowing in on steep slopes, lake clear so ar, hooked something huge in Clickapudi that took me into a stump and I could eel him come undone leaving me in the stump, ound ish in 10 to 40t o water, had two pull downs in 13 t, took o and went home, it was COLD with that north wind blowing, didn't spend but an hour out there. irst ish hit a BPS twin tail skirted jig, the other two went on the MGM idget in blue ghost, a dandy little bait attached to a 1/4 oz darter head. Good weather predicted or the rest o the week, but its gonna be cold.
      City: Redding

Sunday, January 14th, 2001

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 48-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Anglers tournament on Berryessa today. Partner and I caught 9 fish, all keepers. Lost several too. Total weight was 9.78lbs. All of our fish were smallmouth caught wormin magic and robos on steep walls. The fish were all at 15' to 25'. We couldn't buy a reaction or jig bite. The winners said they were fishing deeper 45'.
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Fish cuts and step walls/bluffs slowly. Dress warm and good luck. The bite was better for us after 10am.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 50 -51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Spotted bass are beginning to get active as we turn the corner towards spring weather. As usual, the spotted bassare the irst ish to turn on in Folsom. On Sunday, westarted around 9 am in the North Fork and shook our inchworms or 6 bass in the 1 to 2 pound range. What makes methink the bass are ready to turn on is the act that 3 outo the 6 swallowed the bait. Whereas, most spots in thewinter mode seem to spit baits out. Most o the ish werecaught in the 15 to 25 oot zone on the outside o coveson the points. I tried both 6 inch worms and 4 inch worms and the 4 inch clearly outperormed the larger bait.
      City: Lincoln

      Tips: Late winter on warm days, try split-shotting points anywhererom 15 to 35 eet.

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

      Report: Fished club tourny today. Bite was very tough. Caught 2 keepers on brown jig in 25 eet on main lake points. Only limit caught was shaking worms in 20-25t around tuttle town.
      City: Turlock

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: loat tubed near spillway in cove. ished in about 30' water on the bottom. used greencraw magic worm (4") splitshot. caught two bass in about 2hrs. one spot 16" and one smallie 18"....released both back...ished middle o day...
      City: Oroville

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Brisk north wind made or white caps on the Sac and McCloud arms most o the day. High temp was barely 50 degrees but the wind made it bone chilling cold.Fished Shasta Region Federation tourney. We tried spinnerbaits and crankbaits througout the day on windy banks with no success. All the ish came drop shotting Pro Worms in 2' to 40' o water. My draw partner Brad Lewis stuck a nice 3.5# spot early in about 10' o water. Mid day he stuck a beautiul 6.3# spot in about 5' o water. The rest o the day we drop shotted in 20' to 40' o water catching alot o good quality 2# average spots. Our weight or the six ish limit was 18.00# even.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Fish the drop shot slow. We got several ish just dead sticking. A couple o times, ish hit my rod as I was netting my partner's ish. S-l-o-w.

Saturday, January 13th, 2001

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished in a club tourney Saturday after the rains. I was expecting to find some stained water, but found the water to be very clear, especially in the north end and i Putah Creek. Water temp in this area was only 49. My partner managed to catch 1 keeper on a white spinnerbait in the morning. Then went back south to the channel. Caught 2 more on blades, then 3 small bass dragging a grub (ony 1 keeper) We ended with 4 fish for 6 lbs. 1st place was around 11 lbs for 5 fish. Big fish was only 3 lbs.
      City: rohnert park

      Tips: Try drop shotting small baits in 30-40' water. Also try dead sticking football head jigs with hula grubs in around 20-35'. Work the rocky points. South end is 1-2 degrees warmer than the north.

    • By

      Water Temp: 50-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished in a club tourney Saturday after the rains. I was expecting to find some stained water, but found the water to be very clear, especially in the north end and i Putah Creek. Water temp in this area was only 49. My partner managed to catch 1 keeper on a white spinnerbait in the morning. Then went back south to the channel. Caught 2 more on blades, then 3 small bass dragging a grub (ony 1 keeper) We ended with 4 fish for 6 lbs. 1st place was around 11 lbs for 5 fish. Big fish was only 3 lbs.
      City: rohnert park

      Tips: Try drop shotting small baits in 30-40' water. Also try dead sticking football head jigs with hula grubs in around 20-35'. Work the rocky points. South end is 1-2 degrees warmer than the north.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Redwood Empire Bass club held their First tourny of the year out of Capell Cove. Most everyone caught fish. Most came from deep water on some sort of plastics. Seemed like all techniques worked from Drop shot to Carolina and Texas Rigs. Just had to fish slooow and deeep. Winning weight was five fish for 11.19 lbs by Steve Ameral and Larry Stockman. They also had big fish which was a 3.58 lb Largemouth. If you enjoy Bass Fishing and good people, come join us. The Redwood Empire Bass Club meets the Second Wednesday of the month at the Rohnert Park Community Center on Snyder Lane at 7:00. We Fish once a month at various locations around Northern California. Next month: Clear Lake. Last Years Big limits and Largest Fish came out of Clear Lake in February. So come Join us and have some Fun!
      City: Santa Rosa

    • By

      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: North Bay Bassmen out of Benicia had our first tournament of the year at Berryessa. A beautiful cool day and everyone caught fish and there were several limits. Winning member was Pete Vanley with, now get this, 16.6 lbs with a 11.2# kicker. What a beautiful fish. Pete caught the fish on a twin tail S&P grub fishing steep banks.
      City: Benicia

      Tips: Fish were anywhere between 15 & 25' on steep rocky banks. Most were caught shaking grubs and worms just about any pattern. Couple of anglers did ok drop shoting also.

    • By

      Water Temp: 49 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: i had a fun day at berryessa. the weather was calm, no rain, very little wind... it was cool though... you could see your breath all day. i caught four - 3 largemouth, 1 smallmouth. they averaged about 2 lbs each. i lost a few keepers because i wasn't paying attention. the smallmouth hit a jerkbait in 4ft of water. the largemouths hit dropshot in 40ft plus. my partner limited out on dropshot. he had a real nice 2 lbs. spotted bass... all the fish were really healthy with good markings. thanks to the guys who believe in catch and release. 4 of our bass had hook holes. we released all of our fish too. we fished around big island jumping from point to point.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: believe in your electronics. fish real slow. worm color didn't seem to matter.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 47-48

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well it seems like that weather system that came through did not bother the ish at clearlake. We went out at about 4pm on saturday a little windy but, not to bad. We caught one about 5-10 wright o the get. Then at about 5:30 to 6:30 we caught 6 ish 3-10, 4-4, 5-2, 5-4, 5-10 & 7-1. It slowed down until about 9:30, then rom 9:30 to about 11:00 we put another 5 ish in the boat a 5-1, 5-3, 5-4, 7-2 & 7-5In all we caught 16 ish all nite, we got o the water at about 3:30am. Are biggest was the 7-5 no toads but, still some nice quality ish. All but 2 o are ish came on brush hogs the others came on jigs. So the people that say you need to ish with minnows are crazy and using minnows takes no skill. You might catch more on minnows but I belive you can catch better quality with plastics.
      City: Modesto

      Tips: Fish very slow.

    • By

      Water Temp: Cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out this Saturday on a guide trip with Ben Williams & Scott Holzchuh and had one o the greatest ishing days ever in January. Over cast skies and a slight breeze met us on this day. We caught maybe 25-30 keepers. The majority o the ish caught were between 3-5 pounds. Our best ive were a 5,5,5,6+ & 10+ or well over 31 pounds and er 7 we would have peaked 40 pounds. Most o the ish we caught were up on lats in anywhere rom 4-16 oot o water. Rocky structure or grass beds, in very protected areas, seemed to be a key to inding ish or us. It also helped tremendously that we had a camera. We caught all but one o these ish on live jumbo minnows, ished either carolina or under a bobber system. Today, I caught my irst ish over 10 pounds on live bait. Also, the bite was strongest between 12:30-3:00. Ironically, this is within a window o peak eeding periods as suggested by a number o Astro tables I've looked at today. I only mention this, as we had a discussion on the Forum about Lunar phases the other day. There's no doubt in my mind, these were also a key to our success.
      City: Oakley

      Tips: Water is very cold and clear, ish are very inactive and not chasing artiicial baits at all. Splitshotting small inesse worms, tubes and whacky riggin Senkos will catch ish, but ya gotta ish so dang slow. Right now, take advantage o this live jumbo minnow bait bite, it is truely awesome and I garuntee you'll have a blast. Just be sure ya buy enough minnows or the entire day, right Ben? HAR!

    • By

      Water Temp: >?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got there about 6:30 got nothing in 3 days o ishing. Inact i havent had a ish scince they lowered the lake and riped all o the weed cover out. I usualy get some nice winter ish out there but Nothing the last 3 days. So i settled down and threw some power bait out and got a couple trout and went home. According to the Moon charts (i dont know i these work or not but the 24 25 are supposed to be good and sat and sun are gunna be best and 28-31 are good as well. Im looking or some one to ish with that is into the bassin action a boat would be nice too i could bring drinks and snacks. but any one willing to walk around the lake insearch o those winter bass E mail me and we can set up a date and time to go out thanks alot.! TOm
      City: Pittsburg

      Tips: Late summer and all Fall i ound that Blue and silver stick baits work Great so do lipless cranck bates Ratilin raps renzy's rat l trap etc

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went to Dell Valle today and ished the eed in creek. We got 4 trout each to about 2 pounds and lost a ew others. they were hitting rapala countdowns and bass tubes i you can believe that. It was a clear and very sunny day and i had a heck o a un time. thanks to Bassen Boy or showing my whats up and where this treasure is. Anyway i got to go but hit it up i you can.
      City: Piedmont

    • By

      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well I was ten minutes late this morning,but it was not as crowded today.Finally motored my way to the dam and immediately started crankin a 15' runner against the rocks,with no takers.Moved around the corner and stuck a mean'ol Bronzeback on a clown ripbait.The red eyed chunk weighed 2.1, but still made me work like mad to land him with those sketchy treble hooks.Kept ishing and stuck a 1.9 blackie in 25' o the bird cages with a brown jig.Ditched my boat when i ran into delta Dan out there.We ished pretty slow with spider grubs the rest o the day,and stuck one more blackie in about 19'on rocks.Better ish about 3lbs and shook Delta Dans spider jig out at the boat.Bummer!A very un day o ishing with one o the nicest isherman ive met.Thanx Dan.Timdog, thanx or the insight and ino on bass boats that you gave me at the launch ramp.All you guys watch out or timdogs gal,she's gonna be a stick!She even backed down the ramp by hersel like a pro.Slow bite,but a great day on ol'delvalle.Tight Lines to all!!!!!!!
      City: livermore

      Tips: Wind can sometimes be wicked out here, but its always good or the bite here.Even in winter.This is when I like try or reaction bites.Ripbaits and at cranks.Bang them as hard as you can against anything,and always cast into the wind.This wind causes current around around the rocky blus which helps position the shallow ish. P.S.,The smallies really like chartreuse here too.