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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, August 26th, 2000

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 68-72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Sat 6am and the three o us (Eric, Ryan, Todd) are in search or piggly wiggly.We combed the lake and not until Noon did Eric land our irst Bite & Fish in Honker Bay. Fish was small but it gave us hope ater no bites all morning. Continued ishing honker Bay and tulies with no luck. Heading back to the marina about 1:30 we decide to pitch and lip Coots Landing along the wayback when BANG!!!!! There was Piggly Wiggly. Floated a sinko right onto the door step. Eric always on point pulls out a scale and Ryan who does this on a regularbasis goes or the measuring tape. 10 pounds 10 oz and measured like a ootballat about 23x20 (I think that's what you said Ryan). What a Hawg to inish theday on practically our last casts. Looking orward to next time.
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: Even when the lake seems to not have a pulse, You never know when you could get lucky.

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

      Report: third time is the charm??"Tips" rom previous report.Big ish equal sot bite! Watch out or the pressure bite!!! it was very sot.absolutely NO MOON LAST NIGHT! not only was it a sliver, but it didn't show until the drive home. The lake was the lattest and calmest I've ever seen, ished in a T-shirt all night! - Good Luck.
      City: sacramento

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: "FOLLOW UP TO LAST POST"my "tips" didn't copy, so here they are i anyone cares to know?Big ish
      City: Sacramento

    • By

      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: WOW what a night! Best night bass ishing in my lie, thanks Clear lake!started out at 7:00 p.m. out o M&M. Hit the back side o Rattlesnake.Second cast with the green rog (Thanks or the tip Larry) put 4.3 lb'er in the boat! Fished there until dark, had one more blow up on the rog, but all we saw o her was huge "Bucket" coming straight at us, missed that one! Nothing on spooks either.Ran to Dollar island, and Buckingham, no luck. Then headed to shag around 11:00 p.m. and the un started! Lost a 12" camo power work on a big ish that screamed straight out o o the bank into deep water, should have had a stinger hook in the rear! But then in the exact same spot 15 mins. Later, stuck a 10.2 LB pig! Biggest bass o my lie! Might have been the same ish? Picked up a 2.2 as well out o the same "hole".Ran back to dollar island around 12:30 a.m. and nailed 9.4 Lb'er! Second biggest Bass o my lie! My hooked popped out as the ish rolled next to the boat and my partner Tim took a blind swipe at it with the net and came up with the ish! Phew, thanks Tim!Best two ish went 19.6 lbs.!!! and I had 26.1 lbs. with 4 ish! Both pigs came on 12" camo power worms in 5' o water or less. We ished until 3:00 a.m. and headed back to Sac! What a night!!!iSh On,biGjOhn
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Big ish

  • San Francisco County
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      Water Temp: Unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Never ished Merced beore; went there Saturday and it was a complete waste o time. About two iteen ishermen scattered along south shore o north lake, looking glum, with nothing to show or their eorts. Saw only one person catching anything; he was ishing or catish with anchovy pieces. He caught two large catish (app. 10 lbs) but one was sick-looking and had maggot-like parasites all over it. Talked to a couple o guys ishing or trout; they said that ishing "isn't nearly as good as it was last year," and blamed this on the person in charge o restocking, who, they said, stocks only 100 ish at a time, which are quickly ished out.As or the south lake, there is no place to ish rom except the one boat pier that is not closed o, and it is so beouled with bird dung that the stench is overwhelming. Indeed, the whole area around the boat docks reeks, and the water itsel looks stagnant and oul.
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: None, except that anchovy chunks seem to work or the catish.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: A couple weeks ago I Float Tubed the Island Pond.I caught two on a white spinnerbait. Both ish were about 4lbs.
      City: Pleasanton

      Tips: Pitch a white spinnerbait close to the brush.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 77

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: talked to at least 15 guys today while at work, lots o small dinks being caught with only a ew keepers reported, shrimp spawn is over, lots o small shad up on the top but not much going on below them, watched my ishinder as I traveled around and the ish are spread out, ound a couple o large bait balls in 40t o water at the top o Squaw creek in Flower Gulch with some ish working them, ski traic is very heavy and the ishing is slow in those main lake areas, the upper Pit is catching most o the ishing action above the no ski buoys, the lake is down to 55 1/2 t and dropping about 6 inches per day, the temp is slowly starting to drop, down orm 80plus to about 77 in most areas, things should improve quickly ater labor day is over with.
      City: Redding

Friday, August 25th, 2000

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 65+?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: i dont know whyi keep leaving these reports, but oh well.me and jono hit the water at 6:00-11:00 beore we gae up. we ished lukes and castaics all day. jonathan got a bite on his in-s ish luke but that was all the action or the day .....accept or when i got "bit" on my castaic. it turned out to be a snagg! but i eventually got it out.well better luck to you other guys .
      City: Castrovalley

      Tips: i chabot is near your house than so is the delta a say go to the delta!

    • By

      Water Temp: 84

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the water about 5:30pm and was promptly greeted by about a zillion bugs, man they were all over the place. So were threw topwater or a bit with no takers, decided to wait a little later or the top water ish.Cranked about ten on a silver/black shad rap with biggest about 4+.Few more on a six inch magic worm; white/chartrues tail.All in all about iteen ish total.
      City: turlock

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hey Mark, Thanks or posting on OUR best kept secret. hehe I'm gunna put the tube in on Monday next week, so mabye I'll see ya. I've been ishing on the creek side and killing em. I've got them over 25" on jigs!!! 8#'s was my best rom this lake so shes probably in the 9# range now chompin on those trout. Hope to see ya, Cris (cv) PS: i you don't already have some, bring some summer moss colored brushhogs. The bass here just can't help themselves. Coyote Bait has em. Later.
      City: Mountain View

Thursday, August 24th, 2000

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 72 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I fished Calero east from the launch ramp all the way to Cherry Cove from 9:00 A.M. til 6:30 P.M., the fishing was consistent with 14 fish ranging from 10"-19" until 12:30 when the bite shut out. The fishing picked up again around 3:00. They were caught a green pumpkin split shot worm fished in 15-30 foot of water. I hope my report will help you to have even greater success! Good Luck!
      City: Los Gatos

      Tips: It seems that the fish are going into the Fall bite mode, (with outside temperature being in the low 80's) the fish are moving up into the shallower water. Don't be affraid to fish to shallow!

    • By

      Water Temp: 72 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I fished Calero east from the launch ramp all the way to Cherry Cove from 9:00 A.M. til 6:30 P.M., the fishing was consistent with 14 fish ranging from 10"-19" until 12:30 when the bite shut out. The fishing picked up again around 3:00. They were caught a green pumpkin split shot worm fished in 15-30 foot of water. I hope my report will help you to have even greater success! Good Luck!
      City: Los Gatos

      Tips: It seems that the fish are going into the Fall bite mode, (with outside temperature being in the low 80's) the fish are moving up into the shallower water. Don't be affraid to fish to shallow!

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Well, I was able to fish the delta for about 6 hours today with a friend, and had a great time. My "annual" trip to the delta (that is about to change!) was greeted this time by a cold morning breeze. I think we were a day early. Tonight is much warmer! Launched out of King Island about 7 AM in the middle of the outgoing tide. I had a frog blowup right away but missed it. We fished near and around White slough and caught 10 or 11 which was ok since I thought I was fishing in April. My partner did well on small crawdad crankbaits, catching 3 nice ones up to 2 1/4 lbs, and several smaller ones. After missing several on 4" Senkos, he switched to a 5" Senko (297) and caught a nice 2 1/2. I got one about 1 1/2 lbs on a Weapon jig and then a nice one about 3 1/2 lbs on a 194 5" Senko in about 2 feet of water under the shade of a small bush. I sort of knew that fish would be there. Cool!! I, too, caught a few smaller ones on a chartreuse crankbait, but they really wanted the crawdad color. No luck on spinnerbaits. Since we did not have a chance to fish prime water movement, we didn't find much action on points, but got most of our fish on the edges of weed patches in 2 to 6 feet of water during low tide. Before we left, we returned to the mat area that I missed the first frog fish and I proceeded to miss another. It was a frustrating experience to see several fish move under the frog, but would not take it. Maybe they would have later in the day, but we had to leave. Beautiful day (cool) on the delta, and I'll be back soon!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Typical cold front day - lots of smaller bass. I'm not up on how the crawdad population is this year in the delta, but the bass really had a preference for brown and green colors.

    • By

      Water Temp: ????

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got a late start today(9:30) fishin with two of my friends. We launched at lazy-m marina. Fished itallian slough for the first 3 hours until the tide started to come back in. Pulled up to one of my fav spots, my friend Thomas landed a 3 lber right away on a duh jig with a 3" yamamoto trailer.Another 20ft down the pitched my jig near the bank, started workin my jig and got a little tick. I set up on the fish and it started pullin drag!!! After about a min I pulled him in. Borrowed another anglers scale and it weighed in at 6.4. It looked and felt bigger then 6. Either way it's still my biggest bass yet! I caught the fish on a rock bank with lots of current, I had the t-motor on 24 high and was barely moving. We only caught 2 fish all day but they were both good ones.I'll send a pic in for the fishy photos when they get developed.
      City: tracy

      Tips: When the tides change fish the current. The past couple times out Ive only caught fish when the water was moving.

    • By

      Water Temp: ?????

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Headed out to Big Break on Wednesday for a guide trip with Peter Pawlakos, upon arriving the wind was howling out west, so we made the decission to head over to Holand to launch, what a great call, the central Delta was calm and no wind all day. We started off tossing poppers with Peter catching three tiny fish, one was smalle than the pooper itself. Seems the cold snap that hit us kinda turned off the topwater in this area. As the sun got up and the tide fell to it's bottom, we began to pitch brown jigs to deep weed lines with fair success, first stop produced 5 fish, one a 6+. We then hopped to another area and caught about 12 keepers on C.O. Spade worms and Bush Huskies, this spot produced a 4.5 fish for Peter. We then just bounced around all afternoon catching number of fish just about everywhere we went. Turned out to be a great day with three fish over 6 and Peter's 4.5, otherwise all other fish were between 1-2 pounders, and we probably caught 35-40 fish all day. All of our fish were caught from 6-15 foot, we never got bit on the bank.
      City: Oakley

      Tips: It seems that fish are now starting to show in their customary summer patterns. Deeper weed lines and tulle birm ledges are holding fish. Key on the points and camp at times, the fish will stack up in these areas.

    • By

      Water Temp: 74 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Lexington is one o my avorite lakes and I try to get out 3-4 days a week since it's a 5 minute drive rom my house. Although it is drained to much and to soon the ish keep on biting or me! The majority o ish are hanging around 25' o water and will all to just about any plastic worm or zipper under 7", a real good proven lure is a green pumpkin rench ry split-shot rigged, don't let anyone tell you that split-shot worms only catch small ish! I have caught over a dozen bass in the 18"-22" range this year on split-shot worms in green pumpkin, and believe me these are big ish or Lexington! Fish all along Highway 17 rom the launch ramp to the Search and Rescue helicpoter landing pad,(put a lot o eort in ishing to the right o Alma Bridge there is a "hole" were the ish hang out). Good Luck and hope to see out there! (I am the guy with the decked out green loat tube)
      City: Los Gatos

      Tips: Don't let the draining o this lake discourage you, take advantage o it. It opens new landscape to your ishing pattern, look or creek channels, cli drop o's and islands.

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 76-79

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished rom 6 am too 12:15 pm.Caught 11 bass,two on spinner baits & rest came on grubs & 4 in worms.Only one over the slot limit,most were rom 12in too 141/2in.Salt & pepper colors,rom 3t too 35t deep.Most o the ish were caught in coves,piney creek area.
      City: Riv

      Tips: Light line & light darter heads,1/32 & 1/16 oz

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2000

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

      Report: I WANT TO RALLY A MESSAGE TO THE LAKE PATROL FOLKS, THAT WE FISHERMAN ARE TIRED OF THE CONSTANT JET AND BOAT SKIERS SKING IN THE BACK AREA OF PUTAH CREEK. WHY HAVE A 5 MILE OR NO WAKE ZONE IF THEY ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED? PLEASE, TAKE A MOMENT TO CONTACT THE LAKE PATROL OR SHERIFFS DEPT IN THE 707 AREA CODE. MAY THIS BRING THE FUN IN FISHING BACK TO THIS WONDERFUL LAKE AGAIN...
      City: San Francisco

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished out of the Hook yesterday (Tuesday). Outgoing tide, breezy conditions. Started by throwing 1/2 oz Viper spinner bait (white skirt/gold tandem willow blades) in barge cove. Missed two, caught one 2lber. Noticed that the bites were in moving water, nothing hitting in dead water. Ran to Frank's and started pitching my confidence bait - a brass and glass T-rigged green pumpkin brush hog along weed line and clumps in current. Picked up two more (1-1.5 lbs) missed what felt to be a better fish. Once again, all hits were in moving water along channel edge, no hits up in quiet water/tulle areas. Tossed frog on some mats, no luck. Threw my confidence crank - Bomber 7A in red craw, missed two in spots that usually produce, then no further bites. Decided to throw 1/2 oz rattletrap on points with current, and action picked up, albiet small fish. The pattern was to throw the trap out in the channel and bring it across the point some distance away from the actuall spot that the weeds emerged - almost like open water fishing. Caught 10-12 blackies from 1/2 to 2 1/2 lbs and 15 or more small stripers in same size range. Hit 5 points with similar layout and pulled fish off of four of them. Missed several fish that felt better (need to put on bigger hooks?), but had a good day considering that I had not been out in over 3 months. It seemed that any place where I hit stripers also had blackies nearby - some were caught well away from any structure over deeper water, almost like the blackies were schooling wiht the stripers in open water, feeding on shad. The color of the trap was a white glitter shad with green glitter back - this color by far has worked best for me in the delta in the stained water verus chartreuse, red, or chrome colors. Moving water (no surprise) was key to catching. All told, caught 25+ fish, half blackies, half small stripers, no big fish.
      City: Half Moon Bay

      Tips: Weed points with moving water. Almost every cut into Frank's that I tried on both sides of the tract had fish - pitch bait well out into cut, most hits from black bass were not super close to weed or structure or bottom, but several feet out over open water - saw multiple black and striped bass follow the bait all the way to the boat, which was in 15 feet of water, and 50 feet from the nearest cover at times!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Thought I'd leave a post on this little lake seeing as nobody else will. They are still eating. They like jigs. Windy banks with shade best. Stay close to deep water. Throw 1/4oz-3/8oz brown or black. Rattles seemed to help. Slow movement without popping the bait o the bottom seemed to be the best retrieve. Fish up to 5#'s going in the evening. I have just been ishing the bank and am catching more than the tubers. Although I think its time to put the tube in and ish the creek!
      City: Mountain View