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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Tuesday, April 11th, 2000

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55-60 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Walked the shore from the east dam to the little cove past the west dam. I fished from 3:00 - 8:00 PM. I caught a couple of dinks in the afternoon with 4" and 6" plastic worms in black and crawdad color patterns. In the early evening, I finally hooked into a good fish in about 10-15 feet of water off the point where the canal pumps water into the lake. I landed a fat 20" female! I didn't get a good girth measurement, but she was at least 5 pounds. I caught her on a 6" black/silver sparkle curly tail worm with a Texas-rigged brass and glass combo. And get this: the fish had been gut-hooked previously with a live-bait rig -- bell sinker and all -- and there was about three or four feet of line sticking out of its mouth! Lesson: make sure you use quality line and continually check it for nicks and abrasions!
      City: Campbell

      Tips: The ticks are BAD this spring.

    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the water by 11:30. Started ripping a Rogue and boated 10 fish up to 2.5lbs by 1:30. Boy does that give your arms a work out. Lot of fun though. Caught all fish in the 5-10 ft range. Tried cranking and nothing, threw a witches T and got 2 hits. Rippin is the way to go, especially if your arms need a workout!!!!
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Ripping 5" rogues is the way to go!!!! Stick with it and you'll boat a few fish!!!

    • By

      Water Temp: 55-60 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Walked the shore from the east dam to the little cove past the west dam. I fished from 3:00 - 8:00 PM. I caught a couple of dinks in the afternoon with 4" and 6" plastic worms in black and crawdad color patterns. In the early evening, I finally hooked into a good fish in about 10-15 feet of water off the point where the canal pumps water into the lake. I landed a fat 20" female! I didn't get a good girth measurement, but she was at least 5 pounds. I caught her on a 6" black/silver sparkle curly tail worm with a Texas-rigged brass and glass combo. And get this: the fish had been gut-hooked previously with a live-bait rig -- bell sinker and all -- and there was about three or four feet of line sticking out of its mouth! Lesson: make sure you use quality line and continually check it for nicks and abrasions!
      City: Campbell

      Tips: The ticks are BAD this spring.

    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the water by 11:30. Started ripping a Rogue and boated 10 fish up to 2.5lbs by 1:30. Boy does that give your arms a work out. Lot of fun though. Caught all fish in the 5-10 ft range. Tried cranking and nothing, threw a witches T and got 2 hits. Rippin is the way to go, especially if your arms need a workout!!!!
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Ripping 5" rogues is the way to go!!!! Stick with it and you'll boat a few fish!!!

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58-62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Client, Ray Martinez from Santa Clara, had a good mornin with the tide comin in and maxin at noon. Launched at Holland Track, This was a structural guide trip fishin different stucture in the morning and explainin the movement of fish. We got into them between center burm's in 4ft of water near 16-18ft ledge (Grass. Popped 2 to 4lb bass. moved to Old river and did a lot of current fishin. Ray pops a 6lb and his biggiest thus this year. Rest of the day instructional show and tell.
      City: Castro Valley

      Tips: Fish not yet ready to go and do there rituals, but getting near. Look for movin water near shallow grass'y areas. We caught them again eatin jigs in Brown/brown and brown/blue 3/8oz SOB Jigs using Yamamoto's Twin Tail grubs. The bite was again all in the mornin. Had a minus tide in the afternoon. I highly recommend break or ledge fishin until the tides change.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out again on my float tube again and I caught 29 bass. Used 4 inch plastics then moved to a 4 inch rapala. The rapala accounted for catching 19 of the 29. It ended up being a good day of fishing but no biggies......
      City: Roseville

    • By

      Water Temp: 65-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Big Break this afternoon about 2:30. Me and my father-in-law started throwing red ribbon tail worms and blue/black jigs.I Caught 2 smallies, dad-in-law caught a 5 pounder on jig! He also caught 2 more 4 pounders on a -1 mann crankbait. He caught probably a total of 6 fish for about 25 pounds!! He was catchin them all today!!
      City: Oakley

      Tips: Pitch jigs into tules from a distance. We were too close at first and spooked fish. Also the -1 mann crankbait is made to swim in 1-2 feet of water, so it's very effective in shallow water. Good Luck!!!

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: i went ishin rom about 6:00am and 3:00pm. I landed about 15 total bass and all were between 2and 10 pounds. First i started around Konocti and caught 2 nice 5-6 punders but it was only good ishing there early in the morning. Then i went across the lake rom konocti to a ew docks. I caught a ew large ones including a 10 pounder right under someones dock. The 10 pounder had been caught beore because it still had the hook mark. I used mainly spinners and nightcrawlers. Wow did they hit those spiners rom underneath the dock. Go across rom konocti and ish the docks. thats my advise to you. There is one dock with a slide that i caught 2 8 pounders on so good luck. I sure had a lot o un.
      City: san ramon

      Tips: Spinners Spinners Spinners

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

      Report: Starting to get good, a lot depends on what the weather is doing. Most o the bites on plastics are suttle and the ish are just beginning to chase and pursue the lure. Had luck with crank baits, sot worms and rip baits.
      City: Windsor

      Tips: The bite is getting good. Last two trips have been averaging 7-10 ish in a couple o hours. Purple worm seems to be working the best, rigged Texas style. The lake is warming up and most o the ish are in 7 to 10 eet o water adjacent to grass. My boat partner lost a big one, due to being too excited and technical diiculties.

Monday, April 10th, 2000

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: started the morning throwing blades,and rip baits across rom the launch ramp missed 2 ish on the blades,worked are way down the bank going south ish some tulles and weed patchs started catching ish on lukes,pearl, and albino super lukes, letting them all into the weeds, also wood no big ish all about 1#-1-1/2# lbs headed north ished some tulles ound some bed ish caught some on white gizits,and purple lizards saw alot o ry and alot o bait ish swimming in coves saw 2 nice trout that were about 3-4 lbs chasing the bait ishearly moring next to the launch ramp,talked to other bass isherman they also were having a togh time catching any big ish all were small.
      City: san jose

      Tips: try throwing top water in morning and lukes in a small size,as day warmms up move o shore and throw lizards and c-rig plastic craws.

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

      Report: My riend and I went out on our loat tubes again and we caught and landed 29. It seemed a little slower and a soter bite. 4 inch worms seemed to be the key. The biggest ish was 3 pounds 1 ounce spotted bass. Still waiting or the lunker. Going out again tomorrow and giving it a try.
      City: Roseville

Sunday, April 9th, 2000

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

      Report: Arrived at about 1:00 and wasn't expecting much. Just wanted to get the boat set up and get back into the swing o things since it was only my second time out this season. My 2nd cast I nailed a 7 pounder! Not bad. It was the biggest one that I caught all day long! I boated about 22 or so, I lost count. Caught every one wormin' with Magic worms. Lots o un, I love this lake!
      City: Elk Grove

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from shore the whole day. My buddies and I managed to do far better than the guys in the boat in our vacinity. Between my brother and I, we landed about 30 fish in just over three hours. We got to the steep banks past the second bridge about 1:30 pm and left the banks for home about 5:00 Fish caught slip-shotting Witches Tea Magic Worm, and split-tailed reefers, along with some other plastics. All colors with bright green tail working. Tried rippin' for about half-hour, but only managed only 2 dinks. Biggest fish caught a 3.5# smallie on a 6' FLW spring lizard. Mangaed some 2.5# largie's, and some smaller spots. I was wishing I had a boat when I left, but the day was so nice and quiet, I didn't need one on this day. Fish aren't in full spawn mode yet, but it's coming......
      City: Castro Valley

      Tips: Try anyting you got. The brown/char. combo in any style worm seems to work. Some fish did like the brown/char. lizard, but make sure whatever it is you got lots, the plastics were being torn off the hooks. Some guy in a boat said all his bites were on cranks. I didn't see him land a fish for an hour. Smallies like the rocks, but largie's hangin' with them also. Fish are very active, be an active angler. Walked about a mile of shore, until the water got to high. Fish deep, shallow bite very weak. Good luck.........

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: First time out fishing this year. Used a 4" june bug worm w/chartreuse tail and (almost) landed a 1-1.5 around 4:45pm. It came off right when it got to shore. Switched to shad pattern 3" worm and caught a dinky (8 in.?) bass around 5:15pm. Decided to go to the back cove (Miners Cove?). I threw my june bug again, because the water was kind of murky and I knew the tail would help. After a couple of hops, I reeled in a 2 pounder around 6:30pm. Not bad for my first time out. Oh yeah, found a tick on me later that night, so pay attention to the previous report's tip. :(
      City: Saratoga

      Tips: Plastics worked well for me. My partner and other people were throwing blades, cranks, etc., but I didn't see anyone else catch anything that day. More natural colors seem to get more action too, but I really like the june bug pattern.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started fishing at 5:30 a.m. from the shoreline on the back side by the ranch. Caught two off the same rocky point. One was 1.5 lbs and another was 3.5 lbs. A friend caught a 4 pounder in a cove. All of these were before 8:00 a.m. with red or orange shades of worm in 5' to 10' of water. We left by 10:00 a.m.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Seasonal tips for the shore angler would be tick repellant and hay fever medicine.

    • By

      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: First time out fishing this year. Used a 4" june bug worm w/chartreuse tail and (almost) landed a 1-1.5 around 4:45pm. It came off right when it got to shore. Switched to shad pattern 3" worm and caught a dinky (8 in.?) bass around 5:15pm. Decided to go to the back cove (Miners Cove?). I threw my june bug again, because the water was kind of murky and I knew the tail would help. After a couple of hops, I reeled in a 2 pounder around 6:30pm. Not bad for my first time out. Oh yeah, found a tick on me later that night, so pay attention to the previous report's tip. :(
      City: Saratoga

      Tips: Plastics worked well for me. My partner and other people were throwing blades, cranks, etc., but I didn't see anyone else catch anything that day. More natural colors seem to get more action too, but I really like the june bug pattern.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started fishing at 5:30 a.m. from the shoreline on the back side by the ranch. Caught two off the same rocky point. One was 1.5 lbs and another was 3.5 lbs. A friend caught a 4 pounder in a cove. All of these were before 8:00 a.m. with red or orange shades of worm in 5' to 10' of water. We left by 10:00 a.m.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Seasonal tips for the shore angler would be tick repellant and hay fever medicine.

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This is an update on B.A.S.S./WCF's intention to increase the number of fishing/racing tournaments to 12,or as they call it "boat handling" competitions in 2001. My personal opinion is that B.A.S.S./WCF are playing right inot the hands of those who believe all bass boat owners and bass fisherman are "crazy bass guys". This type of competition is sure to add to the insurance concerns and costs, as well as lending fuel to the fire for those who are seeking speed limits, not only in the Delta, but all Calif waterways. If you would like to express your opinion you can do so by e-mailing don.corkram@BASS For the record, RANGER BOATS has pulled their sponsorship from B.A.S.S. for 2001, must be something to all the concern?
      City: foster city

    • By

      Water Temp: 58-63

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Well dad and I got out at 6 am threw spinnerbaits to no evail. Started flippin got a couple of small ones in tules. Then the bite shut off till 11:30 or so then nail 4 fish in 20 minutes flippin rip-rap. Biggest 4#. Lots of wind and still chilly. Can't wait for the top water bite to turn on.
      City: san jose

      Tips: Stay out of the wind and look out for those damn water skiers

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

      Report: Fished small club tournament. Hit Fleming and Rogers Creek split shotting 6" worms. Never did ind any bedding ish. Caught twelve and ten were keepers ranging rom 1.5 lbs. to 3 lbs.. Weighed a limit o 5 or 10.5 lbs. First had 12 lbs. and said they caught their ish in Moccasin using spinnerbaits irst and then split shot worms. Big ish or the tourney was only 4.5 lbs. and was caught in the canyon on a worm.
      City: Delhi

      Tips: Split shot 6" worms and work it slow.