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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, May 5th, 2013

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished 4 days. Started Sunday night in front of the rain & lit it up! Most of the fish came on Reaction Innovation Double Wide Beavers & Kinami Nories Bugs & PsychoDads. I ordered the Kinami baits to try them & we went through them, they only come 6 to a pack! Found then around rock structure. The hits were very soft. They were picking it up on the fall & swimming away with the baits. Boated over 20 fish with the best 5 at 33.7 lbs. Great night. On Monday the day bite softened up with the wind & rain factoring in. We ran alot & managed 5 in the 4.0 - 5.5 range. At night, we did a little better going 9 fish in the same range with the top two at 7.2 & 8.5. The rest of the trip (Tues. & Weds.) were tougher with the fish hitting Senkos & Kinky Beavers. We averaged 8 fish for both days & nights combined & the fish were somewhat smaller, 3.0 - 5.0. They were fighting hard though & made for a fun trip.

      Tips: We fished south again, Jones, Jago, & Konocti plus the docks behind Buckingham. I think the small storm system affected the bite as the week went on. The Senko bite was much improved over last time we were here plus the weeds are starting to grow. All the fish we caught were healthy & strong fighters! Watch your line, that weed you think you snagged might start swimming to your boat!

Saturday, May 4th, 2013

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Wife and I fished from 10-4:30. Not a breath of wind to start the day. Wifes 2nd fish a nice fat 16+ incher. Was a bit slow after that until wind picked up. By 4 o'clock I had 45 in the boat and she had around 15. Most fish in the 12-14 inch range but a few over 15. At 4:30 it was pouring rain and she was sitting under the canopy in our Procraft declaring it was time to get out of the lightning. It was an ocean heading back to Bidwell and we came across a couple in their Ranger about 3/4 of a mile out trying to make it back to ramp with their trolling motor as the big Merc was dead. Towed them back safely, but man was it rough out there with the waves pounding the ramp and dock.
      All in all it was another great day on the Middle fork for us fishing whacky. Darker colors seemed to work better today under cloudy skies with most of our bigger fish coming right off shore.
      City: Reno

      Tips: Fishing the windblown banks where the fish seem to be much more active.

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 9am-3pm. Launched at the main ramp and shot up to Yorty. Quickly got a small SMB and buddy picked up a small LMB. One on jig the other drop shotting. The bite slowed so we motored up cherry creek. Between the 3 of us we boated 7 more fish; the best went 3-09 the rest were under 2lbs. 2 of the last 7 were jig fish the rest were drop shotting, one was pulled off a bed the others were hugging submerged trees in coves and on points.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: Jigs in green or orange with dark color craw trailers and drop shotting bold bluegill roboworms.

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75 down to 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had a wide open bite from 2 pm to 6:30 pm in the narrows with drop shottin. Saw quite a bit of threadfin shad right on the surface. Got some bigger one on cranks in afternoon. Bite shut off all together in evening. Temp was 75 at 2 pm and 72 in evening. Strange bite shut off during the "better" temp and with the shade!

      Tips: Used a 12" leader on drop shot. Not sure how much difference a shorter or longer leader would have mattered. We started off with a 12" leader and never had to change up.

    • By

      Water Temp: 66-72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I guided a senior citizen yesterday (Thurs) at sunny Berryessa. What wind??? Ha!!! The lake was dead-flat calm which helped to make the bite kinda tough, though some previous windy areas were pretty dingy. We only caught 7 or 8, but my client took top prize with his first-ever smallie - just under 3 lbs! Yea - there're all that big! I could hardly believe it. After losing a nice fish previously, he threw his morning dawn Robo worm on top of a shallow rockpile - about 10 feet deep - and hooks the big smallie. This was about noon - pretty rare to catch a quality fish that shallow at high-noon!! She ever jumped twice - fun!!! Caught one largemouth and the others were 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 lb spots. We both missed several good bites - not sure why. We fished 6 1/2 - 7 hours.

      Tips: Most of our bass were caught in the narrows. We saw some shad spawning in a cove on the west side of main body. Interesting! I tried to get topwater going with my Chug Bug - nothing doing after the wind event. Got a few on #301 Senkos - like THAT is unusual!!

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Lime saddle about 7am, off the lake around noon. Water level down a good 6 feet today and seemed to slow the bite just a tad. Dana got 7 spots, me 14 spots, largest a tad over 15". Had one double hook up, with twins a tad over 14". Overall an ok day, could have been better. Fish still a tad on the smaller side. Water super clear in certain areas, looks to be 15 feet or better. Fished Roboworks Texas style and Jika style. Both produced about the same. .
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat needing a fish partner, let me know. Available 90% of the time. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Weather: clear warm in the 90 s this week windy afternoons
      Lake Level: 6.05\Best Depths: 1-30
      lots of bed fish to be caught
      frogs are working fish em slow!!
      flipping, drop shot ,senkos, everything is working
      swimbait bite best early or late
      Big Bass: 1-30
      Ross England had a client catch an 11 pounder last week!
      Events: BBT on the 4th
      WRL on the 5th
      catfish derby 5/17-5/19 out of the oaks
      Guide Information: clearlake outdoors\Name & Number: 707-262-5852

Monday, April 29th, 2013

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64-69

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I did a half day trip with 2 local guys - fishing from 8:30 am to 1pm. As we drove over the spillway, I was surprised to see lots of water leaving the lake. Sure enough, I found the outflow was raised to 8000 CFS. That may have slowed the bite some, but we did ok. They were learning to fish Robo worms effectively and did fine, catching many up to near 15 inches. I caught a few on a Chug Bug in what shadows I could find. It will be interesting to see how the bite will be now that the lake is dropping. I imagine lots of bass will now change into their suspending summer patterns.

      Tips: Unlike the previous report (congrats on a good trip!), our first 2 hrs were good and then the bite just died. Timing is everything!!

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68-74

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of lazy m 12:30 pm outgoing tide. Fished itilian slough first couple hours, tried punching, flipping, senkos, Alabama rig, no fish. Buddy got one good bite punching but wasn't able to hook up. Left and went out to the main channel only to find extremely muddy water and tons of debri. Made a run to the back water and threw jigs for a couple hours landing one 4.5 lb half tail banged up spawned out female. Tide bottomed out returned to itilian and threw Topwater got ok action but no hookups.

      Tips: It was very hot, only thing I can think of is go early to avoid boat traffic and sunburns. I also saw a lot of carp, they seemed to be everywhere, don't know exactly if that affects the bass at all just weird seeing that many

Saturday, April 27th, 2013

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hello, Bill Talley here, just wanted to give all you bass fisherman a heads up about out upcoming Reapers open April 27, 2013 out of Pleasure cove. This will be our 32nd Open. over the last 32 years The Reapers have planted more than 30,000 Florida strain large mouth Bass in lake Berryessa!! Plus we have sunk more than 2000 thousand Christmas trees in the last two years to help the bass survive. It's a fun tournament, cost $120 per team $20 of the entry goes for big fish. We pay back up to 22 big fish paybacks. We have a huge raffle with Great stuff to give away. Bring your wife, son, daughter, aunt or uncle, it's a Fun Family Team Tournament. Have any questions, go to www.bassreapers.org and print out your entry form. Hope to see all you there.
      City: Suisun City

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched B&W 7am and went straight to Sycamore..on the way, decided to work some tules on the Moke just around the bend from Tower overpass....immediately hit a 3.5lb w/eggs... proceeded to catch a few more 1 lbers and moved into Sycamore. worked tules and cuts with senkos and caught mostly dinks, barely keepers, and a few 1-2lbers, but mostly little guys. still had fun...just feels good to get bit. Used mostly blk neon (blk/red flk), junebug, and monster shad senkos. brother stuck a couple on brown/prple jig and creature.
      City: folsom

      Tips: We just worked the tules, cuts, transitions, and inside/outside weedlines, but not sure if that's really a good tip to catch anything sizeable...gets bites though. We did see a few bassboats working flats and shallows, so we assumed they were searching for beds. I might be wrong on that but it seemed like it.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I guided two pretty good fishermen yesterday late afternoon/night and had a reasonably good trip. It was a little strange as the bite was good when we started - but slowed the hour or so before dark. After dark is was dead - then got hot - and then died again. We left at 1:30 am. Overall, they did have a lot of fish on, but lost several quality bass - some which might have been spawners just moving the bait rather then eating it. We just fished the Clearlake arm where we were still hooking bass at 20+ feet while some were on the bank. None looked like they had spawned yet. Berkley Havoc baits and Netbait paca craws worked well. Caught a few on #301 Senkos. We landed 12 but best 5 only went 21 lbs. Big fish were 5-3 and 5-9. Where art thou - toads??

      Tips: Not much help to offer - most fish are shallow or will be soon in the south end. Windy weather ended last night and next week should be stable and warm - not hot. Good luck!!

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Wife and I fishing today. Didn't think we would do well with the full moon and bluebird day but had a great time on Middle Fork. Fished from 10-5. 55+ for me (not counting dinks)fishing whacky. Biggest was 17" smally. Most spots in the 14-15" range with several over 16". All were super fat and healthy and tails looked healed post-spawn. Finally got the wife to try whacky Sticko(over texas rigged lizard) for the first time and she started catching fish. She missed a lot of hits with to sharp of a hook set, but got better at sweeping the rod as I coached her and she ended up with 11 in the boat, all hooked in the corner of mouth as they should be. I was so proud of her.
      City: Reno

      Tips: Seems strange but the higher the sun was the better the fishing was. Biggest fish were right on shore in the middle of day. Breezy banks had fish active.

Friday, April 26th, 2013

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62-67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Friday we fished Whites Slough, Little Potato and Sycamore Slough.Good Delta breeze all day, but not too annoying, actually helped the bite. Fished tule island points, with current and the rock walls. First half of the day (out going tide)was slow with just a few bites and two fish in the boat. Senko's and zoom lizards in california 420 color scheme were the ticket on the tule's. Bite was off the chart between 2:30-5PM,rising tide....soft plastics bite got better......the crankbait bite was exceptional.....red/red&orange was the ticket...had 30 fish in the boat at the end of the day (all C/R). Most were in the 11/2-21/2 lb. size with biggest about 31/2 lb.s

      Tips: We seemed to have more action where ever we could find current with deeper water close...points of tule islands and rok walls. don't get stuck on one color, change it up....the fish are there and willing...just figure which color they're attacking.
      BE CAREFUL,WEAR YOUR P.F.D. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Dana and I fished the west fork today from about 7:30am to 12:30pm. Bite seemed to be off for some reason, might have been the big moon the last few days. I ended up with only 11 spots, Dana 8 spots. Largest fish 15 1/2" fat girl. Overall the fish were small, 12-13" or so. Water clarity is awesome. Some locations it has to be 15 feet or more. Found one location super clear and maybe 50 spotted bass hanging by a rock. Only managed to catch 4-5 before they got spooked and we called it a day and left. Fished roboworms Texas style.
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat looking for a fish partner, let me know. I'm available nearly 90% of the time. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fish are getting active. Building beds but not locked on them yet. Caught 9 lost 3 all 1-2.5 lbs all on split-shot Roboworms.

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Picture of Sidney Silberberg























      Last Saturday I took out Bruce and Jenna for the day. The lake was fairly calm when we started out but by the time we reached the Narrows the wind had picked up and when we looked back to the main lake we could see white caps. I had promised to take them to the vineyards so we headed out that way and it was a rough ride. Once we got there it was hard to fish in any pattern as the drift was very rapid. We were still able to land our largest fish of the day a 3 1/3 LB smallmouth bass (see photo). Took Albert out in the afternoon for a couple of hours. We went into a cove to be out of the wind and went into pretty shallow water approximately three feet or less. We saw a lot of bass and many fry in the water. This past weekend I took Albert and Bob out and we had a pretty good day. We ended up in my favorite cove with the sun going down the bass just started jumping all around us and chasing minnows. We hit pay dirt and started catching some nice bass and trout (see photo). Now about the one that got away........I threw a lipless crankbait into about four feet of water and was hit like a freight train by a bass weighing between six to eight pounds he pulled me into the grass and I fought him for at least five minutes and lost him when he broke the tip of my loomis rod. 'til next week.............................................................good fishing!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you have any questions or stories you would like to share please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.





      Book a guided fishing trip at Lake Berryessa!
      (650) 583-3333
      www.fishingconnection.net
      City: San Francisco

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64-72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry I didn't check clarity box! Bet you wondered where the MUDDY water was!!!!!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I did a complete report and it didn't go thru, so this is a short one! I took a his/her team to the lake yesterday and found the fishing to be very slow. Carp were everywhere on the east shore from the ramp. Didn't know there were that many carp in the lake! Bite must be slower now - we were the only rig at the ramp by 7 am - saw 2 boats all day!! We only caught small largemouth and a token BIG trout. After they left, I looked over some new areas until the late afternoon shadows appeared. Soon I was into a decent topwater bite with my beloved Storm Chug Bug. I caught several nice largemouth, lost several, and ending with a great 3 lb smallie on the bug. You could hear the explosion all the way back to the ramp!!

      Tips: I imagine early and late in the day will be the best bite from now on. I talked to another boat with 2 guys bass fishing and they hadn't caught any as of late afternoon. Not sure how long they had been fishing. The hills are still alive - er, green - but are fading quickly as summer arrives!! What a beautiful lake!!

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 61-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Haven't send any reports in a while so I thought I would post one. Fished last weekend in the REBC tourney and everyone had a tough time. Only 10.5 lbs for first. Went out again Wednesday evening and the daytime bite was still tough. However. The night bite really turned on. Caught a 4-13 at 10:30 pm slow rolling a brush hog then we switched to blades and the bite really turned on after 11 pm. For the next 3 hours we landed close to 20 bass up to 4 lbs. best 5 fish was in the 19 lb range.

      Tips: Water was cloudy from all the wind. Daytime bite was still tough. Water temp on the main lake was only around 60, but 68-69 in upper Cherry Creek. Night bite use spinnerbaits with a single Colorado blade. Cast to the shore and work down the bank. Fish were still not on beds, but the upcoming warming trend should move the bass shallow.