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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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  • Yuba County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Arrived at the res. about 7:00am. I ished the large cove south o Woodhead park. Fishing was slow. I caught 7-8 nice smalliesuntil 9am. I ished rom the bank so did not cover much water, I still did not see many boats in the area catching ish. I went down below the dam and ished on the Idaho side around the bridge. I caught 7-8 VERY nice smallie in about two hours and lost a ew others. Caught all my ish on a Zoom baby brush hog, rigged Carolina style.I tried cranks, grubs, spinner baits, top water, stick baits, and even tried or a ew crappie, no luck. All in all a very un day except or a twisted ankle. See ya out there.
      City: Boise

    • By

      Water Temp: 72-74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished small crawdad cranks and caught about 20-30 ish perday. Camped above the 5 MPH buoys on the Yuba arm. All theish were clones, 13-15 inches at best. Had a blast on lightline though, and had probably the best ish ry in many years (got to clean out some o small ish). Also best camping trip o the year, just the boys,beers,BBQ and lotso Bass. Freaked out a houseboat though while shooting claypigeons. Oh well, we asked i they wanted to play, we were willing to share our toys.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Fish ast with cranks resembling craws. Threw blades, butdidn't even get a glance. Worms weren't even a considerationwith the great reaction bite happening.

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Guys,
      Keep the "Chatter" out of the reports page. If you want to express your concerns for the reports by others or have a discussion between guests, please use the forum or send a PM.

      All non-reports will be deleted and continuous abuse will not be tolerated.

      Thanks,

      WB Moderators

    • By

      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: what a lake. drained all the propane in the el camino dragging the scalper up to the lake just to get a few dinks. broke a rod on my cleat. got stuck in the back of harvey's in the mud.

      threw topwater most of the day without much success. drug a few skinny bear jigs arounf the bottom and left them there. tossed a new custom blade and broke it off on a tip wrap. backlashed my new 20 dollar topoff fluorocaron into a birdnest first cast of the day.

      ran into some cat danglers from LA in the back of cachuma bay. they were on a few fish. next thing I knew I had their dacron all stuck up inside my new ninja trolling motor blades. lost about an hour of fishing time uncoiling it.

      at that point I decided to get some lunch. hit the burger shack for some grinds and got out of the sun for a while.

      back down lake around 1 heading down to the narrow for some afternoon cranking. lobbed out on a few flats. wind was picking up pretty good by then. got loaded up on the deep crank - felt pretty good. fish went into a tree or something and broke off my XT 8 lb. like nothing. tough day.

      picked up a few dinks on the goldfish colored trap down in the narrows. decided to call it a day while I still had bass smell on my fingers...
      City: Solvang

      Tips: cranks and blades.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Thanks for the update Wyatt. I heard that some hits were coming on the 'purple' stuff and I did chance it but no takers. I know that now, we should have headed deeper to maybe 45-50 feet.
      City: Santa Maria

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: For those in the Santa Maria area. A new tackle shop has opened up at 1010 West Betteravia Rd #C which is just 2 doors down from the Applied Tech [old King Bearing]. Shop carries some great deals on rods, reels and lines. Some off brand goods but also quality stuff like Abu Garcia, Storm, etc. Prices are GREAT as they pretty much buy in bulk. Lots of great Salt water and fresh water stuff and reel and rod repairs to boot.

      Hours are T-F 9 to 5:30 and S & S from 9 to 3, Yup Sunday as well.
      City: SM

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Santa Maria srry it messed up the text

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Where is the report Justin? Just curious, if anyone else has a report in March...
      City: Vandenberg AFB

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Second boat out on sat. Went out with Kramer - allways a risk, but his boat and equipment was "right on". Went to Santa CRuz irst o, ound The shadand started with the customized chugbug. In 15 minites had three solidish, one over our and a smally 2+. Switched to a 1/2 Viper blade andgot a 3-1/2 on irst cast. Picked up one more on blade. Let area or atournment boat rom Gold Coast. Fished the clear water in Cachuma & Johnson no takers. A un Day, Let at 11 to head home and do the weekendchores
      City: Santa Ynez

      Tips: Stay in the stained water. Fish the chuggers or poppers slow. Hits were on the pause

    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Lake Cachuma and it was a tough bite. There was a ton o shad around and the ish were gourging themseleves on everything but my baits. I threw blades and cranks without a bite. Finally towards 6 pm I pulled out some 3 inch Big Hammer swimbaits i had and rigged them on a darter head and stuck a ish with in a ew casts. Ended up illing out my limit in an hour with the best ish going 3.5#s. It was a pretty awesome day and i am glad i iggured out a new iness technique or when the ish dont seem to want to bite, and its a lot more interesting than dropshoting.Brian #2
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: Email me i you want any ino on Cachuma

    • By

      Water Temp: 75-76

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Here is a ishing report; went out with some kids on 4,5 and 7 July and Bass ishing a little slow most Bass caught were 10-15 eet in the 2 to 3lb class and caught them on cranks, spit shot bungie worms and jig & craw. did a little trolling ater the og burned o and had one nice surpise trolling a at ree shad. I hooked up along the clis south o Santa Cruz bay and the ish was ighting very hard and when it jump it looked in the 3-4lb range but was ighting like a larger bass. Got the ish closer to the boat and told one o the kids to get the net. Cody had the net and was ready to net the ish when his eyes grew large and he yelled "You have Two on". Netted the ish(s)and both were over 4lbs or a total o 8lbs 3oz. The unny thing is when they jumped I only saw the one ish. Water level is dropping so the lake is changing all the time, I have not seen the lake this low in a long time.
      City: Lompoc

      Tips: Don't under estimate how trolling can help you ind ish and take kids ishing it is well worth the smiles on their aces

    • By

      Water Temp: 62 to 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: went out sat or ew hours on the 26th to pre ish beore I was going to have a husband and wie or clients on Sunday rom the city o Orange. The weather was cold and very windy the entire time there. Fishing was very slow and only got two bites caught one (3.4) and broke o the second one and it was a nice ish, both in Santa Cruz Bay. On the 27th what a dierence in the weather, sunny and no wind (I think my clients bought the good weather rom Orange county)anyways the ishing was still slow I caught a 3lb in Santa Cruz on a jig & craw early in the morning. Husband's irst ish o the day was interesting, he was having some problems with his ishing line turning in to a birds nest and his worm was still in the water when a 1lb largemouth pick up his worm. We had to hand line the ish in. Thank god it was not any larger. Went up the river to warmer water tried worming, cranking etc and nothing. Started trolling on south side by the inland with crankbaits and WHAM!! my crank got hammered, i knew it was a nice ish handed over the rod to the wie and she did a outstanding job ighting the bass to the boat and landed a 4lb even. Did some more trolling on the south side by the road bed. We stopped to crank and jig the area (it looked to good to pass up). A ew minutes later the husband hooked up to Bass on a crankbait and he landed a 3.12. No more ish ater that we end up with 4 ish (3 largemouths and one smallmouth). The weather has been dierent this year the water temp is cooler that the same time last year and the water level is down.
      City: Lompoc

      Tips: Use light line ish seem to be very spooky or most in the post spawn phase. Fish seem to be more active in santa Cruz bay and around the inland area. Good luck

    • By

      Water Temp: 55-56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: It igures I get there early Sat and what is in ront o me are a bunch o tourney sticks. The main ramp is still closed but the line went ast. On the water and waved bye bye to the club and got to my spot beore anyone else. Spit shot a worm in santa cruz got bit had the irst ish or my client in the boat within 15 min a nice 3lb. Fishing was slow or a while and the weather started to get colder and the wind was bad. The coves were getting hammered by the club sticks so I told my client and son we will do some trolling to cover lots o water and have a chance to do something dierent rom everyone else. Him and his son wanted big ish and they had never tried trolling or Bass so they like the idea. Went over to one o my avorite trolling areas (Mowhawk) and had them troll a simple renzy crankbait which to make a long day short we ended up with our more bass (3.1,3.8,4.8 and 3.6)all on trolling cranks. His son caught his largest Bass to date. Look like the the club guys did all right, lots o ish weighed in.
      City: Lompoc

      Tips: Looks like the bass are staging, next ew weeks should be great or nice ish, get out there. (All Bass caught were release)

    • By

      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Last report should have been dated 2/24. Finally got a Saturday o and thought I'd get a shot at the ish instead o Sundays letovers ....Wrong...Big ABA tourney. Tried my ripbaits early or three smallish smallmouth and went to pick up Scott "ishtrax" rom Calishing.com at the dock at eight. He had never caught a Smallmouth beore and I thought that this would be as good a time as any to get him experianced. My shallow ish got burned out o the shallows by all the trolling motors so we tried jigs and stu or awhile but everything elt USED. I took us in shallow once again as it appeared the tourney guys were busy shak'n worms on one o my best Rippin spots. Scott hooked up on a huge ish but it turned out to be a carp. Right in the lips not snagged, Which gave us a little excitement. About 5 minutes later I ripped a smallmouth and ten casts later got a largemouth. We let and went to lunch. Back out on the water we tried my original spots but there had been a lot o guys on it and we did'nt get touched. I decided around 1;30 that since the wind had been howling all day we might try cranking. Still nothing back down to my irst spot once the tourney guys split or there weigh in,and we went to a dropshot. Finally Scott got his irst smallmouth,so ater pictures and handshakes we stayed at it. Scott got 4 more largemouth on the same rig and we called it a day.
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: Dropshot was working best useing an oxblood/red lake roboworm. Should only be getting better by the next ull moon. Water temps up and I ound 57 degree water by late ater noon. Oh boy it's on the way

    • By

      Water Temp: 51.5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took James Pena out on Sunday or what I promised him would be some killer smallmouth ishing. Dropped the trolling motor and picked up a rod and hear James say"got One" jeez that was quick ,so he boats a 5 pound largemouth. This ish was really skinny and i she's gonna spawn it won't be anytime soon as she had no bulge to her what so ever. We then blew the next 4 hours getting zip. I was quite perplexed by this . It was just prior to the ull moon and our irst ish came rom shallow water so we stayed shallow. Turns out the ish were deeper around 20-25. I told him we should go to lunch early and when we got back out, the water should have warmed up considerably and help us with our shallow water. True to the prediction the water had gone up 4 degrees and I started catching the smallmouth on my rip bait. James caught a ew and so did I on the rip baits and he tossed out a drop shot rig and got a little smallmouth. I was wondering i the ish had moved into the lats so we drove over and on my 5-6cast I got stopped cold. It took me a while to bring her up and in on the light tackle but this ish was within an inch o Jame's ish in the morning except; She was ull o roe and well into the spawn,which gave her a pound more weight than Jame's ish. I looked at my bait and one hook was missing rom the ight and the split ring was allmost totally straightened out. I proceded to start repairs when James nails a smallmouth close to 3 pounds and then 1 minute later gets a 3.8 smallmouth. Really pretty ish ull o color and ready to spawn. We got a ew more smalish smallmouth and called it a day.
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: There was a two day club event going on and Saturdays leader got all his ish on cranks Red and black in the back o big Cachuma. We stayed away as it looked quite zoo like back there. No sense adding to the mess and besides we were actually trying to catch some big smallmouth so we went with something a little dierent

    • By

      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: A ellow named Mace wrote me a nice e-mail about Cachuma so I invited him to backseat with me and I'd show him what I was on to. I got to the lake around 7 and went out and tried crankin and the blade or with no results and tossed a ripbait or a nice rainbow...Went to the dock and picked up Mace at 8:00 and headed to the heart o my jig bite. I tossed the same jig as two weeks prior and elt one pickup that was totally missed by me as I was gabbing away with Mace and I armed one and that was it or about 21/2 hours. We moved to a place that would be good or Mace's dropshot "his Forte" and I stayed with the jig. On a quick retrieve winding in to make another cast I looked down and there was a big smallmouth raceing along right behind the jig but it saw the boat and just turned around. I should have taken that as a clue that the smallmouth were active. We went to the submerged Island and while Mace dropshotted I went to the spoon and oul-hooked a 13 inch largemouth...So we went in or lunch. Aterward I told Mace we would try rippin or smallmouth. I got one on my third cast and gave my rod over to Mace. I showed him how to rip and beore I could tie on another bait he caught 3 Smallmouth! The day was looking up. He ended up getting one more and I had 8 or an even dozen smallmouth. Nice ish,ull o color and seemed to all be emales...FAT ! This coming weekend should be even better with the lunar phase and killer weather. I was ripping a 1/3 0z. Rattlin Rouge Chrome/Black back, Blue eyes. This has been my go to spring bait or about 15 years and I seem to out ish all o my $15.00 LuckyCrat and Pins minnows. I was useing 8 lb. test,a light spinning rod and a snap inront o the bait. One reason that I think Mace's take went o was he retied useing a snapswivel and I did'nt notice until later. I don't use snapswivels or anything but an inline spinner " like a Mepps" they kill the action dead and cause the bait to trak wrong. I repace the ront hook with an excaliber #6 because I think I end up with more ish landed. I tried replaceing all o them with the excaliber but the bait was eected by to much weight and didn't swim right. I cannot stress enough that you make sure that your bait is tracking correctly. You are gonna be pulling it out o brush and what not and even 2-3 ish will knock them out o whack.....Just re tune them...Resharpen those hooks and retie oten so you don't have any problems when the big ones lay into it.Thank you Mace! Even though we had intermitent showers ,wind,no wind,Blazing sun and more rain..You ished hard and we had a good time ...I I could just get some time o....there's always room or you compadre. I know your as busy as I am....But we'll get out later in the year and I'll show you a ew more aces up my sleeve!
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: While the water is cold it is changing rapidly! I think the smallie's are going to be on ire next weekend...with the Largemouth right behind them.

    • By

      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Since I can no longer ish on Saturdays I'm going to have to make the best o my Sundays. Very cold in the morning and the water temp had gone down but I was hopeul that my new Generic Trout would get me into the dance. Well no takers on any trout like stu even with the recent plant so I ooled around with the jig around 10:00 or so. I broke o the one I was useing so I pulled out a brown and orange ine rubber jig that I don't know the make o. Anyway whoever gave me that thing I could have kissed em at the end o the day. I was amazed that the switch up would elicite such a responce as the other jig was brown too! Must have been the orange or the ine green Mylar in it because they started eating. I got 6 on the jig and they were all 4 pound clones so Cachuma seems to be healthy this year. I got one other ish slow rolling a white blade around 2:30 and got o the Lake to go watch the Super Superbowl.I got the ish on chunk rock banks with brush on them.The ish did move up into the shallows at noon or some sun but they would'nt eat rip baits or sluggos.Maybe next time!
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: The weather has been exceptional and the jig bite will only get better. There should be rip bait ish on the lats by 2/9 unortunately I won't be able to get back out or weeks to my knowledge. I hope you leave me some strays -Kelly-

    • By

      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got out at 9:00 am and was glad to have missed the severly ridgid temps in the morning. I had heard about a local who got 4 real good swimbait ish the weekend beore so I was anticipating some good ish. I went out to the main lake break o o Jackrabbit lat and marked some ish so I tossed out the bouys and went at them or a solid hal hour with zip. Changed over to the spoon and got a nice smallmouth and ten minutes later was surprised to get about a 4 largemouth. I kept at it awhile and got a 14 inch largemouth and they shut o on me. Drove around and talked to some Santa Barbara Bass Club guys who were having a FUN tournament and they had scratched out one jig ish and missed a ew.I don't know how they inished up. That cold really dulls your eorts! I played around with the big ish stu all day long or nada. I ished a lot o jigs and swimbaits,etc. but to no avail. I switched back to the spoon around 2:30 and inished out about a 9 lb. limit. I anchored up in the shallows and tossed out some powerbait or trout while I cleaned up the huge mess in the boat and got things a little more organized,I pulled a nice limit o Bows in short order and headed or the barn around 4:00.
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: It's getting time or the rip baits and jigs. Couple o weeks and a little rain should do it!

    • By

      Water Temp: 74+

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well another morning o good top water action, But or some reason they were ripping the grub tail o and missing the buzzbait trailer hook...Hmmmm??? maybe add a third hook?? Naw,I just blew the better ish by swinginging to early and late it took me awhile to get my sea legs and casting ability back and then I scored on the buzzbait or 5 ish about 17 pounds or so and headed to my A.C. spots and was getting bored to tears when slamed a good one but lost it showing o to the people soaking baits or trout so while they did'nt see that ish d*** i I did'nt get one the very next cast. That one came to papa. She weighed over 5 easy....So I'm thinking hey this could be un... that was the last ish o the day. I pulled o the lake at 10:30 as there was no og that morning and it was getting very warm...I was pleasantly surprised by the total lack o boats on the water but slowly there where more and more but ew rental boats.The ishing is air and it will only be getting better and real soon I think the traps and pop-r's and especially the rip baits and cranks will turn on in a big way. I'm hoping to get out on the 15th but everytime I write that I'm going to be there I've missed out we'll see
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: I'm going to throw buzzbaits until December i the ish are still eating them..Also anybody who knows where I can buy 7" A.C. minnows please let me as I was inormed at the Reseda Turners Sporting Goods that they cannot get them and they think they Might be out o production..I will soreley miss them and suppose I'll have to learn how to make my own

    • By

      Water Temp: 74+

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had a ellow rom the South Orange County Bassmasters e-mail me earlier last week and I gave hime the entire staight dope ...being Buzzbait early,A.C. when it clears and a ew places I would be at on Saturday...I had to work went on Sunday his club was there and I went down the lake and did the above ...First ish was a smallie that jumped higher than my head when I set the hook It is usually a bad sign when I get a smallie on topwater right o...There was no og!!! anyway this nice ellow Brian Day comes over intreduces himsel as I'm busy loosing my best ish o the day so I send him to a good location and have him working back towards me I got 2 more he had 1? I let and ished dark shaddy banks as quick as I could and managed a limit by 8:45 and switched to my A.C. and started culling I was o the lake ate a hotdog and cleaned the boat up at 10:30 as I igured I could only change my weight by ozs. When his club came in at noon ...They were a great bunch o guys and I enjoyed meeting them,They did well enough with someone with 8 lbs. I think . hated to do it but I've been wondering i my mental scale is as acurate as I think....I ended up with 20.35 pounds big ish was a 5.4oz so I have been right on track. This pattern is still holding and I plan on being there on Saturday Morning.....I have to thank Brian or the Jpeg o my best 3 ish and the act that the boyz did'nt lynch me rom the nearest tree...Brian did lock up Angler o the Year!!!! way to go Brian!!! and I look orward to the next lesson,,,I mean trip
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: I noticed some pretty crumby casting by some o the masters you have got to get your topwaters in close. I mean real close or these early shallow ish...Pop-R ,Spook A.C.,,whatever just ish tight stay awake and believe..Bye or now I'll let you know how she goes