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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Date Unknown

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 68-70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Some folks are just die hard Trinity lovers. The folks I fished with last week came back for a couple more days of that incredible topwater action. After the cold front this weekend which dropped the temp several degrees, the Topwater bite just didn't materialize yesterday. The topwater bite has been a game of patience, cast and let sit. We were all shivering so bad it was impossible not to move the Pop-R. Would have been great if we'd been shakin worms, it would have happened automatically. In fact the whole day was pretty tough. I asked them back for another try today and it sure paid off. A 5+ smallie smacked a Pop-R about 7:45 this morning. Clients went home very happy campers. I don't know how long this topwater bite is going to last but I sure wish I could be there every day for a while and find out. There has been a hatch of very small bugs going on and I expect it has the fish looking up. We were catching topwater fish at noon today.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Very few fish have hit topwaters on the retrieve and although we've been fishing Pop-R's a lot it seems that anything that floats will catch fish if left there long enough. We caught fish on cranks and jerks as well. Just don't crank or jerk em.

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      Water Temp: 72-75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well John I think you were right. I was there for the weekend camping and got a little fishing worked into the weekend. For me the bite improved as the day went on with afternoons being the best. Saturday morning picked up a few fish quickly on a silver rattle trap. These fish were relating to points. Tried jigs for quite a while, but only picked up a couple fish. Changed to drop shot and picked up serveral more. Went out with the family late in the afternoon and the fish were on the stumps. Picked up 5 fish in about 30 minutes throwing drop shot 6" New Ayu worms near stumps in 6' to 20'. Best fish was a 3.8 LM. Sunday morning I ran to a creek arm and decided to fish there till 10:00am. Nothing until the sun was up then caught them real good. Caught one 2.9# SM off a bed. Did see 3 SM still on beds, but they were VERY spooky. After that started blasting down the bank hitting stumps. Caught about 15 fish in a couple hours with best 5 being all SM from 2.8# to 3.3# All were on a drop shot.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Was my first trip to this lake. There is some great Small Mouth fishing at Trinity. I do have to say though, I have never seen so many people keeping fish. While I believe there is nothing wrong with keeping a few fish to eat, I saw some pretty scary numbers of fish being cleaned in the camp we stayed at. I would hate to see this lake get overharvested. Remeber people, bass do not get planted like trout do, so a little catch and release will keep the fishing good there for years to come.

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: The only courtesy dock currently in the water that I'm aware of is at Cedar Stock.
      City: Weaverville

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Urban, I have never fished Trinity. I have fished so many other lakes in the winter up and down the valley, that I figured Trinity can't be so completely different then all those other lakes. I realize that each lake has it's own personality, but in the same region of the country, elevation, water tempreture, generally speaking, the fishing will be fairly similar between all the local lakes. We have all had good days in the winter, although fewer than other times of the year. John's trips were all good throughout the toughest time of the year. His good days are as frequent as our slow days in the winter. If Trinity is different from all the other lakes in this region of the country, and the bass don't slow down there in the winter, then I stand corrected. As I stated, I have never fished it. Has anyone ever experienced slow fishing in Trinity in the winter? Has anyone ever not been bumped all day long? That actually happens periodicaly to other fishermen in all of the other lakes around here. Hey, I'm happy for John, but if he wants to catch 4 pounders and up all day in the winter, he better not fish any of these other lakes that the rest of us fish in the winter. However, last February 2003, I did catch a 5 pounder on a spinnr bait. But just one urban, you know what I mean? Please understand that no disrespect is meant. I hope these comments have not been offensive, that was not my intention.

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: HEY CN TAKE IT EASY BUDY, THERE ARE SOME DOGGIES IN TRINITY, MAYBE YOU JUST CANT FISH AS WELL AS THE OTHERS, ALSO HE IS THE ONLY ONE POSTING REPORTS RIGHT NOW SHOW SHUT YOUR TRAP OR SAY SOMETHING NICE, NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR YOUR CRAP. GO GET A ROD AND LEARN HOW TO FISH AND GET SOME FOR YOURSELF. AND THANKS FOR POSTING REPORTS WE ALL LOVE TO READ THEM.

      Tips: QUIT YOUR BITCHING AND GO FISH

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      Water Temp: 44-46

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This weeks storm has added some much needed color to the water and a lot o not much needed debris. Some areas o the lake are still quite muddy but or the most part the color is perect. The ishing has improved accordingly. Largemouths to nearly 4 lbs. and smallies over 3 made or a pretty good day on the lake. Couldn't get a reaction bite going but it won't be ar behind. Gitzits, 4" darter headed worms and brown jigs are all working. Fish were in 10 to 20 eet.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Word o caution. There is a lot o debris that was washed in rom the storm and until we get a couple o windy days blowing rom the same direction to consolidate it, running will be a little scary.

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      Water Temp: 74 dropping to

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Full moon, so ish were most active aternoons. Found ish under shad on points and in stained water near tailings, all in north end. Success on ire-tiger cranks, split-shotting small plastics and on twin-tail grubs on jig-head. Numbers good, size generally rom keeper to 2 1/2. Had a six plus smallie come unplugged at the boat in ull view o two guys in a red Stratos. (Did you enjoy the show?) Thanks to Johnny Mac's guide service or shortening the learning curve!!

      Tips: Falling levels pulled the keepers o shore. Two ronts came thru back to back and dropped the surace temps. by our degrees in two days. The ish remained active in 12-25 oot range but shad present was a must! Medium depth ire-tiger or clown cranks at low-light, small plastics other times. R

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I am looking or any inormation on any bass clubs that ish Trinity, Shasta, Whiskeytown etc.... I am not interested in club that are a draw style. Please contact me at 707-498-1177 cell or eel ree to E-Mail me
      City: McKinleyville

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      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished this weekend the Caliornia Federation Tournament at Trinity Lake. Once again Tony put on a great tourney (even with only 1/2 day and 2 ish limit) and his wie and riend helped unselishly. Thanks to everyone or a ine job!!Pre-ishing I tried every possible moving bait in every area, rom south to north, and just couldn't ind any ish that were interested. I was sure there was a better bite than what I had, but couldn't ind it. I tried topwater, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits - NOTHING!So, tournament day I just went with what I knew rom last month and conirmed pre-ishing that it was still working - drop shotting main lake points & steep walls with shade. I think the key was going slow, working it thoroughly and keeping the bait o the bottom. the ish were suspending 2t or so o the bottom and wanted the bait in their ace. My non-boater was carolina dragging, and even with the same bait, the ish preerred the drop shot. I caught 8 smallmouth rom 2-2.5lbs each and one monster largemouth that topped at 6.06lbs. That ish won me the tourney and big ish honors. The ish we caught were all on the points in 20-40t o water - Drop shotting using my avorite 4.5in. Margarita Mutilator; no shaking required. Best ish came around areas with wood in the water. Another key or me was that there seemed to be only 1 or 2 good ish on each spot, so you catch 1 or 2 then had to move. Tons o small ish that you had to weed thru to ind the big one on the point. Usually deeper!Thanks to my non-boater Steve or a un day, good netting and putting up with my excitement.
      City: Redwood City

      Tips: 1) Slow Down! - caught that big ish right behind another boat that had just ished the area, so slower was better or us. 2) Stick with your pattern!

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      Water Temp: low 70s

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: As o Tues the 8th it was 6.75 rom the top and alling
      City: Weaverville

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      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Shaste Region BASS Fed. tourney this weekend. First time to Trinity, but what a great ishery. The smallies are a great bite and size was good. Some Largemouth caught too. Fished main lake and secondary points drop shotting 4.5in straight tail worms. not much shaking. i the ish were there, they hit it quickly, even on the drop. i you didnt get bit within 1 minute, move on to another point.Caught 2-3 limits beore noon. As always, i caught my best ish pre-ishing, with a 5lb smallie starting it o. 5 ish during pre-ish could have given me 15-16lbs, but only managed 10.10 on tourney day. That got me 5th place. Thanks to Tony or once again putting on a great tourney and thanks to all who ished it. it was un!!bigguns bite,Kopper Bass
      City: Redwood City

      Tips: best colors or me were 4.5in roboworms in margarita mutilator and red weenie.

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      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Mule Creek Arm and did well. Used the Drop shot method or the irst time and landed some really nice ish. Fished submurged trees and bushes using dark colors with a bright tail. The drop shot method is slow ishing but it really payed o or me. Do not go too ar in the coves.
      City: McKinleyville

      Tips: Fidget Drop shot by Majic Worm. Dark colors 3 inch worm or 4 inch worked well.

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      Water Temp: 56 to 64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Friday I launched at Trinity center at 0530 tried throwing topwater along main points or about 1 hour, no blow-ups even though most o the ish have spawned by now. I did see some ish on beds at the back o Hay Gulch I caught 2 good smallmouth 2.5# on rip baits working all the way to Chicken Flats where on the irst cast I had a 3.3# sm my best ish o the day also on a rip bait. At 1200 I headed back to the northend and ished the ball park with a clown colored crankbait ive ish in a ew minutes. Moved to the tailings at 1300 tried grubs, jigs, rip baits and my Clown crank bait no bite, Moved to the west bank and inally got bit on a split shot rig draging a 4" 109 Slugo. Fished the next two days in the Cottonwood Bass Club tournament, starting in the ball park my irst ish a very good 4.12 Largemouth on a jig then a 3.0 in hay gulch or a total weight o 7.12# good enough or a 3rd place the irst day but on sunday I only managed 4.12# and slipped to 6th place, one o our guys had a great lm 7.82#. Finished with a total 11.58# Winner had 14+ lbs. Wind was blowing both days.
      City: Redding

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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Give "jerry" (waltmanb@c-zone) an email, he was up there last weekend. I think the bite sucked though......
      City: Redding/S.F.

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Monday the 7th with a client rom Oregon, launched at Trinity Center at 6:15 a.m. Weather clear and cold, started at swit creek ,, ball park, my client ripped 1 sm 1.5 lbs. in the irst hour not much to bragg about, moved to the tailings, tried ripping, cranking, and plastics no bite. With the water down to 53 degrees and a major cold ront having just passed through it looked like one o those days when Trinity beats you up. But not this time, at 12 noon I decided to move south and try some points on the main body o the lake. First stop My client ripped a nice 2.5 sm I then ripped 2 more a 2.5 and a 3.0 We worked a ew more points or 7 more sm. all 2 to 3 lbs. ran back to the ball park at 3:p.m. temp. up to 57 degrees ripped 2 more sm. or a total o 13 ish all on rip baits, could not get a bite on plastics all dayWeather turned out to a great day ished aternoon without any jackets. We never saw another boat or person all day.4/11 riday ished by mysel, in at 6:15, tried the tailings irst stop, ripped and threw hooktail grubs no bites again I moved south and started ripping a pointer working points total ish or the day 17 smallmouth all 2 to 3.5 lbs., all on rip baits except 3 which I cranked. Weather becomming cloudy, orecast is not good.4/12 saturday, ishing with a ather and son rom Medord Or. who ished with me acouple months ago on Shasta, both are experienced anglers and a pleasure to ish with. They kept me busy early on netting those nice smallmouth, as the weather grew worse and the rain which had been steady since the night beore.the bite stopped. We called it a day about noon with about 15 ish all smallmouth all ripped.Sorry or such a long winded report, I have been so busy lately this was the irst time I could sit down to do it.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Rip rip rip

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      Water Temp: 47-51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished with Chris Hinckley last Sunday and Monday. Caught plenty o small ish but couldnt ind any larger ones. Largest was a 3.5 lb LM caught on a steep blu on a spider jig. Went to areas that were holding large ish a week ago. Only dierence was it was not stormy, the wind was light, the muddy water was gone, and a dierent moon phase. I elt we ished these areas pretty well down to 20 t with a variety o baits. Seems like its hard to get something going at Trinity in Sunny, post rontal conditions. Who knows, maybe we should have just point hopped the whole time looking or active ish, points have been giving up nice largemouth.
      City: Arcata

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      Water Temp: 46-50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Put in at noon at the north end on Saturday to ind very high winds. Not expecting much, head to a protected spawning cove. Immediately hit a ew smallies on a deep point 2 1/2 - 2 3/4. Hmm, maybe this isnt going to be so bad. Check other deeper areas, nothing. Head to shallow water. My partner Quinn gets a 4 lb 6 oz smallie in 2 t on a spinnerbait and another alls in shallow water on a crakbait. Head to main lake. Hit a deep, steep point and get a 6 lb 5 oz largemouth on spider grub. Sunday head straight to ballpark and load boat with small largemouth. Tailings produce 3 nice largemouth. Head back to shallow lat. Nice smallmouth are loaded in muddy, 2 - 5 t o water and are smashing a spinnerbait. This is why I love Trinity. Largest goes 3 lb 6 oz. Shallow bite dies, get a ew more on the way out on a deep point. Check other similar lats and get a ew. End day with a nice largemouth in the airport cut.
      City: Arcata

      Tips: Traditional baits were not working well (cranks, jerks). They deinitely wanted a spinnerbait (thanks Quinn; red was by ar the best color). The key was inding lats with the lattest banks and that had muddy water rom the strong winds. I the ish were not shallow they would move to close structure in deep water. All good ish came primarily rom 2 - 5 t o water.

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      Water Temp: 47-49

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got out today with a new riend rom So.Trinity and was happy to aquaint him with spring ishing on Trinity. He had been struggling a bit so was able to show him some spots and techniques that produced LM to 5 lbs and smallies to 4. Gonna be hard to keep him o the lake now.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Gitzits were the hot bait or us today but had reports o a rip bite turning on

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      Water Temp: 65 to 72 +/-

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Lake Trinity or the second time. Very hot weather. The water is pretty low. Didn

      Tips: Look or and ish steep banks with shade and wind (sot wind or ripples) in the mornings. In the aternoon

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      Water Temp: 70ish

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went out on my second tourny with the cottonwood bass club. got paried up with a great guy john mcnamar he knows the lake well. troubles on the irst day led to neither o us getting a keeper. on day two we statred out around the corner rom trinity center launch ramp and i got two quick hook ups and keepers one largie and one smallie drop shotting a 4 inch MGM blue ghost weenie in about 5 t o water. John picked up one there than we headed up the east ork and he picked up another on drop shot. we moved up the bank and i got a small 12 inch ish on a storm subwart crankbait over some stumps. that was it or awhile. with about an hour we moved into 22-25 eet o water and he picked up a nice smallie, but we couldnt get bit again so we headed or shithouse cove and ished it hard with the drop shot and i was swimming an MGM grub...i didnt get bit but he managed another nice smallie, that was it or the day. my weight went 3 lbs or 3 ish...better than last month at shasta where i weighed 0 ish..thanks again John or a great time. Cant wait till CLear LAke in September.
      City: redding

      Tips: drop shot shallow early with MGM 3 inch idgets and 4 inch weenies in blue ghost...then move into 25 eet o water and drop shot or splitshot.