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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I didn't catch the limit of bass out of 15 I landed last weekend at the lake, but I still got 2 keepers out of 13 fish landed Saturday with the biggest ~14 inches. Used worms and got most the fish in around 5-10 foot depth on the upper end of the Dry Creek Arm. Need to try morning or evening instead of during the day.
      City: Healdsburg

      Tips: Be patient during the day!!

    • By

      Water Temp: 72 - 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Saturday, 6/2/12 I fished from the back of my buddy’s boat. The air temperature was around 80° but was very comfortable because of the strong breeze all day. The water temperature in Cherry Creek, where we fished all day, was 72 - 78°. My buddy and I caught a total of 38 fish for the day. We started with top water baits because the sun wasn’t fully on water. Within the first few casts my buddy caught a nice 4 lb 3 oz. large mouth and a few casts later a 2 lb 13 oz small mouth both on a shad-colored Bass Assassin rigged weightless. He continued to catch 5 more but smaller fish on the Assassin. Against my rule of thumb of switching baits if two or more fish are caught on a particular color, bait or technique, I continued using a walking the dog top-water lure with no luck. I did finally switch to a Bass Assassin but by the time I did, the top water bite had turned off. Both of us switched to drop-shotting RoboWorms and started catching fish on red or purple colors like MM. After several fish each, I noticed that my buddy’s fish were all larger than mine. Contrary to normal thinking, my buddy was catching larger fish on a smaller 4½-inch worm compared to the ones I was catching on the larger 6-inch worm. This time I used my rule of thumb and switched to a 4½-inch worm. Sure enough, I started to catch larger fish. Over the remainder of the day, all the fish caught were in the 1 lb to 2 lb range with perhaps 10 dinks. We also tried wacky-rigged Senkos, jigs and a Texas-rigged Brush Hog with no success. Most fish were caught in 5 to 10 ft of water around entrances to cuts and as far as 50 yards back into cuts also along drop-offs on flats. Because of the breeze all day, I couldn’t see if there were any fish still on beds. In one area where the water was calm enough, I did see one large cloud of fry around a stump. We did not see any balls of shad like we saw two weeks ago.
      City: Pinole

      Tips: As I suggested in my report two weeks ago, if you are on the lake early in the morning or late in the evening, top water baits will work, particularly a Bass Assassin.

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74-77

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I had the pleasure of taking a star pitcher for the SF Giants, Matt Cain, along with his lovely wife, to the oven at Lake Berryessa. After a 20 game stretch, he was ready for some R&R. I knew it would be really tough - post-spawn, hot, and FLAT water - no breeze! We had a 4 hour window to fish, from 10 am to 2 pm - quite a challenge - 95 degree when we quit. I helped his wife with her casting skills and gave Matt a few tips on worm fishing. He has done bass fishing in the past and loves it. A night trip might be in his future! So, who catches the first bass? His wife - with a dandy 2 1/4 lb spot. Pressure is off!! Because of the time limit, we stayed in the narrows, though I showed them the main body since it was their first time to Berryessa. Matt and his wife caught several more from 6 to 13 inches. Matt got the only smallie, about 12 inches. We went into Skier's Cove to a flat I like, but no results. Just as I was going to pull the Minn Kota up, she says she has one. And did she ever! It took her nearly 5 minutes to get the near 3 lb spot to the net. I couldn't believe it - this fish had not spawned yet or had eaten several craws. Big belly! I only fished about 45 minutes, trying other baits - catching 2 small ones but losing a nice one. Our total catch was about 11 or 12 bass and several missed hits. I was very pleased that the bite was ok, considering the very tough conditions and time frame! We finished in Wragg Canyon with a few more small ones. Again, their best bait was a Texas rigged morning dawn w/ chartreuse tail 6 inch worm. with about an inch bitten off. The worm that enticed the big spot probably only had 4 1/2 inches left on the 6 inch original. My 250 hp Evinrude got them back to the dock at 2:03. Great day!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I don't usually make personal comments about my clients. I have guided and worked with many pro athletes and enjoyed them all, but Matt Cain (and his wife) were simply great people to be around. What a pleasure to spend a few hours with them in my boat! They both fished hard the whole time and didn't even touch the lunch they brought! Lots of laughs and joking around. It's never too hot to enjoy the great outdoors with great folks!!

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70 in narrows

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: One bite all day. 4# largemouth on a pencil popper on a main lake point.

      Tips: Get out before the wind starts up. Fought it for 6 hours without a bite.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: Low 70's

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Bass fishing at Lake Shasta has still been great for numbers of fish caught. There are still fish in all stages of the spawn as the weather has not been consistent enough for them to really go. Look for them close to shore in the mornings with topwater baits and tubes and later in the day around the tree's with senkos. Look for a mid day crankbait bite in the mudlines once the boat traffic starts getting heavy.
      City: Shasta Lake

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74-76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This was a great week for some nice bass on my favorite lake. I took out one client on Wednesday and up until then had never caught a Bass. He ended the day with 15. Largemouth up to 4 pounds, smallmouth up to 3.5lbs. and spotted bass 3.5lb. most of the fish came on a dropshot rig and the rest on Carolina rig. The next day I had 2 clients and they also landed some nice fish up to 4 lbs on the same rigs. Top water bite was very slow but we did see a lot of bait moving around so I expect it to get better soon.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Work the outside points in the main body from 5 to 20 feet. Most of the fish are post spawn and feeding. Try top water baits early you never know when that bite will take off.

Monday, May 28th, 2012

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70,s

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: went up to the lake monday and did pretty well again.boated 16 bass - the 2 biggest were a 6.8 and 6.1 with the rest all over 3 pounds and more then half of them over 4 pounds only 2 fish were under 3 pounds a two pounder and a dink. this is my 4th trip up there in 5 weeks and have gotten a grand total of 88 bass,35 one trip,22 second trip, 15 third trip and 16 the fourth trip- nothing over 7 lbs. yeah i know this sounds like bullshit to some of you- but im fishing from a kickboat and putting in 12 hour days (slow and hard)no need for minnows- just dont move around to quickly- throughly work bassy areas then work em again- most were caught on jigs, punchin, t rigs and topwateres too!! good luck!!
      City: santa rosa

      Tips: after you flip, skip, pitch or what ever just let it chill for a little while before movin it- trust me ;) tight lines

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got 7 largemouth on drop shot fishing the back lake from shore. Also threw baby brush hog, jigs, and senkos for a good amount of time but no luck. All of the fish were small but it was still a good day for shore fishing. 4 of the fish were caught on 5in Roboworms and 4 on 7in drop shot worms.
      City: Castro Valley

    • By

      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished only the back lakes. Started using a texas rig but got nothing. Switched to a drop shot and caught 7 little ones(1-2 lbs). Used only plastic worms. Green pumpkin and darker colors seemed to work the best. Saw like 5 cruisers just couldn't them to bite. No fish early morning or in the afternoon. All the fish bit between 8-11.
      City: Castro Valley

      Tips: Bring extra tackle... TONS OF SNAGS! but thats where the fish are so you gotta live with it.

Sunday, May 27th, 2012

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: nice fish thanks for the pictures
      City: napa

    • By

      Water Temp: 69

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished early mornings during the Memorial Holiday weekend. Friday a front came in, rained a bit but Sat, Sun and Mon was clear and breezy. Concentrated in North coves with Carolina rigged plastics. Hit only one 1 lb large mouth on a 6inch watermelon punpkin seed brush-hog. Switched to every plastic and color I had (and I have 25-30 different types) - Nothing. Moved to the dam area and hit one more 1.5 lb large mouth on a berkly brown 8" power worm. Nothing else. Moved to the west end of the lake and through a 8" chartruse lizard. One 2 lb hit in the submerged trees but that was it.
      I used to come to this lake and catch 20-30 fish every morning. What was up???
      Decided to call it a day about 10am and noticed thousands of little frylings in every cove. Lots of baby fish! What were they? So on my way back to camp I seen so many fish on the fish finder about 25 feet of water. I decided to throw out a brokenback rapala and troll for awhile. BAM! a fish hit hard and I fought it for a few minutes. This was a big fish and when I netted the brute, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a squaw fish. A 32" Pike!!!. This lake has been over-run by squaw fish. The same fish that are creating havok in the Sacramento river. They eat every fish egg they can find.
      I trolled another hour and hooked three more 24-28" pike. This was it for me. Pike are no good to eat and they are a menice to water-ways every where. I believe that Black Butte Lake has been ruined with the introduction of this fish.
      I have been coming to this lake for over 30 years and this past year was the first time I have ever caught pike.
      What a shame...
      City: Cottonwood

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67-71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 7:00a-3:00p. Started in east Frank's Tract and worked south to Orwood. Haven’t been out for a while so I was just trying to find some kind of pattern. During slack-tide I was picking fish off of isolated, hard structure with a 5” PB&J Senko. When the water flow picked up, I got ‘em throwing a square-bill crank into current near slack pools (they showed a preference for the KVD 1.5 green gizzard shad). Keeping 8-12 feet of water under my boat gave the best results. No monsters, but I averaged 3 fish an hour so it was a good day in my book.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Thank you for a real report portuguee joe, secret spots and baits don’t help me much.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I should have heeded Larry Hemphill's warning!! Unfortunately, I had already rented a house on the lake for the weekend. So we made the best of it. It was so windy and at times rainy; I only took the boat out on one day (Sunday). We managed 1 spawned out 4Lb Bass. However, we did manage to nail some hefty Catfish from the shore (12Lb, 10Lb, and 9Lb. All on Nightcrawlers.
      City: W.Sac

      Tips: Locals say gotta use minnows now. Question: Where are the Bluegills???

Saturday, May 26th, 2012

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Download all as zip





      Great day on Berryessa, little chill in the morning, with a question mark on the afternoon weather coming, started at the mouth of the narrows by the dam picking up 3 kings got slow so we moved to the lower main lake and it was non stop action on kings to 5 lbs and trout from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 lbs. By 2:30 had 9 kings and 6 bows from 17 to 22 in trolling Lyman lures from 37 to 61 ft for both. Got off the lake just as the rain started.

      pic 1 is Jack Harmon of Sacramento with his 5 lbr
      pic 2 is Jack Harmon of Sac on Left and Chuck Soden of Carmichael on right

      Captain Bill
      City: sac

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of whiskey, got there befor sunup few on top water then it was on for me and my buddy every cast or every other caught a fish.Used Bill Dance Bomber Bama Shad.Died out about 11:30 then we targed over hanging trees with shadows.Most fish 2.lbs. 3.lbs and bigest one was 4.lbs.all total 41 boated 11 lost.
      City: Redwood city

      Tips: crankbait in spars tullys at top of incoming tide

Friday, May 25th, 2012

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at first light from Putah. Caught a 3.5lber from the launch ramp on a spook. Went straight across to the ranch house and fished the willow trees. Caught 4 fish from 6-9 feet on spinnerbait, cali swim jig, and nice 3.5lber on spook. Headed back up Putah, one dink on a senko by standing timber. Moved out closer to bridge and found the magic cove. Caught all the fish on crank baits in 6-9 feet half way back the cove, fishing the banks at 45 degree angles. Speed trap did the trick. 5 Biggest fish went 21lbs. 25 total fish. Finished day fishing willows by buoys on way out of putah before the bridge. Fun day. Caught all 3 species of bass. 4 biggest were all LM.
      City: Fairfield

      Tips: Depth was key. Running a pattern eliminated a lot of useless water. I think we could have stayed and caught them all day running our pattern.

    • By

      Water Temp: 69-72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I guide a great father/son team Friday in very different weather conditions than Monday's trip. Chilly, windy, cloudy w/some sprinkles. Fishing was slower and the bass were smaller - though each of them caught a nice 2 1/2 lb spotted bass. We also caught a few largemouth about 2 lbs each. The son had just moved out here from Illinois and was experiencing beautiful Berryessa for the first time. Dad wished he had moved too!!! It would have been nice if the hills were still green, but brown has set in!! I took them out to see the main lake after fishing the narrows most of the time and we fished a few spots with no luck. Unlike Monday, the afternoon bite died! Morning bite was ok. Bass all seems to have spawned by now.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We used Robo worms most of the time since they were working the best and I knew they could get bit in some tough conditions. Most bites were from 8 to 20 feet on rock structure - some on-shore and some off-shore. I brought a lot of topwater baits but we never used them. It was very cold at 7 am and thought the worms would be best for action. Morning dawn/chartreuse tail was the best color, followed by MMIII. The cold weather kept the lake pretty quite - only saw 3 wake-board boats! What a shame!!!!

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took two of my cousins fishing today dude never touched afish before cuz never cought more than 1 fish or what ever 29 bass later they have 5lbs PB and a great limi t of fish each they are ruined it was windy fished 6am to 130 with lunch and pic break all fish on rubber I landed ban 8.3 that made them go crazy it was great taking a newbs fishing great time delta on fire
      City: Grants pass Oregon

      Tips: Fish hard trust your indicts lots of fish out there

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69.0

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Sunday thru Wednesday. Good top water bite on Zara spook early and late on primary shallow points. Later went to plastics on same and in cover. Biggest 3# spot, 2# smallie.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Windy points best

Thursday, May 24th, 2012

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Just back from clear lake off the hook call Richard pounds killer guide learn killer water for life anyway started at 5 in secret spot ha ha bagged little limit in 10cast then made a re pass bam bob 5.5 nick 6.0 bob 4.0 nick3.75 it was on then wanted to fish other spots wind wind wind hate fishing used water lincoln vill west but lunch was good called it day
      City: Grants pass

      Tips: Stay out of the wind. 1spinnerbait fish rest rubber