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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, December 23rd, 2011

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: More of an FYI than a report.....a 17 lb striper...yes striper was recently pulled out of here

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Cold blue bird day. Threw Senko's, Jigs, brushogs, and top water in the morning to no avail. Started cranking a KVD squarebill in the rocks on the east side of the lake and that was the ticket! Caught a 6 and then a 4 on the next cast. Everyone I talked to was either dropshotting dragging jigs catching smaller fish.
      City: Planada

Monday, December 19th, 2011

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 45-48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: LONG day on the water (730 to 530) launched from ladds @ 730 in the fog but to my surprise lil to no fog once you passed ski beach. Once we located the schools i threw in the bama rig rigged with flukes and nailed em. the rest of the day tossed l.c. pointers in white for mixed bags of bass and stripers. final total for the day was around 18 stripers and around 6 bass for the two of us, lots of running and gunning.
      City: stockton

      Tips: current breaks are the key areas. if you could find a break on the back side of a point, they were there.

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      Water Temp: 44 - 46 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Luanched the Custom Valco "BASSBUSTER1" around 8:30 a.m and was off the water by 12 noon. Due to the early morning foggy conditions I decided to just work around the mouth of Ladd's Marina cove and deep side of the docks. Drop shotting a south korean minnow imitation plastic was the way for me today. No jig bites or rip bites. I also tried going out on the main channel just a little ways to check out a near by drop off and scan for any striper activity. The fog just got thicker for awhile so went back into the cove. By the time the sun came out there was not enough time left to make a run any where. The bite started around 10:30 a.m., wish I could have stayed out longer.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: Water temps are in the 40's so down size and slow it down.

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: Low to mid 50's

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The bass fishing still continues to be hit and miss. The most productive tactics have been fishing slow with soft plastics. Dropshotting and Dartheading 6" worms in Mojave Oxblood and Nail weighted 4" & 5" Senkos in Green Pumpkin, Cinnamon w/ Black flake, Natural Shad and Baby Bass. Lots of keeper size fish are being caught and a few occasional 3 pounders. Those throwing Jerkbaits and White spinnerbaits with white double willow blades on windy banks have had some success covering lots of water and finding active fish is key.
      City: Shasta Lake

Friday, December 16th, 2011

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: hit the lake with a buddy hoping to spoon up some bass but it did not prove as effective as i would have liked. we fished in the river most of the day and found only 4 keepers throughout the day on channel swing banks. we put a 3.5, 2 1/4, 2 1/2 and last but not least a random but welcomed 10.4 largemouth near pleasure cove. fish were taken on jigs and darter heads with the exception of the big girl she ate the jigging spoon in almost 50 feet of water in the only significant balls of bait we saw for the day.
      City: san lorenzo

      Tips: dont give up we struggled most of the day and ended up with some nice fish. as for locations i cant say i am any closer to figuring out these fish as they were so random throughout the day. if anyone else has an idea of where to hunt down schools of bass right now i would be game to hear about it. merry christmas

  • Lake County
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry I messed up - Brent Ehrler is his real name!!!
      City: Yuba City

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      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy Mike and I did another short night trip last night - long drive for 4 hrs of fishing. It was time well spent as we landed 8 with our 5 best a shade over 20 lbs - but the biggest only 5 1/4 lbs. I lost 2 big 'uns, but that's life. It was the first truly cold night - cold and damp! Jigs, Brush hogs and Power worms were to best baits. We stayed in the south end - to cold to travel far. Could not get the bigger, deep bass to bite much and the 2 bigs I lost came off half-way in, probably meaning they didn't suck the bait in much. Bites were 12 to 20 feet deep.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I was able to meet and chat with Brett Ehlers at the ramp as we were launching. Very nice gentleman!! He seemed interested in the night fishing at Clear Lake but I'm sure he will stick to his "day" job!!!

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 56-57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I did an 8 hr guide trip with a father-son pair that were new to bass fishing. They had fished Amador for trout before but wanted to learn about bass fishing. We started about 2 pm and fished until 10 pm - so they could sample night fishing. The nice folks who run the lake are pleased with a nice increase in trout anglers this fall. When I drove over the dam on my arrival - I could hardly see the water thru the maze of boats. After dark - we were it!! The son did have 5 or 6 hit and landed a bass before dark and one after dark - about 1 3/4 and 2 lbs. I caught a small one and dad missed 2. Bite was very slow and the weather didn't help. Clear skies and heavy dew always makes the night bite tough. The promised clouds and warmer air did arrive - unfortunately - about the time we quit. Had that happened at sunset, I think we would have done better.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Yamamoto Kreature baits and Berkley Chigger Craws got most of our bites. Active bass were about 15-25 feet.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 48 to 50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Striped fishing is on fire old river to middle river the San jaquin rippin lucky crafts non stop if there is a striped near it it will crush it biggest 39" with tons of shakers nick only caught one shaker the rest keepers nick caught the most fish 26 landed and released just by nick and snagged one sore head salmon up the sj a mile or two Donnie 12 dono 17
      City: Stckton

      Tips: keep rippin til you can't rip has to be down 6 to 8 feet

  • Mendocino County
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      Water Temp: 51 - 54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Most of the bass are in deep water right. they will pretty much stay there all winter.. Although, the smallmouth bass will still be some-what active. Teresa and I fished our hometown lake today and for a 3 hour effort we did okay. 4 bass total. 2 smallies, 1 largemouth and one striper. There is NOBODY on the lake right now ! What a blessing to have the lake all to ourselves. The lake level is still looking pretty good, especially for this time on the year. If you need a break from Clear Lake, give it a try. You'll like it !
      City: Ukiah, CA.

      Tips: Drop-shottin' is your best bet. Purple 4 - 5" worm SLOW... ALSO take a few casts here and there with the "cALABAMA" rig. I have picked some bass running it by some cover in about 12 -20 ft. of water. Have fun and, remember to keep it reel ! Don 4reelfishin.com

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: Low to Mid 50's

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: The bass fishing continues to be hit and miss due to the recent weather patterns. The most productive tactics have been Dropshotting, Dartheaded worms in Mojave Oxblood and Nail weighted Senkos in Green Pumpkin, Cinnamon w/ Black flake, Natural Shad and Baby Bass. Lots of keeper size fish are being caught and a few occasional 3 pounders. Those throwing Jerkbaits on windy banks have had some success.
      City: Shasta Lake

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hey Leo, what part of the lake did you spoon up those trout and salmon? I'm heading up to the lake tis wednesday and maybe thursday if I'm not too tired. I would really appreciate it if you could tell me. I havn't had much success lately. Are you fishing the putah creek, poke creek, south end of the lake? Where?
      City: san mateo

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Has anyoneone been been trout fishing? Any follows or signs of trout. I've been very curious about the trout fishing at this lake. Wonder if its worth the drive up there to fish for them.
      City: san mateo

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

      Report: Has anyone been fishing for trout lately. Any signs of trout. Berryessa was hot few weeks ago and just wondering how trout fishing at sonoma would be like.
      City: san mateo

Monday, December 12th, 2011

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Spooned up limits of Kings and Trout. Kings and Trout averaged a nice size at 15"-19". Fish were from 15-35 feet.
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: 3/4 oz Blade Runner (Duh)spoons are the only spoons you need.

      Still a lot of bait, so don't stay long in a spot you marking bait if you ain't catching. Keep moving until you find fish feeding on the bait.

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

  • Napa County
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Two of us fished the 7th and the 11th for trout. We limited out both days in less than 3hrs . Minnows under floats did the trick. Tried for bass using cranks and top water on the same points we were fishing for trout and picked up a few smallmouth each day up to 2.5 lbs. Very cold both days as the sun came up.
      City: Napa

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      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This past Saturday I took out Chuck and his grandsons Rowan and Kahlil. It was a very cold morning approximately 22 degrees before the sun rose and there was a mist on the water when I launched. I decided to go to my two favorite spots first. We went to Willy's ski school and I had them troll using a silver and blue crankbait and a chartreuse crankbait which worked great last week for easy limits and did nothing this time. Went to my second spot with the same results. The water was like a mirror with no sign of fish activity. Decided to try the Narrows and seeing no trout action I changed our plans to trying for bass. I told Chuck to let me know if he could feel bottom as we trolled along the shoreline. He was using a light rod with six pound test line and he yelled to me that he thought he was stuck but I told him to keep reeling in and sure enough he had a fish as he brought it to the boat the boys helped him net it. He landed a nice five pound largemouth bass!!! So we turned the boat around and did the same drift again and yes the kids landed a three pound bass. We would have continued this same pattern but another bass boat came along and wanted to try that point so I told the kids we would try another spot and headed for the ranch house which was a good move because the kids landed another bass weighing in at 2+ pounds. Before our next bass was caught we were able to land three nice trout. Next I headed towards the Vineyards where I showed the kids how to worm but we had no luck landing any fish. It was a successful day of fishing and I was heading back and decided to try Willy's Ski School one more time and good that we did because we picked up one more nice bass (see photos). 'til next week............................................................................good fishing!!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you have any questions or have any fishing stories to share please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.
      City: napa

Saturday, December 10th, 2011

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 45-46

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched from Ladd's at 8:00 AM fished main river, fourteen mile slough and disapointment slough...the bite was slow in the morning with only 3 fish by 11:00 am; biggest fish went 3 lbs and lost a bigger fish at the boat. Tried spinnerbait, jerk bait, jigs and drop shot. Was off the water at 1:00 PM.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Most bites came on when bait was sitting still...caught one on a jerk bait and brought the rest in on a drop shot with senko wacky rigged. Pretty much dead stick the drop shot they hit the bait when I did nothing but let it sit and let the current move the bait.

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      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Bass Busters of Yuba City had a tourny at CFW and everyone did quite well. I believe everyone except 2 caught limits and 11lb won it. Tried cranking and ripping in the morning with no luck. Sun was up and started to throw a jig and the bite got really good. Other members did really well w/ drop shots but I didnt even try it since I was getting bit on jigs. I fished points in 35ft of water. Sometimes they hit it hard and you got to really set the hook and other times you just lifted your rod tip and one was on. I had a blast! Cant wait to fish it again in January. If interested in fishing our club please email. We are looking for new members.
      City: Plumas Lake

      Tips: Have net ready and dont horse them in too quick. Lost 2 at the boat like that. Also retie when you know you been in the rocks a few times. I knew my line wss frayed a tiny bit and I kept at it cuz I didnt want to miss anything. Got a great bite, set the hook, fought it for about 10 seconds and then slack. 10lb line broke on what felt like was going to be my biggest fish of the day. I will retie next time no question!