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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64 -68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Yup, the bass fishin' has not been anything to write home about ! ? Oct. 26th was my third prefish day. 1st day nothing = fishing mid lake (dam and marina areas) for smallies... NOTHING the water is way too clear ! Some areas you can see down 25 ft. ! Day 2, fished up north. The fish were holding away from the trees in small sub-creek channels. caught 7. Three that were 2 1/2 to 3 pound range the rest smaller. Day 3, went back to the same spots hoping to build off of them,,, the only fish we caught were small-ish . Nothing that would be large enough to be put in a live-well for a tournament..? One more pre-fish day before club tournament next Saturday, Nov. 5th.?????????????????????????????????????????????
      City: UKIAH

      Tips: I hear that Folsom Lake is in the same boat. Clear water and tough ! I guess I would say, don't fall in-love with a area. Keep moving ! Most of my fish were caught off swim-baits and crankin'. ??? The fall fishin' on Sonoma can be a ???????? Maybe the front coming in at the end of the week will turn things on ??
      GOOD LUCK ! Don

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fog was so bad out of b&w got later start than i wanted. Fished behind Little franks. Threw small white blades. Got sick of dinks . Went with senkos on ikey heads green pumpkin with red. Got several 3 & 4,s. All in dark black shade with wood. If i was in sun bite was dead. Came back to pirates cove for shade. Sure enough fish on! Talked with bluegill fisherman at the dock. They got run off by big bass once they hooked blues. Same pattern for blues wood.
      City: Orangevale

      Tips: Should have thrown shell cracker or anything in blue-yellow or chartruse. Thats why im not on espn2 yet. You have to find the pattern within the pattern!

    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: To "myboatsfaster" I've known two people like you...One, I went to his funeral two years ago after his boating accident and now you; I don't know you so I won't be attending your funeral and I really hope I won't be attending one of my many fishing buddies funeral who enjoys fishing the Delta due to your inconsiderate recklessness. I would rather put up with the deep v's than you!!!
      City: Citrus Heights

      Tips: Why don't you send us all an emial next time you're planning to head to the Delta so the rest of us can fish elsewhere and be safe.

Monday, October 24th, 2011

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: In response to "myboatsfaster". Only up to 70mph when you have limited visability. You my friend are either full of it or an absolute idiot. There are other numerous ways to hurt yourself without endangering others that only want to enjoy the water and catch some fish. Pick one of the other ways, PLEASE!!!
      City: Dublin

    • By

      Water Temp: 73-74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well today started out pretty foggy when I launched the Allison out of B&W. I could only get up to 70MPH with the fog, but it is really exhilarating to drive that fast when you can't see more than 15-20 yards in front of the boat. Did pretty good today once the fog burned off. Caught several dinks in the rip raps on some hand poured plastics. Then motored over to another spot and landed a 7 lb bigmouth bass with a fluke. Had to head in early and was off the water by noon. Is anyone else annoyed by the deep v's hanging out everywhere? They are always in the way.

      Tips: Try different colors and presentations. Stay on the rocks, thats where the fish are.

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 71-73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I fished Amador Friday afternoon and about 4 hrs at night. The bite was very slow and I couldn't even get the spoon bite to go. I did catch several small bass on Robo worms and finally switched to a jig around sunset. Near the dam I caught a 2 1/2 pounder and a 3 lb 3 oz bass on back to back casts. I then tried topwater and the bite was dead. Still too warm. The night fishing was very slow as the damp, clear fall nights are here. Cloudy nights are always better during fall/winter. I did hook a big fish on a brush hog, but lost her.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: The lake is in good shape - only down about 8 feet I think. The first trout plant happened at the beginning of the week. Cool weather WILL improve the bass bite!

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68 - 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out with my buddy Tiger Sunday to try and find some fish. Had not fished the north end in a couple years so we tried that area. Started at State park with reaction baits, top water, senko, no luck. Tiger did get a dink off the rocks on a dropshot. Headed south a little then we hit some docks for a while with no luck. Then we tried some submerged rock piles that have produced in the past and struck out on those. We tried a few spots south and got a couple off Docks near the old barge. Then headed north to Rodman to try there. No luck but did see a couple fish caught by another boat. The tried points and docks along the east shore. Picked up a few (shade and tulies were key). Overall beautiful day at the lake but only 9 fish up to 2.5lbs. Not what you really look for out of clearlake. Water was very thick almost everywhere, the kind where it gets all over your rod and reel and but there were fish under there (small ones anyway).
      City: Pacifica

      Tips: I'm glad we tried the north, saw lots of places I would want to hit in the spring if I came back then but I suspect the fish were deeper than we fished.

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Found a very tough bite on Sunday; we blanked. We were at the back of Yorty Creek a few minutes before sun up, and thought we'd try some topwater for about an hour. Trolled all the way back to the mouth with nothing on spooks, buzzbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and drop-shot. There were a lot of small fish busting the surface on the points next to the mouth, but I think these turned out to be the predators, not bait, as I snagged a 6'inch bass on a jerkbait. He had one hook in his mouth, so I think these small fish were doing the chasing and there were no bigger bass in the area.

      We moved out to the main lake and fished in the trees until about noon throwing crankbaits, jerkbaits, and drop-shotting.
      City: Windsor

      Tips: I had it in my head that this day would be all about the crankbait based on the report below. While we were out two weeks later, temperatures have remained pretty steady since that time. We didn't have a huge arsenal of crankbaits to choose from (some Speed Traps in craw, which are normally great at this lake, and some Strike King model in bluegill and red). We talked to one other boat that had no fish.

      I would like to know if anyone did well here this past weekend. Also, please post a report if you go out and fish. Even if you don't do well, the information is helpful for others. I used to rely on everyone else reporting, but then I realized that if everyone else was doing the same thing, there would be no reports, which for the most part, there are not. Post!

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64 - 69 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Luanched the Custom Valco "BASSBUSTER1" out of Ladd's at 1:00 p.m. and was off the water by 7:00 p.m. My buddy/coworker also came out and joined me in his Bayliner bass boat. We followed each other around in 14 Mile Slough and then out to Big Al's and back. The flippen/punchen bite was on in 14 Mile Slough behind LVW Marina using oxblood sweet beavers, catching several bass up to 3 lbs. Then we headed out to Big Al's and I started working my California Swim Jig on my new swim bait rod. Got nailed by a real nice size bass that aggressively hit my swim jig.
      City: Stockton

    • By

      Water Temp: 72 to 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: 10/22/11 vertical jigging and drop shot are both sticking bass to 4 pounds areas to fish major points 25 to 38 feet of water And the face of the dam in 25 to 35 feet of water 1/4 oz bullet head jigs and 3/8 oz arkie or football heads jigs. Johnny c has two new colors that worked very well for me on saturday Again johnny thank you very much it was my birthday sunday you made my day on saturday with some good solid bass.
      City: madera ca.

      Tips: Move off shore and target structure on points small brush piles and isolated rock piles and the face of the dam. I was in 25 too 38 feet water off shore and 25 to 35 feet of water off the face of the dam. The bigger bass came out of 30 plus feet of water.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished North Fork and found lake in fall turn-over bite was slow, fish suspended no takers on reaction, caught a couple 1# spots on shaky head.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: For local Folsom rats- get your fishin in now big tourney coming Sat 11/5, guaranteed to screw up the bite for some time to come the way this tourney management handle fish.

    • By

      Water Temp: 70 to 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Sonora Bass had a tournament we caught our limit it was slow the winning weight was 11lbs the big fish was 3.39 we took 4th with 10.25
      City: jamestown

      Tips: the fish seem scattered fish rocky points there are a few in coves 20 to 35 ft deep spider jigs, dropshot splitshot smallbaits crankbait produced small fish unless you get lucky

Friday, October 21st, 2011

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: We tried the western shoreline near the big island. Upon arrival, landed a 2.5 lb smallmouth. It didn't wait for the wacky rigged senko to hit the bottom. Drop shot was the most effective method throughout the day. Small fish were an issue, but there were several spotted bass that provided entertainment. Numbers seemed to relate to brush that was surrounded by water. Later in the day we realized that dropping nose hooked plastics straight down over bait balls in about 20 feet of water was productive. A simple jigging presentation seemed all that was required. Lost count of fish caught. We also caught some on in the northeast corner of the lake.
      City: Esparto

      Tips: The owner mosquito hook in #1 size was most effective for the sure hook on spots. Reaction Innovations, Robo worms, and Senkos all caught fish. Natural colors are key: greens, brown, shad colors. I suggest 8 lb test or lighter. A 3/16 ounce drop shot weight is perfect. Surprisingly, greatest success came with the offering about 15 inches above the weight. Finding the bait balls will be my first objective on the next outing. If you find small fish on shore, pull out a bit and watch for bait.

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got 8 bites Thur. and landed 6. Biggest was 4#, then 3# and some littler guys. All except one caught on a number of different colored plastic worms from 3-15 feet deep. Caught one on a deep diving crankbait on a point. Blanked fishing on Fri. for giants with huge baits early. Tried all types of baits later playing catch up but to no takers.

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fish for the past two days. Caught lot of fish. Both days had about 20lb+ bag. All fish caught deep on soft plastics. We caught nothing in the shallow, guess the cold night push the fish down deeper.
      City: Napa

      Tips: Fish slow and watch your line.

Monday, October 17th, 2011

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64 - 68 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Luanched the custom valco "BASSBUSTER1" out of Ladd's today about 8:00 a.m. and was off the water by 1:30 p.m. A tuogh 5 fish limit today even though I caught 12 bass (DINK DAY!!) using white spinnerbaits, sweet beavers & flippen tubes, but spent most of my time expiramenting with the California Swim Jig. I could not find the Dirty Jig locally so I bought a Renegade 1/2 oz swim jig and some Robo Easy Shads, it was a cool setup. Got several tail strikes with it, but no hook ups (in time I will eventually). Wish I didn't have to work tonight the bite seemed to get better as the day got warmer (afternoon bite!!).
      City: Stockton

      Tips: It was a reaction bite basically until the sun was high enough, the the flippen/punch bite was just starting to take off when it was time to go home. The swim jig bites came off of a medium speed retrieve in around 10 feet of water.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out again because the weather was so nice. Tried flipping the Garry Yamamoto Hula Grub on a brown football head jig. Flipped real close to the shore near bamboo. Had a few decent fish all taking the bait on the drop. At last light I hooked a nice 5 to 6 pounder that jumped right in front of me but threw the hook. We all know that feling when we see the fish that we lose. Perfect evening to get out though.
      City: Pleasanton

      Tips: Flip as close to shore in the most impossible openings. Only fish I've caught have been hugging the shore in deep cover.

Sunday, October 16th, 2011

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I had heard a few good reports on spooning, so Lenn Jann talked me into giving it a try. We caught some nice fish in 20 to 50ft. around main body points useing 3/4 - 1-3/4oz. morning dawn and chrome/green Duh spoons. I saw several boats fishing the bank in the same areas so there must be some shallow fish as well. Also noticed a lot of trout and small bass busting shad over deep water.
      City: Sacramento

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched New Hope and started at our midway point island just between Hog and Sycamore sloughs...started out crankin' but no hits so decided to work the tule and weedline edges and picked up a couple on junebug senko. Then moved up the Mokulemne to just around the corner from B&W; still no hits crankin' and this is usually where we they hit our speed traps and kvd 2.5s in red craw and sexy shad. ZIP on the cranks so went back to senkos and picked up a mixed limit of keepers and dinks..biggest going 2-14. Coulda said 3 but the scale didn't lie and 3 ain't braggin' rights by no means but I still get excited at 2+..hahaha. Anyway, after working some more tule strips and another mixed bag of barely keepers and dinks all on senko, decided to head back to port and stopped at Hog. Went in and noticed swirls and splashing and thought it was stripers, so we threw out some 1/2oz Cordell spots .... wow, double hookup with chinooks. Had to release at the boat while in the water to stay legal but sure was fun til we saw they could've cost us some hefty fines! I almost cut my $3. lure off having so much trouble releasing it but finally got it unhooked.
      City: folsom

      Tips: Senkos seemed to be the ticket this day; change up often enough when something isn't working after a few locations.
      Know and keep regs handy; when we first hooked up with the salmon, we weren't sure and so we released them on a hunch; we were real relieved when we checked the regs and saw salmon closed. Then when we got back to New Hope, we found out there were a couple fines handed down at $600 ea for possession in that area. (even if they were caught on Sac river. If in doubt, don't take it out!

    • By

      Water Temp: 63.5 to 64.8

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Ladds at day break and fished until 12:15 pm...we fished Fourteen Mile Slough and caught 15+ fish all on shad colored crankbaits. On the north side of the slough we worked the rock walls and I caught a 4.5 lb large mouth and then my son caught a 6 lb about five casts later. All in all a nice day on the water and got to spend time with my son, can't beat that.
      City: Sacramento