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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I fish the Buckingham area from a pontoon float tube and the fishing is the best I have seen in years. Water is looking good on this end of the lake and the fish are active. Senkos and River Bugs have been working well for me, working around docks and tule pockets. Seeing lots of BIG fish cruising around. My fish have been between 3-6 pounds and looking like very healthy females that are already spawned out.
      City: Kelseyville

      Tips: Look for a hot top water bite soon!

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: walked perish cove last evening threw some spinners with no luck. then went to a roboworm landed three spots the bigest was around 3 lbs the others were sloters. my son caught a slot size largie on same bait.
      City: paradise

      Tips: it seemed like you had to drop it on ther head. couldnt get a reaction bite. all the fish looked ready to ready to pop.

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58°-62°

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished 2nd and 3rd, skunked in the morning of the 2nd, then got one big girl (didn't weigh her, was too busy fishing, but 6+ for sure) at dusk up near Buckingham point on on of the little islands on a t-rigged yumdinger in pumpkin. Pretty windy. Pulled out a couple of two's and one 3+ or so, and called it quits just after dark. hit it again next day, better results in the AM. Fished Windflower side of the Rattlesnake arm, bagged several little guys on tule points, then ducked into the keys to flip docks and rocks for a bit. Latched on to a pig across from the campsite by the inlet flipping a seawall with rock, got a glimpse by the boat, and she spit the jig. Aaaargh. Bummer. She had picked it up and swam away with it when I set the hook. The bite had been really subtle, so when she tapped it, I gave her a little line...too much, it turned out! I had previously missed a couple of fish by setting the hook before they'd had time to pick it up. They'd give it a tap, then take their sweet time grabbing it. They're still a little sluggish. Picked up a few more in the Oaks and headed to the flats by the Elem reservation and picked up 2 more on the yum worms, called it quits. Just a taste of what's coming. It is about to break wide open with the weather. Nice to be out and not freezin' my ass off!
      City: Clearlake Park

      Tips: Go slow, soak your bait a little. Flipped a revenge jig with rage tail trailer, Mann's Augertails and Yumdingers. All subtle colors, green pumpkin, watermelon candy. etc. Most fish in tules with some rock, 5-10'. Also tossed a blade along some sea walls and likely spots, but nada.

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 59 - 63 degrees

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Kept the custom Valco "BASSBUSTER1" in the garage today and hooked up with a co-worker in the afternoon who's not use to fishing the delta. So I showed him around a little bit today. With low tide and heavy weekend boat traffic the bite was tough until the tide changed in the evening. A reaction bite started up slamming our spinnerbaits back in 14 Mile Slough. I was throwing a 1/2 oz chart/white with large gold blades to get that extra thump in the murky water. Plastics were slow today.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: I mentioned to my co-worker if you plan on throwing Senkos here in the delta that he should add some weight like a split shot to help give it a faster sink rate. The incoming tide was pretty strong today combined with the afternoon delta breeze.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Nice day on the water. I pulled into one of my favorate fishing spots and I could see several large bass. I tried sevaral differant plastics, but they were just not going for it. They must be spawning. Better luch next time.
      City: Granite Bay

      Tips: Don't have any, do you have any for me?

    • By

      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: 1/2 the lake was covered in green goo... looked like the alge crap that Clear lake gets. Got 5 on senkos up tight to the bank, plus got 4 more bites flipping a craw imitation deep in the tules and tight to wood, but didn't manage to get any of those to the boat. Biggest was 4lbs exactally.
      City: Hilmar

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 54-60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Best Day I Ever Had on Oroville. Best Five 16.8 Big Fish 3.81 lb. largemouth. I had a 3.8 lb. spot, a 3.5 lb spot, 3.4 lb. spot, 3.1 spot and a 3.0 lb. spot.

      Started about 6:00 a.m. throwing topwater, then switched to a Spinnerbait and Senkos around 10:00 a.m. Once the wind picked up I started throwing the blade. Caught fish all day long, 46 fish caught. Off the water around 3:00 p.m.

      I asked my wife to meet me at Lime Saddle to take pictures. Best day I ever had on Oroville.
      City: Paradise

  • Calaveras County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: just call the hotel at north shore they have all the information and don't ask questions here because this is only for lake info... ask qs at the forums that's what they are for... thx
      City: turlock

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

  • Leon County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64-66

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The rain last monday dirtied the water a little but cleared by the weekend. We went out and started throwing fish in the boat quickly. First fish was the big fish a 4lber on a 4" senko. Missed a big one on a swim jig. Really a morning bite with VERY little happening in the afternoon. Got one flipping but the post-spawn flip bite hasn't taken off yet. Saw a couple fish on beds but all small. Saw some males gaurding fry but none of them were super agressive.

      Tips: Fish hard in the morning cuz thats when it was happening. Senkos are working for better quality fish and drop-shot for numbers. Post-spawn flip bite maybe on soon with the high temps we had this weekend. Best 5 went about 14lbs. If you fish here, post and share whats goin on! As always catch and release.

    • By

      Water Temp: 63-61

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished yesterday evening from about 5:30 until sundown. The fish seem to be suspended no real pattern. Tried spinnerbait,crankbait,topwater,ripbait,texas rig,jiggs,shakeyhead.Caught 3 on a ripbait and 1 on t-rig. No topwater action at all. All fish caught seemed real sluggish. the biggest was a solid 2 3/4 to 3. The wind was blowing pretty good.Might have caught more fish if I would have pulled off the bank. All fish were caught about 10' off of the bank.
      City: Denair

      Tips: The reason why I threw topwater, I talked to a friend who fished there last Monday and had several blow ups.Used a Staycee 90 chartruse shad all fish hit on a long pause 30+ plus seconds or longer.Pitched a jig tight in the tullies no hits.

  • Mariposa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Postspawn begins. A few beds with the 2-2.5lb bass, but the bigger fish have moved to the color line. Water continues to drop in anticipation of the snow melt, lake was at 812ft last I looked. Fished the Mike Van Guilder Sr. Tournament for my third year. Wasn't able to prefish but boated 8.82lbs for 5 fish , plus about 10 12" fish. I ended up 30th out of 43 boats...ouch. But My wife and son tournament partners are very inexperienced so I'm happy to have done as well as we did. My son caught his first bass a 2.18lb..so horray.
      City: atwater

      Tips: alot of baits are working, but senkos in the cottonwood area probably best choice.

    • By

      Water Temp: getting warm

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hey Folks

      ATTENTION ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!

      Just want to let yall know that I have seen some Chinese fishermen out fishing illegal and harvesting their catch. Doesnt take much to hurt small fisheries. And a few focused chinese people can do just that.

      most of the people that utilise this fisherie are sport fisherman and its upto us to look out for it!! Most of the non sport fisherman are ingnorant on many subjects including fishing. Im not suggesting that we try to enlighten or make better of these people but rather let them know of the regulations and types of fines they could see if they get popped. Let them know your lookin out for their best interest and just giving a heads up.

      This can be a fun place to fish and if we take care of it it will remain that way.

      Aside from that fishng has been fair. have to work for them but with a little bit of luck who know what you may see. Get out and fish!!!

      Sand Bars a Thumpin
      City: near by

Friday, April 29th, 2011

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: First time to Clear Lake, went for a 3 day trip.
      Stayed at Indian Beach.
      Fished entirely in the Rattlesnake arm.
      On Friday got skunked. Others staying at the camp reported similar results. Most attributed it to the freezing temps the night before.
      Next day was much better, caught 4 all over 3 pounds one pushed 5. 2 on senkos one on shakey head one on a zoom trick worm
      Sunday had only a couple of hours due to car trouble but got my first fish on a swimbait, 7" Osprey, top hook, in light hitch, crawled along the bottom = 4.12.
      City: Monterey

      Tips: Plastics were the ticket. Most fish caught on the North facing bank of the the rattlesnake arm.
      Most caught near old granite boulders or cliffs.

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60plus

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: WINDY and cold this morning..On the lake at 6am.Thought I would get something on a jerkbait or a chatterbait today but no takers.Really hard to fish the dingers today. I could not get a good hookset.Had about 6 takers but only landed 2.one green and the other brown.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: Just fish ............

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I bought a 24V 55 lb trolling motor to replace my 30 lb 12V trolling motor off a guy on the classified here on Western bass in fairfeild, I got it for 125.00 plus he tossed in a deep cycle battery, Thanks Bob !!! So while I was up that way I went to Berryessa :)
      OK, the report, I did not get onto the water until 4:30 becuase I installed the new trolling motor in the parking lot of the lake :) I could not get to my favorite spots because the wind was blowing like crazy so I stayed around Spanish flats for the 4 hrs I had to fish, I got 6 fish, 1 1/4 lber, 1 1/2 lber 1 1 lbrs, 1 2 lber, 1 3 lber and 1 3.5 lber, the 3 lber was spawned out and the 3.5 was full if eggs, I got all the fish in the same area though I fished about 6 spots but they all came at sunset.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: I ripped my stacy 90 but only had a few nice followers but they would not commit, the water clerity is about 10-25 feet so don't let them see the shadow of your boat and use 4-6 lb line and 3-6 inch worms until the water jumbs up about 5-8 more deg and than it won't matter, it will be wide open :)

    • By

      Water Temp: 80--67

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Been up there a few times with tough results. One here, one there. Wednesday was much better as I was able to find two groups of fish. No big fish, so this won't interest tourney guys, but for me, it was a lot of fun. Due to tennis elbow, mostly fished plastics and concentrated on 2-10' in the morning and 5-15 as the sun went high. Fished 4" senkos (wacky) and grubs on 1/8 ounce heads. Ended up with 20-25 keeps up to 2.5. Fished spanish flat cove and some of the west side pts. Past trips, I fished a lot of points, but ignored them this trip and cover more water. Fished about 6 stops with a few = zero with stops totaling most of the fish. Not sure if these were post or pre, but they were spunky, clean and fresh looking.
      City: orinda

      Tips: There definitely is a morning bite if you're in the right area. There are lots of shallow fish, but I keep moving til I find the stupid ones.In the p.m. when the find first comes up there will be active again, but when the winds starts shifting directions is when it shuts down for me. If anyone has tips, I'd appreciate some. Jerk baits will also catch'em too! hope this helps.
      P.S. If anyone knows of a good Yamaha service place for my putt-putt, I'd appreciate it. (alameda or contra costa ctys) thanks

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Brandon, thank you for the info...very helpful, i will look for it on my map of the lake. I really appreciate that you shared this info as most anglers don't seem to want to share their success or information. Maybe our paths will cross some day; I have a blue/white Skeeter boat but I mostly fish Melones and sometimes Folsom. Good luck to you and your partner in your future tournament.
      City: Galt

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The wind blew pretty good today. Fishing to bed fish became impossible for me. Reaction baits like the Rock N Vibe and 6" Basstrix swimbaits worked well. Dandy Baits spinnerbaits in SLK and Tennessee Twister produced well in the heavier winds. Water is 60-64 in the areas I am fishing. Cruising fish are visible but hard to catch. Stay off the shallows and throw multiple baits prior to leaving an area. They are shallow and they are big!
      More at www.toadsonly.com

      [url=http://dandybaits.com]Dandy Baits[/url]
      City: Tracy

      Tips: I like spinnerbaits in teh wind.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 57-62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: This post is a bit old but here goes. We were at Clear Lake from March 31st until April 16th and it was a blast. The best day I had was Monday April 4th and the bite started around 8am and lasted a good hour and a half. Boated at least 20 fish in that time and it was unreal. All fish were caught on swimbaits and jerk baits in a 40 yard stretch. The rest of the time I used the swimbait and jerk bait tandem and it seemed to work good. If not I pushed up to the tulies and flipped a few nice fish in the boat. I fished from the Keys to Rodman slough and caught fish in a bunch of places with those baits. The bite seemed to be a morning bite for sure.
      I did get 3 blow ups on frogs in the first week of April but didn't get any hook ups. Not ready yet I guess but with the weather your having now. Oh boy wish I was there! Have fun fishing a great lake fellas and Ladies.
      Mike and see ya next April
      City: Enumclaw

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58 - 61

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: been doing a lot of practice casting around warm springs this week. once the fish start biting again i should be dialed in.
      City: santa rosa

      Tips: get there before the wind does.