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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Thursday, May 12th, 2011

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 59-54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I provided my first guided trip last night in my new Ranger Z521-250hp Evinrude Etec! What a boat - the increased length made some rough water coming in at 1 am - a piece of cake!!! It got a little nasty out there after midnight. I had two guys from the bay area and while the bite wasn't great, we did ok. We caught 6 or 7 up to 5 1/2 lbs. Best five around 17 lbs. One had already spawned - the big one had not - fat as a pig! She was in 18 to 20 feet of water. We should have landed more but one of the fellows lost 2 right at the net - one of them over 4 lbs. No! I didn't knock them off, har! Just bad luck. We fished the Rattlesnake arm and down to Konocti Bay. Brush hogs and Berkley power worms provided most of the action.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We naturally had to deal with a minor cold front, but the wind wasn't really too bad until 11:30 pm. Our best bite was the last hour of light and around midnight. I had fun doing something I used to do a lot. I would tell one of the fellows to cast to a specific fence line or underwater rock, saying: "there is always a bass there!" And there was - this time. Fun, fun!! It looks like it it is going to turn winter-like again this weekend, so we probably are going to experience another long, drawn-out spawn.

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 65-67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got there bright and early.I ended up catching 12.The fish i caught in the mourning were on Crankbaits, a Staycee 90, and a Vibrating jig. Later i caught some spinnerbait fish.
      City: 408

      Tips: The bite is on there. SO why not go reaction bait.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Unable to get onto the water till around 9:30am. Fished Whiskey, Turner, and Middle river. Caught 10-15 fish and two small stripers. Most were not keepers and nothing over 2.5lbs. Caught fish on crankbaits (craw pat), spinnerbait, and plastic craw. Wind picked up BIG TIME in the afternoon and made the water muddy. Usually I don't mind the wind too much but it got rediculous this afternoon.

      Tips: If you plan to fish this week plan for the wind according to the weather reports. Be safe.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 62-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of GB with 2 friends at 5:30pm to 8:00 pm, windy with some white caps. Fished North fork coves. The cove next to Rattle snake looked good. Lots of fish jumping, but no takers. Tryed poppers and worm, did not bite, just nibbles.
      City: Granite Bay

      Tips: stay out of the wind.

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 65-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: WHERE ARE THE LARGIES? did find about 10 spots in a main lake cove holding on wood. Fished from 7am to 3pm. Caught a total of about 15 fish.
      City: Castro Valley

      Tips: no ryhme no reason. there is no pattern, fish seemed to mostly be suspended. tried jigs with no luck. dropshotting seemed to be the only way to catch any fish.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: The road was better than usual but in a month it will be testing your transom limits as usual. I was able to catch a trout on a Senko but any moving bait I threw only landed squaw fish. The other reports of BASS are encouraging but none for me. I think I'll stick to going over the hill to clearlake. Taking years off my boat and trailer are not worth the potential I hear about from others, sounds like a guide trying to get business. Good luck if you go up! If you do please do us all a favor and kill the squaw fish and leave them for the birds - if you cut them from the top not the bottom they'll float. I'll be there for the squaw fish tourney in the summer to help rid the lake of those invasive predators -thanks for having that Jolene and Soda Creek.
      City: Potter Valley

      Tips: Avoid the squaw fish and get there before the road is trashed.

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Left BW around 7:00. fished near Stockton main water channel for about 1 hr. Nothing. Headed back past BW and fish between BW and Terminous until 1:00. Fished the middle tullies. Caught 10 fish, nothing over 2.5lbs. Broke off at least 6 times. 14# flouro is not cutting it! Threw Wh/Char spinnerbait, Shad Speedtrap, B/Bl jig, Shad Rap, 3" shad swimbait and Purple Weenie. The only hits/fish came off of the weenie.

    • By

      Water Temp: 60 - 64 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Ran the Custom Valco "BASSBUSTER1" out to Big Al's today and worked that area. Bass were holding off the bank along the submerged point with weed line. Used spinnerbait and my version of the California Swimmin' Jig I have been experimenting with since I watched the Tactical Bassin' video the other week. The fish were biting aggressively.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: I believe these were post spawn fish holding near the deeper water. Check out the bass fishing forum about my version of the California Swimmin' Jig. I appreciate any ideas or suggestions to improve this bait.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 58-65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Lake is continuing to fill! It is only ~12 ft from full! The water clarity varies from light stain to clear depending where you are. There are a ton of bushes/trees in the water for once!

      Fished late afternoon this Monday (did not get on the water as early as I would have liked) due to work. Fished in the submerged willow trees with plastics (dropshot & flukes) with little luck. I was surprised it could not get things going. Once the sun was almost down. The crankbait bite was good around the bushes/trees. Tried jerkbaits with limited success. They really wanted cranks today. I was able to make a bad evening into a pretty good one. We hooked into a decent limit...
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: Talked to a guy who fished the next morning with plastics and they said they did very well...

Monday, May 9th, 2011

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 65ish

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Lazy M 8:30am, fished incoming tide and never left Italian. Found good brushhog bite tight to tullies with weeds. 10 fish to 6lbs. Broke 2 off on hookset. Off the water at 1:00.

      I ran out of Seaguar, so I used up some Pline flouroclear I had found in the garage . That stuff sucks! Seaguar going back on.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Tullies with weeds today. Tomorrow with something different for sure.

    • By

      Water Temp: 60 - 64 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Due to the crazy wind and no gas money today I launch the Custom Valco "BASSBUSTER1" and just stayed around the two coves, also tryed the meat wall in the crasy wind between the coves. Tried cranks and spinnerbaits (nadda), used a jerk bait (Smithwick Rattlin Rogue / sunfish color pattern) got slapped a cuople times, but no commits. Ended up mojo shotting until 1:00 p.m. using Zoom Trick Worm Black/Neon in the protected area of the coves and was doing ok, but just hooking guarding mails.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: Safety first is always with me, even though persistence pays off I always have to adjust to daily conditions whether its bad weather conditions or heavy boating traffic which dictates where I can fish safely and enjoy the day.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Arrived late morning and skies where partly cloudy. Caught fish shallow in 2-4 feet on flats with the largest going a little over 3 lbs. The afternoon byte was tough, all fish came on spinner baits. Tried the trees with plastics and nothing havppening. Got off the water around 4:30 when it started to sprinkle, good thing because a huge thunder storm came in within 1/2 which was pretty nasty. Water clarity is still pretty low from all the rain this winter.
      City: Gilroy

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 62 to 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Daughter was visiting from Paris, so went fishing with Johhy C. as the guide. Had a great day, with some BIG spots (4 to 6 lbs.)& about 20 fish for the day.Using dart heads, & Senko's. It rained at the very last. Daughter would not hold the fish, because they BITE. Super Day.
      City: Linden

      Tips: Watch the Electronics. Look for pressure Bite, will not tap,tap,tap.

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: Both Fish finde

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The wind was nuts out their on the Delta 15-20mph
      Out going tide, catching them on everything from crank baits, rattle traps, spinner baits, jigs, senko top water! It was a good day caught about 25-30, average weight 3 pounds. Saw one boat all day thats it never been on delta without seeing people fishing but saw no other boats.
      City: SACRAMENTO

      Tips: Have Fun

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: mid to upper 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished full day on the norht end. Day started out calm but got windy mid morning and satyed that way until evening. Fished flats and ajoining breaks. Tough day only caught 3 2 smallies and a largemouth in 2 lb range. @ came on top water Zora Spook. Lost nice one on the spook and had several switrles at it. Lost nice one that I could not get to the surface on a swim bait. Couldn't see any fish in the shallows due to the wind.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: The guy (from Redding Norm I think) I met on the dock in the morning that was throwing the expensive bait, I'm wondering how you did on that bait.

  • Calaveras County
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      Water Temp: mid to upper 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fished full day at the north end. Day started out calm but by mid morning the wind picked up and it was windy the rest of the day until evening. Fished flats and rocks tough day. Caught 2 smallies and 1 largemouth. 2 fish came on top water Zora Spook. Lost a nice one on the Zora Spook and had a few other swirles. Lost a nice one that I could not get to the surface on a swim bait. Could not see fish in the shallows due to the wind.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: The guy (from Redding Norm I think) I meet on the ramp in the morning throwing that expensive bait. I'm wondering how you did on that bait.

Saturday, May 7th, 2011

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 61 / 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went fishing at Lake Berryessa this past Saturday (5/07) expecting nice calm water and warm weather instead it was very windy and the main part of the lake was all white caps. John, Albert and I left from Lupine (Steele Park) and we were so excited like kids going into a toy store. John told me he had not caught a fish in eight years and my mission was to change that. My game plan was to start by the Ranch house and end up at the Vineyards. Of course that meant cutting through all the white caps. Sitting in the front was not easy with all the waves and bouncing. We went into a cove where there was some shelter from the wind with no success. I was looking for spawning fish but was not able to see any. I decided to troll towards the Vineyards. The second cove was behind the Ranch house and pretty calm where we could see at least ten feet down but no fish. Continuing on to the Vineyards I didn't stop till we got there. It took about four times longer then normal but we finally reached the first barbwire fence and then we trolled slowly to the second one with no success. I told them we should change to brass and glass and use senco worms and our luck changed. John's first fish spit out the bait just as it got within reach of the boat but we were so excited to finally hit fish that he didn't feel that bad. His line was old and he lost a few setups because it snapped. My recommendation is to put new line on at the beginning of the season so you won't be disappointed when you hit that big one. John changed to a weightless senco with a wide gap hook and landed a nice size bass that weighed almost three pounds (see photo). Next fish was caught by Albert using almost the same method. It was a rough day because of the whitecaps. I feel that if the water would have been calmer we would have had a limit for everyone the fish were there it was just hard to keep the boat in place for any period of time. The water temperature was ideal from 61 to 65 degrees so the only factor working against us all day was the wind. Hopefully the weather will be better next weekend 'til then.......................................................good fishing!!!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you have any questions please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.
      City: Napa

      Tips: now its time to fish it is happening now

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished May 5-7. Caught 30 bass mostly spots. Caught 2 big LM one over 7 lbs and one over 8 lbs. Caught all fish on one of 3 lures. First top water PopR. Second KVD 1.5 Sexy Shad and third a Crig brush hog. All fish were caught in 1-5 ft on shallow flats and the back of coves. Great fun. Missed about 20 top water bites. When I switched from a Tiny Torpedo to PopR I hooked them. They were coming out of the water and hitting my top water bait from the top down where there are no hooks. Rarely seen that.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Start with shallow crank. Switch to plastics when you find fish. Top water PM after the water warms to 70deg. Fish shallow 1-10 ft.

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 64-68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched my new Ranger Z521 yesterday morning and putted around seeing if anything was biting. I threw a D&M Piranha swim jig next to a bush on the west side and nailed a 3 lb largemouth. Good first fish!! She was in a foot of water. I sight fished 3 more - all spots from 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 lbs. Missed 2 more. Didn't see any large fish at all. I fished for about 3 hours total and played with the boat another hour or so.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Water temp reached 70 when I left at noon, so I assume the spawn has been going on for awhile. The lake appears to be about 2 or 3 feet from max pool. Lots of boats on the water!!!

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

      Report: Fished with my partner Steve Started up north bad wind we went to the south fork still windy but Stevo started catching them. Steve had 1 over 5# 3around 4 and a couple of 3s thrown in We ended up with 14 or 15 fish all in the wind blown banks. Boy i showed Steve a thing or two about how to net em.
      City: cameron park

      Tips: We fish the wind blown banks with a carolina rig couldn't catch them on protected banks.