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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 60 deg

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out for 5 hrs and saw 3 bed fish in over a mile of shoreline. Picked up one 2.5 lb Spot/Smallie hybrid on MMII in 8 feet off first ledge. Marked fish still in 15 - 18 ft. Tried jigs, chatterbaits, drops, and creatures with nobody taking interest. Tried white spinnerbait and had 3 short strikes, all tentative. Water warmed from 58-60 deg.
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: water clarity is 10 ft and stealth is a must. Spawning looks to be right around the corner. The last cold front probably pushed it back a week until things really happen. Saw one nice pair actively spawning 3 lb/5 lb that were very bright color suggesting they had just come up. Saw one big gal by herself in 3 ft. pushing 8 lb+

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: Around 50 or so

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Just want to post some information about the Chico Bass Conservation Club Tournament open to all, this Saturday at Oroville Lake, with launch from the dam. Entry is $80.00 which includes a BBQ dinner and big fish option and I think there's a raffle ticket in the bag as well. This tournament always draws a ton of boats and lots of fun. The lake is just 38' from the top, the weather looks good for Saturday and not much debris in the water. A tournament there last week with 25 boats had a least 20 of them with limits over 10 pounds for 5 fish, so all indications are the fishing will only get better for Saturday. For information you can call 872-0407 or 872-8041 and hope to see you there.
      City: Paradise

      Tips: Hey after a rough winter just go out there and have some fun. The lake is looking better than it has in years. It should be full by sometime in May and then they will probably pull the plug. An old timer told me once when you see the yellow pollen falling out of the trees, throw something with chartreuse in it. Thats my tip, or his tip. See ya

Monday, April 11th, 2011

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 58-61

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had a pretty good day on Berryessa. Started the day off by putting my custom Ranger in at Cappel. I caught 3 nice 5 pounders before I left the no wake zone. Then I sped on over to the dam and landed a sweet 7 lb. stiper. After that I fished Markley for a few hours and pulled a couple of 4 lb smallies and an 8 lb toad out from under the docks. Overall a great day, probably landed around 20 fish in all. I'll be fishing in the Pro Team Trail on the 17th. Hope to see everyone at weigh in.

      Tips: The pink Senkos and frogs seemed to work pretty good today.

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 50-55

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 4 until sunset. Caught one little dink dragging a dark green plastic critter, one 4-5 pounder on a wacky senko and a 3 pounder on a chartreuse spinner. Nobody out, but it was a little chilly due to the wind.
      City: Cotati

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Bite was tough. Scraped out a handful with one around 3.5 #s but it was slow overall. Fished points and dropoffs in 35-5 ft. Most bites came deep. Dropshot and dartheads caught all fish. Couldnt get any reaction bites. Slow rolled spinnerbaits-swimbaits-and ripbaits for nada.
      City: Grass Valley

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 51-56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I fished Friday with a friend for about 5 hours - checking out the bite in winter conditions - with occasional sleet or snow in the boat! Wow, April??? There was a big hail/sleet storm the night before, so I wasn't too optomistic. We looked at the south fork and found it dead, so moved to the middle fork. We had a lot of bites, mostly on Senkos, in about 10 to 20 feet. We only landed 7 or 8 however - including one largemouth. They were all 13 to 15 inches. Yesterday I guided 2 skilled anglers for a "teach the lake" trip. I can't say much since they are fishing an upcoming tourney. We had to deal with a pretty stiff north wind, but nice weather overall. All sorts of plastics and small swimbaits were our weapons. They caught 16 and I caught 3 or 4, trying out several colors to help them out. We had 2 at 15 inches but most were the same size - 12 to 15 inches. I think the bite will recover very soon, starting today with warmer weather opcoming.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: The lake was much cleaner than I though it would be. Very little floating wood, but that will probably change as the lake is now rising. Water color was excellent. I found the bass to be schooled up a bit. Both days we would catch fish in one small area and then nothing for the next 2 or 3 areas. For example, we fished our best Friday area on Saturday - nothing! So, keep movin'!!

  • Calaveras County
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      Water Temp: 58 - 60.3

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fish six hours . Hard fishing but well worth the work. One Bass 4.5 lbs on bluegill spinnerbait. Fishing has been slow .
      City: los banos

      Tips: Fish early morning before the wind picks up. If later in the day your trolling motor will get a workout just trying to stay in postition. Fish the deep water and fence lines for best results.

    • By

      Water Temp: 57-58

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Was out yesterday very tough bite caught 1 about 3lbs that was it fished along rock wall all the way back past trees threw everything the Jig finally did it , not too many boats out there that should of been an indication of what was to come we showed up about noon so we werent early really nics weather little breasy but still better than being home I guess people we did speak to didnt seem to be killing them either .
      City: turlock

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

      Report: does anyone know how much it is to launch at the north marina, and if it is operational? I know the south marina is ok. Can't find a phone number for the north. Thanks.

Saturday, April 9th, 2011

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 50 - 54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took my boy's up to the Lake Thurs & fri, (they were on Spring Break)got there about 12:00 Thurs. Fished outside and in Rodman Slough, the wind was steady, Ricky picked up a 4.3lb'r & lost a good fish on the outside tule on the left side. Squeezed under the bridge & went into Rodman, picked up a couple more up on a flat on the left side, 2.8 & 2.0. Came back out and fished the right side in a little cove just outside Rodman and I picked up a 4.5lb'r. the wind started picking up so we cruised the north shore and Ricky picked up one more off a point with metal wall in front of a house (4.1lb). Then the wind really started blowing and the clouds came in with rain, so we hit a little cove just outside of the Konocti Casino and Sean picked up a 2.8lb'r. All of the fish were caught on a Chrt/Wht spinner bait. Off the water at 4:00, due to bad weather. Woke up Fri. to the coldest temp I ever had at Clear Lake 31'! This shut the fish down, I picked up 2 fish (4.1 & 4.3) one on drop shot and one on Swimbait.
      City: Pacifica

      Tips: Fish were all caught just on the edge of submerged tules slow rolled, tried jigs, brushhogs, sweet beaver, senkos, crankbait(little bit) and dropshot no success.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 48-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Two of us fished this past Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday we fished the Sac arm and ended the day with 16 fish. The biggest was 3lbs caught on a spinner bait. We caught 13 on minnows,1 on a spinner bait and two on mf worm. Most fish were in 30 to 40 feet of water. The water temp was 47 to 50 degrees.

      On Sunday we fished the main body, Squaw and Pitt arms. We were able to catch 14. Again minnows outfished artificial baits. Only 5 of the 14 were on plastic (one on a senko, one on a spinnerbait and three on mf worms). Water temp was 50 to 52 degrees in the Pitt. Again the fish for the most part are not close to the shore?
      City: Rough and Ready

    • By

      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Up the Pit for a couple days.The bite was slow water temp. was in the low 50s Most fish on secondary points 25 to 40 feet. Brown lizards, twin tails, and a few on deep crank baits. The water levels looked to be dropping about a foot a day. I hope the water warms up I'll be down for a week at the end of the month. Good luck!!
      City: Lakeview Ore.

      Tips: Slow down if you want to hook up.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 45.8

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the south end and was on the water at 6:00am. No wind, water was glass and very cold. Had ice on my eyelets until 8:30am. Fished shallows, breaks, and points. No fish, didn't even see fish in the shallows like I did at the north end on 4/5. Cranking, rippin,& grubbin. Off the water at noon. The big trout are still hitting crankbaits.
      City: Weaverville

Friday, April 8th, 2011

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 61-63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started around 8 on the south end by woodchuckers picnic area. picked up a 4lb on a jig in 35 feet.
      found a nice rock piling and got two more 3lbs and 2lbs. They liked it slow. fished under the bridge against the rock wall and picked up 4 more each about 2 lbs smallest was 1lb. got them all on a rhythm and blues worm texas rig. Rained for an hour
      good day 7 fish for me in 5 hours.
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: Dark colors red, and blue. Bigger fish were 35 feet+
      S L O W presentation.

    • By

      Water Temp: 58%

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: started out at 8:10 clear day headed north
      2 fish in 10 mins on lizards fish hanging around
      rocks.
      next thing i know dark clouds move in little rain
      then hail!
      fished deep ledge caught 4 more
      hands frozen headed back to dock hailing all the way.

      good luck to all
      City: Saratoga

      Tips: water still cold fish slow
      around rock piles.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Put in at Markley at 9:30 AM. 2nd cast, hardly off the dock, 2.5 LM. Nothing else in Markley for me. Headed to the Northeast side of the big lake. 6 to 9 feet of water, drifting. In one small area. When I drifted about 100 feet ( or less), I moved the boat back and covered the same stretch again. Other boats were in the area. Watch electronics, when you see a few fish show up on the screen, get ready. Realize that you need patience. Don't be in a hurry and you will be rewarded. I fished one small area and had a 19 lb bag before 3:30. Bites were subtle, but the fish fought well. I broke one off on 6 lb test. I think it would have put that bag well over 20 lbs. These were all big LM. Great day on Berryessa!
      City: Esparto

      Tips: Dropshot, size one dropshot hooks, 3/16 ounce dropshot weights. About 12-15 inches between the hook and the weight. Tie the hook right, so it stands out! Soft plastic, I would share the kind and color, but they just worked too well. Let's put it this way. Use some smelly stuff. Keep your line taut. I like to use light line, but got broke off on 6 lb test. I think 8 is perfect. Let the rig drag on the bottom. Some hits definitely came on a moving bait, (moving with the drift of the boat). You need a rod that can feel the subtle bumps on the bottom. If you feel a tap, use an easy sweep to set the hook. I won't worry about you catching these fish if you aren't patient. This is the first time I had to hold back considerable amounts of info. (This was just too fun! sorry.)

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished in South, Flipped S-20's and crancked red.
      Stained water had shallower fish 0-3 ft. clearer water fish were in 3-8 ft.
      City: Tracy

      Tips: red speedtrap was in their mouth sideways. flipped with a light weight and was getting better fish on the fall.

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 55 to 58

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Arrived at 7am and the gate was open this time,Fished until 2pm . Started with a chartruse spinnerbait with painted blades Nailed two nice fish in the first half hour moving down the north bank slow roling it in 10 feet of water.The breeze died about 9am so I started throwing dingers. Caught fish all day long.Biggest close to 8lbs. most in the 3to 4lb. range.if you dont use smelly jelly you wont catch any. The water is high and muddy.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: Wcky worm the banks out to 10 feet and garlic Kick Bass..............

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52-53

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Mike Sperbeck and I got to fish our "private" lake again last night - not a single boat out after dark! Since we heard it was in the high 20's yesterday morning, we were hoping just to get bit. We launched out of Red Bud about 6 pm and caught nothing for the first hour or so. Mike was using his usual Senko and I was testing the new 5" Yamamoto Flappin' hog - #954. It is mind-boggling went you fish a long time with no bites and then the rod is nearly jerked out of your hand by a superbass bite! Wasn't even excited - had to be a catfish!! No whiskers and the bass weighed 6 lbs 1 oz. Using the same bait after dark, another good bite and she weighted 7 lbs 3 oz! I approved this message (Yamamoto bait)!! They work!!! My D&M Piranha swim jig landed me 2 more nice bass and one was landed on a brush hog. Mike chose last night to loose a big bass - she came off halfway to the boat. He lost another "5" at the boat. Bummer. He did land 4 up to 4 1/4 lbs. We could have had a great limit but only had a bit over 24 lbs. Nine bass total with a few missed and lost was a "better than we expected" evening! We quit about 11 pm.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We did find a few "pods" of bass. We got a few bites in one area and nothing in another. The majority of bites were 10 to 20 feet on rock structure. We combed some of the new underwater tulles, etc, with spinnerbaits, swimjigs, and Senkos - thinking there might not be any shallow after the cold front. We were right! It truly has been a March Miracle II - lake looks in great shape and bass will have some good cover again for spawning. In spite of no shad, fish are in beautiful shape!!

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 51 - 57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: bass are starting to lock on beds. caught 15 fish in about 7 hours all 2lb+, 25lb+ limit. all fish were in 2 to 8 foot of water. all u have to do is slow fish 4 to 7 in worms the are really heatin up. you can spot fish i pulled 6lb female off bed 2ft from boat in 3ft water. get out now best time of year for quantity and good size fish
      City: riverbank