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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, February 5th, 2011

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took my son out on the 5th. It was tough but we managed a few fish. Some ripping the back of coves in the afternoon. The others were on grubs in 15' not alot but I had 5 and my son boated 1 but lost 3. Not to bad as I hear, not so good by others. Lokking forward to March as that is as soon as I can get back.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: We used red 5" grubs in 15' and trout colored rip baits in the backs of coves. Good luck with the weather thats been happining. Tight lines everyone

Friday, February 4th, 2011

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fish were not jumping in the boat but did manage 6 keepers with one 6# largemouth and a 3# spot. All came on either a 6" pro gold worm or a 5" watermelon stickbait. Fish were in 25-30 feet and fat. The largemouth had a nice belly and looked to be getting ready to spawn. Fished Temperance creek. No jig fish.
      City: modesto

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the narrows and got my limit of 5. Largest being 3 pounds, fished deep and shallow and produced the limit.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Jig and crankbait

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Jan 28th and Feb 1st for a total of 1 fish. I tried every lure (drop-shot, shaky-head, jig, senko, tubes & grubs, jerk-bait, spoons), every color, fast/slow from 10'-60' in all my best spots. Nothing.

      I can usually pull off a total somewhere in the 20s or 30s - 12 to 15 in winter - but not lately.

      The water level was 5'-10' higher today than 4 days ago, and 15'-20' higher than a few weeks ago. Add some fog and 20mph wind and fishing gets tough.

      There is a lot of surface foam and driftwood, with organic debris throughout the water column, making me think that the lake is still in the process of "turning over". Whatever it is, I'm going to give it a few weeks before I try again.

      Tips: 1/4oz jigs and shaky-heads were getting the job done (until two weeks ago) in natural greys and greens.

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 48-49

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Lake is in great shape. Rainy, but not cold. Wind was minimal to light. Plenty of juice left in the trolling motor. Decent bite. Carolina rigged hogs 5-10 feet. Points worked well. Later in day, caught fish in 10 ft deep flats. Key was shallower water near deep. Caught only a few early (815am) then nothing for 4 hours. Last few hours of our outing we got 9. Dragging with wind and slow hopping.

      Also bites around grass. All plastics though, nothing on jigs, jerks or cranks. Fish were in beautiful shape and starting to transition out of winter patterns. Slowly. Just an indicator bite could be getting ready to start for the season.
      City: Pacific Grove

      Tips: Fish slow. Shallow near deeper was ticket for us today. Not pissed at 12 fish for January. Made it worth it fishing in the rain. Broke in that holiday rain gear.

    • By

      Water Temp: 49.6 51.2

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Not many anglers fishing the lake the bass are in depths of 14 to 35 feet and are still on a good jig bite. 1/4 & 3/8 oz bullet head jigs 3/8oz football head jigs in Green pumpkin/black green crystal.Trailers used yamamoto 208 watermelon red/black flake 5" single tail grubs. All the east bank from the dam area to the east side main ramp are holding bass also 5mph area is also holding bass and the third ramp east side of the lake. Rock piles brush piles trees drops offs and channels are all holding bass in the 2 to 4 pound range. Other baits being used baby brushogs and hula grubs in watermelon red/black flake patterns. Bigger bass are starting to show and there are 3 areas where the bigger bass will hold to structure well on this lake. Trout fishing has been fair on powerbait from shore.
      City: madera ca

      Tips: Fish slow dead sticking the bait work well also the bullet hesd jigs are working good with a slow bumping the bottom swim back to the boat. there are some nice bass to 4 pounds that are hitting these baits. green pumpkin pattern baits and watermelon red/black flake patterns are both very good colors too use here now.

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

    • By

      Water Temp: 47

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished club tournament today. The fishing was tough, my partner and I only caught 7 fish all day the best five going 8.65lbs. The winning team had 14.70 with a nice 4.30lb spotted bass.
      There was another club out also and I believe their winning weight was 12lbs. It was a strugle for most. Jigs worked best for us off of points and islands in 6-12 feet of water. football head jigs with yamamotto hula grubs in green or brown.

      Tips: Fish slow. Dock talk was all about jigs, drop-shot and senko's. a few anglers picked a couple up on crankbaits.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 47* to 49*

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took my nephew and started at 7am. Fished a couple of spots with success. Caught 16 between the 2 of us. 4-4lbs, 3-5lbs, 2-6lbs and an 8.5, the rest were 2s and 3s lbs. They didn't take any artificials. All were caught with Jumbo Minnows.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: All were caught in the 20' to 25' depth. Fish slow.

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

      Report: Nobody reports, so I guess I'll give it a whirl. Went from 1 to 530 pm. Caught spots, largies, and a smallmouth. Most fish were ~1.5 lbs. One 4.2 largemouth and the smallie was 2.6. Fish were scattered. Caught spots in less than 5 ft to largemouths in 50 ft. Most fish came on senkos, a couple on a brown/purple proguide jig (I think Johnny c's jigs..not sure tho). Fished mostly channels in big creek and graveyard. 15 fish total.

      Tips: The fish that I graphed deep were very catchable.

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

      Report: fished horseshoe from pathway between horseshoe and rainbow from 12:00-2:30 p.m. with different powerbaits for trout & not even a bite. last 30 minutes threw out a 10ft diver bright white bass lure and caught a 5-6 Trout. really want to find the bass bite out there, should be presawn now. i'll be out there.... fished rainbow today top water torpedos and pop'rs nothing. lead headed bright white jig= nothing. green senko= nothing. Feb.5 2011. no bites at all. casting into the wind= not the business... wind kicked up a 10" wake by 3:30. looking forward to big bass action soon with the coming warm weather. let me kno if any bass luck changes accure.
      City: Niles

      Tips: dont come bringing bait for one type of fish... bite is shot in the dark. ALWAYS bring a full tack box. from powerbaits and plastic worms for trout ( even crankbaits and kastmasters) but to keep one style up all day. if the trout arent biting typical baits get UP and start walking the banks throwing lures. Murky waters= use bright / white for bass use loud and bright and slow!!!! hope the warm weather brings a better bit for everyone. oh p.s. the 20-30 people every weekend on "fisherman row" arent fisherman... really wanna catch fish? find a better spot rather than lining up 30 deep / 2poles per person/ 2 baits per pole. u look silly. ( catching no fish.)

Friday, January 28th, 2011

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 40-50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: fished all day, points, coves, shallow, deep. You name it we fish it. No takers. Although we did see fish in the 20-40ft range, can not tell what type they were but it was frustrating to see them and not catch them.
      City: Sacramento

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 47-51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I guided two good anglers last night with weather conditions very nice and fishing only sorta nice. I know one of my clients would do well since his last name is January!! And do well he did as he put all three of our bass in the boat - 3 lbs 8 oz, 4-3, and a nice 5-7! He caught them all on his own Rodstrainer jigs that he brought. The other client missed his one hit and I had two hit a D&M swim jig but they never inhaled it. I really was disappointed in the bite since it wasn't too cold until midnight and not too damp with dew. In spite of warmer surface temps since I was there last, the bass were deeper. All of our hits were on rocky points.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: One will have to move around to find willing bass. When you do catch them - they are in good shape!

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 49.2-52.4

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: fished fri and sat. friday was tough but managed 10 between 2 people. sat was lock jaw day cold front had them scattered managed only 4 between 2 people. water was really clear probably 15 to 20 ft vis. fish were any where from 15ft to 40ft.
      City: California

      Tips: hula grubs were the ticket for us did catch a few on grubs and one on a darterhead, chunky rock banks that were steep and points but had to be chunky rock. fished main body and sac arm .. good luck see ya on the water (:

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

  • Calaveras County
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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the outer creek arms and main lake points this afternoon for moderate success. 5 bass and 5 trout on plastics and jigs. 1 smallie and 4 largies. Also caught 5 rainbows on the dart head 4" worms.
      City: Sonora

      Tips: Lake is low so fish the primary breaklines in 20 feet off main lake points.

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Try this knot. I call it a Collin's knot. For any size line to any size line, but especially good for flourocarbon or mono to braid. For right handed person: Double about 4 to 6 inches of braid in your right hand. In left hand, hold the tag end of the mono or fluro, pointing towards your right hand. Twirl the doubled braid 7 times around the mono or fluro from right to left, starting at a point 3 inches from the tag end. Now, without letting go of the braid, take the tag end of mono/fluro and run it through the little loop formed at the end of the braid while pinching the mono/fluro to form a hard tight 180 degree in the fluro/mono. With the right hand, pull on the braid standing line and tag end simultaneously, while with the left hand, pull the standing fluro/mono against the braid slowly while providing spit or chapstick for lubrication. Maintain the 180 degree bend by pinching the bend point when drawing the knot tight. I have used this knot sucessfully on largemouths to 180 yellowfin tuna without fail. This may seem like and albright knot, but is not. Actually I was trying to tie an albright when a customers salmon got tangled in the prop and I had to cut the line and resplice. I have been using this "wrong albright" for over 20 years, and never broken it on a fish.
      City: Half Moon Bay, CA

      Tips: With some practice, this knot can be tied blindfolded. Simple, easy to tie, very strong.

Monday, January 24th, 2011

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Rivers End at 6:45 am. So foggy on the water. Only 100 feet visability until 8:30. No Stripers busting on top, found one about 5 Lbs on a white spinner bait. Then started hunting Blacks. Got two early wacky rigged Sinko in 8 feet of water. One 5 lbs, and the other 3.5 lbs by 9am. Then not a bite until 1pm. Then I got a 8.3 lber on a purple finese worm out of a weed bed. A few minutes later got a 4 lber on a wacky senko. went another hour and got 2.5 lber on the finese worm. That was it for the day. Five bites,but over 23 lbs. Where are these fish on tournament days ? The difference is I was the only Bass Boat out there.
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: Work them slow. Fish seem to be holding in 8 ft outside the weed lines.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Google or Youtube the Tony Pena Knot. It takes some time to master but well worth it. If tied properly it forms a cone shape that goes through the line guides better than any other. Again if tied properly it gives you over 100 percent line breaking strength. Test it for yourself, tie some 17lb floro to 50lb braid with a two foot leader and a flippin hook, put the hook on your traier hitch and set the hook like you would if you just got bit, the knot to your hook will break before the Tony Pena.
      City: Byron

      Tips: Take your time and tie it right!

    • By

      Water Temp: ??

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: No bites. Tried 5" swimbait, wacky rigged senko green, jig brown purple. Fished north and south islands and spillway inlet.
      City: Santa Rosa

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Try this knot. I call it a Collin's knot. For any size line to any size line, but especially good for flourocarbon or mono to braid. For right handed person: Double about 4 to 6 inches of braid in your right hand. In left hand, hold the tag end of the mono or fluro, pointing towards your right hand. Twirl the doubled braid 7 times around the mono or fluro from right to left, starting at a point 3 inches from the tag end. Now, without letting go of the braid, take the tag end of mono/fluro and run it through the little loop formed at the end of the braid while pinching the mono/fluro to form a hard tight 180 degree in the fluro/mono. With the right hand, pull on the braid standing line and tag end simultaneously, while with the left hand, pull the standing fluro/mono against the braid slowly while providing spit or chapstick for lubrication. Maintain the 180 degree bend by pinching the bend point when drawing the knot tight. I have used this knot sucessfully on largemouths to 180 yellowfin tuna without fail. This may seem like and albright knot, but is not. Actually I was trying to tie an albright when a customers salmon got tangled in the prop and I had to cut the line and resplice. I have been using this "wrong albright" for over 20 years, and never broken it on a fish.
      City: Half Moon Bay, CA

      Tips: try this knot.

    • By

      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well it didn't start out like I planned...Launched out of Markley Cove at 8:00 was planning to head to Putah Creek to start fishing, about the time I got to Pope Creek started to have motor problems. Not sure if I got bad fuel or something else is going on; engine started to sputter then had no power and finally couldn't keep it running. After almost two hours limped back to Markley Cove via the trolling motor. Hope everybody else had a better day; I must say it was a nice day even though I didn't get to fish.
      City: Elk Grove