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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, December 11th, 2010

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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Wow.....what a beautiful day for fishing and CFW didn't let us down. Lake is at full pool and water clarity was magnificant and we had overcast most of the morning and zero wind all day. Yuba City club was having a tournament there and just curious as to what the winner had as our best 5 went over 12 lbs and would have been more had the 4+ not broken me off at the boat. Winter fishing is always a blast at this lake so get out and enjoy it.
      City: Wheatland

      Tips: Can't say there was any particular pattern as we caught them from 7-20' using tubes, dragging jigs and drop shotting. Seem to be holding on or near any type of brush or cover and some of the bites were jolting while others were pure pressure bites. Best plastic color was watermelon brush hog fished slow.

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      Water Temp: 56.4 to 58.6

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: We got on the water 8 am and fished till 3 pm we boated 17 bass 13 were between 2 1/2 to 4 pounds and big bass honor went to dwayne lucckesi landing a soild 6 pound bass all bass came in 19 to 23 feet of water. All are bass came on 3/8oz football head jigs green pumpkin ,black,green crystal trailers used yamamoto 5" single tail grubs in watermelon/red,black flake ( 208 )weather was overcast most of the day slight breeze off and on traffic was light not many bank angler trying for trout.
      City: madera

      Tips: jigs drop shot brushogs are all working fish slow work structure rock piles flats dropoffs are all holding good fish.

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

      Report: Not many posts on Trinity. Is anyone looking at this site for Trinity? Looking some winter bass fishman willing to share info. Does anyone know if you can launch at Trinity Center? Going on 12/21 and would like to launch at the north end.
      City: Weaverville

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 52-54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I made a short trip to the lake this afternoon - fishing the last 3 hours of the day. The lake is only down 17 feet now. Probably will fill easily soon. I threw swimbaits for about half an hour - no takers. I did get 5 hits on the "Hemphill Special" - brown/orange jig w/ #180 Yamamoto grub trailer. I lost 2 but did land 3 - a 2 lb 6 oz largemouth and spotted bass at 2 lbs and one almost 3 lbs. The biggest one had moved shallow with the rising water and was only 12 feet deep. I worked that depth for awhile but she must have been a stray! The others were about 20 feet on a west shore ledge. A couple of my favorite spots didn't produce any bites. All bass were found on rock piles and ledges.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Today the management put the trout they will raise in the pens near the marina. Remember not to fish within 250 feet of the pens. I think the morning bite might be better than the afternoon bite. Just my feeling.

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 49-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I made a quick trip to Clear Lake last night to check on the night bite. I launched about 7 pm - looked right, looked left, and behold! - there wasn't a tournament going on! I fished many areas to get a feel of what was going on in the short time I was on the water. It may be the first night I couldn't get bit on a Brush Hog. I was 4 for 5, naturally losing the one that hit the best. The quality was pretty good - 6-3, 5-5, 4-13, and around 3 1/2 (didn't weigh the small one). All were caught on a black/red D&M Piranha swim jig (3/8 oz). One was about 15 feet deep - the others over 30 feet deep. Very subtle bite last night. I really love my fluorescent Berkely Fireline - helps me feels those winter "non-bites"!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Spinnerbaits probably would have worked also - they seemed to need a blade to get then to commit. The south breeze made it impossible to fish some spots. About 11:30 pm the lake went dead-flat calm - gorgeous! Couldn't get bit at Rattlesnake Island after doing well on some previous trips.

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: The weather and the fishing has been good in this last week, we fished mostly the south end and caught some nice fish on rock piles, ledges and docks. with the largest weighing 5 lbs.
      The fish are right where they should be this time of year.
      The swim bait bite has slowed down a bit but when you get one its a nice one. I have been fishing rip baits, jigs, worms and spoons.

      Have Fun !
      ......................... StevePerkinsFishing.com
      City: Clear Lake

      Tips: Tips, Try fishing the Jig and worm deep and fish reaction baits around cover. If you find a group of fish you should be able to catch them when they turn on.

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: 7.5 lb. bass fell for a Red Eye Shad. Missed 1 good fish on Spro BBZ swimbait.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: Fish slow....

Monday, December 6th, 2010

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out on Monday, day after the Sunday soaker and got all of 2 bites. Left my danged sonar at home so even though I planned on fishing 20-30ft deep overall, had to guestimate based on experience in certain areas. Grrrr... felt 'naked' without electronics. Anyway, dragged brushhogs slowly for 1 bite in morning, then tried reaction as sun came out sun but nothing. D/S in entrance/arm to Cherry for zilch, then fished main lake points (d/s) toward end and got one decent smallie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se6F_ljfj6A
      City: San Rafael

      Tips: D/S 20-30 off points. Go deeper as necessary---esp if you can graph fish (which of course requires you remember YOUR sonar; ha). MOST IMPORTANT: Sign up for the Redwood Empire Bass Club's annual Open/Turkey Shoot! It's on Saturday 12/18 at Lake Sonoma! Sign up forms available at http://www.rebc.net/openpdfs.html so fill out a form for YOUR team and fax to James at 415-364-2880!

Sunday, December 5th, 2010

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Rivers End. stuck around that area most of the day. I caught 5 bass 4 were keepers best going a little over two ponds. Caught 3 strippers 2 were keepers 26" was the biggest. My buddy Caught 6 bass 1 keeper three strippers none keep. Bass all came on LV500 Delta craw strippers came on 3:16 swimbaits. He caught all his on pointer minnows.
      City: Acampo

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On the water around 8:45am, calm. Started out S.Fork - Saw fish mainly at 30-60+ feet. Also saw groups suspended from 8-25 and 20-50 ft. dropshotting and senkos...zip. Tried working points along the main channel of the fork ...zip. Tried a couple inlets but didn't see alot of fish... Tried peninsula and dike8...zip. Ran up N.Fork to some rocky points we've caught at before...zip. Oh well, no worry..I'm used to being zipped on Folsom Lake! Good just to be on the water before it rained! On the way in, saw a good guy (Tom) who helped us with tips before... always good to run into good people! Good luck and fishin' in your next tourney Tom!!
      City: folsom

      Tips: Just keep trying! No tips from me and probably after reading my report, no one would want mine!! yikes hahahaha ..but I think knowing your electronics and what it's telling you is probably key. I'm still learning how to use my fish finders. Chris Bajorek really helped me with some good tips. Console is a very low-end Lowrance x50 that came with my boat; bow is a Humminbird 565 that's decent, but some people say the only good fish finders have arches, not fish images. Mine has fish images...yikes again. But others say mine is just fine. I guess I'll wait for after Christmas sales and get a good one (like Chris B's)...with arches! hahahahahahaha ..maybe no more yikes!!!

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

      Report: Hows the bite. I havent been up there in years... Want to take the wife
      City: lodi

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 49.4

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went looking for some winter bass and couldn't find them. Fished the South end of Trinity in 20-50 ft. off points and along creek channels. Overcast conditions with little to no wind and/or rain. Prior trips in Nov. and Oct. yielded a lot of trout on rip baited and crank baits. This trio I drew a blank. Anyone with some tips on Trinity winter bass?
      City: Weaverville

Saturday, December 4th, 2010

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 50-53

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: found some dirty water tried to through a rip bait and only one good one came off that but was a 3 then ran over on the main river and drop shot the weed line and picked up 6 keepers smallest was 2 1/2 even tried flipping and that didnt work
      City: stockton

      Tips: you have to have dirty water and a weed like with pockets. make every bite count because theres not to many. and tfi anyone who wants to go out can im sure i can out fish u any day

    • By

      Water Temp: 56.8 to 57.1

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: we got on the lake at 1:00pm started off on the third ramp on east side of the lake with no results so we quickly moved to the second ramp on the day use side and we ended up with 10 bass from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds and only two dinks this trip and we were off the water at 4:50 pm. Also one of my other fishing buddys was up there he got on the water at 10:00 am and fished till 3 pm he boated over 12 bass from 3 to 6 pounds all of are bass came on 3/8 oz football head jig in green pumpkin/black,green crystal barb wire /208 watermelon red/black flake yamamoto single tail 5" grubs as are trailers it was cloudy all day and the breezy was very light. Not many boats on the water all the bass came in 13 to 30 feet of water. Trout anglers must of stayed home today
      City: madera ca

      Tips: The bass were heavy on and around the rocks around the second ramp also the third ramp early on the east side VERTICAL JIGGING work very well on both sides right now. You can also pick bass up in front of the dam in 30 to 50 feet of water with the same method and the bass will be between 2 to 5 pound.

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: for all concerned about boat access.I can tell you I had meetings with both parks n no rec and valley water.have lots of info.I live on the lake so you can imagine my anger at watching the rowing club daily off my deck. hasnt stopped me from having an epic year of fishing!!
      City: los gatos

      Tips: slow slow roll your blades drag bottom near offshore stumps in 15 feet plus

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: not as cold as

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: here's what i meant to say from the start:

      me and my 'wanna' buddy went out and fished beaver, hog, and sycamore...picked up 1ea in each slough...slow going but did pick a couple up on a speed trap worked like a rip bait, long pauses between the rippin. rest were picked up on junebug senkos.
      City: sac

      Tips: worked outside weedlines to deeper water and even though we hate it, forced ourselves to fish slow, even anchored and that produced 2. don't discount an occasional reaction but work that slow too...pausing triggers the strike.

    • By

      Water Temp: warmer than tfi

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: tfish..so what's your point? do you have one or is it just you sitting on top of your pedestal? give a report and be helpful or take your self-glory somewhere else.
      Name: tfish
      Date: 2010-11-29
      Location: molesto
      E-Mail: dll.com
      Water Temp: cold
      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 feet visibility)
      Report: only the tuff go out this time of year. the rest of you guys are wanna. anyone who can bring a limit of keepers is a stud.

      Tips: read the truth from guys like steve sapp and dee. a limit is a good day this time of year. dont leave fish to find fish

      me and my 'wanna' buddy went out and fished beaver, hog, and sycamore...picked up 1ea in each slough...slow going but did pick a couple up on a speed trap worked like a rip bait, long pauses between the rippin. rest were picked up on junebug senkos.
      City: sac

      Tips: worked outside weedlines to deeper water and even though we hate it, forced ourselves to fish slow, even anchored and that produced 2. don't discount an occasional reaction but work that slow too...pausing triggers the strike.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Found fish on rock piles off main lake points in 15-35ft of water. I hate drop shotting, so that is all I did today and I managed a better understanding of my electronics. Four fish hooked in two hour period all off the hook before I had a chance to see them.
      City: Granite Bay Highlands

      Tips: Drop shot. soft bite. I also lost one on a gold spoon.

Sunday, November 28th, 2010

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 57-58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I did a "teach-the-lake trip Friday with a client who is really getting into bass fishing the past few years. His new boat should arrive in a few weeks! He is quite good already, though he missed "all" the bites he had - 5, I think. With the 30 degree morning - the bite was very tough. As one would expect - we ran around everywhere learning some basic ideas on how to approach various structure on the lake. We didn't fish all the time but did cover a lot of water. I caught a 2 1/4 lb largemouth on a Basstrix Flashtrix 4" "smelt" minnow - about 20 feet deep. About 4 pm, just before we quit, I showed him a nice spot to fish when the wind came up, which it had already. I decided we ought to fish it for 5 minutes or so. I was going to show him how to use a swimbait so I threw a 6" Baitsmith trout. I think the lure was about 20 feet deep when something slammed it! My client saw the hit - looking at my rod tip at that time. I was out of position for a good hookset (so what else is new when running the trolling motor in wind!) and I lost her right away. Could have been a fun way to end the trip!! I do think he will be buying some swimbaits!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I really was hard to believe that the water temp was still 57 degrees after 3 very cold nights - at the END of November. I think the best fall bite is still ahead of us! I saw bait that had been in 40 to 50 feet of water had dropped to 70 feet. Wow! Didn't see many fish around the bait. We did not get a single spoon bite at all Friday. That might be a first for me at Berryessa in the fall. Maybe we were too agressive in our presentation. Drop-shotting morning dawn Robo worms were the best bait for my client.

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started the day trolling for steelies and caught a nice 15" steelhead by 8:30. Top lining a Rapala CD-9 on 8lb test. Fish hit as I completed a turn near the Sheriff's cove. After 9:00 I headed to the Warm Springs area to try for some bass. Fished main lake areas with various plastics, but did not get a bite.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Marked a lot of fish while trolling at the 70'-80' depth. Didn't have a downrigger to get that deep so if you do, give it a try.