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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, May 6th, 2019

  • Napa County
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      Report: by Duke » Mon May 06, 2019 1:42 pm
      Thanks to the 28 Teams that fished the 8th event of the Pasote Tequila & Berryessa Bass Tournaments Circuit that was on Cinco de Mayo and hosted out of Markley Cove. We had a cool & breezy Blast Off! Wind did pick up by weigh-ins! Most of the teams got there limit while searching for a big bite all day, looks like a ton of bucks are being caught! Most reported catching their fish in 1 – 15 feet of water. Water temps are up into the 68 degree to low 70’s range with the water clarity slightly murky tan/green in areas and crystal clear in other areas. Teams reported catching their fish on Swim Baits, Drop Shot, and Reaction Baits. Most teams were fishing on the Main Body of the lake.

  • Lake County
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      Report: by On The Water Guide Service » Mon May 06, 2019 7:54 pm

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      The spawn is on up here at Clear Lake. That huge full moon we had towards the middle of April got the first few waves of fish to move up and begin the spawning process. The lake is currently at the official "full" level of 7.50 on the Rumsey gauge which gives the fish plenty of back water areas to do their thing. water temps have been in the high 60's to low 70's range. Both ends of the lake have fish in all three stages; pre spawn, spawn, and post spawn. Sight fishing has been a little challenging in the north end with the combination of slightly stained water and with afternoon algae blooms and floating pollen on top of the water. The south end of the lake has a bit better water clarity but not much better.

      Fishing has been pretty good despite quite a bit of pressure from all the tournaments and recreational fisherman. There is a good flipping bite right now on the tule edges and pockets. It is hard to beat a 5" or 6" whacky or Texas rigged weightless Senko right now. Drop shotting a plastic worm has also been highly effective in the same areas. You can catch a lot of fish just fan casting in areas with a gravel or hard bottom. There is a lot of post spawn fish suspended underneath the docks especially in the south end of the lake. just remember that by the time you see them, they have already seen you long before. you can throw the kitchen sink in there and they wont touch it. The key is to make a long skip cast to the next dock ahead. Not the dock the boat is currently on.

      The very beginning of the topwater bite is just starting up around certain areas of the lake recently. There has been a few frog fish caught as well as a few Whopper Plopper fish. I have noticed huge clouds of fry up in the shallows and it wont be long until those fry guarders become fry eaters and the topwater bite will get crackin'. All we need is a good week of warm weather and it will get good.

      The crappie have slowed down a bit now their spawn is pretty much wrapped up. Although they were harvested at an alarming rate from the lake all spring, you can still manage to catch a few if you find the right docks where they are holding under. Talked with some folks that were catching a few catfish off the public pier at Red Bud park on cut maceral and shrimp. I did see some good size Bluegill in the north end around isolated tule patches. And finally for you bow fisherman, there are some monster carp schooled up in the shallows messing up my bass fishing. So come up and get those suckers.

      Tight Lines Y'all,
      Troy Bellah
      https://bassfishingclearlake.com/

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 72+

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: There was a high school TOC with 16 boats that went out of Glory Hole Sunday. All teams brought in nice limits over ten pounds. The best of the best chased bass that were chasing baitfish schools up the river. They used topwater and S-wavers to get their fish. Another team used jigs to target big largemouth they found on beds in Angels Creek. It took over 17 to crack the top five and 22.53 pounds to win it. So it is fair to say that New Melones Bass fishing is hot!!

      Tips: We got fish on Spooks, poppers, crank baits, drop shot worms, jigs, S-wavers, and senkos. So, throw what you like and have fun!!

Sunday, May 5th, 2019

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the southern end of the lake with good success. Found some post spawners and one sight fish. Post spawners were roaming and could be picked off with a reaction bait, Sexy Shad motif lipless was working well. Chartreuse/black back medium diving crank worked well too. Ned rig had turned off on me when I threw it, and so did the jig bite but after catching them on the cranks I just continued cranking all day/evening. Wind was minimal, sun was out, I figured I'd see more boats out this weekend but I didn't.

      Tips: Chartreuse was working well with crankbaits, Sexy Shad to Chartreuse Black Back and everything inbetween.

Friday, May 3rd, 2019

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The bite has been pretty good last few trips but today couldn’t find any fish feeding. Spawn is in full affect, fished locked in on beds everywhere. Caught a couple just to get the skunk off the boat but bed fishing isn’t what I’m out there for. Think I was the only bass boat on the water. Stayed on main lake most of the day due to all the debris floating down the arm. Love starting the year fishing the lakes but think it’s time to get back on the delta

      Tips: Pardee in my opinion is primarily a finesse lake, 99% of all the fish I caught are on some type of plastics

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 64-70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing was decent when I went down a week ago. Was able to pick up quite a few top water bites in the morning and in the evening, but was pretty tough to pick up bites during the daytime. I changed up baits quite a bit and found the most consistency on a wacky rig and spinner bait. Biggest spot was around 3lbs on top water, but other than that I didn’t catch any decent fish.

    • By

      Report: by Wilson » Fri May 03, 2019 8:05 am

      Was on Shasta from April 25th-28th. Fished about 13 hours each day except for Sunday. Total fish caught was 404 between the two of us. We learned having a clicker counter helps keep track of total fish caught when the fishing is off the hook!!! Best day was Friday with 144. All really nice fish from 1.5lbs-3lbs.

Wednesday, May 1st, 2019

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing the southern part of the lake from 6am to 6pm. The day started slow with only 5 fish for the first 3 hours. All in the tules off sinko. All solid fish from 3 to 5.43 lb. Fished the rock in the 10 to 17 foot range and started to catch numbers all on jigs. Moved to docks and the frog fish came to play. Ended the day with 30 plus fish with the numbers coming on plastic under the docks and rocks.

      Tips: All is working right know but things are changing and this great fishing will not last much longer. Don't forget to support the local tackle shops around the lake.

  • Shasta County
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      Report: y Inland fisheries advocate » Wed May 01, 2019 3:08 pm

      If you can get to Shasta lake it is the best fishing I've had in 40 years. We were on Sacramento arm for a week. Most fish in first 15 foot. Senkos in baby bass & rainbow trout... Bass are far and have nice shad in their mouths. Willows are packed with fish & the lake is basically full

Sunday, April 28th, 2019

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Spent the weekend in Lakeport with the family. Bass are in full spawn mode, we caught 9 sight fishing in the backyard of the house we rented. First morning at Rodman was our worst day with only 1 bass (and a very large Crappie), but it was our biggest of the trip. Spent the rest of the time fishing docs and the grasses in between them, up and down Lakeport. Everything came on plastics, either Senko or shakey heads of various colors. It wasn’t our best trip for size or numbers but the ones we caught up to 3 1/2#’s were all fighters.

Thursday, April 25th, 2019

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water at 2;00 pm and fished til 6;00 pm . started at Mooney and blanked , went to beals by the swim beach and fished the trees , caught one . Then went to the peninsula to fish the trees and started getting them . The shady side is where the fish were . Some trees hold one and others might have three or four . The real problem is the trees that hold none , it seems you fish four trees and only one of them will have fish .
      Mornings are a lot slower than afternoon , that will change as the warmer weather is starting .
      Ended up with my five best over 14 lbs , Had a 3.5 SM , 3 plus LM , Lots of spots over 2.5 . My last tree I caught ten spots in thirty minutes , almost every cast . Had a little over twenty fish , most came the last two hours .

      Tips: All on weightless wacky senkos , color didn't matter that much , used green pumpkin and baby bass 5'' on wide gap 2/0 . cast leave 8' of slack and watch your line for a fish swimming away . You wont feel the bite if your doing it correct . cast every thirty seconds or so to cover lots of water ,

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Report: by Inland fisheries advocate » Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:37 am

      Don't hear much on lake shasta... it is fishing great... We're fishing senkos..
      Time to get out & enjoy this fabulous fishery

Wednesday, April 24th, 2019

  • Napa County
    • By

      Report: by Kyle46N » Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:14 pm

      I've read plenty about Berryessa post spawn, and that there are bass everywhere in the shallows, but up until today, never had the chance to fish this time of the year. Deployed last year mid April and missed it, but my wife and kids had a ton of fun today. Looks like we missed the crappie spawn, but there bass everywhere in 10 ft or less. Threw small craw plastics on light jihheads, darter heads with TRDs, and Neko'd senkos, and ended up with fiftyish largies, spots, and smallies. Too much fun. Nothing big.....also like I've read, but fun. Surprisingly, our biggest fish came on flukes in 30 ft of water over balls of shad. Spots and largies around 3 lbs. Pretty cool. Anyhow, get out there and have some fun!

Friday, April 19th, 2019

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 8:00 am - 3-00 pm. Bite began to pick up around 10 once the sun hit the water. I could see down about 10 foot up the North fork, and if I saw one, there were multiple in the area. Largest fish was a 4.54, with one 3.4 to follow, and some other little keepers.

      Tips: Fish brush from 10-17 ft of water. Especially focus on the isolated tree tops off from shore. I caught them all on a nekorigged senko in a natural shad color. I did throw an S-Waver for a little and got lots of followers.

Wednesday, April 17th, 2019

  • Yuba County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58-61

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I took Clara Ricabal yesterday (Tues) to Bullards Bar. She had never been there before and was anxious to see the famous lake. Well, I guess she had a great guide - or something!! Clara doesn't mess around. She mastered the lake in just 3 hours - hooking and landing a 7 lb 2 oz spotted bass. Yea, Clara, this lake is EASY!!! What a pig - NO, not Clara!! A giant pre-spawn, gorgeous bass!!! One doesn't often get to see a fish like that! Clara also caught a 4 lb spot later in the afternoon. I chimed in with a 5 lb 1 oz spot later in the afternoon also. Three for 16+ pounds. We were 3 for 4 as I lost another big spot. Couldn't stop her and she came off in about 10 seconds. Bummer!!


      I always like the afternoons in the spring, especially higher elevation lakes like Bullards, Clear Lake, Scotts Flat, Englebright, etc.

      Bullards seems to be about 7 or 8 feet from full with a few creeks still flowing. Warmest temp I found was 60-61.

      Tips: Try to find areas that have a lot of afternoon sun and protected from the wind.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 59 to 63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm with my friend Brian . We started fishing the trees and the bass were not complying with us . By noon we had maybe four fish just under two lbs . Started fishing rocky banks in the north arm and started getting them . We went back to the trees later in the day and they just were not there or biting . We fished Anderson island to Rattlesnake we caught over thirty , sounds like a lot but not really . lots of slow areas between the hot spots . Largest was a 2 lb 14 oz spot . We caught Largemouth , spots and smallmouth . I still think the bite will break loose soon with the warm weather coming on .

      Tips: All on wacky senkos , light line . no weight . on the drop . 5'' natural shad . nothing on blades or Keitec swimbaits

Tuesday, April 16th, 2019

  • Napa County
    • By

      Report: Postby Duke » Tue Apr 16, 2019 11:36 am

      Thanks to the 26 Teams that fished the 7th event of the Pasote Tequila & Berryessa Bass Tournaments Circuit that was on April 14, 2019 and hosted out of Markley Cove. We had a clear and warm blast off with Duke almost forgetting to blast boats 20 through 25! We did have a breezy, sunny, and warm weigh-in with Chili Dogs for all! Most of the teams got there limit while searching for a big bite all day, but a few teams got their kicker! Most teams reported catching their fish in 1 – 15 feet of water. Water temps are up into the low 60’s range with the water clarity slightly murky tan/green, especially after the rain and winds again. A few coves seem to have clear water though! Top weights are getting better slightly, but overall still in the 13-14lb range. Teams reported catching their fish on Swim Baits, Jigs, Drop Shot, and Reaction Baits. Most teams were fishing off the Main Body of the lake in cuts, coves, and creek channel

  • Amador County
    • By

      Report: Fishing Camanche April 16

      Today we took advantage of the last storm of the year. Well, maybe it's the last storm of the year. We'll see.

      The surface temperature of the water was at 64 degress.

      With 3318 cubic feet per second of water coming in and 2400 cubic feet per second going out, the lake is rising, which usually makes for good fishing and it did today!

      We concentrated all our efforts on slow-tapering, gravel rock banks with an assortment of baits from topwater lures to Carolina rig’s.

      It seemed like the fish were in the 4 to 12 foot range.

      And we saw a lot of fish on beds.

      I hope this helps good luck fishing and please practice catch and release!

      Stan

Monday, April 15th, 2019

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 61

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: We went out to Berryessa on Sunday, launched from Capell around 10:30 am. We fished the narrows (for the first time) the entire day and the bite was tougher than expected. First of all, the water level was very high. Rather than spend the entire day trying to graph rock structure I love to fish so much, we concentrated our efforts shallow. We pick them up on ned rigs, drop shots, and finesse jigs. We mostly fished coves to beat the wind. Ended the day early with 8, as my trolling motor steering cable broke. Common problem with early Minn Kota Ultrexes! Disappointing but stuff happens. Next time I'll have to do some dedicated graphing, gotta put the time in, shallow water fish aren't always there!

      Tips: The shallow water bite wasn't as hot as I wanted, but then again our plan of fishing the late afternoon/evening was foiled by our trolling motor issue, so who knows. Most of y'all know the drill, drop shots, ned rigs, and finesse jigs work year round. Each cove had a murky side and a clearer side, and the clearer side was always the ticket. There was a tournament off Markley the same day, so if I had to do it over again I would've made the run north to schoolhouse island and fished down the rock garden, I'm familiar with that area and it's always been kind to me!

Sunday, April 14th, 2019

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 54 to 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I have been fishing Folsom the last two weeks with good results , day to day its different . The bite picked up with water temps two weeks ago . reaction and keitecs were working well . Now however it seems that bite has slowed down and plastics in and around trees is working well . I think the best bite has yet to happen . The north wind the last few days has not helped , as well as the temps dropping 5 degrees . Still the fish are there , you just have to work for them . More sun this next week will make it better . The best fish the last week has been a 5.5 spot , 5 and 4 Largemouth and to many 3 lb and 2 lb fish to count . One day will be a fish every 10 to 15 minutes and the next day every 30 minutes .

      Tips: Senkos on 6 lb fluoro next to trees . If you don't get bit in five minutes go to a different tree or trees . Trees in 15 feet is the sweet spot .