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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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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
    • By

      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
    • By

      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 .

Saturday, April 13th, 2019

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58-60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: This short report is late since I have been very busy with family activities lately - like going to grandson's little league games which seem to be every day - lOL!! And - 45 miles away! I did a Berryessa trip with 2 excellent bass fishermen on Tuesday. The day started out with a beautiful morning, clouded up at noon, and rained a little in the afternoon. Then, post-front. Not sure if that was the reason, but the bite was slower than previous trips - and - the bass were a little smaller. Again, we stayed in the narrows as there was a lot of afternoon wind. They caught all three species, and they were all caught in deeper water. Those shallow bank bass that were so willing in recent trips seemed to be less active - lots of pressure bites. They were drop-shotting their favorite baits I tried to get a jig bite going - no luck. I was really surprised at the slow bite, but that is what a weird weather event can do.

      Tips: Nothing much to offer as a tip because the bite was really off compared to previous trips. It is very interesting to see how the bass react in the spring to various weather patterns. One little weather change and they will change in a hurry! Still, overall a good day for numbers, not size.

Thursday, April 11th, 2019

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Enjoyed an awesome midweek day, weather dropped 10 degrees from the previous couple days, overcast all day never saw the sun. Got on the water about 7 off by 2. Caught all three species from 6 to 20 ft, there moving up towards the spawning areas for sure. Besides one reaction bite on a square bill all fish caught on finesse bites, dropshot, shakey heads, wacky, Texas. Nothing big but caught 10-12 fish. Should only be getting better specially when the water temp goes up some.

Monday, April 8th, 2019

  • Butte County
    • By

      Report: by Inland fisheries advocate » Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:38 am

      I miss Tom's weekly reports on Oroville so here is mine for Sunday. Fished about 4hrs. Caught about 12 bass, mostly on wacky senkos & drop shot white paddle tale grub. Mostly in back of coves & some rocky walls..

      Not on fire..but water clarity is decent... nelsen

Sunday, April 7th, 2019

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 57-59

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Again, guided another adult father/grown son team yesterday. I know there weren't any big tournaments out of Markley Cove, but getting out into the narrows about 8 am was weird! NO boats anywhere - coming or going - on a Saturday!! Eventually saw a few around and many coming back in the late afternoon, probably from up north. As was the case during my last trip a few days ago, we never made it out of the narrows. The bite was great IN the narrows - certain areas - and my guests landed another bigger bass - about 3 1/2 lbs - and many, many quality bass. Their limit about 15 pounds. They were self-contained with their own equipment and baits - excellent fishermen!! A lot of drop-shotting. Always fun to watch an excellent fishing team (father/son, etc.) do their thing! I was almost a hero as I hooked a giant fish in the afternoon. Tried to slow it down for about 20 seconds but it came unbuttoned. I will think about that for a few days!

      Tips: I was SO happy that for the second trip in a row, rain cloud gathered and sprinkles began. This looked serious!! But as the last trip - it stopped and just remained cloudy all day. I was surprised to talk to a few tournament guys as they were securing their boats, and heard about their slow bite. One is well-known and was surprised at his somewhat slow day. I started wondering if the north end of the lake was slowing some and the lower end was getting better. That is a normal pattern for Berryessa - and Clear Lake. Just wonderin'. I threw jigs some but didn't get much action. We tried the backs of coves again this trip, but found more action in the main body. The lake is dropping some and that may have move them out a bit. I didn't look this trip but hear the Glory Hole lake release tube is nearly finished for the year. What a sight three weeks ago!!

Friday, April 5th, 2019

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Was on Clear Lake April 3rd-5th. The week prior had a nice warming trend with some sunny days, but naturally, when I arrived I brought the rain and cold temps with me.

      The first day was the best day. We scored around 30 fish on the north end, mostly up shallow around the newly submerged areas. I was throwing all sorts of reaction junk - crankbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits all produced about equally. I would change it up depending on the water clarity and the surrounding cover. My buddy had success on dark colored plastics, again mostly fished up shallow. Largest fish was 5 pounds - they are short and chunky right now!

      After that, the bite seemed to continually decline parallel to the cooling trend. Had to fish significantly slower to draw bites, and the bites we got weren't nearly as aggressive as before. Still, we found them up shallow near the fresh cover - just had to work a little harder.

      Heading back up in early May to hopefully catch some warmer conditions!

Thursday, April 4th, 2019

    • By

      Report: by WB Staff » Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:26 pm

      Posted this one sent in by StanL this week.



      This week we decided to head on over to Hogan. Here's the report from the day we were there.

      The surface temperature was 57° and and the fish are shallow.

      The quantity of the bite was pretty good, There was plenty of action; but most of the fish were in the 1 1/2-pound range.

      We caught them on everything from A-rigs to dropshots.

      We ran into Hogan local Kevin Caufman who had caught some nice ones. This is him shown.

      Good luck fishing!

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55-60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I guided two very good anglers today, staying in the narrows because of the good bite. I suggested we not start too early - hoping for a better afternoon bite. Love it when plans work to perfection!! We did get an afternoon bite - a pretty good one! We worked lots of points, ledges, and other structure with fair results. I played a hunch with them in the afternoon. We started working walls with cover, and found lots of active bass. Some were very shallow and would hit their baits as soon as they sunk a foot or two. Deepest bass they caught were only down to 10 feet - if that! I don't want to reveal all their ideas, but some included swimbaits. I lost count, but they landed 15-20, almost all smallmouth. Biggest at 3 lbs.

      Tips: With this never ending weather pattern, you may need to move around quite a bit to find active bass. Look for shallow bass in the afternoon. I could not get a Senko bite at all. Hope to see some of you at Sacramento Fisherman's Warehouse tomorrow night. We'll talk about spring fishing!

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing bankers hours again after kindergarten drop off. Looked to expand on last weeks rip bait fish and started on the flats down in rabbit creek for zero fish on various pointer minnows and rattle baits.

      After an hour or so, ran across the lake and tried again on a big flat just short of the dike. Again zero fish, but drifted in shallow while getting a drink and started to notice cruisers and beds everywhere. Perfect conditions for sight fishing with greasy slick surface and a flat sky. Realizing I left my bed fishing box on the bench I quickly rigged up bubblegum and white/chartreuse senkos and got to work.

      First cast to cruising 2# and he rushed up to grab it on the fall. Next 3 beds each had solitary 2# class fish locked up and eat on the first casts. Turned and worked the other side of the pocket for 2 more cruisers then found 2 more beds with aggressive occupants. I’m no sight fishing expert, but it’s been years since I’ve found fish so aggressive and concentrated all at the same time.

      Got on the trolling motor and turned up the speed looking for bigger fish but only found 1-2# class fish as I worked my way up towards the submerged island tops closer to the entrance to South Shore.

      Went old school with a crawdad colored fat rap and dredged up 2 nice 2.5# spots in about 6’ on an island top. Hit the spot lock and fan casted a wacky rigged green pumpkin senko for 4 more chunky spots and LM up to 3#.

      Ran up to China Gulch and continued prospecting with the fat rap and followed the same routine. Most spots would only yield 1 fish on the crank, but more often than not would surrender additions fish on the senko. Crossed over to the West Bank, lather rinse repeat.

      Moved out to the north wall in Launcha Plana and the Fat Rap continued to be the hot bait. Coasting downwind through the submerged boulders the bite was interesting as the fish all hit immediately next to the bank or right as the bait approached the boat and turned up to the surface, nothing in between.

      Cranked rock piles on the east side for the same pattern as the morning. 1-2 fish on the fat rap, spot lock, then another couple of fish on the senko or drop shot.

      My Motorguide Tour TM’s served me well for 30 years, but now it’s hard to imagine fishing without spot lock and auto pilot. Minn Kota has figured it out!

      Surprised the Jerkbait bite vanished, but very pleased to see the fat rap still produces.

      Maybe 3 dozen fish, 1/4 LM, 3/4 Spots in all stages of the spawn, but did not see any fry yet. Best 5, maybe 14#.

      Water started at 59* and peaked at 63* with solid 4’+ clarity and partly cloudy skies with variable winds up to 10mph

Monday, April 1st, 2019

  • Solano County
    • By

      Report: by Synwyn » Mon Apr 01, 2019 6:59 pm

      I did very well on the delta this weekend. On Saturday, some friends and I fished Sugar Barge/Frank's. I searched isolated tullies near deeper channels and caught 4 fish between 2-3 lbs. I was pretty confident in the pattern, but every fish was pretty cookie cutter. After that, I went looking for docks near deeper water that had isolated rip rap near them. I found the bigger fish stacked on the docks and the rip rap. Pulled out a 3lber, 4lber and a 6lber on this pattern with a few others between the 2-3 lb range. My best 5 probably went for 18-19 lbs.

      On Sunday, we fished Big Break and I caught a good one on the same tullie pattern on the outside of big break near the main channels - the big girls haven't moved up in there yet. Caught that 4 lber and a few in the 2lb range, and probably 25+ dinks between 8-12 inches

    • By

      Report: by HavocTheBeast » Mon Apr 01, 2019 4:02 pm

      Fished the Delta Saturday and Sunday. Both days we're pretty much a struggle.

      On Saturday, my friend caught a nice 4lb striper (probably 25in+) and another large 9lb 2oz striper (probably 40in+... forgot our measuring tape that day) within the first 20min. Released back. The rest of the day was brutal. A few shakers here and there, but bites were few and very far in between (sometimes a few hours between bites). marked a few spots with fish, but they weren't biting in the afternoon.

      Went back out Sunday with the wife, and I caught a 4lb 15oz largemouth in the early morning with a jerkbait and a 6lb 7oz largemouth in the afternoon on a dropshot. Both released back. Again, it was a slow bite with only a very few shakers here and there. The wife only got 1 bite trolling minnows all day and that was her only bite. She was pretty bummed out.

      Water clarity was pretty good over the weekend. Sherman Island was slightly murky in several areas, but for the most part, visibility wasn't too big of an issue. Big Break, Bethel Island and Franks had much better visibility though.

      Going to try again next week.

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50-63

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: 3-30-2019
      Fished Lake Sonoma at least once per week since February. Still a mud puddle for most of the lake with heavy debris in many coves. Main creek entrances are the clearest. Water temp on both Yorty and Dry creek side up river is high 50's. Picked up 1 or 2 early bass on jerk or chatter baits along the banks in the afernoons each time out. Waiting for the weather to warm and fish to move up. On Saturday, 3-10-19, my son and i finally found them up near the Yorty Creek day use area. Water temp 61-63. Still muddy, but fish were up in the brush and shallow along banks. Flipping bright jigs, shallow cranks and drop shots into shallow creek arms. Weather was mixed sun, but pushing 70 degrees in the afternoon. Since we fish Lake Sonoma exclusively and I don't see many reports I thought i share my experience with anyone wanting to give this lake a try.

      Tips: Spoke with quite a few other anglers. Those doing well have been fishing suspended bass in 40' plus water. I don't enjoy this type of fishing so I stubbornly stick to shallow target fishing. I added this since drop shotting and dragging swim baits deep has been the most successful method from what I have seen.

Sunday, March 31st, 2019

  • Amador County
    • By

      Report: by StanL » Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:40 pm

      At Camanche this week the water is stabilizing with 2,218 CFS coming in and 1,601 going out. The surface temperatures of the water is hitting 61° in the afternoon, in some places and the fish are moving shallow.

      If you go, make sure you fish THE DAY, meaning fish the conditions of that particular day.

      On stormy days, you want to throw reaction baits and on sunny and callm days, stick with the bottom baits like worms,jigs, Senkos etc.

      Check California data exchange center provided by Westernbass.com on the forums. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/resapp/ResDetailTop?resid=CMN

      If the inflow and outflow are close, fishing is usually pretty good and if the outflow is greater than the inflow, it usually makes the fish suspend and that is when the fishing can be challenging.

      I hope this helps.

      Good luck fishing and please practice catch and release

  • Butte County
    • By

      Report: by Joe daddy » Sun Mar 31, 2019 7:14 pm

      Jp/jitterbug caught this one today 15’’. Launched at enterprise but probably not much longer. Heard they’re letting water out Tuesday...nice to see fish starting to get some color!

Thursday, March 28th, 2019

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 56*-60*

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Gave up holding out for the perfect weather day and packed up and headed to Camanche at the crack of 9 after kindergarten drop off.

      Light wind and scattered clouds set up for what I hoped would be a nice reaction bite. Water temp ranged from 56* to 60* and 3’-4’ clarity from mid-lake up to Launcha Plana.

      Slow start throwing basstrix, senkos, underspin rigged fluke and a drop shot Aaron’s Magic 4” Roboworms until pulling up to a channel ledge in the houseboat moorage. 3 quick dropshot fish from 1.75# to 2.25# in 28’-30’ H20.

      Moved on throwing Lucky Craft Pointer Minnows and Basstrix around the houseboats before moving uplake for 1 more dink spot.

      Focused on secondary points around Launcha Plana and got in to a nice rhythm on a half dozen chunky 2# -2.5# spots ripping the Ghost Minnow 100 Pointer and an old school black/gold Bomber Long A.

      Starting to piece together where they were holding, I slowed down with a wacky rigged green pumpkin senko and picked off a nice mix of 8 spots and largemouth up to 3.25# on the next 3 points, all hitting on the initial drop in 4’-6’ of water.

      A brief squall came through late afternoon so we ran down lake to get away from the showers and ominous skies. Tucked in to fish some sheltered pockets along the north shore campgrounds and day use areas for 2 more LMB on senkos before calling it a day around 6. No giants, but a nice day on the lake with steady action and virtually zero boat traffic.