Submit
Report

Northern California Lake Fishing Report

Limit:

Monday, December 28th, 2009

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Hey, Igo4bass My pops loves to fish for crappie Being winter time can you help me out with some crappie fishing for my pops. Are they around this time of year ? If you dont want to respond here on the forum you can e-mail me with some info. Thanks, Plasticman1
      City: Elmira

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

  • Riverside County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: YES!! DVL is open again for private boats. Fished DVL Fri, Sat, and Sun. DVL is still the best Bass lake in Southern Cal. Caught double and triple limits everyday. Typical December DVL bite. Deep finesse baits, spoons, creature baits and worms all got bites. Fish size ranged from 2 - 5 pounds. All of the bass were super clean and healthy looking.
      City: Sun City

      Tips: Bass are deep. 30 - 60 feet. Take a fizz needle with you. Best tip, if you get clouds and wind, toss bigger soft baits for bigger bites!!

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had to get out of the house my partner and i fished for about 4 hrs not a bite. Hay Jim when did you get another truck or it sounds like the guy is going to get in the wrong guy's business.
      City: camerin park

      Tips: If you know how to catch the suspended fish go get um

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 43-48 deg

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the North fork and west branch today, did well on plastics all day long both 4 and 6", steep walls and tapering points were both holding fish.
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: slow crawl or shake the heck out of it!

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

    • By

      Water Temp: 47.9

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Water is at 50 % and the concrete ramp is in the water, need more rain. The boys from NorCal Bass Ratz and I fished from 9am to 2:30 using deep crank baits frist thing. Only got two but good keepers, one about 3.5 lbs caught by George Corp. Then we started dragging a 3/4 oz jig and got 10 more. We trid rippen but nothing at this time maybe later next month. Travis Bounds boated one, Joe Miller boated 6 ports that were 2 lbs or better. Bonner Veasman boated four and I got three.
      City: Rocklin

      Tips: Water is gold work it slow

    • By

      Water Temp: 49.7

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water at around 11 and cranked,and cranked had one taker but got off.I continued to crank because its been working.After a couple of hours of not getting anymore strikes I decide to switch it up.I drug plastics through the deepest holes I could find and still nothing.I saw some birds working some bait in the middle of the lake and shot over to them,after about the 10th cast with my lipless crank bait I finally picked up a 3.8, called it a day.
      City: santa rosa

      Tips: This is for cjb, I have been throwing a lv500 ghost minnow.Crank,crank,and crank its pretty hit or miss but when its there its on.I have red stratos boat if your out there and you see me lets chat it up,good luck and catch&release

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water at 9:30. Ripping a bomber crank bait through the grass in the 16 foot water at the dam end. Got a huge hit and lost him half way to the boat. Other than that, nothing.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: Tough time of year. Gotta stick with it. Saw lot's of guy's out there.

Friday, December 25th, 2009

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: what kind of crank bait were you using because i was just out there for a few hours and i didn't catch a thing.
      City: sebastopol

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Napa Steve, you're right; I got so caught up in only being a "bass fisherman" that I forgot my own roots and how I learned to fish from dad and uncles. In fact, I still use live bait drifting on the bay and tuna/billfishing in East Cape Baja. So I apologize to everyone and especially catchbigones for being critical. I do not want to be a bass fisherman snob and I came off that way. Bad Bad Bad Dog!!!! I'm back under the clouds now and with you guys!! Happy Fishing!!
      City: Clear Lake

      Tips: Stay humble and don't forget what got you hooked on fishing. Most of us didn't learn on Lucky Craft and all the other outrageously expensive lures. I still love using nightcrawler/marshmellow combo for trout and yeah, I hang a cork on the line and LOVE to watch it rise up when I get a hit!! Thanx Napa Steve for bringing me back to reality. Fish On! Oh oh, Fish Off!!! hahahahaha

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished minnows all day. Caught about 25 fish but only kept the 10 biggest to eat between 2 of us. Big fish was 8.3 pounds. Tasted great with beer batter!
      City: Lakeport

      Tips: Buy Jumbo minners and get the frying pan ready!

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: lots of spots fished jigs ,drop shot,swim baits,carolina rig fish slow. on water by 6:45 caught limit by 8. biggest 3lbs between 20 to 50 ft deep
      City: modesto

      Tips: be patient it will pay off

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Alright is about time someone besides Larry Hemphill make a report on this lake. The weather was cold this morning when we went out. Wind was blowing constantly 10-20 miles per with gust up to 30-35 miles. We try suspended jerk, football jig, rattle trap, drop shot and shakey head. At the end of the day end up with 2 dinks. Nothing to show for not even worth a picture.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: Dress warm...
      Some kid was on the bank ask me if I caught any. I told him just 2 dinks. Then he proceeded to ash me if it was a largemouth or a smallmouth. I told him it was a largemouth. I said to him there is no smallmouth in this lake. He told me he caught one back in one of the creek before. Has anyone heard of any such thing before? Because I fished here for about 8 years and never caught a smallie.

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Big bass are biting at Chabot now. Got a nice 4 pounder trolling with a Junior D crankbait by the tullies at Coots Landing. Caught several in the 2-3 lbs range at Alder Point using nightcrawlers on size 6 hooks.
      City: Richmond

      Tips: Slow presentation and look for where the trouts are located.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: My first bass fishing trip with my grandfather was in 1974 at the age of 6. The first thing he showed me was how to harvest nightcrawlers in the garden. The next thing was to go down to the local creek and put out a minnow net with old bread as bait,my grandmother saved for this very use. This was a couple days prior to our day at the lake. Then we took our live bait along with a couple Hula poppers,Jitter bugs and few Lucky 13's and my Addiction began. This taught me a whole lot more than buying a bag of lures. Do not get me wrong, I do buy lures and lots of them. This idea of the easy thing to do is buying somthing rubs me the wrong way. How about the guy that we all know who has allways said... DO IT THE HARD WAY-THE BARTA WAY. That teaches you the old way. Bye the way most all of my big bass have come from store items.
      City: Napa

      Tips: Keep Fishing and stay true to all that has been passed down to you by the people you love.

Monday, December 21st, 2009

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 47.5

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Rivers End Marina on the south side at 06:45. Water was 47.5 all day. Started throwing top water for Stripers, nothing. then got one on a luckycraft jerkbait about 20 inchs. We also got only one Black about a pound and half. Had a two come unbuttoned . We went from Rivers End to Union point, Disco Bay,Italian, Victoria Island and all points in between. Saw No Stripers busting on top,hardly any birds overhead. Threw everything,Spooks,Jerks,Blades,Senkos,Cranks,jigs,and nothing seemed to produce. COLD fog by Union, then at noon it started to rain. Rained hard by 3pm, so we called it quits. Tough fishing,but hey we were fishing on a monday and had the delta to ourselves. It was fun running around at 65 mph with no Wakeboarders around.
      We just need a little color to the water and some warm rain from the south to perk it up. I have never seen the Delta water so clear, esp. in late Dec. after several rains.
      We will get them next time. Ray
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: Wear your life jacket! If you fall into 47 degree water you won't be able to breath or swim.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: to catchbigones......you're pretty big on catchin' with minnows. maybe you haven't figured out that bass fisherman use ARTIFICIAL baits....it's the challenge of enticing a bass to eat something that isn't real. that's the challenge. but you go ahead and enjoy catching all the fish you like on your dollar per minnow live bait. when you decide to step up to the challenge, let's see if your 'addictive disease' is still infecting you. i bet NOT!!
      City: clear lake

      Tips: slow slow slow.... stay just outside of the baitballs and work your favorite confidence plastic. slow roll a lipless crank or spinner off the bottom. if working the docks, pitch your senko to the piling then work toward the dropoff just beyond the dock. if they're not at the piling, they'll be down in the structure just beyond. slow slow slow. or you can simply give up and go buy dollar apiece minnows.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: At the time of this writing I haven't been out on the lake for over a week. I go often. I'm responding to the catfish guy, but also submitting a bass report. There are giant catfish all over the lake. I really don't fish for them. I have been catching 10 to 20 lb catfish lately. Usually just 3 or 4 mixed in with much bigger numbers of bass (that all get released). I get more cats if I use minnows. If I was just trying for cats, I would put some catfish bait on. Offshore rockpiles tend to have catfish nearby. They also cruise near points. They will bite jumbo minnows. In some areas, if you fish jumbo minnows, you never know if its going to be a bass or a cat. Dragging the minnow behind the boat slowly is deadly. You really need to go slow. The most popular methods are dragging drop shot with the hook about 15 inches above the lightest weight that lets you feel the bottom (between 1/8 and 1/4 ounce). The other effective method is with the hook on the bottom and a splitshot about 15 to 18 inches above the hook. I often fish jumbo minnows during the toughest part of the season. Sorry, I am addicted to the feel of giant bass on the end of my line. I've succumbed to a very serious and addictive disease. I always catch lots of fish. I spend considerable time on the south end of the lake. When you consistently see fishermen a ways offshore, but staying in the same place, it probably means they're on fish. It's not uncommon for me to catch 12 or more fish in a location 10 feet in diameter during this part of the year. You don't use much gas that way. I save more on gas than the difference between the price of senkos compared to jumbo minnows (about a 1$ each). I could care less about impressing people with my catch. I just love that feeling of a big bass on my line. Offshore structure, like rocks can be great. During the cold months, rocks get even better. The fish are schooled during this time of year, so if you catch em, don't be in a hurry to move. Be sure to have your boat inspected and get the sticker. If you do all of this, you will probably discover how much more fun bass are to catch than catfish. I know, some guys just dig catching cats.
      City: Esparto

      Tips: Catfish tend to prowl around a little bit off of the rocks. Sometimes I have to make sure I stay close to the rocks or I'd spend my whole day wrestling those big knuckle biters off my hooks. I'm after the double digit bass. The big bass tend to like the edges of rock beds. The north side of Point Lakeview and Jones Bay might give you a good idea of where to start. Rocks, tules, and other cover (like docks) all together = fish. Oh, I almost forgot. In the winter, using light line, 8 or even 6 lb test will yield way more fish. I like 100% flourocarbon. If you can't land a 20 lb catfish in open water with 8 lb test, you are in the wrong sport. (Use the drag or backreel) This last tip is absolutely critical. Those fish would hate me for giving you this tip, (If they could hate).

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Monday before Christmas sticking mostly to main lake areas in the Dry Creek part of the lake. First fist came on a wacky senko, and the others came on a drop shot 6" worm. Lost 2 fish on the senko after getting hung up in the trees. Lands 4 keepers total to 3 1/2 lbs.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Fish slow this time of year. Looks for rocky areas around sparse trees. All fish came in less than 30' of water.

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: 7:30 am launched out of Big Break....fished surrounding marinas for Crappie.....caught 6 and 2 Red Ear....off the water by 11 am
      City: Antelope

      Tips: 1"sassy shad did the job

  • Ventura County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: No fish today.The last plant has made a few more of the bigger fish to move around. I had a few followers come up to the baits. I guess they had a tourney going on,I saw a few guys hitting the points more than once. Some of the guys coming in said the bite was not there for them. I was there on Friday also and the guys on the boats got them on drop-shots using Oxblood 4in worms.
      good luck Chief
      City: Camarillo

      Tips: Keep throwing those swimbaits your time will come. Check your line, if its looking old time to replace it.