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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

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      Water Temp: 62-63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Water has cooled a few degrees with windy system that just blew through. Still lots of granular algae in the water. Rising barometer and other atmospheric conditions factored into a tough bite. Had to work for them. 10 rigs out on the water. Most I have seen the whole year. Fished from 9:30am to 6 pm. 13 fish with two shorts. Best five went 15 lbs with a 3.65 leading the way.
      City: Madera

      Tips: All fish came on brush hogs. Had to really fish slow to the point of deadsticking and then twitching the bait in place. Only a couple ate it on the move. 10-20 ft either on structure or long sandy flats. Healthy fish. No takers on slow rolling spinnerbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits, or worms of any kind. Next week is back in the stable mid 70's. Bite should improve

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

      Report: why are you talking mess? because you cant catch sh**...fishing from a boat and off shore is the same thing...i go fishing there every week and i catch ATLEAST 5 fish all weighing over 3 pounds...i bet your out there on your boat catching 1 pounders! ha
      City: salinas

      Tips: dont ask for tips if your gonna hate!

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

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

      Report: I was tired when I did my report. Jason hooked his big bass on a 9" BaitSmith trout swimbait. My error!

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

      Report: Wake up Delta Fisherman: The US Buro of Reclamation is getting ready to put 2 Dams across the Delta at Holland track & Connection Slue. A meeting of all Parties took place in DB and a Q & A sesion lasted 2 hours about the Dams. They admitted the Southern Cal water people contributed $8 Mil for the Dam study which they are calling a tempary study of the Delta Smalt. 3 Years ago they proposed 4 Dams and the CSPA fishing organization stoped them, now is the 2 Gate Dam project, it's all part of the same deal to store water for LA. Get behind your local organizations and contribute before it's to late CSPA , BBAC, www.restorethedelta.org
      City: Discovery Bay

      Tips: The 2 Gate Dam Project info can be found at www.usbr.gov/mp/

Monday, October 26th, 2009

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Jason Kincannon and I met during his first swimbait seminar at Fisherman's Warehouse about 2 month ago. After talking a few times on the phone, we decided to fish Berryessa together in the near future and today was the future! We both love to spoon for bass and I wanted to see his swimbaits in action! We started at dawn throwing Huds, but no action except a few hits on Jason's bait. It didn't take too much convincing that we should try spoons, and so we did. We worked from Steel Park to the former Berryessa marina - and had quite a day!! Jason was hot in the morning with his big spoon (not sure the brand) and I got it going in the afternoon - playing catchup! I used the 1 3/4 oz Duh spoon to start with, but we both found they wanted a slower fall! I went to the 3/4 oz Duh spoon in black shad color and he was basically fishing a white spoon. I did drop-shot a few on a 4" Basstrix flashtrix minnow in the smelt color, my favorite. To sum up the day - excellent bite considering few clouds, pane of glass flat water until 2 pm, and a Monday. We boated between 40 and 45 bass - many, many between 2 1/2 to 3 lbs. Our limit was over 14 lbs. Interesting that he caught mostly spots and I caught mostly smallies. No largemouth until we threw swimbaits again in rough water on our way in. Jason hooked a big bass on his swimbait but lost it after about 5 seconds. Darn!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We did fish deep structure - mostly creek channels and humps. Bass were everywhere but often reluctant to hit, probably because of the flat water. Once we had a breeze - and then WIND, things got better. Nearly every bass was hooked from 35 to 50 feet except the swimbait bites. Water has not cooled much!

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 64-68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On the water at 4:00 pm, fished 'til about 7:00. Fished the Narrows up to Shag and the Hwy 20 side up from the Oaks. Not huge numbers, but great quality fish. We drifted from Shag down to the shoal and did it twice, same over by Hwy 20. Most came on t-rigged augertails in 20-30 ft of water on ledges and rockpiles. We also got a couple tossing senko's at fish bustin' shad (or silversides? Never saw the bait) up shallow. Tried jigs, rip bait, crank and a spook towards dark, but they liked the worms. Didn't catch any fish from 6:00-7:00. It was one of those days when I wished I'd entered a tournament...but hindsight's always 20/20, eh??!! Stuck 9 total, all fat healthy pigs. Was fishin' with a gal who was just learning to use a baitcaster, so ended up cleaning out some bird's nest's-but she did great and was casting good enough to get two nice fish. We had only one single fish under 4 lbs, would have culled a limit of 24.3. The big fish was 6.7, and it was the only one which wasn't a football-she was long and lean. It was great, and this girl I took was STOKED after the backlash session ended! Fisher woman for life now.
      City: Clear Lake Park

      Tips: Electronics. As usual, lotsa smelly Jelly.

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Tough day at Anderson. Conditons were perfect but the fish were not cooperating. Fished a few hrs and only landed 5 bass. All were caught on drop-shot cut tail worm. Tried carolina rig, senkos, shakey head worm and made a big effort to get a crankbait bite going without a single hit. Fish were caught off points in 25ft of water
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Drop shot 4" worms when all else fails.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 65-67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well sense no one is talking yet I guess I will. The Basin Bassmaster did their last tournament before their toc in the Delta next mounth. 3 pm weigh in, good day for some with 17.40 lbs five bass and big was 4.70 lbs larggie. Most bass were caught all over the lake, some under docks, rocky points, rocky humps. Crankin was the # 1 lure, rattle traps, jigs, drop shot and split shot.
      City: Rocklin

      Tips: Look for the bait and crank it.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: good

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: followed jim out but lost him in the fog but was able to catch find him later with corn in a can fishing.
      City: roseville

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      Water Temp: ????

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Water level dropped two feet from last week thereby eliminating the table bite, however fish were farther downstream azs water receded resulting in a seven and three quarter spot.
      City: sac

      Tips: Adjust your areas as water levels recede.

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: 13 yr old Nephew's first day fishing for anything, ever. We started our around 8am and finished around 3:00p. He did well with casting spinning gear in the pool the night before, and got better as the day wore on. Note my use of the word 'wore'... as in laborious. It was TOUGH fishing. He worked the back of the boat with jigs and drop shots (I taught him everything I don't know; ha), with me keeping depth anywhere from 10 to 40 feet, looking for a depth pattern perhaps?---not really. Meanwhile, I was chucking Speedtraps toward shore (4 different colors; pretty much covered the spectrum) ---- all without any takers. Then I would switch to a d/s, tube or jig while he cranked as best he could. NOTHING. First place we hit was north side of the dam, working back and forth (twice) from the dam to 'around the corner' there by the buoys, and back. NOTHING. Then it was up to Cherry, but the fish continued to give us the big middle finger. Couldn't figure anything out. Up in Cherry, we went over by the usual haunts by the campsites and such, jigging and cranking and d/s-ing for a bit, then I saw a couple small surface blips, said screw it, and tied on a baby spook. First cast, twitch twitch twitch, zig zag, zig zag, zig zag, and POW! A nice... no wait... TINY 6 inch fingerling largemouth nails it, and I rip the little prick back to the boat. My nephew goes nuts. I say, dude, this ain't crap... but at least the skunk is off the boat!

      That was the last of the 'topwater action' as it turns out. This was around noon.

      At 2:30, outside mouth of Cherry, I was working a d/s and had the kid holding a dragged brushhog, which I consider a first AND last resort on Slownoma. It was getting close to time to head back to my inlaw's place and he didn't get anything on the hog (frickin Slownoma) but I got nailed on a decent near-2-pounder on the d/s. The second I knwew I had it hooked, of course I handed the rod over so the little guy could feel what a fish feels like (since he and I had already caught so many weedfish), and he did a fine job of reeling it in. I lipped it and took a couple pics. He played it back to the boat nicely so I'm giving him full credit of course, and getting that confidence up.

      I think the kid's hooked---he can't wait to come fishing with his uncle again. Next year we'll hit Clear Lake and give him a better shot at a REAL day's fishing.

      But at least the kid's actually been out fishin...
      City: San Rafael

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

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      Water Temp: 66-68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Water is clearing but still has lots of fine algae particles. High sun all day. Fished from 10:30 am to 6;30 pm
      Caught 30 fish. 4 keepers and the rest 2 lbs and up with the largest 3.13 Had one that would have gone 5+ but flourocarbon line frayed on a rock. Best 5 went 16lbs. No big fish today, but lots of 2's and 3's.
      City: Madera

      Tips: Brush hogs and few on finesse worm. Got bit a few times on a swmimbait but could not keep them buttoned. Most fish came in 10-15 ft with a few 5-8ft. Two seperate patterns. Open lake structure like rock outcroppings. Also long sandy flats with no structure, 8-15 ft of depth. the fish are gorging for the winter and are healthy.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 63*

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Great day on the lake ! Saw 3 boats all day and fished the west and north forks and caught and released over 25 spots right on the banks. And there were no dinks.....all from 1 1/2 to 3 lbs. Easily had best 5 around 13 lbs. Few on topwater, but most on darterhead. Even caught rainbows on bass lures.
      City: paradise

      Tips: Hint; Millions of trout all around....

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      Water Temp: 65-66

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Much better trip this time - lake probably had a few days to calm down from all the tourney pressure. I took a father-son team today and we really had fun. After a first light bite the past few trips, today it started about 1 pm - go figure! We each caught a topwater bass at first light and that was it - no more topwater! That was weird!! Early clouds gave way to dead flat, bright conditions. So we found steep banks in the south fork and a new rock ledge I didn't know previously. Wow! Lots of quality spots that were hungry! Dad got the two biggest at 2.1 and 2.0 lbs and son drop-shotted a 1.94 as I was putting rods away. We boated around 20 spots and their 5 best were over 9 lbs. I think all 5 were "overs". Nice day!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: After the topwater bite died (was it ever born?), I had dad Texas rigging a 6" Prizm Krawler Robo worm and he caught the 2.1 in about 20 feet of water in the main body - his first worm bass! Son was drop-shotting one and lost a good fish. After that, we spooned a few with Duh spoons, but mostly it was a worm bite. Sxe shad worked too. Then I decided it was time to drop-shot a Basstrix flashtrix 4" minnow and that was the ticket for the last 2 hours, enticing the son's 1.94. Bass were spitting up a lot of smelt. We had lots of 6 inchers follow the flashtrix right up to the boat.

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 65 - 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Friday 10/23/09, I fished the back of the boat. The water temperature in morning was about 65

      Tips: Keep trying. Hopefully fishing will get better as the water cools down. If you fish on Lake Sonoma, write a report and let us know how you are doing.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 65-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well, somebody had to report on Pardee during the fall - it takes courage! I decided to try yesterday because of the cloud cover. Did it help - no! I haven't been on the lake to establish a pattern but I thought topwater would be good. It was for a 12" smallie and a trout!! I did catch 4 largemouth from 1 1/4 to 2 lbs, from 20 to 35 feet, using Yamamoto Kreature baits. I targeted walls with shadows. I lost another 4 or 5. I fished the river arm most of the time.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I did talk to some regulars that were pulling their boat when I was. They said it has been very slow this fall compared to previous years. They had a real good fall last year. I didn't check to see if the lake was dropping fast or not - that would slow the fishing. It seemed to be down about 10 feet or so.

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: Warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at 2:00 out at 7:00.What a great fishery Folsom is,flat calm and bait everywhere.Fished a brown jig at the ramp for zip.Tried by the old orchards with C rig and brush hogs for zip.Fished a C rig and lizzard over at Browns for one tap. Fished out side the ramp and caught a limit of 1.5 to 2 lbers.
      City: Orangevale

      Tips: If the wind is there Rip the rocks. If not try a MPW 3/4 oz C rig with a 4" lizard in green P or whacky a sinko on the same. Most were caught in 20-30 Danny

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: followed jim out today found his secret spot...lmao wow i only caught 4 fish and i had 30 pounds....
      City: roseville

      Tips: wait for jim to show up and follow him out

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 65 - 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Tuesday, 10/20/09, my buddies and I started fishing about 8 am in coves on the South end of the lake. Water temperature was around 65

      Tips: Apparently, the bait fish are still off shore. Hopefully, the fishing will get better as the bait moves into the coves as the water temperature drops.

    • By

      Water Temp: 65-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Decent action with a couple short shoreline trips of an hour or so last night and today. Got a couple nice largies 2 & 3 lbs. over the two trips. Working brush hogs and roboworms texas-rigged, but a lot more swimming topwater than sinking or crawling the bottom. Fish seem aggressive right now with the weather change and new moon. Also caught a bluegill last night soaking a crawler and a 5-7 lb. cat this morning soaking a piece of bacon.
      City: Napa