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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, July 18th, 2009

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

      Report: Couldn't wait to get there, then saw the water in the lower lake. Wow it looked like pea soup.
      And since I don't have a boat I was confined to fishing from a dock. My main comment is does anyone know how to clean all that green crap from my reel? Did manage to catch 6 nice bass one about 4+ lbs mostly on pumpkin senkos the large one was on a flippin hog.

    • By

      Water Temp: 77-82

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Long day yesterday (until 5 am this morning)! Towed my Ranger home from Donner Lake yesterday, took out trout stuff (had to do something on mini-vacation!), put bass stuff back in boat, then towed to Konocti Resort, guided from 7 pm to 2 am, towed home, in bed by 5 am today. I met a former client (his 16 yr old son had caught a 9 lber at Clear Lake on a previous trip) and his wife to provide her first bass trip!! He hoped to get her "hooked"! No pressure on me of course. I got him fishing with a robo worm and then showed her how to cast and work a brush hog. As I was working the bait on our first cast out to 20 feet - felt a hit and gave her the rod. She set it again (not a pretty sight!) but managed to land a 2 3/4 lb bass. I made the second cast, pointing out the basics of casting and then gave her the rod to retrieve the hog. As the bait got to deep water, I though I saw the rod tip jerk - AT THE moment she set the hook!!! I couldn't believe my eyes - she had one - her FIRST cast ever working a bass bait! I netted her 3 lb 2 oz bass in a state of shock! Any thought of being tired was gone for the rest of the night. Who said guiding isn't fun - most of the time!!!! Was she done? Yes, after she landed the biggest of the trip - a little over 3 1/2 lbs - in the dead time, a little after dark. You should have seen her cast after an hour or so - very nice! Her husband was catching a few (and losing a few!). He got his groove on and caught a few more for his total of 8 bass. I fished the D&M swim jig - only about 2 hrs of the trip, landing the token catfish (a first for that bait) and the smallest bass at 2 lbs. I did get one more on a brush hog. They caught 11 of our 13 bass and I think she will be back! Is there a tournament in their future? As in previous trips, most of their better bass - several in the 3 lb plus range - were caught in 15 to 25 feet of water. There were some shallow ones however, after dark. The jig bite has been good this year, but we didn't use any last night.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We didn't stray too far from the resort - Konocti Bay to the narrows, and caught a few at Sea Breeze. I have read the forum comments about the lack of numbers and size of the bass at Clear Lake this year, and I agree. While I have observed these ups and downs for 30+ years, I am amazed at the total lack of baitfish this year. I wonder why the jig bite is good? I do know that Terry Knight knows what he is talking about. He feels the pulse of bass fishing at Clear Lake and keeps up to date!! I love discussing the "the state of the lake" with him - several time every year! Many good anglers try to keep him informed of our successes and failures. If you get a bit discouraged about the bite at Clear Lake, just go to Oroville or Berryessa during the summer and see what you catch. Then go to Clear lake and catch a few 2 1/2 to 4 pounders. You will be fine!!!

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: did not check..

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Oroville with a friend, new to bass fishing, and wanted him to catch fish. we went straight out to the main body and caught fish on points on topwater. when the sun came up, we caught fish in the canyons in the shade. AFter that, it sucked. Water was about 140 ft off full pool (around 760). Many below the slot, a couple in the slot, one maybe over it.
      City: where the fish are....

      Tips: topwater first thing in the AM, then find shade, then go home.

  • Calaveras County
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      Water Temp: 77

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 7 2 smalmouth to2# 5 large mouth to3#
      City: castro valley

      Tips: top water,worms on points

Friday, July 17th, 2009

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 74-77

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out with two of my buddies who want to learn. Bad time to take them out, haha. Bite was real tough. Fished drop-shot and dart head with only about 5 bites all day. Caught one little smallie on the dart-head. Still beats working anytime.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: Not much. Folsom really sucks right now. We tried South Fork, North Fork, and Peninsula with little results or action. Also fished from 15-30 ft. Only fish came about 20 ft. Maybe they are down real deep?

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 80

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: fished the weekend, did our best late morning to early afternoon, boated mostly all largemouth a 4.5, 5 and a 6lb and several 2.5 all between 11:00 til 2:00 using plastics and the 5lbr was on top. also got a 4.5 smallie at night and me an my buddy lost 2 fish at same spot that were pigs
      City: medford

      Tips: fish the early afternoon, temps were in the 100's and i cant believe we were catching fish at that time of day

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 85+

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Thanks for all the tips, but what we really needed was some dynamite and morphine. We fished from 9-2 am with 3 bites one fish. Everything black from topwater to jigs. Got back to camp,slept til 8 am, and was back on the water. We are on float tubes so we're not able to cover as much water as needed. We kicked well over 2 miles with 3 more fish. The one that I caught went close to 4 lbs and must of felt sorry for me, cause when I went to lip it, it decided to spit the hook and jump into my lap. We stared at each other for close to a minute, I weighed him with my boga, then set him free. I have twin babies on the way and might have 1 or 2 trips left before they are born, Amamdor will not be my final destinations.
      City: Galt

      Tips: The one that I caught was on a texas rigged 4.5" green pumpkin tube. It was in about 20' of water,on the down wind side of a rocky point. I really didn't want to write this report but I did it for the guys who were kind enough to offer thier advice. Thanks again.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Orwood, Fished the weedlines and Cheese Matts with White Frogs, and Buzzbaits.I did not throw anything else from 2:00pm-6:30pm. Caught about 15 Bass, best 5 went about 16#s. Largest of the day was a 6.3 on the Buzzbait. Missed my share of blow-ups but threw the frog back in there and stuck about a 1/3 of them again. Just went out to have fun. Just be carefull there are out of control H2o ski boats that come around points without a clue.
      City: Delta Area

      Tips: Throw frogs in white, no other color seem to produce like the white, in heavy covered weed, when weed turns a little sparce pick up the Black Buzzbait.
      TIGHTLINES ALWAYS ><>J

    • By

      Water Temp: 75-80

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: the best follow up would be a beaver with a 3/4 to 1 1/2 ounce tungsten weight

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

  • Solano County
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out Tuesday and had a decent day to my suprise. I rarely fish the delta, so I suck out there, but because of the great reports on this site, I had some things to try. I fished the areas around Mildred south to Woodward. I caught fish on senkos, buzzbaits, blades, and frogs. I got a couple of dinks on cranks and no flip fish, although I did not flip very much. My best five went 17#. I had quite a few blow ups on the frogs but only got 2 frog fish. Could someone answer a question for me? When there is a blow up, what do you follow up with to get to the fish, the senko would not penetrate the mats I was fishing. Thanks for any help.
      City: Galt

      Tips: I did more fishing than running, made tons of casts, and fished ALL day.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Main Lake 13-15 inch with a few good fish on reaction early.bite slow on pit. lot of recreation at top of sac.Good Fishing To All.
      City: Redding

      Tips: go slow then go slower.

Monday, July 13th, 2009

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

      Report: I need a tip.... I'm familiar with this lake during the day but I plan on fishing it at night tomorrow. How deep and what baits? Black? Blue? Any tips would be appreciated. Feel free to email me. Thanks
      City: Galt

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for 4 hours Monday morning. Picked up a couple of whopper crappies while trolling crankbaits opposite the ramp, but other than that, not much happening. A couple of undersized bass on nightcrawlers the rest of the morning. No action on Senkos. Lots of heavy weeds all over the lake - summer is here.
      City: San Jose

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Ran to Coney Island 2 hrs before high tide, fished a buzz bait, a frog, and a wake bait over the weed beds. Caught 2 1.5-2# fish & got a couple of swirls. Just getting ready to give up on the buzz and ran into Dee and he was having the same slow day I was having. Felt a little better but he was getting his bites on a buzz so I stuck with it alittle longer missed 2 on a buzz but got them on a senko following up, just rats though. Switched over to a popper and nailed two #2+ fish. Moved over to union point and fished a frog for 2 hours having 5 or 6 blow ups but no hook ups. Moved north towards woodward and stopped at slough that looked good that I had passed by dozens of times. Decided to flip a beaver and caught 3 more fish in the 3.5-4# range on the last of the outgoing. Fished woodward/vicotria, decided to pack it in as the skier where getting as thick as knats. No real pattern but thats what worked for me.
      City: san ramon

      Tips: Seems to be different every day. Just change things up till you find something that is working. Beavers where junebug 1oz. weights, senko watermellon red flake, buzz chartruess/white, frog white, wake baits; frog & chartruese shad, popper iovino shad

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I just want to thank all of those who give tips on what's working for them. Being new to the delta, most of time I don't have a clue. I try alot of stuff and make alot of casts and once in awhile I get lucky. Still trying to figure out how to catch fish on a low tide.
      But thanks to Mark, Mike, Dom and all the rest of you for the tips that give the rest of us hope.

      Delta dummy
      City: orinda

      Tips: Fish incoming tides, fish what you have confidence in and make alot of casts. Most of my fish are on senkos and brushogs

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 73-75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: A rare Sunday night trip for me with two good bass fisherman! They came self-contained which made it easier for me to deal with the nasty wind. We were limited as to where we could effectively night fish. The warming trend certainly didn't start last night - it was 51 degrees when we quit at 3 am. The wind quit at 2 am - how thoughtful of it!!! As I expected, the evening bite was slow but did get much better for numbers after midnight, total about 16 to 17 bass - and one catfish! Only better for numbers - the size was not good - don't even think we broke 3 lbs. One of the guys did break off a good fish near Anderson Island. We fished anywhere we could get out of the wind on the west side of the lake. I not sure what all baits they used but I know their Senkos, jigs, small plastics, brush hogs, and D&M swim jigs did work. Worms wern't effective. Most bass were deeper - 12 to 20 feet.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Another frustrating night - lots of bites from fish that didn't care. I really think the early morning bite is better now that the full moon period is over. When the last quarter moon came up last night - the bite came up too! We did find that sparse deep weeds did hold fish, especially near rock. Yes, the weeds are now growing out of rocks!! While they were getting into medium depth bass, I did try some deep water fishing - no success.

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

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

      Report: Thanks Mark your right. I had the best day I have every had on the delta Thrus. Went out Friday to try same thing but in new water, after 4 hours with little action, went back to the same water that I fished the day before, not a fish. I'm glad to see your still out here Mr. Cato, don't see you around much any more. Charlie King
      City: Discovery Bay

      Tips: Don't quit and throw it all at them.

    • By

      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Mark, thanks for the tips. You were right fishing is tough right now. Launched out of B&W at 2:00P.M. I was done at 5:30 P.M. It was too windy, very tough bite managed (1) 2Lber close to the launch at 5:00P.M. Threw Spinner baits, Crank baits, and Senkos. Mark once the recession breaks I'll take you up on a guide trip.
      City: W.Sac

      Tips: Hire a guide its tough out there. Try Clear Lake Big fish no tide issues.

  • Merced County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: fished the aqueduct on billy wright rd and fished 2 hrs and not even a bite,but we seen 2 strippers caught around 22 and 24 ihches....
      City: los banos

      Tips: anchovies

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Jones and ran 4-5 miles up the Squaw Creek Arm. Trout were caught using down-rigger and trolling 40-50 feet deep using silver Sepps flashers with colorado blades and many different type silver lures. Cripple lures, kast-master and even home-made silver lures that my father makes (that are shaped simular to hum-dingers). Anything that simulate a small shad was working. Add Pro-Cure shad gel and I was getting hook-ups at a rate of 4 fish per hour. Most trout ranged at 14-15 inches with one topping 19". Additionally, two 16" salmon were caught with the same home made lures at approx 50 feet deep. Bite slowed as the water sport boats chopped up the lake although 2 fish per hour were still being caught into the afternoon. Most fish were in 135 feet or deeper channel and looked to be suspended at 40-60 feet. Even caught one fat spotted bass at 40 feet deep on the home made lure. Fish are hungry chasing the shad.

      Tips: Troll slow (2MPH) and don't forget the Pro-cure shad gel.