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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

  • Ventura County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65-75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: had a great day out on the water throwing some spro bbz wakebaits in rainbow trout colors. caught a 4 pounder. 6 pounder and a 3 and a half pounder on it. then once the sun got high went to my fast sink and caught a 4 and a half and an 8.5. every fish came off points

      Tips: fish steep deep points with chunk rock

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

      Report: Fished Thursday through Sunday and got them on senkos, drop shots, buzz baits and Mikey's. Best day was Sunday - we had a 20 lb sack after 2.5 hours of fishing in the morning. No giant fish but still a good time.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Don't move in on someone else's water.

    • By

      Water Temp: war,

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Sunday and Monday. Sunday morning I caught a six pounder with a black/red buzzbait off the tules before sunrise. During the day I caught 4 2-3 pounders on Senkos. The next morning I caught a small one on a black/red Snagproof frog.
      City: Corte Madera, CA

      Tips: Buzzbaits and frogs seem to be working in the morning in black/red. During the day a whacky rigged watermelon/creme laminate Senko worked well.

  • Riverside County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Water level was nearly 100 feet below normal. Saw islands, rock piles and long points that I had no idea were there. Rental boat was a step down from the Champion (LOL), but we had a great time. Got a tour of the lake with Mike Guitsi, one of the guys who designed this lake. Great bite! Couple good fish on top water, and a bunch of nice fish on Texas worms, Brush Hogs, and the DVL favorite DS. About 20 fish caught, 3.5 pound average, biggest was 5 pounds.
      City: Sun city

      Tips: No change here. Fish points and islands in about 25 - 35 feet of water. Big brown worms, Watermelonseed Brush Hogs, and that little pink worm still gets big bites.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 71-73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Worked lower N Fork today until 1pm. Caught 8 today, biggest was 2 lb LM, the rest were smaller spots. Didn't get any reaction bite (tried crankin', rippin', and swimbaits). No go on jigs either. Dartheading/4" worms and dropshotting worked.

      Also caught a nice 16" trout ("dinner") on a DS rig + shad-colored grub. Go figure...

      Tips: Throw your baits on and around submerged rockpiles off rocky dropoffs and points, then drag slow. Trees didn't work--today was all about rockpiles.

Monday, May 25th, 2009

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Started at first light throwing spinnerbait around woodward. Caught 2 right off the bat one about 3 and the other closer to 2 lbs. Both solid fish. Picked up a money minnow and wow do those work! Between 6 and 645 I boated seven fish and they where a 5.13, 7.03, 7.09, 5.01, and a 4.10. The other 2 where a little over 3lbs. Caught a few more fish down by victoria, but nothing that compared. I thought woodward might not have been a good choice with the last few days of boat traffic but they where. Great day. Pics will be posted soon.
      City: Tracy

      Tips: 5" or 6" money minow, black pearl color (i think). Fish seemed to be in tulle cuts and Islands with heavy weeds. My partner Caught two back to back in 9ft as soon as he began reeling. Water was clear on the outside of the weeds and murky behind. Hope this holds up till next weekend.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: No reports for 8 days? Never seen that before. Mine is a few days old - last Thurs night I took two gentlemen for their first ever night trip. The bite was slow but topwater started to happen!! While I had them fishing plastics before dark, I tried a Chug Bug to see if anything was happening on top. Near Sea Breeze, the bug just disappeared as a big one inhaled it. She was real big, but lost her after a half minute. The next one did stay on and she weighted 4 lbs. I quickly put the rod in one of the guys hands and taught hime how to fish it. By the time he was working it properly - with lots of "spit", it was dark - no luck. After dark the bite was ok as we caught 9 or 10 - one 4 1/4 that looked about 16" long - a true "football!" Brush hogs were the best bait with one or two on Power worms. Tulle/rock areas produced most of the fish - down to the 10 foot level.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I got the feeling that some of the early spawning females are roaming around now, starting to feed. They really nailed the topwater bait. They should hit shallow rip baits in the morning and evening too. Folks don't think about that much in post-spawn. Nose-hooked Senkos are great in the weeds. Remember, we used to catch 'em that way before Wacky became popular. Blade Runner Tackle (Rick Tietz) makes a weedless jig called a "Paddle Head". Add your favorite trailer - it should be good this summer!

  • Nevada County
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      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: 9 fish in 5 hours night fishing. The lake received more pressure this holiday weekend than it has in a year, plus they poisoned the lake for weeds last week. most fish came on a ramon big o... or C.B.
      My buddy broke off big fish like they were 1 night stands. The fishing got great in spurts, and sections. big 5 went 20#
      City: auburn

      Tips: If your going to fish here, bring at least 12# line... unless you don't want them in the boat.
      If your night fishing why not throw 20?... they cant see it.
      where we could find deep water next to shallow the fish were stacked, and we had doubles twice.

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

  • Plumas County
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      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for a few hours in the morning on Saturday, found fish in 10-20 feet. Found many aggressively feeding smallies in some of the coves on the east shore and peninsula. Key is finding the balls of pond smelt they are feeding on. We put 6 fish in the boat on consecutive casts ranging from 1-3 lbs. All of which coughed up pond smelt, then the bite died as the school moved.
      City: SF

      Tips: If you can find the schools of smallies that are feeding it can be non-stop action! Use any 3-4 inch pond smelt imitation on a drop shot. Keep moving, a lot of searching involved.

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Yes, its really me!!! This past weekend is the first chance I had to really fish and not think about anything else. Friday night Warren and I fished from the shore using weightless senkos and River2Sea crawdads. The water is gin clear and the fish are active. Launched my boat Saturday morning and fished till about 1 PM using only plastics. Had five bass in the first half hour only one keeper. It was a very soft bite. I sent Warren to the Berryessa Quick Stop to get minnows. We headed out again. It was a very hot day and not much boat activity compared to last year. As the sun was starting to set we headed to my favorite cove and began using top water lures. Albert used a black with silver bottom Zara Spook and I used a white and chartreuse chugger. He was getting roll over fish left and right. He was surprised that when I threw the chugger to the rocks the bass were hitting it at the moment it touched the water. Fishing is good to excellent if you know where to go and what to use. Sorry it was not a more exciting report still waiting to hear if I will be able to keep my boat docked in the water which will make a big difference on my fishing. If I didn't have to pull my boat out of the water that evening I would have fished into the night the top water bite was so fantastic. I hope to be able to fish again soon. 'il next time..............................good fishing!!!!!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you have any stories you would like to share please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.
      City: Napa

      Tips: Top was lots of fun

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 66=73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Sunday took a great guy out from Arizona. Thought are lake here was pretty nice. I had him start with a top water vixon and the action did not stop for 2 1/2 hours. Best morning bite I've seen so far this year. The rest of his half day tubes, were the bait of choice. Steep walls were the best target for top water and also the tubes. 35+ with 5 over was a great morning considering this busy traffic weekend.
      City: Paradise

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 68-72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for about 5 hours this morning. On the water about 6, off by 11. Found a good topwater bite in the morning. Wouldn't touch a Rico, but got a few to 3 pounds on a clear super spook, combination of smallies and blacks. Also caught a couple on Senkos, but they were smaller fish. Caught one on a shad colored crankbait. Little sucker crushed it on top while I was pulling out a backlash, so white topwater baits might work as well. One blowup on a white frog in open water (can't go anywhere without throwing a frog for at least a little while)! No takers on swimbaits (6" trout Hud), jigs, or rip baits. Couldn't find them after about 10 am. Water is very high, and fish were hanging close to partially submerged trees or bushes in the morning.
      City: Turlock

      Tips: Stick with topwater as long as you can. Very aggressive bites. If they miss it the first time, keep working it steady. All topwater fish caught missed it the first time but came back for it, so I would say it's best to use treble hook topwaters. All fish were grouped tight in specific areas

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

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

      Report: We went up for 3 days fun fishing and caught 10 to 15 smallies each day. Just fish the morning bite till noon site fishing. We used 2 1/2 inch hollow belly swim baits on a drop shot rig and had a ball. Most of the fish ran about 2 pounds with some pushing 4. We caught every fish we saw and released them as soon as we landed them. You could watch them go right back to the bed and we just moved to the next one. The best lake this time of the year for smallmouth.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Thanks to Rick from Blade Runner Bait Co. for the great lures.

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Holiday weekend and tons of boats along with rapidly rising water killed the bass bite. Caught 23 LM and Spots mostly in the river area in 15ft along rocky banks with a drop near. No real pattern. Fish were scattered. Caught a few on top water one evening. My best bait was a carolina rigged senko. Many fish were in the 3lbs range. And yes you can drop-shot a senko and catch fish. It is a great presentation in certain conditions.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Wait until the water stabilizes before fishing this lake if you want any serious numbers of fish.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: warmish

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Post spawners abundant, up to five pounds, numerous. Action brief, up to one hour per collection area. Left 10:00 a.m.
      City: sac

      Tips: Locate funnels and feeding areas, Dead-=sticking works best. PLASTICS.

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On the water about 9am. Went into Rattlesnake cover. Nothing. Wetn across the lake to 3 main points. Nothing. Went back to rattlesnake and my buddy pulled one. Went directly across from raettlesnake to some rocks first cast I pulled one. Made a run to the other end of the lae towards the bridge and found a little picket and pulled one out of there. Watch some dude pull out a 10LBS 4oz right in front of me. Damnit. Went towards the ramp and pulled another one off rocks. Off the water at 3pm. Ok day if the water was not so warm. There is no shrubs at this lake which sucks so all fish are on rocks.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Found that water temp is a little too warm so fish are in about 20 feet of water. All one worms color, red, shade.

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 61 to 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: 30 plus fish today. Mostly on dropshot, tubes small and large, senkos. Quite a few blows on top water today but no hook ups. Did get one on top water at 12:30 near some weeds. Gave me an idea and it almost paid off. Through a lunker plunker at the Vineyards and the first cast got a hugh blow up that through the bait 6 inches in the air and 3 feet away, but never came back for the finish.
      City: Millbrae

      Tips: rocky points fish shallow in the AM and when the sun is high fish 15 to 25 feet in the same area.

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

      Report: Jimmyc you posted a few days ago about Victoria canal. Were you in a blue Ranger? I to was on that incredible bite in Victoria and Middle river the same day. The topwater bite was incredible. We have been on them for 3 days. We have had over 15 a day on big stick baits.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: The top water bite is on. Finally. The top water fish seem to be post spawn and bigger than normal.

    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got out to Moklumne river with fishing partner n his bro at 7am. First 1hr got a few top water blow ups. Watever top water miss, partner use worms to pick them up in back of the boat. Biggest blow up on a spook then a dual blade buzz. We use buzz to make bass think bait fish are coming. Partner in the middle n back do the picken. We fish fast til we find them , then fish slow with 8inch worms n sometime with double worms. Fishing Partner pull up a 7 plus lbs LMB n we did a group video/pic n release that fat grl..still spawning. On the way back to dock, stop a couple points n boated a 7-10 lbs striper n a 2-3 striper. All in all ..we had a great day with a lot of action. It's good to be in the water with great company !!!
      City: elk grove

      Tips: Thanks Fishing partner.. I had a great time !!!
      I feel in the next come week bass be even more agressive...post spawn. Get your big top water lure ready n hold on to your pants.haha

    • By

      Water Temp: 76-80

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Don't waste your time out there this (Memorial Day) weekend.

      First substantial amount of boat traffic out there this year and I think all the cigarette boats made the bass go deaf ;)

      Other than not catching anything, it was a great day on the water.
      City: Lincoln

      Tips: We tried cranks, jigs, dart/shakey, topwater, swimbaits all over the lake to come up empty.

      Wait till a Wednesday a couple weeks down the road, shouldn't have to contend with much boat traffic.