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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, May 24th, 2009

  • Plumas County
    • By

      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
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      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
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      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.

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

      Report: Fished mostly topwater flies out of a float-tube just W of Nice. Fast action on frog flies 2-3" long, with maybe 10 bass over 45 min in the evening. No big fish but all nice at 2-3.5#. Met two guys in a bass-boat w just 2 fish - I love the irony - me in an inner tube w flippers and them in an 18fter w 250hp - but, I admit I would trade in an instant!
      City: Eureka

      Tips: The guys in the bass boat switched to smaller lures after we left-maybe that was the difference (and the flippers!)

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 70-75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: LMB still on the weed beds.give about a week for females to start biting for the spawn is over now...trout was jumping but it seemed like the water was on the warmer side...stripers are very tricky to find...all bass are in the south end of the lake.. dont fish the north end for bass
      City: fremont

      Tips: plastic worms in any weed areas in about 10ft of water..

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66-73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Saturday, took a couple a great guys out to learn a little about fishing and the lake. Again we started with some top water. One of them did pretty well with walking the dog with a vixon, as his presentation was very good. After a bit we went to dart head worms, tubes and senko's. The guys did pretty good learning the new methods and ended up with around 30+ and 4 over for a half day.
      City: Paradise

      Tips: Best method for the morning for the guys was the tube.

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 71.4

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: got in the water @6:00pm.brother in law caught the first fish on a senko..across from the boat launch.3 of us caught 11 smallmouth and 9 largemouth bass.biggest largemouth went 4lb and smallmouth 2lb..out of the water at 11:00 pm.
      City: Castro Valley

      Tips: use reaction bait for smallmouth and smoke senko for largemouth using wacky style..

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Did not start fishing till 9am due to a TM malfunction. Still had a great day. Got 60 largies to go. All on plastics. Lots of 2-5Lbers but no pigs today. Best 5 went 22.6 Good day.

      Got a large bluegill on a 4" plastic. Also a solid striper.
      City: Madera

      Tips: Fish the sides where the wind is blowing into.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started first light out of Rivers end Marina. Went into Victoria with a Punker.First fish was a 10lb Striper. Then hit 3 largemouth that went about 5-6lbs each. The action died quick. moved to another point and hit 2 more bass. The fish wereall near bait balls on points. The pattern lasted the rest of the day.The bigger baits worked best. excellent day
      City: Oakley

      Tips: Throw across the points with submerged grass.The bait fish seem to be holding in and around the grass. With the bass very near by.

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 72-79

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: 2nd time fishing new melones caught 100+ fish mostly dinks a couple nice spots and largies. caught most on darthead,carolina rig,drop shot & crankin.
      ribpait worked real good in the morning caught fish all day on spook also most plus sized fish came on cranks.
      City: elk grove

      Tips: watch for the bait fish, dont cast right on the action cast just short of it or just past it, the deeper the better

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66-73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I took a couple of great fisherman out Thursday as they were working there way up to Eagle Lake for the opening day this Sat. I picked them up at the hotel and we were in the water by 6am and started to to top water fish right away. Action was mixed but good to see it back like it was the end of April. We fished the West Branch, Main Body, and North Fork. They each had 40-50 bass with 8 over. Needless to say, they had a great day.
      City: Paradise