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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: WHAT A GREAT LAKE TO FLOAT AROUND IN YOUR TUBE!! ME AND MY BUDDY CAUGHT 17 FISH TO 3.5 LBS. MOST FISH WERE CAUGHT WITH 6LB TEST ON SPINNING TACKLE. THE MALES ARE VERY ACTIVE SITTING INCHES OFF THE BANK. I WAS PLANNING ON THROWING THE SWIM BAIT BUT WE WERE HAVING SO MUCH FUN WITH THE SMALLER BAITS. THESE FISH ARE VERY STRONG AND HEALTHY.
      City: GALT

      Tips: MY BIGGER FISH CAME ON 6" SENKOS,WACKY STYLE.

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Overcast WX provided few boats and calm water. Fished 2:30PM to 6:30 for 9 bass. Caught fish on crank, jerk bait, and senko. All were shallow. Not pattern - overcast scattered the fish. Great top water conditions but the fish were not buying it. I tried all day and not a single nibble.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Fish shallow with your confidence bait.

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 57-62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Berryessa for the second weekend in a row. Last saturday the sun was out so me and my dad Sight fished bass on their beds, we didn't catch anything huge but what a blast! Today fishing was much more exciting! We started at around 12pm and caught a couple bass on curly grubs. The wind and rain calmed down around 5pm and that's when fishing turned on. I limited out in the same spot on drop shots, my dad limited out around the same spot on spinner baits. The small mouths are full post spawn! Caught 20 bass, the biggest bass 2lb, and 2lb 3oz, both on senkos.
      City: Pleasant Hill

      Tips: Find shallow coves, and fish the first drop off just outside the coves. Fish rocky flats for small mouths! Also saw lots of trout jumping so throw those swimbaits!

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

      Report: Just fish dude it will happen! 10-lbers can be caught anytime of the year not only during the spawn or post spawn
      City: Tracy

      Tips: fish, fish and then fish some more. if that don't work try another day and repeat.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: should i fish on the tully bank ,rocky bank, ded end slough, or isolated shallow area?
      City: sac

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Need some help finding 8+ lbs LMB. We been around disappointment slough, white slough, mildred, frank's tract n found 3+ lbs n under. Saw 5+ lbs in white slough where there's little current flow. Lots of fry around grass n wondering should i be flipping into the grass? I heard after they spawn it's take 7-10days b4 they start feeding again. I know each days goes by they oppertunity to catch a LMB of a life time is closing behind me. I'm trying to beat my record of 6.6lbs from April 09. It's tough when u don't know where to find the fat girl. Ur info n thought would be very appreciated. Good info n secrets are hard to come by.
      City: sacramento

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

      Report: Went up Saturday for tournament. There were 36 boats present. we ended up taking 5th. Most guys i talked to ran up river into woods. As for us we stayed on the main lake and caught our limit within 1 hour. Caught on keeper worms. Any color seemed to be working.
      City: Modesto

  • Mariposa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62-63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: caught 2, 14 inch red eyed males off rock walls, using a wacky rigged 4 inch brown and purple senko.

      I fished from 2pm to 7pm. Initially fish were inactive, but when the light began to fail the action improved.

      weather was overcast with sprinkles, almost no wind, calm water.
      City: Atwater

      Tips: this is a tough time of year for me still. These fish seem to want weight less presentations...reaction baits are a waste of time. stick to jigs, weightless soft plastics etc.

  • Merced County
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      Water Temp: ??

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: caught 3 stripes a 30lbs , 12lbs , 18lbs..
      City: fremont

      Tips: use fluke with 3/4 oz jig head..fish bottom in 15-30ft deep..

Friday, May 1st, 2009

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 62-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Nice day in the rain, kept the people off the lake.. I got 12, partner got 3 for 15, largest 4.11lbs. No real pattern, caught on a number of different baits.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Lake is low, fish are not in there usual spots.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 59-63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Some trips are really fun when something out-of-the ordinary happens!! Friday I guided a father-son team that I had taken before to Clear Lake. We started out of Markley about 7:15 am and fished several favorite area in the narrows. In spite of the ultra-clear water, the bite was pretty good since cloud cover moved in about 9 am. I had them using MMIII Robo worms while I tried other colors to see what was working. A green pumpkin Power worm - 4 and 7 inch were also good. We had about 20 in the boat with grandpa dad's nice largemouth the biggest. The fish were running a little bigger than normal, especially the spots. I asked permission before I did this report to reveal the age of "grandpa dad", which makes his son - ?! I got the feeling he wanted to learn how to drop-shot, and at 88 years of age - it's about time! I rigged him up with a 4" Power worm and over the side it went. Within 5 minutes the rod was bent double and up came a 15" spot. His smile said it all - "Old dogs can learn new tricks!!!!!!" In the next 20 minutes he caught 2 more 14-15" spots. Guess we should have been doing that earlier! We ended up a nice trip with 24 bass - several lm and sm - best 5 about 11 1/4 lbs. Lots of bites that were missed. Fun, fun, trip!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Sight fishing was not an option for much of the trip because of a very chilly breeze early. Early afternoon we could look around the bottom but did not see many shallow fish at all. Most of our fish were caught off points and walls at 10 to 20 feet. The weeds are going to be lots of fun this year. Yea, right! We did catch 1 or 2 on a #301 Senko but that bite was kind of slow. Shallow wood did hold a few bass. It is difficult to predict the major spawn this year since it will be stormy and cool this weekend. Sadly, the lake level is already starting to drop.

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: This is not a report so I apologize.

      Me and a buddy were leaving Friday afternoon to go to Clear Lake. Long story short I had all of my rod and reels blow out of the boat on 101 between Cloverdale and Hopland. They were in a bass pro carrying case and there were seven rod and reels in them if anybody has found some thing to that description please email me and I will be happy to reward anybody that will return them.

      Thank you.
      City: Cloverdale

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

  • Mason County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Bassn'it,

      I was the guy that pulled out the 10lb40z fish. Up til that fish we were having about the same kind of day as you. About 5-8 fish off points. out of curiosity where is Rattlesnake cover. I haven't heard of that spot, but I've probably fished it since Anderson is not that big. Thanks
      City: Felton

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62-64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had just got off work in the am so decided to hitch up the boat and go to Berryessa, got on the water around 9:45 and was going to try for some crappies but every place I went to nothing but bass, so in discuss I started to bass fish. I pulled out the crank'n rod with my go to crankbait and hammered fish after fish off of points. I was fishing a long shallow point that dropped off into 10-12 ft and got hammered by something big but didn't know how big cause it was pelling off line and going deep, I just kept the presure on till I could see my line start to rise and the big head comes out of the water and I scamble for the net, The fish dives a second time but to no avail it's over. Landed the bass and she weighed 10.0 lbs what a thrill. Never caught one that big on a little crankbait, but now I can say I have, This is my 11th bass at Berryessa 10 lbs to 13lbs on a roll and love this lake. Caught and Released
      City: Fairfield

      Tips: Was just fishing shallow point with some type of drop off, Crawdad pattern

    • By

      Water Temp: 60-62

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Was tough out there today, windyyyyyy. Manged 5 largest about 3.5, nothing big. All fish caught shallow earlier in the day. One on swimbait, missed a few on swimbait as well. Slowed it down a little and started catching the ones that were missing it earlier.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Temp needs to stay steady for a few days without water being pumped out of these lakes for it to really turn on.It has been a pretty weak spring so far..

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63-65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Made my first trip to Folsom this year. I can't believe I was wearing a jacket at the end of April! I have usually fished Folsom at least 4 times by now, but as everyone knows the weather this year is not normal. I fished the North Fork. Man there are a lot of nice trees & structure in the water now! Unfortunately for me the bass were not biting or not in the trees today. I fished entire coves and the only fish I got were on the points. 6" Aaron Magic worm on a darthead was the only lure I got fish on. Tried senkos/flukes in the trees and cranks/swimbaits with no luck. I thought reaction baits would be good with the cloud cover, but no such luck. Overall it was slow. Seen a couple of other bass boats and it was slow for them too.
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: Looks like the weather might warm up again next week...

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: went out to try out new motor from 3pm to 7
      Had aj (3 yr old) and a frog rod. Launched out of whiskey fished points around mildred on the middle of outgoing
      On about the 6 th pitch. Slurp! Down it goes! Rod starts to load.
      Set the hook! He explodes out of the weeds! Tail dances for the kids enjoyment. And mine, swing him in the boat. Little over 4#
      First frog fish of the year. Can't beat topwater. Missed two others blow ups just wouldn't commit. Windy 10 mile gusts
      City: San jose

      Tips: try to have fun and take a kid you just might make a difference in their life

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: This lake is GREAT. I haven't fished it yet this year, but i am making the trek up in about 2 weeks myself for the 1st of Many trips here. (I do about 10 trips a year to Eastman with great success)

      Green Weenie color, Pumpkin, Watermelon are great plastic colors here. Cranks in shad patterns and baby bass also HOT. Stay natural in color and you should do pretty good. Don't be afraid to use BIG baits here... you'll still catch the 2 lbers on the big plastics and cranks but you'll cut down on the smaller fish.
      City: Pacific Grove

      Tips: Please post your results!! And for up to the minute info, call the ranger station and ask for Keith. He is always on top of the latest action. I swear, i think he hangs out at the dock before dark to ask everyone coming in how they did (and he takes notes)

      I have caught big fish here over the years - good luck!

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I am the night part of the previous report, minus the 9 pounder! I took 3 fellows last night for the rough water version of night fishing. We went out of Red Bud about 7 pm and took on the ocean as we headed north. How I love my Ranger 520 in those conditions!!! We stayed dry! We had to find what wind shelter we could in Jago Bay and did find some active fish - very shallow. I was very happy that all three clients caught a good bass within the first half hour. Guide feels good - hopes clients don't get seasick!! Several fish were missed including a big one, but we kept at it, boating 14 up until midnight when the bite just died! The two biggest were pushing 4 lbs. Senkos and MMIII Robo worms were the best baits. A few took black Berkley Power worms. Most bass were in the top 5 feet of water - inside the weeds. The big one that was lost was on a dock piling. The deepest bass was 20 feet. Never saw another boat - I wonder why? Heard 3 carp roll all night. Didn't hear or see any birds except for a few ducks bobbing around. We were in full winter gear! Brrrrrrrr!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I can't give much good info as the wind and cold were the story of our trip. As I mentioned on an earlier report, we caught mostly males - without a mark on them. It seems the majority of the spawn is yet to come down south. The water temp was 62 when we started and dropped to 60.6. And this is almost May?? Rain coming Friday night. Another June spawn??

    • By

      Water Temp: 57-61

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched from the Keys and braved the waves and went North. Caught plenty of fish thanks to Bob at Limit Out Bait and Tackle. Worth the stop every time. Caught fish on blades,jigs,senkos,and caroilina rigs. My Son caught a 9.12 fish on a Senko. He thought he was hung on a log until it started moving. Biggest fish of his life.
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: Stop by and see Bob at Limit Out. And be careful if it's windy. The water can be rough and wear your kill switches and life jackets..