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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, April 24th, 2009

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      Water Temp: Cool

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Slow at the main recreation. Few bites in the morning. The shore fishing was slow. Anglers caught 1-2 trouts all day. 1-3lbs average. Caught a 1 1/b trout in the afternoon. Good enough for one meal. Not bad consider the planters are 6-8 inches and 5 planters weight 1 1/2 lbs. One holdover is like a limit of planters.
      City: Oakland

      Tips: Powerbait yellow or green will get the trout to bite.

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 63-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The water has cleared again since Monday - now about 12 to 14 feet. Back again today with two guys wanting to learn more about the lake and bass fishing techniques in general. The bite was pretty good but the wind did not start during our 7 hr trip. Tough conditions! We did boat 23 bass - they started off kind of slow but improved quickly and landed a bunch!! While they were fishing MMIII Robos, I tried a Chug Bug topwater lure early and finally got some action. Lots of swirls and a few small bass in the boat. Split-shotting was so good I didn't change us over to drop-shotting. The guys caught several nice smallies in the main body - west side. One largemouth. We saw several bass on beds, but all males. I saw a small male on a bed and told one of the guys to cast to it. I was prepared to work him thru the process to get the spawner to bite. So he casts to the nest - the little male charges and eats the worm and finds himself in the boat in about 15 seconds. Is this fair?!! I thought I might have heard my client say: "Wow - there's nothing to this sight fishing!!!" Yea, right!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We found beds in the back of several coves and on some flats that were wind protected. We only saw one big female crusing - maybe a 5 lb spot. We fished shadows in the narrows as long as we could. All topwater fish were in the shadows.

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 67-69 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I never though I would say this in April, but it sort of sucked. 2 bites, 1 fish all day. Although it was 4 lbs. I was reaching for my camera and he sort of shook, and i dropped him (or her) back in -- before i could even weigh it on this cool new digital scale i just bought. To the Report: I started fishing points in about 16-20 feet of water casting to the bank and working back... varying my boat position so i could cast in and work out and parallel at different depths. Never fishing there in my boat before, it was basically new water for me. Found some great spots with grass and weeds - but they produced nothing. I used crankbaits - 40 casts then switch up is my usual move until i figure out a pattern or a bait they like. (Jimmy Houston gave me that tip in February after I interviewed him) I moved to other areas, other depths and nothing! I did see lots of crappie swimming near the surface (not schooling, but singular crappie - nice size) I did see dead ones too as Papa John mentioned. Marked crappie on depth finders too, but they weren't biting. Finally, remembering a tip from this forum, I moved on to the shallow flats between dams. Finally... a hook up in about 3-5 feet of water, close to bank on a Yamamoto double tail grub in green weenie color. Nice fish - 4lbs. I did hook another close by about an hour later, but broke off at boat. Super slow.
      City: Pacific Grove

      Tips: Typically, i can key in on a pattern in a few hours; not this outing. It was tough. Weather was killer - no wind from about 12 - 2; ultra stillness. That is actually when i caught the fish. Most guys i talked to said it was slow and all plastic or finesse. No reaction bites at all (as indicated by Papa John). First time i went through the mussle inspection Bull-****, and it was just fine.

      Anybody know what is up with the crappie? Dead ones floating, close to top swimmers all appeared to have big white splotchy stuff on their bodies... gross. And the Jet Skiers are pricks. They have the whole lake and insist on buzzing right by the fisherman. Go during the week to avoid the idiots.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 67-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I knew the warm spell was comin to an end so I told the boss I had to go to the dentist, but i meant the delta dentist,yeah! Started the day on the west side of franks with only 2 fish, but the old dudes next to me were killin em with a bobber and live bait. Decided to move after 2hrs and 2 fish for 4#'s. Kept tellin myself gotta find some deeper water. Went to the south side of franks and found some 5ft water with deeper nearby. 2nd cast i pitch into the tullys and drag into deeper water i fell tick tick and the line takes off. I reel down and set hard. 10 seconds later i see a behemoth of fish surface. She looked like she swalloed a football. I'm freakin cuz i only had 12# test on. Close enough stopped reelin but held hella pressure on her as i had to open the storage compartment and fumble around thru stuff till i find the net. Finally get her in the net and i am shaken and freaken out. She weighs in at 11.7. I almost shit my shorts. Put er in the live well to go take a picture at Russos. Wind picks up after lunch so i decide to get out of franks and find some "new water." Found some and i like it, will be back. Ended up getting a 5.1# and a bunch of 2's and 3's there as well. First limit of the year goes 21#'s. This morning I told myself to make the net more accesible, i dunno why but i am glad i did. Launch $10, worm $5, gas $30, catching the LMB of a liftime,,priceless.
      City: fremont

      Tips: Patience is a virtue. Dropshot. Deeper water. Keep your net close by, cuz i never did but i learned today. Listen to cooch.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 62-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Jimmy F, most of those ropes attached to docks are to keep the docks from swinging left or right... You have a float tube, you can float right up to those ropes and fish the insides. On to the report... Fished from friday to monday and had 2 good days and 2 mediocre days. I saw tons of spawners and cruisers, but most of them are spooked. I did pretty good throwing senkos along the sides of low docks. I caught a couple on the frog. It seemed like the fish were biting better on friday and saturday when the temps were'nt in the upper 80's yet.
      City: San Jose

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Great day off the docks of Jago! So clear you could see the bottom of the lake and about ten bass guarding their eggs. Dropped a jig in front of them and annoyed them into the bite. After we released them they went right back to their eggs. What fun! 6-8 lbers.
      City: st. Helena

      Tips: If you can't fool em, annoy em!

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 62-63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took my friend rick out a little late on wendesday got on the water around 9:30 we started on the east side near the dam looking for beds and for active fish we found out that both were there had a decent top water bite mostly bucks guarding but did get a couple spot hens they were little but had bellies the big girls were moving up next to the bushs throwing a wake bait next to them would draw them out then i would follow that up with an rof 5 hud got allot more follwers and one 6.5 largie ate the hud.
      City: grass valley

      Tips: In the afternoon top water and bed fishing will produce but in the early morning try for the big bite with the hud and the wake baits I use a dead or alive by daiwa and a 3:16 wake jr a little expensive but worth every penny.

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: nice 3 pounder caught on a blown crawler.
      City: los gatos

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 62-64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: ALERT!!! regular anglers at McClure. I lost my prescription sunglasses somewhere at or around the ramp. They are amber ray bans. If anybody see's them, could you e-mail me please? If anybody has some time, on the way out of the park, could you ask if they have a lost and found and get a number for me? I don't know when the next time I'll be up there. Thanks everybody.
      City: Hayward

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 65 to 72

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: A couple hundred fish per day. Unbelievable lake. Excellent fishing all day long. Catchem on everything - from worms to crankbaits to spinnerbaits to topwater.
      City: Oroville

      Tips: Start fishing. Cast to the bank and retrieve lure as intended. Catch a fish, repeat. :)

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Found some very aggressive fish in the Warm Springs Arm and nailed 15 fish on swim baits and wake baits. Missed another 6-10 as well, including a toad that followed the wake bait for at least 20 ft before finally hitting and just missing it right at the boat. Best five 18-20 lbs.
      City: Sebastopol

      Tips: Locate pods of fish and then back off and make log casts past, and then slowly retrieve over them.

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Me, My brother and his girl friend hit the lake after school, arrived at around 4pm and fished till 7:30 pm, stuck 14 spots on pbj robo worms drop shotting the ledges then went to the narrows to fish the coves and caught around 5 large mouths on senkos/drop shot biggest being 4# and one more off the dock when we were putting the boat on the trailer. Pretty good 3 hours of bass fishing once again when berryessa isn't crowded its wide open.
      City: walnut creek

      Tips: work bait around until you can find a school for everybody to hook into. structure structure structure

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Took a day off work and fished the Keys all day. Launched at 6:00 or so at the oaks and started throwing topwater. Got 2 in the first 10 minutes, then nothing. Switched to flip baits, beavers, sinkos etc... Ended up with 5 fish total for about 15 lbs or so. Not sure what happened, but I thought I was going to slay them. Probably should have went up north
      City: San Leandro

      Tips: Dont ask me, I have no idea!

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      Water Temp: 56-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I just came back from a four day run at the lake.Friday thru Monday.The water temp spiked to 70 in the keys, and around 67-68 on the main body with the warm weather this past weekend. Water clarity on the main lake was as much as 5-6 feet at times, and in the keys it was muddy-6 inches or so. I had a fairly tough time, largest fish we caught was a tad under 4lbs. On Monday the shallows came alive with tons of spawners crusing, and some fish on beds. The issue was that they had NO INTEREST in any baits. I ended up the weekend with a handful of small fish, and one of my buddies saw the biggest bass of his life on a bed! (He has a 9 lber to his credit)As usual, I thought they would be jumping in the boat this weekend, but the boat scared them away. We saw a lot of fish, if they get rid of their current lockjaw-it should be wide open.
      City: Antelope

      Tips: I tried it all, listen to someone that hooked numbers.Have fun!

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: MY FATHER AND I GOT ON THE WATER ABOUT 6:30 WHEN INTO BIG CREEK CAUGHT 6 KEEPERS WITH 2 SMALLIES.HEADED OUT INTO THE MIDDLE BAY AND STARTED SIGHT FISHING.ENDED UP CATCHING A 15.8 POUNDER OFF OF THE BED.AWESOME DAY AT DON PERDO.
      City: PLANADA

      Tips: GET ON YOUR TROLLING MOTOR AND GO LOOK FOR THE BEDS.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I Went out Sunday and the fishing was slow. There was alot of fish in the trees and just couldnt get the big ones to bite. i plan on going back tomorrow. if you have any tips or tricks to catching them let me know. Also what colors are good?
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: try senkos in the brush and trees. (the shaded sides)

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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started fishing 6:00am through a brown jig with a chijer craw .Bam caught 3lb. caught eight fish lost five one in the 6 lb.range .My buddy fished 6"Joesenkos wacky hammered them.great day at my favorite little lake
      City: redwood city

      Tips: Make long casts in the flats and drop off

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 58-67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I took out a wonderful seasoned fisherman that had not yet caught a spotted bass is fishing career today. We started out in the West Branch moved into the main body and a bit into the North Fork. We had a great day. It was nice to here him say "you can't beat catching fish as soon as you start till it's time to stop fishing"
      City: Paradise

      Tips: bites came on worms, tubes ,spinner baits, and jigs

Monday, April 20th, 2009

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 62-65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the lake first thing with my 4 year old. Thought with all the warm weather the top water might get started. Started with a vixen for the first hour and hit some of my best areas. After a couple half harted rolls on the lure I put it away for later after the water warms. Worked other reaction baits for the next half hour and decided reaction was not the way to go, high pressure and dead calm conditions not a good combination. Chenged over to a jig and rigged up a brush hog for my son. My son cought a couple and I was able to pick up 3 quality fish ripping the jig in the grass. With the sun high and dead flat water we went looking for bed fish. We found quite a few but they were just male smallmouth that were just setting up some were locked others not. My son just had a ball watching the fish eat the bait he got to real in all of them except the one female large mouth that went 5+. Off the water at 1 with a total of 18 fish best 5 going 14lbs.
      City: Vacaville

      Tips: Even though we have had some very warm temps this week the fish are still acting like it is March. The fish have yet to move up in any real big numbers. Sight fishing is real good with the water being so clear and the flat conditions. With all the weather coming in this weekend look for the reaction bite to go and the sight fishing to go away.

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      Water Temp: 63-68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: It is still fun to be surprised when going bass fishing!! I offered to take some folks from the Outdoors Writers of California conference (held in Fairfield) to Berryessa for a fishing trip today. I knew it was on a Monday but didn't know it would been after the first "summer" weekend of the year. The weekend boat traffic must have been so bad that the water clarity in the narrows went from 15+ feet to 3 or 4!!! That helped the fishing! I was hoping for a few fish for my guests but we did even better - landing 13 bass - the biggest a nearly 18" spot that hit a white/chartreuse Piranha swim jig in the back of a cove. Our best 5 around 11 lbs. We caught 9 spots, 1 LM, and 1 SM. Most fish were in the top 10 feet and seemed to prefer MMIII Robo worms again in the 6" size. I had one of my guests, Kathie Morgan, drop-shotting but the bass seemed to want the split-shot rig more. She ended the trip in style with a near 16" spot split-shotting a MMIII Robo worm. We fished the narrows because of the limited time schedule. Fun day!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We ran into Carol Martens (Aaron's mother) on the water with 2 other writers. It was good to see her again. She towed her boat up from Southern Cal to fish Berryessa - for the first time - I think. Not sure. Bass are definately staging on points and working their way to the backs of coves. Some bass may spawn in different areas this year because the backs of coves are pretty small this year. We caught bass in most areas we fished and did find a good concentration in one areas. Hope it holds up for Wed!!