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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of tower park 2 days ago. we headed north toward sycamore and found 1 small school of stripers busting. Caught 5 fish there on rat l traps and flys up to 10 pounds. Found some scattered bass and picked them up on top water.
      Yesterday we launched out of the pirate lair and headed to the east of franks. Picked up a 6 to 7 pound largemouth on top but that was the last top water fish. The wind was crazy so we headed to Holland and found some stripers to 9 pounds and not schooled. Not sure whats going on with that. about 15 fish for the day
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: First, the stop and go retrieve for the rat l trap has yet to work for me. Let it sink and burn it in. If they are feeding, they'll hit it. Also, the largemouth are still hitting topwater right now so take advantage. Fish the weedlines. Stripers and Largemouth seem to be holding tight to the outside near current. Still no 100 fish days. Some reports might be b.s.

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      Water Temp: 64 degrees surf

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished all day. Nice weather in the upper sixties. Caught 4 fish, biggest 4.3 pounds on shad colored tandem willow leak Terminator spinnerbait...fish were caught in 10-20 feet of water, letting spinnerbait sink to the bottom and ripping the spinnerbait back and forth...good luck
      City: Fremont

      Tips: fish fast and cover alot of water...

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Sonoma is tuff right now! Prepare to be humbled. Fished 3 times in the last 3 weeks. Stick n move. Gin clear water. Lite line go deep. Fish suspended.
      City: healdsburg

Monday, November 17th, 2008

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: wouldnt know co

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: FYI, lake is closed due to repaving the parking lot. Ranger at Anderson said could be closed until the 1st....
      City: san jose

      Tips: Go when they open back up the fish would have seen less pressure than they have in years!!!

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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: ANY ACTION? MIGHT HEAD OUT IN A FEW DAYS
      City: slough

Sunday, November 16th, 2008

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 59 - 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out to Berryessa with Tiger. Started throwing topwater about 7:30 on the east shore by the willows. No luck with that. Tiger got the first fish on a Senko @ 9:45. Another 5 minutes later. He had six before I got my first. I'll just call it good guiding.... Alltogether we got 16 bass and a 2 pound trout on a drop shot. Plus we lost a few near the boat. 11 on Drop shot and the rest on Senko. None on Jig or Shakey head and no luck with bottom walker or hollow body swimbaits. One fish on top water late. Biggest fish 2 lbs and mis of LMB, SMB & Spots. Beautiful weather and very little traffic. Game warden stopped by, very polite and said thanks for having our license displayed and practicing catch and release.
      City: Pacifica

      Tips: Tiger got more bites... he downsized to 6 & 8# line. I think that helped. Pluse he is a better fisherman. We used stink on the plastics I think that helped as well. Most fish came on points or rock walls in 20 - 35' of water.

    • By

      Water Temp: 61.5

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I got to the lake late Friday evening and prepared to take my friend Craig and his daughters Cady and Tiye for an outing on
      Saturday. They arrived at around noon on Saturday and we trolled towards my favorite cove. Tiye hooked onto a fish using
      a fire tiger crankbait and she brought it almost all the way to the boat but needed a little help from her dad. Her sister Cady
      helped in netting the fish which was a nice bass about 1.5 lbs. Next Cady hooked onto a 2 lb. bass and Tiye and her dad helped
      net it. The girls thought it was so easy catching fish I decided to take them to a spot where I knew fish were holding to this
      tree in twenty-seven feet of water. Using four pound test line, a small hook and a splitshot about nine inches up we lowered a
      minnow down towards the bottom and brought it up slowly. Tiye hooked up to a 2.5 pound spotted bass. The rod bent all the
      way over and I thought she and the rod would go over board. But with help from her sister and dad they managed to land
      the bass. Cady also landed a nice size bass at that spot. They limited out in the two hours we fished and had a great time.
      When we got back to the dock they wouldn't hold the fish for pictures so I held it for them (see photo). Sunday morning I
      took Greg out for a few hours. We started out at around eight in the morning and went to the same spot I had fished with
      the girls the day before. Greg got hit by a nice size bass which weighted aprox. 3.5 to 4 pounds as he was bringing it to the
      boat and was within an arms reach of it, I told him not to lift the head out of the water but unfortunately I was too late and
      the fish spit the hook out and took off. We all know that feeling!!!! Greg did land some nice size bass having learned his
      lesson but none as big as the one that got away. Tom, who I guided in the past, came into the cove and showed me his
      Cobalt boat that he rigged for fishing. I told him to try trolling at Big Island and he called me later in the day and told me
      that trolling worked for him. It appears that the best way to cover a lot of ground is to troll while you look for bait fish or
      some other sign of fish activity. 'til next week................................................................good fishing!!!!!!!!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you would like to share any fishing stories please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com
      or call me at 650-583-3333.
      City: Napa

      Tips: fish hard and enjoy life

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      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: fished the lake for 4 hours got there around 1 fished oroville in the morning until 11 camp far west has the launch ramp is very easy to use there is no dock but you can get in just fine.We caught about 15 fish all on jigs caught a 3# on a shad colored hulla grub
      City: Rosevile

      Tips: top water very early in the morning then fish the bottom with jigs and drop shot prizm shad robo worm's and yamamoto hula grub in shad color on a 3/8 ounch football head catch fish all day long

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 54 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 5 fish. 1 on a salt and pepper grub back in the river at 7:30 am in 16 feet. Took 3 on the face of the dam at late morning all on sinko's natural shad with 4 lb test and a red circle hook. Last fish caught in front of the regular ramp in 16 feet also used a sinko,early afternoon.
      City: Granite Bay

      Tips: Dead stick fish and fish slow. Recommend 4 lb test and back reel. I partner used 8 lb and didn't catch any fish.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 58 - 62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I have not fished this lake in over 10 years...but it is just as good as I remembered. Spent Sunday and Monday on the lake. Took about 35-40 fish each day. We caught most of the fish on 16th oz texas rigs and 4 inch worm. Points and walls were the most consistant. Took 2 fish over the slot on Sunday, and 6 over on Monday. We also took fish on tubes, dart heads, dropshot and grubs.
      City: Woodland

      Tips: Very slow retrieve in 15-30 feet. Fantastic lake.

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      Water Temp: 57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: got to the lake around 6:30 watched angler's choice blast off went up and fished a point and spent 4 hours there the fishing was none stop until about 11 and then we fished a couple more points and then left
      City: Rosevile

      Tips: fish shad type baits really slow and stay in contact with the bottom
      Pick up a hulla grub shad color and a football jig head catch fish all day

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

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

      Report: launched out of whimpys headed toward and into lost got fish on spinnerbait and texas rig on the way there got a 3lb spot on a spinnerbait then on the next cast tried the texas rig and a a smallmouth on a texas rig mad man crawwormfreind got 1 on ac minnow hooked up to a 4-5 pounder on a spinnerbait towards the end of the day but came unbuttoned :(
      City: sacramento

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 57-60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I will do my best to make two reports into one!! I took me, myself, and I to Clear Lake Wed night to pre-fish for last nights guide trip. The last minute decision upon leaving the house was whether to grab the salmon net - just in case! GOOD decision - I needed it 5 times! I launched out of the Oaks about 4:30 pm and by 6:30 I had over 35 lbs. Like I do that every day!! I quit a little after midnight with 13 in the Ranger and a 5 fish limit of 42 1/2 lbs give or take a few ounces - my second best personal limit at Clear Lake. I just missed my 6th 20+ double (2 bass, over 20 lbs) by a few ounces. My first two bass were 10.12 and 9.56. By dark I had added a 7.25 and a 6.56 plus other 4's. I only lost one big fish and 4 of the 5 bigs jumped and they all stayed on the hook! My hook was a Gami EWG superline 4/0 and 30lb Berkley flame green Fireline. Near midnight, near Shag Rock, I landed another beauty from nearly 40 feet deep - 9.18. Got her back in the water immediately so as not to mess up her air bladder. All big ones were caught on brush hogs - others caught on hogs and Power worms. Weird being by yourself - no one to high-five with!! Last night I guided a father/son team - good fishermen! They must have brought 20 rods to get the job done, har!!! And tackle to boot - self-contained clients - love it!! Unfortunately, the great size bite was over but they did land 12 bass to 4 1/2 lbs and their limit was a shade over 19 lbs. The south wind (where did that come from?) made fishing difficult and seemed to change the bite. They really missed a lot of fish that just wouldn't hold on to the bait - it wasn't their fault. We fished from Konocti Bay to Soda Bay. I wanted to fish them at Kono Taye but the wind would not let us get near there. Lots of action and some pretty nice fish - but no monsters
      City: Yuba city

      Tips: I really have a lot to say about the conditions at the lake the past few night and will try to be brief. Some of my "rules" were kept and some were not. Usually by now, small bass have disappeared but Wed I caught a 12 1/8" bass and one barely 13 inches. Last night one of the fellows caught a similiar 12 incher. It is still early fall at Clear Lake! Those fish don't show in cold water. My carp and wildlife theory - yea, some of you are interested! Carp were rolling some on Wed evening - nothing last night! Saw and heard active birds and sassy herons Wed night - nothing Friday night! Saw a little surface bait Wed, nothing Fri. Wed night saw a little thin cloud cover which helped the clear water bite some. About midnight the high moon was dimmed the most and a 9 pounder found her way into the boat. Last night, no cloud cover, no big fish. One thing that didn't make sense was Wed night the boat was very wet with dew (which often hurts the bite - heavy air) but the big fish bite was good - though most bigs were caught before 7 pm. Last night, no damp air because of wind (seats were dry) which usually means a solid big fish bite - didn't happen. Just goes to show - rules are meant to be broken! Will the lake ever see 50 degree water this year? Hmmmmmmmm.

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 58-60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Thought with the nice weather we have been having to hit Collins again. Well it started off slow, we did not hit the water till about 12:30 or so. First fish came at about 2:30 or 3:00 on a jig being reeled back the boat, so we tried spinner baits, with no hits. We continued without a fish until right at dark, T-Rigged Sekno caught the big fish a 4-4. All the rest came off the dam with the same set up. All after dark.
      City: Grass Valley

      Tips: GPS this lake while its low!

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Jim Scarlett, post your fish in the photo section! We don't care if you supossedly showed it to some other basser, that "line" doesn't validate your catch. I'll be humble and awe at your catch if it's real but I'm calling BS right now. I enjoy being proven wrong, honestly, so do it.
      City: Folsom

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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Threw my 9 inch Kenyon Hill Specila swimbait this morning. Big black .80 shy of 10 lbs, bent belly hook. Caught some two and threes for a little over twenty.
      City: sac

      Tips: Try other Pros successes from back East using their techniques and lures. Oh, I did take a photo and also showed it to another basser.

Friday, November 14th, 2008

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched outta whimpy's started to head to lost slough catchin only a few small fish then we got to lost fished it all day with small numbers caught fish on spinnerbaits texas rig caught 1 fish on the ac minnow
      City: elk grove

      Tips: its gettin cold so slow your baits down

    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of B&W 6:15 a.m., ran about 300yrds second cast with a A.C. minnow caught a 3#, my first with that bait. When the tide ran out I really struggled to get bites, went to places that typically do well right now, with no avail. At the end of the day I stopped at a rock bank I like to crank on and lost what appeared to be at least a 5#er right at the boat, heart breaking:( I was using a sexy shad speed trap, reeling it in as fast as I could.

      Tips: I wish I could give some tips, I'm kinda stuck myself. Early morning topwater, and mid-day shad pattern cranks and swim baits are what is at least getting me some bites.

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Can you say crappie . if you cant get the bass to go find them . 2.0 are big crappie and lots of fun
      City: Medford

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: hi 50's

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy and I fished a lot of the delta today. Started the morning in the Hog/Sycamore slough areas and caught 3 stripers (8, 8, and 4 lbs) and a bass (2+ lbs)on 3/4 oz Rat L Traps. Went into Frank's around mid-day but no action. Caught 2 4+ lbs bass in Potato Slough. The last part of our fishing day, we fished the banks around the Mokelumne/San Joaquin junction and caught another bass and a striper. Off the water at 3:30P. 4 stripers and 4 bass for the day.
      City: Dixon

      Tips: Be patient. Few bites. When retrieving, don't be quick to pick lure out of water. Partner had a striper follow lure back to boat and he snapped his wrist to get lure out of water. Striper took a lunge at lure and missed, but splashed partner with water.