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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, October 26th, 2008

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took my boys up to the lake for short trip. Did not get on the water until 8:30 off at 1:00. Warm day and flat conditions made for a tough reaction bite. Only 9 fish total but we did get some quality bites on the brush hog. One spot at 3.5 one Small Mouth 4.0 and two of the Large Mouth over 2.5lbs. The rest of the fish around 1.0-1.7lbs. 5 best at 15lbs.
      City: Vacaville

      Tips: It was tough for the reaction bite but I was able to find some shade when we started and got on some topwater. As the topwater died I picked up a few on the lipless crank. That was it for the reaction My 4 year old was on fire he cought the big spot and lost a big Large Mouth that looked around 4 plus. The big Small Mouth also came on a brush hog. The fish seemed to be a transition into a fall pattern but with this warm weather it has just not set in yet. It will pick up with the weather change later this week.

    • By

      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This past Friday I took Tom out for the day. We headed out towards the ranch house at first light.
      We trolled from the Narrows towards the two points at the Ranch house. There was no surface
      activity in fact the water was very calm almost too calm. It stayed that way most of the day. We
      could see the bass but catching them was a different story. We tried everything but could not entice
      them to bite until we tried a River2Sea jerk bait which finally produced a few small bass. We trolled to
      the vineyards and being the water is so low we saw a lot of structure which should be helpful in the
      future. It was a real slow day for us. On Saturday it improved a little more but not much. Albert and
      I had a little more luck trolling. Albert landed a brown trout as we were heading out of the marina and
      sure enough as we were heading back into the marina he landed another nice trout. We tried our crappie
      tree that had been so successful last weekend but to no avail. My friend Al from Pacifica called me and
      told me he had nine bites on Friday and landed four and on Saturday he caught fourteen bass on jigs fishing
      Putah Creek along the points. Sunday I took his advice and went out for a few hours and ended up landing
      six bass, two using brass & glass with a watermelon black fleck senko with six pound Pline and Procure crawdad
      scent, two on a River2Sea crawdad and two on floating tube bait with splitshot. All my bass were caught on
      the bottom using a very slow retrieve. There was no surface activity around me all day. It was a tough
      weekend but still had a lot of fun. Hope you enjoy the photos. 'til next week..................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: Bottom very slow or jerk baits very fast

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 62-63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy and I had a friendly competition today. We fished in separate boats and mostly different areas. I couldn't believe how clear Franks Tract was. I left that area after about 2hrs with no fish. I went up river looking for warmer water and hoping the large boats would cause the water to get some color. Caught one keeper on a persuader 1/2 oz spinner bait, a bunch of small dinks on a 5 inch clear grub,and a 6 pound salmon on a 6 inch grn pmp Senko!!

      I left the main channel after catching just one keeper . I Met my buddy near our launch/check-in he had 2 keepers to my one. With 15 minutes left before check-in I nailed a 2 pounder on a drop shot and won the compitition. He was mad!!!
      City: W. Sac

      Tips: ??? I fish against my buddy this friday. I plan yo call randy pringle for some tips. Due to the clear water, I probably will downsize and drop-shot a lot.

    • By

      Water Temp: 61

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Great numbers day for stripers. Caught close to 40 including one black bass. Used cranks. Best luck on North end of Frank's. One 19" was big fish of day. Any advice on where to go to catch bigger ones?
      City: Livermore

      Tips: Keep hooks out of your fingers.

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Found them today. We put 20 in the boat. Using 1/16 oz Texas rig 4 inch magic worms in 15 to 25 feet of water. Most fish came on sharp breaks of road beds and points dropping off into 30 feet or more of water. 1 LMB the rest 14 inch Spots ..... all twins. Took about 5 early, then worked other areas, came back in afternoon to area we fished in the AM, and the bite was on. Work the baits SLOW and very very light bite.
      City: Woodland

      Tips: Slow is the rule, fish were hitting on fall off of the breaks into deep water. Super light bite. 1/16 oz weight, and 4 inch worm 10 lb test.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 2 small 1.25 pounders on wacky rigged slim senko. then right when the sun went down i threw my spro BBZ-1 and a 19 pound striper came and sllamed it. it swallowed the 8 inch swimbait .
      City: THA P

      Tips: floating swim baits. senkos

    • By

      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Lots of green algae slime everywhere! Took me $18 in the car wash to clean the boat & trailer.
      With that being said...
      Fished for about 6 hrs. Had a good day with 5 fish, the only "large" one was 4lbs. The rest were in the 1-2 lb. range.
      City: Fresno

      Tips: Fished a Brush-hog worm (watermelon with red flakes) for the most part. All the fish caught were on this bait, in 15-20 foot water, near structure.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 2PM till 5PM in North Fork with plastics. 3 bites = 1 fish (10"). No crankbait bites.
      City: Cameron Park

      Tips: 25'-35' H2O.
      Not really a tip, but I seem to hook a lot of fish in the eye with EWG hooks?

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well here I go again. Nothing, not a even a bite!!!

      I got out before sunrise so I thought there might be a top bite, but ending again without anything. Even tried trolling with a deep diving crank bait, nothing.

      Great day to be on the water but again can't figure out this lake. I guess it's time to start watching football and let the rain fill this lake back up.

      The lake is low and very stained and the fish seem to be sitting around 25 -30 feet. I've made notes on the structure that is present while the lake is low, so when it back up I'll know all the nice areas to hit.

      Thanks to all that have emailed me some tips, keep them coming.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: Good luck, wait until a few more rains.

      Email me if you have any luck with this lake and when it starts producing.

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: 9 boats from the Basin Bassmasters did their last tournament for the year. The wining weight was 8.92 lbs for five bass, second place was 8.84 lbs. In the morning we found no top water, but rippin helped for some. CaptJack's jigs did a big part for some of the anglers in 25-35 ft along rocky banks with deep water nearby. The main body was working for most. Try colors in green/browns or brown purple. Drop short was another way with a small worm and 6 lb test line.
      City: Rocklin

      Tips: don't forget when bit gets slow you go small and very slow.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Ok id like to make this post on san jo bass but im havin password prbs. anyway i was suprised with such a good bite on saturday. Stopped off near the damn at the point that is actually a saddle when quite low....throw on the good polarized glasses and u can make it out might be a good dropshot spot when the lake is high.....anyway throw senkos green laminate/watermellon red flake around it that nailed 3 fish bustin the bait around that area. All fish were clones 1.5-1.75lbs nothing big but fun. Get out deeper on that ledge for the big ones that still remain!
      City: Hollister

      Tips: Senkos wacky! on the fall....thump!!!

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Found fish in the cleaner water, Stay away from the algey ontop of the water. Fish were hanging out in the weeds and under/around boat docks. Senkos seemed to get them into the boat today..
      Most of them dinks one would of went 5# but came unbuttoned at the boat.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Stay in the boat when unsnagging lures. Unless you want to go for a swim.

    • By

      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: A magnificent day on the lake, but the fish didn't cooperate for me and Bass gal. Fished several areas today.Tossed worms,hogs,tubes,jerks,spinners. Nothin,saw fish sunnin,hiddin and sleepin, but nun takin !
      City: Ft.Bragg

      Tips: "The best time to go fishin, is every chance you get" Bill Dance

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: Around 67 I thi

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Haven't been on this lake since May or June. We got a late start (1PM)and went to Bidwell to launch but were advised by some that there some kind of metal structure right off the end of the ramp that was catching on trailers upon exit. Not wanting to screw something up we went to the dam and launched in the dirt. Granted, it could mean 4x4 for some but with a short wheelbase Blazer we were able to creap down and put in without 4x4. There is no dock but you can get the boat close enough to shore to get in and out. We went to the middle fork and chose a shady wall and working slow managed to catch over 20 fish (nothing over a pound and a half) on a combination of rattle traps, rip baits, tubes and worms in various colors.
      City: Paradise

      Tips: I think the better bite is on shady walls and just start with you confidence baits and see how it goes. They ate almost everything we used. We fished late in the day so the morning thing may produce different results. We have plenty of water out there and lots of different structure to look at. The launch will be your biggest headache so take your time and go fishing.

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

      Report: dingy on water early. drop shotted mealworms for a creelfull of spots. ended the day rock-picking for zebra mussels.
      City: newark

      Tips: mark, I found your comments and techniques entertaining. with that said i invite you to meet my dingy. but before you depart on your ill-fated trip let me assure you that both my techniques and my dingy are most powerful.

Friday, October 24th, 2008

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: went out on saturday for bass and trout got about fifteen bass and two trout didnt go for bass all day a lot on spook i think i found the fish out not too sure though good fishing a lot of trout swimmin around seen a lot of schools but they just didnt want anything probably goin to hit the delta this weekend
      City: sacramento

      Tips: fish spook they seem to like it in open water right off of the shore that got me more blowups than through the sticks

    • By

      Water Temp: 68-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I fished Amador by myself for a while Wed afternoon, evening, and a little while at night. Bass were active on topwater but not very accurate!! Many good bass would jump over the Chug Bug and miss it. Weird!! My biggest was only 3 lbs - caught in the middle of the lake. The bass are feeding on the shore and over 80 feet of water! The night bite was ok but couldn't hook any big ones. The 10" Power worm was good for me.
      City: Yuba city

      Tips: It was difficult getting my Ranger out of the water by myself - it just took time. It is easy with 2 people. It is fun to remember how the lake looked 25-30 years ago - solid brush and trees!! Look for isolated brush - it usually holds bigger bass.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63-66

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I guided a trip on Thursday . The bite was on and off,we would catch a bunch of fish on a spot, then nothing , until we found another group of fish. The fish were real hard to pattern. Most of them were on chunk rock in 20 feet of water, on the steeper banks. Most of our fish were caught on brown and purple shaky head worms,with a few on crankbaits. We could not get bit on topwater.
      City: Livermore

      Tips: If you find some fish , stay on that spot and catch all of them.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My friend and I did pretty well we caught 20 or so fish best fish was an 8 pound 5 ounce largemouth on a triple trout we also caught fish on shakeyhead brushhog lipless crankbait spinnerbait senko & popper. All fish were caught on the main lake.

      Tips: Swimbaits work you have to be relentlessin thier use.

    • By

      Water Temp: 63 to 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: We caught 17 bass and 1 trout. Moved around until we found bait and fish. Used mostly spoons. Drop shot and darter head caught 2 fish. Started in the narrows then moved out to the main lake. I do not believe the lake has turned over yet. Fish bit spoons dead stick and jigging.
      City: Millbrae

      Tips: keep it movin...Movin, Movin, Movin. Got to keep it Movin!