Submit
Report

Northern California Lake Fishing Report

Limit:

Saturday, April 19th, 2008

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the south fork coves that had lots of timber. Caught 25 fish none more than 1.5lbs. All caught on ripping and Senko's (white, green and chartreuse) all 5-25'deep.
      City: Sac

      Tips: Toss it where other don't then worry about getting in the boat.

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished a club tournament and got 4th with 18.70 lbs. with a 6lb kicker. We caught all of our fish in a 100 yd stretch. All fish were caught in 10-20ft of water dropshotting and dartheading. First place had 28lbs. Lots of people having luck on swimbaits, but not us. We looked shallow for beds and didn't find one- same thing for the rest of the guys in our club.
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: Dont shake bait too much and move it real slow. Best luck comes fishing parallel to the shore.

    • By

      Water Temp: 61-63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I fished the lake for the first time in about 2 months, Thurs for about 6 hrs and Fri for about 4. I probably missed much of the spawn and had a lot of catching up to do concerning the condition of the lake. The wind was surprising bad Thurs - it started the moment I got into my boat about 10:30 am. It never stopped! Fishing was slow but I did get my 8 or 9 lb limit - the first was a nice 3 lb 6 oz largemouth that hit a green pumpkin Power worm in the narrows. The other 4 were largemouth too, with no pattern as to where they were. I missed 4 or 5 bites. Fri the wind was not a problem and I was able to sight fish a smallie and a largie - about 2 lbs each. The only 2 nests I saw with fish on them. A Roboworm white/chartreuse Sourpuss did the trick. I caught another largie on a island top in the middle of the lake. Is it fall?!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I don't have much to offer after one April visit. There probably will be a few more ready to spawn but I guess most are done. I did see many empty nests as others have suggested. Topwater should start after the first heat spell - if that ever happens!!!

  • Calaveras County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went with Johnny C. Caught 1 small smallmouth on a super spook, 2 2-3lbs. largemouths on wacky senkos, 2lb. smallmouth off a tube, and a 1.5lb. largemouth off a tube. It was windy and sunny. Awesome day! Thanks again John.

      Tips: We fished fairly slow, and the fish were still in prespawn. If you want to learn Tulloch, go with Johnny C.

Friday, April 18th, 2008

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got out on the water about 1:30 on friday just looking for bed fish. Caught one, but didn't see many. The fish I had on beds the week before had moved off with the water dropping. I went out to the Narrows and I switched to a jig and did okay. I caught 13 on a green jig and than towards the evening in the wind, I got on a good rip bite and had a blast for a while. I caught 16 across from Wragg Canyon and two others come unbuttoned at the boat. I also had a lot follow it in the clear water, but not strike. Not much for size, but I did have fun. I think a crank would have worked, but I just couldn't put the rip down and was sad to see the sunset since I was having so much fun.
      City: Fairfield

      Tips: Just get out there! Reaction on the windy banks and I caught a lot of my fish on a jig in the pockets between the points or the sides more so than the actual point.

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Hello,

      Catch More Bass!
      I prefer to fish the outgoing tide starting first from the inside sloughs and following the tide out to Franks Tract. I have had more success on the outgoing, but also have had some good results on the incoming tide. Best thing to do is look for clearer water wtth current whether incoming or outgoing. Also look for water that is adjacent to deeper such as 12'-0" to 15'-0" or beter. The bass move in and out of the deeper structure as the tide moves. As the weather has been very warm lately look for shaded areas or try fishing the grass mats with a weedless frog and hang on. This is a great way to fish with kids also try a weedless whacky rig. The less hang ups you have with the kids the more they will enjoy fishing. Be prepared chances are one of those kids will land a monster bass so have a net handy, and by the way do practice catch and release to preserve the sport for future generations. Success
      City: Tracy

    • By

      Water Temp: mid 60s

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at ladds fished louis park coves and other protected water off main channel caught donkys on speed traps in spring craw and delta red.CAUGHT 20 FISH BIGGEST 12 POUND TOAD.
      City: stockton

      Tips: cover lots of water gaurenteed big fish try and you will see no bs. no luck needed

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the keys. Had 31lbs in the keys throwing frogs in heavey cover. With all the pressure from the tourney I am very suprised at all the big fish. Biggest went 8.5.
      City: Modesto

      Tips: Watch out for the house cat's!

    • By

      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 3. 1 dink, a 2 and 3#r. Tried everything
      along the eastern bank across from the ramp fishing south, had one hookup on a crawdad crank but lost it. Only senkos at the creek entrance in the afternoon (1500) produced fish.
      City: Monterey

      Tips: Did well using 5" Senkos Green Pumpkin/blk flake
      fishing the western edge of the creek entrance.
      Fish were in the gaps in the bushes.

    • By

      Water Temp: 68-71

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the lake around noon and there were only 3-4 other boats on it. I soon found out why! The lake itself is still low. The lower parking area is just barely under water. The entire lake is muddy. I could only see 1-2 feet down. I actually ran into a few rocks with my trolling motor (that's how bad it is). Water temp was nice but the bite just wasn't there. Caught a few "dinks" on plastics in the shallows. No bites on jigs, swimbaits, crankbaits, or topwater.
      City: Le Grand

      Tips: Go somewhere else until this lake comes up and settles.

    • By

      Water Temp: 68-71

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the lake around noon and there were only 3-4 other boats on it. I soon found out why! The lake itself is still low. The lower parking area is just barely under water. The entire lake is muddy. I could only see 1-2 feet down. I actually ran into a few rocks with my trolling motor (that's how bad it is). Water temp was nice but the bite just wasn't there. Caught a few "dinks" on plastics in the shallows. No bites on jigs, swimbaits, crankbaits, or topwater.
      City: Le Grand

      Tips: Go somehwre else until this lake comes up and settles.

    • By

      Water Temp: 51-53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: lake was closed for a week while water was let in. opened on the 15 th.also trout stocked 16 th.started at 6:30 am most of lake had algie on top.Marked fish. Not one bite, tried everything.left at noon.Did not see any other fish being caught.I gues to soon after water level change.
      City: watsonville

      Tips: another couple weeks should get better

    • By

      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 6 on a carolina-rigged worm and one more on a jig. All fish were caught in 4-6 feet of water.Nothing of size but still made for a fun day.
      City: Monterey

      Tips: Patience, slow presentations.

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went out again today to try and get them. Fishing was slow again. I am not sure what the deal is but seems like the fish are really skitish. I looked and did not see any on beds shallow enough for me to see. I did manage to pick up 6 total, nothing big, maybe to 3 lbs. I tried everything, dropshot,swimbait, jerk bait. Managed to get them on senko and crank bait.
      City: Folsom

    • By

      Water Temp: 57-63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got a late start today. Started fishing at 2pm. Fishing was just about dead for me. Only caught a few largemouth on 4" dropshot in 5' of water. I tried jerkbaits, cranks, senko, tube, shakyhead - nothing. All the beds I found were empty. Looks like a lot of the spawn might be over. I could not find the smallies. But it was a nice pretty calm day on the water. It was good to be out.

      Some others I talked to said fishing ok for them - caught their limit for the most part. I heard other boats had the most success with dropshot on the LM as well. Grubs for the smallies.
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: Barricade at back of Main River temp was 57. Temp at 5 mph bouy below Barricade was 61. Temp in main lake/coves was 63. Hope the temps might help. I have no real advice because I could not get into them today.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Too much pressure on this lake an too many people keeping the fish has completely turned this lake off. Unfortunate, but now not worth the drive up there. Clear Lake much better trip.
      City: santa rosa

  • Bayfield County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 25lbs @ the dam spooning. Phenominal lake for fishing the first time. not many reorts but thought i'd add this report.
      City: clear lake

      Tips: Some fish were suspended but most of them were at 40'. Biggest 7.2

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Water is really clear, fish are up spawning. Saw some 8+ pound females in the upper end where the river comes in. Fished around the flooded timber with swim baits and caught 3 in the 3-4 pound range. Switched to a drop shot did some bed fishing, caught 2 small males, but couldn't get the females.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Do some bed fishing, water is super clear and those females are huge! Don't waste your time getting up early, i was on the lake at 7:00 am, but didn't start catching till the sun hit the water at 9:00am. Have fun.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took another client out on Wednesday, what a change from last week. It was very windy and cold. The fishing started off slow, because we were fishing the same pattern as last week. The cold front and dropping water level had moved the fish off the beds
      and into deeper water. We adjusted to the changes by getting the boat next to the bank and throwing out towards deeper water.this worked great,The fish were still in spawning areas,but they just moved off the beds into deeper water. When the lake level is dropping bass position themselves, facing out, towards deep water. We caught 42 bass ,after the adjustment. We caught them on brown worms and swimbaits.In the afternoon some the fish started to moved back up to the beds., so we did get to do some sight fishing.I have two trips booked for Don Pedro this weekend, so look there for a report.
      City: Livermore

      Tips: Fish in spawning areas; Hardbottom, wind protected, sunny

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: launched in the southwest end of the Delta for two days (4/16-4/17. I was trying to learn how to fish with the bigger swim baits and used an 8 inch bait for the majority of both days. I caught 8 fish over both days using the bait with the smallest being 2-15 and the biggest 12-3 (My personal biggest ever). The remainder of the time I caught 14 fish with the smallest not worth mentioning and the biggest 4-7. On the 16th, I fished from daylight to 7pm and on the 17th from daylight to 3pm. There may be something to bigger baits - bigger fish.
      City: Carson City