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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, April 19th, 2008

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 60-62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Since I was at Pardee yesterday, I thought I was there again today - it has been many moons since I have seen Berry this clear. Glad we fished today - tomorrow morning many be a record low. Nice Spring we are having! I was prepared for the worst as far as wind goes as I met my clients at Markley today. It was bad most of the day, but the lake went dead calm about 11 am at the mouth of Wragg Canyon - weird! About an hour later it was back at it - even worse. In spite of the winds we had a very nice trip. My clients were very new to bass fishing but picked up techniques very quickly and did well in the wind! We Texas rigged and split-shotted Robo worms in morning dawn and warmouth colors and wacky rigged #301 Senkos. We fished about 7 hours and moved around alot but still managed 19 bass for a 10 lb plus limit. A near 3 lb largemouth was the biggest. They caught all the quality fish except one, starting in the afternoon after it warmed a bit. Most bass were deeper - 10 to 20 feet. We could not see any shallow fish.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Almost like summer, we found some of the quality bass on windy points that had a mud line. We checked out the backs of several major coves - not much there. Most fish were back on walls and major points. Wind and murky points were the best pattern. We only fished the narrows. Didn't think we needed to take a chance on the main body. Nice trip!!

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 62-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished a small club tourament, we launched out of B&W resort. I went southeast down into the San J. River and found the wind much calmer. We fished rock and tule areas and found fish hitting cranks, senkos, and baby brush hogs. Had one fish pushing 6 lbs. best five for the boat was 20 plus.
      City: Rio Vista

      Tips: fish up close to the bank and fish SLOW!

    • By

      Water Temp: 60-61

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Holland Tract at 11am. Ended the day at 7:30 pm. With best five going 20lbs biggest fish was 8.13 on a sweet beaver near tullys and wood. Most fish caught on speed traps near current. One fish on a Carolina rig and 8" lizard. End of the day had a top water bite. One on a buzz, 4 on a popper, and a 11 on a frog. That is 11 inches. Very windy all day.
      City: San Bruno

      Tips: If you are fishing structure if slow. give them time to hit. If you are fishing current fish faster with crankbaits.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 12-3 super windy my boat got banged up good from the ramp the water is super low never seen it that low in long time good luck if you have a bass boat i have a 14 foot gregor with 25 horse motor and i took the motor of the back before I went and still had a hell of a time.For the fishing sucked only fished in the first cove by the ramp and the next one blowing 25 mph had one blow up and one small one
      City: PITTSBURG

      Tips: fished the wind with cranks and swimbaits got the one fish on senko

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: they lowered the water like 10 feet killed all the spawning bass beds and fishing sucks, and hella windy caught 1 12 inch bass and a 4 inch bluegill.
      City: THA P

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 60-62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Wind was howling (i was probably that boat bobbing like a cork) Went over to Mormon island and fished the windward side for reaction fish 1st thing. One Slammer fish (smallest fish of the day) and one jerkbait fish also a 1lber.

      Went south and fished some coves, lots of Carp rolling in the back with a few blacks mixed up with them. Got onto a senko and tube bite that lasted until about 10:15am.

      Fishing got tough from there and we worked some steep stuff picking up a fish here and there, nothing huge.
      City: Antelope

      Tips: The fish were moving up late in the day to spawn, fish a typical pre-spawn pattern, and you will find your fish. Drop shot probably would have been a better choice but the bucks were actively running th e bank in the morning.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: My truck was shaking while waiting to launch this morning due to 90 mph winds. The boat in front of me in the water was bobbing up and down like bottle and the 3' waves crashing on the shoreline every 2 seconds made me think of last Monday when I was out here. So, I decided to go home.
      City: Cameron Park

      Tips: No casts = No fish

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went with another friend, caught 16 total. He got 6 and i got 10. Fun day. We fished from 10am-2:30pm. Fish are not super aggressive, but not sluggish. Could it be post-spawn?
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: What fish does not like gulp? Fish slow with plastics, but not too slow, the fish dont mind something that moves a little faster.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 53-58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Yesterday I had a couple of great guys out and had a pretty good day with them. About 40 bass with about 6 over. We went to both ends of the South Fork and Middle Fork and fished back from there. Today I took out a father and son team and had a great time with them. Like yesterday, we had around 40 bass with 8 over including a nice 2.5lb smally. Today we fished the main body and parts of the West Branch. For the last two days we found bass in all areas on points and walls going into coves big and small. Jigs, drop shot, tubes and senkos.
      City: Paradise

      Tips: Colors were green/blk and punkin/blk senkos, clear sparkle tubes, brn/purple and green/blk Paradise tackle jigs, and prism shad robo worms for drop shot.

    • 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
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      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
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      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.