Submit
Report

Northern California Lake Fishing Report

Limit:

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: mid 60s

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out to wiskey and nailed the big ones started out throwing dominator worms in dilisious color and zoom trick in green pumpkin when tied went out started throwing speed traps in crawdad colors along the rocks.A few days later the guy i fished with went back and won a wendsday tournament by ten pounds same area.
      City: modesto

      Tips: Fish the back side of the tulie berms consentrate on isolated tulies with the worms cover alot of water with the speed trap on the rocks. Catch the fish of a lifetime just like waylon cadwell 13.57 chek out the fish in photos.

    • By

      Water Temp: 59.4

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Started fishing the Tract at 0700 low tide. Nothing until 0730. First fish, 7.0 lbs on a watermellon senko fished wacky. Then another small one. Even caught a 12.1 carp on that senko. After another 2lb, Moved outside to tulles flipping in 2' water. Lost one about 5 lbs,after pulling her out of the tulles only to lose her on the weeds. Then several more.
      City: South San Francisco

      Tips: Fish tight in the tulles. Only action on jigs flipping and senkos. No action on cranks or swimbait.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Out at 0630 - fished north fork - 2 nice spots topwater early, switched to plastics for another 6 nice fish including one #5.2 I don't regularly post but read often. Thanks to all of you who do for the helpful information and tips!
      City: Loomis

      Tips: Fish slow & work the points with large boulders

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Ive been going to oroville the past two weekends, semi new to the lake, and have been doing really well using the drop shot with a roboworm as well as a t-rigged robo, averaging about 15 a day. Most fish were caught in the 8-14 ft. range. I was just wondering if anyone used spinnerbaits to catch spots there and if so what type and color, feel free to email me. Thanx
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Patience!! and stay out of the wind.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 57-59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The spring bite is starting to get fun. The snow pack melting has kept the lake cool a litle longer than normal. The fish are getting more aggresive. Decided to fish for a few hours before work. When I started the wind was up so I threw a white and chartreuse spinner bait. A couple of solid - hard hits and i had my first two in the boat. The wind died down to nothing so I threw senkos. The bite was average to slow. I moved to a large flat next to a main body point. The water was stained and visibility was 2-4 feet. I threw a 4" watermelon lizzard. This seemed to be the ticket. I fished it extremely slow but I did not have to question if I had a bite or not. The bass were very mean towards my little friend. They hit it,slammed it, beat it up and would not spit it out. I had to get the pliars out 3 times to get my 2/0 hook out (too deep for fingers). Caught my first small mouth of the year - 2 lbs 1 oz. After three hours of fun I had to head back to go to work. :(
      City: Redding

      Tips: Fish everything s l o w. The bite is getting better every week. I fished the senkos and lizzards on a drop shot - pausing for 12 to 15 seconds before moving it. Catching fish between 10 and 25 feet of water. I have heard of others catching them on shad pattern rip baits. No luck for me.
      It would be nice to hear from others obout this awesome lake.

      Don

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: been fishing the lake since 92. This was the worst trip ever. Lake was dead. Had 2 bites all day both were small fish.I fished everywhere and used everything. fluke was the only thing they hit. trout derby was going on while I was there. Heard a lot of them talking on the lake. sounded like they were having a tough time also. Algae bloom was realy bad. Saw some bed fish but water was just to staind. This lake has been going down hill for the past 10 years. I've caught some lunkers here but its to far and to much $ to get skunked. Far as I can tell the price is the same as last year. $32 for 2 in a boat.
      City: turlock

      Tips: Fish pedro, mclure, delta

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: low n60's

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Very windy in Mildred's but the bite was on. Caught over 20 with the largest being 5lbs. lost another big one early with a (blk/blu) jig. But, the "Red" crankbait bite was crazy... Nothing huge but couldn't keep the bass off of it! Started getting annoying. LOL ;)
      City: Somerset

      Tips: Red Crankbaits

  • Mariposa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 58-60 (Up river

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Started at 0630 this morning...again tried my usual areas: Dam, rock wall on west side, Portugese Cove, opening of Cottonwood, only one fish on topwater in Portugese Cove...about 12 inches..decided if upriver was going to be good again, and WOW! was it ever. The wind was again blowing 15-20mph, and basically I just drifted with the wind along the rocky wall on the left side just past the submerged tree area (about 1/2 mile long)...I alternated throwing pearl/gold/black flake and natural shad 5" senkos hooked wacky style, and a Pointer Chartreuse Lucky Craft. I would throw in front of the boat, dead stick, then rapid retrieve. I would average about 3-4 fish, fire up the motor, and head to the front of the wall and re-drift. All fish were caught in 5-10 feet of water, usually around submerged boulders. Caught a total of 20 fish..largest 3 pounds, best five went for about 12-13 pounds. Watched trollers hammering the trout as well...they also told me that they caught alot of fat bass as well...my sonar spotted large groups of fish along shelves, and I think they are spawning in this area. I saw large blacks and Spots cruising in patches of clear water, even though most of the time the water was pretty muddy. Strange in April that everything is in the coldest water?
      City: Merced, CA

      Tips: I guess the best advice is to go upriver. To be honest, I haven't seen any fish shallow on the south end...I have gone all the way back to 3' water in coves and I don't see holes, bass, or baby bass, only carp. If you don't mind the wind, the fishing is a blast!!!

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well i went out fishing with the jitterbug again, he walked left and i walked right. What do you know, i find myself in a small cove with running water. Second cast i catch a nice spotty about 16" with a red tail. Caught 4 more on same worm (only one i had). 12"13"14"15"16" the 13" was quick release. 4/5 on bite to fish ratio. awsome day.
      City: palermo

      Tips: silver and blue sparkle wilow leaf spinner bait has worked for me when the fish are schooling up for bait fish. conditions have to be right.

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: ??

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My best day since I've been back from Korea on one of the worst days I've been out. All I have to say, "WINDY!!!". I ran the custom Valco bass boat "BASSBUSTER1" to the far side of Lost Isle to work the back side. I managed a double limit on a spinnerbait, biggest was 4.3 lbs. The 4 pounder broke my favorite 3/8 double willow spinnerbait I've been using the last 2 months. So I built another one on the spot with my spair parts kit I keep in the boat. I matched it up as best I can, but ended up using a 1/2 ounce instead. I beleive that was key to getting my double limit at Lost Isle.

      I then proceeded to my destination at Tikki Lagoon. That was totally different and challenging. The water was clearer there, especially when I took my boat under the walk bridges to fish behind the boat docks. I tried every thing for a couple hours and no bites. I switched to my rod with 10 pd Berk. Sensation and found out the bass wanted 6" red shad curly tail worms. I was able to manage another limit working the deeper water behind the docks. Biggest bass went 3.2 lbs.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: Try to get out of the wind as best as possible. It beat me up pretty good with the trolling motor on high most of the day.

    • By

      Water Temp: 60 - 62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: on the water at 7, cold morning with a little breeze, pulled out the lami with a LC staysee 90 in gost minow and head for the dam caught 4 keepers among a lot of dinks ripping, all fish came on the pause. when I got to the end opposite to the spillway, where there is big boulders and a couple of trees in the water, caught a few more on a waky rigged senco. Nothing in the coves. Went to the point where the lake splits worked that bank for two more fish, one on a hula grub on a 1/4 oz football head and the other one on a DS 4 1/2 roboworm in warmouth. went up rock creeck and nothing. Back to the dam for a couple more fish.
      Ended the day on a big cove with a creek channel that drops about 7 feet and caught a lot of fish from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 # on dartheaded 41/2 robo curly in baby bluegill and a 6" robo fat in morning dawn on a shaky head. Also found a lot of fish stacked on a little tree underwater on the point right outside that cove.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: if you find fish, sit on them, sometimes it takes a while to get em bitting.

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: There's a butt load of catfish in honkerbay. Walk down past raccoon pt. and fish about 200 yards before the foot bridge. Best bait is mackeral second liver. The morning bite goes from as early as you can get there until about 8am. The evening bite gets hot at sunset and lasts as long as you want to stay. I've caught up to 10 in a day in honkerbay. If you rent a boat you can get them all day long by throwing cut bait into the tulies and moving every 15 mins without a bite. They school up around those tulie islands. Peace
      City: San Leandro

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 61-63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished all the water east of the launch ramp. 3 hours 2 fish, the first fish was on a spinnerbait(white/chartruse)in isolated tules. My buddy was using my rod and reel my lure and I told him where to cast, so it is really my catch. The other was at the docks on a brushhog. Wind started to pick up around 12.
      City: Livermore

      Tips: Look for spinnerbaits in trees, my buddy was looking for some tree Bass and lost about 5 lures.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got to the lake as the cold front was moving in. I did manage to hook a few small ones off a blue silver Chug bug around the 7pm. As it got darker I got three good bites off of a black blue custom jig. The lake is still slow I'm not planning on going back anytime soon.
      City: Fresno

      Tips: Use a Black Jig around rock piles right before dark.

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 56-59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I guess a 22 degree drop in air temp even affects the spotted bass. I took 2 folks to Oroville Tues, wishing our trip could have been scheduled a different day because of the MAJOR cold front. It was supposed to be a light north wind - yea! - about 20-25 mph!!!! We did our best to find fishable water - almost impossible. We fished the south fork first and the bite was ok until the wind came up and the action just died! We moved to the middle fork and found some fish on a clay back with chunk rock and they were willing to bite Berkley green pumpkin 4" Power worms and MMIII 6" Robo worms. I think we only boated 8 or 9 spots, all in the slot. They had many bites that they simply missed because of the wind and the fact the bass just wern't active. We are hoping to work out another short afternoon trip when the weather is calmer. Only saw 2 bass boats the whole time!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: It is kind of fun to have a mental review of the lake structure when it is down 150 feet or so in the spring. I just can't give much helpful info because of the horrible conditions. I did throw jigs some to see if that was on - it wasn't. I didn't rip or do much else as I was helping clients cope with the wind.

Monday, April 14th, 2008

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Myself and A buddy went to berryesa yesterday started fishing about 1:00pm, walked the bank in the oak shores area. Caught alot of fish along the deeper banks. All fish were caught on Drop shot with a couple landed via crank bait. All fish were in the 5 foot to 20 foot range. We caught around 30 fish in a couple of hours and were on our way home before dark. If the fish aren't spawning their REAL close. Most of the fisher were of the smaller sizes with the best about 3 pounds ..... lots of spots on the flats with the smalls in the clear rocky areas.
      City: Vacaville

  • Nevada County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Way windy tonight, but I was only out for 70 minutes and caught 21 bass, the first five fish came on an underspin, the next 16 came on c.b.'s with white trailers.
      no rhyme or reason to location. wherever I threw it, there was a fish lickin its lips.
      The cat tails have gone green and are pushing out oxygen like my fat buddy after 7 layer bean dip, and you cant go wrong throwing any kind of blade in tight to them. they're still ignoring my topwater like its was asking for spare change. I knew it was going to be a great day cuz I was sneezing all day like I had taken needle noses to my nose hairs. The top of the water was covered in a chartreuse pollen, and the windblown shores had most of the fish.
      City: auburn

      Tips: plastics just aint getting it done today. I talked to a couple of real nice gentleman that had only caught 4 fish in like 2 hours using senko's, beavers, and brush hogs.

  • Mariposa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Windy, windy, windy...decided to try it out anyways...started out at the Dam and then Cottonwood...no fish seen shallow. Lots of Trout jumping and Carp rolling around in the shallows. Tried along the edges of Temperance, and still no luck...threw Blades, Ripsbaits, Lizards, Dropshot, and Senkos. Went upriver, and found fish in the shallows. The water was colder, but more clear, and I caught 6 1-2 pounders around the corner from Horseshoe on Chartreuse Luckycraft Pointer. Caught 2 bass and 2 trout on pearl/silver/gold Senkos. The wind got so fierce that I wore out my trolling motor, so I went in. Wish I had a swimbait with me. Saw some big fish sitting on nests, and saw probably a 10 pounder tear up a trout I hooked!
      City: Merced, CA

      Tips: The lake being low has really affected the bass fishing this year. The Lake has been inconsistent. One day you think you have hit the post spawn and get fish left and right, the next...tough..I still prefer senkos right now, and as my buddy Anthony Tanochion says...match the hatch...

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out with a friend to do a little fun fishing and we had a great day. The lake was glass untill around 11:am and the top water bite was on. We put 25 to 30 fish in the boat. The wind picked up around 11 and we switched to jerk baits. I hooked a big female but she spit my Rapala. I'm fine with that at this time of year. Most fish were in the 1.5 to 3 lb range but there is a ton of fish in the shallows right now. We had a blast.....
      City: sonora

      Tips: South end is warming fast and the bite is on. Catch and release. The fish in there is all we get. No stocking of bass.

Sunday, April 13th, 2008

  • Mason County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65-70!

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My 1st time to this lake. My boat is too slow for spot jumping, so I when straight for that larger SE cove and pretty much spent the day there.I have to throw what I know, so I threw a T rigged senko up on the bank of choice. When there was a change in the type of shoreline mud & stick ups to boulders, I hooked up. Pulled 3 off my 1st spot before I hit a slow spell. Later I pulled 2 more. I just couldn't break away from the senko, but when I did it went bad. Only 1 more fish on the day (late). For as warm as it was, I should have had a better day. I got hit and missed 6 throughout the day. Some bait fishers (worms)seemed to be doing well. Others did well with drop shots. I don't drop shot yet, but maybe I will now. Too many water/jet skiers for me, but I won't let that stop me from a return trip.
      City: DC

      Tips: Ramp is a mess. Get there early and leave early to avoid crowd. Not so bad for car toppers.