Submit
Report

Northern California Lake Fishing Report

Limit:

Friday, April 18th, 2008

    • 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

    • 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.