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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, May 25th, 2007

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: cool for this t

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out to try for crappie and only scratched up a half dozen. Watched a lot of bass feeding on small shad all over the place; boiling all over the lake. Decided to see if they were chasing the shad into the weedlines since I saw terns diving all over. Using a 1/32oz white crappie jig, got six bass. 2 12-13 inchers who thought they were bigger, 2 2 pounders, 1 4 pounder and a 6 pound kicker who blew up right next to my kayak. Threw my jig right over her boil, yanked it a couple of times and she hit it. Pulled me for a little Alaskan sleigh ride in my kayak. All fish released and all looked real healthy
      City: sunnyvale

      Tips: Go small; THe bass weren't hitting anything big, just shad about 1-2" long. Saw bigger ones, but no bass around them

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 70-73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hi again Big Daddy in the Blue Ranger..Hey, I was also fishing yesterday in Mildrens and Dissapointment for a while and we too caught a lot of fish but none with any size maybe 3 three lbers. I too threw a mission swim fish but no fish. Could you please email me and let me know what swimbaits work out on the Delta, I new to the swimbait thing. Thanks in advance and tight lines.
      City: EDH

      Tips: Senko's are still working along with spinnerbaits and the old reliable jig.

  • Lake County
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: started out around 6am wednesday morning with spinner blades (black with gold blades) caught fish to 5 pounds most around 3 pounds untill around 730am switched to senkos till around 10 am and caught fish to 5 pounds most around 3 pounds then switched to the fish killer green pumkin tubes and caught fish for the rest of the day from 2-7 pounds all in all was a great second time on the lake for me and my 2 buddies.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: towards the afternoon throwing any plastics under shaded docks was the ticket as soon as the plastic hit sank and fish on.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Started at 7am fished untill about 1,Oclock. started getting fish right away, pencil or tulie grass. Robo worm, gary yamamoto cut tail. Also caught my first fish on a Matt Lures bluegill. right at 7 lbs. great fishing all around.
      City: Colusa

      Tips: Dont be affraid to go back and cover the same water where you caught fish earlier in the day. just try and fish alittle deeper.

    • By

      Water Temp: 74-75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Sometimes I take for granted that I get to fish and guide on the greatest bass lake in our country. I have fished Clear Lake since I was a boy. Yesterday (Thurs) I learned to appreciate what we have all over again!! The long day was divided into three parts as I guided and fished about 15 hours. I met a mother and her 9 year old son at 6 am for their guide trip. They are NOT the average mother-son duo. I guided them at Almanor when he was 7 and he cast, hooked, fought, and landed a 3 lb 3 oz smallie and his photo made it on the home page of this site. We started in the Rattlesnake arm using plastics that had to be green pumpkin. I had them using 7 and 8 inch Power worms and Dead Ringers and I worked with the Yamamoto Kreature baits, mostly #301. The action was nearly non-stop all day - mom was queen-for-the-day with the biggest at 5 lbs 2oz. The boy was unbelieveable - one time he said "I like this dock" - dropped his worm down and got a 4 pounder. As the day ended and I was starting to put the rods away on Windflower Point, the boy makes this way-to-long cast but I figured it was too late to correct him again. Immediately he yells "I think I got one!". I didn't even look up from my clean-up chores, thinking "not a chance". When I heard a quality bass jump I was on the net in an instant! How could he do that - set the hook at 25 yards - he is only 9!!!! So, I netted his 4-10 in amazement. That was bass number 39 for the trip and I told them to bring them in 'cause no one would believe "40"! In a few seconds I hear mom say "I'm sorry but I have another one." So, yes, a 40 fish day - and they caught the most and the three biggest - our limit was pushing 22 lbs. After letting them off I rested under the nice shad trees at Limit Out Tackle - I may have dozed some. Back on the water at 5:30 pm to do something new - fish frogs in the keys. Not being a big fan of the keys I have never done that. Maybe I will now - I was 6 for 6 on my green Snagproof frog - biggest at 6-3. Five biggest at 23 1/4 lbs. I knew I was too proud - I lost the last 2. Then I motored up to the Anderson Island area and caught a 2 1/4 and a 4-3 on a Storm Chug Bug topwater lure. Those were at the mouth of Brados marina. I ended the evening throwing 6" 301 Senkos and caught 8 to around 4 1/2 lbs. They we eatin' 'em! I just made it to Konocti Resort for a quick burger and back out to see how long I would last for night fishing - about 3 1/2 hours was my limit. Surely they wouldn't bite as well at night after feeding all day. I really can't compare a guide trip to fun fishing becasue conditions are different and the customers come first. But I really thought the night bite was even better. I lost track after 25 bass with 4 over 5 lbs and so many 4's that it made my head spin. My limit was 27 lbs+. I only used 10" black Power worms, Power hogs, and black/red brush hogs. I just fished well-known areas, Konotci Bay, Anderson Island area, a few rock piles in know, Shag, Indian Beach, Rattlesnake Island ledges, and stuff like that. Me and my tired body didn't want to leave but reliving the memories on the way home caused a permanent smile!!!! If every fishing trip was like that - would it be boring?!!!!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: How do you give tips with fishing like Clear Lake is experiencing? Maybe I should tell you how "not to catch 'em"! If you read these reports, everyone is doing pretty well during the post-spawn with all sorts of techniques. I will say we did pattern deeper water looking for quality bass during the day and it seemed to work. We caught many at the 15 to 22 foot depths. Even the quality night bass were fairly deep. Most of my quality Senko bass in the evening came from the outside dock pilings - some as deep as 15 feet. Don't bother fishing around the stringy weeds that are showing up - they just don't seem to hold many bass and are hard to fish also. My frog bass all came on areas that had "cheese" - flat areas of floating green matter, usually on the outer edges of tules. I'm going back to bed - don't know how I stayed awake for this long report. Have fun fishing this weekend - you will probably see another boat or two!!!!!!

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished a.m off bank near boathouse. Water was really high and remarkably warm. Bite was tough, although grabbed a few smallmouths throwing towards docks with soft plastics (oxblood)4 inch worm on a carolina rig.

      Bite was soft and fish small!
      City: San Ramon

    • By

      Water Temp: 76-79

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: What a day. How many fish do you want to catch? Most of them in the 12" range but I would say my dad and I caught over 75 fish in 6 hours. None on top water but that's OK. Got on the water at safe light and off by 12:00pm. Most fish came on drop shots and jigs. The three 6 pounders came on brown and orange jigs. Best 5 went 24 lbs+. A good day in my book.
      City: Fresno

      Tips: Fish deeper water with steep banks. The bigger fish are in 15-20ft of water.

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 68-71 Degrees F

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went upriver all the way to Bagby Bridge and let the wind push me down the wall...caught 20-25 Bass...avg 1lb largest 3 Lbs. Used lizards early-Cotton Candy, and after 1000, useed senkos rigged wacky style. Best colors were Natural Shad (Smoke with Gold Flake), Purple/White with silver flake, and Watermelon/Pearl laminate....biggest issues were the wind and boats blowing by me, but otherwise a good day on the lake!!!
      City: Merced, CA

      Tips: Go upriver, horse shoe bend north. The south end of the lake is nice, but very clear, and the fish are spooky. The water is more stained upriver, and the fish are shallower. Senkos, lizards, and blades before sunrise work well. Look for points and rock piles...As my buddy Anthony Tanachion says: "Points point to fish".

Thursday, May 24th, 2007

  • Solano County
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Spent first half of the day in Franks during high tide. Got em on swimbait, jigs, senkos, drop shot but struggled on size, couple 3's were the biggest. Made a move north as the tide got low to a spot I haven't been to this year. Went to punching heavy mats and stuck a decent one, burried way back in the stuff, after five minutes I still couldn't get her out, fired up the big motor and plowed in there,, went 5lbs8oz, lucky she was still on. Tossed the froggy around and got some decent action on fish up to 3 1/2lbs plus a few more swimbait fish. Ran east to another spot to try a catch the same tide. Threw the swimbait along deep grass edges.. heard a slup and saw what I though was about a 4 roll on it,, didn't feel anything for a second and then the rod slowly started to load, and load, and load some more until I saw my bait sideways inside a giant mouth and I could tell she was barely skin hooked. Turns out to be my new PB 11 lbs 15oz... sweeeeet. Tried punching again and stuck another 5, this time I forced her out and swung her in the boat. Picked up a few more on swimbait, frog, and punching and called it a day. Best five about 29 1/2 lbs.
      City: Tracy

      Tips: Swimbaits Rock!

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I won a guide trip at folsom bass club with guide on clear lake. Ross England. Doc and I fished frogs early . I missed first 7 changed frogs and nailed 5 in a row? Richard wanted to try shakey head worms. Nailed another 20 or so. I dropped shotted some wormed some. After 8 hours of fishing we had 40 nice fish biggest being a 6 pounder Rich nailed. Had dinner went back out in Richs boat and I nailed a 6 on a seinko. Friday we used the golf clicker and caught bigger average fish on jigs and had 44 exactly. Not counting the missed ones . WOW what a great fishery. Mr England you are a very good guide and I would recommend you to anyone at any skill level. I have bass fished for 25 years and really enjoyed you putting you hand in there mouth saving my thumbs.Friday Rich and I had to use our own thrumbs. OUCH.
      City: orangevale

      Tips: Wide open bite. worms, tubes, lizards, jigs, frogs, spooks,senkos, whatever and anywhere. The
      Lake is on fire. Ask bob at limit out tackle what's current.
      Capt mike worn out

    • By

      Water Temp: 65 - 74

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at 7AM and it was dead calm. Started cathching fish right away in the Konocti area on kreature baits and jigs. My brother-in-law was using a brown & black jig with a full size pumpkin colored brush hog as a trailer and he was killing um!! I was amazed! The rig was probably 8 to 10" long. As the day wore on, the Brush Hog rig slowed down, and the Texas rigged kreature bait picked up. The color on the kreature was also pumpkin colored. We stayed south of Konocti all day and end up with a total of 36 fish from 1 -4 lbs. All in all, a great day on the water!!
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: All of our fish were caught tight at the edge of the pencil grass and under docks with a lot of shade. Only caught one fish on a crank bait but I did'nt stick with it because of the plastic action.

    • By

      Water Temp: 72. to 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: camp grounds are full for the weekend parking may be tight in parking lots better get there early. 1-689-3255 Watch for snakes if bank fishing.
      City: kerman ca

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the water around 16:45. My buddy and I fished all around the island outside of Brown's and got nothing. Headed for NY cove. Fished for about an hour before the first fish, a dink. The second fish came about 10 minutes later. A 4.4 that was all head and no gut. Both fell to a spinner bait. Off the water at dark after all the ski boats cleared the ramp. That's it. Sept for the mallard that got tangled up. 'nother story.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: Have not fished enough lately to give any advice.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I dont know if its me or if its the res. but this place sucks this year! I think all the carp are eating the fish eggs. tons of carp. kind of gross. and lots of methane gas bubbling up. more so then last year.

      Caught one on spinner in the shallows (opposite side as dam)
      City: campbell

      Tips: go some where else i guess

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

  • Plumas County
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: what people need to understand is the fact that there are more female smallmouth taken home and eaten or otherwise wasted by non-tournament fishermen than by those that fish tournaments. Tournament fishermen practice catch and release everytime out and do more for conservation of the fish than anyone. Bass fishermen as a whole need to realize that catch and release is a must if these great fisheries that "BELONG TO ALL OF US" are going to continue to be great. If you want to take some home to eat, take the males they taste just as good! However, don't take what you aren't going to eat. Lake pressure has to do with those that are taking everything that they catch, not with the tournament fishermen that are releasing the bass that we catch. Get educated before you form rediculous opinions!
      City: susanville

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 68-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the south end from 8AM - Noon. Started out throwing a shad-colored crankbait just past the no wake buoys and worked my way down towards the bridge. Once the sun hit the water I switched to a 5" worm on a shakey head. Ended up with 4 fish on the crankbait and 3 more on the shakey head. Biggest one was 4-10 on the shakey head. The rest were all 1-3 lbs. Off the water at 12.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: There are a lot of fish shallow. Start with reaction baits then switch to plastics once the sun hits the water.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Lake was beatiful all day. A big difference from Sundays 100% WRL tourney day. Fished Sun up to Sun Down. First time I have ever done that. I caught ALOT of fish. I would say I killed it at any one spot but I caught fish everywhere I went. SwimSenko and drop shot.
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: most fish came on the fall on the first 1/3 of the retrive.

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 69-70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water out of Horseshoe @ 3:00 pm, off at 8:00 pm. 25-30 fish on senkos and grubs. Some kickers up to 4lbs but most were in the 2-3 lbs range. All were good fighters! Water clear to 10' plus with light winds.
      City: Manteca

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 64-69

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I took a couple of clients out to learn about bass fishing. We had a great day starting with top water on the West Branch. We used Pop-r's and Zara Spooks. We then fished rocky walls on the West Branch with senko's when the wind was calm and gitzits when the wind picked up. We worked our way to the main body and up to the N. Fork. I should them sight fishing for bed fish and nailed a couple of nice bass in the 2lb plus range. We ended the day with 75 bass with 8 over the slot.
      City: Paradise

      Tips: Rocky walls and points with slow falling senko's and tubes. Colors-pumpkin,watermelon,motor oil, clear sparkle, and craw.

  • Calaveras County
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      Water Temp: 68-70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fun day/night on the lake. A young man out fished us all for the Wednesday night win.(Our next local pro?) 9.7-lb won for him and you should have seen the grin.Well done Boy. Big fish was just under 6-lb.
      City: sonora

      Tips: Top water is coming to life and the lake is finaly filling. Shallow water and main lake points are keys. Have fun and take a kid fishing.