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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, May 9th, 2007

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64.5

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took wed off and was going to fish lake mendecino, but my friend had to be back in SF by 6:30pm so decided to go to stop short at Lake Sonoma. The fog was so thick on the deck you could not see nore then 50 yards, so just headed north from the launch ramp and started fishing the points and coves off the main lake. On ripbaits got smallmouths off the points and largemouths in the back of the coves on Senkos. the fog cleared about 10am and the bite stopped. Headed up the south fork and only got one fish. Then ran all the way up to the north end of the lake and managed a couple of fish on red/black brushogs. in total a slow day, I had 12 fish and my friend had 3. When we got back to the ramp at 3:30 a couple of other boats that launched when I did were there. One boat with three guys had only 3 bass for the day and the other had one for two people. Pretty slow day.
      City: brisbane

      Tips: get there early and fish the points with reaction baits. in the coves use senkos around trees, brush and rocky spots.

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62-65

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got out with (2) of my buddies. Romeo and Darin. Launched out of Lazy M @ 9:15 Got on plain after the bridge for 1 min and shut down. Saw some cheeze mat and started throwing a frog. I got the first blow-up and Darin caught the first frog fish (his first frog fish ever) stayed on the trolling motor all the way to the last island before old river. Romeo had a HUGE one come up on a frog, but that fish pushed to much water it missed the frog. Hit a few on a popper and STICK-O. Darin was getting tired of throwing the frog, but I told him if "you wont a big fish, don't give up yet" A few cast later, Darin's personal best 6.1 lbs on a frog@ 11:30am. How can you bet that. We caught frog fish all day long, last one was 3# @ 1:30pm. We ended the day at 1:45 w/ 20+ fish on FROGS, popper, STICK-O, Chatterbait.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Throw that FROG. Bobby said to me " Just throw it anywhere, can't get bit if its not in the water" The popper had been doing real good. The Chatterbait (Walton's Pond) has been working real good.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: took my dad out on the lake caught some nice fish bite is on
      City: Roseville

      Tips: fish are anywhere from 2 feet to 20 feet

    • By

      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went up north for the afternoon fished a mudline along the clay banks and some trees. Got 2 fish, one out of the edge of the mudline on a bold bluegill 4 1/2" dartheaded roboworm, the otherone on a White swiming senko around some trees. Missed a hughe fish on the senko around some trees near the 5 mph zone up north. hit that senko like a pile of bricks and dove into the branches where it got all tangled and managed to escape.... :-(
      City: Folsom

      Tips: use lots of sunscreen!!!

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from shore in cove near boat ramp. Many large fish locked on beds...still mostly males, but some large females. Caught 4 bass...two 4lbs, one 5 lbs, and one 7 lbs. Fish caught on pumpkin jigs and giant 7" tube in bluegill color. Saw 2 females cruising the shore that were easily over 12 lbs.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: Fish banks with decent slopes around rocks for most bedded fish. Didn't see any on the flats.

Monday, May 7th, 2007

  • Plumas County
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      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Lets all calm down and educate ourselves a-little bit. Catching or pressuring fish on beds is not exactly conducive to a best case spawning situation; however, catching and killing spawning bass is the worst case scenario. So, that said, do a-little homework and note that since the widespread adoption of catch and release practices we've seen greater numbers of bigger fish than ever before. If you wish to dispute this finding do yourself two favors; 1. perform a statistical anlysis for the qty and size of fish caught during a specifc event over time ( 5 to 20 years) 2. Take a trip down memory lane using the old BASS photographs taken during tournaments ('70's and early '80's) and note all of the stringers of dead BASS.
      City: N/A

      Tips: It was another record year for Delta and Clear Lake bass. Both bodies of water repeatedly kicked out the heaviest weights in history.

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 63-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Wow, I don't even know Jim and I did all that... Looks like your report is equally generic, but others will probably still benefit. Please stick with the lake conditions and leave the conjecture out since you don't know me.

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out on the boat today and fished for about 4 hours. We were on the water until almost 8:00 tonight. It was awesome and the bite during the last hour and a half was off the hook.... literally.

      I caught 5 fish and lost two. One of the fish I lost was well over 5 lbs. - I had it right up to the boat and then I switched my rod from right to left like a friggin IDIOT! I knew I messed up right when I did it. It was at the boat, money in the bank, my dad even had a hand on it. It could have had a new PB.

      Anyhow, here is the break down:

      Caught 2 on Brush Hog
      Caught 2 on Basstrix Minnow (This swimbait has GREAT potential - I would have caught more with this but I lost it)
      Caught 3 on Craw Colored Crank Bait (Lost the 5 Pounder on this bait)

      I also threw a Rapala X-Rap suspension minnow and had one nice hit but nada.

      If you head back into Cherry Cove there are bunch of carp swarming around - maybe they are nesting? I also saw a bright orange Koi cruising which was pretty cool.

      One more note - After I lost my 5# I caught the biggest crappie in my life on the craw colored crankbait - it was HUGE and I wish I would have taken a photo of it!

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: Mid 60's

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Russo's with Guide Rich Thiel. He asked me what I wanted out of the day, I told him my main goal was to learn some baits I have zero confidence with and learn some new spots in the Delta. Without going into too much detail we caught about 12 bass on the day, all on these big swimbaits, with the top five going 21 lbs including my personal best that went 7lbs. The neat thing to me was that almost all of the fish were big fish, very few dinks. What a day for a rookie like myself. Rich taught me a few years of knowledge in about 11 hours. He explained everything clearly and kept it simple. Quite a character to say the least. He also charges a lot less than most other guides I researched and we stayed out for an extra 3 hours. Couldn't have had a better experience.
      City: Hercules

      Tips: Swimbaits in and along tule lines where there is a nearby ledge.

    • By

      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Orwood and fished around the Orwood tract at first light on the incoming switch and couldn't put together a pattern. Moved to connection and managed some good fish (a few 3-4's), finished my day fishing one long grass bed off a flat (of course next to deep water). Finally put together a pattern. Several fish over 6#, 6.6, 7.4, 6.1., 6.2. All on Senkos.
      City: san ramon

      Tips: I threw spooks, poppers, wake baits, buzz, frogs. NOTHING to speak of. I really wanted topwater bites. Senko, Senko, Senko.....

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

      Report: Fished the south end a little on both Sat and Sunday. Didn't sink the boat with big fish, but did ok. They were caught on Lucky Craft Ghost Tennessee Shad rip bait and dropshot with Margarita Mutilator, and Morning Dawn colors. The MD color worked well at dusk.

      Best was a weighed 5.6, got another close to 5 out from the docks in Oak Cove. Sunday got a late start on the water and fished in really gusty winds blowing from the valley, so I fished docks on the east side of the lake then I ended up near Brown's Landing, the "88" rock, and Indian Island and the mouth of Cache Creek, got a few fish at each place and did ok for mid day.

      I've only been able to get out a few times this year, the 5.6 is a BOTY (best of the year) so far

      I wanted to do a little fly fishing, but it was too windy for me!
      City: Clearlake/Oakland

      Tips: In Cache Creek I rigged dropshot hooks with weed guards, still snagged a few times, but I think it worked ok.

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 61

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I really enjoy Oroville I am a catch and release person. I get off on taking pictures of the nice one's, then teaseing my son with them ( he is 27 lives in Houston). I like to troll mostly can anyone give me some good tips, I'll buy you a beer!!!!
      City: Oroville

  • Calaveras County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69/75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: HAVE NOT FISHED THIS LAKE IN MANY YEARS DID NOT REMBER HOW BAD THE ROAD IS GOING UP THE HILL TO THE LAKE ONE LANE AT BEST FISHING WAS OK FOR LARGE MOUTH CAUGHT SIX UP TO FOUR PDS ON SENKOS HOWEVER I WAS HERE FOR CRAPPIE THIS TIME AND FOUND NONE NOR THE GIANT REDEAR THE LAKE IS KNOW FOR THE SURFACE WAS COVERED WITH POLLEN AND ALGAE VISIBILITY WAS NONEXISTENT 20 DOLLARS FOR LAUNCH HERE
      City: ANTIOCH

      Tips: BASS FISHING OK WITH PLASTICS 10/15 FT RANGE ON POINTS HUMPS

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I arrived at the lake late Friday afternoon. The lake looked like a mirror. I headed to my favorite cove and decided I would only use a chugger for top water and a River2Sea crawdad for the bottom. My second cast with the chugger was hit by a smallmouth bass a little over two pounds. I love to fish top water and I have been waiting for them to hit and it finally happened. With over eighty fish caught on top water with the average fish weighing in at two ounces (smaller then the chugger!!!!!). They were so cute and adorable and really hungry. I changed over to the crawdad using Procure scented gel (crawdad flavor). I landed an eight pound female with a huge belly and let her go immediately so she could go back to her nest. About an hour later I landed a 3.5 to 4 pound bass. I was so pleased that I did well and I hoped the weekend would continue this way. Saturday everything changed. The wind picked up (approx. 30 miles an hour) so forget about trying to fish in the main body of the lake. Even staying in some coves was next to impossible. It looked like everyone was gathering in Capell Cove because it was a little more sheltered. Needless to say fishing was not the greatest. Lucky for me I had a great Friday evening and night to fish. I am hoping next weekend will be calmer and that the top bite will still be on. 'til next week...............................good fishing!!!!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you have any fishing stories you would like to share please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.
      City: NAPA

      Tips: let your kids be taught how to fish may 19 at steel park resort,many free gifts for the under 18

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went Sunday and it was hot. The bite was very slow as they were not even hitting the senko well not any that were of any size. Tried drop-shot for one 2lb smallie and a bunch of dinks and that was it.
      City: sm

      Tips: figure out the post spawn.

    • By

      Water Temp: 65-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hot - Hot - Hot But not the fish...!
      Made the drive down today looking for lake conditions, ie level etc., and to seek out a few possible spots to check at next tourney. Was a sad day as when I left at 2:30, the fish clean station was still 'bone dry'! Nada - Zip.
      Hit the river with a smallie beaver and I took in several small 10-11" fish and maybe one 2 pounder but that was it. Tossed a few cranks with only two hitters and nothing but a dink on a golden shad blade setup. Pretty miserable but what a great day! Only a few gusts to maybe 15 but it was a warm one!
      City: sm

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water at 8:00 am, went to some coves w/ trees on the south and nothing, the only thing swiming shallow were carps (hughe!) really hot weather and clear water, great combo. went up the south arm and found some fish holding on the break of a creek chanel, caught 2 on a 4 1/2" roboworm dropshoted. moved to a point really close to deeper water and 1 more on a dart (robo curlytail 4 1/2" aaron's magic) along a bunch of small ones.of the point to an island top with some trees and weeds (about 10-15' underwater) cought a 3# on a white tube dragged on the bottom.
      went back to the coves on the south end, wind had picked up. Caught 2 more keepers on a dartheaded curly tail, they were pushing a school of bluegills against the wind blown bank.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: Fish slow 10 - 20', structure (breaks, logs, trees, deep weeds, rockie points, etc. roboworms, small tubes, small baits. Color was a key factor for me.

  • Ventura County
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      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Beautiful morning, Knew that the wind was gonna blow so got out on the water by 6am. Fished rocks and stick-ups around the west side of the main island and did well with the Drop Shot and Carolina Rig. Spent most of my morning there and got six in the 3-4 lb size. I dont know what it is but they seemed to fight harder than normal. Headed to the rock pile area near the dam and got two more with a weightless texas rigged 6" "anytime anywhere" worm from Preffered Plastics Company on 6# test worked real fast. One about the same size as the others I was catching and one about 5 lbs. These fish blasted out of the water and nailed it like a topwater bait. Really Fun!!! Nothing real big for the day but fun none the less. Got off the water by 11 am.
      City: Camarillo

      Tips: Fished Drop Shot in the stick-up cover and rocks with about 12-15" of tag in 5'-25' of water. Carolina Rig with a long 2' leader in the flatter areas in the back of the coves. Weightless rig near the brushlines in about 5' of water. Caught them in all depths and had uncoutable followers on the weightless rig. Fish would follow and nip at it for long distances (10 yards or so).

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60-63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I had a very nice trip Sat with one experienced angler and one new to bass fishing. He was the "back-seater" and landed 9 bass and missed several. I think he found his confidence! He loves those green pumpkin brushhogs!! The fellow in the middle caught several and landed the two biggest of the day around 11 am on back to back casts using a 6" #297 Senko. One of the bass was around 4 1/2 lbs and the other at 5 1/2. We tried to say out of the way of the Future Pro guys as we ran around a lot and looked and fished a lot of areas. We fished the Rattlesnake arm and the lower lake. We wound up with 26 1/2 fish (the 1/2 being a big crappie on a crankbait!) and a limit of near 21 lbs.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Can't speak for the north end but down south there are still some spawners and maybe more to come with the warm weather in store this week. Many bass however have already moved off-shore as we found several in the 8 to 18 foot range. Some are already on summer and fall rocky haunts and more will join them as the weeks progress. I enjoyed showing my clients several great ledges and off-shore structure - I really love doing that! Their eyes open wide as they see a whole new world of off-shore fishing possibilities as the summer begins. Once the spawn is over, bass fishing become a little more like work - gotta find 'em - they can be anywhere. But that is part of the fun of year-round bassin' - each season offers its own challenges!!

  • Mariposa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 61-65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water @ 6:00am, off by 12:30pm out of Barret Cove. Fished top water w/poppers for about 20 minutes, caught two. Switched to plastics-white grubs, watermelon/pumpkin Senkos and green pumpkin Gulp worms. Worked them slow along the rocky bottom. Most strikes were sluggish, with some solid hits. Most fish were in the 3 pound range and were all good "pullers" for their size. My partner and I ended up catching between 25-30 fish. Little chilly at first but turned out to be a great weather day.
      City: Manteca

      Tips: We saw lots of carp gulping air/breaking the surface. When we saw that, no hits at all. My tip: See carp, find another spot, come back later!