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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The next to last Jason Fisher tourney is this Sunday the 6th. It'll be the same deal as before with kids in their own tourney. Only difference is that we'll be weighing in at 1:00 and there will be dogs and burgers for all after the weigh-in.
      City: Weaverville

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry, nothing above 1.5 lbs and only a couple small hits on topwater, (spooks, buzz baits)

    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished on Monday till about 1:00. Caught about 25 in the Putah Creek arm. Bad thing was, they were all pretty small with nothing above 2.5 lbs. It was a good mix of LG, SM, and spotts. Fished mostly rock walls. Caught them from 5 to 20 feet or so. Caught a lot on drop shop with robo worms, blue, purple, red and brown seemed to all work. Also caught some on dark senkos casted into the trees.

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

      Report: chatter bait hooked four 2.5 lbs average 1 lizard fish. very windy. For anyone interested I have a 2005 14' Crestliner Jon/bass boat loaded with goodies for sale on craigslist south bay and flyer at Coyote bait and tackle. nice boat for our local lakes
      City: Salinas

      Tips: drop anchor in those winds, 1 oz tungsten carolina rig

    • By

      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out there again today and was using a trout swim bait trying to get a big one and ended up getting a nice 3 pounder and my buddy caught a little one pounder on a senko.
      City: Morgan Hill

      Tips: Fish swim baits slow and you might have a chance.

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Took the day off on my birthday to spend it on the Delta. (Best present I could think of) Fished an out-going tide. The wind was fairly calm in the morning until around 11am. Could not get any top-water bite going, so I went to the brush-hog. Boated a few, then I caught my personal best: 6lb 13oz - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!! Then the wind kicked up. Wow, it was nasty, but did manage to boat three more, one going for 6lb 2oz. All in all a good day. Beats working! Best 5: 18lbs
      City: Salida

      Tips: Stay focused.

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

      Report: Launched out of Bidwell. Started fishing on top with a Lunker Punker Jr.around the boats. released alot of fish best 5 going around 14 lbs.I am headed to Shasta this week looking for a giant spot!
      City: chico

      Tips: Make long casts and let the bait pause between walking the dog.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hey Mento you are right! Shadowcliff is a good tubing lake, I usually fish in the island pond. Last time i was there on last wed, me and my buddy caught total 14 fish from 7:30 to 11, they were all good size, largest was close to 4lb. Anyways, it might slow down abit with the coming storm, but I am sure it will pick up again. I'll see you around there Mento, I am usually there tubing once a week if I can't think of any other place to go.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Please Catch and Release all the bass. If you like to have a good lake to fish forever, then you would want to practice catch and release. Please release all the nature fish.
      Good luck Guys.

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Temp: 59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Being laid up with the flu for the last few days, I watched the weather report this morning and saw that it wasn't going to rain until late this afternoon so I headed for the lake. Launched right at 8:00 and while I was parking the truck it started raining. Being tougher than a bag of hammers, I went anyway. I have no idea why, but I love fishing in the rain. As long as the rain gear is working, there is nothing better than being on the lake when there is a soft, quiet rain happening. I knew it was going to be a special day when I pulled into the cove just North of the Wyntoon flat and there were 2 Osprey sitting on the tops of the dead willows. We talked for a minute and I convinced them to let me get some good pics before they went about their business. I didn't have much luck around those willows. I guess a bass watching those Osprey lurking above might have gotten a little nervous. I moved North and fished some beds that I had found the last time out(but didn't fish) and found that the the cooler water temps had sent the big guys down to be replaced by 12" dinks. That makes at least 4 times that the smallies have moved up, that I am aware of, only to be put back down by the weather. I did check on several 4 lb. males in a quiet cove who were doing the dance last Sunday and they were still in place doing there fatherly duties. Whether they were guarding eggs or fry, I have no idea. Either way I gave them my best and moved on.
      I love fishing for bedding smallies, it's the closest thing to hunting you can get while fishing. But if you happen on a bed with 2 fish on it, back off and watch. Chances are if you throw something on it, you'll just spook the female and then the poor male will just have to herd her back on the nest, which is absolutely fascinating to watch. Any time I see this I think back to the good old days in the back seat of a 1960 Chevy. At that point I have so much sympathy for the poor guy, knowing what he's going through, there's just no way I'm going to throw anything in there. It would be just like a cops flashlight to him. A huge part of the sport we call fishing, involves the opportunity to be outside and watch nature in the raw. With bass fishing becoming all about tournaments and weights, I think all of us need to get out once in a while and reconnect with old Momma Nature. I spent 5 hrs on the water today, caught a dozen or so fish, the biggest about 2.5 (there's that weight crap again) and it was absolutely one of the best days I've had outside for a long time. Of the 5 hrs, I might have fished for 3. The rest of the time I just watched. The only thing that could have made today any better is if I hadn't fished at all.
      City: Weaverville

Monday, April 30th, 2007

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66.7 -- 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Subject : FISHING WITH SID #1

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      Attachment : nader.jpg (0.03 MB), MVC-005S.JPG (0.07 MB), MVC-010S.JPG (0.07 MB)

      I got to the lake on Friday afternoon and it felt like the middle of summer. I headed out by myself and started fishing the wall on the left side going towards Capell Cove. In about thirty-five feet of water I cast towards the shore line which was loaded with fallen trees and picked up some nice largemouth bass. I was using my favorite River2Sea crawdad with Procure crawdad gel. On Saturday I set out early and went into my favorite cove. The fish seemed like they were on the bite no matter where you fished. Later in the morning I picked my wife up and we decided to try our luck near the Ranch house. Boat traffic was pretty heavy in that area which produced alot of waves and made it a bit difficult for us to fish the way we like too. I managed to get a few bites and landed two nice size bass but my wife had no luck. After a while she decided to go in. I dropped her off and went back to my favorite cove near Steele Park and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening there. It was a three quarter moon and a very pleasant evening. It seemed like the bass were going for anything I was throwing. Sunday morning I went out with Jason and Nader to teach them how to catch bass with light tackle. My first stop was Spanish Flats where I showed the boys what a fourteen pound bass looked like. Our second stop was the three points by the BOR. I set their rods up with brass and glass one rod had a senko and the other a floating worm. I taught them how to feel the bottom and Jason got a hit and landed a nice spotted bass. We fished a few different spots in that area and both boys were doing well. At one point we changed to weightless senkos and fished a shallow rocky area and the bass were just hitting one after another. The following pictures show what a great day it was also a picture of Nader holding his 10+pound bass. 'til next week................good fishing!!!!! www.fishingconnection.net If you have any stories to share please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-593-3333.
      City: Napa

      Tips: At key places ,lots of fish structure structure structure ETC.

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I totally agree J -- Figure out the post-spawn is going to be the ticket.. Did you have any success on cranks??
      City: SM

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out around 4 pm and caught a nice 4 pounder on a brush hog. Seen some big fish jumping put on a frog ,but no go. It was a little windy , if you go out in the morning it should be perfect.
      City: Morgan Hill

      Tips: Brush hogs seem to be what the bigger bass like. If the water is calm try top water baits.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: There are a lot of stripers in there. The only consistant way I have found to catch them is to troll a rattle trap right in your prop wash next to the tullies. It seems to trigger them into the bite. The more power you can apply at about 2.5 MPH the better. If you have a trolling plate on a kicker use it, and crank it to the breaking point.
      City: sac

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: My Dad and I went out to Chesbro this afternoon and we fished from the shore just north of the parking facility on the east side for about 3 hours. Before my Dad got there I threw my fat free shad crankbait about 20 times with no luck. I then switched over to a carolina rigged brush-hog and caught a small guy on my very first cast.

      I pulled in another one about an hour later and both fish were just over 1 lb (if that). Nothing big enough to make me want to quit my day job.

      My Dad caught a couple of fish on a jig.

      Today I threw my basstrix minnow, craw colored crank bait, and of course the brush hog. The BH was the only one that produced fish.

      I thought the bite would be better but I think since we almost have a full moon I think the fish are feeding more at night which tends to take away from the day bite (IMO).


      Good luch out there!
      City: San Jose Bass

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught six tubbing on 4-28, texas rigged Yamamoto creature bait in 4'-6' of water. The biggest went about 5lbs.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Cover water. C & R. The bites/hits were extremely soft.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Made it back up for a morning session (7am -noon) and got some good fish. Mainly getting ready for a team tourney this weekend. Was good to not be a back seat nobody. But I will fish a backseat Touney again. I will have a different frame of mind going into it. Alot of fish on beds now and saw some BIG monsters. Anybody fishing the Future Pro Tour or Anglers Team this weekend? Good Luck
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Fish Clear Lake.

    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Decided to fish the rattlesnake arm today with the wife.We droped the dingy in at clo park around noon and found out my old merc diddent want to fire!That diddent stop us,I dropped the troling motor and headed for the Keys,proceded to stroke about thirty or so rippin a pointer sp outside the bridge and honney stuck a nice brushhog fish.headed inside and broke out the flippin stick and was greeted by a solid 4 on the first pitch.we cruised around for a while and stuck a few clones hear and there,then we came up on a deep dock with lots of shade and all hell broke loose!I approched with my ds rod and flipped a piling,and got bit before it hit bottom,set the hook on her and she started taking drag right away,loosend up and fought for about five minutes she jumped right at the boat like 3 times and finnally busted me off!At the very least 8 pounds.so I cussed for a while,got my 6 inch robo back in the water and stuck a 4+,a five even,and two more four pounders off the same dock! the ol lady also had a 4+ on but she got wraped around the motor and spit it.Concentrated on deep shady spots for the rest of the day and had a blast catching a boat load of nice fish to 4 pounds on hogs and dropshoting big worms,diddent even need the big motor!What a bucket-mouth factory we have!!!
      City: lower lake

      Tips: focous on staging areas with good shade and you wont be disipointed

    • By

      Water Temp: 64-66

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: So, how is the night fishing you ask? Well, ok but not great yet! I know because I guided a dad and his very talented 12 year old son. This young man is a future pro if I have even seen one! And could he cast!! They fish seriously in their 521 Ranger but don't do tournaments - yet. We started north of Konocti Resort with topwater - spooks and Chug Bugs. I was using the frog colored one that worked so well at Berryessa (see report) and a 5 1/4 ate it. I immediately gave it to the boy and I switched to another color. He had a couple of blowups on it and landed one or two. He blew a good one - jerked too soon. They did not seem to want the spook but several hit the chug bugs. Only 3 or 4 in the boat before dark. After dark the bite was excellent but only for bass up to 4 lbs. Did not hook a monster except near the end of the trip. Dad lost it in a piling. It was fun watching father and son compete - I'm not sure who won - one had 11 bass and the other 10 bass. The guide mustered 7 for a total of 28 and limit about 20 lbs. The bite really never slowed down, but most must have been males guarding nests - can't tell at night. Night fishing is still an honest sport - you can't see them!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: After dark we used Texas rigged Berkley Power worms and some dead ringers. Junebug was the best color by far - outproduced black. Most of our bites were very shallow, not much below 10 feet. Rocks and docks were areas we found bass - not many around tules.

    • By

      Water Temp: 65 plus

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Word here is bass to 10 pounds with a few in the 7&8 pound range being caught also. The average bass here is still in the 3 to 4 pound bracket. Watermelon red/black senko's hooked wacky are working very well. Also jigs in 1/4 oz arkie pumpkin grn with 208 watermelon yamamoto twin tail grub as trailer is also working. lizards in watermelon,junebug,pumpkin are also working here.Traffic is heavier on weekends. 1-689-3255 WATCH FOR RATTLE SNAKES NOW THAT IT WARMING UP !!!!
      City: kerman ca.

      Tips: ITS PRETTY EASY TO SCORE HERE NOW FROM THE BANK OR A BOAT. IF BANK FISHING PLEASE WATCH FOR RATTLE SNAKES.

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68-72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from sunrise till about 4:pm and had a blast. Put 63 fish in the boat. Alot of small spots and Red eyes. Mostly top water and crank baits but a weightless Arrons Magic 4" pink got the big ones (4,4.5,6.3, and a 7). A friend hit an 8 plus in the ski area. What a day!!!
      City: Sonora