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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, December 29th, 2006

  • Amador County
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: $24.00 for a Camamche run? WHAT IN THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH LAUNCH FEES? Isn't 10 bucks enough? $15.00 at at Folsom during peak PERIODS is very questionale in my opinion. At least at Amador they at least stock the H$%% out of the lake! But that dosen't mean you are going to bring home anything..... WITH the price of gas ect. turns a day outing into a hundred dollar adventure!
      City: ANTELOPE

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I heard from people who are fishing at chabot that the bite is hot! Trout fishing is booming at this lake right now so get your poles and reels ready and head towards the lake!
      City: ?

      Tips: Yellow power bait and power eggs.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 44-46

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Buddy Forrest and I heard about the great crappie bite so we gave it a shot first thing in AM at the Rock, Forrest got 5 fish that I would like to call medium pizza's before I got a nibble, these fish were ginormis, finally I told my buddy you take over the trolling motor and I finally got 3 in the boat, after 3 hrs we decided to go for bass and just got a bunch of 10-12 inchers.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Fish Bass Assasin 1 inch jigs for crappie and toss it out and let it set for 20 seconds and than reel in as slow as you can with out stopping, no pause or jigging, If it were not for my buddy I would not have got one crappie because I could not get this system down, I have trouble reeling that slow on 40 oz of coffee:)Use drop shot 4 inch robo's for bass. Spoke to many bass fisherman and everyone was having trouble putting any quality fish in the boat, that is fisherman that were fishing in daylight hours.

    • By

      Water Temp: 44-47

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Spent a few hours around Anderson Island throwing a 6" swimbait. No fish, no hits and no follows. A bit too cold for swimbait fish but I had been dying to try out my new setup. I did fish the bait as slow as possible but no luck on this day. The lake conditions were decent and there was quite a bit of traffic, mainly other folks fishing. The fishermen I spoke with weren't catching a lot of fish even the ones using minnows, which surprised me.
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Happy New Year !!!

    • By

      Water Temp: 48-51

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I have been float tubing the reservoir on the weekends for the past 2 1/2 months or moreand have done nothing but kill anything that swims. I have gone from days catching trout 3.5-8lbs left and right to catching catfish in the 5-8lb range and bass to 6lbs. I notice that when I get back to the docks that there have maybe been a stocked 12" trout or 2. lol If you know how to fish you will catch fish with regularity. This place is hot.
      City: Walnut Creek

      Tips: worms are the key

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 48.8-49.9

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took a buddy to Folsom to show him the dropshot technique. I was a bit concerned about fishing in post-frontal conditions and following all the icy-cold north wind we've had for the past 2 days, but we didn't fare too badly. Started on the main body fishing points adjacent to spawning areas in 25'-50', and quickly landed 2 spots in the 2.5lb. range on the dropshot. A 4.5" Roboworm in the Prism Shad color did the trick, fished on 6lb. Cuda line with a 1/4oz. weight. We were fishing channel drops and small irregulartities in the bottom conture, and occasionally some isolated balls of bait. After another fruitless hour, we moved to a series of steep primary points and I picked up a beautiful spot pushing 4lbs. on a 1/8oz. darthead tipped with a 6" Fat Roboworm in the Morning Dawn color. The next point down produced another fat 2+lb. spot on the darthead, but by about 10:30am, the bite just DIED. The next 5 hours produced just 3 more bites - one missed on a darthead, a small 13.5" spot caught in a fairly shallow creek channel on a dropshot, and a beautiful King Salmon caught on a darthead! All in all, a pretty tough day on the lake, but at least we did manage 5 keepers. On an interesting note, we found the bait - boy did we - unfortunately it was all swimming out in open water at approx. 120'! This had to be one of the biggest schools of shad and/or pond smelt I've ever seen, and these recent cold temps we've had have pushed the majority of them DEEP!
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: Typical winter holding areas produced early, but then the fishing slowed to a crawl... for us anyway. Throughout the day, we fished dropshot, darthead, jigs, spoons, and even threw a crankbait and the Huddleston a fair bit. Vertical structure was the key for us, and all fish came from anywhere between 15'-40'. Stick with it... you will get bit!

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 47

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Made it out for a few hours today. The launch ramp was a bit of an adventure but no problem with 4X4. The fishing was slow with only 6 fish caught in 3.5 hrs, but a 5 lb smallie made it more than worthwhile. Where was he when the camera was rolling? With no weather predicted for the next several days I expect the fishing to improve daily. With luck I'll find out.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: The ramp is a little icy right at the top and it only has a single lane plowed all the way down. The parking lot is an ice skating rink. For those of you who feel they need a little adventure in their lives, it's an excellant time to fish Trinity.

Thursday, December 28th, 2006

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Buddy Forrest and I fished Thurs the 28th and we got 13 fish in the boat to 3.5 lbs, no smallies or spots just largies, used 4 inch robo's, we got one in 5 feet on a jig and all the rest on robo's in 10-40 feet. Could not get out of the 2 small coves we were in because the waves were tossing my 18 foot Ranger around like it was a twig on a ragging river.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Shake and than drag your drop shot very slow and you will just feel weight than reel in, do not set the hook just keep steady presure on the line.
      Watermelon black flake hula grub jig works also, just drag it on the bottom as slow as you can only when you get a bite on these you get to swing for the fence! I love that! God bless and catch and release so my 3 kids can do it when they are my age.

    • By

      Water Temp: 51 to 53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Jig fish and live crawdads were the baits that work well this week bass to 4 1/2 pounds on jigs and a 6 pounder on live crawdads. There still a good bite on bass in the 12 to 14 inch range 35 to 50 feet is a good depth to fish. I was up last saturday and we found most of are fish from 38 to 50 feet. Traffic is light. Brown/purple jigs 3/8 or 1/2 oz ( Bullet head ) tiped with a 221 cinnamon twin tail 4" yamamoto trailer worked well. Lake is at 56% of capacity and there should be another trout plant after the new year. 559-689-3255
      City: kerman ca.

      Tips: 5 mph flats in 38 to 50 feet of water also isolated rock piles are holding bass. Dont forget to move up on the dam in the early morning or late evening. Slow down swim the jigs keep in contact with the bottom some bites are lite.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: To Jim Scarlett,

      Congratulations on your success at Folsom. Most are struggling out there so it's nice to see a someone cathcing some nice fish out there.
      I was under the impression that this site was designed to help others. Your reports do indicate where you can try and fish but there is a total lack of information on the exact types of baits to use. I am all about sharing everything I know because I get just as much enjoyment out of teaching others as I do actually catchng. I guess this is where we will have to disagree.
      thanks for the insightful reports.

      As for myself I found some sucess tossing 3/8 oz brown jig on both steep walls and points. Most success has been dragging the jig. Darter head Arons magic will pick up a few as well.

      Tips: look for reports where people are sharing what they know and who are willing to teach what they know to those who what to learn.

Wednesday, December 27th, 2006

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Three fish over 4lbs. biggest a 6.8 by the dam brown with red skirted jig and texas rigged watermelon seed w/red flake 6" yamasenko caught the bigger bass today. Six tiny 1/2lb dinkers caught on various drop shotted fx worms.
      City: Bonny Doon

      Tips: swimbaits??? when do they plant trout

Tuesday, December 26th, 2006

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

      Report: Fished Cachuma yesterday for a pretty slow day. The weather was absolutely amazing. Hardly any wind and pretty warm. I fished all depths 10 - 70'. Yeah I know... 70'. You wouldn't believe it but I actually pulled a LMB from 70'. Fishing was slow all day. I used Jigs, Drop-Shot Robo and Spoons. I'm pretty sold on the Spoon concept for Smallies after reading the past reports from Kelly. I'll be up there this Friday and Saturday. I would love to learn some of your techniques. I'll pay for food and gas.
      Thanks and God Bless,
      Joe
      City: Camarillo

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Hey, wanted to know if anybody had any tips on spring lake??? I fished it a few times catching 1-2 lbs bass (mostly west side). Used senkos and plastic worms with a texas set up. anybody know any other good spots on the lake that produce some big fish, and what baits? Or want a fishing partner this spring/summer? I got a bass tube, boat would be nice to join in on though. write me back bklein@linfield.edu
      City: Sebastopol

      Tips: senkos, plastic worms on a texas set-up will produce a nice catch.

Monday, December 25th, 2006

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 50-51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 7:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. I cant say I had the success that I see on other reports..... but, did end up with 1 spot(2.4lbs.)Fun day on the water, kids at girl friends, wife at work, me on the water-good times!
      City: ANTELOPE

      Tips: Caught mine on a steep rock wall in about 27 feet of water .at noon, on a texas rigged Senko.

Sunday, December 24th, 2006

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the lake yesterday for a short 5 hour trip. Had 5 in the boat within an hour....All on drop shot and jigs. Finshed the day with 14 fish boated, and one decent smalley that came up buttoned at the boat. Best five went for 12.5lbs....
      City: Napa

      Tips: Have been on the lake for the last 9 weeks, and have yet to get that BIG Swimbait bite-but will keep on throwing the "Hud" until it happens
      (and it will)...The usual 9-12lb limit has been consistent.....
      Have a great Christmas to all and the Reaction bite isnt far away......

    • By

      Water Temp: 52.3

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had a late start, launch at Capel Cove around noon time and headed for Putah creek area. Nothing on dropshot or jigs, I decided to start cranking big chunk rock and it payed off. 1st fish a 2 pound smallie then had one hit me and just about ripped the rod out of my hands, lost that one but made another cast and bamm, hook up another nice smallmouth. I just worked parralle to the bank and no deeper than 17 foot. Key was to hit rip rap banks and points and to deflect the rocks with the lure, made my way donw the bank and picked up 2 more nice smallies, then hit a largemouth that was probably 10 foot down and it was at around 2 1/2 lbs. I maybe had 9 or 10 lbs for 5 bass but who's counting just out there for some fun.
      City: Fairfield

      Tips: Crank the chunk rocks and down size on the lure. Deflect the rocks.

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: mid 50

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I fished Calero 3 times this week caught a 8.6 on white and chartruse spinnerbait tues. Caught two fish 2.11 each on thurs brown and blue jig. These were caught at 10 feet. Today caught one at 2.5 on a spoon in 18 feet. Each day fished from 10:00ish to 1:00.
      City: los gatos

      Tips: I tried a lot of techniques each day and worked one area at a time very methodically.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Merry christmas to all hope you have a safe holiday.
      City: kerman ca

  • San Francisco County
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Joe in San Bruno - Thanks for the report...I have fished this lake for a number of years (about the last 3 years excusively for large mouth bass). I believe the Lake has a few trout depending on the DFG stocks (North and South), catfish (South) carp (North, South and Impoundment). Take a look at a San Francisco map to determine which part of Lake Merced you are fishing. Across the road from the boathouse where the picnic tables and barbecue pits are is the North Lake. There are a couple of fishing piers there. One can be reached from the Lake parking area by the boathouse. The other from Sunset Circle along a walking trail to the west of the parking lot. The South Lake is the largest piece, with the boathouse and boat docks at the north end and the bridge at the south end. On the other side of the bridge is Impoundment which is the smallest part of the Lake and the most environmentally sensitive as well.

      Good Luck with fishing with your uncle
      City: Daly City

Saturday, December 23rd, 2006

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 49.5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the lake today, with three other boats.Once again makred tons of bait and fish at he 29-40 ft. Tried to Dropshot, but the wind was pushing by 11am. Off the lake by 1pm, no fish to speak of. Didnt see or speak to anyone that caught fish. Lake most likely has not turned over.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Best of luck timing the bite. There there, its all about targeting and getting in the bait pod.