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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, December 20th, 2006

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

      Report: John, thanks for being who you are. I love your reports and your character. Merry Christmas and a happy holidays to you and your family too. Let us know how Trinity is doin' as soon as you get a chance o.k?
      City: san jose

      Tips: Just coz it's cold doesn't mean the fish aren't willing to bite.Most of my best days come in the dead of winter. This time of year means less lake traffic and BIG fish for those willing to brave the freezing cold.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: O.K. I'm breaking the rules. This is not a report. I want to wish everyone a great Holiday. I want to thank all my clients for a fun year. I want to thank my tackle suppliers for giving me the stuff I need to give my clients fun trips. To all you Moms and Dads out there who have been thinking about taking your kids fishing, DO IT. Fishing is FUN, PERIOD. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Hope to see you on the water.
      City: Weaverville

Tuesday, December 19th, 2006

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: Cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went back to my honey holes today for about 4 hours. Could have bagged a limit of BB but, they just broke off at the boat or I had pulled the bait out of their mouths. Cranked the same crawdad colored deep diving crank bait (16' rating) in 8-12'of water. Type of structure was the same as my last report. Deep water next to shallow coves of structure. I tend to believe, like so many pros, BB like to wander in deep water because the temp is more stable. The nearby shallow water provides forage.

      Didn't try for stripers, but saw some them being caught via. flys. Can't tell you were to go because its just too crowded as is. In general target dead end sloughs or flooded islands like Franks, Big Break, or Mildred. I only plug and drag perch in these areas so I don't think these areas are good for other techniques.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Throw a deep diving crak bait and finesse it back to the boat. Wind slow with a stop every now and then. Unlike me, wait a moment before setting the hook. I prematurely pulled too many crankbaits out of BB mouth before they had time to commit.

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well, I can tell you where the stripers were not hanging out today, Discovery Bay. I drove all around the marina side and all of the small bays and did not graph jack squat. Weird. I should have figured it was gonna suck as there were only two other boats fishing the area.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Any body doing any good anywhere else? Please post.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: i went out today. caught about 12 up to about 2.5 lbs. all were spots. i cranked a couple rock banks with a dd 22 thats why i caught most of my fish. headed back to the main body shaky head a couple points and thats was the day. caught fish from 10-25 feet. bite are really soft on the shaky head. set the hook on anything.
      City: yuba city

      Tips: go up the arms and crank the steep rocky banks. with any shad patter crankbait i used a dd 22. for the shaky head 1/4 with a 6 inch roboworm Margarita Mutilator

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 52-55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Rootbeer Gitzits Under Docks on upper sac,caught a 3.17lb. spot under shasta caverns dock,so I Pitched another grub-set the hook, Whatever it was it was Big,Broke my 8lb.line-left me there with nothing but a smile.
      City: Lakehead

      Tips: fish DOCKS,Then Hit Them Again!!!!!

Monday, December 18th, 2006

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: so ive been going here a lot lately and getting skunked, i used to get 2-3 fish per trip, whats the winter tricks? anybody have em, any tips would been cool.
      City: san jose

      Tips: go somewhere else if possible haha

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 49/50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: LAUNCHED OUT OF ORWOOD TRIED ALL PROVEN AREAS OF DISCO BAY MANGED ONE SMALL STRIPER WENT ALL THEWAY TO MANVILLE NO ACTION/ NOT MY TURN ON FISH IT WAS COLD RUNNING SORRY CANT HELP THIS TIME
      City: antioch

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 54-56

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Monday 12/18 and boy was it cold, started at 7:30 am and it was around 30 deg, the top of my Ranger was frozen. Fished the south branch of the lake and had to go through 40 fish to get 5 keepers, 2 that went 2.5lb and 3 that went 1.5lb and a ton of 10-12 inchers. Oops I forgot a about a 1/2 lb bluegill and a 1.5 lb crappie that I got on the drop shot.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: I tried crainken for about 20 minutes and no takers so just went to the drop shot 4 inch ropo's and started getting hits left and right but just babies. Find the bait and find the fish, look for bait close to the bank, the bait I found out in open water did not have fish willing to bite but the bait I found close to the bank were more than willing to bite just no size. I think if you toss jigs you will catch bigger fish right now but I don't have the patience for 1 fish every 1 or 2 hrs. One more thing, seeing all of these little fish tells me 2 things, #1 what a great spawn we had this year and I can't wait unitl next year! God Bless and Merry Christmas!

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

      Report: Went to nasty old Lake Merced today. Used hotdogs, nightcrawlers and through castmasters. My uncle hooked a MONSTER CARP on a kastmaster!!! As soon as i bent over to try and land it the carp spit the hook! I wanted a pic with that monster. Huge fish were jumping......


      Ok Everyone, me and my uncle live a couple minutes from the lake and would like to know how to fish it. People say there are barely any fish in there but were seen tons jumping! Big ones too!! I think we were fishing the South Lake(we fished on the bridge). I dont really even know which lakes are what. Which one is south, north, east, impoundment? I would GREATLY appreciate it if someone could email me some tips, stories, and facts about the lake.

      THANK YOU
      City: San Bruno

Sunday, December 17th, 2006

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: ENJOY THIS ONE MOM.... FUN DAY WITH MOM FISHED UP AND DOWN LAKE WITH BEST BEING 2.5 TO 3LB SM MOM GOT NUMBERS THOUGH FILLING LIMIT TO AROUND 10LBS. SLOW BUT HAD FUN HUNTING WITH MOM. WHERE DID DIXON GO? BE BACK SOON RESORTS SHUTTING DOWN DUFF 20
      City: MOUNTAIN VIEW

      Tips: DROPSHOT WAS BEST MOM USED NEW WEEDLESS BALL JIG PUMPKIN / WATERMELOM COLORS

    • By

      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water yesterday kinda late about 8:15,headed north...Fished for about 3 hours, with a decent numbers of bites but at first they were not commiting to it. Did manage a 3lb smallie, one chunk Spot that weighed 2.65, and a 2lb largemouth. Headed for the narrows to finish out the day....Alot more bites and put 6 more in the boat, however they were smaller fish, up to 1.75lbs. Broke one off on a jig that I would like to have seen, it was a good one.
      City: Napa

      Tips: Caught fish from 18'-40', fish slow...one the sun came up and it warmed up a bit there were more bites.....

  • Santa Barbara County
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      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: An early 6:45AM launch and the skies were filled with the chance of rain. Chilly out and the 'warmmies' were in order so my new snow suit did the job. Parking lot look like a goast town this morning with maybe two other boats seen. I hooked up with a Western Bass friend for a day on the water to go to school via the proffessor Kelly Ripa. A great lesson on spoonin and it paid off as if anyone knows the art of 'spoonin'. Mr. Ripa is the main man. Proffessor Ripa is by far the best finnesse guy I have watched fish and a master intheartof spoonin. If this guy tells you do this or that belive me listen as his knowledge of Cachuma is just mind blowing.

      Thanks for all the info and great time on the water Saturday Kelly.It is and was much enjoyed and much appreciated and I look towards another lesson possibly after the holidays. Your method was right on the money and it proved to me that winter bassin with a spoon is a productive way to get bass in those deeper 45+ foot holding zones. I have to say I didn't fair as well as you but at least I didn't loose any tackle of yours. Thanks! Well one of mine anyway on a stupid line wrap on the tip.

      The water towards Arroehead is still muddy looking and the best bet for clarity is towards the dam. Kelly put us on fish in many places and a few very decent keepers made it aboard. Big swins 1st thing brought no takers and we went right into spoons for the rest of the day. I tried a few kigs cranks and some spyder grubs with only one decent hit so back to the spoons. Most fish were in 50 feet but a few good smallies Kelly nailed were in 25 foot range. All in all, an enjoyable time and I am thankful I was able to have such a proffessional teach me a little art in fishing with a spoon. A 1000 thanks Kelly! Bob
      City: Santa Maria

      Tips: Hopkins silver spoons were the top taker today. Fish it agressivley over brch but 'don't' jerk up to set a hook if you feel weight. It's probably a stump. The hit on the flutter back down will be your prize. Have needles aboard as deeper fish will need to be deflated to avoid becoming bird bait. Keep your line wet and enjoy the Holiday Season. Merry Xmas To All

    • By

      Water Temp: 51 to 53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well the cold front showed up this weekend and the anglers didnt traffic was light over the weekend and the bass were in deep water there still are bass in the 12 to 16 inch range but the bite has fallin off on drop shot and jig fish. This may be the week they plant trout so that might help stir the bigger fish again. The ramps on both side of the lake are goods bets when the trout are dumped also try the dam area put the boat in 10 to 15 feet of water and throw out into deep water and fish up the face of the dam ( SLOW )Also the 5 mph in the deeper water slow down east wall in the 35 to 50 foot depth from east ramp to keepout bouys. the swimming area is also another good spot with a real nice ledge that run out there into deep water it should hold bass right now.
      City: kerman ca

      Tips: Slow down you might even try dead stickin your lure your throwing. The bite is softier than normal. dont look to put 20 fish in the boat but look for 5 to 6 bites in half a days fishing. If your using live bait the dam area is a good choice.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 50.5-52.9

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Very short trip - under 2 hours (2pm-4pm). No hits but saw some 2 pound fish visually in about 4 feet on rocky hump. Main reason for report is water temp. Air temp was pretty warm. Dike 8/Folsom Pt. launch ramp almost too low to use but not quite. Water still much higher than it should be this time of year.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: Stored a lot of waypoints on GPS for future use.

Saturday, December 16th, 2006

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 50-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Pre-fished down south and around mildred area. Found lots of reaction fish rippin shallow grass and slow rolling blades along tule islands. Fished the AC semi pro today, greated by a cold front and a clear sky,, not great for us reaction guys. Spent two hours at our first stop, the back of a dead end slough, with only 1 keep to show for it. Ran to my partners water where he'd located several schools of fish holding out in front of deep water docks. Partner sticks a 4 and 5 and now we feel like were back in the hunt. We filled our limit on the docks and decided to give another shallow grass area a try, since it was now overcast and the wind picked up. We couldn't get bit on the blade, but managed to cull our smaller fish rippin up two 2's and a 3. finished in 3rd with just over 16lbs. 1st and 2nd both had 18.
      City: Tracy

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out of the Wimpie's area today to test my friend's project boat. Being the fishing addict, I brought two poles with us. One was setup with a jerkbait and the other had a deep diving Craw color Timeber Tiger crank. We targeted deep weed lines around coves. Fished both baits very slow with a long pause between retrieves. The tide was coming back in. Overall we caught three fish within a half hour. Not bad for winter.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Live weeds in coves and deep water. Throw your typical winter baits--jigs n pig, crank, jerk, and flip slow. Thoroughly work an area. It may take up to eight cast before the fish strikes your bait.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Up Bear River arm for 3 hours only ten spots up to about 2 lbs. All fish on darthead robo worm and black, brown, and purple 1/2 oz. jig. Bite super soft and suspended fish were impossible today.
      City: Loomis

      Tips: Drag slow Bite Super soft

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 54 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water with a friend at @07:30 hrs air temp at 32degrees with no wind. Decided to run up the South Fork first which was difficult due to the fog still on the water. Found the old salmon falls bridge with no fish on it and that maybe because the water temp there is at 45 degrees. Fished the South fork for a few hours with no luck(not even a bite). Ran to the main lake to fish points found one spotted bass in about 5 feet water near current and rock. She hit a baby brush hog on a darthead rig and weighted in just under 2 1/2 lbs. Wind was blowing out of the southeast between 8-10 miles from about 8am on which made for a very cold day of fishing. Saw several other boats running and gunning but I don't know how they did. North Fork water temp is still above 50 degrees, today is was at 54 degrees. This lake continues to eat my lunch..One day I'll figure her out until then have fun, dress warm and take a kid fishing. Merry Christmas to all.
      City: EDH

      Tips: I would probably fish the North Fork only because the South Fork water temp is getting Cold.

  • Fresno County
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      Water Temp: 54 - 56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished ABA team. Had 7.90 for 5 fish nothing big. All our fish came up river and jigs and worms. The fish were in 2-10' shad pattern worked in the morning and craw colors in the afternoon lots of small fish and clones. We culled 5 or six times to get that weight.
      City: Auberry