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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, October 14th, 2006

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Something I forgot to add to the last post.....There were a couple of hundred dead trout all over the launch ramp and in the marina area. They have dumped in 10,000 trout in the last ten days. The die off occured when a pump on the hatchery truck had malfunctioned on one plant according to one of the kids on the dock.....Can you say swimbait time?
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: I watched a cormmorant eat two trout in two attempts right at the launch ramp at high noon so the trout are thick there and are slowly spreading down the banks....the kids at the docks have seen a couple of great big ol' fish right under the gas dock whomp'n on the trout ...good luck all and see ya on the water in three weeks.

    • By

      Water Temp: 68.4

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Of course because I had my friend Mace with me the bite wasn't as spectacular as last week but just when things were really bad we would find some fish. I was first out this morning and there was a small club tournament behind me. I had only brought my spoon outfit and another for Mace so any notion of fishing another way was out. My intention was to make Mace fish the spoon until he could with his own eyes see how productive it could be and to build his confidence in this technique. While there was a stalled weather pattern over us I didn't think it would change the bite much from the previous week as deep fish are not usually effected as much by barometric swings. What was apparent from the get go was the grebes had left my area and were not seen in any numbers all day long where I was fishing. We started slow and I think the lack of wind had a lot to do with this. During the course of the day I caught Largemouth, Smallmouth, crappie, Red ear, trout and at around 4:00 I was pretty sure I was reeling in the next Cachuma Smallmouth record but it turned out to be an 8 or so pound catfish. I knew when it started rolling about 15 feet from getting it to the boat that I was into a catfish but it was a good fight and I released it to fight another day. My number one smallmouth spot kicked out our best smallmouth of the day for Mace but not until our second trip there. I was proving to Mace that the wind would change the bite everywhere we had been in the morning and he had a smile on his face as he loves a good smallmouth as do most of us. I put Mace on the dock and fished until 4:30 and was surprised where I found the best bite of the day and will have to check out this spot more often.
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: I sometimes don't worry too much when I can't see fish on my meter. The fact that I am fishing where the bait level intersects the bottom is good enough for me. The fish that don't range far and wide following the shad and have taken up residence on some good structure are usually my better fish. I can see my spoon drop on my meter and I have noticed that it will go a few feet past what my meter shows as the bottom so if the fish are REALLY tight to the bottom or in between rocks I don't have enough resolution to see them. I will fish through these areas quicker but fish them none the less.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 66-68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished small club tourney out of Orwood. Stayed south to avoid tourney traffic. Folks reported the topwater bite was on, tho i could only manage a small striper. couldn't get anywhere for a while due to fog. BE CAREFUL - i carry a boat horn in my pocket when I'm fishing in the fog, cause there are too many people who think that they can see farther than they can stop in the fog. Sloughs are narrower than you think.
      Anyway, i ended up with only 9#s tough day. Fished the whole water column. The deep jig bite wasn't working for me, And i gave it a good try. Bigger fish were in 4 - 8 feet, where current hits the bank, or goes by. Slow Current was key. Ended up in Disco to catch a few small fish and our limits..
      City: belmont

      Tips: Bigger fish came on beavers, flapping hogs and senkos fished realllly slow. look for islands in the current with deep water access nearby. Slow flow was better than moderate flow. lite bite, though they ate it really well. They were just sluggish.

    • By

      Water Temp: ~64 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out with my brother and nephew today in search of the striper bite. Started out in Big Break fishing the cuts and found success throwing LC 100DD's and LV500's in Aurora Black and American Shad patterns. Largest striper for us went 7lbs. Switched up later in the day in pursuit of black bass and found most of our fish on the outside weed lines with lipless cranks. Switched up later to chase after the striper again with swimbaits and was rewarded with a 5lb Largemouth. Lots of boats on the water today with the club tourney out of Russo's and a striper derby out of Rio Vista but we managed a decent day.
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: Search for the cuts with good waterflow if you're after the Striper and make sure you fish out a spot to your satisfaction because it may not be free if you decide to leave and come back later.

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

      Report: 3 bass on plastic worms [1,1.1/2,2] but i forgot about the 10 i got on a stocker trout the work great . good job rod and todd thigpinn it swims really great
      City: ventura

      Tips: u need a boat at this lake

    • By

      Water Temp: high 60s

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: their were sum bass boils .they were hitting trout on the surface. i got 1 bass on a plastic worm at about 3 lbs. and a ton o trout on crappie jigs
      City: ventura

      Tips: throw a huddleston swimbait for those looking 4 a double digit bass. i saw them

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I took my son for a day of fishing with panfish inmind. we bought two containers of mealworms (50) and had a blast catching bluegill. We must have caught about 60-70 fish from 11am-4pm when we ran out of bait. we also had a pole free swimmin' a med. minnow line snapped 3 times saw one of the fish had to be 3-5 lb. range. we saw others catching bass all day most were using minnows as well one guy was using a shad rap and caught a few just walking up and down the dock.
      We fished the state park launch area from the boat docks.
      Warm weather and plenty of fish...A GOOD DAY!!
      City: Cobb

      Tips: when the bluegill bite slowed we would cast out the mealworms and retrieve very slowly. This seemed to attract more hits.

      Bass bite was ok minnow with one split shot 1ft. off the bottom triggered some big hits use heavy line when fishing like this 8lb. test didn't cut it.

    • By

      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 11AM-3PM today. Worked hard for 7 fish. The biggest went just over 4 and the best 5 were on the small side of 13lbs. The bite was tough and I took most of my fish on the LV 500 and I did manage 2 fish on the drop shot. I fished Buckingham, Glenhaven, Fraser and Anderson Island. Lake is still very, very low and still very red in places.
      City: Petaluma

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Did the night gig. Scored four slow crawling senkos along the bottom, bump and stop. Four pounder was biggest, then a three, a couple of two's. A few other people out there hooked up as well, we could hear them play their fish. Anything crawled on the bottom probably would have scored a fish or two, they were definitely on an active feed. When the trout plants start, it should bring the really big girls out to play. Can't wait to try trolling big swim baits!
      City: san jose

      Tips: Darker colors on a moonless night was working well. Didn't bother trying black spinnerbaits as the worm bite was pretty good. My buddy did try a 10 inch swim bait for awhile, but no takers.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Arrived at Del Valle at 6:30am and went to the far side of the lake across from the marina. Found a good looking spot for some trout, but I already had a bass lure tied on...so I gave it a try. What a good decision....8 bass in 90 minutes. They were holding on nothing more than a bottom composition change (rocky to mud bottom). No other cover was present. Used reaction baits and they were slamming it hard. Of the 8, the biggest was about 3.
      Came back the next morning to see if it was a fluke and caught only 3, but the biggest took a chartruese rattletrap and went 5.5lbs.
      City: Fremont, CA

      Tips: Reaction baits are a good choice since bass are trying to fatten up for the winter.

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 69-72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Whoa, my 10 yera old Grandson, Cade and I spent the day on McClure Saturday and what a pleasure it was. We caught over 50 fish mostly 1.5 - 2 pounders but one four pound spot. What really amazed me was the number of yearling and 2 year old Largemouth that we caught. At least 3 to one Largemouth and even one Smallmouth, I haven't caught a Smallmouth on McClure since the 80's and they used to be up the river, this one was in the main lake across from Barrett's! The lake hasn't even begun to turn over yet so maybe that's why the large presence of Largemouth. We'll be fishing McClure weekly through December as Cade will be my team partner in several tournaments this fall and early winter. The last two wet winters have really enhanced this fishery and I fully expect that 12-15 pound limits will be the rule here this fall.
      City: Le Grand

      Tips: Get on 'em and follow 'em!

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

      Report: I launched early and fished up the river arm from 49 bridge up. Caught most of my fish on points looking for ledges and spots where mud ran down shail rock. Fish are still posting up on pillons under bridges, caught some good size SMBs. Drop shot was producing the most fish, 5 1/2" Hologram shad and salt pepper (robos) seems to be what they are liking. Fish seemed picky but there are tons of fish in this lake! Tight lines and smiles
      City: Livermore

      Tips: D.S robos w/ short leader, Shad colored flukes
      Get out early before wind picks up

Friday, October 13th, 2006

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished down south, launched @ first light with a buddy. Were looking for a topwater bite (stripers or largemouth) and came up with nada, just a few short strikes. Started flippin 8 inch worm and picked a few in the 2-3 lb. range, also on senkos. Got a few 16-18 in. stripers on jerk baits. Throw in a few on blades and we were off the water by 1:00. All in all a fun day on the water with a buddy.
      City: Tracy

      Tips: current seemed to be the ticket.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Don't fish tourneys. Just like to have fun. Go and throw heavy punch weights with beavers or senkos. Water hiacenth and thick matts close to heavey cover are the ticket. Have been getting 20# daily. All over delta not joking. Just try it!!!!!! Don't mind helping people who don't have the time to fish eveyday for tourneys. If you want a pay check, master punching weed matts. One and a half ounce tungsten weight and heavy braid through heavy cover will get big fish. Try it everyone. It will work. Guaranteed. Don't want to be like the rest of the losers who won't help share secrets. Doesn't affect me in anyway. Good luck to all
      City: Stockton

      Tips: Punch matts. Just punch matts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not many do it but it will work. Just do it. Will take time to figure out but once you do this time of year you will place high if you fish tourneys. Good luck to all

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66-68

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished clearlake for three days tenth eleventh and twelth,TOUGH BITE!!! a buddy and i fished hard ran to many different places that i know hold fish. I have fished the lake for about eaght years, I dont know everything but i'm not clueless eather,we onley managed about ten fish the whole trip, but the weather was perfect!!
      City: Turlock ca

      Tips: Cant give any tips but i spoke to a few guid's on the water and they were also struggling, glad i didnt have the presure of puting their clients on fish.......

    • By

      Water Temp: 69-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I decided at the last minute to take me, myself, and I to Clear Lake for a little night action - hoping something might be big! Sure enough, when I launched at 10 pm the wind was starting to howl. Darn - I didn't beat the cold front. I didn't catch anything until the last quarter of the moon got up a bit. Lots of small fish bites. I started at Dollar Island and Konocti Bay with no results. As I worked my was back towards the narrows the bite picked up drastically with several clone bass at 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 lbs, and a 4.1. Two were 2 1/2 pounders. Dollar even produced a few at 1 am. After dumping a 5+, I finished from Anderson Island to the narrows. I wanted a 10th bass real bad and when I set into her at 2:55 am on Friday the 13th - I realized she wasn't going to be bad luck! Unfortunately, she needed 2 more big shad to make her 8 lbs - she went 7 lbs 15 oz. Those are tough to net yourself! I took my own photos with my Canon A95 and one is on the photo page. Wow - what a great age - who needs a partner to take a photo!! Hope I am awake for my seminar tonight at Fisherman's Warehourse in Rocklin!!! A 23 lb limit kept me awake for the drive home!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I have always done well during the last quarter of the moon - after moon rise (about 11:30 pm). People downplay the last quarter but it has been good to me. My largest bass ever (Amador) was caught the night of the last quarter and R.C. Stephens and I caught a 43-10 Clear Lake limit in '98 at night on the last quarter. I only fished rock structures last night - mostly off-shore and I only caught bass on one bait - the beloved 10" black Power Worm with 4/0 EWG Gami hook. Only missed one big fish.

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

      Report: killed em!!! Nailed a 3# first cast with a devilhorse, tricked another one 3 cast's later on the same thing. both on a point.
      Went across the lake to some flats, and tagged a 5# while backreeling because of the serious wind. he fell for a smoke colored grub. I learned from this happy accident and and went back across the flat again, and nailed another 5, and a couple of 2's, and then one more five in the same exact area.
      The wind waskicking my bass, so I went back across the lake to hide out, and found a point with white caps coming acrossed it. I hid back out of the wind and cast the same grub way out into the white caps. instantly I felt a hard thud. It took everything I had to keep the boat off the rocks, and get the fish in. It was a 7 # kicker. My best day yet out there. I guess I have to start saying good things about it now.
      City: desert hot springs

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: FRIDAY THE 13 WAS NOT A PRODUCTIVE DAY FOR BASS FISHING MY PARTNER AND I TRIED ALL OUR PROVEN SPOTS ONLY TO CATCH ONE SMALL BASS HOWEVER THE TROUT FISHING PROVED TO BE REWARDING WITH SOME RAINBOWS GOING TO FOUR POUNDS
      City: ANTIOCH CA

      Tips: CANT HELP WITH THE BASS BUT KASTMASTERS GOLD OR SILVER 3/4 OUNCE TROLLED SLOWLY WORKED FOR US ON THE RAINBOWS

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 68-70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: 1/8 Frog hair, we tied our own on dart heads, used junior pork and when John Coyle was cuttin pork he'd make us some. Today was still a little tough had two arond 2lbs. all the rest were clone 13" limos. Chased shad and caught one just under them on the fall. Weather changing bite should improve. Butcher out
      City: Reddin

      Tips: Hey Truth...stick around and share some of your experiences. Not many have your experience, share it.

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

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

      Report: Not really a secret when you can see the fish (and the dozens of people pointing and shouting about it) from the parking lot!
      City: Antioch