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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, October 1st, 2006

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing on Sunday with my buddy. Caught around 40 black bass and about 30 stripers. Largest BB was 4lbs on dartheaded plastic worm. All stripers caught on spooks. Caught BB on crawtubes, senkos, curltail worms, and spooks. Topwater lasted all day. Had a few very large bass follow spooks to the boat.
      City: manteca

      Tips: Watch for fish hitting the surface. And look for current.

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: On the water at first light. After 5 hours had only 2 fish on frogs. Started throwing cranks and ended the day with 34 fish in the boat. Maybe 12 keepers total with lots of dinks. Biggest going 5.5. Best five for 12#. Threw spinnerbaits,senkos,jigs,beavers with no results. Crank is the only way to go
      City: Jerusilum

      Tips: Crank then pause. Fish would it immediatley after the pause. made all the difference in the world

    • By

      Water Temp: 66

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Orwood in the first hour of outgoing. Fished the south, including a little in Disco. Jigs and plastics, brown and purple. 10 in the boat in 5 hours of fishing, although it seemed like I should have had more (overcast skies all day). Best was 3+ or so, and I caught 3 of those, all on jigs on points in current.
      City: Oakland, CA

      Tips: I'm not very good so I'll leave the advice for those more qualified. However, is there nothing better than a good jig bite? Maybe it's just me...

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Cool & breezy-Out of Russo's ----> around Mandaviile- Dink fest 4-13" senko & bomber (shad).
      City: Sac

      Tips: Crank the rocks

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: GOOD REPORT-THANKS BIG DADDY.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 63-67

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Came down and fished from Sept 30th thru Oct 4th. We launched at Konocti around 2 pm on Saturday and caught around a dozen fish on LV's around 3-3 1/2 lbs each all on points. The next day we launched at the same place and caught around 20 on LV's, Spinnerbaits, crainkbaits, jigs. On Monday we launched out of Lakeport and caught a 5lbs 3 oz on a Jig and around 20 on spinnerbaits in the tules around docks, ect. We fished a differant area each day and on Tuesday we fished Soda Bay area up to the state park and didn't do to hot. Caught around 12-15 all around 3 lbs each. My partner did well drop shotting on windmill point and caught 5 nice ones while I just watched. We saved the best for the last day and on Wednesday evening we were fishing out of Lakeport again we got on a reed point and the bass were busting shad all around us we caught fish after fish for 2 1/2 hours on pointer 78's. I wish I had a video to film it because it made the whole trip.
      City: Winston

      Tips: Look for clearer water out of the wind. Fish tule points, rock points, with spinnerbaits, LVR's, Pointer's.

    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy Forrest and I hit Clear Lake for just a one day hammer, we fished from Red Bud to the narrows and hit about 6 different spots, we caught 1-2 fish at all spots on 4 in drop shot robos MM II or crank bait with silver body and orange belly, any brand as long as in went down about 5 feet.
      I did catch 4 crank bait fish in about 10 minutes in the AM but than it slowed down quick but in the evening when the sky cleared a litte at about 6:30 something happened, the wind completly changed directions and one of our favorite spots became flat calm not a ripple, forrest said top water!! I said I will grab my Rapala skitter pop with orange belly, in 3 cast I had a 1.2 and a 7.6!!!, the 7.6 swirled around the bait after a 3 foot walk the dog skitter pop retrieve so I said hey Forrest look at that swirl!! He said Wow so I waited about a count to 5 and gave it one little pop and she slammed it!!!!I will post photos soon.
      7.6 is not big to some but its my biggest to date and it was so nice to get her on top water! My buddy Forrest did not have much confidence in crank bait fishing so he asked me a few question about the retrieve at about 6:45 PM, by 7:30 PM he had 8 fish in the boat!, at one point he had 4 fish in 6 cast!!! I think he has confidence in crank baits now:)
      City: San Joser

      Tips: Like the posting before mine the October crank bait bite is on, I spoke to a guy that got a 8.4 and his wife lost one bigger than that plus about 10 1-2 lbers. I ran into Arron Coleman at the Red Bud launch ramp, what an awesome pro! he had a guide trip booked and took a few minutes to give us some tips, he said crank baits and he was correct. The water is clear to 4 feet in places so the reaction bite is your better bet or go 6-8 lb test vanish on drop shot. Crank the rock!!!!

    • By

      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: went out on the float on sat....didnt catch nothin until later that day off a topwater....seeing alot of blackbass coming close too shoreline...
      City: antioch

      Tips: use top water n the morning then switch too plastic worms and grubs...

    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 6am-3pm. Rain caught us off guard, but fishing was good. Fished submerged humps and rockpiles in 5mph, also fished islands in front of dam and swimming area. Between two of us we landed 20-the largest going 5.7. The rest were smaller with a few 2-3lbers. 19 fish fell to the jig. The other was on a creature. Larger fish are still deeper @ 20-25'. Also, I want to thank Mark Innman for helping Aaron and I become familiar with this lake-look for his posts as they are very helpful!
      City: exeter

      Tips: 1/4 & 3/8 skinny bear jigs with 208 yamamoto grubs. colors were green pumkin, watermelon red, and smoke blue flake.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished South Fork with A few fish then moved up North cought A few keepers wind blowing pretty good.We did see Skeet Reese and his daughter( It's great to see A pro take the time with his family and fun fishing)fishing up on the North Fork and watched as he made A few stops. I will try those spots next week.The lake fell almost 10 feet in just one week. It's going to be hard to keep up with the fish moving.
      City: Sac

      Tips: Best 5 went 12lbs. or so Robo and Mothers worm and drop shot Pro worm in Morning Dawn. I guys I should try the bridge on the South Fork next time.

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 71-73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Oh yeah..I forgot...I fished the wall on the west side of the dam, past the dam and along the points on ski cove.
      City: Merced CA

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      Water Temp: 71.0 - 73.0

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished in off/on showers from 3:00 P.M. to dark. Caught a total of about 20 bass. 12 on White/Silver and Chartreuse 1/2 OZ Blades, 5 on Lucky Craft Pointer-Ghost Minnow Rip Bait, and the rest on top water. Most of the Bass were Spots 1-2 pounds, but the largest was a Black Bass-4lbs. It was raining 90% of the time and you could see the Bass chasing the shad all over the place. If you threw up against the bank with a rocky cover, the bass would come up from the deeper water and slam the lure. Well worth fishing in bad weather.
      City: Merced CA

      Tips: Like my buddy Anthony Tanachion once told me; when its raining, the shad come up, and the bass follow. Topwater, blades and rip baits in Shad patterns were hot. Plastics were not. Fish up against walls with rocks at a 45 degree slope. Also hit the points as usual. The water is starting to cool off, so fall fishing is here!!

Saturday, September 30th, 2006

  • Santa Barbara County
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      Water Temp: 71.4

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I took my buddy Mace out Saturday. There was a small club tournament from Bakersfield infront of us and they opened the gate at 6:30 this week not the 6:00 from the week before. We got out on the water first which is one of the percs. of not being in competition. We wanted to fish topwater and did less than average for what I used to do in years past. I guess you can't make a horse drink??? We did get into some very stupid rattle trap smallmouth/largemouth of no size that were boiling from the shallows out into 80 odd feet of water. We caught a zillion small fish and then we went looking for the dropshot fish that MJPLPD had almost mentioned in the report of last week. With some very small fish to show for our troubles I put Mace on the dock because of obligations and went fishing on my own. I swear I always tear them up AFTER I put Mace on the dock. It's either his bad luck or my good fortune I just will never know. I made the decision to go to my best winter time spoon spot and start my afternoon search there. In 5 minutes I had two smallmouth over three pounds and a largemouth that was at least three pounds. I was fishing walls and the fish came anywhere from 25 to 40 feet and I caught mostly smaller smallmouth as I moved along with an occasional keeper largemouth or smallmouth. I sold some spoons to a couple of guys (who promptly lost them) and kept on spooning down the bank. Around 2:30 I went to one of the ledges off of one of the flats and started marking the fish with my meter that were really deep. So I started in 37 and worked to 55 feet and tore the hell out of the fish. I put out two marker bouys and stayed in exactly the same spot for 3 hours as the fish here were really stupid for my spoon. I called over a rental boat and found it full of cub scouts and two fathers and got them situated over the top of these fish. I cut off and retied most of their gear and gave the boys a couple of 1/2 oz. hopkins spoons (my treat). We kind of had a fishing-learning siminar with on the water instruction and my (always) on running critiques/tactics/advice. They boys and one girl seemed to love watching me reel in fish after fish while they were getting that scared look of I'm never going to catch a fish....someone would eventually start yelling and in would come a fish. I really didn't want to leave at 4 and put it off until 4:15 when I had to go because of my obligations. I caught "NICE" largemouth,smallmouth,redear and crappie all on my lowly spoon on this one location. My better fish came out in the 40+ range and I caught a MESS of them way before the spoon got anywhere near the bottom on the initial drop. I would just let it fall and whack....reel down and set and reel like hell. My set up is simple. I use a 3/4 oz. chrome spoon with a snap....Never use a snap swivel or swivel of any kind with a spoon.NEVER....Did I say NEVER!!!! I change out the stock hook and use a red #4 gamagatsu hook and 12 pound test and the fish will eat the red right off the hook. I carry a stone and frequently touch up the hook point. I ONLY use a 5 1/2 med or med/heavy triggerstick rod. WHY? I have never seen anyone in the 20+ years I've been doing this beat this set up. WHY? Because I think most people overwork their spoon OR they just don't get the same action from the quick rip off the bottom and the follow down that I get with this set up. I will be taking out some newbies to spoon fishing over the next few weeks and I'll wager that they are buying a new rod or want one for Christmas after we are through with our fishing (lesson). The rod I use is a Loomis CR662 5'6" Med fast action 8-14 1/4-5/8oz. It does not have a trigger but it has the short handle I like. Thank you guys for writing your reports and to those reading these reports ...You're more than welcome to come join the fun and write a report (or two?) of your own.
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: Tip number 1: NEVER swing on anything you feel while ripping in the up direction only swing on what you feel on the controlled fall. 99% of the time on the up swing/rip it is either structure or fishing line(fishing line always feels like a fish and you are forgiven for this mistake)...100% of the thumps you feel on the controlled desent are fish, snap a hook set and start reeling fast.
      Tight lines,
      Kelly

    • By

      Water Temp: 71-71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched 7:30 with 10YO Grandson. Small mouth still pretty active. Hit topwater on Spook and Pop R. Not big but fun - 10 and 11 inch the norm.
      Dropsohot worked well. Fish in Little Cachuma and Santa Cruz. Didn't see much on the hump by the water intake.
      City: Santa Barbara

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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I will start with a tip. Dont show your wife the sweet beaver packaging. She may not let you go fishing. Tried something I read about (maybe on this site?) with interesting results. I thought this sounded crazy but at the same time I was curious. I texas rigged a beaver and then about 24" up I tied on my trusty 4 inch magic worm dink slayer. I got into better fish today than I have in the past 10 trips out. I am not sure if the little weenie up top was bringing in better fish and they were commiting on the larger bait and the little fish would come in and shy away because of the larger beaver? either way. I didnt catch any smaller fish until I cinched on just a drop shot weight. wierd story but interesting none the less.
      City: Goleta

      Tips: Lets use this site for discussion about the lake. It doesnt have to be just reports. Im not to proud to talk to anyone about anything fin feather or fur related. Regardless if you have a walking stick or a 50k bass buggy. We are all still learning. If not, why are you reading reports? :-)

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

      Report: I concur it was definately a dink fest on Sat as well. Had a hard time catching anything overf 15" but caught them on about 10 different baits while prefishing for a tournament next weekend. Had maybe 45+ fish all day but couldn't get any size. The only advice I've heard is to go striper fishing and eventually you'll run into a school of big largemouth. Go figure.
      City: Pleasanton, Ca

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 65 in the AM...

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out with the intention of catching some bass.

      Ended up trolling for the Rainbows! Used various spoons, roosters, wedding bands, flashers with mini-crawlers. Caught 7 or so right outside the dock area. I had more fish get off of the hook this weekend than ever before. They went airborne and threw it. I had tension the whole time, maybe I need a different hook size.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Troll at various speeds in the south end of lake. Let out about 60ft of line. Put the pole tip in the water when bringing them in to prevent throws.

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out for a couple of hours in the afternoon. No action on Senkos, Beavers, Hula Grubs, or other platics. Decided to try out my new chatterbait and, wham!!! 3.5-4 lb'er. Caught between Channel Pt. Dock and the lagoon. Released with a smile.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: I really like the way the chatterbait "feels". Bought another in a different color. Give it a try whenever you might otherwise throw a blade.

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

      Report: Went fishing from the shore (no boat). Caught one good 2 pound largemouth. Caught the fish drop shoting a puple and clear robo worm. Used my light rod and fought really good.

      tight lines and big smiles!

      Tips: Wind was on and off so drop shotting was a good decision. Use shad looking worms.

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

      Report: Sorry guys, correction on the T&T jigs Its TnT. Look for the website soon. Call Troyce for TnT jigs (209) 505-8504.