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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, September 18th, 2006

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 75.0-77.0

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 0600 to 1200. Started off with white/silver blades, around ski cove and surrounding points. Caught 8 1-2.5 pounders until the sun hit the water. Switched to luckycraft chartreuse minnow/rip bait and caught another 4, largest about 2.5 pounds. Fishing slowed after 1000, but I caught another 4 spots on smoke and chartreuse/witches brew and chartreuse 6" Predator worms at about 20-25 feet off rock piles/points.
      City: Merced, CA

      Tips: Water is cooling, and fish are starting to fequent rocky points in shallower water. From what I see, shad patterns seem to work the best. Go to A-1 or the Gas station in Snelling for good shad patterns/hand pours. Starting to feel like fall bassin', so hang on!

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      Water Temp: Warm

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 2-4ish, mostly on west side of the lake, caught a few on 4.5 inch Big Texan colored flird on a darter head. Nice day, first time in a float tube.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: None, if any one can share with me how to get more fish/where the bigger ones are, give me a shout.

Sunday, September 17th, 2006

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 74.5

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got to the lake late Wednesday night it was chilly and windy. Early Thursday morning Bob and his son Matt and I headed out to catch bass. It was still chilly and windy and the fish were not co-operating except for small bass around six inches. The next day it warmed up a little and Adam and I set out for a couple of hours of fishing. He landed a nice size bass and he got some pointers on tackle. Now to Jose he never thought he would hold these two monster cats for this picture. Later in the afternoon (Friday) my wife and I went to my favorite cove where I had lost that huge catfish last weekend (yes I had to try and get him again). Using a small treble hook and the cornmeal mixture that I spoke about last week I gently cast it in the direction where I thought he would be and let it sink down to the bottom. Within four or five minutes I saw the line moving out, I aimed the rod at the fish and closed the bale within seconds he took of running and the fight was on. This time I did not tighten the drag I played him till he tired out. I handed the rod to my wife so I could get the net ready and he must of gotten a second wind because he took off again. She enjoyed reeling him in as he neared the boat and saw the net he took off again this went on for a couple of minutes until I finally netted him. He wasn't the "big guy" from last weekend but he was a good size at least twelve to fifteen pounds. I did catch some more cats on hotdogs and alot of small bass around four to six inches. Sunday I went out by myself it was a very hot day what a difference from Thursday. Caught a few keeper bass but still landing alot of little guys. The carp were off this weekend just couldn't get them interested in anything I threw out. 'til next week......................................good fishing!!!!!!!! www.fishingconnection.net If you have any fishing stories you would like to share please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.
      City: NAPA

      Tips: if you want to see pictures send me your emails ,thanks for reading my stories i enjoy answering your questions about lake berryessa i hope you got some additional fish from my help.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 68-70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished out West today mainly because it wasn't windy seems like a rarity anymore. Fished around the break, the meat wall and got one small dink. Then moved to the main river north side and caught about 10 fish biggest was 4 lbs most were right at 2 lbs, caught. The water, low incoming and was pretty muddy. I got a few on a wht/cht chatter bait, some on a red/blk speed trap and two on a frog. Better fish were on the crank. Late in the afternoon I went back to the break and fished the clear water at high tide. Fish were everywhere "you could see them" I caught about 10 more on a frog, buzz bait, chatter bait and speed trap. But most I was just looking at all the fish.
      City: Martinez

      Tips: Keep moving until you find the fish and keep with it until they stop biting.

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      Water Temp: 69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: We started off the morning in Franks Tract around 6:30am. Began picking up fish off shallow ledges in front of tullies. Our best tactic was covering lots of water quickly using Voo-Doo baits and some crankbaits. My buddy Kevin stuck an 8 on Delta colored Voo-Doo around 11 am, not a huge fish but his biggest this year. Moved up to the south Mokulme around noon. Using the same method as in Frants on the rip-rap walls we immediately started hitting good numbers. Off the water by 3pm best five going 21.3#.
      City: Orangevale

      Tips: This time of the year is usually really good for reaction baits, today most of our success came from a new lure called the Voo-Doo bait. We threw many colors, but white and delta pattern were the most productive. A buddy of mine turned me on to these about a month ago. FYI www.fishinmagiciantackle.com

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      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got a late start today and headed up to the Bear Creek Arm. Action was slow with plastics and fish weren't very big. Switched over to blades and Voo-Doo's nailing fish right away. The fish seemed to be right near the bottom close to structure and when we were hitting stumps and rocks the fish reacted. Big fish of the day was 3.7 lbs. 27 total for the day.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: A guy at work gave me a new bait called the Voo-Doo, it was extremely hard to find until I found their website. This thing really blows away the chatterbait, and it's now one of my favorite lures.

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

      Report: Fished the weekend Jago Bay. I caught about 6, 1-2 lbs. and 2, 5 lbs. I fished off and on during the weekend. There was just one thing, I fished from the same dock at a friends cabin where we stayed. I was very restricted to a very small area of fishing. I had all my tackle and then some, but couldn't bring the boat due to having a newborn baby...
      City: Pinole

      Tips: Caught fish late evening on chartreuse spinnerbait, during the day, plastics in oxblood, and early morning husky jerkbait when baitfish are schooled around with bass busting on bait. Oh yeah, next time bring the boat....

    • By

      Water Temp: 70-77

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: We had two decent days fishing this weekend. While weather and lake conditions were excellent the fishing was quite tough, at least for us. On Saturday we caught and released 8 fish with our best 5 coming in at 13 lbs. All fish were caught on the drop shot from mid-lake to the south. The big fish of the day was a tad over 4lbs. Today we caught 13 fish with our best 5 coming in at 17 lbs. Our big fish of the day came in at just under 5lbs. We caught fish today drop shotting and with a white spinnerbait. Today we focused mid-lake to the north and caught fish in every spot we stopped at. We especially did well drop shotting around the tules throughout the day. Several times we thought we had a HUGE fish on only to be "disappointed" in another 2-3lb football. These Clear Lake footballs fight like no other, they are a blast.
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: The weather at the lake has clearly changed, fall is in the air for sure so plan your day accordingly.

    • By

      Water Temp: 73 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fishin was a little tough today. only caught a 2.5 pounder and that was the only bite i got. water was calm for me out on my float tube. went all the way back by the pool's cove and caught the fish of of a rootbeer craw. seen a couple of 3 and 4 pounders back there.
      City: antioch, ca

      Tips: fish slow and deep

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      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got to the lake a little late-7am. Fished 5mph and pulled out two #3's and lost two about the same size. Fished humps on opposite end of lake and caught fish from 12-17". Lot of boats on every hump and island but go behaind them and you can always pull more out. Total was around 25 bass.
      City: Exeter

      Tips: 3/8 brown & green jigs with Yam. 5" single tail trailers. Yam. Kreatures, Brush hogs and Senkos in any shade of brown and green. larger fish are 20-25'. good luck!

Saturday, September 16th, 2006

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

      Report: Looking for a club that accepts temporary non boaters. I tried the SB bass club that meets up at Cachuma but they didnt seem to have time for new non-boaters. I am really looking for a club to actually be involved in. not just say I am a member and get their magizine.
      City: goleta

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Not a Cachuma report and heck, its not even bass. Drove up to the Feather river Friday and hooked 15 nice salmon on one of my customs. Only landed 7 but the biggest was about 35 pounds. Felt like I was fighting a very upset dairy cow with 12# test. They are all spawned out or I would be sending everyone on this board fresh salmon.

      Hey Bob, I still havent found a partner down here. My wife is going to let me... buy a boat this next summer so I will be looking myself. Again, if anyone needs a non-boater that doesnt talk to much, dont cuss and promises not to hit you on my back cast. e-mail me. I can net too!
      City: Goleta

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

      Report: Went out with long time buddy Kane. He taught me how to fish the late summer bites first working the cranks at the weedlines and then following up with the jigs once we found some takers. We ended the day with about 20 hookups most of 1.5 to 2.5# Didn't hook onto any big monsters but definitely fun. First time seeing fish being pulled out of beds of water hyacinths!

      Tips: Keep working that lure. More time the lure stays in the more fish!

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished a Chico Bass Club Tournement Saturday with Kelly Renihan. I Took first place with 14 lbs. Biggest fish was 4.6lb. Kelly took second place. Fish were taken on 6 inch Magalia Plastic Baits Gummy Worm (Light brown with blue blood line) Biggest three fish were taken on red speed traps fishing rocky banks on the out going tide. Some fish were taken on white blades
      City: Chico

      Tips: Beat the banks with speed traps on out going tides, flip black/blue jigs with plastic craws in black with blue flake and light blue craws when tide is up back in pockets. We fished mostly in the sand mound area because of the wind. Caught a lot of clone fish and ten strippers and a one one pound perch

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      Water Temp: 66

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Friday 9/15 cool & very windy. Fished main channel tules near Mokulmne & in Potato Slew. Partner & I caught 20+ keepers (all small)mostly on white spinnerbaits, baby brushhogs (watermelon red)or dropshot Aarons Magic. Saturday warmer & no wind. Fish slightly bigger, but not as many & spinnerbaits not productive. Bite very slow after noon both days.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The Redwood Empire Bass Club held their monthly tournament on Saturday. Top weight came in at just over 19 lbs and the big fish weighed just under 6 lbs. Most fish were caught on plastics around docks with a few on crankbaits.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Fish the shade areas around docks and shoreline structure.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: windy,but not to hot.Started fishing 6am-1:30pm.
      fished around line saddle and picked up a couple nice 3-5 lbs.on spinner with green/white wiskers.moved further up Nelson bar north side and thru rubber worm 4"close to shore north side and cought 8 more between 2-4.5lbs.wind got to bad so we left.will be back in 2 weeks on this lake.
      City: orland

      Tips: throw all the way to shore.when the imitations quit working try some real worms and the bites back on this spot anyway.start up on the north side let the wind push the boat keep about 30'from shore and toss all the way to the shore.
      see you there in 2 weeks rain or shine good fishing and keep the line wet.

    • By

      Water Temp: 68-72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started in the middle fork at first light. First fish of the day was our big fish. A 2'4 spot on a rip bait. Then we got our 2nd big fish, a 2'3 spot on a buzz bait. Good start, but the quality went down from there. The bite really slowed in the middle and around 10 am we headed for the main body. We got on a good jig, dropshot and VooDoo bite and boated another 30 fish or so with the biggest being just under 2 pounds. We then went in to Potters to finish the day and got a bunch more jig fish up to 2'2. Most of the better fish were in the deeper water around 32-36 feet. Our best five went 9.90.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Use your electronics. Find the bait balls and you've found feeding fish. Look for the balls that have the snakes running through them. Then drop right underneath them. Usually your better fish will be on the bottom feeding on the injured smelt that is coming down. Another fun pattern was throwing the VooDoo in the backs of coves. The high water the last 3 years has really helped the largemouth bite. My buddy and I are averaging 4-5 largemouth everytime we go to Folsom or Oroville now. Some of the largemouth were caught in 1-3 feet of water in the coves with brush in them. You just need to have wind blowing in on them and some stain. Throw the VooDoo to the back of the cove and just slow roll it out by the brush. Vicious strikes. Green Pumpkin and Ch/White worked best. Check them out at fishinmagiciantackle.com Good luck

    • By

      Water Temp: 66

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Beautiful, sunny, windless day on the lake...and a fine day of fishin', too. Not many boats on the water as some folks may have given up after the slow fishing of the last weeks.
      Beginning early in the morning, I got a total of four bass on crankbaits, both crawfish and shad finishes, to 2 1/2 lbs. Made lots of casts with buzzbaits and Tiger Tube, but no action on those from the big'uns.
      John had a slow start, not getting a fish until mid-morning, and then he got ON'em!!! Beginning with three fish on three successive casts, he wound up with nine nice bass to three lbs...all from the same spot...and all on a slow-rolled white spinnerbait fished at 15 to 25 feet deep. He'd heard about that presentation on a TV show the day before, gave it a try, and wound up with a very successful day on the water.
      City: Monterey

      Tips: Key to John's success was the slow retrieve and bumping the spinnerbait into something...hits came after the lure deflected off of the bottom or some other object (weeds, rocks, stick-ups, etc.) on the bottom.
      Water temp has dropped in the last couple of weeks, and thermocline is now at 32 feet. Cooler water signals time for slower presentations in the still-oxygenated zone above the thermocline. Lake turnover may be right around the corner.

Friday, September 15th, 2006

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

      Report: Fished last fri, 8th, down south. Tide was high and falling in the am.. temp was warm with no wind. Had decent action on a spook and buzzbait catching about 10 to 3lbs. Switched to a white chatterbait outside the the weedline and caught at least 20 more. Mostly little ones with a few 2's mixed in and lots of missed bites. Tide bottomed out about noon and I switched to punching heavy vegetatation with a tube bait. First flip into the mat and a 3 1/2 comes out. A few flips later and I boat a 7..nice. Off the water at 2 with about 35 boated, best five around 17 1/2lbs.. Went out Fri 15th down south and it was cold and windy. First few hours were slow, but magaged a 3 on a buzzer and a 4 on jig from a deep ledge. Tide botomed out about 9am and the bite was wide open on little fish to 2lbs for the the first hour of incoming.. 10-15 on a buzzbait inside an island and at least 20 on a rat-l-trap outside the weedlines.. Went back to the jig (blk/red & brn/orng)looking for a better bite and got another 4. Proceeded to catch jig fish all day long and ended with a 3 and a 5. Close to 50 fish in the boat today with best five about 18 1/2lbs.
      City: TRACY

      Tips: All the better jig fish came from rocks/wood in deeper water in the main current.