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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, July 21st, 2006

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Another solid day on the delta. 35-40 fish up to 3 pounds. We left a lot of our good water alone with the Sheriffs tourney coming up this weekend, but found good numbers in dissapointment with poppers and plastics. Had some huge swirls on the frog, but they would quite commit to it. the plastic bite was solid when the tide dropped. Very easy to find fish when the tide falls. They were on the outside weed lines chomping on the fry and shiners. Can't believe how much fry was in the water. Sometimes the fry would be non stop for hundreds of yards at a time. So much for people thinking the tourneys hurt the spawn.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Top water is the ticket right now. Whenever there is a ton of fry the topwater will be on. The bass are done protecting and are now eating their own.

    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at first light and had a great day. Caught 20 fish, mostly 2-3# and couple of 4's. Fished the south end of Franks with Persuader Buzz Baits and R2S frogs. Tons of blow ups. Moved to little venice island on high tide and landed fish after fish on frogs. Did find some senko fish on the tule line on the west side of Franks. Offwater at 10:45am. Too Hot!!!!!
      City: san ramon

      Tips: Senko Watermelon, Buzz white, frogs all colors

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 85-95

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Yes the water was 95 deg in Jago bay, it literally burned your skin when you got in off the bank! you had to go out about 30 yards and go down 10 feet to get to 85 deg water. We fished 3 days and had to swim about every other hour or pass out. Caught between 15-25 fish per day to 4.5lbs well my partner did not land the 4.5 but he winked at us as he spit a beautiful black and blue jig at us!! The funny thing was the hotter it got the hotter the bite! when we left Sunday at 6:30 the fish were eating the prop off my boat, I had 4 fish in 5 casts.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: The tournament winner had 26 lbs with a 7.6 biggest fish on a brown jig, he caught all his fish on jigs, his name is Jeff and he ownes the new tackle shop at Red Bud. You had to be carefull what color you tossed, it had to be blue or black or red or purple or brown or green, do you get the hint? it did not matter, worm, jig, drop shot, dart head, Texas rig, carolina rig. Bring your kids with a drop shot with a 4 or 6 inch MM II robo worm and they will have a ball. the cool thing about a drop shot rig is the fish never swallow the hook so the fish never get killed. God bless and catch and release for the future of bass fishing and our little ones that will want to bring their kids fishing in the future.

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 84

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: In spite of the heat, the fishing at Oroville continues to be great for medium size spotted bass, especially around submerged willow trees. I took some friends and we caught well over 50 bass including a few largemouth and a smallmouth. As usual, the fellow in the back of the boat caught the biggest - a nice 17 1/2 inch spot, caught drop-shotting a Basstrix plastic minnow - about 1:30 in the afternoon! In fact, that was the key after noon - drop-shotting 3" Basstrix minnows in the shade of flooded brush. Jigs and Magic worms worked well in the morning.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I think the front that moved in from the south made the weather more comfortable but shut off the bigger fish bite. This happens most of the time, especially for the night bite. I could tell because there was no topwater bite whatsoever. Come and enjoy good fishing - just throw 4 to 6 inch morning dawn or green pumpkin worms - you will catch bass!

Thursday, July 20th, 2006

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 77 nr dam to 81

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Wife and I threw Senko's in coves dam end. Leisurely day just looking around. Not much action, crystal clear water. Went to Clark and Little Cachuma coves. Lots of small fish 11 3/4 inches with 3 15in or so thrown in. Lots of carp in the shallows. Fish showing on hump nr water intake (30 ft) but small.
      City: Santa Barbara

    • By

      Water Temp: Unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 6am to noon in 5mph zone. Caught 3 nice bass (I don't have a scale---21 inches, 19 and 18 inches)between 6am and 7am. After that, only one dink until noon. For me ( I fished Tuesday too) the fishing has been streaky and hard to pattern, many casts between fish, but good fish available. Caught these in 20-25 feet of water around brush.Used 3/8 brown/purple jig with different Yamamoto grub trailers.Water is falling and clearing...I almost put it in the Clear category, but, after all, this is Eastman...
      City: Clovis

      Tips: Be ready to work for a few quality fish.Either fish at night or take lots of water and Gatorade,because the heat's pretty tough after 9am.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Right there with you Scott. It is sad that I would rather drive over a hour to the delta than 10 minutes to folsom due to the fact that there are way to many unsafe boaters out on the water. You can't even go into the 5 mph zones to get away with them. They need to post a definition of no wake at the launch ramp. As far as Capt Kev goes, unsafe activities out on a body of water sould be posted on a fishing report. If you were a dad looking on this web sight for a place to take your 10 yr old son out fishing for the first time on your small 10 foot john boat would unsafe acts, water traffic, irresonsible behavior, and crowded boat ramps be a factor on your decision to visit a lake. It should be. I did not hear any one objecting when people were posting the status of the wood problem on the lake this spring. It was a safety issue but was it realy a fishing issue, maybe if you were flipping wood pockets, but most people were posting it as a safety issue. Gee, getting hit by a drunk guy on a jet ski or loosing a lower unit on a log. I am more worried about the jet skier. Capt Kev, are you an actual state cerified captain or is that just a self proclaimed title. Any true captain knows that safety is their #1 priority. My email is ringneckus@yahoo.com if you would like to drop me a line.

      Tips: I wish the rangers were more present on this lake. It is a beautiful place but it has been turned into a joke. It is a shame that the actions of the few make things unsafe for the many. Scott, I will be there in the winter to fish the FBL.

Wednesday, July 19th, 2006

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Now back to fishing reports........Fished Folsom in the evening with my buddy and landed 5 keepers. 2 bucketmouths(1.5-2lbs) 3 spots (big fish 4-5 lbs, 1 lb, and two 1.5ers). Caught the big spot on a robo worm with a dart head on the north fork. (trees) the rest were caught on 5" grubs.
      City: roseville

      Tips: fish the shade and slow.

    • By

      Water Temp: 79-82

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: To CaptKev, If you fish Folsom for any amount of time, you will know that the pleasure boat traffic is a very big part of any anglers day on this lake. As for the definitions, it was used in humor to show that not all pleasure boaters are the same and there are people out there to enjoy the water and not ruin the day for everyone else. As for the submission rules, please post your email so this type of conversation can be handled off of the forum and not take up space for a fishing report on a very crowded Folsom Lake
      City: Roseville

      Tips: When posting like Capt.Kev, please include an email address to increase the odds of not being considered a "drive-by" poster.

Tuesday, July 18th, 2006

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: had a great topwater bite tonight. The two hours I fished I landed about 20 fish all on the skitter pop. pop-pop pause.. Sometimes they would not hit the bait until the ripples were gone. I tried a faster cadence but they were not buying it. Big fish went about 10........inches. What do I need to do to get a bigger fish. Next time out I am throwing nothing but the black 10" Saltwater Power Eel. Its like a half a pound of plastic. Any advice would help.
      City: santa barbara

      Tips: topwater was going off tonight. First night in a few weeks I got bit on top.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out at 6:00 this morning expecting the water level to be low like on Thursday, but they started raising the lake again so i had to find the fish. Worked the back of island with topwater but nothing, mostly catfish in the shallow water around it. Made it to the rocks behind pool and it was deeper so I threw dropshot. First cast got a quick bite and got a small pounder. A few casts later about 5 feet in front of me got a thump and landed a nice 3. Moved to north shore after and saw all the schools of bait fish. Through out my silver spinnerbait with curly tail grub right below surface abouve schools and got a nice 2.5. The rest of the shore was filled with weeds infested with huge spiders so i walked all the way to opening before the dam. Found another nice drop off, threw the spinner and got a quick hit but missed, threw drop shot right after and got another 2.5. I had to go to work so i went to rocks along east shore real fast a picked up one last pounder with an 8" curly tail worm texas rig. Good day, wish i had more time, more water to drink, and less spiders.
      City: Oakley

      Tips: Follow the bait fish, rock piles, and drop offs. No luck for me anywhere else.

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: 87

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: caught plenty of fish 2-6# using top water Sammy in shad colors in the morning and evening
      City: Fresno

      Tips: dont fish mid-day stay cooldrink plenty of H2O

    • By

      Water Temp: 83 to 85

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Will guys the better bass are showing at night as i said in the 15 to 30 foot range brushogs in watermelon red/black flake and jigs in color brown/purple or black/blue work well for bass to 4 pounds. My targeted areas are in the 5 mph and structure as in brush piles and dropoff are holding good fish. Trees that are in depths of 20 to 30 feet are hold bass suspended and will slam a jig on the fall. Im throwing 3/8oz arkie jigs w/yamamoto 5" single tail grubs. Flipping stick i get over the target im fishing and fish stright up and down both jigs and brushogs work this way. Its not to hard to put ten nice bass in the boat in a couple of hours. 559-689-3255
      City: kerman ca

      Tips: 5 MPH AREA AS YOU DRIVE IN STOP AND LOOK BEFORE IT GETS DARK OPEN WATER BEFORE YOU GET TO THE BIG ISLAND. " THINK " BIGGER BASS IN DEEPER WATER IT NOT HARD AT ALL THIS TIME OF THE YEAR TO CATCH THERSE FISH HEAT HAS NEVER BEEN AND ISSUE FOR ME HERE.

Monday, July 17th, 2006

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Heard the bite was on so I had to get up to the lake and give it a go. I called my buddy Rob, a middle school teacher in Pleasanton, with summers off... and told him the bite was supposed to be "anything almost anywhere" hmm that seemed too good to be true..........Friday I went to the Outdoor Pro Shop in Oakland to buy some deep water cranks, lipless cranks, and some other gear. It is summer of course and there was at least 1 tournament on the water Sunday. The lake was busy..........After we launched at Redbud about 8:30 am we headed up past the Narrows to Shag Rock. There were 3 boats on the area so we went up past it a little and fished the beach just above. Lots of snags on the crank baits and no fish for us there..........We moved a few times and tried a few places between Shag Rock and Soda Bay. There weren't many open spots, every point and rocky section had boats. Didn't see many boats catching fish, it looked like a mix of crankbaits and heavy plastics being used. The boats came and went pretty quick..........We weren't having a wide open bite but were doing ok. When we stopped at Ferndale Resort for fuel (nice price and easy to use) my buddy and I asked each other "why aren't we dropshotting?" The answer? I guess we were determined to get fish on Senkos or cranks or anything else..........So after getting gas we rigged a pretied dropshot rig on one rod, I put an EWG worm hook and a green pumplin Senko on another and at about 11 am we headed to a rocky shoreline above Shag. Right off my buddy catches a fish on a Margarita Mutilator Roboworm. He had a smaller straight worm (4 1/2 I think) on a 2 hook. I got a couple on the Senko but was getting bit and outfished by 2 to 1..........So I grabbed a 1/0 dropshot hook, tied it on with a palomar knot, took the long tag end back into the eye of the hook and added a dropshot weight about 6 inches below the hook. With a larger hook I used a fatter Margarita Mutilator (fat straight tail 6 inch) and started to even the score..........We worked the same areas we tried earlier in the day and caught fish where we had been shut out a few hours earlier. It wasn't wide open crazy, but steady. We got back to Shag Rock and caught fish about 50 feet off the shore from the beach just above it. Lots of snags in there and we bumped a rock. There is a lot of cover there out way farther than you might think. As the lake draws down you'll see it..........About 12 noon we picked up and headed back with a quick stop at the "Shoal" marker at the Narrows. I got one more there but that was all. It was getting hot and we had to head back, so that was it..........Probably 15 fish in 3 1/2 hours biggest was close to 4 best 5 maybe 12 to 14. Seeing the results of the tournament guys that day, 14#'s is ok for the day..........Smallest was about 4 inches. Really. The Roboworm was longer. I think we have a picture, I'll post when I get it.
      City: Oakland/Clearlake

      Tips: I should have:.........1) Fished the Clearlake arm to start. Saw lots of boats headed that way as I was headed north in the am..........2) Drop shotted earlier..........One day I will post a Clear Lake report where I catch fish on something other than a Margarita Mutilator on a drop shot rig!

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: TO SCOTT, 7/17 REPORT AND OTHERS OF THE SAME ILK. WHAT PART OF "THIS IS FOR FISHING REPORTS ONLY" DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?????

      Tips: READ THE REPORT SUBMISSION RULES AND ABIDE BY THEM!!

    • By

      Water Temp: 79-82

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Gentlemen,
      Lets all remember the definitions of each of the three types of boaters present on our waterways during the summer months.


      LAKE LICE... are what the Jet Skiers are referred to. These are the idiots that have no control over their vessels, constantly buzz fisherman (whether trolling or fishing a main lake rockpile) and have NO regard for the 5 MPH buoys. Many are under the 16 yr. old limit set forth in the law and have no clue as to what their vessel can or cannot do.

      LAKE MAGGOTS...are the boaters that must blare their music about raping their sisters and killing cops at a level that offends people 10 miles away. They are the ones that wave their flag franticly if you are within 1/4 mile of their downed skier, but as soon as he is skiing again has NO problem coming within casting distance of you. These are the kids that either got permission from mom or dad to take the boat, or are sneaking it out while mom & dad are at work. They have no business behind the wheel of a 2000 lb. boat doing 40-50 MPH while drinking a beer and are a menace to everyone that enjoy the lakes and rivers

      PLEASURE BOATER...This is the guy (or gal) that may have a hard time getting his rig into the water, but has the utmost respect to stay the legal distance from other boats, maintains the appropriate speed near boats and swimmers and CLEANS up his trash after he empties his boat at the end of the day. This is the person out to enjoy a day on the water with his family

      IDIOT BUSINESSMAN... The fool renting boats to any uneducated person with cash that comes along at the Granite Bay ramp. Why the state takes on this liability is beyond me.

      Scott Shambre
      FOLSOM BASS LEAGUE
      www.rangerboats.com
      www.mercurymarine.com
      C&C Marine Citrus Heights
      www.okumafishing.com
      www.powellco.com (Powell Rods)
      www.basscatcher.com (Markey Baits)
      www.roboworm.com
      Susie's Country Oaks Cafe
      _________________
      www.troysoutdoorsports.com
      Motorguide Digital Trolling Motors
      Fisherman's Warehouse in Rocklin
      Auburn Aesthetics Center
      Granite Bay Hats
      www.nosweatmist.com
      www.danalco.com (Seal Skinz)
      TRU PITCH MARINE PROPELLER REPAIR
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Learn to ignore these other boaters or get CF numbers and report them to the appropriate authorities. Being an off-duty peace officer, I issued 2 citations to jet skiers on Sunday myself.

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished today with Johnny Mac. Now you'd think that a couple of bass guides could find fish. Well, they can. Johnny and I caught over 50 fish today ( OK they weren't all keepers) and were able to locate a few quality fish as well. A 4.5 smallie anchored a 16 lb limit of smallies, which ain't bad for Trinity in July in 100 deg heat.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Johnny is a non-boater right now due to an unfortunate incident. Give him a call and take him fishing. Don't let all that knowledge go to waste.

Sunday, July 16th, 2006

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: high 70's to lo

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fished with my dad and brother caught 40-50 fish all around 2-3 lb. Fished around Franks in the morning throwing frogs,buzzbaits,spinnerbaits. Later in the day flipped plastic craws and lizards around tule islands.
      City: el cerrito

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I started off the day wondering why the heck I even bother going fishing...I got to the storage yard to find out that the guy next to me had unplugged my boat from the electrical hookup to plug his in. I wasnt sure if I had enough juice in the batteries to make the trip worthwhile but decided to chance it. Then about 10 miles down the road my GF noticed that the trailer tire on the drivers side had a huge bubble in it so we had to stop and change out the tire.

      We finally got to Clear Lake and stopped in at Lakeshore Bait and tackle for a few minutes to chat with Bob...He confirmed what I was hoping to hear. The fishing is HOT...

      We headed out onto the lake and went straight to one of our favorite spots. A nice shoreline covered with tules and plenty of docks. After a couple of casts, I stuck a nice 2 pounder on a Yammi Kreature. A couple of casts later Wes sticks a 3 pounder on a watermelon seed brush hog. I stick another 3.5, then my brother Wes sticks another 2 pounder. Rashelle finally hooks up and puts a nice 3 pounder in the boat. I cast to a shadow made by a dock piling, reel up the slack and feel....TICK, TICK. I set the hook on the big fish of the day...5.7 pounds. Next cast to the same spot and I hooked another fish that was as big if not bigger. It came off right at the boat but at least I got to see it.

      The action slowed down a little so we headed to a rockpile across the lake. We started picking up a few smaller fish dropshotting and then I set the hook on something HUGE. Figures I'd hook a monster on the only pole in the boat I've got 8 pound test. I fought it for about 10 minutes and couldnt get it to budge. I slowly fought it up to the boat and right when we were about to see what the heck this monster was, the dropshot hook popped out of it's mouth...Oh well, you win some and lose some...I'm betting this was a huge catfish. IF it was a bass it would have been a new record...

      We went to grab some lunch and then hit one more spot and decided to call it a day because the heat was getting unbearable...Totals for the day were 14 fish for me, 5 for Rashelle, and 4 for Wes. If we would have stayed until the evening bite we probably could have doubled the numbers. It didnt seem to matter where we went or what we through, we caught fish. The average fish was 2.5 to 3.5 pounds. Man, I wish this lake was a little closer to home.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: It didnt seem to matter what we threw...I started the day throwing Kreatures and caught fish on them. I also dropshotted MMIII Roboworms and caught fish on them as well. We also picked up a few on watermelon seed brushhogs as well. Fish shallow early and deeper as it gets hotter...

    • By

      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I started off the day wondering why the heck I even bother going fishing...I got to the storage yard to find out that the guy next to me had unplugged my boat from the electrical hookup to plug his in. I wasnt sure if I had enough juice in the batteries to make the trip worthwhile but decided to chance it. Then about 10 miles down the road my GF noticed that the trailer tire on the drivers side had a huge bubble in it so we had to stop and change out the tire.

      We finally got to Clear Lake and stopped in at Lakeshore Bait and tackle for a few minutes to chat with Bob...He confirmed what I was hoping to hear. The fishing is HOT...

      We headed out onto the lake and went straight to one of our favorite spots. A nice shoreline covered with tules and plenty of docks. After a couple of casts, I stuck a nice 2 pounder on a Yammi Kreature. A couple of casts later Wes sticks a 3 pounder on a watermelon seed brush hog. I stick another 3.5, then my brother Wes sticks another 2 pounder. Rashelle finally hooks up and puts a nice 3 pounder in the boat. I cast to a shadow made by a dock piling, reel up the slack and feel....TICK, TICK. I set the hook on the big fish of the day...5.7 pounds. Next cast to the same spot and I hooked another fish that was as big if not bigger. It came off right at the boat but at least I got to see it.

      The action slowed down a little so we headed to a rockpile across the lake. We started picking up a few smaller fish dropshotting and then I set the hook on something HUGE. Figures I'd hook a monster on the only pole in the boat I've got 8 pound test. I fought it for about 10 minutes and couldnt get it to budge. I slowly fought it up to the boat and right when we were about to see what the heck this monster was, the dropshot hook popped out of it's mouth...Oh well, you win some and lose some...I'm betting this was a huge catfish. IF it was a bass it would have been a new record...

      We went to grab some lunch and then hit one more spot and decided to call it a day because the heat was getting unbearable...Totals for the day were 14 fish for me, 5 for Rashelle, and 4 for Wes. If we would have stayed until the evening bite we probably could have doubled the numbers. It didnt seem to matter where we went or what we through, we caught fish. The average fish was 2.5 to 3.5 pounds. Man, I wish this lake was a little closer to home.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: It didnt seem to matter what we threw...I started the day throwing Kreatures and caught fish on them. I also dropshotted MMIII Roboworms and caught fish on them as well. We also picked up a few on watermelon seed brushhogs as well. Fish shallow early and deeper as it gets hotter...