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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, July 15th, 2006

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well, I had taken a month of from the delta and doing some night fishing and was looking froward to getting back. It didn't let me down. Started at 1st light and the top water bite was hot. Put 20 fish up to 3 pounds in the boat by 7:30. When the sun got on the water we went to Zippers and drop shots and put another 15 in the boat by noon. Had good water levels and started froggin' and got on fish right away. Biggest was 5'4, but had a few more 5+ fish pull off. Overall had 10 blow up in an hour and a half or so and landed 3. Very thick vegetation hampered the hook ups, but that's frog fishing sometimes. Hit another 5 pounder on the last cast of the day right at the lauch ramp on a beaver. Best 5 around 17-18, but had a chance at 22+. I can't say where we were at due to upcoming tourneys, but I can say to chase shade. In my 10+ years of delta fishing I have realized that on the hottest days chasing shade can save you. I hope the heat continues. The delta is weird when it comes to temps. Sometimes, all it takes is for the wind to shift from the north to the south to slow up the top water bites. My best top water/frog days always seem to be the hot north wind days. Yesterday, I sent a couple of buddies out to the area I was in but on the opposite side and they had 2 6's and a 7. Also lost another 7+. They had 22 pounds for 5 and had a chance at 25. All top water 5. They only got a dozen fish or so, but all were over 2 pounds.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Stay patient. Sometimes bites are few and far in between in July, especially in the afternoon. But, when you do get blown up on there is a good chance it's going to be a nice one.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 77 - 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water from 830 am to 1230 pm. Caught 13 bass from dinks to 2 pounds. Used drop shot worms and dart head grubs and shad colored crankbait. Most fish were suspended about 8 - 10 feet following the shad. Most and bigger fish came on crankbait. Bite was better and bigger when windy.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Colors: Aaron's magic on drop shot, blue pearl for grubs, silver/black for cranks.

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

      Report: caught a couple of small ones over by the dam on grubs. caught a crappie and bass on a rapala by the dock.
      City: sacramento

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: ALMOST BOILING

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Last Saturday I was on the lake at 5:05 a.m. & by 6:30 I had 5 large mouth bass in my livewell. Catching 5 very,VERY HEFTY LMB.in a row for an early limit was a first for me on Folsom Lake..... All "Largie's" <Gino's Slang for a large mouth bass)All where caught on Top-Water & they where all fairly tight to the shore & not one of them just bumped my offering, they freakin INHALED IT!!!! . My sixth fish was my one & only spot @ 3.2 Lb. just by looking at this fish I knew he or she would know be my smallest of 4..... SHHHHH I mean f i v e !!! Ten min's or so later CHUG,CHUG,CHUG SLURP !!! Another big "LARGIE" & out goes SPOT .I finished up with around ten or so fish all "LARGIE'S" except for the one spot. I had my boat back on the trailer around 10ish, final weight between 15-20 lb. I told myself too hit it again in the morning & I did. What a huge differance 20 hrs. & 2-3' of drop in the water level made. The fish on Sunday where know where to be found up tight to the shore. It took me about an hour to convince myself that the 2-3' wet area between the water & dry land around the shoreline was not caused by all the pleasure boater's from Saturday, but rather the release of one hell of a lot of water!!! So an adjustment was well over due!! I left the shoreline & headed out looking for fish in deeper water, WHAT A DIFFERANCE A DAY CAN MAKE!!! I caught fish, but by the time I convinced myself the lake had dropped 2-3', which pulled the fish off the shallow's over night, my big bite I felt had come & gone! So I settled in for a good laugh at the launch ramp & what a good laugh it can be ENJOY ~MJB!!!!!
      City: Granite Bay

      Tips: DONT GET LOCKED INTO THINKING THAT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY , WILL HAPPEN AGAIN TODAY!!!! ALWAYS BE READY TO ADJUST , SOONER THAN LATER! ~MJB

    • By

      Water Temp: 75+

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Great day out on the lake with the family today - Fished and wakeboarded. I guess that makes me a lake lice or water maggot. Blasted off out of G.Bay with no major tourney for once. I guess the tourney guys need to spend a couple of saturdays at their kids soccor game every now and then. I bet the wife was happy too. Maybe these guys will get lucky tonight. Fishing report: Son and I caught 10-15 up to 3#'s on drop shots off the peninnsula. No bites on top water - might need some advice for the AM top water bite. Good luck.
      City: folsom, ca

      Tips: Enjoy the early AM at Folsom w/out the over obsessed tourney guy trying to get to "his" spot.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On the water at 8:30. 16 bass for the day between my buddy and I. Nothing over 2.5lbs. We fished almost the entire lake and caught fish everywhere.

      Tips: Fishing structure with white spinner baits seemed to get us the most fish.

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

      Report: Went to the impoundment a couple of times this week. Bass have been jumping up and scattering the carp fry in different spots, close to the bank. Last trip out was this afternoon. Fished for 1.5 hrs with my ultralight gear (Rapala floating minnows, small Hula Popper)drop shot rigged a Roboworm minnow on my favorite baitcasting outfit and tossed a Gitzit Paddle Fry with a 7' spinning rod and Shimano Sedona spinning reel. Nothing today, but the fish are coming in shallow to feed periodically.
      City: Daly City, CA

      Tips: Stick with it - try different 'fish' type lures. As usual, work it slow...

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 79-82'

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: SURE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THESE BASS CAN BE HITTING ON A DARK PLASTIC WORM AT 11:30 ON A MOONLESS NIGHT? WE COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE BANK TO HIT OUR TARGET BUT ALL WE HAD TO DO IS LET IT ROLL DOWN THE BANK AND WHAMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!
      City: CHICO

      Tips: TAP TAP, SET THE HOOK! AND REMEMBER SWINGS ARE FREE

Friday, July 14th, 2006

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 80-86

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The warmer weather is making the water green and murkey. But the fishing was good for the guys from Basin BassMasters for there all nighter. Frist tourney was from 6:30pm to Midnight. We saw some nice big fish, 4's, 5's and some over 6 pounds. Back on the water at 1am to 7am saturday. Joe Miller came in with a big bag five fish 16.0 lbs. Most of the guys did use long black worms with a blue color. texas style, jigs, spinner bait. Dennie Howard and I used a green pumkin lizards in 20-35 ft and baggin a 4 lmb and a 5 + larggie. As the sun went down the bite got better with dark colored worms, some with a currley tail and some with a flat tail. Jigs in black/blue.
      City: rocklin

      Tips: Work in slow and stay out of the moss.

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Chunk and wined chunk and winde. Trying so hard for reaction bite I almost want to dive in on it myself. I have been fairing decent on the 1/8 oz speed trap in bluegill and delta craw for dinks to 1.5, 2 lb range. I have seen a little pick up in the amount of chasers that will follow to the shore. The most aggressive bites this week were on the X-rap before dark. Fishing it pretty fast dart-dart-pause. or constant 4 count darts. My drop shot fishing is gone for the week. My lovely wife rolled up my loomis drop shot rod in the truck window. Got the new blank on order and will wrap up a new one. If you are looking for a custom rod let me know and I will give you a quote on any specs you want. Take me out and put me on a fish or two. I may tie it for just the materials cost. I tie mostly loomis, st croix, Sage, and Lamiglass Freshwater but will tie whatever your looking for. If you want some pictures I would be glad to show you my work. You will find my artistic abilities will far outdo the prices you will pay at the local shops. Take me out on your boat and you can fish a couple of my customs for the day. Just let me know what action you prefer.
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: slip shotting and drop shotting for dink. Reaction cranks 8-10 ft for a little better size. I dont know enough to break the 3 lb barrier here yet though.

  • Ventura County
    • By

      Water Temp: hot then hotte

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: crank first thing,parnter took 14.1,no other crank fish,drop shot 7 in ox blood light around reeds all day we took appox 25 fish,5 biggest went 24 lbs
      City: la canada

      Tips: cranks first thing,drop shot ox blood light and red crawler,robo worms 7 inch,norman crank dd22,trout

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75+

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Great day out on the lake with the family today - Fished and wakeboarded. I guess that makes me a lake lice or water maggot. Blasted off out of G.Bay with no major tourney for once. I guess the tourney guys need to spend a couple of saturdays at their kids soccor game every now and then. I bet the wife was happy too. Maybe these guys will get lucky tonight. Fishing report: Son and I caught 10-15 up to 3#'s on drop shots off the peninnsula. No bites on top water - might need some advice for the AM top water bite. Good luck.
      City: folsom, ca

      Tips: Enjoy the early AM at Folsom w/out the over obsessed tourney guy trying to get to "his" spot.

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 83

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I took my wife, daughter, and son-in-law-to-be to the Lime Saddle area for a boat picnic and a little fishing. Many bass have moved off-shore as the lake is starting to drop. I found a favorite area north of the marina and threw a #301 Senko into a flooded tree and was rewarded with a 2 lb 5 oz spawned out largemouth. Nice fish! Fishing was fair until 20 min before dark when the bite turned on! We caught fish after fish - some pretty small, but one was a 15 1/4" spot. We even caught a smallmouth! I don't know how many we caught but at least 2 were decent!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I really can't offer any informed fishing tips from a short family outing except that I feel the morning bite should be much better because of the very warm temps at the end of the day. I did try some topwater lures - no takers. Night fishing should start to turn on now that the post-spawn is over.

Thursday, July 13th, 2006

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I took my historical client (since 1984) to Clear Lake Wed for what I thought would be a banner trip. He has struggled in the past with his hookset. We fished near the entrance of the south keys and they were on! Several in the boat until the wind became serious, so we headed up to the Anderson Island area and fished some ledges and rockpiles. He was like a new man - landed most of what he hooked up to 3 1/4 lbs. I could tell that something was not right though as he had pretty serious stomach pains. We decided he better go in so we bounced our way back to the Oaks ramp. This is his second bout with this problem so he will be seeing a specialist. It would had been another terrific day I think, but we only had time to catch about 15. I spent a little time in the keys looking around and threw a frog some - but no action. Me thinks - need the hot weather for that bite. Fun day while it lasted!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: The jig bite continues to amaze! And these are not subtle bites. The black/grape 7" Power worm and 8" Dead Ringer still are producing well. I caught 3 spinnerbait fish too (white/shartreuse). Just tick them over rocky areas - the bass are everywhere! There may still be bass in the tules (mid and south lake) because of the high water, but I am targeting off-shore areas - looking for better quality fish. Drop-shotting deep docks will get better and better as the water continues to warm up and the lake level drops little by little. Wherever you choose to fish, make sure there is deep water nearby. That goes for the north end too - a 3 or 4 foot drop will offer good sanctuary for larger bass.

  • Calaveras County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: started fishing about 10 am. drop shotting plastics at rock wall and in weed beds. all in all caught about 50 or so fis between me and my wife. all fish were released unharmed. up to 3lbs in size. had a great time it was quite a change from fishing my home waters on the delta. sometimes you just have to get away.
      City: tracy

      Tips: robo worms in oxblood and margarita mutilator colors.

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70+

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got to Yorty Creek side about 8am - threw the tube in and had another great day. FFing hit alot of bigger blue gill/redears and crappie with a #10 olive woolley bugger - started throwin a chrome/blue rattletrap caught 4 LM's to 2.5pnds - threw a brown/redflake Roboworm, got alot of little hits but no hookups - it got to like 95 degrees that day but was alot fun still

      Tips: Fish early, and during the weekdays because its so peaceful up there - this is not an easy lake for LM's gotta pay your dues and put in the work - good luck!

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: He Mike the fishing really sucks. I would suggest staying home.
      City: Trinity Center

Wednesday, July 12th, 2006

  • Plumas County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I NEED SOME REPORTS BRINGING KIDS UP IN AUGUST
      City: mountain view

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 81

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 5:30 a.m till 12:00 p.m. Fishing was good till 9:00 a.m. Caught a 5 pounder on a popper and a four pounder drop shotting. Caught eight more small fish drop shotting. Fished around weed mats and rocky points.
      City: Rancho Cordova

      Tips: Fish early or late. Very slow after the sun came up.

    • By

      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I went out to the lake around 6 and fished channel point. Since the lake is being drained most of the island is exposed. So I went to the island and meet this guy who was killing bass of a floating rapala minnow,he caught 12 fish including a catfish. Most of them were keepers so I threw out a lucky craft jerk bait and caught two bass: 2.5 &1lb.
      City: Antioch, CA

      Tips: Use jerkbaits in ghost minnow and rainbow trout colors.