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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, July 17th, 2006

  • 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...

    • By

      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: got in the water about 5:30 pm and fished until about 7:30 pm. My partner caught one about 3 lbs and another about 1 1/2 lbs on a purple worm.
      City: Santa Clara

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 79-82

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Here is a report from an early morning trip I took to check conditions on Folsom for this Sunday's FOLSOM BASS LEAGUE event out of Granite Bay. There is a really good topwater bite throughout the lake on Rico's and Vixens. Areas that are drawing bigger fish are rockpiles that are marked with hazard buoys. Some of these piles are down about 10 ft. now, but those fish will come out of 20 ft. to get that topwater. Main body is good with just a little wind, but when the boat traffic comes or the wind kicks up, those fish won't come up as easily. You can then dropshot or darthead these fish on 4 or 6 inch Roboworms in Ayu, Hologram Shad or Warmouth. You can throw cranks on the mudlines when the boat traiffic gets going for 2 lb. fish.
      The FOLSOM BASS LEAGUE SUMMER SERIES event this Sunday will go out of Granite Bay with check-in beginning at 4:30 AM at the bathroom area at Granite Bay. Weigh-in will begin at 12/noon for the first flight with awards shortly after the last boat weighs in. Entry fee is $80 and there is a $20 big fish option available. Check out the FOLSOM BASS LEAGUE at www.folsombassleague.com for all of the up-to-date info about our events, rules, entry forms or to read the informative articles written about Folsom by local Pro's. See ya out there.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Topwater all day, dropshot or darthead if you want, you'll catch fish or throw some cranks or blades if the wind gets going.

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Great day out on the lake. Me and my buddy were out on the water by 4:30 am. Early bite was slow but it really picked up around 6 to 8. My friend caught most of his fish on a white and grey spiner bait, pulled a nice 3.5 pounder off a wacky riged sinko. I pulled all my fish with a rapala crank bait including a 11.6 pound catfish (Man that sucker put up a fight) caught most fish on the north side of the lake off of rocky points, also found alot of fish in shade covered trees.
      City: Livemore

      Tips: Get on the water early to avoid water skiers and to beat the scorching heat!!!

Saturday, July 15th, 2006

  • Yuba County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Westside anglers fished our July tourn. at BB. 18 boats showed up. Only three limits were weighed in. Top weight was 5 @ 4.6lbs, second was 5 @ 3.9 and third place was 5 @ 3.2lbs. Most of the fish were caught on plastics around mud lines. Big Fish was 1.35lbs. (where are all the big fish?) Hopefully we will try a different time of year next year.
      City: Chico

      Tips: Downsize, Downsize, Downsize and fish mudlines. Browns and pinks caught most of the fish.

  • 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
    • By

      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
    • By

      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.