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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Tuesday, June 6th, 2006

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 5:30pm-7:30pm.
      Worked a spinnerbait decked out as a bluegill, (Chart\orange\white) silver and gold blades, in the boat ramp cove, no takers or followers. In fact, saw no fish at all.

      Changed up with a shad looking jerkbait (cause I needed the practice) walked the the island shoreline throwing it under trees, twitching, pausing it, fluttering it over the ledges I could see. Nothing...

      While walking the north side of the island (be careful the access isn't all that good and the banks are steep) I found a tree shading a large area with overhanging branches.. I KNEW there had to be a bass there. Just for grins I flung out the jerkbait and just twitched it around for a little bit, sure enough I saw a fish rising to check it out.. a bluegill! It looked at the bait and actually pecked at the silver barbs on the bait. Figured it wasn't food and swam away...hmmm.

      Got out the spinning rod and rigged a FLW tube in Chart\pumpkinseed on a 1/8 oz round jig head and sent it in and hopped it in between the visible tree roots that extended into the water. While the hook itself was rigged weedless, I felt the jighead lodge on a rock. I hate that!

      So I start trying to dislodge it, snapping the line, trying to pull it free etc.. Just when I was about to give up and cut it free I decided to give one more pull.

      Finally it pulled loose, a split second later I felt a fish grab it started pulling away strongly. I worked it to the surface and saw it was a average sized fish for Uvas (1.5lber, maybe a little less) but this thing was all over the place . On a mad dash left it actually managed to fling the tube off the line, it was kind of funny. Fish going one way, tube flying the other. Anyway, lifted the fish to me, it was a spot! Then set it back in the water.

      Tried a few more casts, trying to make a lot of commotion on the bottom. I think the tube breaking free from the snag, maybe with the skirt flaring, is what triggered that little bass to strike. I couldn't seem to duplicate it as there weren't anymore hits. About 15min later I heard the Ranger honking his horn so I high tailed it out of there. My car was the last one in the parking lot.
      City: San Jose

Monday, June 5th, 2006

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

      Report: Sorry I missed ya again Kelly -- Maybe next time
      Sounds like your day was like mine -- Wow! It did get hot!
      -- Bob --
      City: Santa Maria

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at dawn. Threw a spook, buzz bait and frog. No action. Found a few bass near county park on hogs. Some were pre-spawn others post. The fish I caught hit hard and faught aggressively. Maybe another 7 or eight degrees of water temp increase and the top water will turn on.
      City: Redwood Valley

      Tips: When you find the fish. They will eat.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 85-90

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Ryan McKinley and I hit the water after the 4 th hoping to find no lake lice. The winds were light and the lake was clear for a short time. Leaving Granite Bay at noon and jettin up the North Fork looking for some nice points we stoped at a large rock pile just right of Anderson Island. Watching my new color graph Lowrance x102c, we found some large bait balls with some larggies around. We started with drop shots and a 2" plastic, bouncing the bait up and down, shaking and sitting we got two spots. Leaches around the sermerged rocks worked for two largies and two crappie. Went deeper just in front of that rock in 20-35 ft with a 4" lizards green pumkin split shot style. drug around the rocks finding some small spots.
      City: rocklin

      Tips: work it slow and slower.

    • By

      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: FISHED AFTERNOON FROM 1300-1900 HRS. ALL FISH TAKEN ON THE SOUTH FORK ON PLASTICS; WORKED IN 5-10 FEET OF WATER. FISH 1-2LB. RANGE. NO BIG FISH CAUGHT. TRY THE TREES SOUTH OF THE DAM; 6 FISH IN THAT AREA.
      City: CARMICHAEL

      Tips: SOFT BITE FOR ME ALL ON PLASTICS.

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 69-75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went and Fished Sonoma this weekend. Did about 20-25 fish each day. Crawdad Crankbaits, Senko's and Lizards. Watermelon/red was a good color. Best 5 went around 15 lbs. Took a 6 lb and a 4 lb off steep walls on consecutive days.

      Tips: Had success on Rock. Fished the main body when we were able to keep the boat off the bank from all the Boat Chop made by the weekend warriors. Try and fish during the week.

Sunday, June 4th, 2006

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 75 and up

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well, I went back again yesterday with a buddy that had only been bass fishing a couple of times. We fished for a short period (my buddy wanted to fish for Crappie, and we did well on those tasty slabs) starting at sundown starting at the deep main body point that sits in between Cat Cove and Carson Arm, and then cutting across to Doney Bay. Like Friday night there were lots of dinks, but I did manage to bag a very nice 7.3 lb fish just inside of the Carson Arm. The only other mentionable fish went about 3.5. My buddy got a few barely legal fish on his Dead Ringer.
      City: Sacramento, CA

      Tips: All I used was a Zoom Superhog in Black/Red, casting up onto the bank and hopping it back to the boat. Fish were sitting from 10 feet on up. Use lots of smelly jelly and be prepared to encounter a few weeds here and there.

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

      Report: launched the last two days around 4:30 pm, several small large mouth on blades, and senko's. Drug a crappie jig off the back of the boat, no crappie, but 3 small mouth 2 pound plus. The fish seemed to be on the edge of the murky water, lot of decent sized followers that would not eat. Mainly fished Cachuma bay, and around Jack Rabbit flats
      City: santa ynez

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: wind was a blowing good stayed around the track tried to fish as flat as water as possible threw buzzbaits to locate fish then followed up with a wacky rigged worm . sight fished biggest fish he was gaurding fry .
      City: el cerrito

      Tips: we will be out again on tuesday hopefully better fishing for me. for info and help contact bay tackle at 1510 235 2032 p.s the future pro is comming up so we are not printing all info but will help all who ask

    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Reading these reports on big break got me excited so I took the the drive to the Delta for the weekend. My partner and I all in all had a good weekend. Usaully no skiers in the break (maybe a jet ski or 2), but there was a few on Saturday. Got 16lbs on Saturday between big break and Taylor slough on blades, biggest went about 7 lbs. Sunday the morning bite was great! We had 20 lbs 9;30 am left at around two in the afternoon with 22lbs. Blades, flukes and sweetbeavers. Better fishing here than clear lake thats for sure.
      City: ukiah

      Tips: We had fun but we fought the wind and it paid off. We were fishing the spinner baits pretty fast but they seemed to take right when it hit the water.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I spent Memorial week at Clear Lake. The 3 day weekend the wind was blowing good in the south end on the Clearlake side so I didn't fish from the boat but caught HUGE 1# + bluegill and a 4# carp on white skirt jigs in front of the house.

      After everybody went home it calmed down Tuesday and I went out to fish some of the spots around Jago Bay towards Konocti. There were huge balls of shad in the water. I actually stayed off some points because of the big 10 ft wide black rocks underwater. I know that part of the lake really well and thought I must have never seen the rocks that far off the point before. Of course the rocks were shad and they would pass by.

      I knew it would be tough fishing with that much bait but I was out learning how to use the trolling motor and getting used to some new reels so I didn't move much. I didn't catch many but got the gear figured out. Learning to use a trolling motor with foot controls is like the first day of Spanish class (for a gringo) but I got it down pretty quick.

      Went out again Thursday with guide Bob Myskey.

      http://www.fishclearlake.com/

      I've been on 3 trips with him and always catch fish and he and I get along fine. A salmon fishing friend of mine came up and we met at Redbud and worked the area south of Lebow point drop shotting Margarita Mutilator Roboworms rigged wacky style with short drops (about 4 inches) to the weight. It worked great. I caught a good series of fish about 10 ft off the rocks. My buddy Em was having trouble feeling the (non) drop shot bite. Most of the time it was just pressure, not a hit or even a tap.

      It was shake about 5 times pause and slowly lift or reel then you'd feel the fish.

      We worked that area pretty good then tried some other tule beds south of Konocti but it was slow there.

      We moved up around the Narrows and worked a rock wall, same rig, same worm and the action picked up. It is amazing how many fish a 20 yard stretch of lake can hold. Em figured out the drop shot feel and started to kick my butt. I got into some 3's and 4's but he caught a 7+ ("oh let's call it an 8!")

      The 4 hour trip ended with 20+ fish not many under 2 lbs and all fought hard. Some were pre spawn, the "8" was, some post.

      The next day I went out and used the same drop shot rig with a longer drop, about 14 inches and launched from Redbud fishing from the 88 rock (south of Lebow) to about the 3rd house. I caught smaller fish, all under 3 lbs, and they were farther out. I caught them all from about the dockline. 10 fish in 2 hours.

      Saturday I didn't fish much, but I did drop shot Indian Island and got a few right in the tule line. Got a good 4 at the back of the island near the creek entrance, then I just watched the speed ski races on the water and cruised around.

      I'll never go out on the water there without a drop shot rigged up. I know some guys find it boring, but not me. It works and doesn't just catch small fish. I even drop shotted and caught some bass off the wall of the place I was staying at.

      It was a really fun week. Saturday night I checked out the Midget races at Lakeport Speedway. Can't wait to go back for another week later this summer, hopefully I'll catch a top water bite with my fly rod.

      Got to say hi to Franz the fishing Guru at Catfish Ed's message board at the launch ramp, and Bob at Lakeshore Bait and Tackle, didn't get to the new shop down the street yet.
      City: Oakland/Clearlake

      Tips: Shake shake shake shake shake pause.

      Line moving? Feel pressure on a slow lift or reel?

      Yes?! SET THE HOOK!

      No? See above and repeat.

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Cal and I went up to Collins for a morning bite trip. Fished some trees in shallow water with no luck. We then worked our way up the bank toward the bridge (3 hours and nothing). Saw tons of sunnies and bass but they would look at the bait and swim away. Cal and I trew everything and I mean everything we could get our hands on. I was even willing to try and throw the steering wheel for the boat. We then haeaded to the dam and fished it for a while. got a few nibble on a darter head, BAM. Fish ON!!!. At first I thought it was a cat as it wasnt fighitn much and thought I felt a roll in there. Then she saw the boat...and down and away she went. She was a fighting for her life but that darter head was set in there good. Got her to the boat and she was pushing 3lbs. So with that we headed or the docks. Until next time....
      City: Plumas Lake

      Tips: No help here. You wont ever see Cal or I on this lake again. 2 trips 1 fish. No thanks...

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

      Report: They just copper treated the water due a allgea bloom. The water visibility is less than a foot, which really fucked up the bass fishing right when it was starting to heat up. Fished all morning and caught two small bass in grass on worms. Lake wont be clearing up for another couple weeks.
      City: ben lomond

      Tips: use worms or senkos. with the water as dirty as it is the bass are pused right up on shore. caught both mine within a few feet from shore.

    • By

      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I fished the launch area all day. Starting at 12pm till closing, the water level is really LOW, some of the docks are unoperable, didn't want to waste money using a boat so I fished the coves all around and saw ZERO basses. I usually have great luck at San Pablo this time of the year, using my spinnerbait, large rooster tails, senkos, lizards and live worms, but to no avail I had ZERO bites. I work the area and coves really hard and saw a few dinks jump. That's about it! This reservoir need a flood to get back to a fishable level, forget the boat, it ain't worth it. I'm gonna try Berryessa next weekend. It's better to have 30-50 dink bites and throwbacks than fish a DEAD lake and waste my time!
      City: Concord

      Tips: Forget it.. wait till a flood come in and then use a boat.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: And now for the rest of the story. SPI enjoyed an extremely successful picnic. Over 200 bass made it to the scales and then to the filet knife. Largemouth over 6lbs, smallies to 4-10, it didn't matter. These boys are equal opportunity carvers. Money was paid out, coolers were filled with filets and everybody went home happy. They enjoyed themselves so much they even set the date for next years event.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Assuming half of those fish were females (which lay approx. 4000 eggs/pound) and they averaged around 2 lbs a piece, then approx. 800,000 eggs were thrown in the trash. Assuming a 1% survival rate 8000 fish were killed. Hope indigestion was widespread.

Saturday, June 3rd, 2006

    • By

      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fished about 1.5 hrs on sat & sunday each day in the morning,caught 4,lost 2 (6lb. test). Biggest 4#,small 2#. Reaction innovations plastics, biigie on a smallie beaver dropshot. what great fun on 6# test. all fish shallow.
      City: san jose

      Tips: slow & on the bottom, all colors resemble craws. thnx.

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: fishing was great. caught 25 fish within 45mins of reaching the first spot. every cast was a fish. after 8:00 the fish moved out then you had to fish deeper 2-30 feet deep. caught them on everything spooks, crankbaits, worm, senko, swimbaits, etc. great day of fishing caught about 40-50 fish in the tournament.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: after the moring fish slower or topwater. moring topwater and reaction baits.

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Cal and I fished this lake this afternoon. On the water around 5pm. Water was great, Cal put a LM on his first cast with a crankbait. We fished just about everything we had in the box today and fish hit it (no spinner bait or buzzbait bites). Largest fish was just above 1.5lbs. This lake is beautiful and the people are great, very friendly and polite with thier boats. See ya tomorrow on Collins.
      City: Plumas Lake

      Tips: Be very careful on the plastics. Many of the fish we caught on them we felt nothing just saw line movement and they aready had the hook in the gullet (had to perform surgery on a few but they made it out alive).

  • Santa Barbara County
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      Water Temp: 76+

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: What a difference in water color! The lake is much clearer and the largemouth have hit the beds pretty much everywhere. I had the typical summer weather with A.M. fog for 3 hours and then blazing temps. for the rest of the day. I like to start early with patterns and found That the small largemouth were up and hitting topwater. Buzzbaits,frogs and rico's. I never did get any large fish but was incouraged by the numbers. I picked up my dropshot and started fishing the narrows and found the males were up waiting for their girlfriends and you had to wade through 15 small ones for every decent one. I stopped tossing senkos as it was costing to much money for the size of the fish. I fished my Huddleston for about an hour after I saw a 8-10 pounder but unfortunately for me she saw me and dropped out of sight and never returned. My best fish was a 4 pounder on the drop shot on a Robo worm 6 inch fat light oxblood red flake. Interesting that this fish swam right under my boat and I cast 35 feet out infront of the fish and when I picked up my slack to shake it it was already eaten and she was making a beeline for deeper water. I found a spot at the end of the day that had red-ear swarmed on their beds and caught 3 of them while dropshoting the area. They were monster's the size of my steering wheel 1 1/2 to 2 pounds!. I'm glad the panfish are back as it makes the whole lake feel much more alive. I had a two pound crappie on a crank ( Released ) and in general had a good day on the water. Nothing huge but fun none the less. I checked out the flats and there were bed fish on them but I stayed away from the tulie lines as I just wanted to see as much of the lake on this day as I could. The number of carp is unreal and they were stacked up like cord wood along the boom line on the river. I really should invest in a bow : )
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: I drop shot the narrows and areas like it and found that I could blind cast and do just fine as I moved down the bank. I would pitch and let it fall pick up the slack and shake it twice and if I wasn't bit immediately I would reel in and do it again. The senko I fished wacky and looked for spots in the backs of the coves and pitched to the darker shaded spots. The fish would dart out and eat it and run back under the wood really fast. The frog I used was a spro red colored and I figured if it was good enough for the fish at Clear Lake it would work here also.

    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Lots of fog at 6:30 launch and was slow going towards Arrowhead Island - Dropped into a cove near Chalk cliffs and tossed a top water around the reeds without any takers. Changed up on color but still nothing. Moved off to a small cove 500 yards to the south and pulled out my Storm Tiger crank. Hit a small Lrg on the 1st cast then another dink on the 4th cast. Worked the area for another 20 minutes with nothing else so moved off into a small cove ans tossed a Terminator blade. 7 casts, 7 fish! Wow! This lure is a keeper! Pulled in two nice 3+ larges and two respectable smallies. Marked this as a great A.M. spot an moved off.

      Wind coming up but the temps were as well. Coves were the spots as inside the reeds south of the island were not prodicers today. Saw goo sight fish but nothing I tossed was taken. Moved off towards Johnson Bay and tossed out some football heads with Yamamoto Watermelon red/blk flake twin tails and some Fat Ikas. Hit three small larges on the twin tail and lost a nice large weight so elected to go with a larger hook. Did get him back and called it a day at 1PM as the temp was really climbing.
      City: Santa Maria

      Tips: Terminator Chart/White with green blade and silver blade was the hot number. Work the coves across from the island and around Chalk cliffs.
      Be EXTRA careful in the early A.M. hours as the fog has been pretty thick.