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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, May 17th, 2006

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      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: You know the story. If I tell I will have to kill you. Fish my spot and caught 8 keepers on a senko. Smallest was 3#er,largest was 6#er. Only person fishing for bass, others killing crappies and carp.
      City: richmond

      Tips: Stay in muddy areas. Throw everything. No patterns yet.Catch and release full of eggs. Think of future .

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Rick Tietz and I made another trip to Pardee to have some fun and probably see the last of the spawn. Many bass have left the shallows now and are crusing around offshore structure. We still saw some on beds and caught a few. Rick's best for the trip was a 4-2 smallie and my best was a 3-13 smallie. He was dropshotting his Basstrix Bait-Fry in the chartreuse/blue color and I was using a white jig or a Berkley 4" Power worm. We fished mostly in the south end and a little in the river arm. We threw swimbaits a lot and had three hits but no fish. Many of the quality smallies were spawning in 10 feet of water and floating pollen on the water and breezes made sight fishing difficult after noon. Rick also caught some on his (Blade Runner) Swim Spin with a Basstrix 4" minnow attached. I was pleased that my two biggest smallies (3-8, 3-11) were not caught sight fishing - just split-shotting a Berkley worm. We ended our day at 4 pm with 3 small bass and 15 from 1 3/4 to 4 lbs 2 oz - best five about 18 lbs. No big largemouththis trip! The next trip should bring on the post-spawn pattern.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I don't have many tips because things are changing rapidly as we go into post-spawn. The topwater bite - if it hasn't already - should turn on real soon. I expect the water to clear even more in the coming weeks. Most of the driftwood is now high and dry - thank goodness!! One of the bigger smallies spit up a nice size crawdad, so, don't forget to try a jig.

  • Siskiyou County
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      Water Temp: 72-75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished with a friend and his son on Wednesday. Beautiful day. Early morning top water bite was good fishing a pop-r. When the sun hit the lake went to sinkos. Great day 60+ fish all cookie cutters in the 1-2-1/2# range. Shastina is a great fishery.

      fish-on
      City: Medford,Or

Tuesday, May 16th, 2006

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: started out early about 6am had limit in 40 minutes for around 12 lbs stayed in franks trac and around franks all day threw reaction baitsmost of the day then pitched soft plastics a little best 5 25lbs big fish 6plus pounds be flexable in your presentation.
      City: el cerrito

      Tips: bay tackle helps me with my fishing let them help you 1 510 235-2032 thanks

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Lots of fish visible in the water but not much biting. My wife & Pepper grub and I got one other dink on a Rapala Husky jerk. Threw just about everything in the box. Water was warm.
      City: West Sacramento

      Tips: I hadn't fished the lake in a couple of years and made a last minute trip with the family. I am open for any suggestions after this day.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On the water at 4 pm and off by 6:30. The only thing I did was pitch senkos in the tree's. The bite seems to have slowed a little but has made up for it in quality.Caught a 5.4 spot,two 3.5 spots,and four that were 2 to 2.5 lbs.Total of seven fish , one was a s.m.
      City: Granite bay

      Tips: weedless and weightless cast and do nothing.

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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Scouting main lake for spawners . Over 50 fish on stanley blvd.on beds, cant wait to fish this lunker lake.
      City: tracy

      Tips: Lets do A TOURNAMENT

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had the same folks out today. Yesterday We started at 9:00 and the fishing was great right from the start. Being an early riser I convinced them that we had probably missed the best fishing of the day. They agreed to meet me at 6 and sure enough, the first quality fish was caught at 9:30. Sure glad I dragged them out so early. From 10:00 on the bite was pretty hot. 3 fish in the 4 lb class and quite a few Shasta Hogs (Trinity Dinks) made for a good day considering the Trolling motor died first thing. Off the water at noon with the best 5 @ 17lbs, again all smallies.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Flats...

Monday, May 15th, 2006

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: hey Al... try a black and blue Zipper worm..texas rigged...I think that probaly twenty feet to the left of the ramp "might" be ok... lot's of Jy rotus there.. probably moved off that area..
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: "Al"... being on the bank is a deffinate disadvantage. to you..buy a pontoon boat.. rig it , then have fun and remember .. Watch out for the skier's... all of them..best of all ..whatch out for the guy's that we are supposed to be freind/s with.. and you know who I mean.. fish safe and please ' NOT ONLY FROM MYSELF. AND OTHER FISHERMAN..RESPECT EACH OTHER... Thank's Zack

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Paradise at 6:30A and off the water by 1:00P. Had planned to go to Frank's Tract, but ended up staying in Disappointment most of the time. Caught over 20 keeper size bass, most of them in the 1.5-2.5 lbs range. Fish were tight in the weeds. Best 5 around 12 lbs.
      City: Dixon

      Tips: Most fish caught on 3/8 or 1/2 oz white spinnerbaits. 1/2 oz Rat L Traps (shad or crayfish color) caught the bigger fish. Caught a couple using a white sizmic toad. Fish coughed up shad in the live well so they are definitely after them.

      It was hot out there by 9:00A so put on plenty of sunscreen and bring a lot of gatorade or other liquids to keep you hydrated.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Rob you might check Craig list most thives are dumb a..s they may list them good luck
      City: antioch

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      Water Temp: 68 to 70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Bass fishing here is still holding up in good numbers with fish to 4 pounds and senko's still are the bait to throw. Wacky style with nail weight in nose works wellas the bait stands up and you can fish deeper with the bait there are a few to 7 pounds being caught. Traffic is heavy on the weekends and water is high and pretty much stable. Also bass are in 3 to 15 feet of water with bigger fish holdin in that depper water dont over look the long points and flats that run out 50 to 60 feet from the bank that have a slight drop in depth. These fish are holding on these flats 5 mph area has those flats. also up aaroundthe spillway area are holding nice bass also. Hit the major cove for topwater early. Park number is 559-689-3255 ALSO BANK FISHERMAN WATCH FOR SNAKES !
      City: kerman ca

      Tips: Senko's are my choice i always have a jig tied on but i still like the senko and the nail weight it a good bait to throw. any questions e mail me at markinman50@aol.com

    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: lot's of rowers.... got skunked...cople planters...on a deep diver..mouth full of "treble or trouble.."
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: right now my freind's I don't know... hit and miss
      Lexington has for me has been a crank bait lake..wide wobble...deep diver but dont drive it down. throw it .. into the "shit"...anyone who throw's crank bait;s know's..other than that good luck... Nothing on Mother's Day... Hopefully all you guy's took care of Mom and family.. Fish safe ...take care...Zack

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: a few of you have claimed some big fish. I looked at the website and the biggest recorded black bass was only 7.22 lbs. should of had somebody weigh your fish so you could get your name on the website. that's if you bring a scale. happy fishing
      City: redwood city

  • San Francisco County
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      Water Temp: warmer than it

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished South Lake, North Lake and Impoundment. Threw spinner baits,Texas rigged plastic worm (6 " Berkeley Power worm black w/ chartreuse curley tail)and drop shot plastic 4 1/2" Aaron's Magic Robo worm. Also tried a crankbait(Rapala Fat Rap black and gold). It was warm today and the water has warmed considerably. Saturday I spotted several bass cruising shallow. Today - nothing. Nada, zip zilch. I did however, smoke an excellent Dominican Partagas Perfecto while attempting to fish over, under and around a Russian gentleman bait dunking corn meal balls for carp in the impoundment.
      City: Daly City

      Tips: Try to hit your spots on the bank early - before the carp guys get out there. With 2 poles, they can close off any small bank section, making it really tough to fan cast an area. Time to get out the tube....

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished a few hours Sun. evening. Fished the rip rap areas looking for a reaction bite. Caught three, two on spinnerbaits, one on buzzbait. Big Fish went a little under 4# caught on the buzzbait.
      City: San Rafael

      Tips: If its getting late, and the wind is picking up- throw the buzzbait. I couldnt really get a feel for the current pattern.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 70 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went night Fishing from 11:00pm to 4:00am stayed mainly in the bidwell marina, throw jigs and spinnerbaits we caught 50-60 fish really nice weather fish were hitting viciously they really wanted the baits let me tell, we caught 6 fish over the slot limit. get out there no boats, really nice
      City: Yuba City

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

      Report: Hey Slabside, I normally fish the Yorty Creek area out of Cloverdale with much sucess. Once you locate them you can haul one in just about every cast. I found that a simple jig under a bobber works the best, well other than worms but you can go through a container of redworms in less than an hour.
      City: Cloverdale

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Let's see, how do I put this? I don't want to overstate any thing. O.K. I got it, "The lake is finally on fire." 30 fish today, all but 4 or five keepers, best 5 over 18lbs, all smallies. Yep, that says it all.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Same crew is out tomorrow. Hope they ain't spoiled because it's Trinity and we could get skunked. I'll let you know.

Sunday, May 14th, 2006

  • Plumas County
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      Water Temp: 60-64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I made my first trip to beautiful Lake Almanor this year. Looked it over Thursday afternoon in preparation for a guide trip on Friday. A father/son team and I started working our way down the east shore around 7 am, catching a few on 4" Berkely Power worms and I ripped one on a shad colored Staycee. I though we would have some fun fishing beds that were very visable - mostly with a male guarding the nest. These guys picked the technique up quickly - actually they were 9 for 9! One nest had the male and female on it and dad got the female to bite first - she was 3 lbs even. All fish were returned to their nest immediately, not hauled off somewhere to be weighed in. We caught a few more non-sight fish for a total of 16 smallies - best five a little over 14 lbs. After saying goodby to them, I went out for about 2 hours and caught 6 more - the best one was on one of the ladder steps that are deep in the water now. She was 3 lbs 3 oz. Another 2 1/4 pounder was caught on the same Staycee. I was fishing west of Big Cove. Sat morning I slept in some and hit the water about 10:30 and fished until 3 pm - again on the east shore. There was a 40 boat tournament going on and they seemed to be fishing mostly the west side. I think 17 something won it. Anyway, using junebug and green pumpkin Berkely worms. I caught 13 bass up to 3 lbs 1 oz - most were in the 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 lb range. No small bass. An interesting thing happened in the early afternoon. One area seemed to have a large mud-line, but there was no wind. It was pollen so thick that it discolored the water. The bass were in there like cordwood. Most of my larger bass were caught there. Two were sight fish in a clear area - just for fun! Some of you might remember last May when I and probably several others nearly drown or froze to death in May. WHAT a difference a year makes!! The scenery - with all the mountain snow still visable - is simply breathtaking!!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I did not locate or catch any really large smallies like I did last year. I heard that the biggest tourny fish yesterday was 4.01 lbs. That's not real big for a 40 boat tournament. I have been told that bass are just being released by a lower lake ramp. Someone told me that a smallie will swim all the way back to the other end of the lake - even back to their bed. I wish I was that optimistic! Several areas that I have seen lots of spawning fish in previous years have no beds yet, so maybe there is more spawning to come. I threw crankbaits a fair amount with no takers. The magic depth seemed to be about 8 to 9 feet. We didn't catch much any deeper. Fun trip!