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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, May 15th, 2006

  • Butte County
    • By

      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!

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 70 avg

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: A buddy and I checked out the post-spawn bite yesterday afternoon and evening. Found them all over the place, with points kicking out better quality. No jig bite for me. My buddy had great success using 6

      Tips: Fish were shallow from 10 feet on up. I was purposely fishing deeper water from 15 feet down for bigger fish, but not many were there. Biggest fish came from less than 5 feet of water!

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 73.2 74 in

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Subject : Fishing With Sid 5

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      This past Mother's Day weekend had everything going for it. Great weather, a full moon and the fish were on the bite. The first person I took out was Russ from Redding. He told me he hadn't fished for quite awhile. He had to get a fishing license and while we were in the store I told him to pick up some senco rootbeer worms 5 inch. I showed him how to set up the worm and hook and he took two practice casts from the dock. We headed out and Russ was practicing his casting along the shoreline as we came to some structure he threw the bait in that direction and low and behold hooked on to a 3 1/2 pound largemouth bass. And so the day went. Later that day my wife and I decided to try some evening fishing. We went to a location near big island and we fished plastic worms. I fished it weightless and my wife fished with brass and glass. We watched the water for awhile and noticed the fish were boiling on the surface chasing the shad. We naturally started casting into the boil and the fish were very aggressive the moment the bait hit the water they went for it. I was using a 5 inch laminated senco (charteuse and green) and my wife was using a 5 inch watermelon with black flakes. Since I love topwater fishing, I changed to a "chugger" and had a great time watching them explode on the surface. As the sun was setting the water surface was alive with fish feeding. It was really an enjoyable evening. We must have landed over fifty fish (released all of them). The following day I gave a "pop r" to the Vittaly family and we headed out in two seperate boats to the same location. I explained to them to look for the boils on the surface and throw into it. To our dismay the water surface was calm with no fish in sight. They started at one end and I went to the shallow end and fished grubs through the grass. By the time their boat got to mine I had caught six small bass. JR, one of their sons, came on my boat and I showed him how to use the chugger he threw it where he saw a boil and sure enough he landed the largest bass he had ever caught. His mom saw a boil and threw the pop r into it and she landed her largest bass in Berryessa. The Vittaly's total was twenty-one fish of which they only kept three. The kids also had a good time catching carp from the dock (see photo). 'til next week.............................good fishing!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net if you have any fishing stories to share please contact me at bestguide@hotmail.com
      City: NAPA CA.

      Tips: When you see a boil throw your bait of choice into the middle,or just pass it,my bait of choice is a chugger or a pop r top water lure I love the surface explosion when the bass comes on the bait,

  • Santa Barbara County
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      Water Temp: Quite Warm!

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Kelly! Wish I knew you were there! We could of hooked up! I was on fish immediatly.

      A very quite Mothers day today. Fog coming in and on the water fog at about 6:20AM launch. Headed to the island and set up for what I thought was going to be a great day. NOT! Dropped my trolling motor and found out that the control cable had broken! PIT CITY! Had to fake it all day long using my hand to control the boat. Only a dink at the island so moved off to the reeds at the south end down from the island. Tossed a Oxblood light w/red flake on a football head. Bang! Good keeper, small but still weight. Foul tagged a second keeper but dang, he bleed out and was a floater later. Manuvered down the reed line and bang - Hit another, smaller but still the fish were there. Figured I had a decent area for the next tourney so I moved off towards the east side. Got into a nice almost pond looking area and went into the 'chit' looking for fish. Lots of stickups in about 12' and used the same setup. Three more in 10 minutes with 2 smaller keeps but, hey they all add up to weight. Tried Robo green weenies - no hits, tossed a red.silver rattle crank with only one small chaser following it. Headed to Clark Canyon to check on possible areas. Hit three more dinks on same setup so I know it was a good selection at least for today. Temp soared to a very warm one by 1PM and without the trolling motor operational, I called it a day.
      City: Santa Maria

      Tips: Robo Oxblood light w/flake red was the hot pick for the day. Robo MMII did get some taps but probably crappie. Next trip -- Saturday if I don't work, if so, Sunday for sure.

    • By

      Water Temp: 71.9-75.9

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I was shocked at the water color. I have been keeping tabs on the lakes level and since it had stabilized I figured it would be really clear. WRONG! It's 3 foot up at the dam and less everywhere else. I went into the narrows and quickly determined that the fish were not were I had left them. I pulled out a black buzz bait and caught some dinks and went back to my senko except I switched colors from the previous trip. I caught a real nice 2 pound smallmouth and went looking for better water. I think the surface water temp might be in the 70's but it must be cooler down a bit or the smallmouth spawn would be over. I never fished the flats and went as far into Big Cachuma as was possible. I ran a ground in the incoming creek. That is how crappy the visability is. Speaking of crappie I talked with two fishermen who had 150 crappie between them along with assorted dink largemouth and smallmouth. They released all except for a handful for dinner. Thanks for not being greedy guys as I know there is no limit. I thought it was me stinkin up the place but fishing is downright tough for size....Numbers are easy. I Threw the kitchen sink and was not rewarded for my efforts. Being right on the full moon couldn't have helped. Plastics were the easiest way to get bit with oxblood anything getting whacked immediately. As I havent been to consistent in getting out I can't speculate as to the apparent lack of size. I do know that once I forgot about the water color and just "blind" cast I did just fine. I didn't see any fry but I'm sure the spawn has been trickling along. Between the vast areas that are bouyed off and the huge river area that is untapped we will have some stellar fishing in the years to come. They can't put another drop of water in the lake and it makes presentation difficult. It's just a theory but the little bit of blue algae we had a few weeks past might be the explination for the water color. It appears to be orgainic in nature or the flow of water coming into the lake would be clear but no dice. Yucky stuff.
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: Forget about sight fishing and just go getter dun old school. A quick limit on the flats and then find the better fish by feel. I caught some frog fish but they were VERY small. Not a tap on the swimbait but I will continue to work that angle!

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: At 10am, the water was clear with some ripples, and the weather was sunny about 75 degrees. Only fished 1 1/2 hours and landed two bass - 2 & 4 lbs. using Senko (watermelon color) from the point just left of the boat ramp. Caught both on the slow retrieve at about 10 feet of water. Strange to have only one other fisherman on the lake this Sunday morning ......it's Mother's Day.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Work plastic worms in 5 to 10 ft. of water.

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

      Report: I'm bringing my brother-in-law to clearlake for his first time. I've fished the lake numerous years in the fall but only once in the spring. We're going 5-19-6, next friday for a week of just fun fishing. Not many fisherman are interested in giving up info because of all the tourneys going but I'd really appreciate any assistance. Like, the best pattern this time of year, best techniques (texas rig vs. split shot, worm size, color, etc) spinnerbaits(color and retrieve)cranks(deep divers vs. rattletraps)docks vs walls vs tules, northlake vs south and maybe even some locations on the lake as I have a clearlake map. If you're willing to share you can email me directly @ sns4shay@msn.com so as not to give away the farm to the internet world. Thank you in advance for any assistance.
      Steve
      City: Grants Pass

    • By

      Water Temp: 61

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: to those who STILL don't beleive, please see the photo section. this one went about 7+ lbs. got another that went 9+ lbs. later on.school's back in session boys and i'm takin' y'all to it.
      City: Los Gatos

      Tips: 4" green and white senko's and at LEAST 20 lb. test. trashed a shimano baitcaster on one of theese hogs. oh well, geuss i'll have to buy a couple more.remember, there ain't no piranha or beavers and now i geuss sasquatch dosn't exist at old lexi' either. ya rite!

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

      Report: Fished from noon to 5 pm. Used 5/8 oz white tandem spinner bait all day. Caught and released 75 plus fish, 5lb and a 3lb were the largest fish. Worked the shore line. Finding the best fish in log jams and rock piles. Fished the spinner at a very fast speed never letting it get more than 2 feet below the surface. If I did not get a strike with in the first 10 feet I brought it back to the boat as fast a possible. There are Bass in the shallow water.
      City: arnold

      Tips: Keep the bait in the strike zone. If you don't get a hit right away, reel it in as fast as you can and get it back in the zone. I like spinner baits because you can cover a lot of area in a short amount of time.

Saturday, May 13th, 2006

    • By

      Water Temp: ??????

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I'm back! This time me and my little brother managed a one and two pounder but these OG fishermen were killing them I watched one of them pull in a 5.25 pounder that's good for this lake.
      City: san jose

      Tips: Senkos amd Predetor worms.

  • Santa Barbara County
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      Water Temp: 67-68 deg

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Overcast with variable breeze. Cool and clouds/fog did not vanish until 11am. Launch at 7am and went to Outhouse pt. Lot of action on small poppers but all small. Tosses crank for a couple of 11.5 in fish. Rested with a dropshot and hit 3 large small mouth quickly. Tried a couple of other large lures but nada. Bite slowed and fish on Storke Flat and Santa Cruz flats but not signif. size.
      City: Santa Barbara

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

      Report: Launched at daybreak and fished till noon - The only thing I threw today was topwater [Pop-R]. Caught 15, the two biggest were females that were spawned out, 3.5 each and a few at 2-2.5 lbs.. Nothing real big - but always a blast on the surface.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: Most came on rocks and weeds.

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 75-78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Water and Air temps about the same. Short lived Topwater bite in AM.Caught fish on GP spider grubs, Oxblood worms and smoke/purple tubes in 5 to 15 ft of water. There are still big fish on the submerged humps. Long casts are necessary in the clear shallow water. I think the spawn is done. We saw no fish on beds. Best 5 went 12 lbs but we both dumped a fish over 4 on jigs.
      City: Castro Valley

      Tips: Several casts to the same spot caught fish. Dropshot shad colored worms also worked.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 68-72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at about 1:30PM on Saturday and the wind was already picking up. Fished between Shag rock and Buckingham with no luck. Headed to the backside of Rattlesnake island and caught a nice, acrobatic 4lber on a watermelon, red flake brush hog, rigged Carolina style. Called it a day after only 2 hours as a new gas grill was waiting to be built at home. (Which took A LOT more than two hours to build....grrrrrr....)

      Tips: Fishing is tough right now, be patient and mix up your presentations is probably the best advice I could offer. The bluegills are EVERYWHERE, if you get bored catching no bass, try tying on a small jig or worm and catch a few dozen of them.

  • Mendocino County
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      Water Temp: 69-71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Camped and fished two days and had a great time catching tons of shaker stripers (none bigger than 15 inches) throwing rattle traps at boils. Too many to count. Also caught three largemouth biggest about 4 on gulp worms. Also caught an 8lb catfish on a gulp worm. Lots of fun and the best time I've had on Mendocino since we started this annual trip 4 years ago.
      City: Sonoma

      Tips: Throwing a rattle trap at boils was an almost guaranteed hookup. I only wish there was some size to 'em. Th lmb were all sitting on wood and hit the worm as soon as it hit the water. Bites were just few and far between.

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

      Report: i hear u ray ray i was out there about a week ago and i saw about a 10 pounder sitting dead on the red kayak dock. looked healthy some one must of caught and just left it on the dock i think? why else would it be on the dock? that just pisses me th f@#$ off. merced bass dont get to spawn as often as other lake because of the cold weather and this year they probly will due to the great weather we have been getting what is wrong with these morrons? i always give em hell when i see someone keeping bass at merced and i hope all u guys do to!!!
      City: ptown

      Tips: <*)[[]]>< give them bastards hell when u see em!!!!!!!!!!

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 73-78F

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from about 6am until 3pm. We caught over 100 spotted bass each. The fish were from the bank out to maybe 10'. Didn't much matter what kind of bank it was..rock, mud, chunk, grass, steep, shallow point, whatever. Caught fish on dartheads, 128 pointers, brush hogs, 7" senkos, beavers, and dropshot.
      We got our better fish on the 128, beaver, and dropshot.
      Lots of 2 pound fish with a few 3 pounders.
      Larger bass could be seen under the bluegill near boulders and brush. Out of all the bass we caught, maybe 25 were over 13".
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: If you want to take a kid fishin, NOW IS THE TIME! There are so many fish in the shallows it would be almost impossible not to catch fish. Dartheads in 1/32 and 1/16 4" roboworm CT with #4 line.