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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, May 12th, 2006

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 69-75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went pre-fishing on Friday and WON Bass tourney on Saturday. Found a great topwater bite all day fishing flats in 5-10' water. Spent most of the day using cankbaits and poppers catching fish up to 2 lbs. Unfortunately no larger fish, but had a great time catching more than 60 fish in 2 days.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Look for the bait along the shoreline and cast to them. Crankbaits in shad patterns produced better than chart or crawdad. There are still a few fish on beds if you can find them. Be sure to cast to the shore and reel back. It's a great time to take the kids fishing.

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

      Report: Fished thurday evening and friday morning. Caught lots of fish just no size to them. Caught fish everywhere on the flats, points and walls. Used a crankbait, senko, and dropshot just could not get any fish with size. Most fish in the 8-15ft depth.
      City: Ventura

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

      Report: We fished rocks,tules/docks. Slow day 3 keepers 2@2# 1@1# some dinks 1 bluegill and 2 catfish on plastic worms ,talked to other boats slow for everybody,what gives? the bass we caught were females that were not ready to spawn for some time yet!
      City: Orwood

      Tips: Throw the box at them , we could not find a pattern. Good Luck.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Are there fish still spawning anywhere in the delta right now. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
      City: Walnut Creek

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: wats the news out der anything goin on with the fish spawning?
      City: antiach

Thursday, May 11th, 2006

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 74-79.5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well, it appears the fish spawned awhile back and have had time to get hungry! A friend and I fished from about 7 pm till 2:30 am about 1 day before the full moon. Winds were light at first then steady but not strong. Caught fish on spinnerbait, crankbait, jig, worm, and senko. I lost one that was easily over 5 at dusk on a big senko (had on for about 3 seconds and one big jump) but thanks to my friend, we had about a 20 pound limit with five fish between 4 and 5 pounds and only a half dozen below 3 pounds. He caught most of the big fish - I only got one, a 4 pound 7 ounce fish. All large fish were spawned out and I couldn't believe how low they weighed on the scale for their size! These fish would have easily been 1-2 pounds heavier a few weeks ago. Caught fish on points and way back in coves with the deepest about 15'. Many were right on the bank or holding on wood. It was a long time between bites except at sunset when the bite was going strong.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: Throw big 7" white senkos with white flake on 5/0 EWG hooks.

  • Santa Barbara County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Cooler weather at 6:30 launch but no fog today.
      Headed towards some coves by island and tossed some blades with only 1 half decent taker. All the rest were dinks. Moved off towards the island and hit the points with dop shot andf jigs. One taker on a jig but again, a dink. Moved off to the reeds to the south of the island as I saw a few boats hitting the north edges. Tossed a top water and pulled in two but nothing of any good size. Tossed out a drop shot w/Oxblood Robo. Good hits and I pulled in 6 with two good keepers of which one was a 4 pounder.
      City: Santa Maria

      Tips: Top water was working as a few Coastal Club guys were hitting some good larges in the 4+ pound range before they moved off. Robo or FX people worms were hot bait

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Brannon Island for a mornings fishing with Gunny..On the water about 6:30 off at 12:30..Fished around Brannon, no luck on either buzzbaits or spinnerbaits, also tried flipping Senkos..Headed to Franks, fished a short time in Little Franks and nailed several dinks on spinnerbaits and Senkos..And when I say dinks, I mean dinks..Stopped by the Hook and picked up some liquid refreshment and a bag of Yamamoto single tailed grubs for jig trailers, then headed for the north side of Franks..Fished a few tule islands and started picking up fish on spinnerbaits and again on Senkos..Caught a 2+ on a SpeedTrap (Delta Craw)..Most fish were still below legal size, sure were a lot of those around..Then nailed a 4+ on a Senko..Headed back to Brannon and home..Overall a great morning, great company and a few fish..
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Still don't know enough about the Delta to make any good tip contributions..All I can recommend is to keep plugging away, sooner or later you will find a fish..Most fish seemed to come from near sparse tule clumps and around points on the tule islands..

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hard day 3 keepers to 2 lbs
      City: oakley Big Break

      Tips: Siner bait , crank , worm ome on each good luck

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

      Report: When I went to merced the other day, why were these guys keeping a pregnant bass. Besides bass fishing being a sport and all bass should be released, they don't even taste good. Merced is such a small lake to be doing that. It just pisses me off to see that. You fisherman understand right!!!!!
      City: Pacifica

  • Riverside County
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      Water Temp: 60-62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fishing the dam late friday afternoon the bass and the trout are hittn. Caught bout 5 bass within the 2-3.5lbs range using anything in a watermelon color. Trout are hittn a variety of spinners. get out of the house and have sum fun.....
      City: perris

Wednesday, May 10th, 2006

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the delta with some full speed fishing guys. Launched at Russo's and proceeded to work Franks hard for good numbers of small fish. Ran to Mildreds mid day and worked a long bank outside Mildreds for a good senko bite. Ended the day at Franks with a spook bite on a striper school that was MEMORABLE.
      Good times.
      City: Pleasanton

      Tips: Topwater the last hour of light and HOLD ON.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 69-72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Great advice from the previous reporters tip section, har!!!! Anyway, I was able to return to my pre-teaching roots (I had to do a lot of night trips then) and guide Mon and Tues night. Mon. the weather was very nice with a little wind and Tues was one the of rare mid-year nights with NO wind. Your best chance of no wind at Clear Lake is the second or third day into a warming trend. Beware summer cold fronts - lots of wind day and night! Monday I guided a nice couple for the second time. They are moving to Lakeport and trying to learn the lake. We fished the Rattlesnake arm, Konocti Bay, and areas in-between. We did well, catching 14 up to 6 lbs 10 oz. I was pleased with our limit of 21 1/4 lbs! We targeted tule areas with nearby rock. The big bass was on a rock ledge in Konocti Bay - about 15 feet deep and had not spawned. Best bait was a black 10" Power Worm followed by a 8" Dead Ringer. The Yamamoto Kreature bait produced bass too. Jig bite was dead. Tues night found me fishing with 2 really nice young guys who were pretty good fishermen. One of our first stops was Dollar Island, about 7 pm, where one of the fellows lost a wallowing big bass and on the next cast nails a 4-7 - maybe the male. We caught a few more up to 3 lbs. Since the lake was flat we went up to the north keys but didn't do well though the other fellow lost a 6+ when she came straight out of the water. Hookset, hookset!! All the locals now have their boats in the water - ropes everywhere - weeds growing, tough guiding! We ended up in the Kono-Taye area, fishing docks and walls and the other fellow who haden't boated a fish proceeded to catch 4 in a row up to 3 1/4 lbs - tying his partner with 4 apiece. This was about 2 am. I had 5, so we wound up with 13 bass but only an 18 1/4 lb limit - 5-2 the biggest. Had they landed the big ones they lost, we would have had some good weight. The important thing is that everyone learned a lot and I always do to. Every bass trip should be a learning experience no matter what your level of expertice!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Not much to say in the way of tips. Either most of the big bass have spawned in the south or they are all being hauled up to the casino. I'm sorry to see that happening again! There are lots of hungry small bass and bluegill everywhere. Frog bite should be just around the corner in the north end, as well as topwater. Fun, fun!!!

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 66-72

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at daybreak at Granite Bay. 15+ M.P.H. WINDS FOR THE FIRST 2 HOURS-NO FISH. Winds died down, sun came out,and began catching small fish. Biggest one 1.15oz. The lake still has a 5m.p.h limit on it.Fished main body with my partner and landed about 15-20. Lost more than we landed. Debrie still an issue-tugs doing what they can-may be a while before it thins out.Same ole thing for the last couple of weeks.
      City: antelope

      Tips: All fish caught on Senkos, except for one on a ghost/blue spinnerbait. Hardly anyone on the lake..........

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

      Report: What end of the lake is more productive? Trinity Center area or down by the dam
      City: Coast

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished yesterday afternoon with clients. A couple of good fish but not what I'd expect this time of year. Got out early this AM and things had improved. Reaction bite was good early then slowed. About 10 AM the bite got pretty good on plastics. Ended up with approx 25 fish with a 4 lb smallie leading the way, several others over 3 gave them around a 17lb 5 fish limit. After yesterday it was a big relief for this guide. Same crew out tomorrow, will keep you posted.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: The fish were caught in 8-10 on a variety of plastics. No sign of spawning yet. Won't be long.

Tuesday, May 9th, 2006

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out fishing with a couple of buddies.Lauched out of Russo's. What a day we had.The wind was blowing and we must have caught over 50 bass. They were slamming the lures. And alot of fish over 5 lbs. Galen Jensen thanks for the great guided trip. We had a blast.Never caught so many fish in one day. But for the record, West out fished us both with some BIG TOADS.
      City: discovery BAy

      Tips: Use top water and keep throwing till you hit the honey pot.

    • By

      Water Temp: 60*

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Paradise on Eight Mile.. Got 4 in the Boat lost 4 at the boat.. for about 2 Hrs of fishing. Chartruse / White Spinner Baits were the happening bait of the day..
      City: Stockton

    • By

      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught Ten,Best 5 15lb's beavers worked for me today. Tried also buzzbait And Frog couple of blow up's that's it.Went to disco bay for my last 1/2 hour and picked up the drop shot rod ,and hooked a Female going between 8 or 9lb's my personal biggest so far.
      City: Disco Bay

      Tips: Beavers ,purple worm drop shot. Rocky points with submerged weeds.

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well the bass fishing is still great with strikes all along the banks. If you fish more than 15 feet out from the waters edge you miss them all since they are hanging right along the shore lines. In 5 hours of fishing I landed more than 40 fish today using senko worms in watermelon color fished fast along the bottom. Bounce them right from shore and you will be sure to get them. The water is very clear and the fish are still waiting to see the water warm up to get on the beds. This is the best bass fishing I have seen on melones in 8 years so get out there and enjoy it while it lasts.