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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Thursday, May 4th, 2006

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Great - somebody else posted - thank you! I talked my fishin' bud Rick Tietz into letting his tackle company rest for a bit. Blade Runner tackle finally stopped runnin' for a few hours so he could remember how to catch bass, har! And catch 'em he did! I fished from 10:30 to noon before Rick arrived and I actually caught some smallies up to 3 1/4 lbs. After noon - Rick and I fished all over the main body and a little in the river arm. We caught several nice bass - Rick drop-shotting several types of Basstrix minnows and yours truely split-shotting a 4" green pumpkin Berkley Bungee Leech. I used a few other Berkely 4" worms too, but mostly the leech. I just had a feeling about green pumpkin! On a main body point about 1:30 my 6 lb test suddenly got heavy - like I had snagged a bouy. As it moved to the right I knew what it was - fish on - BIG fish on! Here it is - my trophy smallmouth on the line!! I thought I played her well on 6 lb test and then I saw her - oh no - another largemouth!!! I wasn't too disappointed - she was 8 lbs 2 oz. Rick showed me he is a master of big smallies - one at 4-2 and the other 4-12. We caught very few sight fish and none were big ones. It was really interesting - Rick would catch a smallie - I would catch a largie - and on and on - amazing! I did catch 6 good smallies from 2 3/4 to the earlier mentioned 3 1/4 - the last one finally on a jig. We had a great limit - a little over 24 lbs. We caught 35+ tournament keepers and about 7 or 8 dinks. Most of our bass were from 2 to 10 feet.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We experienced a pretty tough delta breeze, so any sight fishing was really out of the question. I always like to catch quality fish that I can't see. We didn't fish any particular type of structure - points, sides of points, secondary points, ridges. We did fish the backs of some coves and only found small fish. It should be no surprise that the bigger bass - though shallow - were on flats close to deep water. Watch out for floating wood, but most of it is safely resting on the shore. Good luck!

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

      Report: Just a reminder that this Sat. the 6th is the last (for now) Jason Fisher tournament. Once again it's bring a kid day. This time we are even having a separate weigh-in for the kids. They'll be weighing in their biggest single fish. Prizes will be awarded. The fish the kid's weigh can also be part of the teams' bag. We'll weigh all of the kids fish before the team weigh in, so when you come in gather round and give these kids some support. Hope to see a bunch of you there. To date we've raised $850.00 for the fund.
      City: Weaverville

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006

    • By

      Water Temp: who knows

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry folks I fished the bank near the creek intrence to the lake and got skunked. I saw a bunch of what I thought were bass caught in a pool before the lake in the creek but I threw everything I had at them and they did'nt go for nothing which makes me think either they were not feeding or they were not bass but I know a bass when I see one.Anyway.
      City: san jose

      Tips: Take a cross bow oh that's for carp sorry.

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: AWESOME DAY ON THE WATER. HAD A SHORT DAY, BUT MANAGED TO BAG OVER SIX E-A-S-Y LIMITS ON THE GOOD OLD CRANKS BAITS. MIX OF LMB AND SMALLIES. LARGEST SMALLIE WAS 3.5 OFF A POINT. BEST FIVE WENT 12.5#'S.
      City: WINTERS

      Tips: FISH WHAT YOU HAVE A KNACK FOR. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S CRANKS OR IT'S PLASTICS JUST GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. MOST OF MY FISHIES WERE CAUGHT ON POINTS AND BACK OF COVES.

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 67'

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Partner and I set out around 7:45am. First fish at 9am on Wht.Spinner bait. WT# 7.11lbs. Second fish caught around noon on same Spinner bait. WT# 6.3lbs.
      All caught in the south/west end.
      In 3 to 4 ft. of water.
      City: Santa Clara

      Tips: Wind, Wind, Wind! Use it! It stirred up the bait fish which in turn raised the BIG ones! Please catch and release, these fish are bedding!
      Tight Lines!

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66-69

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Dropped into the water at 7:AM and the temp was already in the mid 60's so went to some usual areas including China Gulch where the water was still pretty stained so we headed to the main body toward the dam and fished shallow banks. We found them in 69 degree water on the beds and the fun began with every fish a tournament keeper with the biggest just touching 5 lbs while all the rest were 2-3 lb range. When we moved to other similar banks found the temp to be only 66 and NO beds but they were cruising everywhere and hungry for the bait. I must have boated over 35 beauties myself while my partner was half stepping but still managed a dozen or so. Water clarity was beautiful and when the wind layed down, beds or fish were clearly visible so got some training for my annual Almanor trip in a couple weeks. It is now $22 for 2 guys to get in but my bloody and tore up fingers made the price well worth it. Get there while it is totally wide open.
      City: Wheatland

      Tips: Tried topwater, ripping, cranks, blades, jigs, Senkos and not until I started with the tube on a 1/4 oz darthead did the catching light up. I use the larger darthead as it gets to the target quickly and can be controlled a lot easier when you are targeting a bed fish. Really didn't matter what color tube as long as it was a light color.

    • By

      Water Temp: 61 to 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: THE BASS FISHING HERE HAS REALLY PICK UP WITH THE WARM WEATHER.BASS ARE RUNNING IN THE 4 POUND RANGE AND SOME ARE BEEN CAUGHT UP TO 7 POUNDS. SENKO'S LIZARDS CAROLINA RIGGED AND DART HEAD GRUGS IN CRAWDAD COLORS ARE WORKING WELL. BASS ARE IN 3 TO 10 FEET OF WATER AND THE 5 MPH AREA IS BEEN THE BEST PLACE ON THE LAKE. TRAFFIC IS HEAVY ON THE WEEKENDS AND RATTLE SNAKE ARE OUT SO BANK FISHERMAN SHOULD WATCH CLOSELY WHEN FISHING AROUND TALL GRASS OR AROUND ROCK OR BRUSH PILES LAKE IS VERY HIGH. PUTTING 10 TO 15 FISH PER ANGLER IN THE BOAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.
      City: kerman ca.

      Tips: BLANK FISHERMAN BEWARE OF SNAKES STAY ON TRAILS DOWN TO THE WATER TRAFFIC IS HEAVY ON WEEKENDS NIGHT TIME FISHING IS PICKING UP HERE ALSO. BIG PUMPKIN SEED PERCH ARE SHOWING IN THE WILLOWS UP BY THE RANGER STATION.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: ??

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: went out with my dad after school today.(6pm) went up the southforlk and started to throw jerk baits it produced 3 in an hour. at about 730 i started throwing topwater and i caught 8 from then until dark. biggest was a 3.5 spott. my dad caught 5 on a spook biggest was a 2lb spott.
      City: granite bay, CA

      Tips: stageing areas and grass banks.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out with some friends for the day, got to the lake and started to the left. The three of us ripped crank baits along the shore for about 2 miles with no luck. The water was to high and the trails were over grown. We fished back to the Ranch fance and stopped there, I wasn't going to hop a fence and get shot! We fished hogs and jigs slow on the way back. Fished a total of 7 hours caught 2 fish! Nothing over two. THe lakes not like it use to be. I here Nicasio has some nice fish and way better places to fish from the shore. Soulajule is just to much work for two fish.
      City: Mill Valley

      Tips: No re-action bites, still fish slow, fish in the lake are starting to think about the spawn.I think the hard rain this year is really going to hurt the fishing. Let me know what you think.

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006

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

      Report: Fished off shore at Smittle Creek on the south bank.
      Saw several pairs of Crappie doing their spawning
      thing..Caught 1 nice sized Crappie on a Crappie Killer..Caught 1 LMB 2 1/2 lbs. 1 SMB and 1 Spotted
      both about 2 lbs. Saw several nice sized bass on
      beds but couldnt get them to hit anything i had..
      Pulled a senko right on the doorstep of a real nice fish but it spooked and didnt come back..
      City: El Cerrito

      Tips: Becareful on the trais. washouts and missing trails.
      Was surprised to see how many trees came down from the rains..

    • By

      Water Temp: 63-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Tough day today, flipped/pitched senkos and beavers while also throwing a baby e here n there, and stuck with that shallow pattern all day, hoping to catch some big females. Only caught a 2 and a 3 dead sticking senkos in cover.
      City: Salinas

      Tips: the only thing that worked for me was the senko...lake kicked my ass today, but it was still great to be out there. have fun guys

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got out on the water at 6pm. There was still alot of debris out there. Hopefully it will blow out soon. Fished some of the inlets around submerged trees and off of the creek channels. My buddy and I only boated three before dark. They were 3.10, a dink and a 5.2 caught on carolina rigged dt grubs and witches T's. Tried cranks and spinners with no luck. Out by 8:30pm.
      City: Lincoln

      Tips: Hit the inlets, cover or staging areas for pre/post spawn fish. and don't forget to watch out for that debris!!

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: Upper 50's

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out today at noon til 3:30 pm and caught over 30 bass (10" up to 3 1/2 lbs) using 6" worms in watermelon color and 4" grubs in gold with flake bouncing them from shore on the windy sides of the point arms near mid deep water. Alot of fish holding tight to structure areas in and out of the water. Look for trees in and out of the water, brush in the water, muddy shorelines (fish the edge of the clear) shady areas along shore, and anything that remotely looks like bass cover. Bouncing worms and grubs very fast was making a big hit with them today. Most of the smaller ones would fight over the bait as it hit the surface so I fished out to about 20 feet of depth and landed a couple of 3 1/2 lb large mouths on the same rigs. I will be going back out on Tuesday the 9th and will update a report on the bite.
      City: San Andreas

  • Bayfield County
    • By

      Water Temp: 56-61

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Home of the small bass,and I dont mean small mouth. Prefished for tourney this weekend.Water was chocolate milk,2 keepers 3#, 2 1/2# total fish caught 26.
      City: Garberville

      Tips: Good luck this weekend.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out to the arroyo pond today. Caught total of 5 bass. Biggest one was about 3LB length 17.5inch. One around 2lb length 16inch. The rest were small like a pound. I caught fish today with dropshot robo, and T-rig worms. Fish are closed to the shore. When the sun came out, they stayed tight to the shades. Its still kinda slow comparing this time of last year. But AT LEAST I SEE THE IMPROVEMENt.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Did anyone fish the Island Pond lately? Any luck? Any information would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Temp: 46-59

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Yeah, I know you think I must have messed up on the temps but I didn't. I fished with clients today from Redding and the fishing was still a little slow but the quality was still there. They caught several nice smallies in the ballpark area (where the temp is 56+) but the best fish, a 5.20 smallie came out of the rockpiles in the north end where the temp topped out at 46. All fish were caught on crankbaits. Everything you read tells you to throw cranks in 46 degree water,Right?
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Trinity is different. Leave your Bassmaster articles at home and come up here with an open mind. Trinity bass are a little backward, I've seen 10 year old fish that still could'nt read. Consequently, they just don't know how to act.

Monday, May 1st, 2006

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Orwood and ran to Franks, ME AND EVERYONE ELSE, Looked like a Saturday. Every spot was being worked. Lots of jigs, worms, beavers being thrown. Picked up a couple 3# on blades and decided to head to some less pressured water. Went south towards disco and work middle river. Decided to switch to blades and the reaction bite was hot. 10 fish in the boat 3-4# each and 4or5 missed fish all on one bank. Same pattern 3 different rocky banks. Best 5 20#.
      City: san ramon

      Tips: Adjust to the bite. When everyone is fishing the same way, show em something different. We slow rolled 3/4 oz Revenge spinnerbaits in white w/ white grub trailer.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Does anybody know when there gonna let water back in at Loma. I went the other day and it was down about 12 feet a lot of dead fish
      City: antioch

    • By

      Water Temp: 66-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went to the lake for my second time. Got a nice 2+ pounder on my first cast with a Zoom Super Fluke in shad pattern. Got him off the brush pile right across from the ramp. Fished along that bank but cut it off before I got to the dam. Got a few more bites on Senkos and Shaky Heads, but they were either small or I was just missing them. Very nice weather today. The fish are definitely getting active and are probably on a post-spawn/spawn pattern.
      City: Monterey

      Tips: Senkos seem to be the bait of choice. Got some bites on 5" ones in black/blue. Also got bit on shaky head 4" roboworms in Aaron's magic. Watch out for the jet skiers; they don't seem to care about the 5mph zones!

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 58-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: North Fork filled with wood; muddy conditions with current flow. 5 small bass on Senko's. All fisk taken in main lake. Hot day, with no wind.
      City: CARMICHAEL

      Tips: very soft bite.