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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, March 31st, 2006

    • By

      Water Temp: 53-55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Another great day before a storm. Fished all over the lake. Did good around the swim area with sinkos (watermelon/ blk flake). Nothing spectacular, lots of 12"-15" fish. Did real well on the south side of lake around the rock piles with steep drop offs. Caught most of my fish on a Who's frog 3/8oz jig with 208 trailer in about 15' of water. Also did well in creek channels at 10-15' deep. Good luck.
      City: Fresno

      Tips: Watermelon colors are working great. Fish slow!

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took my 9 yr.old son out today for a while...he skunked me.Obviously shared too much of my Bass fishing info with him.He landed a 6 lb. 5 oz. and a 4 lb. 13. oz both on spinnerbaits.Same flats I landed a 9 lb. a week ago. These fish a fat with eggs. My son is making me very proud...love to see young kids taking an interest in throwing jigs and spinnerbaits rather than just dunkin' bait for trout.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: Bass are hangin on ledges just bordering flats...ready to spawn.Try jerk baits and sl owly crawling spinnerbaits along ledges.I've just been informed we need to throw carolina rigged lizzards next time out.This kid reads too many of my magazines! Best of luck!

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 46

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took 3 gents from Sac out today and I'll have to say they were some of the toughest clients in terms of sticking with it on a nasty day I've ever had in my boat. The wind blew, it rained cats and dogs, and the rain occasionally had lumps in it. Fortunately they were rewarded with a pretty good day of fishing. First cast of the day yielded a 5.40 Black and about the last cast of the day a 5.0 Smallie. In between were about 15 other fish which under the conditions is a pretty good day. Most fish were taken on Gitzits fished real slow,but the smallie came on a rip-bait. It was the first shallow reaction bite we've had this year, just the beginning of great times to come.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: The bigger fish appear to have moved off the deep tailings into much shallower water but I'll have to continue to try them for another few trips. All the fish were caught in less than 20' and some, including the 2 best ones were in 10' or less. Now if the weather will only cooperate a little, (they're predicting 2-4" of snow tonite) we can really have some fun.

Thursday, March 30th, 2006

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Haven't been fishing in forever, so I thought I'd come here after talking To Larry Hemphill on Wed. night. He told me the jig bite was pretty good and he was right. I started with a BLADE-RUNNER 1/2oz. rattle jig with a MAD MAN trailer and picked up 5 bass to 5lb. at my first stop by the spill way in 2 to 5ft. of water. Then I started fishing the sides of points and backs of creeks with a black and blue rattle jig and picked up another 15 fish. most of them were 3 to 4lb. with a couple close to 7lbs.. All shallow fish. I even saw some males on beds in the back of some coves but left them alone.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Dark colored rattle jigs, shake them as soon as they get to the bottom and work them down to about 10ft.

    • By

      Water Temp: 53-55

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Well. my report is different than the previous one. Yesterday (Thurs) I guided a fellow that had never bass fished before. Another front was clearing out so I hoped for the best. Was I ever in for a surprise - the fishing was great! We started about noon in Cat Cove. I had him rigged with a Zoom black/grape Dead Ringer - good chice of color. He hooked a 2 to 3 pounder on the first cast and I am thinking - "lose it, lose it"! Bad luck to land a bass on the first cast. He lost it!! Soon he had his first bass - about 14 inches. His second was bigger and the THIRD bass of his life was 4 lbs 2 oz - a new convert to the sport!!!!! He caught several and lost several - still needs to work on his hookset. I don't think he will ever trout fish again. I, too, did well - catching several bass from 4 to 6 lbs 1 oz. Our limit was over 23 lbs. I was using a black/purple/blue Rattlin' Weapon jig with a #157 Yamamoto grub nearly the whole trip. I also caught a few on Berkley 10" Power Worms. Many quality bass were in 2 to 6 feet of water in the afternoon. We found them all over - points, backs of coves, walls, didn't matter. I promised him and hour or two of night fishing and we got lots of bass but only one over 4 lbs. He loved it!! We wound up with 24 bass and after he left I fished one more spot and caught one more - the bite died. I slept in my truck and fished a little this morning but only caught 4 bass to 3 lbs. No jig bite for me in the morning.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Though we didn't hook any huge bass, the quality was good - really only one or two small males. Most of the bass were on or near points - even in coves, especially ones with rock or brush. The lake is as high as I have ever seen it. With tomorrow probably setting a record for March rainfall, the bass are probably as confused as some anglers are. Move around until you can find the bass and remember to use real bright or real dark colors for contrast in the dirty water.

    • By

      Water Temp: 50-52

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Tried everything most of the day-but no results. I used to visit this lake quite a bit- but the last few years I have not been that sucessful. A lot of bucks to get skunked. Hope others have more luck than me!
      City: antelope

      Tips: Go to the Delta!

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: We decided to brave the weather and fish Clear Lake today regardless of the fact that the Leopard Sharks may have eaten all the bass! We found that there still are some bass in the lake as well as a ton of shad floating everywhere! As soon as we found water without shad everywhere, we also found bass! We fished from 6:00am until 1:30pm with rain, wind and about 6 other boats on the lake......too much fun!
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Save everyones time and don't post trash on here. Not all of us want to read garbage about Leopard Sharks! 6" worms were the ticket, no jig or rip bait bite at all today! Tight lines everyone!!!!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for about 2 hours, 3pm to 5pm. Caught 8 fish. 3 Largemouth came on a white Terminator 3/8 blade, 2 Largemouth came dropshotting 6 in oxblood robos, 1 largemouth on a 1/2oz silver and black trap. Caught one smallie and one rainbow trout on the same trap. All fish came shallow.

      Tips: Silver and black traps, Dropshot, blades.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Bruce,
      Definetly throw that tube anywhere around wood and clay or big rock that you find, and definetely throw that white crank on any flats that you find for at least the first hour in the morning. Throw it on the windy points in the afternoon as well. Also you might try throwing a popper or a skitter walk if you see bait being busted. The drop shot bite is always good, as well as the jig. I like to throw purple colored robo worms, and you should definetly be throwing the 6-7" sizes for bigger fish.

      Tips: The pit has been giving me some decent fish, best ones in the lower 1/3 of the arm, definely hit dark canyon if you fish the pit, good luck!

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: After a post on the forum I met Ken and went out of Russo's what a great site Westernbass.com is. It was pretty windy so we found some protected areas and attempted to catch some fish after a few hours I finally got a 3lb on a crank red/blk. Then adfter another hour Ken decided he should (weighted) switch up and started throwing a blk/blu senko and got a 6-lber and then a 3. With not too much convincing I switch to a watermelon green helix and I caught 3 fish all 3 to 4 lbs. Then we went into Taylor and drop shotted 6 fish but all small under 1.5lbs we searched for better ones but had no luck. We went back out to the river and got a couple more on the senko. I went back to the crank and got a 4-lber then an 8-lber and another 4-lber. Ken then lost a good one on a crank but we never saw it. It was tough to catch um but when you got one it was a good one we had a little over 25lbs for 5.
      City: Martinez

      Tips: Rock and weeds with deep water close by look for an alley that leads to deep water

    • By

      Water Temp: 68-70+

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: First boat on and right to the cove. Took Rich, Calvin and I a few to get what they wanted but we found it. Mostly dinks, Cal caught a few 1lb+. Moved on for more and ran across some crappie (on a crank bait) so we caught some crappie then headed to a new place and it was GAME ON! running crank baits. over all 25+ fish for the boat.
      City: Plumas Lake

      Tips: Reaction Baits, Reaction Baits, Reaction Baits...chartrouse somewhere in the bait is a must. See ya on the lake.

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: dropshot!!!!!!!!! caught 13 fish in an hour!6 were average size at about 2-3 lbs. 6 were dinks at about 1-1.5 lbs. 1 was about 5 lbs. later 1 jig fish was caught by my partner. about 4 lbs. GOOD DAY
      City: roseville

      Tips: DROPSHOT DROPSHOT DROPSHOT DROPSHOT DROPSHOT DROPSHOT

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 50.5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The wife and I went to the lake to enjoy the great weather weds and thurs, you gotta love all the rain and wind. The fish responded well even though it was nasty out. Started in the south with action instantly on plastics and occassionally a minnow fish-I never thought I would admit to using live bait, but Richard Pounds made it look too fun to pass up. I set one rod up with a minnow and freespooled it with the clicker on, and let it lay on the boat while we used dropshot rigs and carolina rigs.The plastics prevailed 3 to 1. We marked alot of fish in 12 to 16 feet of water. I positioned the boat in about 8 feet of water and casted toward the open water, they were killin' the 6" junebug lizards and mm111s'. Unfortunately the window of opportunity was short due to the rough wind we experienced. Once in a while the minnow rod would start singin' and we hit a few that way. We saw one of Richard's cliants nail an 8.13 right in front of us, that stung for a minute. All in all we made the best of it and got the chance to try out some of our new baits- stay tuned there coming soon.
      City: placerville

      Tips: We couldn't manage to find anything big, our best five were about 19 pounds, but we loaded up on consistantly nice fish. Find areas out of the rough seas so you can work your rigs carefully. You don't always mark the fish when they're there.

    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I sure thought the Clear Lake reports section was supposed to be about catching bass, not sharks or whatever. Sorry to disappoint, but this will be a BASS report! One of my former clients and a fishing partner of his invited me to go with them on Tuesday - enjoying another rainy, windy day in beautiful sunny California. What fun - I got to stand in the back of the boat and just wait on me!! We started at the north end but were shortly blown off - and towing to the south end we went! These guys really know how to rip and they did that from 11:30 to nearly dark. They don't know yet that their arms will fall off in about 5 years!! They used a variety of lures and did some cranking too. We spent most of the time in and around docks. I wasn't having any success rippin' so I decided to split-shot a junebug
      Berkley Pulse worm. First fish was 3 1/2 lbs - next one was over 3. Guess what - they took a break and started throwing small worms - with sucess! They wern't trying to make me feel good - I know - their arms hurt, har!!! One fellow got a 4 pounder on a ripbait, I actually got a 4 1/4 on my 4" Pulse worm (that was fun!). I was king for about 10 minutes until the other fellow rips a 4-11! We didn't throw any spinnerbaits, though they might have worked. I'm not sure what our 5 biggest weighed but they were over 20 lbs. I believe this is the most bass I have ever seen in one trip (7 hours) - we had well over 80 bass in the boat, counting a few undersize ones. My record with a friend is 74 in 6 hours. I was impressed with the two of them - excellent fishermen! They did very well in a recent tournament at Clear Lake a few weeks ago - I can see why!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I won't offer any tips because this is their strength and they are very good and stick with it. They know what they want to do and they do it!! The water color looked pretty good in the south end. I was surprised at how well the bite held up after the frontal passage and a major switch in the wind direction. It was fun to be in the back and see how well a Ranger 520 fishes 3 people.

    • By

      Water Temp: 54-55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: well kinda of a slow day on the water today got to the lake about 1pm fished untill dark....fished sinko`s and boated only 4 fish a 7.5 and three 4lber`s...thew jigs got hit`s just couldn`t hook`em oh well there is always tomorrow

      Tips: fish the flats and tree`s 2-12 ft of water an hold on cuz the big one`s are staging.....See u on the water

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

      Report: Hey bruce by april 22nd the bass should be right on the bank. I would go to the pit arm and fish it with brown or smoke 21/2 inch colored tubes. Have a rippin rod ready and look for bait fish burst on the water. I usually go with any white colored crank. Lots of fish on lots of different baits, this is why this is one of the greatest lakes.
      City: redding

      Tips: fish hard and fish everywhere. you'll come up on fish.

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Ok went out for a a couple hours today got 3 fish all on spinners biggest was 4lbs and stuffed with eggs. The other two were about 1.5 each both males. Medium to slow presentation. Very windy on the lake today. Glad I didnt decide to tube. Nothing on plastics. Lost the spinner and went home if you can find the spinner (its visible and above water) you will know what I was tossing ;) Good luck all.

      Tom
      City: pittsburg

    • By

      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: great job... How bout that Mike Long geting beat out"""""""""" a world record.. by 3 pound's.. good shit.. whether it was foul hooked or not.. he got it in the boat.. Hey... what the hell would you do ??? Myself.. I would be shakin" " Like a hound dog trying to shit a peach pit" good job.. It's a record..
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: thank the guy's..hell your all out there trying to do the same thing anyway...Give credit where crdit is due.. and I think.. in my opinion the fish is "KING" and the person who caught it " Is one lucky and hard worker.. remember It wasn't one person who caught the fish.. I think that there were 2 or 3 freind's that have been trying to do this for a while.. Read the book.. and follow...74 year record broken by 3 pound.s not 3 ounces'' 3 pound's.. great job.. fck those florida guy's...there just jeoulous of California.. biggest Bass have been caught here // wow a lot of people have thing to say.. hey fish safe and give the "TEAM" some credit.. after all ... It is a world record, foul hooked or not, recognize it.. and congratulate the lucky team who did it..CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WORLD RECORD BASS.. Doug

    • By

      Water Temp: 53 to 55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well another week of fishing out of the way and there still a good bite on 2 to 4 pounds bass in the 5mp area on jig in green pumpkin 1/4 & 3/8 oz with yamamoto 208 watermelon red/black flake single tail grubs as the trailer. Also brushogs are still good carolina rigged and senkos in watermelon or watermelon red/black flake work also. The bite slowed through the storm and some swimbait fish are still showing up but most bass are in the 2 to 4 pound range. There been no problem putting 10 to 12 nice bass in the boat in 2 to 3 hours of fishing these bass are shallow from 8 to 15 feet and are pretty much staying in that range now. GET READY FOR ROUND TWO IT COMMING SOON. I fish this lake over 150 time a year and this lakes not hard to figure out you throw the basic tackle here and you will catch nice bass. Cover now is a big part of the bass now as it get closer to spawn and the big bass as in 10 to 12 pound range are setting in 12 to 20 feet of water now and wont move up much more now. The dam area and swim area going to play a major part in some swimbait action here in the next two months.Also as it warms the nite fishing here going to be outstand with the water level up. The east side of the lake or camper side those major coves and humps on the east side are hold bass now.
      City: kerman ca.

      Tips: Fishing here will pick up as the weather warms the bass are shallow and here to stay and pretty much everything you throw from jigs to brushogs,lizards,senko's they all work and it not hard too put 10 to12 fish in the boat in a half day of fishing. Any questions e mail me here.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: ~55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: i got out at about 7am and started out with some early spinnerbait for 45min and got nothin.swiched to a jig later and ended up pullin in 2 small largemouth. later i used the never-failing dropshot and caught 7 largemouth and a smally.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: search for fish on fish-finder and then drop the dropshot.or throw the dropshot in tight tree areas and drag back to the boat.