Submit
Report

Northern California Lake Fishing Report

Limit:

Sunday, February 19th, 2006

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 54-55

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Sight of snow in the background was pretty nice! Not a good day to fish the lake but had to fish anyway. Fished Putah Creek from 8 to 10am five bites two fish one 2 1/2 and the other a small spot. We headed to the east shore stopped at two spots for nada. Went to the inside of Big Island and another zero, called it at 2pm. Both fish were hooked on watermellon senkos inside of 20 feet. Got no bites on the east side of the main lake and several taps inside the Big Island with dartheads and 4 inch worms. It was a little sloppy on the main lake but all in all a nice day.
      City: South San Francisco

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50-53

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water at 0820, off at 2:30. air temp in the 40 water in the 50. Out fun fishing with Nic and Cornell. We Dropshot, jigs and senko most of the day. Covered alot of water and found fish all over. Got 15 to the boat, between 1-4 lbs.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Keep the bait wet and keep movin...

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 45.6-49-4

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished today with Daniel Balaba & Steve Irie. I was a little concerned with the 45 degree water temps and the shad die off in the south end with all them gulls by Rattle Snake, so we headed to the muddy waters of the north end hoping to find a little warmer water. After a bone chilling face freezin short run from the Lucern Park to Nice, we began pitchin black and brown jigs to docks in 8-10 foot of water. Amazingly we started catching fish right away. After several missed strikes and 3 fish, I convinced these two ta switch to pork and they too began to catch em. The fish right now are absolute football chunks with fat, full bellies and still gorging themselves. 14" fish weighin 3 pounds! My Boca Digital scale got a work out today. I was in awe today of the weight these fish were carrying. Caught 18 keepers fishing docks all the way to Lucern. Later in the day we headed up to the Narrows and fished around Kona Tai, Paradise and Buckingham. Couldn't buy a jig fish in the clear water and switch to a Carolina rigged Lizard and put 6 fatties, two over 4 pounds, in the boat before calling it a day.
      City: Oakley

      Tips: Fishing slowed down today considering how it busted wide open the past three days, the swimbait guys were in heaven this week, not today. We found a better bite in the dirty water of the north lake on jigs. Al the fish were 2-6 feet on the outer edges or along isolated pylons. in 8-10 foot of water. Brown jigs produced best with a very erratic hop and pop (Cooch's Claw Wave) motion triggering strikes. Bites were soft and fast, use a football head or remove most of yer weed gaurd to assure fast hook penetration. Crank that C-rig moderately fast along the bottom on the flat chunky flats in clear water. Bites might be far and few, gotta stick with it and cover some water. When ya git bit, you'll know it and hang on! As fer the minner bite, well, I only used two of the 18 in the boat today, we caught better fish on the jig and lizard. Just never had to revert to the minners ta catch em.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Opps i for got to put the right e mail in its markinman50@aol.com
      City: kerman ca

    • By

      Water Temp: 53 to 56

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well the cold weather didnt much slow the bass down there still in 10 to 20 feet of water and the east side of the lake from the ranger station to the east dock produced some nice bass to 4 pounds. Brushogs in watermelon and watermelon red/black flake worked on carolina rigged 18 inch leader. Most bass were in the 10 to 20 foot range and are still holding off rock plies and are starting to lay out on the flats.As the weather warms this week the bass will move up again. As we move into the last part of feb and the first part of march there should be some big fish been caught and swimbaits are going to be even more the favorite of angles how know how to use them.Ill stay with jigs and start change up colors now as the weather starts warming up. senko's ( yamamoto ) will be a bait to throw also watermelon is my favroite & watermelon red/black flake hooked texas style and as weather warms move to wacky style will start to catch fish shallow.
      City: kerman ca.

      Tips: Better and warmer weather should start a mini boom again here there is lots of pressure on the weekends so if you can get to the lake durning the weekdays that is your best bet. Good luck and any questions E-mail me here.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On the water about 10:30 but spent the first 45min. or so breaking in the new Skeeter (21i)& motor. Started fishing around 1130 or so and it was SLOW... I'm sure that the reacent COLD fronthad a LITTLE to do w/ it. Ended the day at 2:30 w/ 2 fish over 2 lbs. Best part of it is the fish came on baits that I pour my self. 4" split-tail zipper grub, watermellon w/ red & blk flake. FIESHON!!!!!!!!!!!
      City: Cameron Park

      Tips: Keep your bait wet & enjoy the peace before the lake lice hit the water.

    • By

      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Was at the lake 2 pm to a tough bite on jigs. After two hours I had one spot 2.5 lbs. I figured if its tough I might as well throw the Huddleston. After three cast's was hit by 7 lbs 12 oz of spotted bass, the only hitch is that a 4lb 12 oz was on the front hooks and a 3 lb on the back stinger.I had no problems throwing the swimbait the rest of the day.
      City: Granite Bay Ca.

      Tips: I'll take luck over skill any day !

  • San Francisco County
    • By

      Water Temp: Cold

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the Lake at 10:30am - home by 12:30pm. It did warm up a little bit today. The air temp in the high 40's. Tossed a 3"cinnamon brown Senko around the bushes and tules of the impoundment from the bank. Also drop shot rigged a 4" blue Power Worm with a pink curley tail along the pier and adjacent tules on the South Lake for an hour. I guess the water is still too cold to expect much...not s bite. Better luck next week!
      City: Daly City

    • By

      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: fished from 1pm till 7pm had one rod soaking power eggs and bass fishing w/ another caught my limit in trout and one nice 3lb bass off a wacky rigged senko color my secret if you know me you know exactly what color. rained on me all day got soaked but it was well worth it.
      City: pacifica

      Tips: fish slow for bass!!! deep for trout and green power eggs.



      <*){{}}><

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: After good breakfast in Healdsburg launched at big ramp.Water was very muddy.Thought maybe should have stayed for another cup.Fished north end all day with out bite.Cranking, spinnerbait, jigs, spoon, worms, swimbait.Nothing.Ran into fellow angler also scouting for Anglers Choice next weekend and found out lake hand dropped 30' this last week. He also was having no luck. Should have stayed in Healdsburg for lunch.
      City: Fairfield

      Tips: Dress warm, bring coffee. Cookies help ease the pain also.

  • Calaveras County
    • By

      Water Temp: 49 to 51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: caught fist in 1 to 20ft of water on senkos,jigs,and dart headed baby brush hogs the bigger fish came on brown jigs
      and the trout are everywhere on the surface
      City: riverbank

      Tips: main lake points had some nice fish a 6lb largemouth and 4lb smallie and a lot of 2lb fish also

    • By

      Water Temp: MID 50"S

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: TOOK MY SON OUT AT ABOUT 3:30 PM. FISHED 2 HOURS CAUGHT TWO BETWEEN 2-4 POUNDS.
      City: GILROY

      Tips: SWIM A JIG FROM 14-10 DEEP, BACK TO SHORE. BITES COME ON THE FALL. WIEGHT THE JIG BEFORE SWIMMING AGAIN.

Saturday, February 18th, 2006

  • Mason County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: We float-tubed the south end for a dozen typical 13-16inchers in the cold and hail. It was a better bite than I expected with most coming in at 5 to 17 feet. They seem to be moving to rocks near the flats they will be nesting on. Absolutly no joy for crappie and I did try! Crappie are still schooled up deep is my best guess.
      Splitshot plastics worked real slow did it for us.

      Tips: Rocks and sticks near the shallower flats and work it SLOW.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: low 50's

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Elk Grove Bass fished today and a 5 fish bag of over 23 pounds won the tournament. Big fish was 10+ pounds and the winning check was over $1700.00 for 1st place! Tough bite for most with all but 3 teams having a limit at weigh in.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Brown and purple jigs and morning dawn worms fished slowly got most of the bites.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: River City Bassers out of Sacramento, with seven boats, teams of two per boat, went out of Markley Cove Saturday morning. Teams caught from 12 to 40 fish, largest at 3 lbs. Teams fished the narrows and the main lake, primarily on the east side. Weather was cold, but little rain, some sun, and fairly calm winds. Smallies, large moutn, and spots (plus a dinner trout) were caugh. Good fishing!
      City: Carmichael

      Tips: Plastic worms and grubs on dart head, drop shot, or split shot rigs were effective from 5 to 35 feet. Three nice fish caught on crank bait.

    • By

      Water Temp: 51-52

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Devil Mountain Bassmasters club tournament at Berry essa on Saturday. We launched 5 boats on a very cold morning. Overall the bite was tough. Water was a chilly 50 in teh morning and only warmed a few degrees through the day. We had only 3 limits brought to the scales and three anglers blanked. Winning weight was 11.2 lbs with a 4.6 lb kicker largemouth. Most guys got their fish on worms, drop shot and split shotting. Winner found a reaction bite and got his limit on jerkbaits and upgraded his fish with jigs. Beautiful day but cold. Make sure you bring the cold weather stuff.
      City: Walnut Creek

      Tips: Look for pre-spawn staging areas with access to deep water, throw reaction baits but slow down. Jigs in the deeper areas as the sun came up. Seemed the fish dropped down deeper when the sun came up.

    • By

      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Loomis Basin club tournament. Several different clubs launched out of markleys. Kinda zoo at launch. we had 10 boats with several teams short one man because of snow in colfax. Temp in dodge truck read 30 going up the hill to the lake. Fishing was totally different than last sat. Where I caught largemouths I caught smallies?Where I caught smallies I caught largemouth? Bite was on hulla grubs and brush hogs carolina rigged or split shot.Mike Dean and I had a 2 lb average. Only one dink. No jig bite today.Mike and I fished very slow and deliberatly. We fished the same area for 3 hours to get first 4 keepers.Ran to putah for next 2 returned to starting spot for one more nice smallie. Pre fishing helps.We covered a 100 yard stretch over and over. Mike wanted to leave but I'm stubborn.
      City: orangevale

      Tips: Next week fish will move back into shallows. North east corner should be good again. Putah held largemouth in the pockets 10 to 15 feet deep.I cranked 2 nice smallies on a manns 15+ crawfish pattern crank bait first half hour.I might have caught more but the cold wind kinda made me fish slower baits.

  • Ventura County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50s

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: bigest fish to date 11pds 8ozs previous biggest fish 11pds 4oz black berkley worm
      City: ventura

    • By

      Water Temp: 58-59

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Weather was cold with air temp in the 30's-40's and rain showers in the morning, and 50 or so mid day with mixture of clouds and sun. Wind was easterly about 5 knots and water temp was 58-59 with about 4-5 visibility and slight stain- it seemed like the water was clearer than last week.

      Started with swimbait again and had 1 follow to the boat from an offshore hump. This fish was easily 7-8 lbs, and very thick. She charged at the bait but turned off about 5ft from the boat and left a deep boil alongside the boat. Dang! No other follows or bites on swimbait.

      Went looking for last week's worm pattern in the brush lines in 15-20' Did not get bit on this pattern and did not mark fish on the brush edge. Eventually found the worm bite and developed a pattern on secondary points in 10-15'. Landed 9 fish and had 12-13 bites. Got most fish shakin and the rest split shotting, 6-8lb line, and robos in oxblood lt red, MMIII, aaron's. Like last week they were all schoolie sized 1.5-3lb. These fish were all short fat football shaped fish- its nice to see Casitas so healty.

      Tried senkos, rippin, jigs and a little spinnerbait and crankin for nada. Found some nice backwater type habitat with flippable brush and wood in the water and saw one small cruiser up shallow but no shallow bites. Finished the day under a heavy dark sky tossing swimbaits.
      City: Thousand Oaks

      Tips: Bring your rain gear, wear layers, gloves etc - it was friggin cold! There was snow on the hills above Ojai and my wife called to tell me there was a hail the size of small marbles falling in Thousand Oaks.

      As far as tips for the smaller fish- work the brush and figure out how the fish are orienting to it. Once you have an idea of the pattern you may be able to fish fairly fast because when you put the worm in front of them they readily bite it. Most of the bites occurred on the sink or within the first few shakes. I can only guess where the bigger grade of fish are, so no tips for the bigger fish.

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Has anybody been out lately and what would be a good lure for the muddy water?
      City: antioch