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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, December 14th, 2005

  • Merced County
    • By

      Water Temp: 47/48.5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: one more thing
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Oh yeah! If your using reation type baits, KEEP MOVING AND LOOK FOR THE SCHOOLS!

    • By

      Water Temp: 47-48.5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Forebay today, heavy fog in the morning, lifted a little on the south end but not much. It was real cold out there but no wind all day. Lanched at 7.30am. Started at the spill way, one blow up on my buddies super spook in bone color near the buoys, I hooked a 15" on a american shad color lucky craft rip bait about 15 yards off the rock wall next to the buoys. Then hooked a largemouth a few casts after on same rip bait. Next peice of action was on the flats. Two more 15" fish on the rip bait, and my buddy hooked a 18" on a blue back, babyblue body swimbait in 5" size with a 1/2 oz. head and a small largemoth right after. Then hooked a couple of shakers on a rat-l-trap in the same area. A few more blow ups on the spook and then the day was done. Off the water at 2:00pm.
      City: SanJose

      Tips: Best action came off the flats in about 8-12 feet of water. Positioned my boat on weed lines and butterfly casted along the weed lines and into open water. Didn't get to stay for evening bite but the evening bite has always been the best for me on the flats. Ripbaits(color according to water clarity), 3" to 6" rubber swimbaits with at least a 1/2oz. in shad colors. Larger baits for larger fish. The stripers like the baits presented fast, fast rips on the rip bait. Cast swimbaits and let sink to botttom and then burn it back home. Most action on super spook came when the spook disturbed the water a lot and made a ruckus on the surface. Burned the rat-l-traps too. Hope this info helped a bit. Any tips for me, I'd appreciate it.

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: One of my regular clients decided it was time for some winter punishment, so off to Clear Lake we went on Monday evening. We were hoping for the cloud cover to hold for awhile, but no luck. Clear sky, cold damp night, and a moon that was too bright. Sunday night would have been better. I think many of the large bass fed Sun night as conditions were perfect then - a warmer cloudy night. Anyway, to our surprise, the bite was good from about 7 to 11 pm. We caught 16 bass on jigs, 10" Power Worms, and brush hogs. The biggest was only 5 1/2 lbs and the best five a little over 18 lbs. The bite died after midnight as the temp really dropped. So did our attitude as we each lost a big bass at the last rockpile we fished. Bummer!! When we left Clearlake Oaks at 2 am, the temp was 29 degrees. I was happy to see that my new Ranger 520 and Evinrude E-Tec could handle the cold night just fine! We did too in snowsuits and hand-foot warmers!! Funny thing - we didn't see another boat!!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I was really surprised how active the 3 to 5 lb bass were considering the terrible post-front and moon conditions. For example, the jetty north of Konocti Resort (lower lake) had bass all around it - including the 5 1/2. Early in the evening too. 50 degree water means feeding bass - day or night. The problem with winter night fishing at Clear Lake is to fish slow enough without snagging every rock you hit. If your bait gets stuck on a rock - release the pressure and see if it will back off - then pop it a bit. Often the bait will jump right over the rock. Or -- you are snagged big time! Well, the bass will have a rest from my hookset at least, as I will be gone from the lake for 2 months. I hope everyone saves some dumb ones for me. Good luck!!

Monday, December 12th, 2005

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I guided a fellow Fri on one of the most beautiful December days I can remember at Berryessa. Too beautiful - not a breath of wind. We fish shadows mostly - steep banks and found quality bass which surprised me. Our best five were 12 lbs 2 oz, but we only caught 11. I broke off a Berryessa bass for the first time in awhile - big fish! Biggest was a near 3 lb smallie. Sat I guided 2 guys - totally rookies in bass fishing. They could cast and that was all that mattered! One of the fellows who hadn't fished in 12 years landed the first 3 bass! Well, I guess this isn't as tough a sport as we think it is!!! Fishing was different on Sat for my boat. We caught nearly 20 bass but got into a lot of 11 to 13 inchers for some reason. Our limit was under 10 lbs. They had a great time and we now have 2 new converts to bass fishing!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I was surprised to see a big wind come up about 10 am on Sat. I think cranking would have been the way to go as the previous poster said. Jigs works very well both days as did worms - especially morning dawn. We found most of our bass both days in 15 to 40 feet of water.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I keep hearing about no fish in Discovery bay. There stacked in there.I live there and the fishing is great now.Have faith in your fish finder. Drift Bluegills. What has been working really good is Hair Razors and a nice 6" Storm swimbait.
      City: Discovery Bay

      Tips: Trust your fish finder. when you mark fish put the swimbait and Hair Razor to work. Good luck

    • By

      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: fished plastics on drop shot,carolina and darthead big fish 3.83 limit around 10 lbs stayed under 15ft and around wood. rastrike
      City: el cerrito

      Tips: heavy fog didnt start big motor till 11am robo worm mm11 6 inch

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Finaly got out to Eastman Lake first time ever there early this month.Then took a trip out again right away.Bass couldnt get enough of us hit like 60 bass on first trip, between three of us drop shot action was insane. We had multiple double headers of two pluss pounds and a big of 3# awsome first day at lake. Then we went back 12-08-05 . Got me a 6# 4# 3.5# 5# and about 7 others oround 15 to 18 inches awsome day ill be back soon. :)
      City: Visalia

      Tips: Fish around 35 feet

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 56 Degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Tough finding fish...they've definitely gone deeper..but late in the afternoon, caught 20 bass, 2-3 pounds drop shotting at the corner of the dam where the concrete ridge goes into the water..in about 28-30 feet. Someone submerged something, since there's a rope, and there were fish all around it on my finder. Pretty much shad color for any plastics, and I caught one on a rip bait (Shad Color)....
      City: Merced

      Tips: Shad color worms for drop shotting, and look on points and ridges with deep water nearby...also dress for cold weather since it was 45 degrees when I left with wind...

    • By

      Water Temp: probably...52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: hey Sam.. don't worry about the mercury in that lake..I'm sure at this time of year the water is a green,, light blue green.. clear as hell..I dont know if hell is clear..but if your fishing for the planter's..the rainbow's will be 15 feet below..try trolling a borken back rapala.. two feet under the water. Rainbow's don't care about first light..I would use somthing that look's like what they eat..shad... something with some red..and when your trolling.. slow.. pull up on the rod and let it come up... injured fish...try it and let me know here.. Good luck and Happy Holiday's.. I will probably see ya out there..
      City: morgan hill

Sunday, December 11th, 2005

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: 1st time on the lake first fish of the day came on a jig. This fish was 8.11 lb Largmouth, we cought approx 15 lbs from one little stretch of bank. Ended up with 16.5 lbs throughout the day.

      Sky was hazy all day and the fish were on the chew, second place had a little of 12lbs. Come out and meet us at http://www.folsombassteam.com/

      We meet every 1st Wedensday in Orange Vale.
      City: Antelope

      Tips: Dont be afraid to fish in water above 40' ;)

      If you find Largmouth sit them out.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Went striper fishing with 2 of my buddies. Launched out of B&W around 7:30am and was fogged in. Started working down river along the riprap. About 200 yrds we came across a depth change 7ft to 14ft and wham! School of 5-7 lbers wanting to eat. Caught most on rattle and speed traps and managed a 4lb steelhead. Caught a few more in Franks but the larger schools were on the rocks.
      City: Fairfield

      Tips: presentation seemed to matter...we could only manage bits slow rolling the traps.

    • By

      Water Temp: 49-52

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the hook tourney last sun & today. Last week we had a solid rip bite going with several fish in the 3 - 5 1/2lb range each day of practice. On game day we had our limit within 35 min and continued catching rip fish all day long everywhere we went, over 30 in all. Unfortunately the better fish just wouldn't cooperate for us. Finished w just under 12 lbs.

      Today's game plan was rip for a limit and flip for a kicker. The plan was fool proof...almost, save for my bad luck. I lost a limit worth of fish within the first 20 min or so including one decent 2 1/2 that sure would have helped.. damn loose drag... Finally we started boating fish, much thanx to my partner, and we got a small bag together. Made a move and brought out the jig rods. Worked patiently for a few hours without a bite then we finally got our window (or should have been) with only 20 min left to fish. I got one close to 3, my partner gets a 4.. both mushy bites.. Then comes a solid deliberate thump, and off to deep water. I set hard and ohh yes, this was the big dog we needed... I still think I did everything right, but halfway to the boat my line went slack, she just came off.. Definatetly not my day....Finished in the top 10 w a little over 15lbs. Winners had 18 1/2
      City: Tracy

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

      Report: It's too bad there won't be another Chabot tree dumping habitat project this year, but I guess some is better than none...
      City: San Leandro

      Tips: Work the trees...

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: U know stephen with ur hat off it looks like u have cancer.. Do you? Well the fish dont like you so just stay home panzy!!! Man do u have tha biggest hump back i have ever seen.. GOD DAMN!!!
      City: Antioch

      Tips: WHEN U SEE STEPHAN TEL HIM TO GO HOME!!!!!!!

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Folsom Bass league Tourny on Sunday.To my surprise we had the privelage of fishing against Mike Iaconeli (Yup the guy on TV) He is A realy nice guy to talk with. Any way fished the North Fork drop shot and Texas rigged Robo worms for only 4 keepers 6.90lbs.finishing in 31st. Better luck next month Jan.22.
      City: Sac

      Tips: Move around and find the active fish. I didn't and paid the price of A poor finish.

    • By

      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Time for an update...the lake is down over 20 feet since earlier in the year. Fishing has been TOUGH!!! Other than an 8 lb. bass on October 30th and a 3 lb'er today, there have been very few bites and even fewer fish. Those two fish were taken on an 8-inch swimbait that mimics the stocked trout..

      The shallow zone (0 - 30 feet) seems to be devoid of fish. The graph shows lots of fish suspended between 40 and 60 feet, but they don't seem interested in hitting shad/hitch imitations like silver spoons, blade baits, or lipless crankbaits, or drop-shotted worms or Senko's. Even drop-shotted 3" and 4" Senko's don't yield any bites.

      Yes, a few bass are being caught...some were taken by others on a red crankbait today, still others on drop-shotted tiny worms, but the usually successful presentations that my son and I have been trying (jigs, Senko's, crankbaits)aren't working. The morning buzz-bait bite stopped about a month ago.
      The stocked trout have scattered and are vitually everywhere. They are aggressively feeding on the small minnows and can be caught on tiny white marabou jigs or 1/16 ounce Road Runners in white.
      This is now a very different fishery than it was about a year ago IMHO.
      We'll keep fishing San Justo, because we know it has some real lunkers, but it is now a frustrating bite that requires a lot of patience.
      City: Monterey

      Tips: Downsize your dropshot presentations and keep moving until you find a pod of fish. They are bunched up very tightly.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I have been thinking about this mercury in the trout at stevens creek. If they are hatchery fish and most of them dont stay there very long before getting caught, how could they have that much mercury in them unless the hatchery has mercury?

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I have been thinking about this mercury in the trout at stevens creek. If they are hatchery fish and most of them dont stay there very long before getting caught, how could they have that much mercury in them unless the hatchery has mercury?

Saturday, December 10th, 2005

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: We got a late start and were on the lake by 9am. Fished less than five minutes and we had our first three pound largemouth. The fish were just wacking the cranks today. All in all, we caught six largemouth and four smallies three pounds or better and one thirteen inch largemouth.Nothing on plastics today. We fished twelve to eighteen feet and there had to be weeds. The bite died when the whitecaps started.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: Find deep weeds and you've found the fish. We did a lot of pulling weeds off the hooks, but the bass were there and aggressive.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: ROCK BOTTOM JIGS ROCK UP HERE IN THE WINTER..

      Tips: JIGS