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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Thursday, November 3rd, 2005

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Yesterday was a totally unexpected "good day" at Berryessa. After the dark, rainy day Thursday, I figured the bass fed heavily and would shut off Friday, since it was a post-front bluebird day with some north wind forcast. Not a cloud in sight!! My clients were great folks and had good fishing skills so we decided to make the best of it! We started in shadows - thinking they would hold more fish. We soon discovered that it didn't matter - sun-shade-whatever - even though the water was still clear. Someone forget to tell them that dinner was over and we caught bass all day long on several types of structure - onshore and offshore. We stayed in the narrows all day but I can't say more than that since they have an upcoming tournament or two. We wound up with 28 tournament keepers and 6 shorts - with the biggest a 2 3/4 lb largemouth that the backseater caught. He had a period in the afternoon that he was catching 'em one after another! We caught a mixture of all three species, but a surprising about of good largemouth - considering the cold front. Those gave us a good five fish weight of near 12 lbs. The drive home is so easy after a trip like that!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: The water temp has dropped quickly - about 5 or so degrees on the surface. That should improve the fishing everywhere! Because of the type of trip we did, we didn't target trophies though I threw a trout bait some. Don't forget to look for quick deep-water access. Shallow flats and gentle sloping shorelines are usually devoid of bass this time of year. We caught bass 10 yards offshore and up to 200 yards offshore. Keep movin'!!

  • Westchester County
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      Water Temp: cold... maybe 5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: What is up with this lake?
      i'm fishing horseshoe.
      i fish for smallmouth and catch trout.
      i fish for trout and catch smallmouth.
      so lately i've been throwing spoons, kastmasters and panther martins for the trout. darn smallmouth keep hitting it. so i say, what the heck, i'll fish for smallmouth and start throwing rapalas and rattletraps. i start catching trout. my last trout was 3 lbs. i can't wait til the water drops another 15 feet. it's down about 20 ft. then rainbow lake should be good to walk around.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: i can't wait til DFG starts planting those trophy 9 lbs. trout. that should make things interesting.

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2005

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing with live bluegill is absolutely legal to do on the Delta. Check the DFG regs before you call someone out.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Fish anyhow you like that is legal

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I showed 2 guys the ins and outs of night fishing Clear Lake last night as a front was moving in. I knew that would be good as long as the front held together since fronts bring in warm air. We won the battle until midnight when the front fell apart (before any rain, thank goodness)! After the frontal passage the temp dropped and the fishing died. My clients brought their own rods - but they were two piece catfish rods - spooled with heavy flourscent line that gave them fits on their spinning reels. In spite of that, they did catch 7 bass between them and the guy in the back of the boat didn't let me down!! He caught the biggest (on a brush hog) - a very skinny 5 pounder, maybe an ounce under. That bass should have been much heavier - it looked healthy. It is amazing how many folks catch the biggest bass in the back of my boat. I guess my new '06 Ranger 520 will be no exception! Driving home, I wondered how many they would of caught on quality bass rods. There was no bite - just pressure. Of the three I caught, one was 4-2. We put together a nice limit near 18 lbs in spite of an increasing north wind. All were caught on soft plastics - Power Worms, Yamamoto Kut-Tail worms, Dead Ringer worms, and Brush Hogs - all in dark colors with scent. We fished the narrows areas, Henderson area, Rattlesnake, and the west shore near Konocti Resort. Most bass were caught at the 20 foot depth.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: This is the second time I can remember 60 degree plus water in November. It will take some cooler water to get the big bass moving and feeding heavily. I felt the bite should have been better last night but I am aware the lake has been hammered for the last two months. It will take a few weeks for great things to happen again and am looking forward to some big bass in future trips!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: They posted it.
      City: Sac

Tuesday, November 1st, 2005

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

      Report: caught fish along vertical rock banks
      reaction bite is still strong....softjerkbaits
      and hard suspending...nothing huge.but all
      BL's (barely legal)...12 fish over three hours
      City: salinas

      Tips: jerk it and they will bite.

    • By

      Water Temp: Gettin chilly

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Arroyo pond today from 10-3. Water is cooling down rather quick and has clouded signifigantly. No action what so ever today. Tossed all I had. Worked it slow/worked it fast/twitched it/jerked it/buzzed it/let it rest/played it dead. Had only 3 bites. All came along the bank almost directly across from the float tube enter/exit area.

      (Or should I say the spot where all the dogs listen to their owners commands the first time,with no yelling,screaming,shouting or yodeling at them.LOL. And I should not forget the few special folks who love to turn blue in the face from blowing their $@#*#@! whistles so hard and much that I forget about how much I love dogs. And finally, SORRY for this,If by chance the A-Whole who likes to throw things out into the water for FIDO to fetch reads this. YOU BETTER BE DARN SURE TO LOOK BEFORE YOU THROW ANYTHING MY WAY AGAIN. MATTER OF FACT ANYTHING WITHIN 75 YDS=TROUBLE. ITS A MATTER OF RESPECT. No disrespect to the responsible pet owners and k-9s
      City: Hayward

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: surface temp do

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Landlocked Steelies:

      This time of year they're from 40' to the surface. Follow the Shad, you'll find the Steelies.

      Sonoma doesn't 'turn' abruptly like higher altitude lakes. Don't waste time chasing a thermocline, focus on the bait.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: 1) follow the shad 2) #1 and #2 needlefish, rainbow runners, etc. 3) I only use dodgers or flashers below 75' 4) sweeten the lure with a mini-crawler, power bait, anything to coax a second strike on (notoriously) short strikers

      tight lines...Bogey

Monday, October 31st, 2005

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

      Report: Does anyone know who won the Future Pro Tour Tournament this past weekend?
      City: Sac

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

      Report: TO THE GUY WHO SAID, STEELHEAD ARE ILLEGAL TO TAKE! Sonoma is unique in having a wild, self-sustaining landlocked steelhead population. Trollers find the best success fishing with minnow imitation lures, such as Cripplures and Needlefish, throughout the year. "The fall is the best time to fish for the trout, since the fish are moving up into the creeks to spawn," said Green. "The fish average 16 to 23 inches long, but larger fish up to 8 pounds are taken."
      City: CLEARLAKE

      Tips: QUIT THOSE FUNNY CIGARETTES!

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 60+

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Sat with clients and the bite stayed tough. 1 6lb LM made the day, but it was caught on the first cast. If catching a hog on the first cast doesn't jinx the day I don't know what will.
      Graphed fish on submerged rockpiles 25-40' and that was where the good one was caught, but for the most part we were unable to get em to come out and play. The clients were here to learn the lake a little better and I showed them quite a lot of stuff that should be in play when they get back here in the spring. In spite of a slow day fishing I sure enjoyed the day with a couple of real gents.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: We did catch 1 fish on reaction but the rest were caught deep and slow.

Sunday, October 30th, 2005

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: What a day with my nephew Billy. Got his first striper on a live minnow and then about 4 largemouth. Then got him going on a speedtrap and he nailed another 8. Way to go Billy! We had about 30 total. Got a few on topwater too. Just followed the shad ball around the opening to the channel.
      City: Big Break

      Tips: Watch for the shad and boiling fish.

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

      Report: Fished my usual Alder Point this morning and caught a 5 lb LM bass. The fish was in about 12-15 feet of water just outside the weeds. I used a Zoom white fluke with silver flakes and got the big bass. Nothing else worked, not drop shot, not crank bait, and not even nightcrawlers. Strange day on the water today.
      City: San Leandro

      Tips: work a white fluke slow and deep around weedlines.

    • By

      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I dont think this is a bs... thing..guy's my freind took picture's//I cant wait to see them.... No bs...16 that is a big ,.not real..congratulation's ..I'm not a greedy mutha. fcka but still havent boated a "double digit" fish Excuse me.. double digit Bass Real close but not yet.. Hey ya fools out there...water temp is good.. 63 to 65... where the hell are they..????????????
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: I have none..I drive all over .. I spend more time fishing the lake's in Santa Clara than I do here .. Yep I'm the fool..If I'm an idiot..let me know.. All I know is dropshotting work's if ya want number's.(dink's)..nothing of size..Hey.. please let me know if ya have an answer to what "WE ARE ALL ASKING" Temp's right...water level. (a little high this year)..should be feeding..Question where the heck did the Crappie go?? Hey Help

    • By

      Water Temp: 63 -67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took my firlfriend fishing with me this day. We started off around 10AM, fishing plastics but only caught "dinks" in the shallows. Moved further out, tied on a couple of deep-diving crank baits (one blue & silver and the other shad colored). Both of us hooked up with several fish, on the points, in 20 to 25 foot depth. Called it a day around 4PM with a total of 5 fish in the 2 to 3 lb. range. Many other, smaller fish caught as well. Pictures taken & ALL WERE RELEASED. A great day!
      City: Fresno

      Tips: Try a key your deep-diving cranks on the points holding bait fish in the 20 to 30 foot range......and hold on!

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

      Report: Hey you and your buddy should really think about fishing the tournament on sunday. only 90 dollar entry fee. If you guys can catch fish like this all the you will win easily. Sign up here sat or on sun at jones valley marina.
      City: redding

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

      Report: KEEPING MY BOAT IN BERTH FOR WINTER,CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR STEELHEAD, ALSO HOW LONG BEFORE LAKE TURN'S..HAVE BEEN BERTH HOLDER FOR TEN YR'S USUALLY DO WELL IN EARLY SPRING,BUT FINALLY CONVINCED WIFE TO LET ME PUT ON DOWNRIGGER'S.ANY ADVISE WOULD BE APPRECIATED..
      City: SAN RAFAEL

      Tips: HOWEVER I HAVE FOUND DRIFTING WITH A UNWEIGHTED WORM DOE'S WELL...

Saturday, October 29th, 2005

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the NCCC over the weekend and caught a bunch of fish cranking the outside weedlines on a deep diver crank in crawdad pattern in the morning. Was overcast all morning. But when the sun broke out, we lost the crank bite. However, by early afternoon, we caught some fish on a blade up on some sparce weed in ~3-5 feet of water. Did also managed a few here and there on some plastics, but it was not the major bite for us.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Crank and blade ... put the motor on high and cover water till you find a concentration of fish. Then slow and see if you can coax a few more w/ worms.

    • By

      Water Temp: 62-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fished the northern cal club championship .... our club ( gilroy bassmasters) finished second to a delta club ( who else)? by about two pounds... my partner and i had big bag 16.99 and one of our guys had big fish (chuck peak) right at 8.. chuck and his partner also had second big bag at 16 + and my partner ( adam mcandrews) had second big fish.. all in all bite was better as the day and tide got later..we caught our two biggest 5 and 6 off docks north end of slough behind wall by franks.. chucks big fish came in victoria.. actually chucks boat broke down so his partner took their 16 + bag and had another club guy run him to weigh in . they made it by two minutes (WHEW) spiro and guys ran a great tourney and cooch did a great job as mc....
      City: sunnyvale

      Tips: slow slow slow

    • By

      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Excellent day on the Delta, started a little late, dead batteries, on the water by 9:00, started with a chrome jerkbait, action right away, even had a 5pounder try to take the bait from a smaller fish and caught both at once, that was fun, jerkbait worked well until noon, had 25 fish in the boat by then. Then I switched to a Senko with a a splitshot to get it down and caught 10 more by 2:30. Fished down south, low tide. Very fun day, fish are aggressive right now. best 5 was probably aroung 15lbs.
      City: brentwood