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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, August 28th, 2005

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: didn't look

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water @6am Ran up to the Anderson Island channel. Lots of fish bustin the surface , but, not one top water taker. No TD minnow takers. Tryed the weightless senko(blue), Bam! 2 pounder just as the sun was starting to hit the water. Then one small one on a rattletrap(translucent).
      Off the lake by 9am.
      I appreciate the posts, they help me a lot.

      Later,
      Mark
      City: EDH

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: fished the arroyo creek in my tube 4pm till 730 pm. 12 fish, 1 over 3lbs., 2 fish over 5 lbs., and 1 over 6 lbs. all on watermelon w/redflake yamamoto baits.
      City: p-town

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing at Sonoma is tough. On the water at 630 Sunday no fog and already bright out. Ran up to the north end and stated fishing main body points and submerged trees. One 1.5 smallie on 4 inch black worm texas style. Lots of fish on the scope from 12 to 25 ft but not taking anything. Tried worms - spinner and rattle traps. Someone give me the secret to this lake? Once again the marina ramp was a nightmare. People docking and leaving their boats for hours - others learning how to use a jet ski and tons of ski boating kids trying to launch. Took an hour to get to the dock. No more weekend trips here for me.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Yeah I can use some - my best tip is get out early and leave by 10 am to avoid the zoo at the ramp.

Saturday, August 27th, 2005

  • Mason County
    • By

      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: boat traffic is an issue... especilly if your dropshotting..
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: Hey" T" try carolina rig across from the launch ramp..all the way on the other side..100 yard's down.. and use a chartruse lizard... 3 foot leader..and let the boat float.. work's

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: chug bug the lake early in all weeded areas for goog action early. theres not enough time to cover all the lake as the bite for topwater quits around 10am. caught several 3 and 4 lbers this way..good luck
      City: san jose

      Tips: fish early and dont give up to the urge to try something else for a bait

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 73 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: We launched out of Rousso's in Bethel Island today for our usual Saturday trip at 5:30am. The fish were smashing shad on top in Frank's tract. Fished a buzz bait first and my partner a vixen. Nothing the first 30 minutes. The I threw a red/black buzz bait down a grassy cove and ther was a huge splash behind my bait but she did not his the buzz bait. So I reeled it in and cast the BB again past where the splash was and boom 5.5lber whacked it. Later things slowed down caught some schoolie stripers and little buck bass. Moved to a different area and threw a frog for a while and had several blow up but no connections. Moved to another area and fished a brush hog. A 4.0lber whacked it. A couple of casts later a two pounder. A good day on the Delta for a beginner. Three keepers for 11.5 lbs. But boy was it hot!!!!
      City: Antioch, CA

      Tips: A buzz bait early in the morning, later Senkos and brush hogs are the ticket. Green, brown and junebug with red, or purple flakes will all do the job.

  • Ventura County
    • By

      Water Temp: 80.5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hot! 90+ on the water.
      Found small fish to 1 1/2 on the main lake points.
      Drop shot
      Some small fish under shad balls
      Wind came up (thank goodness) and there was a blade bite in the flooded brush. No big fish
      City: los angeles

      Tips: Metered fish deeper on points. Drop shot for them midday.

  • Riverside County
    • By

      Water Temp: 80

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Headed out for a day on the water before she is too low to launch. Started in the east end with spooks and had a few fish right away. We even had a double at one point. After the sun hit the water we headed to rockclimbers with no luck. Headed back the east end and threw at busting fish for over an hour.. Only a few takers on tailspins and nothing on topwater. A good day of fun fishing is good for the soul

      Tips: Nothing specific but fishing busting fish is about as fun as it gets. But throw topwater early and look for the bait as the sun gets higher

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

      Report: Walked entire shoreline of Rainbow Lake. Caught 3 LM dinks by the parking lot; 1 on a jig, 2 on deep diving crankbait. One thing is for sure; the LM would not look at anything white. They only would follow dark colors. Blue worked very well. Walked to the only main lake point in Rainbow Lake, and tossed everything I had in the box. Was able to get a 6+ SMALLIE to follow and nip at a slow rolled spinnerbait, but of course, I forgot to put the trailer hook on. Could not convince the smallie to look at anything else again. This lake will become a very good bass fishery as long as the EBRPD can keep the lakes close to capacity.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Fish any kind of point or submerged visible vegetation that you can find. Most bass were on very subtle depth changes and indentations that were visible from shore. The christmas trees are almost completely out of the water, so the fish have moved to deep points and humps.

Friday, August 26th, 2005

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78 - 82

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: WOW! What you have heard is true! Arrived Thursday afternoon, fished until about 6. I had alot on but lost 'em all. My son Jason put all the fish in the boat. Most flipping jigs tight to the tules near the county park. All in the 3+ lb range with a couple over 4! I had at least a 10 jump up after my drop shot worm (MM Robo)as I was lifting it right at the boat (DOH!)!! Friday am, got a late start (8:30) but still had X-L-N-T action on everything we threw: brown/purple jig, white/chart blades and of course MM dropshot. Probably 20 fish in the boat by 11, largest an even 4 pounder by Jason. I had on one fish that showed itself by cartwheeling that would have gone 8 lbs easily - I was using 6lb test on my D/S rig and could not turn her at all! She finally shredded the line on the rocks (hint) and got off after what seemed like 5 minutes. In some spots we fished it was a fish on every cast! Friday mid-day we got on em in about 5 feet of water under an old dock with concrete piers and a concrete wall with a just a hint of old wood. I hooked into and landed my new PB of 6lbs. 5oz. on the ol' MM drop shot. He had me wrapped around the old concrete pier at one point and thought he was a gonner again on my 6lb test, but I was able to get the boat turned enough so I could get a better angle on him and he came back around. Easily a 5-minute battle and when I held him up, a "spectator boat" started cheering me ;^)! Friday night we went a froggin' and they were taking it with gusto! In an hour's time we boated 12 to 14 fish, the smallest was over 3 lbs, most were 4. Again I lost a good one - prolly about 5 to 6 when he wrapped me. Saturday morning (late start again) back to same spot and just hammered 'em (3 & 4 lb'ers) on the frogs until 11 when someone turned off the fish switch! Together we had over 30 quality frog fish in the boat in 4 hours total fishin time! Saturday morning, these fish were launching themselves on our frogs. First fish of the morning did a "center field" catch on my frog. Jason hung one on a tule that was dangling about 5" above the surface. A fish jumped up at it twice but didn't get it. He popped the frog loose and pitched it right back to the base of the tule (another HINT) and got slammed. That fish went 3.8. Frog bite started out intense, but notably slowed around 9:30, so you had to pitch your frog in and then "watch the paint dry". Just a phenominal froggin' session. All along one tule bank maybe 50 or 60 yards long.
      City: Delta Region

      Tips: THIS IS THE STUFF LIFETIME MEMORIES ARE MADE OF! Do yourself a favor, take your son, daughter, niece/nephew, grandson/granddaughter, or any other kid fishing. You'll have a blast. Blades, jigs, drop shot, buzzbaits, horny toads, FROGS (if you pitch it, they will come!). Please practice catch-and-release.
      One last note - I don't know what it means (this being only my second time on this lake) but the water in the big open area between the Narrows and Rattlesnake was turning literally an emerald green!

  • Riverside County
    • By

      Water Temp: 79

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Summer is here. Hot weather, The Stripers are dancing on top. The new Z-Plug#400 in the blue shad pattern was the ticket. had lots of schoolies and trolled in the afternoon and landed 13 stripers mostly 2-4 pounds. Lots of moss in the water a rubberband tied on tour line about 8 foot from the lure will catch the moss that slides down the line.
      City: altaloma ca

      Tips: Use 2 rubberbands when the moss is heavy on top and have an ice chest and lots of ice for the fish. Z-Plug #400 awsome!

Thursday, August 25th, 2005

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took the RV and Boat up. Fished Thursday AM with a little fog around. 2 Pop R fish in Santa Cruz. Got 4 more split shot in 20 ft. A regular there got 5 or 6 including a 6.5 weighed at the dock. Regulars are reporting slightly improving conditions. Using everything though, Buzz baits and shallow cranks, blades, etc. No fog Fri, 2 small fish.

      American Bass had a tourney Sat and hoping they report some of their experience. They clammed up to me!
      City: Santa Barbara

      Tips: I am optimistically saying that the bite is improving!!

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: For all those Dad`s that have Son`s who love
      to fish.Now is the time to take them to Clear-Lake
      The LAKE is hot but so is the bite.Yesterday,
      we headed up for a night of fishing.We stopped
      by Limit-Out-Tackle.We always stop at Bob`s.
      For those fisherman that don`t get on the water
      much listen-up!!This was one fishing trip
      my son and I will remember!!For those that
      want to catch fish,GO NOW!!We got out on the
      water about 4 pm went south to lower end.We
      worked white/blades along rocky points.Caught
      some nice fish up to 3lbs.We tried a crank-bait
      and that worked to.No big fish,but lots of fish.
      We were waiting for evening and the sun to go
      down.We started Drop-Shotting on a small rocky
      point.The wind was blowing out of the south
      about 15mph.We fish the down wind side and
      just got eaten-up.We started out using 6 inch
      Roboworms--M.M.The fish loved them,we caught
      fish on almost every cast.The fish were small
      biggest 2lbs,We had a ball,until we ran out
      of M.M.worms.We tried morning dawn,they
      didn`t get near the bites,but were still catching
      fish.We were just waiting for night fall.
      My son Mark likes to catch those Clear-Lake
      Giants.He started out with a 1/2oz Football
      Jig,brown/watermelon hulla grub.He caught
      fish after fish on almost every cast.No fish
      was over 3lbs on average,but some were sure
      nice fatties.I was still Drop-Shotting and
      had to try a different color worm.Put on
      Hologram-Shad,WOW this was the hot color.
      The fish just pounded this worm the from
      the time it hit the water.I hardly ever
      picked up on my weight with-out a fish
      being on.We finally just got tired of catching
      fish.I hadn`t used my Black/red Spinner-Bait
      with the #7 Colorado/Black Nickel(1oz)
      I had it tied to medium heavy 7 foot rod.
      So I just started throwing it.It worked to
      perfection,I caught fish on almost every cast.
      The fish were all about 1 1/2 to 3lbs.
      I caught about 20 fish before my arms just
      gave out.We got off the water about 10 o`clock.
      We smiled all the way home.
      Good Luck Fishing
      Dale
      City: Woodland Ca.

      Tips: Find Bait-fish close to rocky or tully
      points.Start out with White Spinner-Baits.
      I like White Skirts/White Blades 1/2oz.
      We didn`t try trailers,but we did use
      Trailer Hooks.Drop-Shotting is great used
      only Roboworms.(M.M.--Holo-Shad)After dark
      go to Black/Spinner-Baits(3/4 or 1oz)also
      Football Jigs/Hulla Grubs.If you take these
      baits and go now you won`t need LUCK!!
      Just have a ball with fishing BUDDIES.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry about this question here but the fishing forum didnt work for me.

      In years past (8-10 years ago) I used to fish for striped bass at Contra Loma in September, I would see them chasing shad all over the lake. Are there still stripers here or are they no longer in the lake in the numbers that used to be?. In the current reports I never see mention of them.
      Thanks,
      Jim
      City: Morgan Hill

  • Leon County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: we didn't do too well except for two smallmouths. the L dock is too crowded for fish.
      City: Lafayette

      Tips: either go in the morning or at night and use worms.

Wednesday, August 24th, 2005

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 80

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The water at Lake Berryessa is starting to cool down and the bass are becoming active. I normally don't promote a particular lure, but I watched as Steve E. used it and it works well. It is made by "Lucky Craft" and it is called a Slender Pointer 97MR. It may be a little on the pricey side but worth the money. It is a suspending lure and it resembles a large minnow and as you twitch it the bass go wild. Saturday night we went out and fished under the full moon till midnight, the bite was not great but we had a little action. I have been giving some fishing pointers to a family docked near my boat and they had a great day fishing on Saturday. The kids ages range from four to ten. Here is what they caught: J.R. - Carp, Bass, Crappie; Trentino - Crappie; Jenny - Crappie, Sqaw Fish and last but not least the youngest Bianca - Carp, Crappie. Great job to the Vitale Family. 'Til next week.............................good fishing!!!!!! www.fishingconnection.net
      For any info regarding fishing please call Sid at 650-583-3333.
      Current Fishing Conditions
      City: napa

      Tips: Use a suspending lure when you know the bass are suspending.

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Was on the water in Disco by 5 am left at 10pm. I landed about 25 fish. Biggest was a 4 1/2. total about 16 lb. sinkos way back in the shade worked ok. Drop shot draging in the shallows produced dinks. Jigs right off the bank was the ticket for me. As soon as it touched the water they were picking it up and going deep. Was hard to catch up to them even with a 7 to 1 reel. Nothing really big though. Frogs probably would have done better but I was trying a new jig rod out. And whats the deal by people tying ropes between the docks? I lost a few really good fish because of that little anti fish tactic.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Started out of paradise. Crack of dawn. Water all the way out. Not much happening for a couple of hours. Then bang bang bang two fours a three all in about 20 minutes. Worms and seinkoos. Went up whites and my buddy bags a 5 lber. he's thinking his dollar big fish is in the bag. He He.He swings a little wide of a tullie island and I pitch into a nice 6lber. Da Damm. Best five went over 21 lbs today. Saturday same place could only nail 2 nice keepers? Sure like the delta on weekdays.
      City: orangevale

      Tips: Incoming tide best today. Rocks and tullies with wood. Worms dead ringers and gator tail worms I've had for 25 years worked today. Seinko got the 6 lber. Shallow in no more than 5 feet of water. Braid line with floro carbon leader. Hang On.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 77-79

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: In @ 9:30 w/ buddy from work, Ran up north to just above Anderson Is. and cranked one 2 lb Spot on a Specialty Tackle crankbait off of a rocky point. Ran further up to the flume above the 5 MPH area and didn't get a bite. Ran back to my "Tsunikechi" (everytime lucky) area and caught 2 out of the trees around Granite and 3 more off of the south ledge of the dredged deep water ramp. All of these fish were in 20 -30 ft. and ate dropshotted or dartheaded 4.5" Roboworms. All of these were the 1.5 lb. clones, but these fish were short for their size, very fat and eating well.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: You all know me by now, dropshot & darthead offshore in deeper water.

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: Don't know

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On the 22nd and 23rd my son and I made our second annual 2-day fishing trip to Clear Lake. Last year we fished from shore near the beach at the state park and had a lot of fun. This year we had an infatable kayak and it's a good thing, since the lake was higher this time around and our preferred shoreline spots were inaccessible. But we still mostly fished from shore---we just used the kayak to get us to promising places along the shore near the campground. The wind was generally too much for fishing from the kayak.

      We fished the evening of the 22nd and morning and evening of the 23rd (and roasted all afternoon). It was not a lot of hours over all, but we had good luck with enough fish to keep us going and a few fairly nice ones. I'm not too good with the weights (these fish are so much heavier for their length than the ones I used to catch in Iowa), but I'd guess we had four that were about 3 lbs each and one that would probably go 4 lbs.

      Btw, I grew up in rural Iowa with a 1 acre farm pond in my back yard. Back then, anything over 2 lbs was a good bass, and the biggest bass I ever caught was maybe 5 lbs. At Clear Lake it's a whole different world...
      City: San Jose

      Tips: From shore, Little George spinners are great. They cast a country mile and they worked well for us. Also, fishing from shore is viable at Clear Lake, though it helps if you're willing to wade in up to your waist or so.