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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, July 16th, 2005

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 84

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went on our first nite fishn excursion of the year and launched on the main body at 6:30pm..our evening bite was curtailed somewhat as we ended up towing a ski boat full of folks back to berryessa marina..i found out that a 50hp doesn't go squat when your'e towing...went to the east side and caught a couple of fish before dark and then went to fish some steeper rocks...ended up gettn alot more bites than hookups, but boated around 10 fish with a 3# and a 5#...the fish were very shallow and most came on plastics...quit at 2am, got too sleepy, glad my partner was awake to drive home...
      City: orinda

      Tips: if you fish at night always go with someone, for safety and also it always seems that the weird things happen at night and it always good to have a witness...also it will enable one to fish shallow and one to fish the deeper and you will cover more water...normally we use 7" worms or larger, but if your'e not gettn bit drop down in size...now if anyone can give me hints on how to get some topwater action in the evening, i'd really appreciate it.......good fishn......

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

      Report: Launched out of Whimpys at 5:30am fished hog and beavewr slough, caught 8-10 fish moslty in the 1-1 1/2 pound range on soft top-water bait. Largest fish was about 3 1/2 pounds came on a speed trap, also stuck a 19" striper on the speed trap as well. Off the water by 10:00am
      City: Sacto

      Tips: Did not find any big fish but I had fun none the less. I went north of wimpoys to lookaround for new water and to find some smallies, but no luck. Any suggestions on where to find some bronze backs would be great.

    • By

      Water Temp: 75-79

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Ryan Mckinley and I started out at Paradise Point @ 6am. Went down Dissapointment using frogs, Buzzbaits with a out going tide. Low at 10am. This is not the best time to be using a top water lure. Switching to a Senko and JK Jigs in dark colors we found some small bass. Moving over to White slough working some of the rocks and water pipes we found some biger fish up 5.0 lbs. on a senko in Smoke with Purple flake. With the tide swing @ 4.0 feet work the outside of the weeds and the big inner pockets. Later we had lunch at H&H waiting for the tide to came in. Working the White at 1:20 the sun was hot hot. Not many boats out , some came out later for the high tide.
      City: rocklin

      Tips: High tides are better

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 84-86

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Friday PM, Saturday AM & PM and Sunday AM in the Rattlesnake Island area. The heat was brutal!! Ended up a with 30 fish total. One 4lb'er on white spinnerbait, lost one at the boat that was pushing 5lb on a black jig. All of the rest of the fish we caught were on drop-shotting purple or blue Robo's. Those 1-1/2 and 2lb'ers sure are a lot of fun on light spinning tackle!!!
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: All of the fish that we caught were holding in 10 to 12 ft. of water

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

      Report: When we got to dv lake we fished the brush piles, and points with lizards and brush hogs we got hits but nothing big. when we went to the dam we through plastics and silver kastmasters we finaly got one bass that was 3lb's we went back to a cove and found tons of small blugill and caut 4 of those on mealworms and crappie nibbles.
      City: Riverside

      Tips: Use silver lures by the dam on the staircases it looks like baby shad. also use yellow jigheads tipped with mealworms or crappie nibbles for blugill

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

      Report: Fished the night tourney for FBC at this Dead Sea. Results from the 109 degree blast off or should I say melt off were 18.5 lbs for two outings/4 fish limit each for winner and he had big fish of 4.10. Add the humidity of the lake and some of the 36 may have driven past their favorite holes just to catch a breeze. As usual for this time of the year, it cooled off to 78 degrees about 4 AM for about 1 hour.
      City: Fresno

      Tips: Dark blades and worms right next to the bank.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 81-83

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I guided a grandpa, son, and grandson, Thurs and a single client for half day on Fri. No heatstroke thankfully! Water was 81 on Thurs when we started in the south fork, and then went to the middle fork which I thought would have an afternoon breeze. Bingo! - it saved us!! We caught around 40 bass up to 14 1/2 inches, including lots of 12 inchers. It was the fun they were looking for! Green pumpkin and morning dawn were the worm colors that worked best. We were split-shotting the worms. I tried topwater and did catch 2. We fished every shade pocket we could and that helped - especially in the middle fork. That is a good pattern when the lake is full - look for overhanging trees. Most of our bass were caught on points or cuts. They were from 2 feet deep to 25 feet - bigger ones were deeper - no surprise. Small bass were chasing bait all over in open water. Friday was different. The water was 2 degrees warmer and the fish were more scattered and smaller. There were small bass everywhere near the surface but they had no bait to chase is my guess. The bait went deep. There was no surface activity and it was hot!!!!! We stayed in the south fork and did catch 20+ - including my client's LARGEMOUTH. Where did that come from?! Interesting to fish back to back days and see the changes that take place as the weather dictates.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: All the bass were spiting up pond smelt - lots of them! The smelt were sure small - no wonder the bass are skinny! At least they are feeding well. It is fun to guide clients that are using my 782 G. Loomis rods! Those spots won't quit in 80 degree water. The clients just love fighting those fish on a wonderful rod. I found flats that extent out 20-25 feet from shore and then drop off - held the most and the biggest bass. Definately - Structure 101 for summer!!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: tubed the island pond from 7-12, 7 fish, two over 3lbs., one over 5lbs. Bigger fish came from the weed islands
      City: p-town

      Tips: around 9:30 a.m. there were dragon flies everywhere and then the fish started jumping and didn't stop till noon. tried to match the hatch all I had was 4" watermelon w/red flake senko's. only one other tuber out there this morning and we made the most of it. He caught more on an oxblood roboworm than i did on my senko but I caught the bigger fish

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I'll be out there tomorrow with a green caddis tube. that's fine..i already know what i am doing.but i'll see you around.
      good luck to you tomorrow.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: fish with respect

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched boat at 5:45a.m. to get an early start. Headed up to Cherry Creek and started throwing crankbaits,zara spooks and frogs with no success for the first hour. My partner, Jack Rosetti started throwing senkos and nailed a 2.5lb. I was determined to catch a frog fish so I kept on trying with still no blowups while Jack gets two more 2lb. fish. We had a bet for first,biggest and most fish so I put down the frog and started throwing senkos. I missed the first two hits because I set too soon so I said next bite I'll let the fish take it before I set. My partner was fishing on the outside edges of the grass so I decided to go shallow and right away a I got a light tick tick. I waited until the line started to move and when I set the fish immediately broke water and I knew it was a big fish. I kept the rod tip down but the bass still jumped out of the water and seeing the fish I knew it was a Hawg. Jack gets really excited and asks where's the net which I never take out of the locker when I'm fun fishing. Well the fight is on and the bass dives into the weeds and keeping pressure on I bring her up close to the boat and then Jack lunges out and grabs the fishes jaw and brings her in the boat.My biggest bass at Lake Sonoma weighed in at exactly 8lbs. We proceded down the bank and caught four more fish.By 9a.m. we had 7 bass with best five going 17lbs.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: Keep the boat out in deeper water so you don't spook the fish. Throw on the outside edges and in pockets of the grass and keep a eye on your line. When it twitches wait a few seconds until the line moves and then set. The fish were aggressive and didn't hesitate to run with the Senkos. Best colors were watermelon with black flake and green pumpkin although other colors worked also. Here it was Saturday in the middle of Summer and we didn't see another boat until after 10a.m. It's definitely a early bite so get on the water at first light.Good luck and tight lines.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 78-81

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: First time ever on this lake. Fished one of the large side arms about half way up the lake. Got several smallmouth on top water poppers. Nothing of any size maybe a pound at the most but lots for them. Did get a few on gitzit's and plastic worms also. Lots of fun.
      City: Ben Lomond

Friday, July 15th, 2005

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 77

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: fishing was ok.... windy as a mutha fcka.. overcast... blowing hard... had trouble controlling the boat,, so decided to turn the bow out.. stay off the band around 30 feet and start crankin..just outside the shit stinkin moss line..did well.
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: the tip of the day is.. throw a deep diver..just outside of the smegma line.. crank hard.. and hang on... also .. let the ranger's know if any of the "J " skier's and or other wake board boat.s give ya grief.. bring a piece of paper and write down the CF number's and report them.. WE ALL HAVE TO BE SAFE AND SHARE THE WATER!

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: Mid 70s

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water by 5:15A this morning. Fished Disappointment Slough and Columbia Cut. Went to the same sweet spot in Columbia Cut as yesterday and caught over 15 keeper size bass by 7:00A. Caught a 6+ lb fish in Disappointment using a Sizmic Toad. Our best 5 weighed 18+ lbs. Off by 12:00P.
      City: Dixon

      Tips: It's cool in the morning, but watch out for the heat. Bring plenty of liquids. Rat L Traps and wht/char spinnerbaits worked well today.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 76-83

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished at night 9pm-1am on Friday and caught 6 totalling just over 20 lbs (biggest going just over 6 lbs) all on buzz baits and jitterbugs - nothing on plastics the whole night. Dropshotted, t-rigged, senkos...but all the fish came from top-water. Focused on grasslines near lakeport.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Fish the grasslines- black buzzbaits and dark green jitterbugs. I tried throwing all kinds of colors, black was the only one working. Most fish were caught about 4-6 feet off the grass lines.

    • By

      Water Temp: bathtub

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: i looked at my post again was kind of rude! although that was not my intentions
      City: redwood

      Tips: i will be using this for fishing reports only in the future

    • By

      Water Temp: bath tub

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Tim/rexx-
      I will be out there on saturday 6 am
      yellow float tube
      show me where you are on the shore I will show you fish

      smoke-smoke more be happy, 420 :)
      City: redwood

      Tips: buy a float tube

Thursday, July 14th, 2005

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: Mid 70s

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Paradise at 5:30A. Fished Disappointment Slough and Columbia Cut. We caught over 15 keeper size bass. Found a sweet spot in the Columbia Cut area and caught 7 keeper size bass in about 15 minutes on a shad colored Rat L Trap (including my all time best - a 9.1 lb hog -- took some pictures and released her). Best five was around 19+ lbs. Off the water by 12:00P before it got too hot.
      City: Dixon

      Tips: Caught early morning bite fish on a white/char spinnerbait. Saw another fisherman that caught a 8+ lber on a buzz bait.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 81

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: After 2 years of not night fishing this lake, I got the green light to go. Kris and I arrived at 8:45 and tried flipping trees in the south end w/no luck. Just at dusk, Kris bangs a 3.5 and I soon feel like I've got a weed on my brushog. I keep reeling until all of a sudden it is below the boat and up comes a 5+ and goes down and throws the hook! I thought that might have set the tone for a not so well evening, but it turned out ok. We ended up w/ 11 keepers by 2:30am. All fish caught on plastics. I must say that the water is higher than I've ever seen it on this lake in july. Some of my rocky spots had bushes hanging 10 feet over the water, so proper presentation next to the bank was not a possibility.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: It became apparent that all fish that bit for us were right on the bank. Working the lure back produced no bites all night. None of our spots were red hot, just a fish here and there. This was the calmest night I've ever seen on this lake. One interesting side note: After a long dry spell, I decided to turn the flourescent light on along with the black light. I did this so I could get my lures as close to the bank as possible. I cant ever remember catching a fish with this white light on. On this night though, We did get 3 good ones and missed one with it on.............I shall have to experiment more.

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 82 DEGREES SURF

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: LOTS OF FISH , 2 TO 4LBS ON 5" CLEAR,HOLOGRAM & SMOKE GRUBS BY YAMAMOTO & KALIN'S. FISHED DEEP ROCKS UP RIVER & ALSO BY THE DAM IN THE ROCKS.
      City: LA GRANGE

      Tips: USE DARTHEADS 1/16 TO 1/8 OZ CAST TO DEEP ROCKS AND ROCKY SHORES, LET IT FALL. ALL HITS ARE ON THE FALL. GREEN LINE OR FLOROCARBON. WE USE 12 TO 17LB TEST.

    • By

      Water Temp: 83 DEGREES

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: WEDNESDAY WENT OUT FOR SHORT TIME 1 P.M. UNTIL 3 P.M. GOT FRIED IT WAS 105 DEGREES, IN THAT TIME WE CAUGHT 6 BASS RANGING FROM 2 TO 4 LBS. ALL CAUGHT ON YAMAMOTO GRUBS. TOSSING INTO DEEP WATER AND LET FALL, ALL STRIKES WERE ON THE FALL. LINE WAS BASS PRO NEW XPS FLORO-CARBON. GRUBS WERE CLEAR SALT & PEPPER AND SILVER FLAKE
      City: LAKE DON PEDRO (LA GRANGE)

      Tips: IN TIHS HOT WEATHER, LOOK FOR THE CLEAREST WATER YOU CAN FIND, AND FISH DEEP WITH SMALL WORMS AND GRUBS HERE AT DON PEDRO , AS THE WEATHER IS HOT HOT HOT ! WEAR SUN SCREEN, AND JUMP INTO THE LAKE ONCE IN AWHILE...

      JIGS