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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, May 25th, 2005

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 72-74.4

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started at 11:00a.m.Friend and I Caught 20 fishes by the end of the day.biggest was 7lb.lots of 2-3lb bass
      City: Castro Valley

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

      Report: After a bit of periodontal surgery - headed out to my spot. Caught 4 small bass on a Rapala floating minnow bait(F5) in approximately 6 ft of water. My grandson reeled one in as well. For about 2 hours at the Lake - not a bad day.
      City: Daly City

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

      Report: hey booger, where can i get some of these worms? Heading to shasta for a week and would love to try these along with robos and senkos and compare.
      City: antelope

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

      Report: Beautiful lake filled with ugly people. First time fishing the lake. Was not aware of all the tension surrounding the caucasions and asians. Hate to say this, but the locals here are sure rude to outsiders. Last I checked lake sonoma was a public lake. Can't seem to understand why the locals believe they own the lake. People here seem to be very disgusted at the sight of an asian fisherman. Other than the awkward feeling, the fishing good.

      Got on the water at about 6 pm. Caught about 16 bass up to 5 lbs. Quality fish were caught in 15-20 ft. Smaller ones caught in shallows. Caught fish on senkos, and dropshot.
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: Fish ledges for quality fish and flats for fun.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 57-62

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got out to the lake early this AM and finally got a topwater bite going for a little while. The water temp should be well above 70 this time of year so we are still in a spring pattern. With warm temps this weekend, the lake should transition the fish into a summer pattern, which is evidenced by the number of dinks I caught today. If you are taking a kid fishing and want to turn him on to fishing, fish shallow. The bigger fish are deeper and the bites are much more sporadic. The high winds of the past few days have added a little color to the water which usually clears quickly but with the boat traffic this weekend may stain it back up again. Trinity bass haven't seen a lot of boat traffic and when a busy weekend happens, they often pretty much shut down. So for you serious fishermen, go early no matter how much your head hurts. Start at the top and work your way down. I got bit today on a spook, a Pop-R, a swim bait, a gitzit, a darter head worm, a senko, so bring your favorite technique and enjoy.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Take a few minutes to enjoy the incredible scenery every now and then. That's what it's all about.

Tuesday, May 24th, 2005

  • Plumas County
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      Water Temp: 56-59

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Yes, I am the same person that posted last year, but this is 2005 - new report!! I put stained water to get your attention. Actually, the water ranged from muddy at Hamilton Branch and the north end to clear on the west side. I was planning to stay at Lake Almanor Resort and fish for about 4 1/2 days. Because of a major winter storm, I fished Tues evening for 2 hours in 37 degree weather and sleet. I couldn't go out until about two hours before dark on Thurs, where I caught 4 smallies on jigs and a 2 1/2 pounder on a crankbait. The storm was so bad on Wed that you couldn't see the lake - wow! At least I felt better and the air temp had warmed up to 48!!! I got a lot of reading in for two days - but stuck it out and am glad I did. Friday was worth it! The storm clouds cleared out slowly but the wind didn't - horrible wind for 4 days. I was able to launch on the west side and tried to fish the north end and was somewhat successful, catching 5 smallies to 3.1 lbs on cranks and split-shotting a Berkley Pulse worm (green pumpkin). Finally I decided to let the wind drag my boat around points with the split-shot rig on the west shore and started with a 3 1/4 pounder. The next three were all bigger, including one that would have been over 4, but she had already spawned. Those 4 big smallies were worth the trip - I wound up with a 15 lb 3 oz limit. Sat suddenly turned into a late spring day - 70 degrees and a dead flat lake - couldn't believe the change. Again, I started about noon and fished for about 7 hours, but also looked over new areas of the lake. I only caught 5 as the post-front must have hit that day. One was a 3 pounder. I wound up with 7 smallies on the trip from 3 to 3-11, just couldn't get the big bite. There were some bass on beds, but probably nothing like there will be this week. Had to get home to guide at Clear Lake.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: One of the big Friday fish actually started spawning in my boat after I landed her. They are ready. I am always sad to hear that there are tournaments (there was one on Sat) in the spring where they probably move those spawners to who knows where. They can't exactly hide in that lake. I wish tournaments would only be held in the summer and fall. I have had a lot of success with split-shotting slightly bulky worms in junebug, green pumpkin, and morning dawn. They certainly worked well this time for some quality fish. I did throw a spinnerbait for awhile and got a tremendous hit, but missed it. Should have thrown it more. I tried topwater also - no action. Most of my bass were caught from 2 to 10 feet. I'll be back in a few weeks to do some guiding. Who knows, maybe another report will happen!!!!

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

      Report: Zack - Please stop with all the ...'s. It is very confusing and annoying to read your "reports". How can you post a tip when you did not find em? I fish all of the south bay lakes and keep seeing your useless blabbering and dots. This...is...not...a...chat...room...
      City: Morgan Hill

      Tips: Skip the reports left by Zack

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry guys I know this isn't a chat room, but I have to help out a man that wants to take his kid fishing and I think it's important for kids to have an exciting experience. Scott, I have been doing well on the crappie, bluegill, and bass from Baylis point to Wheeler point fishing the tules.For crappie cast to the tules and let the jig swing back to the boat reeling SUPER SLOW.A jig 4' to 7'under a bobber will produce for you too.We have been catching some fish just dropping straight down under the boat too. The bass have been eating the 5" watermelon sinko riged wacky with a weedless hook pitched into the pockets in the tules. I hope this helps and please give us a report when you get back.I won't be there this weekend my family and I will be fishing the columbia for giant sturgeon. Good luck.
      City: FRENCH CAMP

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Jeff: Thanks for the quick response and the suggestions. I've let my buddy know and my son's excited to hear it. I don't even mind a little crappie fishing if the bass bite slows down too much. You mentioned around the tules? In Southern California we don't get much of a chance to fish for crappie. Any particular area or depth you'd suggest?

      Thanks again for the info. We're really looking forward to the trip. Most of the big fish I've caught in my life have come during these once a year Clear Lake trips... looking forward to passing it on to the kid. Getting him off to the right start with some fast action on bluegill sounds like just the ticket, but then he's already telling me he wants bass. Gotta love hearing that :)
      City: Stevenson Ranch

    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Scott, I don't know about the north end but down south the bluegill are everywere. My vacation house is on baylis point and my kids were catching bluegill as fast as there meal worms would hit the water off our dock last weekend.The Berkley meal worms worked just as good and they stay on for about 10-15 fish.
      The crappie bite is also going well on 1/32 oz. chartruse jigs around the tules. Me and my son caught 50 in 2 hours on sunday. The bass fishing is a little slower, but senkos and drop-shotting is working around tules with rock. Good luck and hope you guys have a blast.
      City: FRENCH CAMP

    • By

      Water Temp: ??

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy and I are bringing our sons up to Clear Lake for a week long trip starting this Saturday. It's an annual trip (usually) for the two of us, but this is the first time the families are coming. I'd really appreciate some tips on where to find the bass this time, as I missed the last two years and am not really up with what's working and where on the lake. But more importantly, I'm also hoping to get into some blue gill or something for the boys. Any tips on where to find some fun panfishing for youngsters would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
      City: Stevenson Ranch

    • By

      Water Temp: Warmer

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: They lowered it out again this week. A good 2 feet. So now bass arent biting with there beds gone. It is stupid how the water level is chaning, throwing off the spawning season. Went for trout today so no tips on catching them. except my friend caught 2 off night crawler going for trout. THROW BACK YOUR BASS!! I saw one guy catch about an 8 pounder today off bobber and worm and kept it. Keep anything else, just THROW BACK BASS! It was a fat momma full of eggs. I told him to throw it back but i dont think he spoke English. Many people have been keeping stringers full of bass, not even keepers either. that is just ruining it for us bass anglers.
      City: Oakley

      Tips: THROW BACK BASS!!

    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched around 6:00pm. Ran up to the North side and fished our way back. Caught a few on rip baits to start the evening. Started fliping cover around 5-8 feet deep. SLAMED them. Green 1/4oz. jigs. caught arong 20 fish all toghter. Best 5 went 22 lbs. or so.
      City: Fresno

      Tips: Green and brown jigs fliped or fished slow at or around 5-8 ft deep. If you find fish, stay and fish it hard. You have to weed out the dinks.

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

      Report: went to rainbow lake for short 2 hrs fishing today. IT WAS STILL REALLY SLOW. This year the horseshoe and rainbow are weird for bass. I guess the water is too high still. Last year me and my buddy were nailing the smallmouth and the largemouth together. hopefully its going to pick up again soon.
      City: fremont

      Tips: dropshot for bass is the ticket for the hot weather at rainbow lake.
      good luck fishing

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Well Jim T here are a few tips for you figure heck the lake will be gone in a few months anyways. 4" Kalin Hand poured green weenie/black pepper flake worm on 1/0 EWG light wire hook on 8lb mono splitshotted just kills em. I have never done well here on the drop shot most of my fish come on --SLOW-- draggin those Kalin worms. Also have great luck on RI Dominator worms here in watermelon/ black flake with the tail dipped in spike it. Go to the windy banks and throw flukes. This lake is tough and I would say I average 5+ fish a visit(usually 1-4lb). Use the softest plastics you can find here. Good Luck. Oh yea bring some swimbaits.
      City: Walnut Creek

      Tips: Slow your presentation down, then slow it down some more.

Monday, May 23rd, 2005

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

      Report: Hey Ace. How did you do in the tourn"y hope fully well .. It was a windy thing....great at 7 but at 8 it rolled in....and stopped and then again... what time did the thing start.. talk to ya soon.. Drug
      City: Morgan Hill

      Tips: Cant find them anywhere..Wheather has been weird this year and with the water up ,, scattered.. tip, the best tip .. is watch the bird's.. they see the bait fish.. before yoour finder..can see them... when they start diving....and snivvling, throw a crank bait..chrome and blue has been working for me....

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: ?noguage

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Ran the custom Valco bass boat all the way back behind Garlic Brothers to get out of the wind. Fished from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Six fish for 6 bites. Biggest bass was just 2.5 lbs. Spinnerbaits and Strike King Bitzy Jigs (red/black) was the ticket for me. All bass came off the deeper rock side during the out going tide.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: WINDY WINDY WINDY Find the calmer water good luck. I had a fun and wild ride back to Ladd's when I hit the main channel. I got wet from the white caps . :-)

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

      Report: Caught a 1.5 pound bass on a Skeeter-Pop around sunset, across from the island and just south of Coots Landing. Had a few swirls after the lure but no other real takers. At Coots Landing, somebody caught a 10 pound bass reeling in a rainbow trout. A real trout, not a Huddleston. Seems some other bass was chasing trout nearly to the shore. I haven't had much success yet this year on crankbaits or plastics. Anybody got any suggestions, I'd love to hear them! Especially what colors work and when.
      City: danville

      Tips: Reel slow, much slower than normal. That seems to work better at Chabot than just about anything else. Catch and Release all bass.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 61-66

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Once again Jim and I went looking for our widen gold mine along the rocks at the dam. This time they have moved and no were to be found. The small lizards seem to get some nice 2 lbers. They must be in postspawn at this time. We did not have alot of time to go check out the rest of the lake. The rock garden area looked good but no time.
      City: rocklin

    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Lake is great .. slow bite ..1 dink
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: Drop T...be nice..