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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, May 16th, 2005

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      Water Temp: 58-61

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water at 6:30, caught 4 between 1-3 lbs within the first 2 hours on senkos and a jerk bait, thought it was going to be a great day. Then the weather got bad- the winds picked up to the point where I couldn't even feel if my 12 ounce swimbait was still on my line!!
      City: Los Gatos

      Tips: All fish were caught 2-3 free off the shore, so they are still shallow. The west banks and the damn proved to be the most productive....again.

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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: got there early..no bite..This is to every one that fish's this lake.. even if ya get there early .. whether a float tube and my little boat..all electric... there are people that don't have any respect for the area that yu are fishing. Summary... go to tip's..
      City: morgan hill

      Tips: Here is the tip of the year..watch your back for jet skier's..and wake boarder's... allthough some fisherman with certain boat's think it's a tournament..Never cut in front of someone who is already getting ready to work some point..If ya do get ready for word's.. Probably laughing cuz your the jackass that did it.. Remember it's fun.not a tournament.. out there..Ive met alot of great people here.. The Ranger's and maintance staff are doing a great job..by the way To All of you who fish these park's, and use them send a message.. without these people what and or where would we go..? Rules are rule's.. Respect the rule's or your gone...

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

      Report: This is not a report but an inviation to come to this beautiful lake while its full of water, the fishing is great with a good topwater bite in the early morning and an excellant jig and darhterhead bite after that. This lake is really magnifiencent when its full as it is now, come out to fish it before the crowds start the 1st of June, maybe I will see you on the water
      City: Redding

Sunday, May 15th, 2005

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      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: What the heck is going on with this water? I saw a teenager caught a 2 1/2 pounder on live minnow today. That is it. Anybody else? I don't want to come here at 2AM to catch some bass. Give me some tips.
      City: San Jose

  • Plumas County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: HAD OUR MONTHLY TOURNAMENT WITH ABOUT 20 ANGLERS.
      TOP 5. 1ST PLACE BOB R. FISHED THE NORTH EAST END OF THE LAKE IN 8' TO 10' FEET DEEP DRAGGING A GRUB. HIS LIMIT WAS CLOSE TO 16 LBS.
      2ND PLACE STEVE B. WENT SIGHT FISHING WITH A DARTER HEAD HOOK TAIL WORM TO CATCH A 15.26 LB LIMIT IN 4' OF WATER.
      3RD PLACE JEEP S. WENT SIGHT FISHING ON THE WEST SHORE WITH WORMS TO CATCH A 12.71 LB LIMIT.
      4TH PLACE KEN L. CAUGHT HIS 12.51 LB LIMIT SIGHT FISHING WITH A GRUB IN THE SOUTH END OF THE LAKE.
      5TH PLACE KEN K. WAS ALSO SIGHT FISHING WITH PLASTIC BAITS TO CATCH A 12.44 LB LIMIT, FISHING THE NORTH EAST AREAS OF THE LAKE. LIMITS CAUGHT BY MOST OF THE ANGLERS, BASS IN GREAT SHAPE THIS YEAR. ALL SMALL MOUTH, NO LARGE MOUTH BASS REPORTED OR WEIGHED IN.
      City: REDDING

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

      Report: It was a tough day for me. The conditions were perfect for spinner bait and jerk bait. The problem was that the fish didn't get the word. I struggled for 4 fish. Caught one on spinner bait in a cove on wood, one on the main lake in shallow grass, and the rest on a point on a carolina grub. I didn't get anything on crank but only tried lipless. Nothing on jerk or top water.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: It may have been the fact that there were a ton of water ski boats out or it may have been that I stayed up too late the night before and could not concentrate or it could have been that the fish took the weekend off. I don't really know. If you didn't get your season pass on Sunday, the prices just went up. When I got out of the water at 3:30, there was a half hour conga line of boats still waiting to launch (not pull out). A zoo for sure. Lots of people with big shinny new boats and no clue on proper boat launch procedures. Good luck. Ski season is in full swing.

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      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Tough once again. Hoped to have some weather coming our way but the sky was clear and sun was shining. Went over to Uvas only to find that they were having a tri athalon. What a cluster that was. Finally got to Anderson at about 8:40, so we were pretty screwed. Every yahoo with a ski boat was out there and I got to witness some of the worst boat operations imaginable. Anyway, back to fishing. Started out ripping and topwater with no success. Went to c-rig on points and got a couple. Ended up getting most of the fish cranking in about 6-10 ft of water. Tried a lot of stuff but the crank seemed to get em.
      City: San Carlos

      Tips: You can always find fish here moving around but I can't find the quality that would be nice.

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

      Report: Went out today with my buddy around Mildred Island. First hour was pretty good for me, landed 5 and lost 3. most fish around 1lb to 2lb. The bite went off as the tide stopped moving. later in the afternoon, my buddy started to picking up some more fish on the ratl traps. No big fish.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Pitch beaver to the tullies, work your bait slow. Rattle traps is doing the trick also.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: This was "Clear Lake" week for me with trips on Tues and Wed, Fri night and Sat. My off-day, Thurs, was a guide trip to Pardee!! Yes, I'm tired today!! Generally the fishing was good for all the trips with an average catch of 18 bass per trip. I had a variety of clients - some that I had to teach to cast along with tournament folks. Tues and Wed included a lot of small bass, bluegill, and crappie bites. How do I know? - we caught some!! Fri night and Sat those fish disappeared and everything we caught was quality. Yesterday was amazing - a husband and wife team and I caught 25 bass that averaged 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 lbs - only 2 bass about 12 inches and no dink bites. It is amazing to watch the lake change from day to day. We caught many bass in the 3 to 5 pound range all week, all on soft plastics including Sweet Beavers, Senkos, and Power/brush hogs. The Berkley Power worms caught their share. Most of our bass were caught no deeper than 10 feet - in tules with rock nearby. The weather was decent all week except for Friday - the wind howled all night and I don't know why since there was a high pressure system in place. We just couldn't fish areas I wanted to. Our five fish limits went from 12 to 17 pounds. While we wern't necessarily targeting huge bass, I was surprised we didn't catch bass large than 5 lbs. There seems to be a lot of bass still to spawn in the south end. Several of our larger bass had not spawned yet.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Green pumpkin and watermelon again were our best colors. The "dirty Sanchez" color (whatever that is) Sweet Beaver was the bass' favorite. Make sure you use a large hook for that bait. I am using the Gami EWG off-set hook - 3/0, Texas rigged. There are bass in front of the tule rows and bass in the back of them - especially if there is a wall of some kind. The bass love to spawn next to a wall because of the hard bottom and the warmth the wall provides in sunlight. The tules cut down the water movement next to the wall. Friday night was very hard on me as a guide. Clear Lake sometimes just won't let me be the guide I want to be because of weather conditions, mostly wind. We had a good trip but it would have been better if I could have fished them in some of the quality areas I like. That is one of the differences between guides and tournament fishermen. It's a level playing field for tournament folks - the weather is the same for all. For guides who are trying to teach and help people who may not be experienced catching bass - and you guide them once or occasionally - Clear Lake can be unforgiving. I alway hope that Clear Lake will be a win-win situation most of the time - the fishing is good and the wind becomes a breeze!!

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 64 Degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The lake continues to be on fire for 5 weekends. Every trip produces a 3+ pound spot or smallie. Haven't landed any over 4.5. My main bait has been salt and pepper grubs on darter heads. I keep them on with crazy glue. Can't seem to get on a reaction bite but haven't needed to. I have taken fish in deep coves up to 35 feet, on trees
      all over the north arm. I have fished new areas
      all year and they all kick out quality fish. Folsom can be a stinker with patience you can dial it in. If you daring 4 lb Trileing XT will help but I did lose a huge smallie on it.
      City: Granite Bay

      Tips: Chart and clear grubs. Splitshot and Dropshot 4 and 6 inch dark brown worms. Make long cast because of clear water and fish slow. Keep trying for the recation bite. Some guys have it going.

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      Water Temp: Not Sure

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went to fish Lake Hogan and was blown away at how
      much water is in the lake. The entire Parking and Boat Ramp below the fish cleaning station is under water. Never got to fishing-
      City: Stockton, Ca

Saturday, May 14th, 2005

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 60 degrees 8 fe

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Camped with my uncle at Putah Creek May 13th and 14th and the first thing we got there i spotted a HUGE bass in the shallows. After about 45 minutes of trying for i gave up, it wouldnt bite at all. But my uncle didnt give up on the fish and he finally got it to bite! It was a 8 pound bass!!! The thing was huge! After that we went down to cappel cove and fished and i got a nice 3 pound largemouth. We were jigging in the trees and i hooked into something big but my line snapped!! It happened about 4 times! After awhile my uncle gets a big hit and a fight began and it was a 6 1/2 pound catfish!! It must have been a catfish that was snapping my line. Other then that we caught some decent fish and seen some HUGE smallmouth swimming by the boat. The fishing was good for about every species because we also caught crappie, bluegill, and trout.
      City: San Bruno

      Tips: Work for the big females in the shallows, dont give up and u will get it, just try to piss the big ones off.

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: gees...i went prefishin for the tourney comin up and the area we're allowed to fish was SHALLOW!!!! with all this water letting out, and rain then warm weather, this is interesting... but when we went on the 14th, i caught one 5incher that was like a pound! it was fat! which means some havent spawned...not sure what to do on saturday (21st) for the tourney...
      City: santa clara

      Tips: any advice, like ppl who are doin the melcottons tourney, for this type of weather and lake pattern, please email me..im just thinkin look deeper until they get back to spawning...

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Calero is used as a transfer lake as it connects with the reservoirs to the south (anderson, coyote, uvas & chesbro). water is then pumped to perc ponds and other water storage areas.
      City: Santa Clara

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 59-66

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: It was high tide at 9:30am, it gave us sometime to work the backs of the tules. We spent the morning in Beaver Slough working senkos, jigs,sweet beavers and worms and working on finding the best colors and locations. Blades did work for one 3 pounder and the other 9 came on senkos and jigs. The tide only moved 2 ft so the bite was short and slow. We worked the rocks on points and shallow docks with drive ways.
      City: rocklin

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

      Report: Fish on 12th and 13th, and caught tons of fish.Nobody was on the lake do to Mother day weekend.All fish tight on tules and docks.Been fishing Clear Lake for years and never seen so many fish on beds.Nothing huge 2-3lb.Never had so much fun. If you want to catch fish head up to lake soon!!
      City: Danville

      Tips: Sencos fished wacky no weight. Color not important.Remeber to release all fish where you caught them.

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 68-72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got a late start, 7:30 AM. Many prefishing for Sunday tourney. I was just out for fun. Motor did not start,--bad battery. Fished with trowling motor only south of the dam and caught 10 fish, largest 4 and 5 lbs. Appeared fish were pre-spawn. All caught on dart heads.
      City: 69

      Tips: 4lb Flourcarbon line with dart head and 7 inch FX Robo worm in oxblood.

    • By

      Water Temp: 65+

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: bass are starting too show in good numbers now the lake is still coming up slowly and there are a good number of bass in the 2 to 4 pound range being caught on a variety of lures senko's are at the top of my list right now with a jig a close second watermelon with red & black flake senko is a good color right now for shallow fish jigs on the points work well to in brown with a twin tail watewrmelon red & black flake yamamoto grub in 1/8 oz jig. Good number are being caught. the east side of the lake is still closed and rattle snake are starting too show so be very carefully if you are bank fishing
      City: kerman

      Tips: fish the senko's wackly style or texas rigged it doesnt matter and fish them shallow early morning or late evening is best times too hit the water
      jigs are best used in 5 to 12 feet of water off the main points

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 59-61

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This is for (Sly Park) Jenkenson Lake Went two weekends in a row on this lake previous saturday and this sunday the smallmouth fishing was on FIRE Got to the lake at 8:30 Limited by 9:15 5 best weighed in at 14.25 lbs all bass were returned to spawn 3 females caught in deeper water at about 19 feet deep. split shotting 4 and 6 inch senkos modifed with orange and green flouresent colors on the end, also the gitzit. All but two of the bass were caught at the north end of the lake. 22 bass in all in about 3 1/2 hrs.. laughing silly.. too much fun. The wife well she dominated this time..I taught her to well.. next time.
      City: Topaz lake

      Tips: fish it slow and feel the line the bite was soft on the non-bedding fish. Of course on the bed smallies try to take your arm out of your socket.. and use light line .the water is extremely clear

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      Water Temp: 60-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Ok First to start off I was'nt fishing at Folsom lake, But this lake is about 5 miles from Browns Ravine plus this lake is not on the list of lakes to choose from.
      Ok so there i was i walked to Cameron Park Lake tackle and all, all alone it was about 7 in the morning. I had just bought a frenzy shallow diver and it was perch color i cought about 12 bass in the 1-4 pound range on the frenzy. In mid afternoon I landed it big with a 10 lbs large mouth it felt great to get my first 10 pound fish.
      City: Rescue

      Tips: Cameron Park Lake has a lot of lunker bass i know cause i see them in the shallows early in the morning grubs work well and things that imitate bait fish