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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Thursday, April 14th, 2005

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      Water Temp: mid 60

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: got skunked again............ fish very hard for 6 hours using baby brush hogs,flukes,and norie bugs.......
      City: sacramento

Wednesday, April 13th, 2005

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I brought a friend out and wanted to put him on some fish so we threw darter head grubs.The previous evening I had caught ten spots doing the same thing in the North fork in two and a half hours.We were skunked for two hours up North when we headed South.That was the right move,we ended up with 15 fish the last couple of hours of daylight.Had one 3 lb. spot that was our best fish.
      City: Granite Bay

      Tips: Darter head grubs and lizards, and split shot lizards.Talked to a guy who did well on blades.All our fish were in coves.

Tuesday, April 12th, 2005

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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went fishen at old almaden and caught a 10 pound + bass under the bridge and got a lot of other hits
      City: SAN JOSE

      Tips: wish i could tell you what i was usen but its my little secreat

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I'll tell you - I'm sick of wind! Another cold, windy day at Berryessa - at least it was dry! I guided a father-son team who had not done much bass fishing. Though conditions wern't very good, they did catch several split-shotting morning dawn, green pumpkin, and purple 4 1/2 worms. I caught some too and together we put 19 in the boat. The quality was better than last weeks rainy day - smallies to 2 1/2 lbs and spots to 2-11. A good limit of a little over 11 pounds was a pleasant surprise. We did land 2 largemouth. We caught our bass in the narrows and Wragg Canyon from 10 to 25 feet and in shadows that we could find. The son was reading a Pepsi can about 15-18 feet deep. Be prepared for clear water in the south end.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We could have moved to the main lake, but I felt these folks would have more success in the narrows with a little less wind. Very few bites - just pressure. Hard to believe it is mid April and the water temp hasn't reached 60 degrees in the narrows. It is probably a little warmer up north. Things could be pretty exciting at Berryessa if we ever got about 4 warm days in a row. Hope I'm there!!

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hey jOe and DG, You're sure right about Black Butte. My father in law and I used to go there every once in a while and usually did okay. We'd take the old Fisher 16' aluminum and hit every spot we thought would have some biting bass. I've posted several reports over the past 4 years and the big draw for us was the lack of crowds. We have had pretty good luck trolling crankbaits for bass as well as the despised but fairly abundant squawfish. Chartruese is the best color for us whether it's spinnerbaits or cranks. Just let out a ton of line- 10-12 lb. test and tie on a crank that runs 10 to 16' deep. Then hit the rocky shorelines and try to stay in 14-18' of water. It's amazing how something seems to grab the bait darn near every time it tags the bottom. Sometimes you get a 7" smally- the very next pass a 23" squawfish. My best fish from there was a 3lb.,7oz. largemouth that fell for a brown pig and jig on a windy June morning. My pa in laws was a nice size catfish that hit a white spinnerbait 2' from shore at the crack of dawn on a cool summer morning. You're also right about that picnic area- you can catch some nice ones there especially this time of year and you just need a good rod and reel so you can cast way out there. If you do go in a boat though- watch out for the wind. We've made some pretty wet trips out of Stony Creek late in the afternoon and runing back to the ramp. Good luck and you have my permission to catch 'em all now that I'm living up here in the middle of Oregon.
      City: yoncalla, oregon

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

      Report: Went out Tuesday on a guided trip with Bobby Barrack. Started the morning with top water for strippers: two boated (8lb/4lbs). Then off for LMB. Caught them on spinners and worms but it was blowing and fishing conditions tough but we were catching them. We had over 25lbs (8+, 7+, 7...) for top 4 when at the end of the day, Bobby told me to toss into a openning I couldn't see with the wave chop. He was my point man and adjusted my cast. I let the worm drop and bingo, a 5+ on. Top 5 fish was over 30lbs. What a trip.

      Tips: Can't say where he took me but book him and he'll show you.

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      Water Temp: 57-60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started on a cold (38 degrees)and windy morning in Rock Creek. Tried rip baits and blades with no takers. Caught some small fish on tubes and senkos but it was slow. We went to the River and it was very dirty with no takers. Finally about 11am we started on windy points and gave up after 35 fish. It seemed once the water temp went up a couple degrees they moved up and got very active. Great day with great company! We love that place
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Follow the wind! with tubes, senko's and jigs.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 54-58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from April 12-14th. GOT WIND !!!!! Very windy conditions. Caught a fish with senko's and carolina rigged brush hog. Since the Future Pro Tour is coming up next week the area we fished will be secret. It probably will not make a difference since the air temp is rising and the water temp will rise also so the conditions should change.
      City: Arcata

      Tips: Dress warm it has been cold........

Monday, April 11th, 2005

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out at 6:30AM and the water was still. I had no hites the whole day. I seen cops on the other side looking for a car and a person that drove in the water that morning. Funny, because I didn't hear a thing. Anyways, I had nothing the whole day.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: The worst day of fishing is better than the best day of work.

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got out around 8:00am Markley cove great weather.
      Fish some of the narrows got a few little spots dart heading.
      After boat traffic goy big went to the main body picked up some large mouth on top water and some good smallies 2 that were over 3lbs draging a worm. Ended up with 22 fish then the wind kicked in.

      Tips: Berryessa is hot when the wind not blowing.

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

      Report: Had to work for them.

      Fished Middle Delta. Got late start (1000hrs) and wnet to 1700hrs. Caught a bunch of 1-2lbs, one 3.3 and was about to give up when an 8.1 Momma hit a plug in 6 feet of water.
      City: Oakland

      Tips: Fish in 2-6' and slow.

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: MY dad and I are startring to fish the delta. We aren't quite sure where to fish or what to fish with. If anyone could e-mail me some tips that would be great. Thank you
      City: CV

      Tips: Thank You

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 57-60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: launched at 8:am-offwater by 4.early morning winds made conditions slowww. 2 smallies to 2.75 pounds by 1p.m.caught fish by split-shoting a 7 inch magic worm in back coves up the north fork. Hit main body of lake by beals point around 1:30;wind died down to nothing.(water temp main body 60 degrees)caught an additional 6 fish up to 2.25 pounds mixed smallies and spots. would of stayed, but had things to do.
      City: antelope

      Tips: fish slow..bites on main part of lake weak, north fork got slammed.

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

      Report: Looking for some info on Shasta. I don't fish here vere much and was wondering if the fish started spawning yet. What areas of the lake to best find the most concentration of bedding areas. Now I know you can find beds all over the lake but I am trying to cut down on my searching time. I am going to go up there in the middle of may for a few days to fun fish and would appreciate any info. You can e-mail me at nonny75@pacbell.net

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Bass could be anywhere, except just shallow, all related to drop offs, no concentration, must travel. Some caught drop shotting trees in 12+ ft water, some in grass. To slow for me, will wait for the spawn.
      City: S.R.

      Tips: Wait unless you just want to be on the water for the day.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 48-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished last weekend with a party from the desert and fishing was tough but was able to locate and catch some decent fish. Granddad son and grandson all had a hand in the action. 10 year old birthday boy,Nick ended up the overall winner. Man, I like watching 10 year olds and 3 lb smallies. It doesn't get much better than that.
      Fished yesterday with a client from the Bay Area and it was tough. I hate when someone drives a long way and the fishing is tough. I realize that fishing is fishing but I'm starting to take these tough days personal. Guess I'll just have to get out and do more homework. 3lb smallies were cruisin the shallows but had no interest in what we were throwing. Guess they had their mind on something else.
      City: Weaverville

Sunday, April 10th, 2005

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

      Report: Fished for about 3 1/2 hours and caught 9 bass. 2 on senkos and 7 on yamamto cut tail worm. All the fish were caught shallow.
      City: Morgan Hill

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Friday was one of the most miserable fishing days - weather wise - for me in many years. COLD rain and lots of wind, upwards of 40 mph after the front moved through. Believe it or not, there were 1 1/2 to 2 foot swells between Little Portuguese and Big Portuguese canyons - and that is a protected area!!! Luckily, my clients were brave souls and dressed properly. I don't know how many bites we missed, but we did land 30 spots amd smallies up to 2 1/2 lbs - no largemouth. Why didn't we catch bigger ones - I don't know. It was difficult to fish very deep and that might be the reason. I would have liked to throw swimbaits for big bass, but these fellows wanted to learn how to put fish in the boat - and that we did! We did have a solid 11 pound limit. Split-shotting was best in the morning and they did very well drop-shotting in the afternoon. I tried rippin' and crankin' with no results. We just fished Markley Cove and the narrows down to Little Portuguese. Most of our fish were in the 10 to 25 foot range. Our top colors were green pumpkin, early dawn, morning dawn, and purple ghost. The 4 inch Berkley Pulse worm worked great. I also had a 5 hour trip with two college age students on Saturday. They were just learning to bass fish and did pretty well - boating 10 - even with the post-front north wind blowing. They had a ball! The biggest was a near 3 pound spot. Again, split-shotting worked.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I wanted to reminded everyone that the water has really cleared up this spring, because most of the heavy storms were earlier in the winter. There is visability in some areas in the narrows of 15 feet! They will be spooky during the spawn and may spawn deeper than normal. I think the crank and spinnerbait bite may be tough until afternoon mudlines form. Fishing will be different than last year at this time. One might want to fish lighter line or flourocarbon during the brightest time of day.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 59-61

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Another Great day on the river with Dave Mckenzie of Bay Area Backwaters Guide Service. Tageted big bites which came with persistence. Got a 5+ with a bunch of 2's and 3's thrown in, best 5 going around 18. Had what would have been PB and the kicker but she come unbotton at the boat, she looked around nine and pushing 10 but it makes me feel better if we just call her an 8 since I didn't get to lip her, Oh well. Got em on Senko's, Blades, and Traps. A little windy but otherwise a beutiful day out there. Fish were not exactly up close yet but coming. 20+ fish and that was suppose to be slow in Dave's point of view, I sure would hate to see a good day. Learned a lot about the delta and and what the fish are doing. Sure is nice to fish with a guide who enjoys passing knowledge on to clients and actually lets you fish. Bay Area Backwaters puts you on fish and makes sure that you get em, while leaving you with an understanding of why it all happened and how to replicate it in the future.
      City: San Carlos

      Tips: Hop in the boat with Dave would be my first tip but also to fish slow. We got some good fish on traps and blades but working a senko out from shore to about 8 ft got the good bites. Always know what the bait is doing in the water because the hens are coming up and Dave can find em.

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      Water Temp: 58.5

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Slayed the 2-5 pound fish in rock creek on Carolina rigged lizards and drop shots. Put over 40 fish in the boat, with a first timer. Could not buy a fish on reaction baits, they wanted everything slow. All fish came in 10'-15' of water.
      City: ROSEVILLE

      Tips: Very slow presentation