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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, January 29th, 2005

  • Santa Barbara County
    • By

      Water Temp: about 50 degree

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the lake at about 8:00 went to the wall and caught 4 trout by 9:00. Fished else were untill the wind picked up at noon and got nothing.
      City: ventura

      Tips: Troll at least 15 feat deep!

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 48-51

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Orwood, weather was great, boat ran fine. Got to Disco-fished for 2hrs there. Water was pretty murky, 48 deg. 10" visibility. It was so weird, the weather was great, warmed to 51 deg. We thought the fish would come on , nada, not even a bite. We dropshotted disco, pulled plastics, and rattle traps. Headed towards Holland, and the same , hit some cuts, and near the Old/ River RR. Slough. Nothing, not even marking fish or bait. Talked to other boaters, and not a fish(not even a striper). Hmmm, can spring get here any faster. On the otherhand, everything is running great. I am happy.
      Sean
      City: San Jose, Ca

    • By

      Water Temp: 42-45.1

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Denny,Quency and I found only three other boats on the water. The morning was ok until the north winds came in. We fished in the quarter mile cover and got three bass and 6 bits that we mised. The lake is full. We then fished in the back of Rock Creek and found some nice spots up to 3.5 lbs. Next mounth will be better.
      City: rocklin

      Tips: use small worms and lizards in 20-30 ft.

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

      Report: Hey Barry. Thats awsome you are catching a lot of fish. Can't wait to get up there and fish with you. Talk to you later Hartman

  • San Francisco County
    • By

      Water Temp: Cold

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for a few hours in the morning throwing small plastics and got nothing. I'll have to try the late afternoon / evening bite to see if it makes a difference. I concurr with Mike that it needs to be a little bit warmer and the lake looks prime for spring. Time to break out the float tube.
      City: Daly City

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The boat hadn't been wet in a long time so in at Packers at 0900. Stayed in Packers for 3 quick fish on a drop shot 6" MGM worm; all about 1.75# from 55' off one ledge. Boat problems so off the water at 1130.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Wet rag bite

Friday, January 28th, 2005

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51/52

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Sacramento Bass Wranglers club team tournament. Did not do so well, but 1st place was 20lbs+ for 5 fish. 15.86lb TOAD was there kicker. Ive seen big fish, but nothing like this. Imagine yourself being able to almost fit both of your closed fist inside of the mouth of this MONSTER!!!!!!!!! Enough Said!
      City: Roseville

      Tips: As far as I know , it was caught on a jig. Hopefully pictures to come.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished berry creek and lime saddle.Caught about 70 fish througout the day.Most fish were caught on darthead and dropshot.Did catch a few on jig and 1 on lipless crankbait.Best five went about 13lbs.It was nasty weather but the fishing is great right now.
      City: roseville

      Tips: Find break points in 10 to 20 feet of water and fish slow.Bites are soft so be ready.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: This last poster is a moron. Maybe he could post something useful, but you need to have a brain to do that.
      City: asfarwayasicanget

Thursday, January 27th, 2005

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51-52

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I made a short scouting trip to beautiful Berryessa today, fishing and looking around for about 5 1/2 hours. I enjoyed talking to Rich and his clients before they left today. I wish I could have stayed longer as the bass were biting good when I had to leave. Darn!! My music life required me to run a rehearsal in the evening. I did a lot of metering and mostly tried to make the jig bite happen. The quality was good and my three biggest were smallies - that is alway fun! They ran 2-8, 2-9, and 2-13. Took my own picture for the first time with my new digital Canon. Fish Chris has nothing on me now (except an 18-4)!! My four or five spots were all in the 2 pound range. No largemouth today for me. I jigged fish from 10 to 40 feet. My line actually jumped when the smallie at 40 feet hit - cool!!!! I did some rippin' and cranking in the morning with no takers. Had I stayed longer, I would have done that in the afternoon again when the wind came up, but I was having too much fun with the brown/orange 3/8 oz Rodstrainer jig. My five best were about 11 lb 10 oz. I fished the narrows and main body about equal time. I didn't run too far because of my limited time.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: All the smallmouth were on steep breaklines 22 to 40 feet. I was surprised that I only caught spots in the shallows, and not many of them. Unlike Rich's report, my five biggest fish were not near bait, but on rock with steep drops. I saw a few baits balls, but not many. The east shore was dead for me - the rain and clouds after lots of sunny days might have backed them off. I hopped my jig more than I usually do and they seemed to like that. The jig bites were pretty solid. I missed several in very windy areas in the early afternoon, but I was really just trying to locate bass. I should have switched to a 1/2 oz jig. Cloud formations were really fantastic - I had a great time! Only had to wait on myself, har!!!

    • By

      Water Temp: 49-51 degrees

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: With a Full Moon in the last couple of day, I didn't expect to much. Was I surprised. Took a couple out that were getting ready for some upcoming tournaments. With this in mind, I taught them pattern fishing in the narrow's and the main lake area. The Northern area of the main lake I found it OFF (Way less than normal) Scratch that pattern.

      Went back to what I was doing in the morning and continued to boat fish in boat or at least get slammed. It was important to read and understand the Depthfinder's in which I explained. Depth (Column of water) and shad balls were the key to catching quality bass. Out of the column and you didn't get touched. Too really enforce the catch ratio, boat positioning was a contributor also (Column search).

      For the fish we found we didn't exhaust in catching them all or hinder. Best 5 went 12-13lb's. Best came on Jig's

      Rich Thiel

      P.S. In February look for a Westernbass Internet TV show and within I will explain the upcoming pattern's too catching bass on Berryessa this spring.
      City: Livermore

      Tips: Watch in Depth (Column) where your catching fish and thing one step above your norm and you will see the Quality (Weight) rise.

    • By

      Water Temp: 47-50

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: This is a report to help any one out there planning on fishing SP this year. As all of you may or may not know we will be able to fish Pablo one more year before they close the lake to work on the dam. This will probably be the last shot at a Pablo record for quite some time. The lake level will remain low for most of year because of the dam but don't get discouraged there will be good fishing year. I will be guiding on the lake this year for any of you who want to get one last shot at an SP HOG!! This past year was a great one at Pablo for me and my clients. We saw fish landed up to 11lbs. and had 2 fish hooked this year that were well into the TEEN range. Even during the low water of summer/fall we saw an unbelievable amount of fish between 4-8 lbs. with a lot of 15-20 fish days. We also got spots this past year to 5LBS! Once the lake opens the weather will play a big part on where the fish are. If we have good weather and the water temp is 50-51 the spots will move into the pre-spawn big time and multiple fish days will be the norm. Start off in the back of scow and slowly!! move outward until you locate the fish, they will be schooled up so work the area throughly once you locate them. If we have nasty weather stay on the main lake and fish around run-offs from the bank out to 25 ft. I would start off with drop-shotting(roboworms:black grape,margarita mutilator,witches T), jigs(brn/brn,black/purp) spinnerbaits(wht/wht, wht/chart) if the weather is nasty. If we've had good weather with some sun and higher water temps(50+) start with any reaction baits in a shad or trout pattern for bigger baits stick with the swimbait or jig. For any info on a guided trip(I also go to Delta,Clear Lake,Oroville,Berryesa) please e-mail me. GOOD LUCK OUT THERE! Please! Practice Catch and Release especially on the bigger females
      City: Martinez

      Tips: P.S. I was critized last year for trying to help fellow SP anglers out and this year I will not be responding to any negative feedback. If anybody has any questions about fishing any of the lakes I guide on or about fishing in general please feel free to post it or e-mail me.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 48.6

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went out with a friend who was going to fish the 100% pro am, got in at 0650, raining, wind out of the south at 12, lake near 76ft down and showed him around the Sac arm all day with nearly 15 lbs for best five with his 3.7 on a blade the first and the biggest. He also caught a 3.04 aned I had a 3.05, a 2.55 and a 2.57. My fish came on the MGM hoo dun it in #22 and his 3 came on the same thing, caught about 30 total using the yamamoto #221 trailer(him) and the MF 38 and MGM #66 6 inch. Nearly all the worm fish were clones between 1.4 and 1.6. after a thurough saking we got off the water at 1230. IN and out at Packers, temps steady at around 42 degrees, heavy overcast.
      City: Redding

    • By

      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing with an good guy by the name of Dave a client from Oregon, launched at Bridge Bay at 0645 cold and dark morning light rain wind from the south at appox. 25 mph so We started at Packers Point throwing a chartruse shad pointer and Dave was throwing a white spinnerbait, had one hit on the spinnerbait and nothing on my ripbait.Crossed back to Beaver Island where I switch to a creature bait from MGM in a brown color on a 3/4 oz football head jig, 2nd cast I got a 2.3 spot in 25' of water, Turned the jig rod over to Dave who caught 2 spots just under 2lbs.while I rigged a couple rods to fish the I-5 bridge pilings. We got nothing off the pilings for the first time in a long time for me. Weather starting to get better around 1100 so we made a run to south end of Slaughterhouse Island I started with a 1/4 oz darterhead with a 6" MGM eel in green and Dave stays with the jig worked inside and outside most of the points all the way to Dolly Point We got 12 spots and 3 smallmouth nothing over 2.8 and nothing less 1.7 best five appox 11.5 all the jig fish came in 25 to 40' and darterhead in close to the bank sun came out so we headed back to Bridge Bay out of the water at 1500 a good day with a total of 15 fish and no dinks.
      City: Redding

      Tips: the days are getting longer you will more time to fish this great lake

Tuesday, January 25th, 2005

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: mid 40's

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My first chance to try a Headsokz that I bought at the Sacramento ISE. It was great -- kept my face and neck warm. Hadn't fish in almost a month. Went for stripers. Had only 3 hits in 6 hours of fishing -- landed 2 small keeper stripers (19 inches) and 1 shaker. Caught them at a pump that was discharging water into the Mokelumne.
      City: Dixon

      Tips: Used 3/4 oz shad colored Rat L Trap. Water was muddier on the San Joaquin with a lot more debris floating in the river. Be careful out there -- fog in the morning plus the junk in the water. In the afternoon, we saw part of a dock floating down the river that we didn't see in the morning fog.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: cold...i think

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: well got on the lake kinda late but wasn't worried, i was just GREATFULL for the LORD to let me fish. launched my boat. ran across the lake, nothing. then went down a bit and picked up a trout. next two moves nothing. went down to the dam, hopes was a little higher, still nothing. came back up to the narrows, stopped the boat, and flipped my jig. waited, felt some weight, set the hook hard......................line broke...o-boy...sharp rock!!lol...it's ok. so i went back to the ramp. tied up the boat got the truck, jumped in the boat and guess what A TROUT PLANT!!!......didn't get a bass nor a striper, but i did get a supersized trout. fished for a hour more then went home...
      City: san francisco

      Tips: i have gave up TOO many days scared of the weather!! don't be like me, go for it!!..all were caught on suspending rip baits. got to love those baits. tried jigs and deep divers. nothing...the water is seriously dirty...and it's cold...the water has just raised up so covering more aera would be my guess....

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: in the water at around 9:00... fished squaw arm all day. drop shot around trees in 20- 50 feet of water caucht over 40 fish . alot of them were around 1lb but boated 10 over 3lbs. the best fish was 4.37. caught most of fish on a berkley power smelt. some on robo worm 3inch purple with red fleck. out of the water at 2:45 trying to beat the rain home..
      City: lake almanor

Monday, January 24th, 2005

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished out of markley cove under heavey fog. it 12:30 before it was clear caught 7 fish 4 large and 3 small mouth all on crank bait and spinner baits best 5 was 10.20lb. Fished the points in 25 to 35 feet of water.
      City: yuba city

      Tips: slow all my bites where on lite colers white spinner.

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

      Report: trout bite is on
      caugt a limit with a 6lb, 4lb, and 3lb and the small DFG trout.
      City: orinda

      Tips: Use night crawlers to catch big trout!

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 49.6-50.4

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: out of Packers at 0650, lake is at 75.8 ft, air temp 40 degrees, visibility near 8 ft, got on a good worm bite, had 11, 5 on the mf 38 6inch and 6 on the mgm #66 6 inch eel, best came on a mgm hdi in #109 and 4 more on the #22, not a dink in the bunch with most around 1.6, the largest went 2.85. Everything came out of 35-49ft of water, a few of the worm fish were suspended and just picked it up on the way down as I shook it. best 5 went a little over 9 lbs and didn't catch anything till 0830 when the alarm went off and the fish woke up, the biggest was at 0915. out at noon, air temp a pleasant 57 and not much wind at all. No fog today.
      City: Redding