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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, October 3rd, 2004

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69-72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had my best trip ever to berryessa this weekend. Saturday I fished around Markley cove and did good on numbers;I was amazed at how many fish I caught that broke the 2 lb. mark. I fished the no nothin banks on the left as you leave markley with a Jig and a texas riged worm in aarons magic. I ended the day with a 3.89 on a brn/brn 1/2 oz jig. Total for the day was 13.67. Sunday I decided to go up the creek and see how the bite was up there, and although I only caught 13 fish I caught I caught 2 big ones at 5.13 and 4.91 and my total for the day was 18.11. I caught only small ones in the creek until I got way in the back where it starts to narrow down. What a weekend!!!
      City: Winters

      Tips: Go way up the creek and throw brown on brown jigs till your arm falls off. The bigger fish wanted the bait moved very slow

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Slow day. Fished the east side of the lake in float tubes. Between Jay Hann and myself, caught four or five bass, all dinks except for one that took a Yamamoto grub on the last cast of the day (~1.75 to 2 lbs.). So, very slow. Jet skiers were annoying as usual, with one kid zooming between us and the bank, 15 foot clearance. Nice.
      City: Belmont, CA

      Tips: Yamamoto grubs cover lots of water and accounted for all fish. Try the new White Ghost Tackle Bass Balm to add scent and sparkle to your lures, that stuff will help you catch fish!!!
      Destroy all Jet Skiers. Are you with me? ARE YOU WITH ME???!!! If you're tubing Calero, tube defensively.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for a couple hours 9:00-1:00pm, caught five, mostly 10-12inchers with the best one at 3lbs even that went for the Rattle Trap. Caught the others on rattle trap and 5-inch big hammer swimbait. Nice day, I need to get an earlyer start next time.
      City: Morgan Hill

      Tips: Fish where somewhat active and chasing lures.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Went up for the weekened here at clear lake. Have'nt been here for 11 years. Stayed at Konocti. Caught a lot of fish. Biggest one weighing 5.6 pounds on a 4inch worm, The rest of them were all little ones. Had a lot of fun. I have been using the dropshot method but then decided to change to using Split shot. Worked just as gd as the dropshot. Had a great time. Hope to come up here again soon.
      City: San Bruno

      Tips: Forget the dropshot. Use the splitshot method. Seems to work better.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: It's been a month since I last fished this
      lake. Water is up and pretty clear, all the
      hydrilla definitely helps clear the water.
      I started out about 6:30 AM, I put my kayak in amongst lots of surface action, I personally have not had alot of success on this lake fishing top water, and this morning without any wind at all to break up the surface I didn't even try. I tied on a 4" reaper and started pitching into outlying weed beads and whamo! 1st fish was just shy of 6lbs! next fish went 2 3/4, then 2 small guys.
      I started drop shotting with that same reaper, my brother who thinks I'm crazy drop shotting it would have been rolling around the bottom of the boat when I landed a healthy set of 4lb twins within about 10 minutes of each other. After that I caught several more in the 2-2 1/2lb range and packed it in at 1 PM. Lake is great condition going into this fall, abundant amount of bait, lots and lots of small schooling bass in the shallows, clearing water, bring on the fall!
      City: Oakley

      Tips: I fished slow and methodical between the island and weed beds to the right of there, fished past the dock about half way down to the dam. Green color caught the first, last and every fish in
      between.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68-70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Gin Clear is more like it. I have had some good evenning trips in the last few weeks with the better fish just after dark. Pre fished an upcoming Future pro tourn this Sunday during the same hours as the tourn. and Folsom reminded me of the past several falls. Bottom line, my fishing partner Steve and fellow compet. in the tourn circuit caught two dragging a split shot 4 inch worm and I did not get bit once. Tried top water, rip baits, drop shot, jigs and lots more jigs, cranks, ect. Tried shallow, drop offs, humps, and spoons down to 40 feet. Nada. Last year in the TOC I found the fish in 50 feet of water on spoons all day, YAWN..Oh well , I have another weekend or so to find them.
      City: SACRAMENTO

      Tips: Go to the river and Spoon a Salmon.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got out today with my partner Jason. In the water at 6:20 at Packers. Was nice to see Shasta recreation making sure the float was in place. Anyways started out up the sac and fishing steep walls. got one a Marks Tails "Billy T's Rainbow trout" spook, then that was it for the spook. Picked up my jig(1/2 brn/brn) and worked it from 10-35 feet got two fish one at 2 and the other was barly able to ge the jig ion its mouth. moved more up the sac but couldn;t get on any consistent bite in the next four hours I caught one on a carolina rig,spoon, and had 2 more blowups on a spook. Late in the day we moved into the McCloud and started fishing the same stuff, got a few on a jig, and some fish on a 3/16 oz darthead with a #39 MF worm. All together pretty slow, northwind hurt us I beleve, but still we should've done betetr then this.
      City: redding

      Tips: Jigs, worms, and a spook in teh morning, also try a vixen if you were lucky enough to get one

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took my first trip to Trinity over the first weekend in October. It was beautiful. I truly had a great time out on the lake with two buddies and John Gray, "The Maine Guide." I'm a newer to fishing and John put me onto my first "Smallie." Dear God, take me now - those fish fight like there is no tomorrow. 3 of us caught 25+ fish. No "hogs." Most fish in the 1.5 to 3 lb. range. Definitely going back to see John, the man knows how to put together an excellent experience. He was able to tell me right where to case, what to use and then WHAM ... it hit FishZilla! And, he really knows how to fill a belly! Thanks for the memory John.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Give John a call, it was a phenominal experience.

Saturday, October 2nd, 2004

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68-69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had a Client from Japan today. We started off from Russo's with the intent of cranking them in current, WRONG!!!!. We managed one solid 2.5lb on cranks and went in shallower with Buzzbaits, 3 short hit's and left for No.2 spot. Decided to flip after trying crank's. Interesting observation was the fact on how tight to cover these fish were, Litterily nose tight. Manage to get 4 solid hits with the client dumbing one probably over 5. He said something in Japanese that didn't sound good. We were Flipp'in 9X Watermelon/Red Flake.

      Headed South on Old River and found it Dead. Headed into Rock and had 2 fish in the boat that were decent. Head back to Frank's to fish the Dock's and proceeded to hear Japanese and a splash, not good HAR!!!!. Finish the Day at 5PM and a new Vetern Flipper/Pitcher.

      Tight Lines

      Rich Thiel
      City: Livermore

      Tips: Found the fish related to deep water but shallow nose tight to cover. Flip Light weight and watch for that tick. The buzzbait bite for me was short strike's. Has the moon disapates, the bite will get better. Recommend throwing Buzzbait's in White w/gold blades. Jig's in Black/Red Worm's/Senko's in Watermelon or Junebug. Big bait's if you have them.

    • By

      Water Temp: Warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: First off thanks for all the calls.
      I would like to explain how I fish my buzz-baits
      in the Delta.I like to cruise along the rip-rap
      banks,looking for any type of dense weed-mats
      or debris.My Double Buzz-Bait has silver or
      gold blades (no clackers yet)I start out throwing
      a 1/4 ounce.If I see bait flicking I`ll use
      white skirt if not I use June-Bug or Black/Red.
      1/4 ounce can be worked so slow it just barely
      flicks the surface.I`am trying to be bait-fish
      running away.I catch big numbers of fish this
      way.If I want bigger fish I go to the deepest
      water I can find.When I get there I don`t start
      fishing right away.I`ll slowly idle by the bank
      or any cover that might be around.I`am looking
      for ambush points that bass could use.I always
      start on the up-current side.I pull my bait
      ever so slowly next to cover.I don`t ever
      fish over the cover first.I want those fish
      to come out and get my bait.I can`t tell how
      many times I have caught two some-times three
      fish on one log jam or dense weed-mat.
      Later on in the day when you think the fish
      have lock-jaw.I fish the same heavy cover
      that most fisherman call frog water.I`am
      looking for something in the water to allow
      the weeds and debris to bunch up.Most frog
      fisherman pass this dense mat up.Because
      the bass can`t come through the mat.
      Now is when I bring out the heavy rod
      were talking,heavy to med-heavy.I want
      #50 to #65 Power-pro.Bait of choice is 3/8 or
      1/2oz Double Buzz-Bait Gold or Black Blades.
      The gold bait will have double clackers.
      The Black Blades will have Red-prism tape
      on them but no clackers.I use these
      combos if its over-cast(Black Blades)
      Gold Blades sunny out.If tide is moving I fish
      with it just like I always do.No tide I just
      fish don`t worry you`ll catch them.
      When you get hooked-up give them the heave
      in the boat.Because if you give him any slack
      he will throw this bait.But don`t worry to
      much because this bait has a 4/0 owner hook
      and it bites back big-time.I`am not losing
      hardly any fish now.
      I should tell you I don`t go down the bank
      throwing my Buzz-Bait every 5 feet.I`am looking
      for targets to throw at.Even when fishing
      mats or brush-piles I don`t want to give
      the fish any warning I`am around.I do throw
      several times at each target.But I start
      out throwing my bait so close to the target
      it sometimes hits it and thats when he just
      can`t stand to pass it up.Bam-Fish-On!

      Thanks
      And Good Fishing
      Dale
      City: Woodland, Ca.

      Tips: Buzz-Baits make waves,Don`t try fishing all
      the water.Just fish all day.

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: fished in the morning off the shore caught and released this guy, guy at the marina said he was almost 8 pounds. what do u guys think. http://www.t-mobilepictures.com/photos/photo07/cd/2a/1ce88ea8e89d.jpg?_rh=egbktwco0ze7nbvop3bhpch4a
      City: livermore

      Tips: caught it on a YUMlizard texas

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Ramp Report
      Centimudi Shasta Rec got it right this time, someone was down there in the past few days with a front loader or something similiar and they took out a lot of mud and gravel, it is back to 2 lanes and an easy in and out except for the hike up and down the hill
      Packers boats still getting in but its dicey coming out with the mud buildup, hopefully they will scrape it too.
      Sugarloaf is ok except when the wind or boat traffic pushes the float up against the beach.
      Hirz Bay is out
      Antlers is out
      Bailey Cove is out
      Bridge Bay is ok but it is sand now and can get tought getting something heavy out or if your vehicle is underpowered, avoid spinning the wheels coming out
      Hey Bob, a lot of folks including me watched the bite go away last week, the pre fish was fair to good but the high pressure we have hanging over us sure has killed the bite. You have oroville to look forward next year if there is any water left over there.
      City: Redding

Friday, October 1st, 2004

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: went out with a buddy friday and started throwing a buzz bait along a no nothing bank between the horse shoe rock wall and the point to the right when i got slammed pretty good. after a two minute fight and a lot of yelling and scrambling for the net we landed an 11 lb 2 oz bass that was my first over 10 lbs. it was also my first bass on a buzz bait. im more into throwing spooks or pop rs. the rest of the day was not as good, we ended up with 4 more keepers to 3 lbs and a bunch of dinks. all in all a day to remember.
      City: san juan bautista

      Tips: most everything was caught on drop shot with 4 inch brown or watermelon worm. the buzz bait was black and red with a gold blade.

  • Ventura County
    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The big fish seem to be shallow. Shad is thick on the shore in certain areas. Find the shad and the Bass are there. Also, fish the grass. It seemed to be a tough day. I didn't see too many guys getting hooked up. Most I saw were fishing worms in deeper water. I caught some solid keepers on the shallow pattern.
      City: Castaic

      Tips: Spinnerbaits in Wht./ Chart. with dbl. chrome willow leaf. Also white Senkos worked almost like a Spook through the grass. They seemed to want it faster than a normal retrieve. Good luck...

    • By

      Water Temp: dont know

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: fished island pon for first time in my tube, very frustrating to manuver in it, maybe cause my finds are pretty ghetto. only 2 small fish in about 2 hour, saw another uber on the main lake, probually doing better than me.
      City: livermore

      Tips: catch and relaese

Thursday, September 30th, 2004

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 72-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 6 pm till 3:00 am. Got about 10 fish with biggest going 3.2 best five fish were about 12 - 13 pounds all but one on the Senko and most after 1 am. Bite was very slow all evening and we were lucky to find any fish that were biting at all.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: Be careful where you park - don't park down hill of any fork lifts! One apparently decided to roll loose all on its own last night about 2:45 am and slammed into the back end of a pickup-trailer rig right in the main launch ramp parking area! There was a guy sleeping in the pickup and it scared the hell out of him. It knocked the pickup about 4 feet sideways. It must have belonged to some contractor doing work up there. Anyway, as far as fishing goes, with the 5" Senkos, the Gamakatsu 3/0 hook (EWG) seems to be a good match giving the drop rate the fish want and this seemed to be important. Unfortunately, this same hook isn't very strong and can bend out of shape if you pull too hard on even a 2 pounder, so beware. I ended up making my drag pretty loose after the hooksets to avoid bending my hooks even though I was using 20 pound test line.

  • San Francisco County
    • By

      Water Temp: not tested

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I've been fishing far out from where I lived I decided why not try some close one so first time lake merced I heard it was a good fishing lake years back so, I said maybe it still hold some fish but I would never know that unless of course I tried it myself, got off at work 3:00 pm took my float tube on my garage got by 3:15 set up pump float everything got in the water by 3:50 first cast none but once I got close to tullies wooohh you can see some action in there decided to throw jig football head bamm 3lbs 02oz then move another spot bam another 4lbs 12oz got out in the water 5:15 why? my wader got hole I was getting cold.
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: slowwwwwww fishing a lot of them just I got secret spot though LOL

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: every once in a while someone comes up with something that really works. that new dropshot the kid came up with is amazing. the two antennaes actually pulsate between the line it is a fish calling son of a gun not only did i get double hookups i also saw whole schools of spots come up with them while i was reeling them in. i cannot even amagin what will happen in another month. the shasta shad is the one.
      City: redding

      Tips: use 2-3lb. test heavier line than you normally use as you will have double hookups.

    • By

      Water Temp: 69.5

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: In at Packers at 0635, air temp 54 and this ramp has just about had it. The mud and gravel buildup is now covering both lanes with just enough room today to get a boat in and getting out was tough. Mine is 19 ft and a 21 ft boat will be real tough, especially getting out so beware. wind out of the NNW at 3 ran over into the middle Sac looking for a rip bite and found it but not until 0830, nothing worked prior to that on flats, humps or rock walls, at 0830 I got a good bite which turned out to be a 4 lber followed by 2 two pounders, only one problem, they were trout. Moved about a 1/4 mile and caught my frist bass on the staysee in Tennessee shad and another about 50 ft away that went 1.79. Moved to some steep stuff and got bit but dumped a good fish on the Hoo-dun-it and then no bites till 10 am where after trying a lot of stuff started dropshotting some old MGM stuff in #158 and boated six small fish off of one point in 38ft, the biggest went 1.4. Wind stopped at 1030 or so and the lake was flat as a pancake. Only saw 4 other boats and all were trolling for trout. Went on back and had a heck of a time getting out and trying to keep the prop out of the gravel. Forget about Packers and please watch for stuff coming up, there are all kinds of humps all over that most haven't ever seen before even out in what you would call the middle of the lake.
      City: Redding

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69.8

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started at 7:30 am in dry creek arm, off a flat that bass were busting shad. Caught 6 bass to 3lbs. Then the bite slowed down and we tried other areas. Around 2:30pm using a white 1/4oz buzz bait I landed my biggest bass at Lake Sonoma 7lbs. One other fish about 5 lbs ended our day with the same lure. Great day to be out on the water. Little wind with overcast morning and blue warm skies in the afternoon.
      Fire Jon
      City: San Bruno

      Tips: Look for bait busting shad and throw top water. Have fun