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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, September 11th, 2004

  • Mason County
    • By

      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Stayed away from this lake until after Labor day due to the weekend reservation policy and boat traffic. Got on the lake at 0830. Started near the dock with top water. Banged a 2lb bass on a chug bait. Exploded on the bait. Nothing else on top water. Started working rocky shore in deeper water - nothing. Moved up shallow and worked the mud lines caused by the excessive boat traffic. That is where the fish were. Caught 24 fish, all small in mud lines from 3-8 ft deep. Caught all but one on carolina rigged plastics. Caught one on drop shot. Fun day except for the boat traffic which was passing within mere feet of my boat. They have no respect for fisherman. I stayed busy all day. Off the water at 2:30. Two boats got into a dispute (water rage) and the entire fleet of County Sheriff cars showed up at the launch ramp.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Tried crank bait, drop shot, spinner bait with not a bite. Go with soft plastics shallow on flats with deep water near by. Work shore where boat waves create mud lines. If no luck move deeper. Bigger fish were probably in deeper water. Lots of suspended fish if you know how to catch them. I haven't figured that out yet. There were only two fishing boats on the lake.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78-82

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Saturday, caught a couple 13-15 inches crank baiting first thing in the morning, and a couple 13 to 15 inchers drop shotting in 20 feet of water. I did hear of a few fish to four pounds being caught on a top water bite in the morning.

      Tips: Fishing tough, water to warm.

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: high 60's- low

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Calero today, from about 730 to 11:15 or so. Between three guys we caught 10 bass to about 3 pounds. Started off in the south end of the lake, throwin topwater, no bites, went as far back into some of the coves (very small water was LOW) got two on a senko in those areas, and also on the rocky points. Later in the day i switched to a jig and pig combo, picked up two fish just across the lake from the launch ramp. Lost a big one in a submerged tree...DANG!! Over all a really great day, not to many jet skies and crazy people driving them. :)
      City: San Jo

      Tips: Be sure to fish the weed lines, and keep a close eye on your line, for some reason they were bitting very soft.

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70-73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Two person guide trip out of steamboat for smallies. The bite was off and on then off we caught about 45 fish cranking Luhr-Jensen Radar 10's and Persuader Assassinator spinnerbaits all shad colors. Bigger one came on the spinnerbaits we got 3 or 4 3lbers and some 2's and a bunch of 10-14 inchers all of the fish were off the bank in about 10 ft of water. Some were in the bend other were on the points. When the tide stop and turned the fish shut off about 5 fish after 11:00am
      City: Concord

      Tips: Delta smalllies live deeper than the largies cast off the bank about 5 to 8 feet

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

      Report: I'm planning on fishing Lake Chabot for the first time and I was hoping that I could get a little information. I would appreciate if someone could let me know the diets of the bass at this lake. I understand that many of the larger bass are caught on trout imitation lures, but what about the smaller, average sized bass. Is there a good shad population? crappie? bluegill? crawdad? leech? And what patterns have worked best in your experience?

      Thanks, Pete.
      City: San Ramon

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Saturday from 7:00 pm till around 10:00 pm gave me 6 fish all before dark and one 20 pound plus carp on a crank bait that took me for a ride. I was hoping the wind would die down for the night but it only got worse . After spearing a wave about 10:00 and flooding the boat I decided that it was too dangerous to continue. Started again about 8:00 am after being awaken by some dude throwing a buzz bait by my boat. Can't think of a better alarm clock. The winds were even worse at daylight. Picked up around 12 fish before leaving around 4:00 pm the largest a little over 4 lbs.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Typical Northern wind cold front from the coast. Nothing shuts down the night bite faster than this for me. It only got to around 74 degrees on Sunday. Made a decision to fish in the wind and continued to fish the 8 inch grub and 10 inch power worm. Lots of tail nippers and missed hooksets. Crank bite has been sporadic and no really top water yet , at least for me .

    • By

      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Float tubed Lexington on Saturday from 8AM to 5PM. Light wind in the morning and about 12mph NW wind in the afternoon. Spent most of the day at the sound end. Didn't see any sign of fish for the first two hours. Then realized that I was fishing too shallow. Headed toward deeper water and caught 14 bass upto 5.5 lbs (average ~ 2lbs). Water was dropping. This pulled most fish to 20 feet depth. Had luck on Rat-L-Trap, Brush hog, and Dropshotted 4"-Brekley power worm.
      City: Palo Alto

      Tips: Look for wind brown bank and try to find deep water nearby.

    • By

      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: i WANTED TO CHECK AGAIN I"VE HEARD HOW BAD THE FISHING HAS BEEN ON SAN PABLO LAUNCHED AT 7:00AM WATER CLARITY VERY POOR WENT TO THE PRESERVE NOT A BITE THROWING TOP WATER AND RATTLE TRAPS GOT OUT OF THE PRESERVE STARTED WORKING POINTS WITH WORMS IMMEDIATLY STATED CATCHING FISH AROUND 15FT IF WATER THROUGH OUT A CRANK BAIT ON A POINT GOT A 3LB LARGE MOUTH BUT MOST OF THER FISH I CAUGHT WERE SPOTS LAST SPOT OF THE DAY AT THE BOUY LINE GOT A 4.5 ON A WORM SAN PABLO IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL WISHED I COULD HAVE FISHED ALL DAY TO SEE WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE WITHA FULL DAY
      City: SAN PABLO

      Tips: 15 FEET OF WATER WORMS

Friday, September 10th, 2004

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 72-74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: One person guide trip, out of Russo's "nice place" We started in franks tossing poppers and spooks. They didn't want the spook this morning but the popper was hot client got about 10 in franks and missed one big one. Then went to holland cut and got another 10 on the popper and few on a speed trap "bleeding shad" then into Mandeville and got about 20 or so mixed between the popper and speed trap and managed 2 good ones on the spook about 10:30 the top water bite slowed but the speed trap was in full swing we jst fish out in the weed around rhode island, mandeville and holland fish were every where. About 100 fish for the day best 5 14 or so lbs
      City: Concord

      Tips: Keep your foot on the trolling motor and you will find them, good luck

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: Hot

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well the top water bit is over,caught
      some giants.I have been using my Double-Buzz Bait
      all summer at Clear-Lake and the Delta.Works great
      had good luck,caught hundreds of bass on it.My
      biggest was seven lbs.at the Delta.I caught my
      fish all day long at Clear-Lake.Caught half my
      fish on a Double-Buzz Bait with Gold Blades and
      Gold Clackers 3/8 oz.Skirt color did`nt seem to
      matter.I do throw a different color than the
      rest of the fisherman.Since I make them, I try
      and use different Combo`s.Limit-Out Tackle
      in Clear-Lake Oaks sells my baits,so I try and
      fish completely different colors.I seem to
      catch bigger fish after sun-rise when they were
      headed for some type of cover,weed-mats or tully
      did`nt matter.If the fish were there they would
      just slam it.My son and I caught several limits
      over 25lbs.We fished Clear-Lake about twenty-five
      times this summer.I wanted to fish more, but had
      to go to the Delta and practice with my lures.
      If you to go after the Giants, try Clear-Lake and stop by Limit-Out Tackle and pick you
      up some Double-Buzz Baits made by Dale`s Baits
      And Blades.For more information contact me at
      dalemeddock@aol.com

      Thank You
      And Good Fishing
      Dale Meddock
      City: Woodland Calif.

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70-75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started at safe light. No partner today, doing a little pre-fishing for the up coming Future Pro tour event on the 18th. Started in the middle fork fishing points. Nothing on cranks or top water. Only caught fish on the drop shot... All spots and spitting up bait all over the boat. Fished a few other spots in the middle fork, when the wind died down, Saw bass busting bait all over in the middle fork. Threw top water with no takers, but threw a white fluke and was getting bit ever cast. Nothing big but still had fun only three keepers so far. Left that area and went up the North fork, fished points, caught better quality fish. Wind picked up and started to fish the mud line with cranks, adn started to catch more fish. biggest fish was only 15 inches... oh well, going out again on Saturday. Got to find some better fish. best five went for around 7lb.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: Caught all fish 5-15ft. Maybe I'll try deeper for bigger fish. Wind is our friend. tight lines

Thursday, September 9th, 2004

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78-80

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: LAKE AMADOR HAS A NEW BLACK BASS RECORD IT WAS CAUGHT BY DANNY FRANCO OF OAKDALE IT WEIGHT AT 17lbs 1.6oz IT MEASURED 29in. by 23 1/4in. girth.THE FISH WAS REALEASED.
      City: IONE

      Tips: DANNY IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS COMPUTER,HE WILL WRITE A REPORT ON HIS CATCH WITH THE DETAILS SOON !!!.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74.78.8

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: took a trip down after reading all the favorable reports and they were spot on. Got in the water at the M&M ampground behind rattlesnake at 0615 and motored over to rattlesnake throwing at the toolies with baldes , cranks and rip baits but didn't get bit. Went back over to the area just north of M&M and started throwing a docks and nothing again. Crossed over to some other docks and found a bunch of fish in the 12-15 ft depth so started throwing jigs tipped with the amgm twintail in #23 and got 5 fish, the smallest was at 2.07. Went to Buckingham and fished from the seawall down to Shag Rock? and got a bunch of the same. Moved around down the other side of the point and fished past a lot of great looking homes and put more in the boat. Went back to Shag after the bite slowed around 1030 and fished there again and got on fish in the 19-23ft range and finished the day off with 43 of these fat little largemouth. what a great day, cool and a lot of fish. got things loaded up and went to Northlake Ford for 4 gallons of their Merc Premium Plus (thanks John) and drove home. Well worth the time and miles.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Used a brand new bait made by MGMLURES called a hoo-dun-it. it's about 6 inches long with long narrow tails and some wings and a ribbed body. used a brown with gold flake one, one called melon pepper and one that was red with some black flake. Those baits got pounded.MGM is at (530)347-1782 up in Cottonwood www.MGMLURES.net

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: In at Packers at 6:45am. The morning started slow for me but the Blonde in the back started picking up fish with a 6" in #36 Blue Shad/C. I finally managed a dink with a new color I was trying, clear w/a rainbow of colored glitter. I finally switched to my new "HOO-DUN-IT" in good old #23 Melon Pepper, and quickly stuck a 2.4 spot. A couple of hours after a little boat ride we returned to the same area and I hit a 3.0 and another about 2.5 in about 3 casts. I think the MGM "HOO-DUN-IT" might be a fair creature bait. By the way Jerry, this bait is only 4 to 4 1/2 in. long, (you know how fishermen stretch things, LOL). Had a good morning on the lake with the boat traffic at a minimum till about noon. Out at 1:30 with 11 or 12 total.
      City: c

      Tips: The better fish came out of 30 feet of water. The banks are loaded with dinks.

    • By

      Water Temp: 74.6

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: 43 fish in the boat this morning, and a few others that hopped off. In a M&M at 0615, air temp a cool 61 the lake was down about 5 ft, motored over near rattlesnake and started throwing a blade and rip baits with no takers, moved back east to just north of M&M and pitched docks until 0730 and not one bite, moved across a flat with a cut in the middle and suddenly found a ton of fish in the 12-15 ft brackett versus the 6-7 ft docks. picked up 5 just over 2lbs on a football head wearing an MGM #23 twintail, got into the box and pulled out some new creations by MGM called a, get this, hoo-dun-it. god awful looking thing with real long very thin tails and wings. moved down near buckingham and stayed in the 12-15 level and moved towards shag rock( I think that's what they call it) and boated 23 more fat 2-3 lbers. Moved past this big chuck of rock and some other folks and went downthe other side of Buckingham and picked up a half dozen more until 1030 whn it came to a halt.
      oops! in case this sounds fishy it is. i went down to Clealake this morning. This new bait by MGM is about 6-7 inches long, round body, slighty ribbed with two very long thin tails and wings on both sides. motored back to shag rock as most of the guys had left and only one boat there now. can't get bit so go a little deeper and start getting them again in 19-23 ft with the bait fished straight up and down to avoid getting stuck on the rocks. Ended up with 43 total and all fat as footballs and had a lot of fun with a very effective new bait. Out of the water at 1215, air temp 84 and drove over to Lakeport to Northlake Ford to purchase 4 gallons of their very reasonable Merc Premium Plus in bulk. Thanks to John Brossard for doing this for us bass fisherman
      City: Redding

      Tips: did see one guy with a 4+, most were dropshotting. The depth was very specific, not enough or too much and no bites. Used these new baits in melon pepper, black root beer and a reddish colored one(don't know the number) or color name.

Wednesday, September 8th, 2004

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Solo trip today. Started off throwing a black buzzbait just outside of veale tract, dumped a hog there. Continued to get short striked by smaller fish so I decided to head to Connection. Fished the rock side, sparce tulle was the key. I found some areas not choked up with hyacinth and also found some fish. Throwing the frog, I finally nailed a hog. One problem, nick in the 50 pound power pro. bink! broken heart. One of those days I guess. continued on and kept getting short strikes so I changed up to a black scum frog. wow what a difference. those fish were inhailing that smaller frog! It really saved the day. I lost count of the fish I caught. Noting real big though. biggest went 3 plus pounds. Lots of 2's.
      City: Oakley

      Tips: wear sunscreen

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74-78

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: To continue what i said in my last report. The work of Jon Walton and Don Osborne in restoring the fish habitat at Lake Del Valle, and Lake Chabot is fantastic, i will help this year, i encourage others to do the same. What i meant to say in the last report in which i said their are too many people KEEPING their fish. This lake more than most needs people to release their bass.Their were alot of bass harvested this year, in talking to the guys at the boat dock, alot of people were keeping their bass, hopefully with the mercury warnings, guys will throw back their bass especially their bigger bass. I RECOMMEND ANY OF YOU BASSERS WHO ARE HAVING TROUBLE CATCHING FISH, GO TO WALTON'S POND ON WASHINGTON ST. IN SAN LEANDRO IN THE FLORESTA CENTER. HE HAS ALL THE HOT BAITS, AND WILL POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO CATCHING FISH NO MATTER WHERE YOUR FISHING OR WHAT SPECIES YOUR FISHING FOR.
      City: hayward

      Tips: MINNOW BAITS, DEEPER WATER WITH WEEDS. PLEASE RELEASE YOUR BASS.

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74.7

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started fishing at 7 AM. Only activity was in the first 45 minutes. Fished Senko's and plastic swim baits in the weed beds.I caught two large mouth, 1#and 4.5#, buddy got one,3.5#.
      Once the Sun hit the water the bite was off. Water
      clarity was 25'.
      City: Orangevale

      Tips: Start fishing as early as posible. Use crawdad colored plastics.

Tuesday, September 7th, 2004

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 73-78

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I HAD TO WRITE THIS REPORT TO THANK A COUPLE OF PEOPLE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE BASS FISHING AT CHABOT THIS YEAR. JON WALTON OF WALTON'S POND ON WASHINGTON/FORESTA IN SAN LEANDRO. I ENCOURAGE ANY OF YOU BASSERS, TROUTERS, CATTERS TO SHOP AT HIS TACKLE STORE. HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN RESTORING THE HABITAT AT CHABOT, AND THE NUMBERS OF SMALLER BASS ARE WAY UP THIS YEAR. I GO TO HIS STORE, AND NO MATTER HOW BUSY HE IS, HE'LL TAKE TIME TO EXPLAIN HOW TO USE A CERTAIN LURE. HE AND DON OSBORNE HAVE ORGANIZED THE XMAS TREES IN THE WATER, AND THE NUMBER OF 12-13 BASS IS THE MOST I HAVE SEEN IN 15 YEARS. THERE IS STILL TOO MANY PEOPLE CATCHING THEIR FISH, AND THAT NEEDS TO IMPROVE FOR CHABOT TO TRULY COME BACK. THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE JON WALTON AND DON OSBORNE , YOU CAN ACTUALLY CATCH A FEW BASS THERE LIKE JON SAYS, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT AND MY OWN OBSERVATION PEOPLE ARE STILL KEEPING TOO MANY FISH. MY BASSING HAS IMPROVED, JON WALTON HAS HELPED ME IN UNDERSTANDING BIG FISH HABITS, HOW TO USE LURES, ETC. I WILL HELP WITH THE XMAS TREES THIS YEAR. THANKS JON, THANKS DON.
      City: hayward

      Tips: MINNOW BAITS, THEIR SEEMS TO BE MORE BAITFISH THIS YEAR AND RAPALAS, WILL GET YOU AT LEAST A COUPLE OF FISH. FOR BIGGER FISH, MY BIGGEST A 6 LBER CAME ON A JIG

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: Not Tested

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well what do you know I finally did visit this lake and boy was there a bass, well first started looking for boat rentals yes there are a lot of place but all of them don't have enough, too many anglers 2 of the place we went all boats are rented. so my buddie end up in soda bay but we still got luck although it's quite windy my buddy caught 5lbs+ and most of them are clone 2-3lbs total fish for two of us 20-25 lost count including 4 huge catfish caught on powerbait thanks all of you for such a honest report and all the tips tight lines Catch and Release.. its worth a trip maybe I'll go there again weekdays.. ;-)
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: Most of my fish caught on swimbait castaic bluegill and banjo minnow, waveworm (tiki worm) also did well green pumkin with orange stipe, I'll be back and bring some catfish bait..