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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, July 19th, 2004

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 72-73

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Larry's not telling the whole truth about last Wednesday! I personally netted his 6+ that he caught on a small Yamamoto grub! That fish was really hot, making a couple powerful runs before finding the bottom of my net. The bite had been slow up until then so this fish was a real pleasure....uhhhh....until we saw the whiskers! HAR HAR! Sure does make a slow night fun when you throw in a big cat every once in a while! (Otherwise, I concur with Larry's report!) And, while Larry was catching his bass one that grub, I caught all mine on a 10" Yamamoto grub in black/blue tail and lost another decent one on a buzzbait.

      Larry and I caught a dozen or so fish...many small, and our best 5 would have only been 8-9 pounds. We tried spooks, buzzbaits, worms, grubs, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. I think Larry even threw a frog for a while...tough bite!!!
      City: Fair Oaks

      Tips: Like Larry said, that "topwater" bite explodes right at dark for 30 minutes and it dies off as quickly as it comes on. Larry's grub was very effective during that brief topwater window. My 10" grub was best after dark and fished slowly.

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started out to Whiskeytown but kept on going until I found myself launching at Trinity Center ramp on beautiful Trinity Lake at 0515, Great morning warm and no wind very cloudy. Ran stright across to the east bank, started throwing a jointed Jitterbug, caught my two best fish of the day a 3.3 and a 4.5 smallmouth, tried throwing a spook and clown rip bait no takers, went to a drop shot off a rocky point three smallmouth all little guys, moved up into the tailings throwing a grub on a 1/4 oz. darterhead caught several smallmouth and 2 blacks, none of them were over 2#, tried a jig and got bit but hung up too much so I give up on it, I know I could have thrown it some more and caught some good quality fish, however I don't get to fish by myself very much and I just wanted to enjoy this beautiful lake. A great Day.
      City: Redding

      Tips: same old story, the gray light of morning produces great fish.

    • By

      Water Temp: Yes

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Now you know why I'm so reluctant to post reports this time of year. I hate to think that I'm helping these meat fishermen at all. If any of you Bass guys who are into catch and release want to know what's happening, E-mail me with your phone # and I will call you back. I don't mind sharing this great lake at all. For those meat fishermen, find me on the lake, show me the fish you've caught, release them alive and well, and I'll give you $10.00 for a nice steak at the Wyntoon Store. Those 2 lb. fish you're eating will be 6 lbs. in about 4 years. Why not give em a chance.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Trinity Lake is an awesome fishery. Just imagine what it would be like if the Eagles and the Otters were the only ones eating Bass out of this lake.

Sunday, July 18th, 2004

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 79

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 6:15am to about 11:00am, fish were chasing shad at the first stop near the spillway first cast produced a 2 pound fish on a spook. Kept moving down the bank throwing a shad colored senko and caught 2 more little guys. Searched for more surface activity and found some here and there but like Larry said they come up chasing bait make a few splashes and right back down they go. Bait fish activity almost died around 9:30 so I headed to the damn and started drop shotting a blue craw roboworm caught about 5 more off of the damn including a pair of three pounders(3.0 & 2.9 to be exact) all on the dropshot. I also caught the coolest looking fish I have ever seen almost looked like a blak crappie and bluegill mix, it had some of the most awesome coloring on a fish I have ever seen.
      City: Carson city, NV

      Tips: Oddly enough the bigger fish came on the dropshot. Follow the Bait.

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74-76

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: THis report is a little late but we caught fish crankin' points (3ft-15ft) and using 3/8 oz jigs(1ft-20ft) on rock walls and submerged stucture, and big brush hogs. (the colors are my little secret), but any color should work in brown or green. We had a good day with a lot of dinks, a 3.7on a crankbait, a 5.0 on a jig, and another 3.0 even on a brush hog. Fun day.
      City: San Jo

      Tips: Shallow early, spinnerbaits and buzzbait around the weeds, then I usually start deep crankin points when that bite turns off, then hit the jigs and the brush hogs in 10 plus feet of water off rock walls and near points. Occaisional crankin' fish hit mid day and those usually have better size. evening bite is the best bite for me. but the 5.0 was caught mid day off a flat in 15ft. of water. This lake is the shit, have fun guys. (and gals)

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fished the main channel fliping a baby hog in the tules and throwing watermelon cutails. caught about 8 by noon nothing more than 2lbs. hit the small channels behind franks track with oxblood robos and picked up a couple more
      City: fresno

      Tips: the bite seems to be best during the high tide

    • By

      Water Temp: 72-74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the pro-teen today, with pro Jim Soden. Started out throwing topwater and caught 3 or 4 keepers in whites slough.Jim also caught one on a frog. Decided to make a run to one of his spots and caught a few more on texas rigs,he lost one on a jig that was 2 1/2 to 3lbs. Went to little franks tract and started to catch like crazy on cuttails. We culled out some fish and then Jim caught one that went 5.20.Caught a few more and left to the weigh-in at 12:30pm.We weighed our 5 fish and they weighed 12.67lbs which landed us a 7th place finish!!Big thanks to Everybody that helped put this event on,especially my pro Jim Soden!!(couldn't done it with out you buddy!!)I will definetly be back next year!!Thanks for taking me Jim!!
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: Listen to your pro, he knows what he's doing!!
      Topwater bite was good in the morning, texas rigs in the afternoon!!

    • By

      Water Temp: 72ish

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had a great time fishing pro teen yesterday. Josh, my first timer, did not get a fish in the boat but it was not for lack of trying. He still got a twelth place plaque to take home. See you again next year kid. I plan on doing this again next year myself. This is a excellant way to give a teen his or her start in bass tournament fishing. Thanks Andy.
      City: Tracy

      Tips: Buzz bait= 3 lb. Motor oil with red flake= 6 lb. Speed trap = 1.75 lb.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 77

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished our local club tourney and WOW...what a bite this lake has going on. I prefished with a buddy on Friday for about 6 hours and we caught over 60 fish between 1-3 lbs. Nothing big but a lot of fun anyway. It didn't seen to matter where we fished or what we threw, we caught fish all day. I even dragged out the "the box" that we all have in the boat, you know, the box that includes the bags of worms that you get for Christmas from the kids or wife that you wouldn't actually use in a million years but you don't dare give away or you end up sleeping on the couch for a month when she finds out...that box. I caught fish on every one I threw. Anyway...on Saturday it wasn't quite as wide open as Friday but it was still fun. Started out at Monitor Island and held on for the first 15 minutes as the Anglers Choice boats roared by as they launched out of Red Bud Park ( maybe some of you guys could stay a little farther out when a boat is fishing a point, I could have handed a few guys a cup of coffee as they went by...that is a little too close for me. The wind blew pretty hard so topwater wasn't an option but we did pick up a few fish on crankbaits and jigs. Moved to a spot near the narrows (I won't say exactly where since it is a spot my boater showed me and out of respect I'll keep it vauge). Caught a lot of small fish there but did get a 5.05 right before the first weigh-in time. Went back out after the first weigh-in and did a lot of the same. Jigs, cranks, dropshot (which seemed to be the best overall bite) and caught fish all day long. We caught over 70 fish and had a blast doing it. Took second place with just over 14.30 lbs. First place was a young punk (just kidding Chris) who weighed in over 16 lbs including a 3.25 smallmouth bass...first one I've ever seen out of that lake.
      City: Ukiah

      Tips: Come on Dads...this is the perfect time to take the kids fishing. The bite is extreme and it lasts ALL DAY! Take the little ones to your favorite spot, rig them up a dropshot rig with any 4 inch worm and enjoy the smiles that will follow. It can be a fishing trip that will stay with them forever. I'm taking my 11 year old this weekend so I'll see you there!! Good luck and don't forget the camera.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Spent the day bouncing around the south end and found fish at just about every stop. Points, rock piles, walls and spawning coves all produced. Caught some up on the bank and others down to 25 feet. Most of our fish came on drop shot 6" worms in just about every color I had in the boat. Brown/orange/red jigs also produced very well but suprisingly the quality wasn't much better than the drop shot. Caught quite a few on red craw crank and just a couple on buzzbaits/spinnerbaits. Overall it was a quantity day (we lost count, but boated at least 50 maybe more) most fish were under 2lbs. Best fish were a pair of 4's my girlfriend flipped on a tube bait, we also had a few 3's. Best five around 16 1/2 - 17lbs.
      City: TRACY

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing from the end of my friends dock across from Konocti. Only had 2 places to throw bait...a small brish bed on one side and in the shade under a dock on the other. Basically a fish or bite almost every cast until I got tired of catching. Kids, wives...everybody hooking. Dinks to 3 lbs. I finally tied on a big hook and a 12" worm and threw it under the shade dock. Unfortunately. I knew what would happen with my 6lb test worm pole. Something like jaws got hold of it..took off into the pilings..and snap!!..it was over in about ten seconds. This was all in the heat of mid-day. Amazing!! All the time I've spent in my boat, never had a day like this...off the end of dock!!
      City: Hayward

    • By

      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: wow, went out with a friend caught 11 he caught neight i caught three fished the arora and the back island arora had best luck fished with texas riged baby brush hogs caught 5 three pounders in the back island pond caught three one on a brush hog and to on crank baits behind the island...man that bastard wouldnt give me the water melon candy brucsh hogs so he made me catch three and he catch eight.

      Tips: if your snagged keep it there becauce there could be a fish just wait a minute or two to see if you have any pulling

Saturday, July 17th, 2004

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78.5

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: a small club and i were fishing from 7pm to 7am on the 16-17 with a hour brake at midnite. the evening started out hot at 100 deg with very light winds. water @ 78 deg with light clouds. before dark we used a spook, buzz baits, cranks and other reaction baits. the bit was slow for most of the nite. some fisherman were using 8-10 worms on a brass n glass rig. in the morning found some small bass chasing bait fish in carson creek, no limits for the 14 teams and big fish was a 2.82 smallie.
      City: rocklin

      Tips: fish slow and on points in the main body.

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: Around 75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished 4 to 6:30pm and it was tough. Got 2 carolina rigged in 20 to 25 ft of water. Missed 4 or 5, I will blame it on the wind or trying to watch my dog. It was really windy. Marked a lot of suspended fish and got nothing shallow. I should have covered more water and I should have stayed deep.

      Tips: When you don't get em move around and cover water. Stick with whats working and don't try to make em bite shallow if they aren't there.

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: 10 fish in 4 hours, best 5 went 12lbs.,senkos in the shade pockets of tules on rock banks.
      City: castro valley

    • By

      Water Temp: 71-74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Shared the water with two of my best fishing buds today. We had four keepers in the boat to 2lbs one on a lipless crank, another on a brush hog, another on a frog (the 2lber), and the last on a shallow running crankbait.

      Wind kicked up around noon and unlike last week, there were boats all over the Delta today - bass boats, skiers, cruisers, jet ski's and wave runners galore.

      We found one area off the Deep Water Channel with some good cheeze and had a lot of movement under our frogs and even one blow up but didn't hook the fish.

      Made a conscious effor to throw the tackle box at them today and it didn't work.... tough day.
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: If it's a calm day, go with the topwater stuff, saw a lot of jumping activity when it was calm with fish going after the small birds hovering over the water in search of insects. Had a couple of *pocks* under our frogs that did not materialize in fish, but they're definitely under the mats now.

    • By

      Water Temp: Warm

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I went out for just bass today. Catfish action has been slow. Caught a 2 pounder with Yamamoto watermelon senko in the morning. Saw it jumping for a dragonfly by some weeds, so i just tossed it out passed and got it my first cast. Got 2 more 2 pounders at the north shore using a red double bladed spinnerbait. I saw many 5plus pounders along the edges of the lake. I threw my senko at all of them but no takers. Any tips
      City: Oakley

      Tips: I got all my fish by casting from shoreline along the edges. Didnt even get a bite casting in the open. So most of the bass are in the shallows along the bank.

    • By

      Water Temp: 71-74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started fishing at day break. First stop was 400 yards from boat ramp. Landed a 3-lber on a dropshot rig, right away. Then my partner John caught a keeper and at the same time, I hooked up with a 10-lb+. Took a little longer to land this one, becuase it bit on my lightest rod and reel I own, rigged with old 8 lb test line. We fished all day and caught several nice fish.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Take your time and fish slow. Dropshot was rigged with the hook at 8" up from the weight. I nose hooked a 4" curled tail or 6" worm. Most fish were in 6 to 10 feet of water. Fished on rock.
      No crankbait fish.
      No spinnerbait fish.
      No swimbait fish.
      No jig fish.

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 0700 to noon. Caught 8 nice bass - 3SM and 5LM. Three of the large mouth were near 3lbs each. Caught all but one on a carolina rigged hog. Took one on a crank. All were caught in 12-18 ft of water off steep drops going to 30ft with some vegitation. Tons of suspended fish. Many of these fish bit during the fall. This is a tough lake to fish - not a numbers lake but quality fish. Many boats, swimmers, kayaks, dogs etc.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Fish the steep drops on the creek channels with plastics. If you know how to catch suspended fish then use that technique. If not then carolina rigs work with a 3ft leader and some sort of soft plastic. Nothing on drop shot, blades, or senko. Watch out for the water police. They stopped everybody that even looked their way. Go early and leave early.

    • By

      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Gave a fishing report, but wanted to pass some infomation on. The real water police (with guns and not the boat patrol) hits this lake on weekends at about noon. This weekend I seen something I though was impossible. Recovered my boat at noon and this water police was giving out tickets (2), so what new? One never launched his boat and the other just finished launching this craft. Neither one was in the boat?
      City: San Jose, Ca

      Tips: 10MPH, if you have GPS have it on and tell the water police. Of course you may win the speed war, but by the time he inspects your boat you may come up short and have to leave for a safety issue. Go slow, there are folks swimming in the damnest places on this lake. Still glad it will stay open.