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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, May 24th, 2015

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I cast along the shoreline at dike8 (oh excuse me, "folsom point") while I let my dog hang out, swim, and mark everything he can piss on.... managed a stray smallie around 13" and a spot about a lb throwin' a 5" morning dawn stik-o from bass pro. I connected about 2 weeks ago practicing a swim jig at brown's ravine but a security guy told me I couldn't cast from the launch dock. it was a weekday and aboluly NO ONE AROUND and I told him I would be happy to get off the dock if someone wanted to launch. he referred to some u.s. boater regulation about not fishing 50 ft from the dock. then started saying "if I let you, then I have to let everyone else" at which point I just told him he didn't have to explain and I would just get off the dock. however I did point out to him that there were no signs stating "no fishin from the dock" but there was a sign saying "no parking on the boat ramp" ... go figure. I later asked a state park officer and he said the security guys get a little "over-zealous". oh well, they're doing their job. I just wonder how u.s. boater regulation applies to a shore fisherman. anyways, I'm a folsom resident and I'm not gonna let this guy stop me from fishing my resident lake. i'll just stay off the launch ramp like I always do IF THERE'S A BOAT LAUNCHING. maybe they should post a sign. delta is my preferred fishing area anyway...give folsom lake to the rude wake boarders and skiers.

      Tips: stay off the launch dock even if it's not posted. like I said, I get off when I see someone coming to launch or trailer....it's pretty simple common sense. btw...bobby burgess, did you ever take your son out last april? was waiting for results.

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched Paradise and headed to 14 mile slough...worked the tules and weedlines first with lipless cranks and after about 200yds of nothing, switched to senkos. about another 300 yds of nothing, moved further down closer to the main river but still on 14mile. started picking up 1 and 2 lbers on the senkos (black neon and junebug). decided to head up main river to little connection slough... picked up a bunch of barely keepers on lipless cranks. worked the center tule strips with senkos and picked up a few more 1 to 2 lbers. nothing over 2 lbs but still a fun day. the opening set almost had me pretty discouraged til we moved further down.

      Tips: not qualified to give tips. but what worked for us was working both inside and outside weedlines. some of the 2 lbers hit between rockwall and inside weed edge. the ones that hit the lipless cranks seemed to hit as the lure passed over the weedline so I switched to a cordell suspending spot and would stop and go over the weedline. that's when I got hit.

Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

  • Lake County
    • By

      Report: Clear Lake this week 5/20/2015 Memorial Day Forecast

      Wow, almost June! Can you say topwater? How about big jig? Chatterbait? Trashfish? Glidebait? Well, it’s time, and the bite is on.

      Early morning, yes, there are still some bedfish to be had, but boy, passing up an early morning topwater bite just doesn’t seem right, so DON’T do it! Grab your buzzbait or frog and go after em’, they’re there to be had. Oh, and don’t forget the whopper plopper!

      Mid-morning, as the morning progresses I’d pick up my Trashfish or Chatterbait, and I’d start searching for some sub-surface chasers. Again, they are there and these fish are usually found in schools, so find one, and find a bunch is usually the rule.

      Afternoon time, I’d pull out the jig rods and start searching the usual deeper waters, and rock piles, again, find one and you’ll usually find a bunch.

      Evening time, I’d go back to chasing either the top water or sub-surface chasers of earlier in the day.

      Forecast for the weekend is 7-80 degrees and sunny so it should be fairly comfortable as long as the wind doesn’t rare it’s ugly head.

      Water levels are better than last year as is the dreaded algae, and the bite. So make the most of it guys and gals, get up to the lake and get a fix to last the summer.

Tuesday, May 19th, 2015

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Lime Saddle 6 am, stopped fishing 10:30 am. Fished N. Fork area heading towards main lake, from west fork. Decent day, 21 spots, 1 large mouth, nothing over 14 1/2" Most all my fish 20-35 ft range. Most places I fished gave up 2-4 per area before I moved to another location, points, steep rocky banks, clean looking water seemed to always have fish, like the cleaner, the better. Texas and drop shot worms this trip. Basic trip, nothing different. Water dropping as always!!

Friday, May 15th, 2015

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Cooler temps killed the crank bite for me. Still getting fish to 6.5 lbs. on senko's and big worms. Broke off a giant at the uni knot but what can you do? Upsize the leader.

      Tips: Big bites are still available just keep working. 15 lb. leader is needed for the monsters. Bethel Island is where I've been for 3 1/2 months.

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at lime Saddle about 6 am, picked up a couple basic fish at the marina, then headed to north fork, turned south, towards the main lake, fished west side mostly. Amazing glass like water early, rare to find glassy days and no sun. Without the sun coming up, bite was off a tad. Seemed like a slow day, with better bite when ever the sun poked out. I managed just 17 spots today, but did get 4 large mouth, not large, 2 in a row, about 13"-14" surprised me. No large fish today, all basic from 12-14 1/2" Surprised to see the lake a degree cooler then my last trip. Fished mostly Texas rig roboworms today, 2 tome brown colors. Next trip this coming Tuesday. Water dropping, guessing near 15 feet down now. The island at N.fork, west fork intersection well visible now.

      Tips: Most fish taken in 25-30 feet of water today.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Report: Lake levels around the Northstate
      Shasta: 80.48' from full pool
      Trinity: 105.91' from full pool
      Oroville: 151.52' from full pool

      Fishing on Shasta has been great for numbers of bass. Bait's of choice have been 5" yamamoto Senko's in Natural Shad and Baby Bass.
      6" Mothers Finest worms on 3/16 oz dart heads colors have been #23, #35, #37, #38 & #39 as well as Mothers Finest 4" swimbaits in Ghost Trout, Shasta Trout and Sexy Shad.
      Keitech Fat Swing Impact paddletails in Dark Sculpin, Tennessee Shad, Electric Shad and Bluegill Flash.
      The topwater bite is getting going as well on Super spooks, Mag Pop-R's and Whopper Plopper's.
      The Trout Fishing on the lower Sac has been very good also for back trolling #50 hot shot's, #2 Bluefox & #2 Bud's spinners and F-4 & F-5 Flatfish From the 44 Bridge all the way down to Cottonwood

    • By

      Report: Lake levels around the Northstate
      Shasta: 80.48' from full pool
      Trinity: 105.91' from full pool
      Oroville: 151.52' from full pool

      Fishing on Shasta has been great for numbers of bass. Bait's of choice have been 5" yamamoto Senko's in Natural Shad and Baby Bass.
      6" Mothers Finest worms on 3/16 oz dart heads colors have been #23, #35, #37, #38 & #39 as well as Mothers Finest 4" swimbaits in Ghost Trout, Shasta Trout and Sexy Shad.
      Keitech Fat Swing Impact paddletails in Dark Sculpin, Tennessee Shad, Electric Shad and Bluegill Flash.
      The topwater bite is getting going as well on Super spooks, Mag Pop-R's and Whopper Plopper's.
      The Trout Fishing on the lower Sac has been very good also for back trolling #50 hot shot's, #2 Bluefox & #2 Bud's spinners and F-4 & F-5 Flatfish From the 44 Bridge all the way down to Cottonwood

Thursday, May 14th, 2015

  • Yuba County
    • By

      Water Temp: 64-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy Mike and I did a quick afternoon trip to Bullards Bar yesterday - fishing for about 4 hours. It was a beautiful afternoon but breezy and cool. Our first stop was the only good bite we got. I was fishing a small plastic bait on a darthead. Suddenly I couldn't feel the bottom and started reeling in slack line. Finally caught up with the bait and it was heading for deep water. The power of those spots is really amazing!! About 4 minutes later Mike nets my biggest spotted bass so far - 7 lbs 13 oz. Not a whale but at least a shark! I have caught some 7 lb spots and had a client with one. Now I am close to 8 lbs!! So we thot a good trip was ahead. Not at all!!! The dinks weren't even biting much and no more good hits. I caught my biggest dink also - about 11 1/2 inches! We left at dusk - air temp down to 47 degrees.

      Tips: No help here - tough bite! Water looks good and debris is gone. We didn't cover much water because of the brief trip.

Tuesday, May 12th, 2015

  • Lake County
    • By

      Report: Clear Lake this week 5/12/2015

      As some of you know I ran away last week to go chase some a State smallmouth, and when I did, Clear Lake blew up again, and another big wave of fish moved up yet again.

      The lake level un-fortunately is beginning to drop and sits at 3.86 Rumsey today, and I suspect we will see two or so by the 4th of July, as water is beginning to flow.

      Still, the bite is really beginning to pick up on standard type baits as well. Jigs, cranks, chatterbaits, and swimbaits are all beginning to add fish to the livewell for anglers who can ignore the temptation to move to the bank and chase bedfish.

      Personally, I’m headed out with the jigs rods this week to look for those big girls that went first back in early March.

      The weather is mild, so I suspect the lake to be quitter than normal for a Memorial Day weekend, and the fishing should benefit as well.

Monday, May 11th, 2015

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at Lime Saddle about 6 am, stopped fishing at 10:30 am. Fished mostly the North fork from west fork towards the main lake. One of those days one likes. First cast, 13" spot, second cast, another 13", then got slow, so moved and the bite was on. Fished about 3 different locations and managed just 19 fish today. One at 16", one 15" with the rest basic size 13-14" with a couple 12" mixed in. Most fish either tight to the shore, or 20-25 feet, better fish were about 25 foot mark. Tossed mostly senko's Texas style, also some basic browns roboworms. When the wind picked up about 9:30-9:45 the bite got great. Large rocky areas, or boulders tended to hold fish for me. Got 8 fish out of one location. Catch a fish, stay in the area a while and give it a chance, many time more just waiting. Lake appears to have dropped 10-12 feet now, over the last 3-4 weeks. I don't feel like the bite is quite wide open yet.

      Tips: Today's best color watermelon and cream laminate senko's.

Saturday, May 9th, 2015

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from Frans to Mildred. Saw a lot of empty beds. Managed to catch one really good fish and a lot of smaller ones. Video here:
      https://youtu.be/QPJTvBGKXCI

      Tips: Caught a lot of smaller ones on lipless crank and jerkbait. Better ones came on Senko and drop shot.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 67-71

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Camped out for the weekend and fished two full days in both the Pit and Squaw arms. Brought only 42 fish into the boat with majority of them being spotted bass, biggest just over 2lbs. Three rainbows were hooked and 4 nice crappie. All were between 15 and 20 feet of water until Sunday when they for some reason moved to deeper water. Sunday we had to fish 30-35 feet down to get bites. Maybe because Sunday was a calmer and warmer day with no wind? Also the colors changes from day to day. Saturday dark colors seemed to work better and Sunday, lighter colors. Also Saturday mid-day, crank baits worked well off points and Sunday, not one hit on a crank bait. Few top water grabs early mornings too.

      Tips: Texas rigged lizards in coves, wacky worms rock ledges and trees, crank baits off points. Vary the colors until you find what they want. Flashers & little Cleo for rainbows

Thursday, May 7th, 2015

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69-73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I guided 2 great fellas from the east coast on Tuesday, and 3 great senior citizens from the west coast (bay area) on Wednesday. The bite was slow but steady both days. Thot I was at Clear Lake sometimes - we caught several dink largemouth - kinda rare for Berry - but a GOOD sign!! My clients caught 1 3/4 to 3 lb bass of all 3 species (some nice spots!), including a 3 1/2 to 4 lb spot lost at the boat!!! First trip found us in the main body - second in the narrows. On Wed, all three seniors landed the first 3 bass within in 20 minutes - small, large, and spotted bass - each around 2 1/2 lbs. Wow - I was a happy camper - and so were they!! We caught mostly largemouth and spots - only 2 smallies. I fished them around rocky areas - mostly off-shore - about 10 to 20 feet deep. Weather was very nice both days, with a light breeze.

      Tips: We did all sorts of Berryessa techniques using Robo worms, Flappin' hogs, beavers, and Senkos. No treble hooks. One senior brought his own tackle which included the "kitchen sink!" He was throwing everything plastic - and some of it worked!! Nearly every bass both days was between 2 and 3 1/4 lbs. No 1 1/2 pounders - weird! We used Texas rigging, drop shot, and split-shot rigging. Both days 5 fish limits were about 12 1/2 to 13 lbs - pretty good May bite!

Tuesday, May 5th, 2015

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Clear Lake this week 5/4/2015

      Conditions continued to improve here last week, and the bite did as well.
      Clear, warm water is driving the final stages of the spawn to get on with it, and the first stage fish are beginning to chase.

      Both ends of the Lake are now producing fish to 9 lbs on a regular basis once again. The average from what I’ve experienced personally is fish in the 5-7 lb range are not all that
      hard to find, with an average fish running 3-4lbs, and 20 fish days are not hard to achieve.

      Now that the first stages are coming off the bank and beginning to chase, the jig bite can’t be too far away. Still, double winged buzz baits, chatter baits, and frogs lead the way for non-bed fish contributors. Glide baits will get you bit as well, just be patient.

      My advice, go top water in the morning, wait for the sun to get up, and go hit the banks, and flats.

      As always, anglers beware, tis the season, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and keep covered up.
      The sun can really sneak up on you right now, especially when the wind lies down.

      I expect this bite to continue through mid-month as weather allows. Then it’s anyone guess where it goes from there, so get on em’ while you can.

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got out on the lake by 7am instead of the crack of 11am I had been doing. Cold weather made for pleasant day of fishing instead of the blazing sun wearing you out, although wind was dangerous in some areas of the lake. Only trailer in the parking lot when I got off the lake before 6pm. Boated 5 lm biggest 7# and a couple around 3# each.
      City: dublin

      Tips: Still shallow. Pitching heavy plastics to wood or green stuff, slow rolling a spinnerbait thru/over weeds or throwing heavy jigs on points worked this trip. None of the bigger fish I've caught in the heavy stuff this year have gone much over 3# although a majority of the lm I've caught have been in the thick junk.

Monday, May 4th, 2015

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at line saddle about 8 am, stopped fishing at 10:30 am. Went to the north fork, then towards the main body a couple miles, fished about an hour, nothing. Headed back towards the west fork, stayed on north fork, and fishing was on. I managed 29 fish, with only one 15", a couple 14 1/2" with the rest the basic 12-14" stuff. Texas rigged laminate senko's 4" just killed them, darn near every cast a fish on. Steep banks, lots of rock was the ticket. More rock, better the bite. Fish were close up to shore, 5ft to 25ft was the ticket for me. Surprised to find decent fish shallow. Full on bite a few more weeks out is my guess. Me, too hot to fish later then 10:30am. Caught a weird fish, think it was a pike minnow? about 13" odd looking thing.
      City: Magalia

Sunday, May 3rd, 2015

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70 TO 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing with Sid‏
      I fished every day of this past week. The first day I fished with my friend Tom and limited out on bass weighing up to 2.5 pounds (see photo). Next day Bob and I went out and you guessed it limited out again on bass weighing up to 4 pounds in a short span of time. Fishing was great and I was looking forward to another successful day with George and Shawn. We set out early morning and started in the Narrows and worked my way to the vineyards. No sign of birds anywhere but we saw lots of bait balls and fish were jumping all over I was thinking this is going to be a great day but to our dismay after trying every which way to entice the fish all we managed was a 1.5 pound bass. It was a ROUGH day. Next day I took Albert and Frank out. I hit all the right spots with no luck. We tried our best but that's how it goes sometimes. The next day I went out by myself and fished in two of my favorite coves. I decided to use the wacky worm setup and ended up catching sixteen bass the largest one under 2 pounds and most of them under 1 pound it was a lot of fun. The next day I took Richard and Grant out. I started deep in the Narrows and as we headed into the main lake we saw lots of balls of bait and fish jumping. I headed into the back of a cove where Albert had caught his 10.5 pound bass hoping we could do a repeat of that moment but it did not happen. We trolled towards the vineyard and Grant got a bite and landed a 1.5 pound crappie on a Speed Trap crank bait. I took them to a spot I thought would be good and we switched to the wacky worm using a dark color Senko worm. Within the first few minutes Grant got smacked hard and landed a 8 pound bass (see photo). He was elated and after a few pictures he kissed the bass good bye and we watched it swim away. No breaks for Grant he cast out again and landed a 2+ pound bass. We fished three points by the Bureau changing the dark worm to a lighter color and you guessed it Grant gets another hit. For me it was a great week of fishing even the bad days are still great. 'til next time..........................................................................good fishing!!!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you have any questions or stories you would like to share or would like to book a guided fishing trip please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: when it rained the next 2 days where bad so you have to adjust and find out what the fish want.

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: 71-73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Spent 3 days at Pedro and it is real low...we need rain! Got there around 9am Thursday and went to Rodgers area. Saw fish breaking water chasing shad and started throwing a superspook and it was on til about 11am and stopped. Went to dropshot and shakey head and caught a few more. It was warm this pass weekend around 90 on Friday. Got out early the next two days and just had a blast fishing topwater,10 fish to 3lbs. by 8am. Fish was spitting out shad as big as 4 inches. after 11am got tuff. They're not spawned out yet. Fun, fun, fun, for topwater.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Get on the water early till 11am,have a nice lunch, nap and hit the evening bite. Goodluck

Saturday, May 2nd, 2015

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 68-69

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the outside river, Northern side of Frank's Tract, rip-rap and tules with wacky rigged zoom (green pumpkin), bulleted lizard (pumpkin), and Texas Rigged flapping hog (black with red flake). Caught about 20 fish on the outgoing tide. Biggest fish was about 3 pounds, most were in the 1.5-2 pound range
      City: Orinda