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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, June 27th, 2004

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 72-74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fish today with Tom Wardrop, launched out of Holland on just a dead calm gorgeous morning. Initially the plan was to play around and find some of those deeper, better quality fish, but it was impossible not to pick up a topwater bait. This just turned out to catch the ebst fish al day. We caught a number of fish on jigs, worms, ect, found one deep tulle berm that held some crankin fish, but not of these produce the quality of fish in the 3-5 pound range that we caught on topwater. No one bait worked best, we caught em on a Trixie shad, Spook, buzzbait and frogs. Outstanding dy of just plain fun fishing on the River!
      City: Oakley

      Tips: Keep moving, not finding concentrations of fish. Fish seemed to be in open water areas surrounded by weeds, points and the backs of "U" bend levee banks held the best fish. No current, deep water with in 10 feet of the strike.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Not muddy but green goo on the surface, below which is clear. I fished the night shift till about 3:00 am and took a nap till 9:00 am. A total of 10 fish at night the largest only went 3.2 but enough bites to keep it interesting. Monday was a different story. I had marked a bunch of off shore rock piles around Rattlesnake that topped out around 8-10 feet deep. Thank God for way points and GPS. Crankbaits, lucky craft deep diver in ghost and white normanDD-22 pulled a fish or two of each pile and then I went back through drop shotting the ledges down to 25-27 feet. Good pattern for that day. Cul em rite said best 5 went 17.6 and probably picked up 20 or so fish that morning. A good come back from my Delta Tourn. on Saturday with my big bag of 4.65 lbs. Lesson learned , don't make a run from Big Break to Lost Slough in a 6 hr. Tourn.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Fish are concentrated on off shore rock piles in 8-25 foot of water, ( South). I did not fish the North end. The crank bait bite was aggressive and produced the bigger fish by far. Seemed like the first 3-4 casts accross the structure produced the larger more aggresive fish . Drop shotted a pearch colored 3 inch swim bait nose hooked about 12 inches from the weight. This also produced 2 BIG bluegill, Cannabels, and a crappie. Does anyone hear the makings of a milk run? anyway had to leave at 1:00 pm and they were still biting.
      Night fishing for my last two trips is a hit and miss. Last trip the better bite was in the daylight. Beats the gagibbers out of the Delta right now.

Saturday, June 26th, 2004

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

      Report: Fished in an aluminum boat for a couple of hours in the morning. Caught a 2+lber and a 4.5lber on husky jerks. Lost a small one. Tons of small baitfish in this lake. Bite was slow. Water is very clear.
      City: San Jose

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

      Report: Well like Larry said, the fishing was a bit slower than past times, but that didnt stop us from pulling in some nice fish. I actually believe i saw you fishing with the father and son Larry, you came right in front of our dock and then the little guy caught a decent fish about 200 feet away from us. Caught all of our fish on 4 and 3 inch senkos in green and brown colors, also picked up a few fish on Spider Jigs. All but a few smallmouth were very nice fish. As Larry H. reported the fish were not holding on rock points at all. I noticed that transitions from rocky points to weedy beaches held lots of fish. We probably ended up catching 15 fish that were all over 2.5 pounds, with 2 of the fish being over 3 pounds. On the last night i went over to Lassen View docks where we had caught a few others before, my girlfriend had a 5++ smallmouth follow in here senko all the way to the dock, biggest i have seen in the lake ever. Then i hooked into a monster, a for sure 4+ fish on a senko in about 30 feet of water. I could feel the fish was rubbing on something, then noticed the evil dock cable in front of me. I tried to get over the cable but the fish took one more good run snapping my 8 pound maxima. I was really depressed considering it was our last night and my girlfriend had a bigger fish than me for the week. Oh well, theres always next time. Most of our fish were caught early in the morning from about 6-noon and then in the evening from about 7-9, with the exception of a few rather windy nights. The lake usually becomes very windy from about 3-7 in the evening but we had a few noon-10 windy days. The lake is beautiful, we will be returning this august for another week.
      City: Rancho Cordova

    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well, I finally hit for the cycle! I caught a smallmouth a few years ago at Clear Lake and I just caught my first largemouth at Almanor. She was fat! I fished near the north end and got 5 good hits but only landed 2. I got a 3 lb 2 oz smallie followed by the 3 lb 12 oz largemouth. They were both caught on Rodstrainer Jigs w/ #180 Yamamoto grub. I caught another 2-9 on the same jig another evening. My wife and I stayed again at Lake Almanor Resort for a little over a week. Frank and Holly run a great place with good docks for the boats (530 596-3337). We arrived at the beginning of post-spawn and the fishing was very tough compared to the time I was there last year. The reaction bite was better however as I caught several on rip baits and topwater. I lost two big smallies on my Chug Bug - maybe one about 4 lbs. Darn! One evening I got onto a fairly good crankbait bite (Wiggle Warts, color #37) and actually landed 5 for 9 1/2 pounds! The biggest was 2-11. The next night - nothing! We had several evenings of heavy south winds which might have something to do with the sporadic bite. I had a very nice guide trip over last weekend with a father and 9 year old son. We caught 10 in about 6 hours with the boy landing a 1-15 smallie and dad finally getting a 2-2 smallie on the last cast - around noon! Wow, what a surprise!! Morning dawn and purple ghost worms, split-shotted, did the trick that day. Drop-shotting was a dead issue the whole trip and dragging wasn't much better. Many good fish hit the worms but wouldn't take 'em! Sounds like I was there at the wrong time?! I'm sure the day and night bite will pick up in a week or two. Anyway, we did have 10 smallies over 2 pounds in the boat and the scenery was as beautiful as ever! Great thunderstorm too - hail and an inch of rain. I'll bet the bass loved that!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Contrary to last year, I did not find many bass in rocky areas. They had moved away from rock walls and points. I found most of the action near weeds and stump flats - in about 6 to 10 feet of water. The evening bite was always better as it usually is for me. The largemouth morning was the exception. I got the most action in shadows or when the sun was low. Six pound test is a must when the sun is high.

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

      Report: I just read Joe from San Brunos report and he makes a good point. You don't need a boat to catch nice bass but you do have to keep your eyes open and fish carefully. Good job Joe- you beat me fair and square. On the other hand I've never heard of anyone getting bit by a rattlesnake in their boat. Keep on fishin' Joe!
      City: napa

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

      Report: the lake is slow right now i caught 3 of top water totaling about 8 pounds. The fish seem to be holding good in the cove just west of harveys cove. I also caught a few off some crawdad imitations
      City: santa maria

      Tips: use top water in the morning and just before the sun breaks try spinners and even crawdads.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: went out of holland riverside on friday after work. got on to water a little after 4:00 pm. went up 21 mile cut into a side slough and caught two on first two casts of the day on spinnerbait, both about 2 pounds. then frogged for about an hour with no results fishing weed on the riprap side, so decided to fish it on the mud shore side and caught three on same black tourny frog up to about 4 lbs, and then fished the riprap shore right across from the marina and caught one about 4 1/2 pounds on a six inch senko and 2 others about 2 lbs each on same senkos. off water by 8:15.
      City: concord

      Tips: fished frog and senko slow. fished spinnerbait fast above the weeds and slow in open water.

Friday, June 25th, 2004

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Took out a trip on Tuesday and caught fish on chug bug and PJ pop on and off all day with the bigest going 4.5lbs. Also caught fish on senko along rocks and weeds. Today I had a trip that did not produce as many fish. Most where caught on Buzz Baits. I had 2 on a frog and had 4 blow ups. Tide was very weak. Hope for better next week with the minas tides.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Current always helps.

    • By

      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Have not been on the water for over a month, but had a "dream day" today. Lauched @ Orwood around 6:30 am, an d ran towards Franks Tract. First Stop @ Franks south end on weeds and mat. Second cast w/ frog got a 3.5 lber. A couple of minutes later, bam, 5.18 lber. Threw a senko on weedline and proceeded to catch another 7 - 10 fish. Moved toward concrete wall, and kept throwing frog. Got another 5 lber and acouple of smaller ones. Threw a buzzbait and caught a few more. Moved to Little Franks whern the real action started. I caught a 5.81 lber on a frog, acouple of 2.5 lbers on senkos, and numerous fish on worms.

      Had a 50 fish day easy!! Off the water by 1:30.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: I went out to have fun and did!! Do the same.

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got to lake about 7 pm, caught 3 fish dropshotting a reaper in first 10 min. One fish went 3 lbs, didn't catch another fish until dark. Fished until 1 am with jigs on rocky points. Caught 17 more from the bank to about 15 foot. All but a couple were quality fish. Best 5 12-13 lbs.
      City: Hilmar

      Tips: Fish the rocky points, most bites were after jig sat on bottom for a couple seconds shaking jig slightly.

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

      Report: had some e mails regarding BnS Lures, their items can be obtained by calling (530)347-1779 or emailing brycensusan@juno.com. The owner is making a number of new products some of which, I have found effective. They are located in Cottonwood, Ca and can ship your order promptly.
      City: Redding

Thursday, June 24th, 2004

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 3 p.m to 8 p.m.. My son and I caught ten bass. Used flukes, texas rigged worms and poppers. Nothing bigger than 2.5 lbs.. Fun evening.
      City: R.C.

      Tips: Largest fish came on popper near sundown.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74 degrees 8 fe

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: i was at berryessa for 4 days went fishing in campell cove of bank tuesday. as im walking down the shore line and i spy a huge bass throw my plastic worm right in front of his face and he takes it instantly. let him take of with it and then i set the hook. i got him up on shore and weighed 7 pounds. theres a picture of it in spanish flat marina.beat u bassnbob.LOL
      City: san bruno

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 68-74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took a trip up to the lake for old times since it might be closing July 1 (budget cuts). Fishing for me wasn't so good it might have been because of the fry in the lake.I have never seen such a good hatch at Del Valle in the past 23 years I have been fishing the lake. Their was 1in to 2in fry on every part of the lake.
      City: Livermore

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 70's

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: WENT OUT THURSDAY 6-24,ARRIVED A LITTLE AFTER 6AM .STARTED IN THE NORTH FORK AROUND ROCK USING A ZARA SPOOK FIRST CAST MISSED A 3 MAYBE 4 LB. FISH DRAG TO LOOSE FIRST JUMP THE FISH THREW THE
      LURE ,WENT BACK TO THE OLD RELIABLE THE LUCK CRAFT,FINALLY TIED INTO TWO IN THE 2LB. RANGE FURTHER UP THE FORK. AT THIS POINT MY PARTNER HAS'T HOOKED A FISH THE LAST THREE TRIPS ,SO I TOLD HIM TO USE ANY LURE IN MY BOX JUST BEFORE WE WERE LEAVING HE HIT A LARGEMOUTH IN THE ROCKS THAT WAS CLOSE TO 5 LBS .NOTE BAD FOR A COUPLE HOURS .SEE YAH ON THE LAKE WHATS LEFT OF IT .
      City: Roseville

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 78.8

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: In at Jones Valley at 2100, air temp at 86, lake down to 39 1/2 ft, ran over to my rock pile in Fort Creek and no fish on or around it but 4 houseboats and ski boats back in there, moved over into the lower Squaw creek on a hump that came up overnight and tossed a 3/4oz footballhead tied up and a BnS Lures twin tail in #23(melon pepper) with some of their goop added and caught 12 dinks on and around this hump. between 2130 and 2200. Left there and moved over into the pit on a submerged hump for 4 more the biggest being a 1.74 smallmouth. Went back inside Jones Valley and got 2 more by 11PM when some fools in a ski boat started skiing without any lights on. I got out to avoid getting run over along with another guy in a john boat. These fish were very aggresive tonight, I swam my baits just ticking them along the bottom. and reel like crazy to stay ahead of these fish as every one of them ran at the boat after I set on them. MIssed at least 10 others but no size to speak of.
      City: Redding

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2004

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Several fish on a buzzbait early, my partner had 3 blow up on a frog without a hookup. Several more flipping a tube. No size to talk about, Top water was good until the wind came up.
      City: Fairfield

      Tips: Don't take advise from a lousy fisherman like me.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Frog bite seems to be coming on strong. Last two days the frog has put quit a few fish in the boat, with 3lbers being the smallest and 5lb+ being the bigger fish on both days. Until I started throwing the frog yesterday,most everything I had been catching had not topped the 2.5lb. mark.
      City: Modesto

      Tips: Find the cheeze, throw the frog. Mid to late afternoon is the best bite.

  • Lake County
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got out on the lake around 3:00pm. Fished around Konocti bay, Jago bay, and surrounding area. Didn't take long to land the first fish, a nice 3 pound largemouth. To make a long report short by the time we got out of the water at dark we had caught 40+ fish between the two of us. In those 40 there were two 6 1/2lbs, two 5lbs, and probably five or so in the 3-4lb range. The rest were averaging from 1 to 3lbs. Not many shakers either. Went out the very next day and almost duplicated the day before. Throughing mostly green and red pumpkin colored baby brush hogs along with cranks and some other plastics. Brush hogs seemed to work the best.
      City: Pinole