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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, June 11th, 2004

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      Water Temp: warm like bong

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: this place sucks!!! my 5th time trying this place and been skunked every time!!! Then the ranger gave me shit for smokin my stuff and I had to through my new pipe in the water. (i'm goin back for it when they drain the fucker)
      City: san jose

      Tips: hide your beers and smoke!!!

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

      Report: Has anybody thrown frogs at Merced with any luck?
      City: Daly City

      Tips: Fish slow and tight to cover.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 59-74

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: *********After Bay****************
      After swearing I wouldn

      Tips: Watch the water temp. They are pulling heavily and the temp swings from the 50s to the 70s depending where you are. Naturally there is a strong current in some places as well.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 70 F

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hit Shasta for the annual houseboat vacation with the wife and dog. The trip didn't start off too well. My bass boat was lashed w/ fenders to the starboard side of the houseboat. We were headed up the Mcloud Arm when a jet boat burned by us at 60+mph. The wake shook both boats pretty bad - next thing, I noticed smoke from the bass boat engine compartment. I managed to get the fire out before it blew up, but it was a close call. The fuel line was burned all the way to the squeeze ball. If anyone can figure out how the fire started(short circuit? sparks from flying tools?) or how I could have prevented it, please send me an email. I don't want to go through that ever again. Anyhow, the outboard and all other wires were toast, but the trolling motor still worked. So, I fished one small section of the upper McCloud very thoroughly all week. Did okay all things considered. Averaged 15-18 fish per day. Only fished early and late, napped and bbq'd in the afternoon. The weather was off/on overcast and rainy from Mon-Thurs, didn't get hot until Friday. Most fish caught were relatively shallow, 10-15 feet, started towards 18-20ish when the sun got higher. Had more luck on the main lake arm during the morning, but they seemed to move up into the creek arm around sunset. I didn't fish too late since none of my lights worked. I caught a few small ones on a chart/white blade at dawn and sunset. Didn't have any luck with a rip bite or topwater. Caught a bunch dropshotting hologram shad and baby bluegill 4" worms around submerged trees and off of steep rocky points. No real size, most were cookie-cutter 12"s and smaller, a few 13" and 14". Had some better fish on Waltman's Custom Crafted football head(1/2 oz) and darthead jigs(3/8 oz) with twin-tail grubs in watermelon-pepper or green-pumpkin off of sloppy banks with fist-sized rock early, or around rocky points in the evening. Had a number of 14" and 15", and a couple of 16".

      Most of my fish and my best fish came on a 1/8oz darterhead w/ a 6" green weenie or 4" Jerry's special(green w/ red flake paddle-tail) worms. Slow lift/drop retrieve off of steep rocky walls, boat was in 30' of water, bank was a medium cast away.

      One of the highlights was a nightfishing trip w/ Jerry. Thanks for being so patient w/ a rookie, Jerry. I learned a lot and had a great time. He was polite in his report and didn't mention how many fish we should have had if I would have set the hook properly. (And thanks for the jigs and worms! Great stuff!)

      The other highlight was the 19 1/4", 5lb3oz monster that slammed my darthead at sunset on Thurs.(I remembered to set the hook, Jerry.) 1/8oz, 6" green weenie, 10 ft of water off of a steep rocky point up a creek arm. I already had 16 fish up to that point, but couldn't fish any more that night 'cause my hands weren't steady enough.
      City: Newark

      Tips: Fish w/ Jerry. He's a class act and you'll learn a lot.
      Jigs and worms in greens and browns w/ pepper or red flake.

Thursday, June 10th, 2004

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: WELL WHERE DO I START? WENT TO FLOAT TUBE BY MYSELF. GOT A 2LB ON MY THIRD CAST 15'+/- ARONS MAGIC DARTER HEAD. 5 MINUTES LATER I GOT ANOTHER FISH SAME DEPTH SAME WORM. THE PATTERN HELD UP FOR AS LONG AS I WAS THERE I THINK I WAS THERE FROM 8AM-2PM ENDED UP WITH 12 FISH BEST 5 WENT 11LBS +/-. NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY......WHEN I PULLED IN TO THE LOT THERE WERE 2 TRAILERS THERE I GOT MY TUBE OUT (USUALLY BRING MY BOAT) AND MY GEAR GOT ALL READY LOOKED AROUND IN THE LOT FOR ANY SIGHNS THAT SAID TRAILER ONLY BECAUSE I DIDNT WANT ANY TICKETS, AND NEVER HAVING BEEN THERE IN A CAR WITHOUT A TRAILER I WAS UNSURE OF THE RULES. I FIGURED IT IS MONDAY THERE ARE 2-5 BOATS IN THE WATER EVEN IF THERE WAS A TRAILER ONLY SIGHN I PROBABLY WOULDNT GET A TICKET ANYWAYS, ALL LAKES I HAVE BEEN TO USALLY HAVE IT PAINTED IN THE SPOTS AND SIGHNS WELL POSTED. I GRABBED MY TUBE AND AS I WALKED OFF NOTICED A NICE PILE OF TRASH SOMEONE HAD LEFT 3 CANS AND A FEW BAGS, I SAID TO MYSELF I WILL GET THAT WHEN I GET BACK, SO OFF I WENT. DONE FISHING I HEAD TO MY CAR GET THERE LOAD MY TUBE IN THE CAR GRAB THE PILE OF TRASH THAT WAS STILL THERE AND OFF I WENT, HAPPILY DRIVING DOWN THE HILL AFTER A GREAT SOLO DAY I LOOK TO FIND A TICKET UNDER MY WIPER TO THE TUNE OF $35. I WENT BACK TO THE STATION TO SEE IF I COULD EXPLAIN WHY I PARKED THERE, WHEN THE BLOND LADY (BITCH) RANGER SIAD PROUDLY I WROTE YOU THE TICKET!! I CALMLY EXPLAINED MYSELF TO NO AVAIL. ALL RANGERS AT ANY SANTA CLARA VALLEY LAKES ARE DICKS OR BITCHES THAT I HAVE EVER DELT WITH. HERE IS THE KICKER THE PILE OF TRASH THAT I HAD PICKED UP WAS NO MORE THAN 4 FEET FROM THE WIPER SHE PULLED UP TO PLACE THE TICKET UNDER. I GUESS RANGERS DONT PICK UP TRASH WAY TO GO ASSHOLES, KEEP YOUR REPUTATION AS WE KNOW IT, I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE PROBLEMS HERE. THINK I WILL STICK TO MY SIDE OF THE HILL FISHING IS NOT AS GOOD BUT THE PEOLPE ARE A HELL OF ALOT BETTER.
      City: SANTA CRUZ

      Tips: STAY AWAY FROM SANTA CLARA PARKS THAY ARE FULL OF RANGERS THAT DONT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING BUT WRITING TICKETS, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DAYS OF A RANGER BEING A GOOD PERSON THAT WAS THER TO HELP YOU AS WELL AS KEEP THE PARK CLEAN. NOW THEY ARE JUST ARROGANT PRICKS W/ A BADGE AND A ATTITUDE!!! THANKS ALOT FOR SPOILING A GOOD DAY BLONDY WHY DONT YOU GET OUT OF THAT DAMN BOOTH AND PICK UP SOME TRASH OR HELP SOMEONE WHO ISNT SURE OF YOUR PARK RULES OR REGULATIONS.

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 68-71

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at 8.00, I hit two(1lbrs) on a long shallow point on a ripbait in 4-8ft of water. Then my buddy hit one on a spinnerbait in a small cove(2lbs). My buddy got one flippin' by a tree with a senko.(2lbs) Then he got another on a spinnerbait in the big cove in the back. I got one on a ratltrap in some weeds. Those two were about 1-2 lbs. Went home then launched again at 5.00. Took my girl alicia and she got a 3 lbr on a brush hog near the rock wall. I got a 2 lbr on a brush hog in a cove and my buddy got a nice fat 2 lbr near the first dam on a spinnerbait. Fun day but we want bigger fish!!!!!!
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Rat-l-traps and spinnerbaits in the weeds. Hit the points and get there early or late.

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

      Report: Like Big Daddy Blue I fished the California Police and Fire Games the past few days. I was fortunate to win the first day but struggled yesterday for big fish and caught alot of the smaller fish. Congrats Big Daddy for your consistancy for both days!! Anyway, I used a Persuader Buzz Bait white/Chart for most of my fish including all the big ones including a 6 1/2 for a total of 19# + for five fish. Stayed near the main river and had to have current.
      City: Modesto

      Tips: Fished the buzzer as slow as I could make it go.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 68+or-

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out for an hour w/ my 6 y.o. daughter late in the afternoon. Wind has really stirred up the algae and weeds are getting thick in many areas. I picked up a 3.5 on a rip baitin the shallows near a steep dropo off and had a blowup on a spook off the tules. Savannah wasn't "slaying" the crappie this trip so got bored easilyhence the "hour".I believe the early AM topwater bite should be there or start very soon.I am up here till Sunday and will try to pass on current info. Tight lines!
      City: Lucerne

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      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the entire lake from the shore. Started at 9:00am and quick around 2:00pm. Weather was perfect, wind was calm and the temperature was 75-80 degrees. Caught a 1 lb. 2 lb. and 3 lb. Bass and missed seven others, one of which that felt like a 5 pounder! Used 5 inch plastic worm, color was bubblegum pink. Raised a nice size lunker off the north dock using a Memph' Spinner, No.5 color pink and white.
      City: Concord

      Tips: 1. Don't let fish see you... Be sneeky!!
      2. When fishing the banks cast parrallel to the bank.
      4. Practice C.P.R. Catch Photo Release!!

Wednesday, June 9th, 2004

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 70.5

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: out last sunday evening with a young man named Scott from down in Newark, went into the McCloud at Hirz Bay and fished the area around Mahles creek for 15 fish and no size to speak of with the biggest being a 1.8. Lots of mudline from the traffic, water temp at 74.2 and the bite was best just at sunset and about 45 minutes after. Got them on some skirted grubs and B&S #18 twintails, no rip or blade fish and off the water at midnight. Out last night(Wednesday) with Jack Kemper up from Benicia, got in at centmudi after 7pm, lake down 30ft, water temp at 72 and it was raining with some blustery winds out of the west which promptly died down as the sun went down. One blade fish and a lot of short hits on worms. Moved over near the dry fork inlet at sunset and caught 19. most were small and the best came on a B&S twintail #18, at 2.25 and another at 1.8. Jack got a nice smallmouth on a B&S twintail #27 on a 3/8 oz darter head. got some top water fish also after sunset on flat water. The main body water is much clearer that the upper arms. all the worm fish came on the MGM bear worm which is a favorite of Jacks'. off the water at 945 PM.
      City: Redding

Tuesday, June 8th, 2004

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: whacked them good on blue plastics up shallow- lots of numbers but very few fish over 15"- lots of 12-15" fish. Fun day on the water.
      City: Snelling

    • By

      Water Temp: high sixties

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: arrived at the lake around five. We decided to fish the middle coves of the main lake, from our kickboats. The wind was blowing, but there were places where you could seek shelter. Managed to pull up two keepers, biggest going 1.5lbs. My caught one keeper. I also missed a nice one, off of a submerged tree branch.
      City: Palo Alto

      Tips: Use suspending jerk baits, and deep diving cranks. Tried topwater-nothing

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

      Report: Launched at Trinity Center at 0500, wind out of the north at about 15 to 20 mph. Fishing with a client from Redding who is new to bass fishing
      Started out at the tailings client is throwing a black Grub on a 1/4 oz. darterhead, I was throwing Lucky Craft flash minnow,I ripped a 2.5 lb. smallie then three more around 1.25 lbs.Then Switched client to a senko in watermelon with red flake, he caught a 3.6 black on the first cast, followed by a 2.3 Smalliebite was good until about 0830 when we left the tailings and headed for Eastfork to escape the wind , managed to catch serveral small fish on a dropshotWater was getting rough as wind picked up to ahout 30 mph. Out at 1145
      City: Redding

Monday, June 7th, 2004

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

      Report: Hey Bob i know the feeling and share your thaughts on dirtballs like that and karma.It happen to me fishing some slough up by Colusa.Took everything in the back of the truck,cooler,battery charger even our clothes.Thata the only thing i hate about Amador is the Lowlife that camp there.it's a pretty raunchy crowd.I hopw you got a 10lber coming your way for the reverse karma.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Buy cheap beer and generic food.Montazumas revenge to all Baditos.

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

      Report: HEAVY winds, should've just gone home and done yard work. Got one dink on a black and white spinnerbait, a few taps on a senko, but nothing else. I noticed the few real nice bass boats out there didn't seem to mind the wind, but my little aluminum was being blown all over. My anchor wouldn't even stay put when I switched over to drop shotting! Bad day to try to fish, the advantage was there was only two ski boats out at any given time.
      City: SJ

      Tips: Seems jerkbaits or spinnerbaits are the go-to right now. Mario, sorry to hear about that monster lost at the boat, nothing worse than seeing it then losing it. Luckily with my bigguns I've got to get pictures before releasing.

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at 5.00pm. Wind was blowin like crazy. My doctor says I have tendonidis so my shoulder is freakin' hurtin. So bad i can barely fish. Awesome right? Well anyways, hit a dink on the rock wall with a brush hog and 3 others on a black and chrome ratl trap. largest was 1.5lbs. (that was the only thing i could throw that didn't hurt my shoulder.) My partner got a 2 lbr on a white buzz bait right near the boat.
      City: San Jose

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 68-72

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Spent a few days on the lake for the WON. Lots of small fish with fish over 4# being very tough to come by. Lots of 4"-13" fish. Bad winds on the lake Sunday have the water clarity poor with visibility ranging from 1-3 feet. Spawn seems to be 95% complete with lots of fish in the post spawn mode already. Fish were spread out depth wise from 2 feet to as deep as 20 feet. In 5 days I had only 4 fish over 4# and caught from 20-100 fish a day (lots of non keepers). Of the bigger fish the biggest was 11.35# and came on a jig out of 20 feet off the end of a dock. Next biggest was a 5.5# that came on a frog from 2 feet. Had a 4# on a drop shot off a dock and a 4.5# on a jig off a retaining wall, both out of 4-6 feet of water. I would classify the fishing for Clearlake as tough right now, although you can catch lots of small fish in some areas. Still lots of shad and bait in most areas so the fish are well fed.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Jigs and soft plastics were the ticket for me. I did have a few crank bait fish and a couple blade fish, but the jig and drop shot bites were more productive.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 73 - 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the back sides of wind blown rocky points with big success. Fish were all on larger rocks in 5 to 7 feet of water. Caught a nice 3 pound spot and a couple 1 1/2 pounders before the wind came up early and sent us packing for the day!
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Senkos, Senkos, Senkos

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: threw spinner for a couple of hours in the shallows - no takers, too much damn wind. Threw a laminate colored senko, awesome color!! caught one dink, thats about it. Theres no good cover in this lake, nothing!
      City: san jose

      Tips: Theres alot of small bass in this lake, if your lookin for dinks fish a yamamoto grub, or a four inch roboworm - I'm hog huntin'!!

Sunday, June 6th, 2004

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

      Report: Anybody have some tips for a couple of guys coming up from the Reno area for the day? We're just lookin' to have some fun, get away from the old lady, and catch some fish. We're used to fishing Shasta, Clear Lake, and Oroville. How can we get some fish in the boat?
      City: CARSON CITY