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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, May 23rd, 2004

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      Water Temp: 72-77

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Didn't get on the water until 12:30 and fished till dark. Headed up the lake fishing the coves in the upper end. Did not catch a fish until after 5:00 pm. Fished splitshot worms, drop-shot rig (I'm just learning this so no surprise no fish doing this) pig-n-jig, cranks and rip baits. Fished shallow and deep. Finally picked up some fish in the evening splitshoting ringworms. Wound up with 5-6 fish landed up to about a pound and a half. Lost two nice fish, one about 2 1/2 and one we didn't get to see but was fighting like a big fish (broke my buddies line).
      City: Concord

      Tips: Boat traffic plus post-spawn(?) conditions had the fish off. Slowest day I've had there so I'd say be patient and fish plastics.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: well i made the trip up to orville with 2 other friends and we did well from the bank. we first tried the dam with only dinks. then moved to loafer creek and i ended up spotting a fish in about 3 ft of water on a bed still, tossed a watermeloncandy senko and next i was lippin a plump 6lb largie. i always catch largies in loafer for some reason, prolly all the manzanitas they planted there.we ended up with about 35 fish and 9 over slot. we walked the right side of the creek. and im sure we pissed a few houseboaters off with us fishing so close to there homes,lol...most fish were chillen by the boats.and another thing i love about oroville besides the great fishing..it only cost 2 bucks for bankers!..thats awesome if you ask me. im used to paying 8 at camp far west or 4 at folsom.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: it all works pretty much...we threw the basic senkos,robos,camache jacks..no particular color really did better then the other.


      tight lines!!!!

Saturday, May 22nd, 2004

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 18 LM bass up to 2lbs. Best bite was prior to the overcast lifting and the wind coming up. Caught fish on 2 rigs - drop shot 4" worm and a carolina rigged brush hog. Fish were active shallow in weeds/grass where either boat waves or wind was direcly pushing into the cover and the water was stained. The fish were not huge but it was fun. This was my personal best at Anderson. It is tough fishing with the ski traffic. Tried spinner bait, senkos and rip bait with no luck but a bank fisherman reported luck on spinner bait around large rocks.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Use the boat traffic waves to your advantage. They can turn the fish on. Use darker colored plastics in off color water. Bite was aggressive while the overcast blocked the sun.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Anglers choice tourney and finally got back on some good fish. Thought the day was going to be a bad one when I broke off a 5+ first thing. It was nice enough to come up about 15 seconds later after snapping me to show itself and throw my worm. We didn't have a keeper until 10:30 or so when I started hitting flip fish fish in the dissapointment area. When had about 9 pounds or so by noon when my buddy tosses up a zipper and hits a 12.42 mule on a tule point. Biggest bass I have ever seen in person. Crazy part was the hook felt out as soon as we got the bass in the net. Managed to cull a few more fish before the end of the day and won the tourney with 22.93 for 5 and of course won the big fish award.

      Tips: At the time of this tourney we were on a dynamite flip bite. Last weekend it was more of a drop shot bite, though we did get some good flip fish in the Franks area. Topwater is still slow, though I believe it will definitely pick up with the warm/hot weather. Bluegill colored plastics are working extremely well.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Rock slough and Sandmound...bumped into Aaron Martens pre-fishing for upcoming Delta-B.A.S.S. down in Rock...did pretty well on my old standby, bone super spook...caught lots of 1s, 2s, & 3s...but not the normal delta kicker...also saw a white truck stuck in river off of Holland with its windshield wipers still going...ski boat was there checking it out...appeared to have just been driven off...(anyone else see this?)...bizarre day and night...
      City: Bethel Island

      Tips: Don't give up on topwater early...frog bite still waiting for a good week of *HOT* weather to really explode...lots of good mats in Rock and Sandmound though...

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      Water Temp: 69-72

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished club tournie out of Ladds (Modesto Castmasters). Started in Bikini Cut flippin' tules - a few rats and dinks, not the quality we were looking for. Worked our way out 14 mile to Pixley and found better size. No topwater bite, decent blade bite mid-day, best numbers on Hoggs on front of weeds. Partner, Sean Graf, took a 6.4 on a Senko from a pocket. Our weight was 14.5 for five and we took 2nd. All boats/teams weighed fish - winning bag included a seven+ and totaled just over 15.
      City: Sonora

      Tips: Senkos and Hoggs in green. Blade = wht/wht, tight to tules. R

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fished the BnT float tube/kickboat open at clear lake saturday and sunday. drove up to the launch and weigh in site saturday morning, arriving at m&m campground at 3:30 am. This was only my second trip up to clear lake, and i had never fished or seen the area where i launched. launched saturday at 5 am and started off throwing 3/8 oz brown jig. i started fishing docks in the keys. i kept passing patches of what i think was hyacinth and first cast to it, dragged it across the top and dropped it in a hole and it got popped right away, and i was able to bring in my first fish of the day, a 5 even, good start, and the beginning of my days pattern. Picked up my second fish hopping the jig in on the rocky backside of a cove in about 10 ft. of water, 2 lber. About an hour later picked up another 2 lber swimming the jig by a point of hyacinths in about 8 ft. of water. Moved deeper into the keys and picked up my 4th keeper, another 2 lber fishin the jig deep into some bushes. Flipped my 5th keeper, a 1 lber out of hyacinths, flipped right back in and nailed a 2 lber, culling the 1 lber. Caught 2 more 1 lbers right infront of weigh in site, and that was it for day 1. Ended up with 13 1/2 and 2nd place. Day 2 i ran to kenocti bay, launched at kenocti resort and had a limit by 6 30 off one rocky point right in the resort area. caught about 10 fish off that point, all on jigs except 2 dropshotting a brush hog. Came back to the keys at 9 30 and spent the rest of my time in search for a kicker. Culled one for an extra half pound. went into an area i hadn't fished yet with about an hour left in the tournament. There was a cut in a a shoreline of tules for a dock. but at the mouth of that there was a line of rocks that came out about 50 ft from shore. along the rocks there were about 5 trees in a row. first cast under the first tree, the jig got tapped as it was falling. i set the hook hard and new right away it was a good fish. fought the fish hard back to my float tube and saw it below me, easy 5-6 lbs, brought the fishes head up to land, right when its head came out of the water, the jig popped out, and the fish was gone just like that. that moment absolutely killed me mentally, i basically gave up. headed back for weigh in. weighed 11 lbs and took 3rd place with 24 lbs. 2nd place was 24.5 and 1st, was 25. Once i found out that fish would have won it for me i was hurting even more. oh well, theres always next time.
      City: windsor

      Tips: good bite first thing in the morning, as sun comes out fish moved into heavy cover and were hard to get to bite. i fished a jig the whole tournament, couldnt get anything on senkos,spinnerbaits, or cranks, had one hit a swimbait.

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for about an hour this evening. Caught two about 1-2 lbs each on carolina rigged lizards. Steep banks, loose soil, poor access. Nobody else around.
      City: San Jose

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished San Pablo Sat. Five fish five hours. 4 bass and one trout, all in the 1 1/2 range on crank bait. Missed three, not a bad lake. All fish were near structor (Reeds, logs). The fish were not to big, but quite spunky, great fight. No 20+. This is the first time fishing this lake, I was expecting a lot less luck from reading the prior post. I couldn't use the big johnson, a little tough on the trolling motor getting to the far N coves (Wind). Maybe I'll look for a tow North next time. I think with a litte time on this lake, you could wip it on. The finder showed alot of fish. Are most Bass North of the launch, any luck at the dam ?.
      City: Alameda

      Tips: Crankbait worked well. Used spinner,Rat trap with no luck, not a big worm guy.

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

      Report: i fished a tournament on the 22nd and the 23rd at shasta...it was ok, but not as good as it could be. winning weight was 18ish. difference between 8th and 1st was 3 lbs. big fish was 3.11

      Tips: no jig bite. Dropshot smoke-pepper/chart. tail Mothers finest up McCloud. some spawners up Pit arm (white or gray spinnerbait in wind and mud). rip bait (L.C. Bevy Shad in Ghost Minnow) and texas rigged white yamamoto single-tail grubs(4in.) some darter-head bite with Mothers Finest(Brown/Chart. tail and oxblood around willows. if you find a shad-ball, stick with it!

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 62 - 67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the northern part of the lake today. Caught most of our fish after the sun came out (1:00pm or so) ... fish were in 4 - 20 feet of water holding close to brush and laydowns on or near points. 13 keepers for 3 people with the best going 3 lbs (on a senko). 4 were just barely keepers, the rest were healthy 1.5 - 2 lb fish - all largemouth. Splitshotting and Senko's were our keys. Didn't get any bites on spinnerbaits, top water or crankbaits. Got one nice 2 pounder on a brown jig.
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: Cast in tight to submerged brush and laydowns

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: --

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My Dad and I Launched at 6:00 AM didn't catch a fish until 7:00 we were dragging a 3/4 oz jig in 15-20 feet of water only boated 4 fish all but one were keepers.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Patients is the key. Good luck!

    • By

      Water Temp: 66-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got to Whiskeytown pond #2 heading west at 6 am, stayed till 10 am..got 6 keepers(2 spots 4 largemouths) 5 caught on splitshotted lizards in either pumpkin, watermellon red flake, or cotton candy. My lone rip fish came on a cahrtruse shad Staycee on the rock wall. fishing was tougher than Friday, took me awhile to get that first one and everyone there after. had 8 lbs even with no big fish all clones...
      City: redding

      Tips: poppers were good for small fish, but I got all my keepers dragging the small ZOOM lizards down grassy banks...

Friday, May 21st, 2004

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 64 to 72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out with my friend Terry Friday morning launched at Putah Creek fished Pope early with limited success my friend got a two pound fish on a spook caught a few smaller fish drop shotting moved to Putah creek continued fishing drop shot picked up several smaller fish. My friend did pick up one three pound fish on a popper around four thirty on Putah creek. For the past two weeks we have experienced problems with bass boats speeding through the no wake zone. Two weeks ago there was even water skiers skiing on Putah beyond the bouys. I find this disregard for the rules troubling I feel it gives us who follow the rules a bad name. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has experienced these problems.
      City: SONOMA

      Tips: There are fish to be caught but it is going to be more difficult after memorial day with all the boats on the water and the disregard for the rules.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Spent three days on Clear Lake this week for my annual birthday big bass hunt. Found lots of fish, just all happened to be of smaller size than I hoped. Wednesday fished senkos, brushhogs, and tubes in and around tules and docks in the north end. Caught nearly 20 fish, best were in the 4#class. Key seemed to be tule points, and or, the entrance to slough like areas. Day two, fished crank baits hard in the am around the narrows. Caught good numbers, but the biggest was 3-4 #'s. Fished white norman deep little N's, and speed traps. Spent some time in Konocti fishing docks and tules. Started catching some nice 3-4#fish on flukes and senkos, but the wind came up a bit and made fishing those area's pretty tough. Fished soda bay and some other areas again with the speed traps in and around rocks. Best fish was again in in the 4# range on a speed trap. The rest of the day fished the tules with a white Timber tiger and different speed traps. Caught fish, but no size to mention. Day three, marine layer and no wind. Figured I'd try and get some topwater action going....nada. Fished cranks with minimal success. Ended up fishing some around Lakeport and flipping some tube fish up, and ended the morning with taking a few crank bait fish around the rocky point area. I always look here for info before I head that way, so hope this might help some folks. Lake is still pretty full, the fish have a lot of room to hide!!! Water clarity depended on where you were. Never saw any fish on beds (spent minimal time).
      City: Chico

      Tips: Green or brown tubes. Watermelon senkos/orange pumpkin worked well aslo. Speed traps, white or red. I tried throwing blades, only one dink (usually this is my best producer?)Tight lines fella's.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: ?+?=??

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for 2 hours Friday evening and managed 5 in the boat. 3-3lbers and 2-2albers. Lost 3 at the boat and missed about 6. Was throwing a watermelon senko with a split shotabout 2 feet above the hook. Also got a few on a 6inch oxblood worm on a dart head. All fish hit hard.
      City: Livermore

      Tips: Use the wind to your advantage

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

      Report: Took the tube up to sonoma today. Got in at about 6:15 and fished the marina area. Picked up a total of 11 fish including 4 or 5 smallmouth which was kind of fun. Most were between 1 and 2 pounds with a 3.6 and a 3.0 smallmouth thrown in. Got bit off just about every piece of wood I threw to. They seemed to be sucked up pretty tight to cover in about 2-10' of water. Got a pretty good bite going real early with a buzzbait, and the rest came on senkos and Luckycraft staysee. Most bites were very subtle, so you just had to watch your line. Best part of the day was 3lb steelhead off of a flat on the staysee. Was off the water at about 12:00 when the wind started kicking up.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: They were much more active today than I have seen in the past few weeks, and were sitting on the outside edge of the laydowns. Great morning on the water, too bad the wakeboarders are showing up soon.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 63

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went up to see what effect the big releases are having on the fishing. Lake has dropped approx. 2' since the weekend and should continue to drop for another week or so before it stabilizes around the first of June.
      The fishing was better than I expected. When the safety of dam release occured in Mar the bite went OFF. This time of year falling water doesn't seem to effect the bite nearly as much. Ended up with a dozen smallies, the largest at 3 lbs. all caught splitshotting or darterheading Pro Worms. Didn't get a reaction strike but didn't throw it much. Off the water at 10:30.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Main Lake points for better fish.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 67-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out for three hours before I had to go to work at Phils..got to the second pond at 6:20 am stayed till 915 am..got 7 keepers all on splitshotted 4" zoom Lizards in wither pumpkin or watermellon red flake..I used a 1/16 oz clamp on split shot and 6 lb P-Line Flourocarbon line...Caught a limit for 9 lbs mostly fishing the slower tapering banks..big fish 2 lbs 14 oz..Last weekend it took 18+ to win the Cottonwood bass team tournament..That was Chris Laskowski, big fish was a 6+ spot..
      City: redding

Thursday, May 20th, 2004