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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Thursday, May 13th, 2004

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Where (besides the water) are the bass in this place??? Nothing biting, especially in the morning.
      City: san jose

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      Water Temp: 70-71

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I had been told that topwaters early and drop-shot later had been effective recently. Arrived to discover that the water level had been dropped by 2 - 3 feet in past 48 hours. Fresh green algae on rocks above new level. Weedbeds either out of water or very shallow. We managed to put 7 or 8 in the boat to two lbs, mostly smallies and all on worms - splitshottin' and texas, from 5 to 25'. Did not fish low-light, but no takers on traps or ripbaits.
      City: Sonora

      Tips: Try Keeper 1059R's or Yum 5" in brown. Slow way down until water levels and temp.s stabilize,

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 60.-65.8

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: INTERESTING POSTS FROM SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE BALLS TO PUT IN HIS E-MAIL ADDRESS TO BEGIN WITH. THE ONE THING YOU CAN COUNT ON WITH JOHN MCNEMAR(JOHNNY MAC) IS HE IS DEFINITLEY GOING TO BE ON TIME, HE IS USUALLY VERY EARLY AND COMPLETELY RELIABLE. OF COURSE, I HAVE ONLY FISHED WITH HIM ABOUT 30 TIMES SO YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT!!!!! HE IS RESPONSIBLE AND A GOOD MAN WHO HAS AN EXCELLENT KNOWLEDGE OF SHASTA LAKE AND I AM GONNA KICK HIS BUTT NEXT WEEK. SIDEPOT JOHNNY MAC? The lake is about 19 ft down, most debris is gone and temps are rising, there is still spawning activity in the upper arms when you find some cooler water, smallmouth very active as they are on right now. Catching fish isn't a problem at all but you have to go through 15-20 dinks to get that occaisonal 3 lber. have been averaging 15 plus for a 4 hour outing daily, ripping, cranks and blades early and then jigs and worms as the sun gets up.
      City: Redding

      Tips: hire johnny mac if your looking for a guide on shasta, you will definitely get your moneys worth.

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I accept your apology,I did not go salmon fishing nor do I own an aluminum boat and I am a Bass fisherman.
      City: Redding

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 64-65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Made my trek up to Sonoma thursday afternoon, very windy. I went for the late bite starting at 2:30pm and fished until 10:00pm. I decided to run to Brush Creek and caught 3 fish in the first half hour on a spinnerbait around wood and lost one about 3 lbs. I stuck with the blade for a while searching for bass since I was fishing a club tourney Saturday. Then went up Dry Creek and saw some cruisers, had a few bites, but no keepers. Then went into Cherry Creek for a few small fish and had some top water action after the sun set. Couldn't find the big ones, but ended with a small limit.
      Water temp was 64-65 in most areas, but I did find some water near 68 in Cherry.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Weightless Senkos when its calm or on a jig head in the wind. Brush hogs will also produce.

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Want to klnow how to fish Spring Lake in Santa Rosa. I've only fished it a few times and only caught small fish. Recently purchased a small 12'Pelican bass boat and I am looking for a person to fish Spring lake with. It needs a trolling motor and a an outboard. I am a young bass fishermen and looking for other experienced fishermen.
      Please E-mail me if interested
      City: Petaluma

Wednesday, May 12th, 2004

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out of the south end at about 8:30 in my float tube. Caught one dropshotting(2#) and 2 other little guys on spinnerbaits in shallow water.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Get there early or late, when all else fails, use a dropshot.

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the ramp area from 6:30 until dark. Caught one about 2 lbs on a black/blue flake 6" lizard and a 1 lb on a popper at dusk. Pretty quiet. Almost no one on the lake. Nothing on 'traps or spinner baits.
      City: San Jose, CA

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 66

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Even though I don't think this is the proper place to air a grievance, I feel compelled to respond to the post of the pair of anglers who booked a 1/2 day trip with me to fish Lake Shasta on the 10th without a deposit, We agreed to meet at the guard shack at Bridge Bay @ 0515 not 0530 or 0600, I was there at 0500 and waited until 0545, while waited I made several trips through the marina, I made note of several cars parked, but all were empty, I talk to this guy twice on the phone about the 0515 time, I do not use my cell phone on the lake except for emegencies. Sometimes "OPPOPTUNITY KNOCKS BUT ONCE"
      Now back to fishing reports. Fished with two clients who are fishing in the Future Pro tournament this weekend. They arrived at 0516, launched at 0525, Ran over to the Pit where they started throwing Spooks, one nice fish and several small fish, went to the back of Panther Creek to fish the willows there, throwing worms and jigs no takers. Ran up to Stein Creek and started working our way back, one guy caught six smallmouth in row with four of them in the 2# class all on dropshot. We decided to head back and go up the Sac. We made one stop a one of my spots and I caught a 3.5 and a 2.5 on a worm, I think this made a good impression on my two clients'. fished the rest of the day in upper Sac. These two are very good anglers and very nice young men, we caught alot of fish and had a good day. Bill and Steve, it was a pleasure, good luck!
      City: Redding

      Tips: Always be prompt!

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: First of all Johnny Mac doesnt own a alluminum boat. He is an outstanding gentlemen and Im sure there must have been a mix up. I know him personaly and really do not think he would ditch you to go salmon fishing. Johnny Mac is a great fisherman and guide so for anyone looking for a guide give him a call, he would love to take you out.
      City: redding

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      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the lake about 6:30 am in the very back of the lake, water was pretty warm and started with some top water-no luck, then switched to a suspending jerkbait, smithwick onrange and black, and caught 4 bass, biggest going 2lbs. my buddy also caught 3 fish none keepers. Tried spinnerbait bite, flip bite with no luck, night time might be better for topwater bite.
      City: Palo Alto

      Tips: early or late in the day is your best bet, topwater could get better with consistent warm weather, tight lines!

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      Water Temp: dunno

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out fishing from 5pm to 7pm left of the boat launch ramp. I caught 2 bass, the heaviest weighing 5 pounds. I was using a Texas Rigged Motoroil Senko.
      City: Morgan Hill

Tuesday, May 11th, 2004

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

      Report: threw spinners and crank-baits - no luck. Landed a 2# fish on a senko. Missed a few strikes using a frog.

      In the last two weeks of fishing this lake I have came home and found two ticks on me. Has anyone else had this happen??
      City: san jose

      Tips: Lots of hits on the black and blue flake senkos. It seems like the bite is slowing down.

  • Yuba County
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      Water Temp: 67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I madea short morning trip to Collins today to see what what was going on and found the Senko bite near bushes to be the best thing. I got there later than I wanted and the was a north wind blowing after two cool days, so I didn't expect much. Reaction baits were a zero, so I went to the #240 Senko most of the time and caught mostly largemouth up to 2 1/4 lbs. I caught 10 total, including 3 spotted bass. My first Senko bass had 4 or 5 follow it tot he boat - some of them nice sized! I did sight fish one male after the female left and didn't come back. That was the only spawner I saw. Not a great outing, but not bad either!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Let your Senko fall in whatever shadows you can find near submerged brush. Look for brush near deeper water.

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went to take my new WaterSkeeter Day Triper float tube for its first outing and had good results. Started at the island got some flipin and on dropshot nothing over 2. Moved over to some trash by Channel point and got a 5. Kept moving along to CatTail where I picked up a 2 moved on down nothing till I got past the dock had a good swirl on a custom poper from Jeremy Anderson "Bassman custom lure and design co." But missed the hook set. Kept moving right along nothing worth mentioning untill I got to the dam more probably got 12 fish off the dam most going 1lb biggest going 5lbs on dropshot. Moved into the last cove on the way back to the boat ramp and nailed 6 more fish on blades. Good outing.
      City: Pittsburg

      Tips: Revenge Blades, Robo Worms in purple hues and flipin senko/kenami Flash.

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      Water Temp: 68

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 6:30 am til noon. Caught 5, with the largest being 5 lbs. Caught the big one on a spook early, caught one dink on a Red Shad senko, caught the rest crankin the dam with a DD-22(green back with flake).
      City: Sunnyvale

      Tips: Topwater early, then go deep.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: hey thanks for not recomending J Mac, that's sucks..... he has no class. Don't worry to much about the tournament, you'll catch fish, but if you are catching small ones, move to another area or change baits. Fish are everywhere in that lake. Good luck guys. See you on Saturday.
      City: Citrus Heights

Monday, May 10th, 2004

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

      Report: Heads Up. Bowfishing Trny May 22, and 23. Should be a lot of carp guys out the next two weekends. Always looking for tips.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 69

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I hit the lake at about 3 p.m. today and fished till 8:30. I hit the Bloomer area first and did well with a jerkbait. Moved to the west branch and fished Spring Valley, Vinton Gulch and shithouse cove, used a 6" robo on a jig-head and slayed them. I finished in Parish Cove and did well there too. I used a bitsy jig green/brown with a black Yum trailer. I landed three nice large-mouths in Parish along with a bunch of spots. The biggest one was 3 pounds. I caught two fish on topwater right before I left, with a zara spook.
      City: Paradise

      Tips: It really is useless to give any tips right now. Pretty much anything you throw out there gets bit. I guess the only real tip I can give you is watch where you park your truck and trailer. I had some useless idiot hit my trailer while I was on the lake. The @!#% face hit it hard enough to dent my fender into my tire. So pay attention to who you are parked next to. I know I will for now on!

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      Water Temp: 69 degree

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: New to this forum. Here's my take, slow as heck at the boat launch, alot of crappies and bluegills running off with my weightless crawlers, thought for a while a bunch of hungry lunkers taking it. Alot of good size trout caught at around 6am to 11am, then the bite just shut down for trouts. Basses cruising in at dusk around 6pm looking for their dinner attacking bluegills and crappies. The crappies are SMALL 3-4 inches TOPS, so are the bluegills 2-3 inches. I didn't see any LUNKERS cruising but some 3-4 pounders females. One guy caught a 4 pounders with eggs on Rat-L but he let it go ASAP, probaly still spawning around the area, he'd told me he caught it around 7am. Things should pick up after spawing when the hawgs eat up to get their weight back around the tules feeding on blurgills, crappies, and trouts. Use weightless worm on 6lbs test spinning outfit, they'd hit it around 5minutes sitting, a few caught basses around 2-3 pounds using this method.
      City: Concord

      Tips: Rat-L traps in the morning up till 8am, weightless worms thru out the day around the tules and weeded area, lunkers come in around 6pm to feed ranging 12lbs and up.