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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, April 30th, 2004

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I had another great trip Friday at Berryessa with my first-ever mother-son (10 years old) combo. I think grandpa was supposed to come but bailed at the last moment. After launching at Markley around 7 am we found a huge school of the biggest shad I have ever seen at Berryessa - 3 inches plus. Bass were chasing them out of the water, boiling, etc. Wow, I was nervous and excited!! Since I didn't have time to teach the boy how to cast yet, I cast out his split-shot rig and showed him how to retrieve it. I quickly saw that mom was a pretty good angler. Within the first half hour they had 2 double hookups and landed them all. I was a busy net man! I had a chance to throw my Chug Bug topwater lure for a few casts to show them how that worked and I got a 2-9 largemouth, lost a 3+ smallie and another big one. In the first hour they landed about 10. After awhile I showed her (while the boy rested from all the action!) how to drop-shot when the fish moved deeper and we caught 4 doing that, using Yamamoto 031 Kut-Tail worms. We moved out of the cove into the narrows for the rest of the trip and caught another 10 for a total of 20 and about an 8 1/2 lb limit. Mom's biggest was a nice 2 1/4 lb smallie that had already spawned, darn! I showed the young man how to sight fish - we picked a small male on a nest - I pitched out the worm and let him work it. Lots of patience was required from both of us, but the grin on his face when he hoisted the 1 3/4 lb largemouth in the boat was ALL worth it. We put him back and they both saw the male right back on the nest in about a minute. Mom now has a new fishing partner! What a fun day!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: The water is very clear now with a visability of around 15 feet. We could see fish everywhere, including some crusing 4 to 5 lb largemouth. I don't know if they were pre or post spawn. In addition to the topwater action, we used Camanche Jack and Berkley worms, in green pumpkin, junebug, early dawn, and watermelon. It is important now to look for shadows when the sun is high. There are lots of bass suspended now, and topwater can work all day, especially if it get cloudy later in the week.

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 72-76 warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Caught 7 fish-one bass and the rest crappie. Bass was a two pounder. Male crappies must be spawning-colorful blue and yellow. Tried everything from poppers, bugs, floating bait, purple and brown rubber worm. Fish were biting live worms only.
      Good Luck!!
      City: Campbell

      Tips: Live worms

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 65

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Very windy. Fished in Taylor and Dutch to hide from the wind. 12 fish to 3 pounds. Caught fish on cinnamon senko, brown/blue jig and white/chartreuse spinnerbait. Even had a couple of fish slap at a frog with no hookups. Better fish came on the jig in tules.
      City: Oakley

      Tips: Maybe slow down when you catch a fish. I would catch a couple of fish close together and then have a large stretch of bank where nada was going on.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 68 to 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This week has been very good with fish up to 4lbs.
      Still finding alot of Spotted bass on the out side points and banks.
      I also found many Largemouth moving up in the wood to spawn and many that are getting ready to, and some that already have.
      This would be a great time to get out and learn how to site fish. Most where in 5 to 10 feet.
      Congrates to Seth who at 12 years old caught the first 3 fish of the day on Tuesday. One was a 3lb. Spot.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Look for a reaction bite in the morning and then slow down after the sun comes up.
      Practice catch and release. Good Luck

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

      Report: caught 3 largemouth bass off the dam, the first one was about 1 1/2 lbs, the other one was about 3 and the biggest one of the day was about 6. i was using a 5" yamasenko watermelon color worm texas rigged w/out any weights.
      City: Fullerton

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 61.8

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: First night fishing trip of the year, in at Hirz Bay with the wife, lake is 16.8 ft down and still rising, debris load is down but there is still some boat bustin stuff floating around, fished some long sloping red mud points initially with rip baits and had 6 quickly but all small, lost one about 2 lbs, started throwing jigs around 9pm and had at least 30 on but only got 11 in the boat. Typical spot action at night, grab it and run straight at you and jump repeatedly along rock walls and points adjacent. Had a good one come unbuttoned at the boat that looked to be about 4 lbs. Got out at 11pm(I'm cold, says the wife) 59 degrees getting out. The bite was improving when we left. College kids showing up in a week so I will stick to the night shift.
      City: Redding

Thursday, April 29th, 2004

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

      Report: fishing from the shore caught a few good size 2-3# fish to the left of the boat launch. fished a 4 inch chartreuse lizrd. arrived at around 6 pm by 8 landed around five fish. caught the last few on a hula popper, one fatty around 5+.
      City: san jose

      Tips: have always caught fish on the 4 inch lizards here.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy DT and I went out at about 5pm. We had to be off the water by 7:30. We fished the rock bank directly accross the dock. I caught 3 small one. And this fool caught 7 good size bass, largest being 4.5lbs. We threw spinnerbaits (char.), Rat-L-Traps (silver), and he caught a couple on a Texas Rigged Worm. The temperature is perfect for fishing mudlines. Great day of fishing, even though I got shown up.

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 66-70

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished April 29-May 1. Thursday was very windy but managed to catch 15 bass on cranks and spinnerbaits, but no size. Fish were in the rocks and weeds. Friday was better putting 30 fish or so in the boat with a good Senko bite. Pumpkin was the hot color. Fourteen Mile Slough and Disappointment were good. Saturday was the best day. A lot of anglers pre-fishing for the Everstart Series, but 5 best would have gone 20#. Biggest was a 7# on a Senko.
      City: Modesto

      Tips: Fish are tight in the weeds. Fish slow and when you get a bite, fish that area hard!

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

      Report: Well, finally decided to take the float tube out at Del Valle. I've fished Del Valle many times before, but just not in the tube. A worker at the marina directed me to the south end, and I got to work at around 4:00. Fished from the Eagles nest parking lot to the creek arm, and back again, knocking off at around 8:30. Ended up with over 20 fish released, 2 biggest went 7 and 8. The 7 lber had an ebrpd tag, which i later found out meant that it was a Florida Strain. I caught him around 8:20 pm, on a black buzz in the south end.Hopefully I didnt have to keep the tag, or something. All fish were up in the tulles, and were slammin Senkos. They wouldnt touch spinnerbaits or cranks, only worms and jigs. Fishing was so good, I got locked in the parking lot! Thanks to the ebrpd guy for lettin me out. tight lines
      City: Hayward

      Tips: fish the shallows with worms, deeper spots in weeds with jigs

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Does this resevoir have alot of sttep drop offs?
      Is it a deep resevoir? Any weedy areas?
      Thanks
      City: San Jose

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Here's some info you might try e-mailing to or snail mailing complaints to:
      info@lgrc.org

      or LGRC P.O. Box 188
      Los Gatos, CA. 95031.0188
      tlplaw@comcast.net
      also, I found out that their "board of directors" will be having a meeting on May 26th at Los Gatos High rm 12. (sorry don't remember the start time) Look the club up, give em hell!
      Perhaps, they'll get a clue if their e-mail is full of complaints now!
      City: S.V.

      Tips: If you do complain, do so in a constructive manner, just "yelling obscenities" may feel good at the time, but doing so won't get anything done.
      What's this post have to do with fishing you may ask? Well everything if you've lost lures by these peoples actions!

    • By

      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: have not fished this lake in sometime so went over to try my small boat.got on the water a little late but fished mostly small 4"worms.only cought six fish largerst about 2lb.rest may not have even went 12" but still fun.what i want to know is this guy from texas how did this guide go out the day before and catch fish for his cliants for the next day.does he put them in his boat then tells his client look over there when they turn there head does he put them on there hook???
      what an idiot also i would put the delta and clear lake up against taledo bend or sam rayburn a
      or whatever lake in texas.and everyone knows the only thing that comes out of texas is steers and queers.
      City: salinas

      Tips: be nice to people maybe you can learn something

Wednesday, April 28th, 2004

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: Sh!t if I know,

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well, spinnerbaits again. Got there at 7.30 in the mornin and was throwin' senkos and broke my pole. So i went straight for the spinnebaits. I got 6 bass till 12.00. Two 3 pounders and the rest were babies. One was a spawner. So south end has em' there. they were in shallow water.(2-5ft.) Where are they gona go next? Well, we need more reports here guys from other ends of the lake. freakin love spinnerbaits.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Spinnerbaits on the south end.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I am so fed up with dealing with looking out for the seemingly endless amounts of rowboats and power-boat loud speaker jerks that I have been just going elsewhere. it seriously is so bad after 3pm when they launch that it seems like a joke. I am willing to do anything it takes to help coordinate efforts to get them in check. so, basically, you can't fish the center of the lake when it's their time? SCREW THEM!!!!!!!!!!
      City: lg

  • Mariposa County
    • By

      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: windy fishing sucked managed 7 fish for 2 people most on senkos 2 on split shot 4 inch straight tail to windy to keep the boat anywere safe even with 50 lbs thrust t motor usually endded up drifting into the shore.
      City: manteca

      Tips: every passing min is another chance to turn it all around

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: fished a fun group called the old mans tournament a two fish limit, about 15 anglers 7+ won and I was 2nd with 4.3 lbs. The wind was blowing very strong so I stayed right around Bridge Bay caught about 20 fish all spots, most came on a worm and the rest on a spoon.
      City: Redding

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry I havn't posted many reports lately but things have been a little hectic for me. Been working way too much.
      I came across a quote recently that says it all. " Three-fourths of the earth's surface is water......and one fourth is land. Therefore it is clear the Good Lord intends that a man should spend three times as much time fishing than he does working. Leo E. Nolte" I agree with this quote and am going to try a little harder to get my priorities straightened out.
      Trinity has fished more inconsistantly this year than any year in recent memory. Things started out gang-busters in late Feb and early March. Then we had that spell of hot weather which shut things down completely. Things started to get back to normal and they decided to dump a lot of water for a " safety of dam release". That pulled the fish out deep again. Then at the last full moon the weather warmed up and the smallies went full bore into the spawn ( another reason I didn't report). Follow that with a week of crappy weather which dropped the water temp from 61 to 52 and the fishing turned off again.
      Last Sat. the Southern Ore. ABA had a 4 fish limit tournament where it took 17.5 lbs to win with a 6.7 lunker so maybe things are getting back to normal. 17.5 lbs. sounds pretty good but is 4-5 lbs lower than the winning weight the last several years.
      I fished with a couple of buddies Tues and fishing was spotty at best. Gin clear water and dead calm. Next year I'm going to have a limber 16' rod spooled w/2 lb. test so I can cast a 1/16th oz darter head 100 yds when conditions are like this. Maybe then I won't spook all the big uns.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Go ahead and get that 16 footer.

Tuesday, April 27th, 2004

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Arrived at the south end at 7.30am and fished until 1.00pm. LOTS of shad boiling in the morning but didn't know what to use, they were in thick weeds also so I couldn't toss my spinnerbait. I pretty much fished the whole south end in my float tube and caught 4 on my charteuse spinnerbait,(largest was 3.3, two 2 pounders, and one little guy) 1 on a wiggle wart which was a nice fat 2.5 pounder, and a little guy on a senko. Although I did miss two on a texas rigged red senko when the wind picked up. Probably try the same tomorrow.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: If you know what to use when those shad are boiling, get there in the morning and try it out. Spinnerbait action was doin' it for me lately, but my arm gets freakin' tired with all those casts in a tube.

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

      Report: Fished all day caught one little bass. Fished worms jigs crankbait no luck.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: learn what the tide does to the fish