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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, April 4th, 2004

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

      Report: Not to many boats out there. Good time to
      chunk blades in the shallows. If you get
      tired of that dead ringers in the shallows
      are working too.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: headed out of wimpys went down to beaver slough.caught 9 fish on senkos. best five went 10+.lost a lot of fish.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: Fish Senkos!

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 52-66

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Wow what a week...arrived in Nice last Saturday to find HEAVY winds thru monday.....didnt spend much time on the water till tuesday when we went out with Larry Hemphill. I was very impressed with his knowledge both of the lake and bass in general-a VERY pleasent individual that I enjoyed fishing with very much-thanks Larry! Well like Larry said tuesday we did-well OK with the 21 fish for the three of us. I do have to be honest though it was a "lake learning" trip so that helps ease the pain! Weds we really wanted to go back to the spots Larry had showed us on Tuesday but we wanted to respect the fact he would probably take weds. client there too. We tried the same wall pattern around state park and up into Lakeport and squeked out one little dink....we just couldnt find the warmer water in those areas. Lucky for us Larry came buzzing by and after BS'ing with him we hauled tail back to where he had taken us the previuos day. Right away we started catching fish and managed to squeak out like 11 in three hours. Thursday was a different story....I am amzed at the water we fished-if a bass fisherman were to have a dream we were fishing the type of water he was dreaming about up in Rodman...we fished HARD for hours with everything you can imagine....NADA! We came back out and got a couple on the east side of the rodman bridge.We finished thirsday with a very disturbing 9 fish. We decided for friday since it was our last real full day of fishing we would head south-went into Konocti bay and instantly started catching fish....we caught about 25 in less than 2 hours. We were low on gas and energy so we headed for the resort in Nice and we were flagged down by our kids fishing from the resorts dock-2 at better than 10lbs were hovering under the dock! Our kids had been fishing for the past 3 hours right at the resort and were knocking them dead! My daughter was catching 2-3lbers like there was no problem! We-being the great fathers we are,beached the boat and started fishing in our kids spot and caught 40-50 more fish in the next 3 hours! We had a wonderful trip,the people in the area are so warm-this has to be what heaven is like! Thanks to all the great people at the Worldmark/Trendwest resort in Nice,Bob Higgins @ Limit Out Tackle in Clearlake Oaks,Ross @ Tackle It in Lakeport and of course that great professor of bass fishin'Larry Hemphill! We didnt get that lunker over 10 lbs this trip but we will be back to try again reeeeeal soon-our biggest fish probably went a shade over 3 (yep one of my daughters!) but it was a great week. Tight Lines!
      City: chowchilla,ca.

      Tips: Here is my secret....just because fishing is so tough right now I'm gonna spill the beans. 1/8-1/4 oz (I prefer 1/8 oz) darter heads with 6" Roboworm Aarons Magic straight tail worms (look back at my report from last october-same baits!) a bit of Smelly Jelly and near brush / tules / walls / docks / COVER! Like Larry mentioned jigs worked well as did blades/crankbaits/senko's in the right water.Didnt get any on takers on ripbaits / swimbaits. PLEASE practice catch and release-we saw some greenhorn at our resort catch a big fat egged up female about 5-6lbs and right on the stringer she went-tried like hell to get him to release her but he was intent on eating her-sad deal....should be against the law! I know in "basstamer's ville" it would be ;) Good luck-tight lines and take your kids fishing-its fun to have em kick your tail once in awhile!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Check the bass-n-tubes.com website's 'Results' page ('Travelers Region') for some cool shots of their float tube tournament fish. There are also some post-tourney reports on the BnT Forum. Wish I coulda been there myself!
      City: San Jose

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out at about 8 30 the water was really low. We saw a couple of 2lbers swim off over by the 2nd dock. Mando caught an 8 incher. Moved on saw a few more little fish. Billy missed a nice fish. Mando ended up catching 1 more little 6 incher. Slow day all around. Even the guys out on boats werent doing to good, better but still not that good.
      City: Oakley

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished 3.5 hours in the evening (till 7) Got one female about 3.6 right off the bat on a Super Fluke in Baby Bass, and a 1.5 and lost another about the same size on a Bold Bluegill 6in RoboWorm dropshoting isolated cover. The lake is still down about 4.5-5.0 feet and has little cover no fish I saw were up spawning and the lake is still fairly muddy. Lets hope it comes back up soon.

      Tom
      City: Pittsburg

      Tips: Keep your eyes open and watch for bass feeding. Dont give up too soon.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: No, you can't rent boats there, in fact there isn't even a concession. You need to be ready to fish with all your gear when you get there. Trout fishing from shore around the dock will be OK now that they've stocked, probably want to try the old powerbait on the bottom. Bass fishing will be a little tougher from shore unless you hike around a lot. Still muddy, the trout fishing is still probably not that good.

    • By

      Water Temp: 66

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I went fishing today with out my Carp buddy Phil from LOS OS;OS caught a dozen fish by noon ;five to ten feet mostly on keeper worms 10=18 inchers nice healthy fish,weather nice light breeze,good day,missed my Buddy Phil,I show him all my EASTMAN SECRETS it makes him a better fisherman.By JJV Madera Cal.
      City: Madera

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: just out of curiosity, you keep the limit (I assume) - so eat it though right? any worry of mercury? I'm just nervous about all these lakes around here. I'd be interested in any info on fish meat quality. nice to have people on the lake like you that socialize and are friendly to the other fishermen. in comparison, check the guy ranting on the loch lomond chat. hilarious and sad.
      City: lg

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Johnny, what's up man? Seems you just can't let little stuff go? I don't understand what I did in the first place to make you upset with me. I started my guide service to help pablo anglers with catching a few more fish. This is a difficult lake to learn and mostly everybody I've talked to said they struggle with the fishing out there. So whether I get a guide or not it's all right with me but I guess not for you. I can't figure out your problem with me? To answer your questions: I have not been to pablo recently because 1) I have had a tournament every weekend for the past 5 weeks 2) been waiting for the water to clear (when it does should be awesome!) Also, if you would like to book a trip please feel free to e-mail me and we can get you set up. Also, I am licensed and bonded by CA DFG. As far as clients go I have a trip booked next weekend for 2 guys to Berryessa should be an unbelieveable bite. Oh, if anybody is seriously interested I'm running trips to pablo, berryessa,CA Delta (bass-year round and stripers- sep-Jan),oroville and clear lake rates vary depending upon location, length and # of passengers. E-mail me for all other info.

    • By

      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished clear lake for a good 2 hrs. Flipped a brush hog, black w/ red flake and a spinnerbait all day. fished everything from wood, heavy grass, coontails, tules, shallow, deep, breaklines, rocks and got 1 fish for it, a prespawn 1 lber. Dont bother with this lake, its dying, almost dead with all the pressure that it gets now after that Tru story that everyone knows wasn't true at all.
      City: windsor

      Tips: go somewhere else.

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50-57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Region 5 B.A.S.S. Fed. held their 4th tournament of the year Sunday. Winning weight was better than 8.5 lbs.; now I know that doesn't sound like much on this lake but hear me out. Saturday Alan Hunt sticks a largemouth better than 8 and later sticks a smally over 4. Most of the anglers that fished friday and saturday talked about ripping 4 plus smally's so hopes were high. Full moon and warm weather later we have an abundance of fish moving up. So here it is: Jeep Shaver won it and his bag was anchored with a 5.70 smallmouth- very nice fish. He caught his fish throwing a floating worm. I took 2nd with 8.03 throwing a tube. 3rd place went to Elden V. who by the way fished with Jeep and both his fish were largemouth. He also caught his fish on a floating worm. Several people weighed in smally's better than 4 lbs.. Big fish went to hooknrun with a 5.95 largemouth. Go easy on him guys! Last but not least I would like to thank the anglers for their support, for helping me with the weigh-in, and I would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support. They give us a ton of tackle to give to the anglers and it's all good. Til next time, see you on the lake. Tony, Director region 5 Cal. B.A.S.S. Fed.
      City: Redding

Saturday, April 3rd, 2004

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 58

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: WON Bass held its April tournament on Saturday. There was a total of 36 boats and 34 limits. The bite is on right now, however most of the fish are only 1-2 pounds. The average weight for 5 fish was only about 8lbs. Big fish for the day was a wopping 13.46 lbs. An amazing bass for any lake, especially Berryessa. I'm told it was caught on a 4" worm.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Try ripping and crank baits early, then switch to plastics. Drop shot produced for us in the afternoon. Work the secondary points and the deeper areas near spawning beds. Colors: Green Pumpkin or watermelon.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: ??

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Didn't have long to fish today so we launched out of downtown Stockton and stayed local. Not a bad decision. Caught 6 keepers for 18#. Had 2 4.5#ers. Saw some people fishing the pro-am and they seemed to think it was slow. We boated about 25 fish, launched about 7:30 and off the water by 11. Fish were holding on points and we found a good pattern crankin.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: Try a bait you have confidence in and when you get bit try to duplicate the environment and conditions you were in. If you can do that you can develop a pattern by moving around and fishing "positive water". Learned that from Randy Pringle. Good luck

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 62-65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Saturday and Sunday.Bass Reapers Club Tournament.Saturday fished points cranking and split shoting.Bigger fish cranking a Bill Dance Fat Free shad in Tennesse shad pattern at about 10 feet real slow over the rocks up to 3lbs for 13lbs for 5 fish.Sunday tried same pattern,slow.Tried jigs and small robo worms.5 fish to 9.5 lbs.Big stringer for the club outing was 16.5 lbs split shoting baby brush hogs on Sunday.Specially rigged.Secret color.Bigger stringers brought in Sunday.Them boys had to run to the bait shop Saturday night to by more of that special bait.Some real nice fish brought in Sunday.Great weather,great friends made for a great weekend.
      City: Fairfield

      Tips: Didn't see no nest yet.Lot of fish crusing 5'-12' deep.Water clarity to 14' Saturday morning till boat traffic disturbed bottom.Don't pass up trees, but make long cast to them because of water clarity.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 59-62

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Tough day caught 3 fish.1 spot, 1 large, and 1 smallie. All dart head fish.All were small except for the spot, it went 3+.never had any luck at folsom but starting to see some changes in the past couple of weeks.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: morning dawn!

    • By

      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Lexington on Saturday. Good day. Got a limit! Here

      Tips: The magic depth was 17 feet. From shore, just cast out toward deep water as far as you could, let your bait sink to the bottom, then work it back slowly. Hang to the bottom.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: didn't care

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Tried some night fishing on friday the 2nd and we had a great time. We caught a lot of bass but nothing real big. It was kind of nice to fish the lake without all the pressure you usually have during the day around here. We had almost no wind at all the whole time we were out. We launched at lime saddle at about dark and made a short run to our favorite night time spot and hooked up right away on yo-zuri jerbaits. We then switched to fat raps and caught a fish about every 5 minutes. We closed the night off with a little live crawdad fishing. we had a few bites on them but we had no luck other than that.
      City: Paradise

      Tips: I can't tell you exactly where we were but I can tell you to look for areas with small rock right on ledges leading to shallow water if you want to use crankbaits. We were using chart/blue fat raps and silver/black DT10's. The almost full moon is the reason for the fast action, so take advantage of it while it is here. Dress WARM!!!!!

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: headed to yorty creek with my float tube, got on the water at 2 30. right away i started fishin the riprap by the parking lot. fished it with a spinnerbait. came to a point on the riprap and through a brush hog, black with red flake. as i was reeling it up to make another cast, had a follower chase it right to my tube. came upon a cove inside of the cove and saw some stumps and a nice looking laydown. 2nd cast to the stumps i got a pickup on the brush hog and set the hook, fish didnt have it all the way and i just ripped off the brush hog in its mouth. started throwing into the laydown, 3rd cast got hit and landed the first fish of the day, i healthy 3 lber. threw back over to the stumps and had the mushy bite, so i reeled up quick and half-assed set the hook and had a real good fish on for about 2 seconds, pulled off. a cast with a senko, watermelon w/ red flake, to the laydown produced a 2 lber. after that lost 1 fish in anoter laydown, and landed a 1 lber in some grass on the brush hog. Nothin on the spinnerbait. only fished for an hour and a half in one small spot. fish were on wood in less than 7 ft. of water.
      City: windsor

      Tips: plastics in heavy cover, preferably wood.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I am not a park ranger.
      Real Bass fishermen are sports and don't break the laws!!!
      City: Redding

      Tips: You have nothing to fear from the Park Rangers as long as you obey the laws (like drinking and boating, drugs and boating and driving, ect).
      They are there for you.
      Why should you watch out for Rangers if your not breaking the law?