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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, March 7th, 2004

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      Water Temp: no idea

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Sunday from a float tube. On the water by 8:30 and launched from the main parking lot. Fished right at the shoreline from about 30 yards away at 90 degree angles. Hooked a 4-5# on my fourth cast. Nothing for the next hour throwing the same spinnerbait. Switched to senkos, robo worms, grubs. Nothing. Went back to the 'bait and hooked a fatty, about 9-10#. Took a pic with the help of a kayaker and released it.
      Both fish were caught in dirty 6' water. Slow, steady retrieve. Neither fought as hard as I would've expected, but it is still winter and the water hasn't really warmed up yet.
      City: petaluma

      Tips: Catch and Release.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 45-48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got to the lake a little late today and it looked like a lot of guys have been reading my reports as there were 6 rigs in the lot. More showed up during the morning. I guess my having the lake to myself is over for another year. That's just fine though as Trinity is too good a fishery not to share.
      If I tell you how I did today EVERYONE will think I'm lying so I'll just say that I still haven't caught my first 5# smallie yet(came damn close though), still haven't caught my first 20# 5 fish limit of smallies ( came damn close on that one too). I've got clients coming the end of the week so maybe they can help me out a little.
      I'm hearing of a few fish being taken on spinners and jerks but I'm still having to fish real slow. I hope this weeks weather will perk em up a little. Until then we'll just do what we have to.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: The locals on this lake are a courteous bunch and understand that there is a lot of open lake out there, we really don't appreciate other boats dropping in and setting up a cast and a half away. We're willing to share but there's a limit. I understand that this is standard operating procedure on more crowded lakes, but until Trinity gets a lot more crowded cut us a little slack. Thanks.

Saturday, March 6th, 2004

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished 8a to 1p. Tried craw pattern cranks, spinnerbaits & jerkbaits w/no success. Caught 20 keepers, biggest 2 1/2 lbs., split shot and drop shot. Color did not seem to matter. Fished skiers cove, Markley area, & Spanish Flat.
      City: Delhi

      Tips: Most strikes in 10' to 20' on steeper banks.

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      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy and I fished the southern end of the lake from 8 to noon and got 4 fish about 1.5 to 2 pounds each. The Bass were about 4-6 feet deep.
      City: Pinole

      Tips: Down-size your bait and work slow.

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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: was perfect weather but the water was still pretty cold went it at buckhorn and headed south found a ton of trees submerged in water that would have been perfect i belive if the conditions were right . threw just about everything i had in my tackle box but did not get one hit . the weather was nice and warm hopefully it will stay this way and the bass will start hitting . first time i've fished this lake since i've been up here and i liked it there was no wind as i thought i might have to deal with and i can't wait to come back as we get closer to spring. water was pretty muddy
      City: red bluff

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 55-59

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: First time in a long time. Water is way up and a lot of the grass and brush that was high and dry is now submerged and should die off soon. I could not get anything to go on hula grubs, tubes. Tried tossing a chartreuse rattletrap way back in Bailey cove and picked up three very shallow along the shoreline. Lost 2 more because I was too lazy to change out the factory hooks. The first two were 2# twins that were hooked good in the corner of the mouth, but the 3rd was a 1-1/2#er that inhaled it.
      City: Newark

      Tips: Change out your hooks on your rattletraps! Fishing should really turn on with this weather and water will clear up soon.

    • By

      Water Temp: 52-60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hooked 5, but only 3 in the boat up to 3.5 lbs. Senkos and worms. Some shallow (< 5 ft.), some deep (20 ft).
      City: San Jose

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 55-60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My son (Nicholas 11) and I made it to "The Hook" TOC. This is our first season fishing together as a father and son team. First I'd like to take Gene for giving the both of us this a awsome "HIGH". SAT, we ran everywhere to find 2 blade fish. At the bottom of the tide, we threw 7" plastic over rocks and weed next to deep water. 15 fish. Best 7 just under 15 lbs. SUN. The fish changed up on us and could not get bite on the same bait. So we changed up to drop-shotting the delta at 10:00 (go figure I never drop-shotted before) it works. 15 fish, 2 crappie. Best 7 just under 15#. Just under 30# for two days gave us 4 Place. A Fathers Dream. Great job Nicholas!!! See everyone next season... K
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Fish with as many different people as you can and learn something new. Thanks everyone who has taught me a little something. You know who you are..... Remember to Take a Kid Fishing...... There is a big reward at the End...

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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Old River south of Dells, got 5 on the rocks on baby brush hawgs, got a few aggressive bites, missed a few, all fish were shallow, low tide.
      City: Tracy

      Tips: look for a little shade on rocks

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 51-53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished a short day on Saturday, I had to leave by 1:30. Started on deep 35 foot breaks in main body. Took a 12# 13oz. bass that I had a picture taken of at the north shore store before I let her go. Got nine other bass from 2 to 4 pounds. Seven of the fish came on jigs and 2 on worms. Went up river to check it out, 2 of my smaller fish came up there. All on main body were largemouth. The fish I was targeting moved into 20 ft. deep water about noon when the water warmed. Not sure how shallow in late afternoon since I had to leave early.
      City: Galt

      Tips: The picture of the big fish is on the norcalfishing.com website in the photo gallery.

    • By

      Water Temp: 49-55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Similar to an earlier report, the river was tough. Started off there ripping and spinnerbaiting and never got touched. Moved way up the river and got a limit on jigs, but they were all 13" spots. Did get a nice 2.5 spot further down the river on a jig in a tree, but couldnt repeat it. A guy said he caught 6 largemouth deep in the trees on the main body, including a 12 lb fish. We worked our way out and did begin catching a few largemouth, which did upgrade us to 9.6 lbs. These were caught splitshotting a 4" worm. We needed 9.9 to make the money. Winners got bit on jigs in main body. Several guys ripped a fish, but most fish caught slightly deeper. Winners did get some fish up river, but they already had better fish.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I expect that next weekend, #'s should be better.

    • By

      Water Temp: 55 and up

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: managed 15, biggest going 3.7lbs on a dropshot robo worm. all fish were caught off plastics colr didnt seem to matter.i caught all my fish from 3 to 12ft deep, full of eggs and ready for the spawn it seems to me.good fishing has begun and ill be there next weekend when the bite will be even better.tight lines!
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: fish slow and when you feel a snag just set the hook it could be one of them there spotted bass with your wormy in his mouth.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: FISHED THE 6TH AND THE 7TH HAMMERED EM BOTH DAYS.SATURDAY WAS MY DAUGHTERS 8TH BIRTHDAY AND SHE CAUGHT A 7.3LB'ER WHAT A NICE GIFT. I CAUGHT ALOT A FISH BUT STILL COULD NOT MATCH HER TOTAL WEIGHT, SHE CAUGHT MORE THAN ONE. SUNDAY JUST KILLED EM BIGGEST WAS 5 1/2LBS. FISHING A BANK IN THE SOUTH SAW A SHORE ANGLER CATCH A 10 1/2.
      City: roseville

      Tips: MINNOWS OR CRANKIN FISH SHALLOW. CATCH AND RELEASE. GOOD LUCK

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 51-55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started fishing from Flemming at around 7:30am on some main lake points. Me and a buddy were fishing some texas rigged worms, fishing them really slow, almost crawling them. We fished some Lucky Craft Pointers 78 and 128 in the shallower areas and some flats. Still nothing. Not till about mid day did my partner catch a nice female around 3 pounds on a paddle tale grub. The fish was taken around some rocks in about 15 feet next to some spawning flats. The fish aren't spawning quite yet but they getting ready. I would find some deep points next to a spawning flat.
      City: Pleasant Hill

      Tips: The fishing was tough but im sure it will turn around soon. I would head to Don Pedro soon, the fishing is about to heat up here soon. Use brown worms or jigs and shake and crawl them along the bottom.

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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished soft plastics early morning caught three small fish. Fish are starting to come still pretty slow.
      City: salinas

      Tips: needs about another week of warm weather

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 45-48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry I haven't reported this week but had to go back east to deal with a family tragedy. Seems like someone was doing a very good job of covering my butt, for which I am very grateful.
      Fished last Sun the 29th with the Mello boys and had a great trip. The fishing was slow but the bites we did get were certainly quality. 1 6lb LM and a couple over 4 were the highlights of the day. Several 3+ smallies mixed in made for a best 5 over 20 lbs.
      Its hard to beleive how slow we had to fish but these guys caught on to the trick right off and stuck with it all day and it really paid off for them. Fun to fish with guys who listen, pay attention to the bite, and expand the technique on their own. Great job guys!
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Use small plastics on 1/4 or smaller jigheads and try to get hung up. If it doesn't take 5 min. to make a retreive you might be fishing too fast.
      Of course that might all have changed by now.

Friday, March 5th, 2004

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 50-58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Steel Park, late start at 9:00 fished till dark. Stayed in the south coves and points. Tried baldes and cranks and jerk baits nothing worked except plastics. Lots of boats one in every other cove. Skiers made water muddy in main lake areas. First fish at 9:45, Jimmy got a 1.5 spot on a t-rig, he got another later same size same rig, Tommy got his first at 3:40 and another shortly thereafter, I got 7 spots and one crazy trout on a 7inch worm. T-Rig and drop shot got all the fish. Tommy closed the day in style with a nice 3.5# LMB at 6:10 on a t-rig 7 inch worm. Beautiful day in the mid-70's. Best 5 only about 10 pounds.
      City: Pacifica

      Tips: Fish slow they were really passive, bites came from 2 to 25 feet of water. No senko bite at all. Heard from a pro the rip bite was working in the morning.

    • By

      Water Temp: 55-59

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Water is starting to clean up but still stained so we started out in Rock Creek with dropshot and blade. Dropshot was out very quickly and we took to blades as it produced some very nice largemouth with the biggest topping 3+. Got my first Senko there this year, nice ones dragging a lizard on a carolina rig and the rest on jig. Saw the neatest thing as we neared a tree in the water it looked like a beaver was laying in the V of the tree about 12" out of the water and by golly it was! Wanted to see how close we could get to the big guy and it allowed us to get as close as we wanted and from a couple feet away, we took some photos and it looked like it was going to back into the water so we left and it went right back to its' laydown position. He wasn't stuck or anything, just chillin' and we thought it was really neat to get that close to such a wild animal. Want to thank Dick Gold for taking me out as I have been a house prisoner for almost 2 weeks due to foot surgery and man was it good to get back on the water. Got a total of almost 20 fish, all keepers and about half and half spots and largemouth. Nice day and getting better every day.
      City: Wheatland

      Tips: Slow rolling a white/chartruese blade with one willow leaf and one colorado blade. Usual brn/orange jig with Yami trailer.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 52-58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went to clear lake with my son for his 8 th birthday.he really has only bass fished very few times with limited success.but not this time,he managed to catch 4 fish all keepers 2 were in the 3lb range not huge by clear lake standards but judging by the look on his face you would have thought he cought a new world record.that sure helps make your trip more enjoyable,and makes dad proud.i also cought 4 fish all on jig in and around rattlesnake island .my son's were on spinner baits.
      City: redwood city

      Tips: fish jigs and spinner baits in and around tullies and be quiet.they are real soooookie.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 49-53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out of Brown's and got on the water about 7:00 AM. I really had high hopes I'd be seeing water temps. consistently in the 53+ degree range with the nice weather we'd been having lately, but no such luck. My first stop in the South Fork showed the water temp. at 49 degrees, but despite the chilly water, I had reaction fishing on the brain, so I decided to start with a Zoom Super Fluke in the pearl color. First cast, nada, then the fun began. Next cast was rewarded with a chunky 16" smallie, followed immediately by a 16" spot. Had two non-aggressive bumps on the next two casts, followed by yet another chunky spot on the subsequent cast. In six casts I had 5 bites and three in the boat, all from the same spot! Within the next half-hour, I'd finished the limit, with 5 weighing in at approx. 10-11 lbs. The area consisted of a long, flat transition point, with sunken boulders strewn about the bottom. And just as quickly as it had begun, it shut down with a screeching halt. Between 8:00 AM and noon, I ran several similar areas with only one bite on a split-shot worm to show for it (looked to be a solid 5+, unfortunately). Shortly after noon, the wind began to pick up and I made the decision to return to reaction baits as the water had finally warmed into the 52 degree range. This time I opted for a Pointer 100 in the Tennessee Shad pattern, and fishing the same flat, transition-type points, managed 3 more chunky spots, including a dandy 4 pounder. Off the water by 2:00 PM with a total of 8 keepers for 12 total bites. The Spring Fling is fast approaching!
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: The biggest key was the wind, both in the morning and afternoon. Windblown points leading into spawning areas seem to be holding the consistent fish. Look for mudlines in the afternoon. The ladies are beginning to move - I didn't catch a single male today.