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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Monday, February 23rd, 2004

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: unknown (?52?)

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished out o Frank's tract today - turned out to be a nice day even though the ish didn't cooperate much!! Only landed one bass - 2.1 lbs - just outside o piper slough in rank's. Had a nice ollow by a 7-10 pound striper in Sandmound, but just couldn't coax any other ish in the boat. Got a lot o help rom the men over at the new Extreme Fishing store in Oakley - Tim, Gary, and Chris are all great people and more than willing to help out with a point or two or those novices (like mysel). Thanks!!
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: Seems that the word on the street is reaction baits - spinners worked well over the weekend or a lot o people, and cranks are bringing in their air share (at least by report!!).

    • By

      Water Temp: 55 and up

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: ishing was slow...ound a ew in the coves on 6'' straight tails in june bug. the water is still a bit murky and it seems that the bite will get good soon.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: 2 more weeks and the bite will be on i think.....good luck!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went to loma to day. cought 10 and missed 5 more.trout were cought on worms and powerbait near the loogon.
      City: antioch

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 51-53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Wanted to post about the 4+ spot I got last week but with only two other bites I thought I would wait until I could get a limit. Fished North Fork and had 13 keepers with two spots and two largemouth over two pounds. Fished rips, tubes, straight tail worms and even a spook ater I saw a second boil next to the same rock pile. All caught ish except the spook. The ish were up shallow (8-12 t)on big lat areas. Mostly, the ish were associated with rock piles on these lats. Talked to a guy who caught a 10 lb limit split shotting Zoom Watermelon/red lake 6 in.(?) lizards in the same depth and in the North Fork.
      City: Citrus Heights

      Tips: The water temp. has warmed a little and the ish were active in the 52.5-53 as opposed to the 51 water I ished. The worm was Carolina rigged and the suspending rip was pulled slowly and paused or up to 10 seconds. Go ishing because you can.

Sunday, February 22nd, 2004

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: ished the bank today and ound 15 nice bass bustin on shad out by the dock...most were 2 1/2-4lbs but Justina did manage a nice solid 6lber on a green mini jig.used silver and white 1'' tubes and the amous ol white mini jig.Good day o ishing over all.well be on the boat soon just gotta inish the loors and some small stu, but at this rate were doing better then most on boats.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: ish seem to be gettin very active early this year, were ready or the pre spawn!

    • By

      Water Temp: 43 - 53

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out Sunday with verteran Northern Caliornia angler Jimmy Mac to try and ind a hog at San Pablo. We took Jim's rig with the 4 stroke and he was resh o a 10+ day at Anderson. Stayed in the south and tried a variety o oers: Senko, black lippy, Jig, blades, buzz bait, spook, jerk bait, even a neon crankbait, Texas rig, carolina, split shot, drop shot. Obviously we never igured it out. Same results on all counts. A big at zero. Really muddy and no one seemed to igure it out. Saw one rench group with a trout and another guy in a Kyack landed a nice trout as well. Couple guys at the ramp said no luck up north either. The only saving grace was it didn't rain. Get em next time!
      City: Paciica

      Tips: Find clear warmer water i you can.

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: 44-46

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got back on the lake again or a while today and ound that the big dogs have moved up. Picked up 4-10 and 4-2 LM and several Smallies over 3. Best 5 on my cul-m-rite, 19.26. Caught 5 LM and 7 smallies and still got home or the last hal o the race. Picked up 1 Smallie on a crank or the only reaction bite but was having so much un with Gitzits and worms that I didn't throw reaction much at all. Weather report doesn't look too good or the middle o the week but it will have to get really bad to put o the bite now.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Debris is really spread out in the North end so use care.

Saturday, February 21st, 2004

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I ished Thur., starting about 9am. Went up Jackson to try the wall but it was very muddy as was Mountain Spings and Rock creek. Being a bright sunny day, I started looking deep on the main body and ound large schools o bass eeding on shad in 40 to 60 t. I caught about 40 ish with a proto type tail spinner,spooning(Duh spoon/key lime & morning dawn) and a ew on jigs bettween 11am and 2pm. Most were 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 lbs and a ew 3-4 lbs. I went back on Friday joined by my buddy Larry Hemphill and ound conditions very dierent, cloudy and light sprinkles. We had a ew hits on jig but they wouldn't pick it up. then we tried spooning but the bass were not chasing shad and very inactive. Larry had to leave about 2pm and I decided to ish more. About 4pm the wind changed and I noticed on my X15 that shad schools were starting to come up rom 60t and the bass were right behind them. I caught a dozen ish spooning in about an hour. Guess they igured they'd better eat beore dark.
      City: Sacramento

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had a greenhorn isherman rom my oice join me on the trip so I wanted to do well.Asked around about ishing conditions and was told the only tip was to stay home.My buddy was looking orward to it so we went anyway. launched at spanish lat. camp grounds and parking lot to the marins were under water. barely enough room to launch with no access to docks. WOW! Spanish lat had to move their little cabins to avoid them being looded. Fortunately they are on wheels. We passed capell cove on the way in. I have never seen water so stained. It looked like coee with too much cream. The water at spanish lat was better but still muddy. So i igured (stupid me) that putah might be our best bet. Ater running hal way and zig zaging through loating debri (including some ull size trees)the water only looked to be getting worse. I decided to push all the way through. When I reached the 5mph at putah and looked at the water I new we would not be there 15 minutes. I was right. We shot back down to the islands at mid lake. The water was much clearer in there and looked very ishable. On my irst cast into a allen tree I thought I snagged a branch and began to pull. Wait a minute that branch is swimming away. SET THE HOOK!!I did so but my drag was still loose rom rigging my pole (when will I ever learn to re-tighten it. I did get to ight the ish and even got to see it. My guess is 7 lbs.Would have been my biggest berryessa ish ever. My buddy hooked a nice 3 pounder while I missed a couple more ish. The greenhorn was making me look bad. We pulled up and headed or the narrows to go ater spots. I igured they may be a little more active. I was right. We ished the points in the points split shoting 4" june bug and drop shoting white/silver 3" paddle tail worms. The bite was on pretty good or being ebuary, post storm with dirty water.Glad I did not cancel this trip.
      City: Pinole

      Tips: drop shot and split shot dark colored smaller worms. use 1/16 ounce sinkers or a slower presentation. it seemed to make a dierence even with the drop shot rig.

    • By

      Water Temp: 50-55

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: GILROY BASSMASTERS... HAD A CLUB TOURNAMENT TODAY HERE ON BEATIFUL AND FULL BERRYESSA! WE HAD A GREAT TURN OUT OF 22 ANGLERS. WE BEGAN THE DAY WITH SOME DRIZZLE AND ENDED THE SAME WAY, WITH SOME SHOWERS IN BETWEEN. STILL A GOOD DAY. OUR WINNING WIEGHT WAS A TIE OF 10.2 lbs. (1st and 2nd place)GOOD JOB CLARK AND DARELL. THIRD PLACE WENT TO SCOTT WITH 8.9lbs. WAY TO GO DUDE. I FINISHED JUST OUT OF THE MONEY FOR FOURTH WITH 8.7lbs. BUT I JUST BARELY GOT BIG FISH WITH 3.2lbs (smallie), IT WAS A CLOSE ONE WITH A LOT OF GUYS WIEGHING REAL CLOSE. I FISHED PUTAH CREEK WITH GRUBS AND 4 in. WORMS ON DARTER HEADS. ALMOST ALL FISH IN THE CLUB WERE CAUGHT IN PLASTICS AND JIGS. THIS IS GREAT BUNCH OF GUYS TO FISH WITH AND ALL GOOD STICKS. MANY FISH WERE CAUGHT OFF MAIN LAKE (POINTS AND ISLANDS) GOOD JOB NEW GUYS.
      City: SAN JOSE

      Tips: WATCH OUT FOR ALL THE DEBRIS. LARGE (15'-20') LOGS AND TREES FLOATIN' AROUND. ALSO FULL OF SMALL JUNK.

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: Low 50s

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: At least three tournaments out o No. Shore on Sat. Why no posts??? Decided it was time I started contributing to this orum. Sacramento Bass Wranglers ished their club tournament at Comanche on Sat. 2-21-04. No chance to preish or me. At blast o everyone went towards the main lake and the dam. I went towards the narrows and the river arm. WRONG!! Fished all the places that I won tournament last year. WRONG!! Winning weight (Stacey Gee) 17.14 lbs with two 5lb ish. Ripping and then carolina rigged lizard just north o the North Shore Marina. 2nd and 3rd Steve Woods and Ron Mitchel) draggin jigs in area just to the South o the Dam. 4th (Duke Schneider) three crankbait ish and two on plastics. Big ish (Ron Ishisaka) 5.60 came on a darter and worm on a point up near the dam. I SUCKED but at least some o the guys ound the secret. Great job guys!
      City: Shingle Springs

      Tips: Fish seemed suspended early and rippin and crankin caught ish. Jigs and plastics later in the day.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My wie and I are new to BASS ishing , and we're havin a blast!!!! We've ished the past three weekends . We caught three pounders the weekeend o the 7 th. ,two pounders last weekend ,and got skunked today. The weather was pretty harsh today, cold and windy.
      City: Ukiah

      Tips: Tubes, real slow,on the bottom.South end o the lake, we ished the east end o Soda Bay today and around Buckingham, hence getting skunked.

    • By

      Water Temp: COLD

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out Sat. saw a ew boats around the shallows, isnt much there only about ten percent o the shallows are ull. Caught two small ones on sot plastic, ish were deep. Does anyone know when they are planting trout, cant wait to throw that swim bait.
      City: san jose

      Tips: Need more rain to ill up the shallows.

    • By

      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Chris and mysel got a late start as we arrived at the lake at 1:30 pm. it was the irst time i had my skeeter on the water. it was also my irst time on the lake. he guided me to the keep out area where i landed a 4 pounder using a spinner bait (3 count and slow roll) i also hooked onto another 2 pounder but she came un-pegged by the boat. thanks chris, or a nice day on the water.
      City: Tulare

      Tips: slow slow slow

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 45-48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished E shore Bidwell Cove & coves up S Fork. One on craw color crankbait early AM, later one on white spinnerbait in muddy creek. Surprised to ind many shallow ish eating pond smelt. Two ishermen, about 30 ish, 7 over 15" had over 2# average. Everyone we talked to ished deeper but caught ew ish.
      City: Penn Valley

  • Westchester County
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      Water Temp: real cold

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: hello ellow bass ishermen, i was walking around horseshoe and saw some trout isherman hook into a nice largemouth with(nightcrw). About 3+ i said you want me to take your picture so you can throw it back, the guy laughed then looked at me like i was crazy . F-u or all people who dont catch and release. POWER TO ALL THAT DO.especially in our local lakes where bass are not native or until they stock it every week like trout.
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: Love to ish hate to work, its very pleasing to see some true isherman out there. you know who you are (HI) also watch out or all the tourists while ishing. RELEASE THE BASS tight lines

Friday, February 20th, 2004

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Very muddy and cold.Worst o mud being in main body and up Clear creek, with 1' visibilty. Whiskey Creek has 2 1/2' visibilty.Lots o debri.Lake dropped 1' in 24 hrs and was 2' rom being ull.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Good luck untill it clears.

Thursday, February 19th, 2004

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

      Report: Sorry about asking questions on here, but I promise I'll give a report when we get back. My brother and I are going to the Delta this Saturday and I was wandering i anybody could oer some suggestions. We're probably going to be in the Frank's Tract area. But, i someone can oer a better location that'd be great too! We're pretty well rounded with top waters, jigs, spinnerbaits and sotplastics. I'm guessing the crankbaits and spinnerbaits are probably the best right now, but not sure. Any help would be appreciated, thanks. James
      City: MODESTO

      Tips: Stay warm, you'll be able to convince yoursel to stay on the water longer when you're not catching any ish.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: It's rough getting hal a day o to ish but someones got to do it. Got on the lake by 1:00pm and waited or my bud "Fish-killer Frank" to show up. We headed to the dam area where the water clarity was a bit better. The wind was blowing 15-20 mph. We ound the ish stacked up on a point where the wind was blowing into. Anchored in 15 t. and cast into deeper water. Then we pulled our bait/lures up the point into the ish. Caught 4 trout and 1 bluegill (? - go igure!) and o the water by 5:00pm. Talked to alot o ishermen that day who were ishing the top 10 eet o water who had lousy ishing. The guys catching ish were ishing on or near the bottom. Also, talked to guy who was lyishing rom his boat. He looked depressed and said something about a St. Patrick's Day lyishing derby.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Trout were 20' - 23'deep. Many were suspended. Worms and powerbait were eective. Flyishing was not.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 48.6-51.9

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Lake only 18t down ater all the rain, water muddy in coves and stained to less than 2 t visibility in main body. In at bailey cove at 0715 and motored over into the lower McCloud ater getting a ishing lesson last saturday with a gentleman named Tad Gumbmann. there are about 10 guys who rule this lake and Tad is at the top o the heap. I drew him as my pro partner or the 100% last saturday and went to school on his methods. Finished 11th and just out o the money but I sure learned a lot. John Coyle suggested some colors or me to try the other day and my buddy Bryce Fuller tied up some or me so I was hoping I was well armed this am. Got on my irst spot and get a at 2.12 on irst cast. 4 casts later stuck a 2.54. Made a ew tackle changes and ran over into the lower pit and ound some water similiar to what Tad had me ishing last saturday. I decided not to ish the same stu, just use the same approach. Got into an area that looked good and picked up a nice 4.80. Slipped it back into the water and re-tied with a new trailer and dropped this one straight down on some ish. Moved about 10t and my rig came to a halt. Thought I might be stuck so I reeled down a bit and set hard to remove my jig. The rod bent double and o we went, backed o the drag a bit and spent a ew minutes chasing this ish around and up it comes. its a big one or me and I get it in the net unable to stop my hands rom shaking. Settle down and put it on the cul m rite (4 times) and the lowest weight is 6.12 lbs. Got 6.14 twice and 6.12 twice. Drop it in the livewell and go looking or someone with a camera or someone to use my camera. Call Bryce and he heads to bailey cove with his digital and i stop when I see Steve Biechman with John and Justin Goins inside Freeway bay. Steve snaps some pictures or me and Bryce shows up and gets a ew with his digital camera.(gotta send one to my uncle who is going to want to break my neck). I end up with a 4 ish total o 15.52. now i I can just ind a 7!! My thanks to Tad or his lesson, to John or his color suggestions and my best riend Bryce or tying those baits up or me.
      City: Redding