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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, February 21st, 2004

  • 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
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      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

Wednesday, February 18th, 2004

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

      Report: To the ellow that was wanting to know how to catch carp, I would try a small ly that loats such as a grass hopper or bumble bee, and or bait i would chum with corn and then put corn on a hook under a loat about a oot and a hal or so. I hope that this is some help or you im not much o a carp isherman. also try bread under a loat too. that seems to always work. good luck
      City: Discovery Bay

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

      Report: have tourney out o ladds this sat. any ino on what to use or where to go,how deep ect........
      City: denair

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

      Report: Fished or about an hour caught only 1 bass that weighed about a pound or so. Fished with a Rapala the whole time and caught the ish about 2 eet away rom the shore. Nice Lake but it was very windy with the storm coming through. Never ished here beore but it seems like the only way to catch something here would be with a crank bait or a spinnerbait. Theres a lot o wood on the shoreline.
      City: Morgan Hill

      Tips: CrankBait.... ocus on a certain area and keep throwing it there. you will piss o the ish and get bit.

  • Alameda County
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      Water Temp: 52'

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went or both bass and trout, ended up catching bass. First cast o the morning o the dock just testing out to see i my gear was working good, i caught a 3 pound smallie on a robo worm. drop shoted all day. ended up with a limit. (3 smallies, 2 largemouths) over all a good day try drop shottin and split shottin ish were closer than i thought they would be they were in a bout 15' to 20' but it seems the bigger ones were out a little deeper. guys were catchin them on rip baits and white cranks.
      City: Discovery Bay

      Tips: Drop shot, split shot. water is muddy on the south end use darker worms there and more natural colors more towards the dam. hope this is some help to you. good luck.

Tuesday, February 17th, 2004

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: 52-54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well beleive it or not a riend and I ished today. The weather in the bay area was rainy and 35-45 mph winds. The unny thing was at the lake it was calm with maybe 10 mph winds at best and no rain. The ishing was pretty good, caught between 25 and 35 ish and most were 13" keepers or better. The most o our ish came rom steep blu wall and steep rocky points in 5' to 20'. The lures o choice were drop shots in 4 to 6 inch robo worms in anything in green and the better ish came on a new jig and craw combo's rom Conquistador tackle. The best colors were green craw and PBJ. You need to check out the jigs at Conquistadortackle.com or Coyote bait/tackle and Reed's I heard will be carry them. They are in my opinion some o the best jigs on the market. Good luck I hope this helps.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: The ish are moving around but you need to stay close to winter area's that lead into staging area's. Electronics are key. The better ish are still out deep near staging area's

    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: A riend and I ished on sunday, 2-15-04. We didn't get on the water unyile about 1300 and went up in the willows, had a bite right away and started catching a ew eish as we went up the channel in about 8 to 9 eet o water. we caught ish on the east and west banks o the channel untile about 4 eet o water, went back out to the lats and or 15 -20 mins we caught a is on every cast on spinner baits. Ater the bite quit we were catching them on worms and spinner baits. We ished untile 1730 and caught and released between 40-50 ish95% o the ish were between 2-5 lbs.
      City: orland

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: Cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Me and my brothers were out o o highway 12 ishing in the delta waters and my brother landed an 18" stripped bass.He caught it on anchovies around 5:30pm. Unortunatly, I didn't catch anything but little tiny ones.
      City: Stockton

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: In reply to the recent carp request and suggestion. I also may go ater carp this year and would like some suggestions. However, in regards to the explaination oered, I'm not sure i carp will eat o the surace o the water (grass hopper ly) in warm weather or in any weather. I think they are sucking air not ood. I could be wrong. I've never heard o carp being caught on dry lies. The eed corn sound reasonable though. Any eed back would be great. I they really will eat a dry ly, that would be a great ight on a ly rod. You better have a good ly reel with a drag system.
      City: Sacramento