Submit
Report

Northern California Lake Fishing Report

Limit:

Monday, September 29th, 2003

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the lake at 6:00am to ind ish tight to the trees in the South Arm towards the bridge. Fish hit on black and silver Pop-R's and white spinner baits. O the lake by 10:00am, too windy. Only had 3 in the boat.......better than work.
      City: South Lake Tahoe

    • By

      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: THROW SENKOS AROUND EDGE OF WEED BED. ME AND MY FRIND CAUGH A TOTAL OF 20 BASSAROUND 1 1/2 TO 3LB AND ONE 10POUND
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: FLIP JIG IN A DARK COLOR OR 5AND7 INCHSENKO IN PEAR OR DARK CORSHOT

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 71.2

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: this is a report or conditions or those o you who are heading up or the Newbass Team Spectacular on 4-5 Oct. The lake is 52.5 t down and alling slowly, a cooling trend is coming with day time temps in the mid-80's, the lake is still airly warm with this mornings temp at 71.2 at 0630 rising to the mid and upper 70's as the day progresses. To say that things ar slow would be an understatement. I participated in a mid week bragging rights turkey shoot last wednesday and managed to win as I was the only one to get 2 ish(2 ish limit). I ished against some good sticks and all o us managed only a ew dinks and a ew barely legal ish. It is gonna be tough as the conditions and catch hasn't changed. Bailey Cove is out o the water, the loat is in but is sitting in the mud, rom the reeway it looks ok but don't take the trip down the hill, Jones Valley- stay in the 2 lanes nearest the loat to avoid the end o the 4 lane ramp. You might want to put in at Packers or the tournament as Bridge Bay is pulling out all their houseboats and the island parking is limited, Packers is down to 2 lanes with the mud hump blocking the lanes away rom the loat, Hirz Bay north is out, Hirz bay south is in as is Centimudi and Antlers, Sugarloa is still looded. The shad are all over the place and not bunched up yet, the water will have to cool another 8-10 degrees beore that happens, just about every ish in the lake is suspended, this am they were in 9-15 t over 30 t o water and not on any bite that I oered. One rip ish and one on a jig with a ew trout busting the surace or about an hour. Good luck to all, it ain't gonna be un but the weather will be great.
      City: Redding

    • By

      Water Temp: 64-78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: what is the lake record or a smallmouth i caught a 6 1/2lb. and a bunch o 2 and 3 lb. near lakehead near I-5. i really recommend it or your 5th wheel they have hookups and i kept my basstracker right on the water in a slip what a lie and nobody ishing in the river but me.
      City: Corning

      Tips: stay or at least 3 days i caught mine on spinners blue ox

Sunday, September 28th, 2003

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started at around 7am in the launch ramp cove, partner caught irst ish on a Sammy we both proceeded to catch a ew on topwater and lukes. Ran back to Jacksons to look or some bigger ish but nobody was home. Shad were busting all over the lake and like Larry said it's tough to get these ish to hit anything else. So we decided to pick up the dropshot rigs and continued to catch ish with the largest going around 2 pounds between the two o us we probably caught around 20 ish mostly dropshotting the outside weedline. Pulled out at around 1pm.
      City: Carson city, NV

      Tips: Bass are all getting ull on shad. We threw jigs, crankbaits and towards the end o the day tried senkos with no luck. Dropshot caught most o the ish with a ew caught on topwater in the morning. Bring on the Fall weather!

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70 down to 29'

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On water again rom 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or a another ishless but enjoyable, albeit cold, day with a ew other anglers on the lake. Son, John, and I again ished mostly swim baits, large plastic worms, Senkos, and jigs looking or the one big bite. We again ished at and above the thermocline, the top o which was at 29 eet. Wind was brisk throughout most o the morning rom the north. Many schools o shad were again observed near the surace over the channel but lures run through and under them produced nothing. Neither o us had any kind o strike on any o our presentations. Our anticipation is still high, knowing that any cast could produce a giant bass. The curious thing is that there don't appear to be any small (1-2 lb.) to medium-sized (5 - 10 lb.) bass in Chabot. Are those the ones that were electro-shocked and transerred to the Quarry Lakes?
      City: Monterey, CA

      Tips: Again, not much help here...we anchored and ished down-wind mostly. I moved several times trying to ind some structure which might be holding ish.

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Friday evening was ull o surprises and the irst came quickly. I was wondering what I would do or my clients a ew hours ater 116+ boats let the water. I decided on cranking and the second spot we ished, one o the clients hooks a real good bass and I net an 8 pounder! I guess I was mentally shocked since I didn't expect anything like this 'til ater dark (he hooked her at sunset). Wow - the tournament guys orgot one!!! And I guess I am just getting used to a client landing a big bass. Hot streaks are nice! That was the good news. He was using a Norman DD-14 shad pattern by the way. The next surprise was not so good - in act - shocking. As a previous post mentioned - the night ishing was worse than horrible! I think the bass wanted to please the tournament olks. There was NO bite and I mean NO bite! The other client and I each landed one each - his a 2 1/2 on a worm and mine a 3 pounder on a crankbait. That brings the total ish or the trip to 3!! The clients did lose a ew. An eight pounder never looked so good! Thank goodness she came early in the trip so I didn't try to sink the boat. I believe that is the slowest summer-all night trip I have had or years. The next day a client and I joined "orces" on the lake or a beautiul day and lots o whizzing bassboats. My client started with a nice 2 3/4 pounder on a crankbait. We drop-shotted most o the day and did get into a good bite o 2 1/4 pounders or about an hour. It was tough but we managed 10 bass or a 12 1/2 pound best ive. Blue and purple were our best colors. I did not intrude on the tournament guys and had a nice time visiting with some o them.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: This is the time o year (about a month) when the bass eed heavily during the day with all the bait around. The night bite at Amador this week was lousy too. Friday night was probably tough or several reasons and it did aect the carp too. We probably heard about 5 roll the whole night. They should have been active on a warm night. I have been raising the bait a bit higher on a drop-shot rig lately and that seems to help. There are not too many bass right on the bottom this time o year. Another month and things will change!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Winds were high blowing east to west. I shouldn't apologize or previous idiots, but I apologize to the serious angler.I started with lipping worms; it was 11 am when I hit the water, tight to the reeds, tulles whatever you guys call them. Oxblood was the color gettin hammered. 3 ish going 5.8. Wind intensiied, went to shallow runners i.e. speed trap and rat'l trap(ripped). Beat up my craw pattern. Need to replace the trebles. Never had a chance to hit the rip-rap, roped o. Best 5 went 9lbs. Active but small. With less wind will toss more cranks towards dusk. Out o the water within 4 hrs. Take care and good luck. to right o boat launch hit' em with topwater! Samm,y got alot o boils with high wind.
      City: Concord

      Tips: RED!

    • By

      Water Temp: na

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Last week was not so bad as ar as Bass. The ish I caught were between 10-20 eet o water. Not really red hot, but un. Average size was about 2 pounds.

      Tips: Swimbaits or jigs smack on the bottom seem to be the ticket last week.

    • By

      Water Temp: 69 to 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: We started in the morning use worm and jigs. We caught some small bass. We also threw rog no luck. Then we threw traps and caught 30 to 40 striper bass. the biggest was almost 9lbs.Then we started drop shot and start catch largemouth bass. We caught one that was almost 8lbs. The next cast caught one that was 7 1/2 lbs. We were use robo worms in bluegill color.We in up catch a total 55 ish.
      City: resno

      Tips: The key is to ind the bait.

Saturday, September 27th, 2003

    • By

      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished out o Russo's marina. Fished along the tules and weed edges at high tide - missed a couple and got one 4.5 pounder on a brushhog with 3/8 oz jig. ished the rest o the day driting through Franks Tract - caught 10 or so ish along weed edges on a 1/2 oz white and chart blade, had a ollow right to the boat by a big ol' bass, maybe eight pounds. threw everything at him but couldn't convince him to bite. A nice day on the Delta.
      City: San rancisco

      Tips: The water seemd unusually clear - slearer than my last trip 4 days earlier. don't know how that aected the bote or even i it did.

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I ished part o two nights and part o the in between day and ound the bite to be very slow, especially at night. The irst night I caught only one, about 3 3/4 pounds on a 10" Power Worm. The next morning I only tried or big ish with big baits and struck out. No takers. I did catch one or two on topwater and should have given up on the big ish sooner and had some un. The bass were all over chasing shad. The day bite was tough until about 6 pm when a riend joined me and we caught 3 beore dark. He threw a 6" weightless Yamamoto grub to a rising bass and she took it right away - she was a little over 3 1/2 pounds. I got a 3 on a Devil's Horse and another under three. Ater dark we ished or awhile and I got a nice 2 1/2 on a black crankbait. The worm bite was nearly dead - we did miss a ew. I hope this is the calm beore the storm!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: When Amador bass are eeding on shad in September - they arn't interested in too much else. The night bite is oten slow or about a month. I had heard the ishing was good last week. I don't like to hear that because it usually means it will change or the worse when I get there!!

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My irst time ishing this lake and could not produce a single strike... not that I'm a great isherman, but are there any bass in this lake? Stayed at Steele Park and ished primarily in that vicinity. The terrain there is a hell o a lot dierent than that o the Delta (the water at Berryessa is beautiul). Spotted baitish in the morning so I ished topwater, nothing. I switched over to everything else in my tacklebox ater that, nothing. Went back to the cabin and took a nap. As I checked out, I asked the lady at the oice i there were any ish in the lake, she replied by saying, "Some, but you have to know them on a irst name basis." I told her that I called them every stinkin' name in the book! We both laughed... Though I got skunked, just being out on the water on a perect day and getting your line wet is all anyone could ask or.
      City: Hayward

      Tips: Is the lake turning over???

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: cooling down

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out w/a couple o relatives.we managed to catch about 8 bass rom the bank. My uncle landed two largemouth that were 5 pounds each. He also picked up two more that were about 1-2 pounds a piece. He caught a couple brush guppies also. My only keeper was a 2 lb. smallmouth my other ish was a dink. All o the nice ish were caught on 4inch plastics in various colors. Some good ish are also being caught on topwaters in the morning an evening and when it is overcast. The water is deinately cooling o and the pods o shad are roaming the surace water again. On Friday night 9/26 may cousin caughta nice ish on a topwter as did my uncle. I was skunked Friday. Oh well the ishing is deinately picking up.
      City: Napa

      Tips: 4 inch plastics and topwaters are a good bet.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69-73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My partner and I went up on Saturday and preished or the up coming NewBass TOC. Haven't been up to the lake since last year. Got on the water right at sun rise. Tried throwing rip baits and top water- nothing. We cover alot o water that day to have only about 7-8.5 pounds. Found using my 1/4 oz darter with 6 inch salt & pepper seemed to work the best up in the cloud and squal. Talked to a ew other boats, they were having the some problem with getting any size or a steady pattern. Sorry I couldn't give anymore ino, I didn't have much going or mysel. Will be back up there next weekend, hope the weather changes or the worse, rain would really turn on the bite.
      City: Suisun City

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 65'

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Ryan, you have tatoos on your legs? I so, we saw you and the blonde near the damn sat. morning.Now or the ishing report;Fishing pretty good in the a.m., but only three keepers caught. One was a 3.3 lb spot. Lot's o dinks drop shotting. Also caught a nice crappie. Gone at 11a.m..........
      City: SF/Redding

      Tips: MGM Aaron's magic, and the MMIII by Robo.

Friday, September 26th, 2003

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: FRIDAY MORNING BY THE DAM NEAR BOAT DOCK. MORNING AROUND 6:30, 7:00 A.M. CAUGHT A 10 POUNDER ON A SINKO BLACK WITH A SPLIT SHOT. DRAGGING IT SLOW. THIS IS MY SECOND 10 POUNDER AT AMADOR LAKE, THE FIRST ONE WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LAKE. CAUGHT THAT ONE ON A BLACK SINKO DRAGGING IT.
      City: SANTA CLARA

      Tips: SLOW DRAGGING, WITH SINKO. MORNING RIGHT BEFORE SUN COMES UP.

    • By

      Water Temp: 77

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: SKUNKED. TOO MANY DAMN WEEDS. PRICES TOO HIGH FOR 2 FISHERMAN AND BOAT.
      City: Sac

      Tips: TRY COMANCHEE

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water around 730. Tried everything rom topwater spooks, spinners, worms, jigs on all points laydowns and weed areas, i got a couple bites and brother got a nice 5 pounder o a small point in about 6 t next to a laydown. Everyone else reported same slow day. With the 10 mph speed limit on the whole lake, don't think i'll be going back soon.
      City: Paciica

      Tips: I think i need the tips or this lake. Anyone know anything or this lake?

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had a tough day on the lake yesterday. We did a lot o looking or new areas to ish. Got on the lake about 0630. Looking or bait. Found them in 8-70 eet on water. Tryed crank-baits, jigs, drop-shot, split-shot, etc.. We ished humps, creek channels, main lake points and lats. We had A LOT o very small ish ollow our plastics (4"-10" ish). We managed to put 2 ish in the boat by 4pm. The ish were about 14", caught in about 18' o water on a drop-shot. Found these on the side o a hump next to a creek channel. Boy were they scrappy. They really smacked the drop-shots, these ish were not shy at all. Let the lake about 5:30.
      City: Waterord

      Tips: ind the bait...ind the ish. Be persistant.