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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Saturday, February 21st, 2015

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 56 - 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Late start not a good idea from what I heard. Had to get me 2015 sticker and give CL a try. Heard 4# avg fishing the north - rodman, the park and the north west flats. Started at the park at 10:00 tried swim baits, rattle trap and jerk bait for about 45 minutes. Many boats more than 1/2 throwing the arig but no fish noted. Then headed to the north west - same deal many boats 3/4 throwing the a rig. Tried that, swim bait, trap, jerk bait for over an hour - most of the spots I know had boats so I was further out but still in 4-8 feet no fish no boats in the area with a fish either. Hit a couple areas on the way over to Rodman mostly just the a-rig and a little swimbaits. Same result but less boats! Fianlly, a point east of Redman I did see a fish landed, looked like a 3# dad and his son. Hopped over to Rodman - not hard to find just follow the parade. Feb 21 and there were 15+ boats in there around 11:30. Stayed on the perimeter - don't like to crowd and figured fish would be moving in and out anyway. Fished there 2 1/2 hours swim bait and a-rig no fish and none hooked by the others. One nice guy, Dean said he caught 2 but it was much earlier and "you should have been here yesterday". Not exaggerating a new boat entered the area every 10 minutes or so and some of those guys just big motored it up right past all the guys patiently waiting outside with no regard for the others. On the other hand it was a beautiful day. Picked up one dink at rattlesnake on a staysee 90 before heading out to keep the skunk smell off the Triton. Spoke to 6 or 7 people who said it was tough - one said nothing after 9:00 but one guy reported several fish a-rig, swim bait and jig said he had a great day - good for him gives me hope

      Tips: I don't fish clearlake much so I'm not the right tip guy so I'll relay the tip from nice guy at Limit out. Any reaction bait up north. All the standard places from the State park up to Rodman. There are definitely fish up there you could tell from the number of boats and yesterdays stories out there. One guy claimed 25 fish yesterday on nothing but a drop shot - which I never pulled out of the box Sat.

    • By

      Water Temp: 58.3

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Wife and I hit the water around 11 AM and fished until 4 PM. Caught 10 bass, all good sized,(1.5 to 2.5 lbs.), no dinks!
      Great weather and great day fishing!

      Tips: Fish the drop-offs.

Friday, February 20th, 2015

  • Yuba County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Dinks at 30-50 ft on plastics

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 56-57

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched 10:30am B&W.... water was stained to muddy brown...started at top of the Moke... nada.
      Moved to favorite tules...nada...everything looked like it had been sprayed to kill the hyacinth, which was pretty much non existent except the few remaining floaters that were already dead brown. All the usual tules seemed to be either killed off or hardly even there. Moved to alternate areas on Tater Slough.... managed a couple of keepers on blk/red flk senko and a black spinner bait, but no pattern at all. Saw only a few other boats trying but never saw anyone hook up and I really think it was just a junk fish day. Ended the day at 330pm with 3 on the hook.
      City: folsom

      Tips: not even!!! someone tell us what's happening in these waters. all the reports of the bite is on, 20-25lb limits, where the h&(( is that? south delta? sure ain't up the moke or even the sj.

Thursday, February 19th, 2015

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 57-61

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I did another "teach the lake" trip today - and joined all the other bass boats. I thought it was Saturday! My client is an excellent stick and knows what he is doing! Another fog-bound morning with a slow bite. We did have several "soft bites" but couldn't hook them. The fog lifted on schedule - around noon - and the surface temp warmed a bit. After showing him lots of off-shore structure and other areas, we worked the east side where he caught his 2nd largemouth - a nice 3 3/4 pounder. He caught a third largemouth and I finally landed a 2 1/2 lb largemouth. The four largemouth went around 10 lbs. Robo worms did the trick. I lost a bigger bass in the morning throwing a Norman DD22.

      Tips: The only tip I could give is "what not to use." Never got a jig bite - which surprised me. Most of our hits were around the 8 to 12 foot range. I saw several bait balls - some at 70 feet!

Wednesday, February 18th, 2015

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: my dad and I will be making a trip down there in a week does anyone have a report from this week. Water Temp? Visability? current patterns
      City: Reno

Monday, February 16th, 2015

  • Calaveras County
    • By

      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started around noon took a kid fishing worked a cove had boat pressure all around but still manage to catch fish behind them. Fish are there with the warmer days crushing for food. Used crankbait, jerkbait and senko.

Sunday, February 15th, 2015

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Clear Lake Blows Up is more like it!

      Let’s get the formalities out of the way first. Lake level is 4.43 Rumsey and holding, so we still need more rain. Finding surface temps in the 60 degree range is not as hard as one would think for the second week of February.

      For me, well, I predicted it, but I still can’t believe the way this lake fished this week.
      Fast forward to the end of March and that is pretty much where the bite is right now.
      Jerk baits, LV 500’s and swim baits were all contributing as was a Texas rig fished right on the bank. Yes, there are numbers of fish already roaming the shallows.

      Friday I had the morning to myself before leaving for Bass Pro in Manteca. Launching at 7 am I was able to fish until 1pm and had no problem finding willing fish. I managed 14 fish, and friends all reported 20+ fish Friday as well, fishing until 4pm. It never fails; have to leave just as it’s getting good!

      That said, at least the lake was busy again as ABA had their event scheduled for Sunday. So with plenty of pre-fishing going on, and with most local anglers predicting it could take 40 lbs. to win, we knew this could be good!

      That wasn’t far off! Sufficed to say 33+lbs was good for just third and it took a 10+ for big fish! Now, I could be mistaken, but I’m not sure I saw any double digit fish weighed in at any event last year, so that was certainly good to see as well. Watch for the complete ABA Results and look for yourselves, it’s pretty impressive.

      What’s to come? Well, with the warm temperatures forecast for this week, I’d say more of the same for sure. Oh, and yeah, the night bite is beginning to turn on as well, just be careful out there as there is some scattered debris floating throughout the lake.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 53-56

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished south fork all day, with some wind. Worked the mud lines with river 2 sea lipless crank baits and caught 15 fish within 2 hours between 2 of us. Best 5 going for 13 pounds
      City: sacramento

      Tips: 9-12 am is the time slot to get all your fish

Friday, February 13th, 2015

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Lake Oroville has come up 22 feet in the last 8 days to 46% of capacity. Fish have to be mixed up, confused with that much of an increase. That one heck of a lot of water.
      City: Magalia

Thursday, February 12th, 2015

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Today I fished with Sunny from 7am to 10:30 am. Wow, lake sure looks different with the rise of water from the last rains. Best guess is it's up 12 feet maybe more. Cool and windy, water dirty and not looking good as it used to. Today we managed 12 fish, with Sunny catching the bulk of them, with one right at 15" or so. Most fish the basic 13-14" size. Sunny, your one darn good fisherman, think you could teach me a lot about catching spots. Thanks for fishing with me.
      City: Magalia

Tuesday, February 10th, 2015

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55-58

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Ok this info is for the recreation fisherman so the tourny guys please skip this post
      Fished main body and found them moving up shallow in the Pm all the areas you like to fish ,deep water with shallows close by Baits? Slow morning , faster Pm

Monday, February 9th, 2015

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55-57

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out both Sunday - rain was insane - but so was the bite. 20lb bag in under 3 hrs on windblown banks and Monday was even better with an afternoon bite that was stupid - 24-25lb in 3 hrs. They are getting predictable in the classic staging areas. reaction bites on the transitions. the storm activated the bite.
      City: stockton

      Tips: its that time fellas, put away the darters and dropshots, time to stick some donkeys.

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

      Report: As some of you may know, we did indeed pass that 100' mark this past weekend! Also, we should be passing the 50% full mark in the next day or so. I was able to get the rain totals for the storm so far (at the McCloud location):
      Friday: 6.83"
      Saturday: 1.06"
      Sunday: 1.62"
      Total: 9.51"

      I am sure the Lakehead totals were more than ours...and we will be getting more today!

      I have added two comparison pictures from our cove. The first is December 7, 2014. The second is today, February 9, 2015. Just a little over 2 months we have come up 74.97'. The inflows from these recent storms should keep up for the next couple of weeks, so we should be seeing a great jump in lake levels.

      I hope this brightens your Monday!!!

      Lake Level Report (02/09/2015 at 7 AM)
      Lake Elevation: 971.31' (95.69' below full pool)
      Lake Elevation 2014: 936.69' (130.31' below full pool)
      Storage: 2,250,370 af
      Outflow: 523 cfs
      Inflow: 34,271 cfs
      Precipitation (24 hr @ dam): .70"
      Precipitation (Season @ dam): 44.33"
      Precipitation (2013 Season @ dam): 7.14"

Sunday, February 8th, 2015

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Currently we have rain, and we should continue to see more through Monday, then the forecast is for clear, warming weather through the 17th, and yes the lake has come up nearly a foot since Thursday.
      We may just see 4 feet Rumsey by the time this system moves out. Currently the lake is at 3.75 Rumsey.

      Prior, to this system things were really beginning to happen around the lake, and I would suspect once this is system is gone, and the forecast stable weather moves back in, things will really begin to improve once again.

      Big fish, and I mean “big fish” was the word this past week. I know of six fish over 10 lbs last week, with a 12 and a 13 topping that list. Haven’t heard much? Nope, but that does not mean it isn’t going on. Trust me, while I cannot get into too many specifics, the bite was really beginning to take off around the lake.

      Unfortunately, with my busy schedule I depend heavily upon friends and contacts for their reports, and these reports here would be impossible to do without them, so thank you again fellas for trusting I WILL NOT violate your trust.

      That said, I can tell you that Mid-Lake North began to finally kick out numbers on a consistent basis this past week, as did the Rattlesnake arm. Glide Baits, Swim baits, , Jerk baits, LV500s, minnows, and A-rigs topped the list of reported producers. I managed to get out for a mid-morning excursion on Tuesday managing 13 myself, but apparently, had I listened to that little voice and gone a bit farther north, I may have really gotten on them.

      So, with the forecast of 70 degree weather by the end of the week through the 17th, and with the rising water, I think things will really begin to get interesting as a result. Soon, real soon. Yes, these fish were already “beginning to look” as they say prior to this system, and I think we’ll see more of the same.

      Personally, I’d get that glide bait and swim bait rod out and get after them. I think this spring is shaping up to be “one of those”, especially with the water temps being what they are.

      Not sure how, or what to do? Well, then you may want to consider contacting one of the guides around the lake that specialize in big baits. Trust me, it will accelerate the learning curve dramatically, and you may just have that day of a lifetime, not to mention, it will save you money down the road in that you will see firsthand the proper equipment, thus saving you from purchasing any wrong equipment, be it rods, reels, or baits.

      Interested? Here’s a couple of guys I’d have no problem contacting!

      Alphabetically:

      Matt Allen: 707-514-9704
      Paul Bailey 818-584-5257
      John Pearl 707-536-3984

Saturday, February 7th, 2015

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: This past Saturday I went fishing with my buddy Albert. There was a chill in the air most of the day and the surface water temperature was 54 degrees and didn't change all day it was C0LD. After working the rocks outside of Monticello Ski School with no luck I headed into the ski school and saw one of my friends he told me he threw everything he could think of and couldn't even get a nibble. Decided I wouldn't waste time there and headed to the ranch house side to see if anything was going on there. Could not find any signs of fish activity but was still able to land a 3 pound 10 ounce smallmouth bass in the grass in about 10 feet of water. Good job Albert!!!!! I figured if we were lucky here we should try the vineyards so that was the next stop. I fished two rods brass and glass and I also threw a top water. We started at twenty feet deep and drifted to four feet and no signs of anything going on. Figured as long as we were here I would try my favorite spot with all the stumps in the water too no avail. Freezing cold and getting frustrated I headed back towards home fishing along the west side and using red and black crank bait Albert hooked a 2 pound smallmouth bass (see photos). Albert was happy I was happy for Albert so we decided to head in so we could defrost. Did I mention it was COLD!!!!!
      'til next time.........................................................................good fishing!!!!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you have any questions or stories you would like to share please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com
      or call me at 650-583-3333
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: tough day

Thursday, February 5th, 2015

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 54-57

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I guess someone needs to do a report! It was a beautiful day one the lake yesterday - AFTER the fog lifted!! Sun didn't come out 'til about 11 am. I did a "teach the lake" trip with a client who is really getting into bass fishing! We ran all over the mid and south end, I showed him all types of on and off shore structure. The structure looked good on the Lowrance, but the fish and bait didn't show much. We hit some east shore areas and he finally caught a 2 pound largemouth on a long skinny worm he was using. He brought his own baits. I thought there would be a little more activity on the east shore in the late afternoon, but it didn't happen. We got back to the narrows on our way in - and stopped for a few last casts on a rock ledge. I picked up my brown/orange jig with a Yamamoto #180 grub and made about 4 or 5 casts. How many stories have you heard about the "last cast?" Well - here is another. I made one final cast, working my jig uphill over some scattered rock. It got CRUNCHED!! Great fish - a 4 1/4 lb spotted bass. I've always said - quality is better then quanity! What a beautiful fish - my biggest spot at Berryessa by 2 ounces. Now my client knows where she lives!!

      Tips: I just found out last week that Yamamoto no longer makes my favorite #180 super grub. What to do! Heidi, from Yamamoto, said "Get Over It!!" - we have a million other colors! Anything any of us says about the lake conditions probably won't mean very much if the predicted amount of rain does fall this weekend. Let's hope and pray! If the storms do hold together, I think the lake should rise at least to last years level - and maybe more!

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Damn, i went fishing again today at Lake Oroville, from 7 am to 10:30 am. Nice day on the lake with an improving bite. Water temp up to 52 degrees, about a degree a week right now. Once we get into the 60 plus range, bite will be wide open. Better count, got 13 spotted bass with finally one at the 15" range. All other fish 13-14 inch. Water still coming up, even though no rain for quite a while. Getting rain tomorrow to Monday, with estimated 4-10 inch depending where one lives. This should give the lake a little boost of water.
      City: Magalia

Wednesday, February 4th, 2015

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 53 afternoon

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Alternating calm and breezy weather but great for January! Hadn't fished for a few months so spent a lot of time trolling to charge the battery and see the fish activity. Saw no suspended fish the whole length of the lake up or back. I often see this in the afternoon summer now after seeing schools stacked up in the morning. Tried mostly jig and craw up or down rocky bluffs or 45 degree rocky areas with no luck and not graphing fish and I've got a Humminbird Matrix 67 unit with combo narrow and wide beam. I see much less bait balls in recent years. Anyone else seeing this trend?
      City: dublin

      Tips: Heard they are around 50' but I couldn't find them. Let us know if you are finding them, although the upcoming rains will change current lake conditions.

Monday, February 2nd, 2015

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 49.8 - 52.7

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Weather: Early fog, blue skies with light high clouds
      Lake Level: Falling tide early, long drawn out incomming\Best Depths: Most fish are comming off the various rock levees that have 7-14 out off the bank. The three fish we got this week that were over 5 pounds, all came off a tulle clump that had 6-7 foot of water at the bass and hit that flipped in jig on the fall. The spin
      Fishing still remains tough for most on the Delta with scattered fish in 1-3 pound range and that occasional big one. The bass here are starting to move, we're getting a lot more missed bites on jigs each day than fish in the boat, as well as picking off
      Guide Information: WWW.CoochsFishing.COM\Name & Number: 925-732-3293

      Tips: The bite is tough, keep yer head up, change areas and Thank God at least yer out fishing today!