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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, May 25th, 2003

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 63-67

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well it was my Birthday! So my buddies decided to take me to the Lake! we caught Fish but the ish where not close to the banks anymore, we looked or them and ound them, They were a little deeper on main body points and we Nailed them! most in the 1-2 lbs. We got there about 4:00 pm and as night ell we started to get bigger Fish, I caught a 4lb and a 5lb the 4 came on Drop-Shoting a RoboWorm, the 5lb came on a Brush Hog. One o the guys who came with me was Larry my Brother-In-Law a very nice guy, It was his irst time Bass Fishing! And let me tell you he LOVED IT! He caught seven ish all in he 1 to 2 lb range. He is now a

      Tips: I you are going to Fish at Night then take some worm cloths it got a little cold, work your lures very slow.

  • Lake County
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      Water Temp: 64-70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Preishing or WON on June 14-15, so I'll be brie and very general. Launched at Redbud and ran to around the islands and began throwing a Persuader buzzbait. One blowup, no like I had anticipated the bite would be. Decided to go up south o Lakeport and look or some bed ish in an area I remebered rom a trip past and ound three beds, each with a ive on them. Stuck one o them beore I couldn't see the beds anymore. The wind and the recent algae bloom made tough sight ishing conditions. Played around Skylark or a while and caught one Speed Trap ish o o the Skylark ramp. Made the run back down to the south end and ended the day with 4 more lip ish. I was lipping a Yamamoto Fat Ika in watermelon seed on a 3/16th oz. weight and a 5/0 Gamakatsu hook rigged texas. Not much to go on or the day, but the wind was a actor that threw everyone o o their bite rom the olks I talked to. I expect the bite will come to me and the plan I had or the day when the 14th & 15th o June rolls around. Good luck to all and see ya on the water.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Because o the wind it crammed alot o people into the ew protected areas Clear lake has. Like Larry says though, Senko,Senko, Senko or these ish now.

    • By

      Water Temp: 64

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I have mentioned beore that guiding is sometimes a series o highs and lows (mentally speaking). Some trips have a certain amount o stress or various reasons and others are so satisying that you just eel good all over. Yesterday was a combination o both and with a happy ending! I knew that the Memorial Day weekend at Clear Lake would be diicult enough but when I saw delta og over Yuba City when I let I knew that the wind was going to be a major actor in my plans since I was guiding people vacationing at the south end. And I had a ather who has done some ishing, his 17 year old son who had never caught a bass, and a 15 year old riend that seemed to be able to handle a rod and reel pretty well. Ater launching my Ranger 520 in 2 to 3 ood swells at Pirate's Cove we proceded to ind a place to ish - no easy task! Though we only ished about 5 hours, we did catch 37 docks, 24 tule burms, 3 cables, 5 trees, and 7 bass!!!! This is supposed to be a joke, but that is sort o how the day started. With the wind howling and the boat moving everywhere, many o the miscasts were not their ault. Ater the 15 year old riend caught a small bass and dad caught a 2 pounder, the riend hooked a nice bass - maybe 4 pounds - on a Senko, but dropped his rod tip and lost it. We continued to look or quiet areas near Gooseneck - but so were the boaters and jet skiers. Around noon the 15 year old was casting a #214 Senko into some tules and soon I was aware the he was going to lose the battle with a good bass heading or a dock. I yelled "pull, pull!", He did and I netted a "should have been a 5 pounder" but I think she had lost some eggs - she was 4-11! This was the biggest bass o his lie. Now to help the other boy! I switched him to the #214 also with no immediate success. Since the arrangement was or a shorter trip because I was doing a night trip or other amily members later, time was running out. Dad said to me (no pressure intended) that he really wished his son could catch one and I told him I wanted it more than he did! The LAST tule patch we hit - I showed the son where to cast his 214 5-inch Senko. As I watched, his line seemed to tighten and I soon saw this "mouth" slowly come through the algae towards us. I told him to reel ast - he did and reeled it right to the top o my trolling motor shat!!! I couldn't even see the bass as I'm yelling "net, net!!!!!. I quickly put the net under where I thought the bass was (in rolling swells I was doing this) and then elt the weight o the ish in the net. I got the bass in the net but not the hook - it was still attached to the motor! Don't know i that was a skilled net job or a lucky one. Either way, the son proudly held the irst bass o his lie - all 4 pounds o her, or a great photo shoot. Were dad and I smiling or what! So we really did land 7 bass and missed 2 I think. We were a happy bunch as we bounced our way back to the lauching ramp! Seriously, I think we only really hooked 10 docks, har!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: I had everyone stick to Senkos because o the weather conditions and their skill level. Numbers 208, 214, 221, and 222 have been top producers these past two weeks or my boat. Senkos work well with our people standing in a boat. The night trip was a near disaster weather-wise. I took two college age olks out and we hooked over 10 bass - one big one - and landed 2. They were totally shut o with the very cool night and wind made things nearly impossible. Ater midnight I became quite concerned as the wind seemed to double in speed (rare in the middle o the night) and as we came around Anderson Island and headed or the new ramp at the Oaks, I knew it was going to be an "E" ticket ride (old Disneyland lingo!). I am glad it was the dark o the moon so they couldn't see how rough it really was - maybe one o my "top 5 adventure rides" at Clear Lake ever. We rode one swell or it seemed like orever. The boat would not come down. We all thought it was pretty cool - a surboard with 225 useless horses behind it! One hears all the arguements about which is the best rough-water boat. I have conidence in my Ranger and that is why I own one. I think one o the big actors in big water is the length - 20 to 21 eet will help you not to spear the swells. We didn't. Day or night - i you have a smaller boat - don't take chances at Clear Lake during a spring or summer cold ront (delta breezes)! Cooler air moves to the Clear Lake area on one vehicle - wind! This is not the typical hot summer aternoon wind which is never too serious. We had a kind o double ront this weekend and last night was positively ugly. I even blew all around towing back to Yuba City.

    • By

      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: HAVENT FISHED THIS LAKE IN ABOUT 2 YEARS LAST TIME I WAS HERE WE WERE CATCHING CRAPPIE LEFT AND RIGHT OFF LIVE MINNOWS. I WENT OUT FOR BASS ON SUN AND TO MY SURPRISE HOOKED A NICE 3LB ON A GREEN SENKO FISHING A WIND BLOWN FLAT. THIS WAS ON MY 2ND CAST WHICH OF COURSE GOT ME EXCITED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A GREAT DAY! BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE I FISHED THE FRONT HALF OF THE LAKE AND THAT WAS THE ONLY FISH I CAUGHT OR SAW. STILL NICE TO CATCH A FISH AND WORK ON TECHNIQUE.
      City: WATSONVILLE

      Tips: I FISHED SENKOS, JIGS, SPINNERS, AND A CASTIC TROUT ONLY FISH WAS ON A SENKO. LOOKS PRETTY GOOD THOUGH I WILL BE BACK!!!

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 77.8-76.1

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: in at bailey cove at 715pm, air temp 95, lake down to 13.6t, no wind, ran across the McCloud near shallow point and got bit right o the bat, all small but 13 in the irst 20 minutes, threw a 1/2oz ootball head with a hula grub or those, went to Mr. Fuller's bait but only had one blow up. moved down near the erry or 5 more and things came to a screeching halt at 930pm. got out at 1015, air temp 75, lake quiet this evening and wind came up a bit at 830pm out o the north.
      City: Reding,Ca.

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

      Report: Anglers- Caliornia B.A.S.S. Federation is holding Open draw tournaments on Trinity on June 29th and August 10th out o Cedar Stock Resort. No ailiation required, guaranteed your own boat. Flyers can be ound in Weaverville @ Millers Drive In, Long's Drug, and Mini-Mart just out o town on Highway 3. In Redding @ Phil's Prop, Berry's Barber Shop on churn creek and hartnell. Also you can print an entry @ www.caliorniabass.org. Cut-o date is the Monday preceeding the event (June 24th and Aug. 4th). Any Questions call me @ 530-243-7348. Tony
      City: Redding

Saturday, May 24th, 2003

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 65-68

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Put in around 8:00pm and started throwing a big top-water bait with no luck... until I tried it again at 9:00pm and nailed a nice 5.6lb ish in shallow water near a point. My irst ish over 5lbs. It elt good to break that barrier. Finally went to a drop-shot rig and caught another 12 in the 1-2lb range. Finished just ater midnight.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: Darker colors with red lake seamed to work the best on the drop shot. I'll keep the top water bait to mysel or now.

  • Benton County
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      Water Temp: cool

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started the day out trolling or trout rom boat docks to the dam, picked up two on each pass. We trolled shallow with spoons & worms. They liked the spoons. Hed breakast brought to us by Mom, "Thanks Mom!" Got bored with the trout thing so we pulled out the ly rods and had un with the bluies and hassled some bass. Water temp is still to low or a good bass bite, but the other ishing will keep you busy. Lot's -o- spooners.
      City: Watsonville

      Tips: Spoons in gold, lies in shadows, topwater in morning.

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Had a great time ishing with the Night Stalker and Dominator. It was the Dominator's irst night trip on his boat and we initiated it well. We boated 40 ish. Largest was 5.5. The Dominator had 18-19lbs or 5. There were many active 3-4lb ish. Much un was had.
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Brush hogs, senkos, BDR's in about 10 eet ater dark

    • By

      Water Temp: 70-72

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Couldn't really put a pattern together on sat. Lost a couple just to the right o the boat launch on a drop-shot bass assasin shad right away. I couldn't buy a bite on anything plastic ater that, so I started to chuck and wind a rapala shad rap rs to the shoreline. Ended up boating 3 and losing 4 more. I guess i need to sharpen my hooks.
      City: gilroy

      Tips: Go or the reaction bite. I like the Rapala Shad Rap RS in shad. This is also a great bait or trolling. I have caught a lot o extra ish(bass and trout) just throwing it out behind the boat moving or one spot to another.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went to Whiskeytown withmy buddy Tyler today.Got to the second pond at 230 ished till 6 all together 15 bass, all but 3 on my dads homemade jigs in 1/2 oz. Tyler weighed in4 ish(lost one, swam out o the livewell) or 6lbs 13 oz i got 5 or 8lbs 1 oz, but got DQ'ED or bringing in a sixth ish:( oh well, we had un and Big ish was all Tylerwho got a 2#14##.
      City: Redding

      Tips: JIGS.. Pruple with second color either brn or green, and use twin tails in smoke and purple.

Friday, May 23rd, 2003

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at 6:30am rom Markley Cove, headed across the lake to my avorite cove.One trip around the cove using a Shad Rico (topwater lure) netted me 9 bass. Biggest was a Beautiul 2.75 smallie. Most ish were close to wood. Continued out into the main body throwing the Rico, continued to catch ish. About 9:30 I headed to Little Portuguese Cove. I started cranking with a Shad Rap, caught two 1 .5 largemouth & a 17" rainbow. Did a litte split shotting with out much luck. About 10:15 I broke o my split shot set up.....Instead o re-rigging I grabbed my baitcasting rod with the Rico, I changed Rico's to a Blue one & started throwing. Three cast later I hung a nice 2.5 largemouth, it only got better the hotter it got. I caught 38 bass rom 6:45 to 12:30. 36 o them on TOPWATER! The best bite was rom 10:30 till about noon. During that time I was catching them all over the place. Next to the bank to 20 eet out, and they were bigger ish than the early morning bite. I would estimate that my ive biggest would total 13+ pounds. Great day....I would have stayed longer but the water skies were getting thick, & you all know how much courtesy they show us isherman.Best place was just inside the 5mph bouys in Little Portugese Cove West side.
      City: Vacaville

      Tips: Topwater ruled today....I it doesn't cool o too much this week end it (topowater) should be good or a while. Saw some schools o shad close to the banks,big shad in the schools 2-3 inches..... thats probably why the topwater bite was so good.

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

      Report: ished or 4 hours got 10 bass, nothing big all went around 1-2 pounds. caught most o the ish on carolina rig black worms.
      City: los altos

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well Alex, Jamond, Aaron and my sel hit contra loma in ull orce today. Today I learned that its a good thing to sit on a big bass or a long time and not give up till you go mentaly insane. We all started ishin at around 800 Alex had the irst ish soon ater I cought 2 little dinks one on a senko and the other on a drop shot rig. Well now im gunna get to the interesting part o the story, so we all eventualy gathered in cattail cove we were all working the same shore line but at dirent spots and to my supprise and delight I saw Josh Schroder I ished with him when he got Top nut and Big nut on the delta any how he was ishin this bed ish and couldnt get the male or the emale to get a go at his lure when he let he told me I could have the spot yippie! So or a while I ish it then i decided to go grab my stu and let Alex have a at it he got the smaller male to eat the skirt but nothing more, I got it to chomp a big brush hawg but either I riped it outta his mouth too ast or he just didnt have it yet. Alex let and Jamond returned rom the west cove and he ished it with me inact he came right intime to see me LOSE the 3lb+ male and see my invention the drip shot castaic sunish lol I used a drop shot to get the bait to stay in one place better while twitching it in the ace o the male who but it got the hook but I gave a baby hook set to and paid or :( So I was tryin to get this dumb emale that weighed like easly over 5-6 lbs to bite somethin i had her bite the castaic sunish drop shot but she got it by the top or head and no hook so I worked that ish till every one was gone bout hal an hour later I decided i had had enough but then i remembered a secrete weapon i had something Ddawg made (rom my specs) it was a white top chart bottom lipin jig with a clear brush guard and or a trailer I added a senko tail o matching color or bulk liped that into the area she looked at it but i pulled it too ar she backed o Took another lip she came out she looked straight at it and in an instant she had eaten the whole thing and I had set the hook harder than Ddawg on tournament day lol she thrashed about and I couldnt gain any thing on her my drag was set to let 3lb ish barely pull line out so i quickly reeled down and while liting back up tightened the drag I backed her onto shore holy cow she was a real horse! then she loped around and the hook poped out so i practaly dove on her i put a hand on her head and another on her tail so she couldnt lop back in I liped her and weighed her in at 7 3/4 lbs nearly 8 My scale isnt that accurate and at irst I thought she was 6 3/4 I ran up to the ranger station to try and see i some one had a camera to take the pic no luck no one home! the guy mmowing the lawn had let no one in sight but AHH! one trout isherman by the pool so i run down to him he dosent notice me becaus im on the other side o a willow lettin the girl get some water I come out rom under it and all he can say is holy! oh my god oh my god shes huge! I ask i he has a poloroid or digital and he tells me he usualy brings one but decided to not this time DAMN! I HAVE NO FREAKIN PROOF! so I revived her a bit more then walked her down to her bed and made sure she could swim and stay alive beore I let her tail goshe swam o like a champ! Thats the biggest contra loma bass ive ever had and my largest bass in a real long time. Ill scan and show you guys the lure i got her on,Tom
      City: Pittsburg

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 72-75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started in the back end o Cottonwood. Fish were active close to the bank. Started with pumpkinseed luke, with no takers. Switched to Rico popper and caught 9 beore 0730. Five o the nine were over the slot with the big ish 18 inches. The rest were in the slot, except or one that was below. Fished Temperance with indierent success ater the surace bite aded, still caught 3 slot ish there.
      City: Modesto

      Tips: The water is rising, so be careul o loating wood. Tight to shore the grass is bothersome. My most eective lure was a Rio Rico in gray and silver. I tried a couple o walking lures, but they didn't seem to be what the ish were keyed on and only caught two small ish on them.Ater the surace bite stopped, 082 worms, splitshot, were good.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: and we all hope that you DO get caught. It's people like you that ruin the sport. But hey, i you play with ire, you're likely to get burned. Hope you have enough saved up to pay those ines!!!
      City: san jose

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Recently bagged a 13lber baiting a live trout. To all the naysayers and playahaters: It's only cheating i you get caught.
      City: san leandro

      Tips: No artiicial bait can replicate the enticing action o the real thing. Think outside the tackle box.

    • By

      Water Temp: who cares

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: jordan i am a 13 year old isherman and its people like you that screw up the world. When you catch ish cheating no one gives a crap. You shouldnt be able to ish any where. I i see you doing that im going to turn ur dad and you in.
      City: el sabronte

      Tips: NO ONE CARES

Thursday, May 22nd, 2003

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 60-65

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I ished Amador on 5/21, i had un catching 7 bass all 1-2 lbs. Nothing big, I caught all my ish splitshotting inesse worms in the Martens magic color. I ished rom 6am to 11am. I concur with the previous anglers report about the bass being on secondary points near spawning areas. I ished the creek arms. later i tried or a big ish o some o the main lake points with a yamoto 8" grub, and an 8 " worm. I had a ish boil at my surace bait (rebel broken back-rainbow trout color). That was irst thing in morning. I have to say my bass ishing has improved this year and i have beneited rom getting tips rom John Walton at Walton's Pond in San Leandro, He always gives me tips on how to ish speciic baits, and is always willing to give advice on how to ish a certain lure, what lakes to ish at that time, where in the lake to ish. I recommend going there, as he is always riendly, and he is a big bass expert. Also i had the pleasure o ishing with Larry Hemphill (a bass guide)at Amador a couple o weeks ago. He is as advertised, when i ished with him, we had a hal hour stretch where every cast we had a bite.He truly is one o the best bass isherman around. Again i recommend hiring a guide like him, as you will learn so much in the 8 hours you ish with him.
      City: Hayward

      Tips: 1-2 lb bass seem to be plentiul, use inesse techniques, in creek arms. Especially plastics such as 4' worms, brushhogs, senkos etc. Try night ishing or your trophy bass, Larry Hemphill hooked a huge bass that snapped 20 lb line, at night when i ished with him.

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: A very hot day on the water on the Delta.Fished Disappoint and Potatoe with the homies Eric and Wilson. Caught a ew on white blades. Kickin back with the boys and doing what we do best, relaxing and having un ishing.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Don't oget plenty o sunscreen, a at hat, and plenty o h2o to drink. Keep it sae and ish on babyyyyyyy.