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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, April 25th, 2003

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out o Orwood 7am. Rock walls in indian slough or 4 bass 2 slow rolling spinnerbait & 2 on small shad crank. had a plan to try something new and it payed o-Slow reeled dead ringer (split shot ) on island point with hard bottom and connected with (3) 2lbers and a beatiul 10lb 2oz hawg. Over to rock slough or 5 dinks & a 2lber. Out to ranks tract or a couple ew more small rys. Best action took place beore the brunt o the storm rolled in. In at 1pm - 1st caliornia 10 lber
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Slow roling spinnerbaits has been consistant last 3 times out. Cankbait near rock walls but 15 eet out in 10 t o water. Dead ringer slow reeled with current -split shot- 1 oot rom weight to worm. They crushed the dead ringer ( not just a pressure bite).

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 52-54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Been out ishing a number o evenings the last couple weeks, usually between 5;30-8pm. In the Sac. arm out o Bridge Bay. Using only spinnerbaits and crankbaits, getting a good bite over the 2-3 hours I am out. Fish are all keepers, and best is 2 lbs. Getting 4-6 ish an hour consistently at this time.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Go slow, ish between the rain and being in the sun seems to help. I'm on secondary points inside coves, and a ew ish are back in coves. Throwing to the bank and using retrieve that gets the baits 8-12 eet deep, but I can still see them. Fish are coming up to get the baits. Ater this set o rain, I think the topwater bite will really take o.

    • By

      Water Temp: 59.0

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished rom 6:00-7:15pm again rom the boat. Looks like I inally igured out the color as I had 2 ish nibble the bait and one 13" ish landed dropshotting a 4" Oxblood Magic Worm on 6lb test. Looks like there are a number o ish that are in the shallow protected coves or in 30-40 eet o water. This helps me eliminate unproductive water and now I can target a ew areas that I haven't had time to ocus on ater work. As I was pulling the boat out I ran into one o the park rangers by the name o Eddie Ancheta. Really nice guys, turns out he's one o the rangers who ish or bass in the Santa Clara county parks. We talked or about 20 min exchanging ideas and talking about available orage, etc at Stevens Creek. He said that there's no thread in shad which eliminates throwing a spinnerbait or crankbait here. There are crawdads, blue gill, stocked trout, carp (some in the 20lb+ range), crappie and some sturgeon. He also told me that last week a shore isherman landed a 40lb sturgeon in ront o him and Fish and Game. Later ound out that they guys took the ish to Fishermans Warehouse rom my buddy Chad.Next time out I'm going to bring my Aqua Vu and igure out what type o ish I'm graphing in 30-40 eet o water.
      City: Los Altos

Thursday, April 24th, 2003

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 61

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: We ished the ranks tract area with some good success with those cookie cutter size bass the deltas so ull o. Boat total was 15 most on crankbaits. It was a tough bite during the worst o the storm but as it blew by we managed some better quality ish. It all beats work, rain or shine!
      City: Concord

      Tips: Crankbaits during the storms worked or us.

    • By

      Water Temp: 57-60

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Took out a writer and potographer rom the CC Times yesterday we started at 10:00am rom Lundborg. The time is doing a story on the delta or next month. Most o the time we just drove around looking or isherman and some dierent sites. I really wanted to show them what kind o ishery we had so they let me ish or a ew minutes, we went to mandeville and I got one 14" on a luke and they were pretty excited, then we drove around some more and went to a little spot in ranks I pitched the luke up an got a 7ber it was cool they got to see the whole thing and toook lots o pictures. I then dropped them oand we back out to ranks and got about 15 ish between 12:30 and 3:00 most all on the luke.
      City: Concord

      Tips: I can't wait or weather to get better. The luke ish have been in the weeds look or a hole and toss it in.02 Skeeter or sale Mark 925-676-3474 great deal

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 60

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Hit sonoma on thursday, launched late at about 2:00 stopped o at the dry creek store or some live minnows and I'm glad I did. Started o on the dry creek arm ound a lowing creek and started there. Got bit ast live minnows are the way to go. Caught mostly smallies but it was non stop. Moved to yordy tied up to trees at russlers camp and caught smallies right o the shore in tree branches. I've hit sonoma alot this year at least ten times and have not gotten results like this in any o my trips. Rig was simple just a live bait hook, no weight no bobber. You have to watch your slack line to see the bite. I can't wait to hit it again.
      City: petaluma

      Tips: Do yoursel a avor and stopat the dry creek store and get some live minnows

    • By

      Water Temp: 50ish

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Finally made the coast to coast trip rom massachusetts to caliornia. once in santa rosa i decided just to go down to spring lake just to get a look at it and see how i would be ishing the next days. it was raining out but i decided to take a ew casts rom shore. irst cast threw a spinnerbait, because it was starting to get dark out i didn't see all the weed strands so when i was reeling in i kept getting caught up, started burning the spinnerbait in just to get it out o the weeds, the blades were out o the water and the skirt was in. right as i was pulling the spinnerbait out it got smashed. the ish went straight into the tules which were 3 eet away and got caught up, i knew it was a good ish so i just walked in the water and ollowed my line down into the tules. i didnt expect the ground to be so muddy so as i was trying to move my eet around, i elt the ish again, i guess it swam out, anyways ought the ish through the weeds on 8 lb test, and landed my biggest ish, 26 inches in length, 20 inch girth. It was deinately ull o eggs. i wanted to get a picture but i couldnt ind anyone around in the rain. ater catching that ish and having to leave soon ater i elt like i was going to be in or a great day the next day. i got the tube down to the lake, there was little wind, hot out, and no rain. i tried everything, and couldnt get a bite. i lipped everything on the lake with senkos, lizards, reapers, paddletails, grubs, u name it, and i tried spinnerbaiting the weeds,cranking the weedline. i guess spring lake is really a hit or miss lake. well im back in massacusetts now and i keep wishing i was at spring lake, its just something about it that keeps u thinking. Good luck everyone.
      City: Hingham

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2003

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I actually guided a trip this week and one last week that I didn't get a chance to post. Last week I took a ather and 9 year old on a 6 hour trip. We ished the narrows rom noon to a little ater 6 pm. We had another rontal passage about 2 pm causing a great deal o wind, making the last part o the trip diicult. The most important goal was accomplished - the 9 year old caught his irst bass - a spot at 1 lb 6 oz, using a morning dawn worm. Dad got a ew - one nearly 2 pounds on a #221 Senko. I caught a couple too, one about 2 1/4 lbs drop-shotting. We did catch 5 largemouth which was cool! Most o the bed ish I saw the week beore were gone. Most o our ish were caught about 10 to 20 eet deep. The trip this week was not very good as another ather and son ished with me. They did hook several but wern't able to land any. They were beginners and the ish just didn't help any. The boy and I practiced casting most o the trip and he was making great casts when we quit. I caught about our - letting the boy land a ew. One was a nice 2 1/2 pound largemouth! We saw three males still on a nest but they wern't interested in any lures.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Since the big rains happened in December, the lake is very clear this spring. Light line will be necessary in bright conditions. The early and late bite will be best on bright days. We really need a long period o stable weather to get the bite going again.

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

      Report: Call me a Moron, What are the luke ? I guessing is a plastic bait .

    • By

      Water Temp: 57-63

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out o Lundborg, just trying to keep in touch with the ish. The water temp has droppped a ew degrees over the last week and I was expecting ishing to be tought. It was a nice high tide when i launched so I ran around ranks ishing protected weed lats with a big loating rip bait and a luke chartreuse color. I got 10 ish in the irst hour but no good ones biggest was 2.5, then when the tide started out I ran to a dead end slough, and worked the luke on the bank and through the weeds there was bed ish all over I saw one over 10 but didn't try to catch it. Just going down the bank blind casting the luke I got a 7lber and a bunch o ish near 3lbs. I is really cool to watch the ish bite the luke.
      City: Concord

      Tips: The ish were biting the luke on the pause.Check out the Great Bass boat "my Skeeter" or sale in the classiied section

    • By

      Water Temp: 58-62

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Sweet Beavers have played a big role in ooling Post spawn Bass. Still the Dominators are the Big Fish choice but the added thump and vibration do help tremendously. For Guided Trip Ino Call 209.612.5028Lic # 704161-02
      City: Tracy

      Tips: Plastics are the key or me with the storms rolling through, once things stablize agian the top water bite will improve too

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: hey stergen kid you should o been out there when it was raining today.it only raind or about 20 min and it was more or less a sprinkle.i went to the the same toolies you went to a little earlyer in the day.i cought 6 there.5 o them going 4pounds and the other going 2.5.i sayed on that point o another 2 hours and dint catch any more.i had 3or 4 more bites but missed them.i was using a white 4-inch zipper worm. i was on the water rom 3-645 and i think i saw you going to the point right b4 i let.best day o bass ishing i've had this year.to bad it was only or 20 min.
      City: antioch

      Tips: there must be a lot o ish on those ront toolies but it will just be a matter o time b4 they lower the lake down or the summer.by the way stergen kid,have you ever ound any good spots to ish when they do lower the lake?i always end up catishing.

    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: BTW Tom...I you ever want to...I have an extra loat tube...I just don't have an extra set o waders or ins. So i you can ever get ahold o those, I'd be more than happy to loan ya my extra tube so we could ish out on the lake. Otherwise, when are we gonna meet up and ish around rom the bank? Let me know...
      City: Antioch

    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: WHEW! Ok, I don't eel as bad now. LoL! Gosh...sure had me goin'. I was about to eat my hat with you catchin a 9.9 d:o) I ished with Josh Schroeder this evening or a couple hours...him in his kickboat, and me in my tube. I got out a little late and Josh said he had caught 3 little ones already. He caught another couple ish ater that around 1.5-2lbs using a hula grub. I lost one ish on a spinnerbait as I was makin' my way down the eastern bank over towards him, and then once I made it to him, I lost one in the tules lippin' a senko. Ater that we moved over to the cove between the boat ramp and the island and worked all around in there without even a bump. Everything was looking just perect to throw a Pop-R though, so I just couldn't help mysel. On my 2nd or 3rd cast, I had a good blow-up, but seein' as to how that was my irst topwater hit o the year, I got a little excited and set too early. Ater that I threw that thing all throughout that cove without another blow-up. Ater that we made our way to the point, and lipped the tules there. I caught 3 ish there on a senko...biggest was just under 3lbs. Ater that we headed back in.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: I lipped a pearl gold colored 4" senko. There was quite a bit o cloud cover this evening and a bit o a cold breeze. No rain though...

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I was saying that it was a 9oz. bass. When I said that I weighed it on my scale and it was a 9 what I meant was that is was a 9ozer. Those were two separate sentences. I only wish I could catch a 9lber.
      City: Antioch

  • Mariposa County
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      Water Temp: 60-62 .

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished w/ the wie today rom noon until 5pm. Put 11 ish in the boat but missed at least double that. Even mix o spots and blacks. Average size but strong ighters. Fished entrance o cotton, barrett's and the point. First trip to McClure this year. Beautiul day and nice scenery. Overall, it was a great day.
      City: Merced

      Tips: Fish ound at about 8-12t. Caught most ish on 4" worm (CCT Lures McClure Crawdad color). The ish hit ast so don't hesitate.

    • By

      Water Temp: 59.9

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished rom 6:00pm - 7:15pm targeting prespawn ish in 25'-40'. Saw a large school o ish relating to bottom structure but couldn't get them to go. Not sure what kind o ish they were. Tried split shotting a 6" striaght tail purple work and dropshotting a 3" gobi in a natural shad color. Nothing.Maybe next time I'll bring my AquaVu and see what kind o ish they are. They have to bite something.
      City: Los altos

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

      Report: I am coming up or my annual week ishing trip. Is there a tournament this week end?My riend & I have been up or the last 6 years & ound some good ishing & some bad ishing.Mostly has to do with the weather.Last year was the ist time we spent any time north. Decent ish but not as prettysurroundings. We are both xprobass tournament isherman.I've had my pro card since 1988, but I can't catch the size ish some o you do. But I ind your inormation very helpul. We catch & release all but our ish a year which we eat on the house boat, none o them over 2lbs.

      Tips: early & late.

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2003

    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Well gosh dang there Aaron...are you sure you didn't make some kind o typo there? Did you just say you caught a bass weighin' 9.9lbs? On a rickin' spinnerbait? LoL! Now that's a good ish there! I've been ishin' this lake since I was 3 years old...so that's 15 years now, and it took me that long to just stick one over 8 in this lake last month! Got me beat. Well, I know they're in there though...I've seen 'em. Anyways, I wasn't going to report about today, but I've had a lot o crappie ishermen e-mail me over some time now askin' me about any crappie that I catch out o this place, so I igured this report might be o some use to them. I only ished or a little longer than an hour tonight because I had some time to waste, so I just walked along the eastern bank and threw a spinnerbait and a topwater. I caught 2 bass that were both just a little more than a pound each, and then I caught a 1.5lb crappie. I was throwin' a red spinnerbait, and the crappie came out o about 2t o water pullin' my spinnerbait through the tules. I didn't have any strikes on the topwater I was throwin', but there were deinitely some surace eeders chasin' shad. I was just ield testing this topwater bait that a riend o mine made to see i it'd get any takers, but nothin'.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: 9.9lber...geesh...good work Aaron, LoL! Very impressive...

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Started o the day with a nice 2lber just around the corner o Channel Point. It came on about the ith cast o the day on a blue/chartreuse Persuader spinnerbait. Later I went over by the bridge and saw a small bass sitting in a oot o water. i kept on lipping a jig in hid ace until he got pissed o and ate it. I went back over to where I caught the 2 and started throwing the spinnerbait. On about my second cast I got a bass. I weighed it on my digital and it was a 9. 9ozer that is. Didn't catch anything ater that. A pretty good day by my standards. I'm just started to igure out this lake. I've only been bass ishing here since about February.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: Spinnerbaits.