Submit
Report

Northern California Lake Fishing Report

Limit:

Friday, February 28th, 2003

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Pit on Thursday, and ater a slow morning did ok in the aternoon. Boated a dozen or so up to 2# using dart head and brass/glass worms. The morning was breezy, and I don't know i I was ishing too ast or just couldn't eel the bites in the wind. Typical spotted bass pressure bite- like you 're not sure, until they let go and you say "darn"- missed one. Depth 15-40 eet, and using Mother's Finest #1. Steeper banks with chunk rock seemed better or me.
      City: Redding

Thursday, February 27th, 2003

  • Mariposa County
    • By

      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: ished rom 7am- 3pm caught 4 all around 2 pounds on berkely power worms black at about 10 - 15 eet (accross rom barrets cove)
      City: manteca

      Tips: small worms very slow very patient

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52-56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water at 10:00 ater getting the snow o my boat.Bite was much slower than this weekend.I think the ront moved them around.Though the size was better.Managed a nice spot on a blade and a 4+ black on a jig...Five other keepers to 3 lbs on the drop....35 to 50 eet.O the water at three(rain and cold)
      City: sonora

      Tips: Try all depths and dierent structure.The movement is coming...And no the spots haven't taken over.Lots o largies in this lake...

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 54-58

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: launched at 8:00am and headed up to the warm springs arm to do some much needed lippin. Flipped brown jigs with brown pork and a watermelon red brush hog on trees and layed down timber. The bite was slow at irst but picked up very ast with the sun comming up. Had the irst ish o the day on and it was a nice 4lber, the bites started to roll ater that. The brush hog took several ish into the 3-4 pound range, but the big ish came on the jig n pig. Ended the day with a nice limit o 20lbs all on lippen.
      City: Geyserville

      Tips: The ish are moving into the shallow water to stage and eed thru the day. Key in on tinber and lats that have lay down wood with deep water near by. Work the jig slow and thorough. The ish will slam the bait and let you know they have it. Good luck and lipp your heart out or the big ones.

Wednesday, February 26th, 2003

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55-57

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: ished the mid week tourney out o lunborg landing. went down and ished the last hal o sandmound slough going down the bank temp was 55-56 ... nada then it went up to 57 we caught all our ish in the 57 degree water . as we kept going towards the end water dropped back to 55... coldest at the end. i thought being the shallow end water would be the warmest not true. not many bites but quality ish . we got maybe 12 bites between the two o us .. did manage to boat a limit or 15.81. or ive ish. inished third also had a 5.51 and that won big ish .. 17 + to win ....16 + or second . ten boats ished and there were 7 limits .. the guys who caught a bunch o ish went south . they caught more ish but quality wasn't as good .. our big ish was caught on a spinner bait ... three other on senkos and one on speed trap . we also caught a small striper and about a 4-5 pound sacremento pike .!!! that sur sucked as i thought i had another 5+
      City: SUNNYVALE

      Tips: ind warmer water and slow down ....

    • By

      Water Temp: 56-57

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out o Paradise Point or a very short trip. Only ished or 3 hours, rom 11:00-2:00 p.m. I started out ishing the end o White Slough at the extreme East end (under the low water bridge). Since the tide was coming in, I couldn't stay long or I would be stuck there 'till the tide changed. I almost didn't make it. Only 1/2 inch clearance rom bridge bottom to console. Too close!Anyway, I ished the north bank along scattered riprap with a craw colored rattletrap or three 2 lb clones.Moved into Bishop Cut or 3 more 1 1/2-2#ers, on chart/white spinnerbait, slow rolling along weed edges.
      City: Manteca

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 49-52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I helped two clients prepare or an upcoming tournament and will attempt to tell a little about the trip i my ingers have thawed enough to move!! We ished the north end (that is all I will say about speciic areas in respect to them) and expected a pleasant day in the sun. We launched about 8 am at Lucerne as the og was burning o. We had sun alright - maybe or an hour. Within the next hour it became totally cloudy, breezy, and bone-chilling cold. Luckly the rain was south o us and we only got about 15 drops. One guy I heard took his boat out, went home and jumped into the hot tub. My next Ranger will have one o those!!! Bottom line - drastic cold ront. Luckly, we did get a head start on the rip bite, all throwing 128 Pointers. One client got a nice 2 1/2 pounder right away. We ound 52 degree water and the other client nails a nice one but looses it. The NEXT cast he nails another good one which wasn't hooked well but he handled it great and good he did, 'cause she weighed 6 lbs 4 oz. I am one happy guide now!!! I soon got a 2 pounder as the weather was going in the tank. The rip bite died and I assumed the ishing would too since there would be no shallowed movement this day. We decided to go with Senkos and jigs. The jig bite hadn't been too good - until today. We caught several and lost several, with the other client landed a nice 3 lb 11 oz bass. I also caught one on the Camanche Jack water dragon worm in the hitch color, using just a swivel or the weight. As the clouds started to clear, the wind really came up but we tried one more spot. I am most happy when a client catches the biggest bass o the trip - but when I got a hit on my Weapon jig/Yamamoto grub combo and elt the surge o power, I though we would be now talking about a good limit - i I could get her in. I did - all 8 lbs 6 oz o her. what a ish. So we wound up with 13 tournament keepers and a 23-2 limit. Cold weather and hot? ishing - a day to remember - when we warm up!!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We used two or three jig colors, so I don't think that was a major actor. Working them slow was! Without saying too much, we seemed to ind ish in rock and tules, but not much on docks. The water is pretty clear everywhere so long casts may be important. The bass are very healthy and the 01 spawn are nice size ish now. Should be a un year!

    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Aaron...when I bank ish, I do a good deal o walking most o the time and ish all over the lake. You will ind ish on various areas o the lake at certain times o the year. So unless I've developed some kind o pattern (ex. the ish are holding shallow in the tules), I'll just take 2-3 rods, and load some o the essential tackle into my pockets so that I can just walk around the lake without having to pick up and move everytime I want to ish a new location. One rod I always make sure to bring is my lippin' stick. You'll do a lot o lippin' rom the shore than anything else. Like I said, I load my pockets with the essentials: hooks, weights, beads, a ew bags o various plastics, and some jigs. This way, I've got everything I need right there on me and the only thing I have to carry are my rods. The Channel Point dock is usually a sae bet. There have been many days when I just don't eel like doing much walking, so I'll just park it on the Channel Point dock and stay there the whole time. This is probably the best place to ish rom shore actually because you've got a good array o cover / structure around this dock. It used to be that on one side, you could sit and pitch lures into the tules, but this year due to the lower water and their recent program in chopping down a lot o the tules around the lake, you don't quite have that option rom this dock right now. However, you've still got the drop-o there to ish, there's two small points extending out into the lake on each side o the dock (they're both a pretty good cast away, but they're reachable), and oten ish will hang-out right there under the dock. As ar as what I use in the tules...depending on the time o year, I'll use jigs, various plastics (GatorPups, BrushHawgs, lizards, worms, grubs, senkos...), and spinnerbaits. There aren't really any tules by the dam. There's one small, tiny patch o them in the northeast corner, and that's about it. The rocks extend down the eastern bank or a good ways, and at the end there's a small section o just mud bank, and then the tules start up and go along the whole rest o the eastern bank down to the south end. Don't be too discouraged, ishing this time o the year can oten be tough, especially rom the shore. I'd say about 1/4 o my trips out there rom shore in the last month, I've gotten skunked. However, I also usually only have time to ish or an hour or two. I you have any more speciic questions, just e-mail me and I'd be glad to help.I have a ew questions or SturgeonKid. When you bank ish, what part o the lake do you ish? Have you had any luck around channel point dock? What do you use in the tules? Are there any tules around by the dam? I ished there on Sunday but couldn't get any bites. I tried spinnerbaits, senkos, crankbaits, plastics, and jigs. Any tips or advice would be hepul. Thanks
      City: Antioch

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 55+/-

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: This lake has good winter ishing, but gets a ton o pressure. Even during mid-week, boats were located in many o the good spots. We got six ish, 3 smallies and 3 largemouth. All o the ish were deep and o good quality (2lbs+). Pleased or an aternoon o ishing. Typical deep water techniques worked. Several guys ishing shallow looked like they were keeping small bass.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: This is an urban lake. At this time, this is not the place to go to get away rom the crowds. It has its up-cycles and then gets ished out and declines or a couple o years. You also have to be o the lake beore dark. The lake also has a 10mph speed limit.

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Cherry Creek today. What else is new. Cloudy all day and a ew rain showers. Got a ew taps and no takes and was starting to get a little annoyed, but the ourth tap made up or those. A nice 4lber o the lats. My uncle and mysel caught 12 ish or the day in Cherry. Kind o tough ishing or that amount o time on the water. Our best ive or around 18lbs. A lot o hits, but no takers. What that means, I don't know. Found most o our ish on this one lat near the creek channel. Where are the big ones?
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Carolina big and small brushhogs(watermelon/red) and just keep moving around until you get one. Then slow down and ish the area thoroughly. Reaction bite not there yet until the water starts warming up.

Tuesday, February 25th, 2003

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I have a ew questions or SturgeonKid. When you bank ish, what part o the lake do you ish? Have you had any luck around channel point dock? What do you use in the tules? Are there any tules around by the dam? I ished there on Sunday but couldn't get any bites. I tried spinnerbaits, senkos, crankbaits, plastics, and jigs. Any tips or advice would be hepul. Thanks
      City: Antioch

    • By

      Water Temp: 55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the usual suspects. Nothing. Went back into the creek had what looked like a 8 to 9 ollow my rip bait to the boat. Got excited pulled my bait right out o the water. Pulled one 5+ o the lats at the last tree headed into lake. Slow day lost 2 at the boat, one ollower and one in the boat. marked lots o ish suspended on drop os and in creek. Come on sun, come on moon. On the water at 9 and o at 2.
      City: gilroy

      Tips: Reaction baits or the larger ish has been the key or the last couple o weeks. When working a crank or rip throw a pause in there and reel as slooowwww as you can stand. Saw a guy catch a 3+ on a blade.

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Sacramento arm Monday. Tried rip baits while it was breezy, with no success. Tossed worms and jigs the rest o the day, with some success. I could't ind a consistent pattern or location, but ended up with about 15 ish to 2 pounds or two anglers. Have to admit my partner caught more than hal o them. Depth rom 15 to 40 eet, on eighth and quarter oz. darter heads and brass/glass, and hal oz. jigs. Best worm or us was Mother's Finest #1, a dark green and brown combination. Think I'll try the Pit on Thursday.
      City: Redding

    • By

      Water Temp: 49-50'

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Bob G rom Portland,,,,you must email "jerry" or the report.(waltmanb@c-zone.net)He will give you the most honest one available. Alot o tourney's being held on the lake recently................say, do you know my cousin "Stan", belongs to Mt Hood bass club?
      City: SF/Redding

      Tips: I have ound jig ish in the sac arm recently, dragging points in 20'.....

    • By

      Water Temp: 48.7

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fish'd a tourney on the 22 and 23. Clear skies and wind. Sat we ished the Sac and the bite was slow. Most ish were caught using carolina rigged brush hogs and jigs.Sunday we were in the Mcloud running jigs o points. For the boat on Sat we had 9 ish and sun we had 10. largest caught or us was a 2.33 spot.
      City: salem

      Tips: Fish SLOW in 20 to 40 t o water. Bait color browns or crawdad patterns.

    • By

      Water Temp: Unknown

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I am planning on coming down in about a week. Is any body ishing? There has not been any reports or a long time. I could use some help in what to bring and where to ish.Thanks,Bob
      City: Portland

    • By

      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water alittle beore noon. Tubed to the submerged tree I ound on Sunday. Pitched the 1/4 oz. ootball head jig, dressed with the Yamamoto Hula Grub #221 to the tree. My line twicthed and moved to the right. Set the hook and was in or a good ight. The ish went into the tree and it took a bit o a struggle (being in a tube) to get it out. The result was a nice 7.42 bass. Weighed, took a picture and released the ish. Fished other areas, catching 3 other ish about 2 lbs.. Two on the jig and one on a Pointer #128 in a shad pattern. Returned to the submerged tree and caught a 2.5. The ish on the lake are still hanging o shore or the most part.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: Watch the water temp. As it warms the ish will move up.

Monday, February 24th, 2003

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Sorry about the late report. I went up last Tue. evening, started about 7 pm. Spent the irst hour getting all my warm clothes on and getting used to the cold wind coming down the canyon, then I started catching a ew bass up in Jackson, but the bite was slow. About 11 pm I went into the back o Rock creek and ound several 3 to 4 lb. bass right on the bank. Then I went back into Jackson and ound a school o 3 to 7 lb. bass hitting big worms in 6 to 35 t. like it was there last meal. By 3 am I had caught about 25 bass and then the bite slowed. I continued to ish untill morning, started to rain, went home.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Full moon, storm ront approaching, go ishing. 11" Gator Tail worms, Dead Ringers and Camanche Water Dragons. Work the steep banks up-river.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: well lets see,me and my partner went to Amador to do some bass ishing witch didnt go so well we threw everything we had,i ended up hooking up with a 2lber on a brown and orange jig in the 12t level.the bass were not wanting to bite or anyone it seemed,so we ended up doing some trout ishing,i know this is a bass site but come on.overall the bass had a bit o lock jaw,i talked to a ew bassers and they were all having a hard day.
      City: sacramento

      Tips: maybe some more sun will pick the bite up,who knows,i don't.

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished sunday, 2-23. Decent ishin overall, but the aternoon bite inally came around 1430. Ended up with six smallies and our largemouth. First ish in the morning I caught crankin about 8-15 eet. Hung a good smallie, about 3 and 1/2, then a couple more dinks. Fished outside schoolhouse cove in the aternoon or the last six ish. Caught those shakin 6" Robos in about ten eet o water. Great day to be out on the water. Beautiul weather!
      City: Vallejo

      Tips: I the crank bite doesn't develop, ish the worms slowly. Don't give up on the cranks though.