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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, August 1st, 2014

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished areas in the east Delta including the San Joaquin and Mokelumne rivers and caught several nice largemouth to 3.5 lbs. More than half were in the 2.5 to 3.5 lbs. range with the top 5 slightly over 15 lbs. I’m trying to learn punching so I spent the first hour or two doing that with no hits (obviously need more work on that technique). I switched to Senkos, both Texas and wacky rigged, and immediately started to catch fish.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: Most fish were in or near shade at the base of tules or under laydowns.

Tuesday, July 29th, 2014

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

      Report: Launched today at Bidwell marina 6am, fished till 10:30 am, in an attempt to learn the main lake and middle fork for a few hours. First time fishing this section of lake. Did ok, got 10 spots, all at 13-14" and really fat ones, felt big, but not. Also a nice 7.5 pound catfish on 6 pound line. Nice fish. Released all fish to catch again one day. Main lake seems so barren, even middle fork seems that way too to me.
      City: Magalia

Sunday, July 27th, 2014

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: up to 80

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I took out Kevin his wife Linda and their young daughter Kathrine for the day. We had a fun day with Kathrine catching the largest fish of the day weighing just under 4 pounds (see photo). Yesterday I went out with my fishing club "YBAC" for salmon on the "Wacky Jacky" out of Fisherman's Wharf. We caught 10 salmon for 17 people and Pete who complained about his spot on the boat caught 4 of the 10!!!! Back to Lake Berryessa I have been told that there have been bass ranging from 3 to 4 pounds seen near shore which makes me think there might be another spawn by the full moon. Top water lures have been working very well for me in the last few weeks and I enjoy fishing that way. 'til next week....................................................good fishing!!!!
      www.fishingconnection.net If you have any questions or stories you would like to share or are interested in booking a fishing trip please email me at bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.
      City: San Francisco

      Tips: chugger or pop r or zara spook are great top water starters yes I love feathers on all the above.

Thursday, July 24th, 2014

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: 76-79

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I guided an adult father-son duo yesterday for their first Berryessa experience. I didn't expect to bite to be real good - mostly because of the recent very cool summer weather, nippy in the mornings. And - it wasn't real good! We hooked two quality bass however. The dad broke one off - probably because of putting too much pressure on her. I saw a glimpse of her - 4 or 5 lbs I think. We fished the narrows early in the morning with no results. Went out to the main body - fishing off-shore structure in a slight, cool north breeze - but a beautiful day! Just couldn't get anything going except for his lost fish, so I decided to fish them near the shoreline weedbeds. Finally dad lands a nice 14-15 inch smallie along with a smaller one, using an Aaron's Magic 6" Robo worm. I had started using a similar color 6" Robo - but nary a bite. Finally - at 12:30 - I get this savage hit in the middle of the weedbed, 3 feet of water, and this thing bolts out to deep water. And I mean I am holding on for dear life! After a line tangle and surviving a tremendous gill-rattling jump (she looked 10 lbs!!), we got a 5 lb 2 oz largemouth in the net after a several minute battle. She must have had a good spawn - not much belly - but LEAN an' Mean!! I would have rather me lose mine and dad land his, but it is what it is. A plug for Gami EWG hooks - my size 4 hook was not in a hook shape when we removed it. Twisted and bent - still held the bass - amazing! They had another bite or two while I tried the spoon bite again. It produced a 4 1/2 inch smallie on a 5" Blade runner spoon. How's that for insult!! At least I have seen a few quality largemouth caught this year at Berryessa. In fact, the overall size of all bass species at Berry has been above average I think.

      Tips: Wonder if I should give up night fishing? The quality of some of the day bass for clients - and me - has been great this past few months!! As you probably know, the main ramp at Markley Cove is now out of the water, so plan on a little more time to launch. The low water ramp is very good however - a little steep. I think we just hit the lake at a down time - a typical event after the post-spawn feed. Summer bass always seem to be more active in a steady weather pattern. Summer storms moving up from the south have always turned off the bite in my experience - especially at Clear Lake. Weather this last week has not been what we need for a stable summer bite. Things should return to normal this weekend - good luck!

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: Oops

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Hot weather. Caught a 14" sm on a 3oz., 8" trout imitation off shallow weeds next to a dropoff. The little glutton had the whole striper size treble deep in its mouth. This got the hopeless feeling I was having as I could not get a bite on topwater, deep crank or soft plastics until the wind came up around 9am. Got 3 lm 2# each or less in the afternoon pitching soft plastics around weeds. Fought a monster in the trees but lost it when I lost balance and ended up on my back after the hookset trying to lift the fish out of trouble and maneuvering the trolling motor in the wind. It wasn't the only comical problems I encountered - I think the heat and bright sun had a lot to do with it.
      City: dublin

      Tips: For me, pitching soft plastics to the shade of weeds. Got all fish in south half of lake. Tried north end. Interesting weeds with depth but nothing this time.

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

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

      Report: Worst day ever fishing today. Think it was the weather, thunder storms on the area, tried to rain, high and lows pressure from the weather. I only managed 11 fish today. 3 catfish at about 2 pounds each, one tiny 11" small mouth, 7 spotted bass, 2 at 14", the rest 10-13" Where did the fish go today, beats me!! Lime saddle launch ramp will shut down in a day or two. BUMMER for me. Looks like Bidwell is it till the lake comes up again. Looks like I'll be learning the main lake and middle and south forks now.
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat looking for a fish partner, let me know and lets go catch some fish. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net

    • By

      Water Temp: 79-81

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Been away for a long time and thought I would take a moment to give a report. I have never been much of a summer time, deep, clear water lake guy, sticking to Clear lake and Delta. However, that will change. Oroville threw a nice surprise at me on Sat. fished from 7-3PM and had to have boated at least 60 fish. * were over the slot, but the majority were in the 12-14 inch range. Great top water in the AM and plastics in the afternoon. The bite was not too deep. 5-25 feet. They ate everything. Pulled well on 4 and 6 pound test.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Don't get to creative. Toss your favorite rig. They were spitting up sculpins and smelt so browns and shad patterns worked well. The whole lake was holding fish, but some points and walls were loaded where others would just kick out a fish or two.

Saturday, July 19th, 2014

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched at six out of Russo's and ran straight up to the breaks. Got blow ups on Sammy but no takers. Switched to LC 128SP and immediately got bit, 3 3/34lb. Caught a bunch that way for awhile then switched to dropshotting around the backs of tule islands to get out of the wind. More quality fish, including a 4lb 3oz and many many more dinks.
      Video here: http://youtu.be/nwIerkjX4OM
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: Water's cooled off a bit for some reason but it hasn't seemed to adversely affect the bite. Couldn't get a reaction bite other than jerkbait. Caught another pike minnow on a crank bait but that doesn't count. All my fish came on jerkbait, DS and t-rigged 6" senko.

Friday, July 18th, 2014

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Plenty of action but many of the fish were on the small side. A few 2's and a few 3's - the biggest fish was 4 lb 11 oz. Fished in Potato Slough mainly in places where I could find protection from the hard blowing wind and small whitecaps. Most fish were up close and caught on Senkos (red shad - wacky) or on a red speed trap out at the edges of sparse tules and along rock walls. The big fish came on a popping frog in the slop near a laydown.
      City: Stockton

      Tips: Can't somebody do something about this wind- HaHa.

  • Alameda County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished for 3.5 hours in am. Calm for the 1st 2.5 hours on the lake and I could not get bit throwing topwater, jerkbait or pitching soft plastics. Saw a kid on shore with a bobber and another gentleman farther down catch a fish and then later seeing 2 boaters hauling in fish. Eventually caught 2 bass 3-5# on deep crank when the wind came up.
      City: dublin

      Tips: Move around and cover water. Mine at 15 feet. Interestingly, both came as the bait was being brought up off the bottom to the boat. Directional/speed change important or they were suspended?

Thursday, July 17th, 2014

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went fishing today with Jeff, launched at Bidwell about 6 am. Funny, Tuesday it was so hot it nearly made me stop fishing for the summer, today it actually got cold when running the boat!! Today, Jeff got the biggest spotted bass, a nice FAT 16" fish. We got a couple other nice ones, had to be close to 15" mark. Most fish were 12-14", with a few 8-11 inches. I Got a nice catfish about 4 pounds. Overall we did good, got somewhere between 30-40 fish as a guess. Lost count and can only guess now, forgot my score card and pen!! Stopped fish a tad past 10 am. Thanks Jeff, nice trip.
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat looking for a fish partner, let me know and lets go catch some fish. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net No boat, then lets take my small 14 ft Klamath, it catches fish too.

Tuesday, July 15th, 2014

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 80

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Damn is it ever hot these days. Fished today with Jeff, launched at Lime saddle and fished the North Fork area. We managed 45 fish total, with only one spot at 15" and a couple at 14". the rest of the fish about 8-13". We also got a few catfish, 3 in the 1-2 pound range, hooked and to the boat 2 in the 5 pound range, never got them on the boat. Guess I'd better get a landing net!!! Looks like the ramps at Lime saddle and the damn will only be in operation about another week or so. Water coming down 1 foot a day or so. Thanks for fishing with me Bill.
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat looking for a fish partner, let me know and lets go catch fish. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net No boat, then lets take my small 14 foot Klamath and get some fish.

Thursday, July 10th, 2014

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 79

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out with Jeff and his grandsons? 10-12yrs old? forgot :>) and had a blast, total count on fish 54 and only 3-4 were caught after 10:30 am. Soon as the sun began to get towards late morning the bite was gone. Of the 54 fish, one was a 17" small mouth, one 17 1/2" spotted bass, 2-3 16" spots and 2-3 15" spots, maybe 4!! hard to remember exact. Also got 3-4 cat fish, largest about 4 pounds. While going to get the trailer, one of the boys got a nice silver salmon (coho), didn't measure it, but looked to be 20" to 24" fish, a real nice fat one. Of all the fish, the salmon was the only one to go home, all others released to catch another day. The boys want to fish next year when they visit, me too. Thanks Jeff, great fishing trip. FISH ON, me I call them all TUNA
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat looking for a fish partner, let me know, I'm available most of the time. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net and lets go catch fish. No boat, then we can take my small 14 foot Klamath, small but it catches fish.

Wednesday, July 9th, 2014

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 83.4

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: It was really hot yesterday (Tuesday) & the water temp showed it! Got on the water at 9:00pm, fished Henderson & Shag, got 1 blade fish 7 1 crank fish 3 lbs apiece. Went to Dollar & Konocti & blanked for the next 2 hours. Tried Wheeler & managed a 4.9 jig fish. I wish I could say it got better after that, but we ended at 3AM with no more fish boated. Around 2AM in Konocti, tied into a 7-8 lb'er that broke off at the boat. Rats! Fishing a Texas Noris Bug that got hung on a rock, popped it out & bam, the big girl nailed it. Unfortunately, the rock also nicked my line (I use 20lb. Seaguar Abrazx) & when she saw the boat, she went sraight down & that was the end of that! At least got s good look at her, but we fished for another hour hoping the bite was turning around. Wish I cold say more, but "sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger & sometimes you're the Bug!" We were the Bug! lol

      Tips: The lake went dead calm around 10:30PM & so did the bite! I thought we could drum up some Senko fish, but nary a strike! We threw cranks, blades, jigs with all different kinds of trailers (even went old school & tried Uncle Josh's Pork) a plethora of Texas rigged plastics, swimbaits, even topwater by the moon, but for use it wasn't there Tues night! We fished Jago, Wheeler, Konocti, Dollar, Henderson, Shag, Buckingham point, & docks all over the place & deep, shallow, slow fast,it was slow all night! Wish I could tell you more. we will be back in 2-3 weeks & see what happens! Looked at mt notes from this time last year & it was pretty close to the same results. When we had an oinker of an evening though, the following night was much better! Had to cut the trip by one day so we didn't get the chance to find out this time! Good luck out there & stay safe!

Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 79.1

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Cont... moon set around 1am & took the bite with it. We waited to see if the bite came back like last nite but it didn't happen & we got off at 3:30am. Ended with 12 with best five going 5.2,4.14, 4.12, 4.10, 4.8 for a 23.4 limit. Blade fish were in 8-12ft, plastics 15-24ft. We fished rather slowly, some bites were strong, some very subtle. They seemed to like dark colors with red. We fished Rocky structure. No crank or senko, bites!???

      Tips: Move around, fish a little slow & don't be afraid to fish deep! Oh yeah, check your gas tank visually, mine read 1/4 & you guessed it, ran dry at 1:30am. Thank goodness for aux tanks! Hope the bite doesn't die out tonite, stay tuned!

    • By

      Water Temp: 79.1

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on at 8pm, ran to Henderson & Shag, Ted got a 5.2 blade fish & I got a 4.14 jig fish. Moved to Dollar & picked up 1 top water & 3 blade fish at sunset. Went to Frazier & Konocti and picked up 6 more on blades & jigs.

    • By

      Water Temp: 78.1

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Checking

  • Butte County
    • By

      Water Temp: 79-80

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I went fishing at Lake Oroville today and did pretty good for a short trip, off the water at 10:30 am. Managed 27 fish, One nice 18" spotted bass, about 3 1/2 pounds. One 16" and one 15" with all others 8-14", average about 13". 2 were large mouth, about 13", and 2 small mouth about 13". Also got two nice catfish, one at 6 pounds, the other at 5 pounds. First fish was a nice 3/4 pound sunfish, big for sunfish. Fish were deeper today, 20-25 feet down, think it's because the water is 79-80 degrees at the surface. They go deep to find water that feels better to them. Next trip Thursday with Jeff, taking his grand kids out and teach them to fish.
      City: Magalia

      Tips: Anyone with a boat looking for a fish partner, let me know and lets go catch some fish. Email me at Jewelweaver@earthlink.net No boat, then lets take my small 14 foot klamath and get some spots.

Monday, July 7th, 2014

  • Lake County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78.6

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Finally back on the water! Started at 7pm & actually caught a few during daylight! Started at Wheeler & nailed a 3.5 on a crankbait with the 3rd cast. Caught 6 on jigs until moonset at around midnight! That's when the jig bite hopped a train out of town & it took us an hour or so to figure out it left! Started getting bit on Texas rigged Kinami Noris bug (the one that's discontinued) of course! They also started hitting the spinnerbait as well so we stuck it out til it started getting light. We finished with 15, our best five going 5.2, 4.6, 4.4, 4.2, & 3.7 for a limit of 21.5. We were happy with that since we haven't been on the lake for two months! Fished south as always & we managed to pull 2 off of Frazier! Fished Konocti & dollar island as well.

      Tips: Keep moving around. We caught them by one's as they weren't stacked anywhere. They were in 8-15 ft as we were fished just outside the weedline. Weeds & algae were not as bad as we were expecting & that was a,bonus! We were a little concerned as we didn't see much baitfish, the Silversides aren't out yet. Hopefully they show up soon so the fish will get fat this fall. Larry will be happy that I caught some daylight fish! Stay tuned for tomorrow night!

Sunday, July 6th, 2014

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75-76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Only had a half day so we mainly stayed on the Moke. Launched/Started B&W 615am..plenty light already. worked the far rock wall at the start of the Moke and hit many many many just under 12"ers but dang it was fun. I was using ultra light casters with a floating craw rat-l-trap so they simply loaded up and set the hook on their own. After my big brudda and me had about 25 of these (maybe 6-7 just at keeper size), we decided to go to senkos...my bro threw baby bass and I threw black neon (black/red flk) 5". picked up 9 keepers all 1-2 lbers with best going 2-12. then around 12-1230pm threw traps again just to have some more crankin' fun and picked up a bunch more. probably total dinks and almost keepers was maybe 30-35. total keepers was 9, me 6, big brudda 3. imagine if we had more time and went lookin' for some punchin' patches. off the water 1230pm ... oh, forgot to mention, kept a 23" striper caught on the crank....I'm filleting him right now!!! all blacks released.
      City: folsom

      Tips: I don't think I'm qualified to give tips...i'll just say I really like crankin so I started out throwing a 1/2 oz floating rat-l-trap in a crazy vivid craw pattern. also used 1/4oz cali craw but majority crankin' hits came on "pinchin' peach" floatin' super natural trap in 1/2oz. I really like this cuz you can take your time when you throw to the rock walls and don't have to worry about your trap sinking immediately, you can take your time. ...and many hits came as soon as it hit the water....I'm serious...I had some blow ups you'da thought I had a frog, Sammy , or spook tied on....but just a simple floatin' trap.
      but deciding the bigger keepers were hangin' out low, we threw 5" senkos in black/red flk and baby bass and that was the ticket...all the hits I had to dig the hooks out from deep in the throat, they inhaled em. on the 2.75lber, I took my dikes and cut 2/3 the hook out to let im live.