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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, January 19th, 2003

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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Same as the last report Graphed lots o ish up north 25-30 eet graphed none in the south. Fished rom 9:30 till 1:30 not a nible. Used Jigging spoons, Jigs and a little split shotting.
      City: Sunnyvale

      Tips: Don't think my lure choises were the problem.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: high 40s

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Dropped in on a light rom Portland and ished a club tournament. The slogan says you are ree to move about the country. It does not say you are ree to move about the country and get spanked in a tournament. It doesn't say that, but that's what happened. We still caught ish, but we caught numbers instead o quality. My buddy Phil describes the conditions below on his post. Calling the tournament launch a blast-o would be a stretch. The morning run er, crawl got us accross rom rom Brown's to the main peninsula and I got two strikes at 20 t shaking a darterhead. Landed one 2.2lb spot- the biggest ish o our day. We started by working reaction around a rock pile with about 12 t o water at it's base. I did get a blade ish on a similar spot later in the aternoon up north. My partner and I agreed to go to the north to get the limit and go rom there. That was our problem- we didn't go rom there. We caught a double limit worming, but locations that have produced quality ish or us recently didn't deliver on this day and we inished with a bag that weighed less than 8lbs. My buddy Lee has been all over this lake lately, and he located bigger ish and took the win with 12.63. There were 17 limits weighed in out o 24 teams, and the best bags were taken by anglers watching thier electronics or concentrations o ish hugging the bottom around 30 eet. Less than 8lbs. I I can't do better than that, I'll stay o the airlines and stat ishing the Columbia.
      City: Vancouver

      Tips: Keeper size spots are active shallow. Bigger ish are located deeper in thier winter basins. Electronics baby.

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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Our club tourney at Folsom today ended with a ew happy people happy and a lot o people conused. According to my sources the ish were caught rom 10 to 80 eet. Eighty eet??? Ok, here's my report. We caught ish rom 25 to 40 eet. We were ishing jigs and plastics. The bite was mushy. For the morning bite, my best bait was the net. My partner, Terry, couldn't stop getting bit. Me, I couldn't start. We had a limit by 10:00, and one o them was mine. Feeling conident with a limit, we agreed to swing or the ence and switch to "big ish" baits. I'm a chicken, and when my partner wasn't looking, I put on a 3.5" split-shot leach. I had to set the net down, because my bite picked up with the leach. Unortunately, most o my ish didn't help. We ended up culling everything under 1.8, and had a couple o ish over 2. That wasn't good enough or a check on this day. 12 and some change won it. We had 10 and change. At least the wind laid down today.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: The blast-o looked like a rog race. Bring a GPS or go slow; you'll end up going in circles. I can only give tips that are good or 10 pounds. Fish slow... The strike zone is tiny. Good luck.

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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I anyone has any ino on ishing this place, i'd much appreciate it. Thanx!!
      City: San Jose

  • Merced County
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fish big lake on Sunday, trolled almost all day with the hope o picking up some bigger ish, didn't happen and had only one ish 8lbs and several smaller one's. Went to Jumbo Minnows (rom Lucky Larry's) Good bait but no ish, Gave up early! some ish being caught in Lone creek on cut bait, some boats with 1 or 2 ish, one boat had 5 ish and caught # 6 as we baited up. Watched A bank isherman catch a couple nice ish by the Hwy on the north side. Reports o a ew ish caught rom the trash racks north to the point.Good Luck!Good Fish-n!Trip still open or: Bass, Trout, Stripers, Salmonjohn@justish-n or 209-529-8364
      City: modesto

      Tips: Fish slow! island tops 35-50 t deep, keep tring dierent times o day, look or ish on deep side o islands, they move up and down. Get some big baits rom Lucky Larry's, keep them lively!or use cut bait and wait them out!Good Luck!

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Sunday with my dad and grandpa. Had a pretty solid day with consistent action all day. Went out o Baily Cove and caught all ish on main points. All came out o 30 eet o water or more, no shallow ish at all on the main body. Fished dart headed worms, #39, #69, and #33. The old standbys in my book. We probably inished the day with 20 ish or so, largest a nice 3lb spot. A ew smallmouths mixed in as well. Had a huge trout ollow my worm up, that was pretty exciting. All in all, it was a great day on Shasta as always and a nice break to get out o the og rom the valley. All were nice ish, typical or winter ishing, just a while longer and 50-100 ish days will be here.
      City: Red Blu

      Tips: This time o the year is notorious or producing some big spots. Bites may be ew and ar between, but every bite may be the big one. The aternoon ished better than the morning or us. Tight Lines!

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 48 - 53

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I you are looking or cold chocolate milk this is your place. Rains have let extreamly stained water. Lots o wood to manuver on the lake getting to a avorite spot. Went with my son Tom and veteran angler Tiger Mike Madsen. We tried north and down cherry and ound no decent water. Tried Jigs, senkos, plastics, cranks, jerks, traps, blades and got a big at zilch.Went south in the aternoon and arther down the stained water cleared slightly (6-12 inches visability)I was able to get a 2.2 and a 3.0 late in the aternoon. Tom missed one on a tiny spinnerbait and then Tiger hooked a hog. "This is a big ish Dave" as his equipment was getting pushed to its limit. Ater about 5 minutes ighting him he inally got his irst glance at his prize only to exclaim "it's a @#%$* catish. Couple minutes later he had the 9.2 pounder in the boat. Foul hooked (so it elt even bigger)with a Jig but a un ride. ished rom 9-4:30 and only managet those 3 ish.
      City: Paciica

      Tips: ind clearer water i you can.

Saturday, January 18th, 2003

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The Redwood Empire Bass Club had their 1st tournament o the year on Saturday. 16 boats total. Top weight was just over 9 lbs or 5 ish using mostly deep diving crankbaits. Biggest ish was only 3 lbs. I inished 5th with 6.83 lbs and 3rd largest at 2.35 lbs. I your wondering what my secret bait or Berryessa is (rom last report), its a tube. I caught 4 o my 6 ish on tubes.
      City: Rohnert Park

      Tips: Use deep diving cranks around rocks in the narrows. Also try tubes and baby brushhogs in watermelon or pumpkin, and salt/pepper grubs. Work plastics very slow.

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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Let Capell around 8:15am, Fogged in solid until around 9:30......Caught irst ish just outside the ives on a viper ootball head ( brwn/orange w/yamamoto puple trailer), a good 2lb smally, then my 9yr old daughter gets a at 2 3/4 smalley on a Norman Crankbair(char), inally got to run dwn south....The wie gets a spot ( 1 1/2lb) on a Purple Manns Crankbait... That was about it, a ew other strikes-nothing....Reaction bite I eel will work all day...Need a rocky bank , all ish were in less than 10' or water...
      City: Napa

      Tips: Reaction baits and jigs will put ish in the boat...

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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: started out at around 12:00pm rom Markley cove and made my way over to pope creek and was pitching a VP PRO jig pepper/with gree
      City: Fiairield

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

      Report: Finally returned to the water ater working on our new ishing store in Oakley (Extreme Angler). Fished rom 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Southern Delta and caught (3) keepers in the 2-2.5lb class. Only three bites all day and they each made it to the boat. Worked deeper water (8-12) eet o water using a drop shot. Bites were very subtle. Caught ish on three dierent Roboworms.
      City: Discovery Bay

      Tips: Haven't been on the water enough to help anyone at this point. Unlike last January where I was dialed in pretty well...Drop shot dark baits works best. Fish deeper water with/in weeds or your bites. Best o luck...Come visit ExtremeAngler...we open this thursday. TG

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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I have smoked as many cigarettes since Jan 1st as I have caught a Delta Largemouth! 0! Well at least one o these is one to brag about. Launched rom Lazy at sae light and met my buddies at Orwood shortly there ater. We ished Disco Bay and some o the clearer sloughs with sot plastics, split shottin, Carolina riggin, and my avorite, Texas riggin. All colors, shapes, and sizes. Same result as my other 3 trips so ar. I and 1 o my buddies think we may have gotten bit but it could have been a rock just as easy. We had a good time but oicially we are 0 or 4 on the new year. Seems I remember this same pattern just a year ago. I have been reading a lot o things about the Bass in relationship to water temp and time o year but it hasn't helped my game. No worry, I'll keep going and when the bite starts up again you'll all hear about it. Good luck to the rest o you!!!
      City: San Leandro

      Tips: Hmmmmm...uhhhhh...none rom me yet.

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      Water Temp: 49-51

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got a late start this morning. Son (Niko) was sick last night and did not think he was going to make it. He was better and we got the water at 0945. Headed to Disco to meet up with a ew co-workers or a day o striper ishing. 30 min on the water, Niko sets into an 8# striper. 30 min later Niko sets into a rieght train w/a one way ticket. Shows the ish who's boss and gets it to the boat, A 20 lber, 39" long. striper. Remind you, Niko is only 10 years old and he just ought the BIGGEST ish his lie. Got to see his smile. I did and I am a proud ather. Thanks Bob or the shinners, You made Niko's day. GREAT JOB SON.....
      City: Fremont

      Tips: Drag Minnow Slowly

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 52-53

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started in the south end o the Lake at day break..One hit on pork & jig,caught 4 keepers & two small ish..Went to the dam area & got one keeper & two small ish..Finished up in the spillway area. Caught 5 keepers & 3 small ones...8 keepers were rom 13 plus to 21/2-3 lbs..two 12 1/2 inches...three blacks & rest were spots..Fish were caught rom 10 t to 70 t deep. Most o the ish came on 4 to 8 lb test line & 1/16 to 3/4 darter heads..All diernt color worms & i don't belive we caught more then 3 ish on the same color..
      City: Riv

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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water at about 7:00 and went staight to the point. We caught 9 ish total, 6 bass and 3 trout. All the ish came o o 4 and 5 inch drop shot worms in 20-30 eet. The trout were caught over by the dam on drop shot also. man those trout ight hard!!! The bass and the trout all averaged 1 pound with 2 bass going around 2 1/2 pounds.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY HOTSPOTS BESIDES THE POINT PLEASE EMAIL ME Humelaker2000@aol.com
      City: Salinas

      Tips: DROP SHOT!!!!!!!!!!! Predator worms 4 inch purple with chartreuse tip, also a 5 inch white predator wacky rigged. Go to the point staight across rom the ramp early and then start exploring.

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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Last two weekends in a row I got blanked. Tule og killed the bite. This weekend was a slight improvement but only slight with 2 bass and 2 trout in the boat. Bass were caught on drop shot 4" worm in 25-30 t o water and the trout were taken trolling a shallow diving broken back rapala. Largest bass was a nice 2.5 lbs. Tried carolina rig, crank bait, grubs, and jigs and the only bass bite came on the drop shot. Sunny and a beautiul day but the ull moon was working against the bite today.
      City: Foster City

      Tips: Don't ish this lake when there is tule og. Drop shot 20-30 t where ever you graph ish.Be patient. I will be a while beore the bite returns to this lake.

Friday, January 17th, 2003

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

      Report: Well the ull moon always seems to kill me. Nothing or the second day in a row. Water is still pretty cold and on top o that it's still rising. From Thursday to Friday, the lake level has gone up anywhere rom 6 to 8 inches. I did notice that water was lowing rom the spillway at the northend by the big dam. Bailey cove just might be ull in time or the spawn.
      City: San Jose

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water this morning at 7:00 A.M. Lots o og so we took our time and ollowed the north shore up into the north ork. Marked good numbers o ish setting in 15' to 25' next to deep drop os. We anchored up and worked these areas with 2.5" minnows both under slip bobbers and o the bottom. We had steady action and ended up with six bass included a beautiul 4lb plus spot! In addition we caught six nice rainbows, a mix o planters and holdovers. We kept the planters and illeted a couple bass. Looking orward to some ine eating. What a great winter day o ishing! By the way can anyone give me some inormation about the catishing at Folsom. I'd like to compare notes.
      City: Ophir

      Tips: For trout use smaller minnows 9' below a slip bobber. For bass use a larger minnow with one split shot. Fish on the bottom in about 20' o water o the red clay banks. Rig your minnows on small circle hooks so you can release the ish you don't eat and remember not to be a ish hog.

    • By

      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: On the water this morning at 7:00 A.M. Lots o og so we took our time and ollowed the north shore up into the north ork. Marked good numbers o ish setting in 15' to 25' next to deep drop os. We anchored up and worked these areas with 2.5" minnows both under slip bobbers and o the bottom. We had steady action and ended up with six bass included a beautiul 4lb plus spot! In addition we caught six nice rainbows, a mix o planters and holdovers. We kept the planters and illeted a couple bass. Looking orward to some ine eating. What a great winter day o ishing! By the way can anyone give me some inormation about the catishing at Folsom. I'd like to compare notes.
      City: Ophir

      Tips: For trout use smaller minnows 9' below a slip bobber. For bass use a larger minnow with one split shot. Fish on the bottom in about 20' o water o the red clay banks. Rig your minnows on small circle hooks so you can release the ish you don't eat and remember not to be a ish hog.

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: 46

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught 18 bass, 4 overs, and a lot o coho. Fished West Branch behind Lime Saddle. Coho on the running water, bass mixed in and on the points beside the running water. Bass also on mud, gravel banks. Used dartheaded tubes.
      City: Paradise

      Tips: tubes, drop-shot worms, greens and shad color. Couldn't get a hit on a spinner bait today. Bend you hooks out a little on the tube to get a better hook set. Lost several early beore I made the change.