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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, January 8th, 2003

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: NA

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: The Winter pattern is on!!! You gotta ish it slow, though. Well, at least it was that way or me, today. Zero on Monday, zero on Tuesday, and 7 bites today with 3 committing. The bites came in about 20 eet o water. Plastics in natural colors were the ticket at this spot.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Try spinnerbaits and spoons irst in LIKELY SPOTS. I nothing transpires, bust out the plastics and be very thorough in the same LIKELY SPOTS.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Water level is way up. The dock is almost loating again. A ew more really good heavy rains, and the level will get real close the trees!
      City: Scotts Valley

Tuesday, January 7th, 2003

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

      Report: slow.. all around ranks and into the taylor slough area, jigs/senkos/cranks/blades..nuthin rom sunup to sunset. and to the " dirk " guy who claims to have caught a couple 13 lb blacks and a couple 21 lb stripers ... you must be some sort o used car salesman or something
      City: oakley

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 47

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out early and tried up north, we tried plastice and cranks, no luck.moved around alot and had no luck to speak o all day. Caught one trout on a renzy crank.All in all could not igure the pattern. Tried using sonar and spooning to no avail.Were later told try Jigs o the points (use the hazard bouys) i it is reliable we cannot tell but may help.Better luck nest time I guess.
      City: Paciica

      Tips: Tips - Don't do what we did!

Monday, January 6th, 2003

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: got on the water around 5:35,started to ish the point directly in ront o the loating dock. About 20 minutes later my irst night bass o the year a dink. marked alot o ish in the 15 to 35 t range with the shallower ish seeming to be more active, but also alot smaller. It was a weird bite tonite I was ishing a 10in june bug power worm, each time I got bit I would set the hook and nothig, reel in check my worm and the tail would be missing, happened our times. tried smaller worms but the ish wouldn't hit.this ishing ordeal lasted 7 hours or three ish 2 dinks and respectul 4Ibr. let early cause my balls were rozen to my leg.
      City: sac

      Tips: god damn it gets cold at amador, bring alot o clothes, when you think you brought enough bring some more, also I know it's not allowed but bring a little wiskey to get you eelin' all warm and uzzy inside but not shit aced. ish sloooooow at night. DUH!

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: TOUGH,TOUGH, and TOUGH today. Stayed close to home today, but cocentrated around the channel riprap and points. I ended up retreating back to the meat wall. Small Strike King Bitsy Tubes were the ticket or today. Hooked and landed 4 bass rom 4 to 10 eet o water. The tubes were swollowed, that tells me the ish were some what hungry.
      City: Stockton, Ladd's

      Tips: Work it sloooow!!!! Try dierent stu.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Whoa...are you sure that was a 12" striper? That's pretty crazy. Because when I was a kid I used to catch those all the time with anchovies, but as ar as I know they stopped stocking those stripers in that lake YEARS ago, so all o those little shakers are grown to those 15+lb stripers you catch out o the lake now a days. I thought they were all that size. I wonder how a 12" got in there? Is it possible that some o the stripers have spawned in there??? Anyone any ideas?
      City: Antioch

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

      Report: When Quarry irst openend I was able to catch 5 bass on an average day with some o those being smallmouth. Now I don't even bother ishing it anymore since most o the trout anglers are accidently catching the bass on nightcrawlers and keeping them. The last several times I have went resulted in a total o 2 really small smallmouth bass. They're putting in all these christmas trees which won't do anything to the lake i people keep the bass, sounds like a waste o time to me. I'd rather they put all the trees into Chabot, a beautiul place to ish with many anglers practicing catch and release(I catch many bass with hook sores). I you like to ish at a lake with no scenery, no bass, and shoulder to shoulder trout ishing, then Quarry is your place. But or you bass isherman, I suggest to never waist your time and money at Quarry and ish the other Bay Area Lakes such as Pablo, Chabot, shadow clis back ponds and Del Valle.
      City: Fremont

  • Merced County
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      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fish still hitting live minnows 25-40 in coves,The damm,trash racks and o breaks.Trolling and cut bait will produce ish also.Had 4 ish or 44lbs on Sunday, bite was slow, lots o boats.john@justish-n.comTrips still avaiable 209 5298364
      City: modesto

      Tips: Fish slow, work the breaks, islands and humps.minnows,cut bait and trolling broken backs.

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

      Report: I thougt I Was Really On Them,On Jigs,& Worms.Thanks To The Cement Guy Who Turned Me On The Wateralls And Incoming Water On Spinnerbaits.I Have To Try It At Folsom !!!!!At Days End I Had A 3lb. Average !!!!!
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Throw Blade Into Running Water Slow Roll on Bottom You Will Feel Little Tick Or Resistence Set Hook.3/4 & 1oz. Best-White Worked Best.Sac Arm & Pit Were The Best.

Sunday, January 5th, 2003

  • Amador County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out o South Shore. Tried some coves toward the dam end, but couldn't get anything to go. Went down through the narrows and ound a wind blown rocky bank. Got a 2.0 on a dropshot worm rom the Yamamoto kit. Nice ish, good ight. Came out o 20t o water. Shortly there ater my pardner got one on a white spinnerbait that he casted to the shore. That ish came out o 5 eet. Fish was 1.5lb. He got another one that came o near the boat was about 1.5. That one ell to a 4" green weenie Keeper Worm. Ran up river aways ater the rock bank died. Water got colder and the trout got active chasing the 4" worm. Also had a 5lb trout take a long hard look at my suspending Spittin' Image, but decided not to bite.
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: Drop shot small worms. Toss some spinnerbaits and by all means Go Fishin', it'll make ya eel better.

    • By

      Water Temp: 52 degrees (su

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Went up yesterday with intentions o catching a monster striper with trout imitation lures. I got an early start, irst boat on the water. It was glass mind you. The trout were rising all over the place, especially next to the boat launch area. A ew guys were on the bank trying to catch some trout that were jumping at their eet but no luck. I pull the boat out to about 20t o water and start casting the monster bait. On my 5th cast I get slammed which seems to be a small one when the ish innally turns on me and burns o about 50 yrds. Finally get him in and it turns out to be a 35inch about 15-17lb striper. Right ater I land the ish I cast out and wham! I get a glimps o the back o this ish and it is deenitly larger than the previous ish. As the ish takes o to deeper water he spits the bait. Damn! I continue to cast the large bait all morning but dont get anymore hits. As the sun rises and the trout move o the boat launch lat so do the stripers.... I think. Head over to the aerators still ishing or stripers..nothing. Cast on the dam and on the east rocks..nothing. Move over to the water inlet in 50t o water vertical jigging a spoon and nibble..nibble.. I set the hook assuming I just hooked a shaker large mouth, ends up being a 12in striper. Tried or large mouth throught the middle part o the day throwing everything ishing everywhere..nothing. Talk to a couple o guys at the ramp and they told me people were slaying the trout yeterday using everything you throw at them. Today hardley anyone was having luck with the rainbows.. weird. Ok guys thats my report. My wie gave me the day o rom the kids and chores so I can spend some time on the lake. Pretty cool eh. Not really! She shows up at the lake with the 2 kids in tow. I spend about 2 hours at the boat launch with them casting out o the boat with my eldest. Actually I didnt mind taking a little break. Had un casting hookless lures in the water with my son (2yr old).
      City: Antioch

      Tips: The medium size castiac trout imitation lures seemed to work good or me. The vertical jigging spoon I use was a Duh spoon in morning dawn. This particular spoon works great at Lake Amador during early spring vertical jigging or bass. Good luck you guys.

  • Sacramento County
    • By

      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My riend Mario took me out or the day in his new G3. Something about my buddies with new alloy deep vees and 4 strokes. I asked Mario i he decided to quickly become a boater again ater helping me douse the ire I had in the back o mine last year. I guess the knickname 'Ol Hotoot didn't sit well with him. I think we caught 8 ish to 2.5lbs and a couple bonus rainbows. Mario ripped the irst one out on the main lake, and then we wormed in the north. Found another buddy Lee sitting on the same rock he's always parked on. We started talking and soon he was giving us the specs on this year's new electronics model by model. I'm all: errr, how deep's the water dude? Lee's got too much time on his hands. He's all "hey Zip, you hit that sweet piece o structure yet?" I said no, that one gets pounded. He rolls up and gets 3. Highlight o my day was nailing a blade ish while a boat load o partying 40 sometings passed real close. They were trolling and could give a rat- they were dragging a stringer with couple big bass along with their trout. The humanity. Got home in time to watch the Giants come rom ahead to choke against the Niners.
      City: El Dorado Hills

      Tips: The lake is up 15t since the December storms. Wish I had plotted the coordinates o some o the prime rock piles. With electronics only it's time consuming to locate them submerged in murky water.

Saturday, January 4th, 2003

  • Santa Clara County
    • By

      Water Temp: 45-55 degrees

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Spent an couple hours checking out the lake since it has illed up. Was rewarded with a nice winter HAWG, 6-7 lbs. Looks like she was getting ready or spring. Used a 6" Bacon Rind, Texas-rigged. All I can say is ish slow and cover areas that you might have been able to ish the past couple years. With the water pretty murky/muddy, I ished with dark colors that could maintain its identity. Nice way to start the year!
      City: San Jose

  • Tuolumne County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52-54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Let Tuttletown shortly ater daylight. Tried several areas and depths in the ski-slalom area and outside o Bear. No luck until the time got close to the solunar primary daylight period, and the tide turned! The bite started about noon and continued until 2:30. Partner and I put 10 - 12 in the boat on split-shot plastics up to 2 and a hal. They started at 30' and moved up as the sun got higher and thin overcast came in. By the end o the bite they were in 10-12' on medium taper points with wood. About hal and hal largies and spots.
      City: Sonora

      Tips: Drop-shot not eective in wood....tooo many hang-ups. Split-shot with buried point the trick. Try 082R in 4". Get 'em out quick or they will wrap you up! R

Friday, January 3rd, 2003

  • Napa County
    • By

      Water Temp: Not sure, guess

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Just ished rom the bank. Started @ 3pm. First time my wie came out with me. I was using 6 1/2 medium action spinning gear with a craw pattern Speedtrap. The wie was using 6 medium action spinning gear with a small Castaic swimbait. I landed my irst on the 5th cast, deinately not a keeper, about 10 inches. Wie caught one about 10 minutes later close to the same size. The bite turned o or about an hour or so. I casted into an area where there seemed to be a new allen tree. I say this because I'm very amiliar with this area and have never noticed it beore. I casted to it 3 times with nothing, then decided to change my approach. I had a eeling I was spooking the ish, so this time, I paused and counted to 15 beore I started my retrieve. By the 3rd crank...BAM! A nice healthy chunk just nailed it! It ought one helluva ight, especially or a winter bass. This tipped the scales at 6 lbs 7 oz. Got some nice photos out o it. I know it's no trophy, but it is deinately the biggest one I've caught..rom the bank. Overall, in the last 2 days, in 6 total hours, I've landed 4 ish. 3 o which were deinate tournament keepers!!!
      City: Dixon

      Tips: You would be suprised how succesul you can be without a $30,000 boat. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have one, but the banks and a 10t jon boat suits me ine. O all the baits used over the last 2 days, cranks and swimbaits with a slow to medium retrieve seem to knock em dead between the hours o 3-6pm, at least where I was at. Can somebody please answer a question or me? Are there any tournaments held where you can compete, even i you only own a small aluminum boat? I'm sure it's not an advantage, so I don't see what the problem would be, as long as you have a livewell. Any ino on this would be greatly appreciated!

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

      Report: Day 3 o the new year was again a great day, 2ish in the box by 8am and 2 lost, limit o 6 ish by 1:30 12-16 lbs.Driting minnows in 25 -35 t o water. reports o ish caught trolling brokenbacks on a ast troll. Lots o boats on the water again today!john@justish-n.com 209 529 8364Trips open while weather last!
      City: modesto

      Tips: Fish slow with bait and ast when trolling, all 25-40 t

    • By

      Water Temp: 53

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished 01 02 03 and had another good day driting minnows as on new years day, 4 ish 12-15 lbs. should o had a limit by 8:30, but armed acouple and then took 3 hours a re-catch Number 4. Overall a great day or the second day o the new yearJohn@justish-n.com
      City: modesto

Thursday, January 2nd, 2003

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 52

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught one ish, a keeper. I casted 3 or 4 times and realized I hadn't put the seat in the ront yet. You know the rest right? I casted, sat the rod down...as I installed the seat, the rod moved to the right and kept movin. I thought, no way. Snatched the rod and pulled up my only ish o the day.Huh? Jeez, I am not kiddin. So it went or 3 more hours, ishin but no more ish. I tried it again, settin the rod down. No bull. Why not? Good luck all!
      City: San Leandro

      Tips: I've been graphin and looking at new water. Summer IS commin you know?

    • By

      Water Temp: 47-49

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: This is an easy report to write. Went out at about 9:00 and ished until the bell rang at 4:30. and or our eort the three o us had a big at zilch!, zippo, NADA, Skunkaroo. Jim had one hit jigging a spoon o the rock just to the let o the Dam. and he and John got a couple ree hooksetsThe water was really muddy, rom what we were told none o the other 5 or so boats got anything either.So much or "let's try and get a Coyote hog on New Years"
      City: Paciica

      Tips: GOOD LUCK ishing in the chocolate milk!We tried jigs, worms, senkos, lizards, brushhogs, tubes, spoons, blades, cranks, jerks, rattle traps, top water, rog. We tried weightless, texas, carolina, drop shot, Jim even tried uncle george or something.What the heck - it was still un to be out on the water ishing and deadsticking (untangling a backlash rom a new reel - we all got in on that)