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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Tuesday, September 3rd, 2002

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: ???- HOT

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I was up in Cherry Creek Sat, Sun & Mon morning over the Labor Day holiday weekend.Not many ish were caught but I did get a ew early in the morning on purple and brown jigs or white spinnerbaits. All the ish were less then 3 t o water and holding tight to trees mixed with rock.Lots o boat traic but the lake lice were behaving(relatively speaking) this weekend. :)
      City: Cotati

      Tips: Summer is TOUGH at Lake Sonoma. Fish early in the morning, late in the evening and at night. What I need is a tip to get my DAD ishing. 4 days on the water and he wet his line or 5 minutes... max. OY!

Monday, September 2nd, 2002

    • By

      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went out tubing as always. We did pretty good as always. One ish was 3lbs but nothing over that. I need some hepl rom you guys. I always ish the rear pond, and tried island pond yesterday or about an hour. What is the secret over there. What kind o plastics and where is the lake.. I never knew it would be so ull o cover in the water. Thanks
      City: Pleasanton

Sunday, September 1st, 2002

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      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Beautiul reservoir! Fished the trees at the Hicks road end. Full o little ones. I caught 3 in about 20 minutes, beore the ranger made me move my car (can't park on Alamitos Rd. apparently). I saw plenty o big ish on my ish inder, so drop shot should work. I was using Senkos with a small sliding sinker.SJC
      City: San Jose, Ca.

      Tips: Use drop shot in the deep water and lip Senkos to the trees and resh vegetation on the banks. Park on Hicks!

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

      Report: CAN ANY ONE TELL ME WHERE FRASIER POINT IS. I AM NOT FINDING IT ON THE MAP. WE PLAN ON BEING AT CLEAR LAKE IN OCTOBER.THANKS
      City: FELLOWS CA.

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Two outings in one on this post- a Zip Decker double shot. Got an early start on the weekend on Friday. Started on the main lake, but moved ater one ish. The Delta breeze sweeping accross as it has all summer pushed me to run above the narrows. The lake was calm and peaceul and suprisingly void o boat traic. The reaction could only deliver keeper spots so I made a decision to target wood or largemouth. A Senko delivered one and a blade another, but neither weighed over 2lbs. I launched at Granite Bay and signs directed me to a narrow ramp with only one dock and sand parking lot. By noon I had a dozen and I wasn't in the mood to ish deep. I put the boat on the trailer just as that ramp was becoming a weekend cluster. Day two was Sunday with Swimbait. We ran north and decided to ignore the keeper spotted bass and hunt or niche largemouth again. Deep cranking and jigs could not get past 10 or so spots- the largest going a little over 2lbs, and the only largemouth were merely keeper size. We got the last two in the south. Blademan calls my cell and says why aren't you on the Delta Zipper? Our club's regular season inale is there next week. Seems my karma is here on Folsom lately Blademan, and I want a ew more good times on my home water beore I relocate to Washington State this all. We launched out o Brown's and I had the boat back in the garage by 1pm. I said to Swimbait how automatic is that? The keepers are too automatic perhaps, but we did try to get on better quality. My new home's location is 30 minutes rom the Columbia, and 15 minutes rom three reservoirs on the Lewis river. The smallmouth has always been my avorite o the basses. Perhaps it's not as automatic as the gig I have now with Folsom, but I can get a largemouth ix rom the pond on the property. Props to Phil (report below)- dude you had the look when you let the ramp.
      City: El Dorado Hills

      Tips: Swimbait observed all the ingerling bass everywhere we went. A bass colored jerk bait did produce one, but it's still pond smelt bass upchuck when caught. Lake level holding steady- by this time last season the lake was draining rapidly and the exposed silt smelled and stained the water.

    • By

      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished rom shore on Sunday rom 8AM-2PM. Caught 4 ish. Started at a rocky point on the highway 17 side and ished toward the south end. It's a calm day, 0-2mph wind, clear water, and 60-75deg temperature. Threw carolina rigged worm and array o crankbaits with nothing. Kept moving toward the south end. Met a couple who are very new to ishing. Ater a little talk, I ended up teaching them how to cast, how to reel, and how to create actions or the lure or about 20 mins. OK, back to ishing business. At the point where the creek eeds in, I got a amiliar pressure on my worm. So I set hook. I elt something really big and it was shaking. I tought I got a monster. This ish weights 10+lbs (with the weed). The ish itsel weights 1.5lbs. I caught two more inside the creek. Stayed there until 1:30PM. On the way back I ished halipad and got a small one, less than a pound. I also met a trout isherman who claimed a 2lbs and a 4+lbs bass slamed his trout bait(?). Let about 2PM. Beore I let, I met another guy who just starts ishing. He went there with something I don't think bass will like it. So I gave him one setup o carolina rig and 4" plastic worm. Wish he have some un. What a day o teaching! Glad to see new people coming to ish this lake.
      City: Mountain View

      Tips: Fish weed lines and submerged trees.

Saturday, August 31st, 2002

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

      Report: Fished the middle Delta/Quimby/Frank's Tract/Washington Cut areas rom 9:00 - 3:00 on Sunday...Beore you ask me to examine my head or going out on Sunday, my brother in law was over and had never been bass ishing. Took a chance and glad we did. Easily caught 30+ ish...The mix was 5 (2-8 lb) striper, 12+ rom 2-3.5lb largies and some yearlings to top it all o. I cranked and my brother-in-law used senko. He caught (5) ish total...all o which were solid keeper ish. I caught the majority and never put down my crank...The tide changed around 10:00 AM rom Low to High and we ished where there was current and clean rock with deep water close by. The largest bass 3.5 had a 10+lb striper nipping at her tail when I was bringing her in...Those striper must have eyes bigger than their stomachs and not realize it. It was quite hilarious watching these two in action. Nearly every crank ish I caught had at least (1) other bass o equal or greater size chase it to the boat. I've never seen this with the requency it occured on Sunday. This tells me the Fall transition is close which means bigger ish will reappear with some regularity. Bait was everywhere.
      City: Discovery Bay

      Tips: Find current with deep water nearby...Let the Senko roll in the current and swim it back slowly...Partner missed many ish and landed good ish doing this all day. Senko color o choice was motor oil and watermelon with red. Crank was my usual Norman DD18. I hit so many ish on it this time I had to change the hooks at noon. Keep trying new water and look or areas where you have enjoyed success in other parts o the Delta. Enjoy the water...TG

  • San Francisco County
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      Water Temp: Not sure

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went shore ishing with my riend all day and caught nothing. No trout bites, no lure bites... used a ew dierent lures. Just a week ago, I caught and released a small mouth bass a little less than a pound. I have seen large carp caught in the area. They like to hide in the weedy areas, where you can see the big ones jumping and lipping close to shore just by looking into the weeds. That was a month ago until one man tried to catch them, stupidly he cut down most o the vegetation in the area. Now there are pretty much no more ish in the area.
      City: San Francisco

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Out on the Sac arm rom 0600 to about 0930. Going out, there were not as many houseboats as I eared, but that was remedied by the time I came in. Picked up a limit (1+ lbs) on spinnerbait ished like a jig near shore on points and slopes with 3-6 inch gravel. Fish were clearly working crawdads, given what they were spitting up at the boat. Water is cooling o and the bass appear to be moving back to the shore or orage. Got both smallies and spots. Here is looking or a great all.
      City: Redding

Friday, August 30th, 2002

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I took one of my favorite long time clients to Berryessa Thursday for a "learn the lake better" trip. He has a tournament coming up so, as is my policy, I will keep my report kind of general. I really didn't know what to expect since the day bite has been tough and the air temp had dropped some 35 degrees Wed night! We started out of Markley Cove about 6:30 AM and found a stiff delta breeze and lots of fog. We tried topwater but quickly decided that wasn't the way to go. I threw a Rodstrainer jig and Mr. Client was split-shotting. He had the right idea as he soon caught a small bass and then a beauty - a 2 1/2 lb spot. I was happy - pressure was off!! I was especially pleased when I pointed out that area held good fish - and he caught one! We left the narrows and spent the rest of the trip in the main lake - all over. We did see a lot of suspended fish that would not bite. I cranked for them, but to no avail. We did find some schools of bait, and as a result, some bass. A very strange thing happened about 10:30 AM - the delta breeze just shut off and it really warmed up. The lake went dead calm which I thought would kill the fishing. Not so. The fish turned on for about an hour and we got some quality bass - he had smallies a little under and a little over 2 pounds. I borrowed one of his baits and split-shot it myself and nailed a 2 lb 14 oz smallmouth - at 12 noon. Go figure!! What a terrific battle on light line and a 782 G. Lommis! We could have caught more, but decided not to hit those areas any more and try other spots. We caught fish from 15 to 30 feet. I think we wound up with 8 or 9 tournament keepers and a few undersize - some of the small ones were largemouth - a good thing!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Sorry I couldn't give more info, but we did see a definate bait-bass relationship. Some of the normally good areas didn't have any bait nearby - and no bass. This time of year at Berryessa, you have to keep your face in your meter, and know how to interpret what you see. It really is fun - my favorite time of year is coming up!!

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished by mysel started at irst light. Fished a rog all day. First ish was 4+lbs. then two 3+lbers. I had a blow-up I could not believe, would really like to know how big she was. Caught ish all day, it was great. Hey Jerry F. thanks or the rog lessons.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Go out and have un!!!

    • By

      Water Temp: 65-75 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The striper bites are HOT in the oak knoll campground area and the wrinkle cove area. The stripers are chasing the shad in the wrinkle cove area around 5-7 o'clock a.m. causing them to boil up the water. these baits work the best: "Lures": topwater poppers (shad colored). "Still ishing": Chicken livers and sardines.I've just recently caught a 30" striper o o Wrinkle Cove. So go NOW!
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: The wrinkle cove area is the eeding area or stripers everyday in the early morning and evening.

    • By

      Water Temp: 65-75 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: The striper bites are HOT in the oak knoll campground area and the wrinkle cove area. The stripers are chasing the shad in the wrinkle cove area around 5-7 o'clock a.m. causing them to boil up the water. these baits work the best: "Lures": topwater poppers (shad colored). "Still ishing": Chicken livers and sardines.I've just recently caught a 30" striper o o Wrinkle Cove. So go NOW!
      City: Elk Grove

      Tips: The wrinkle cove area is the eeding area or stripers everyday in the early morning and evening.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 77.4-79.6

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: got to Jones Valley and wondering where the people are, only 7 rigs on the ramp, got in at 545am, air temp 63 lake at 69,28t and aling slowly now as they reduced the lows by a little better than 50%. Ran up the pit past susanville and ound a scad zillion shad getting busted on the surace. Tied on a cut down hopkins spoon and got 3 on 5 casts, all 2 lbers but they were unny looking. They were all rainbow trout in the main channel in 52t o water. The shad took o and I ollowed but couldn't catch up. started the big motor and down they went. Stayed inside susanville and I didn't get bit anymore. Went downstream back to Arbuckle creek and missed on in about 49 t o water. Fiddled around in the lower pit or a ew hours but nothing. Ran back to Jones Valley and saw most o their houseboat leet coming in and people going home. Got back to the ramp and no newer rigs on the ramp, same ones that were there when I arrived. I was expecting a ton o people so I guess they are still on the way up. Won't go back out or 4 or 5 days. water still a bit murky air temp getting out at 0930 was 73 degrees, very pleasant morning with a slight breeze out o the north east.
      City: Redding

    • By

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Follow up to Jerry's message below. The Shasta Cascade Fall Classic will be held on Nov 9-10 out o Bridge Bay. Additional ino will be posted on the club website at:http://members.aol.com/scbanglers/
      City: Redding

  • Sonoma County
    • By

      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Float tubing Yorty Creek, got out on the water at 7:30 AM, ished until 2PM. Hooked 8 bass, landed 4. All were in the 1 - 2.5 lb range. Had a ew hits on top water early in the morning with a ire tiger sputter bug, however, all bass were caught on a green/white/blue/black spinnerbait (small bait with carolina and willowlea blades). I didn't catch any ish on wood. All ish were holding tight to weeds, close to shore (in less than 5 eet o water).
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Work the weedbeds early in the morning beore the boaters arrive. Good luck!

Thursday, August 29th, 2002

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: not a ish report but I have had some inquiries regarding the upcoming team events or this all: The shasta cascade team event will be on Nov 9th-10th probably out o Bridge Bay, The Cottonwood Bass Team's Fall Classic will be on Dec 7th, $150 per team with signups until blast o,also out o Bridge Bay, Phils Props will probably be somewhere in between these two events and I will post that ino as soon as I ind out.
      City: Redding

Wednesday, August 28th, 2002

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

      Report: Sonoma County Belly Boat Bass Club ished Blue Lakes on Saturday, August 24. Winning weight was 5 ish or 12.33 lbs. Big ish was 5.30 lbs. Fourteen anglers participated.
      City: Santa Rosa

      Tips: For more ino about the club, & to check out all the results & photos, visit our website: http://scbbbc.homestead.com.

  • Santa Clara County
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      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I ish this lake at least once a week and usually I can catch quite a ew ish (12 - 18 per day)but not yesterday. The weeds on the lake are choking all the coves and lats so it is almost impossible not having to spend hal the time clearing weeds rom your bait, trolling motor and prop. The main lake has so many jet skis and tow boats you can't stay on the water past 10:00. I bagged our ish to 3.5 lbs. The largest came on a 5" Senko color 194. I caught the other three on a drop shot rig early in the morning near the second dam beore the armarda showed up. Because o all the boat traic the water is starting to get really oily.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: May be time to leave the lake alone until the water cools down enough to start killing the vegetation.

  • Bayfield County
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      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: First time on the lake, (went or trout) headed or the dam Wednesday morning. Fish were showing everywhere! From surace to 85'. Lead lined wedding rings w/worm's later green powerbait(anywhere rom 3 to 8 colors out)and had limits in no time. Each ish averaged 14" End o day my stringer weighed in at 6.1 lbs, Buddies weighed in at 5.8lbs (he lost one, so only 4 ish or weighin in at my scale) Had to PUT up with wake boaders! They thought it'd be un to "buzz" the ishermen. (us and another boat)Very inconsiderate! (iggin A$$#$%^&*)The irst 3 days the wind on the lake never let up! Was a constant 30mph+ with gusts that must have been around 50MPH! I you come to the lake on a weekday, be prepared or a wait as the road constuction on the road to the lake is on going. Weekends it seemed to be open as we went right through, no stops. Oh yeah, watch the camp host at the Ruth Recreation area! We deposited our camp ee's ($42) or 3 nights in the "drop pole" but the camp's "oice manager" never recieved our envelope with the cash! We've used cash many times at many other places with no problems. I think the person that gathered the envelopes needed some booze money. PAY with checks to avoid that problem!. Oh, one other issue. CAMPSITES can and will be preempted by reservations! We had no idea, nothing in writting was posted, and NO one ever came to our campsite (like most camp hosts do!) to talk with us. I your planning a stay there, DON'T expect them to come to you, and don't don't be surprized i you ind your site reserved away rom under YOU (like us)i you don't talk to them! We ended up leaving 2 days ahead o our schedule. Forget about First come First served! Okay, I'm done venting......