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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Wednesday, June 26th, 2002

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 73-75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: ished oroville sun,mon, caught many quality ish on custom made buzzbaits made by mark at mark's tails,marks dad also made me some hand lathed topwaters that proved themselves on shasta and oroville. big ish on oroville 5.7 bucketmouth,big ish on shasta 6.92 spot which i caught last night on the sac arm. i thought i had the big one on the pit at 4:30am but it turned out to be a big catish it was a nice ish but it tore up my trailer on my crankbait when i pulled it out with pliers. i hope i can get a trophy tonite.
      City: concord

      Tips: nite ishing is the only way at this time o year.

    • By

      Water Temp: 78.6

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: John Coyle's buddy, Harlan whom I ished with the other night made me some o his newangled Shasta crawlers in root beer yesterday. They are a creature looking thing with twin tails that Harlan caught some nice ish on so I thought I would give them a try ater leaving MGM yesterday. Got in at Jones Valley at 2am ater I woke up and couldn't go back top sleep. Ran up near Clickapudi and caught 5 between 3am and 530 am which was a little slow ater the night beore. moved to a gray rock section and tossed the crawler up close to the bank and it dropped about a oot and got slammed. Good ish on and kicked the trolling motor hard let to get o the beach. A ew minutes later up comes a big spot. Get it netted and I got the shakes, weight it at/or near 5 .9 lbs and call my wie and Big Daddy down south and I am pumped. its 23 inches long. Stick it in the livewell and pray some one will come by so I can get a picture, move down the bank and get a 2.6 about 30 t away. continue down the bank and stick a 3.5 o a little red mud bank between two gray rock sections. This all happened in 15 minutes and I am sky high. slip the 2.6 and the 3.5 back into the water and head or jones valley with the hope o inding someone or a picture, out comes a gray looking ranger and I wave the guy down and ask him to take a picture. I haul the big one out and he says "damn" "what did you catch him on" His name is Greg and he snaps a couple o photos and I hand him a ew crawlers and slip the ish back into the water. HOT DAMN what a morning. get out at 715 am air temp up to 77 rom the 70 when I put in and lake is dropping past 27 t, water is murky with a major bug hatch underway.
      City: Redding

      Tips: 4 inch Shasta Crawler by Harlan in root beer, whooee what a bait on a 1/2 ootball head/

  • Trinity County
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      Water Temp: -----

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got out on the lake or a while the 25th to see what was happening. Actually I was going to reclaim some conidence ater ishing Shasta or 3 days over the weekend. Went to the tailings at irst light and picked up a 5+ LM right o on a crankbait.I was looking or bedded largemouths as last year on the ull moon over the 4th there were a substantial no.o ish on beds, but this year that doesn't seem to be the case.Must have gotten that all taken care o earlier. Smallies are still hitting darter head worms in Pro Gold red lake and both species are hitting Gitzits. Around 9:30 I went to Wyntoon and hit some decent smallies on Morning Dawn. What you have to do is Match the Hatch. There are all kinds o pink critters swimming around in Trinity Lake, so obviously Morning Dawn is the color o choice.RIGHT!!! I don't know why it works but it does. They were also jumping all over rootbeer senkos. Ended up with over a dozen ish bigger than my best Shasta ish so mission accomplished.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Didn't try rip baits as I was sick o ishing them, but no reason they wouldn't work

Tuesday, June 25th, 2002

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

      Report: Texas Rebel, The 8lbs sleek, silvery ish you caught sounds like a Sacramento Pike. I've caught one about 4lbs on a spinnerbait beore.
      City: Isleton

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: One ish on blade got there at 7 ished till 2 Had another shake the tail o my bait and saw 2 big ones cruzing o the island they saw me irst because i misplaced my Polarized glasses, so they saw me beore i saw them in most cases..
      City: Pittsburg

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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: First time out to Lexington this year. I got there 11:30 am and ished until 5:00. I ished the reeway side. I threw a 4" Carolina rigged watermellon worm or the irst hour and got no hits. Switched to a 4" pumpkin worm and caught a 5.2 and 4.3 pounder. I ended up with a 5 ish limit o 13.5 pounds. What a day!
      City: san jose

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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: did not ish. went to check lake levelran across two rattlers, about 3t.be careull in the graasy hills.
      City: Linden

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Temp: 82 deg.

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: i go out to melones quite oten around three or our times a week sometimes guiding sometimes just to get out on the water.ishing is allways great have been getting a lot o nice ish cranking 2to4# also a lot small ones, mixed bag lg. mouth,spots,redeye.some real nice spots 3# dropshoting has been working great also,crawdad color worms and jigs are also working well.topwater early-late.
      City: sonora

      Tips: rocks,wood 0-30' "crank shallow rattler" learn to use electronics

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 71-74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well, back up here again. We started late again(not to smart when it's about 100 degrees out) Anyway, saw Big Daddy's report about getting a ew on some islands so we tried a couple o those down in the south end irst beore heading up river. On my third cast into about 25-30t I boated a 3.4 Largemouth on a Zoom inese worm, we went ahead and went all the way around the island landing two more Largemouths to 2.6lbs, one on a Rapala countdown, one on a deep diving crawdad crank. Hit one more island beore going up river, but didn't boat a ish. Headed ar up the river and got into them again just like the last time we came up. We ished through the heat o the day and boated about 30-35 ish again, but nothing bigger then the 3.4 I caught at the island. We got 2 that went 2.9 and 2.12 and a bunch more right at 1.5-2.0lbs and some dinks. Pretty much caught them on the same baits as last time. Zoom inese worms in green pumpkin and watermelon/redlake, a ew on the rapala countdown and deep diving Crawdad cranks and small renagade cranks, even caught two split shotting a zoom tube in green pumpkin. All in all another good day, just wish I came earlier in the day.
      City: Dublin

      Tips: Go early, It's to damn hot to be out there all day unless your nuts like us. Tons o ish, but i your up here and the suns been on the water or a while GO DEEP(at least 25-30t to get non dinks.)

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 79-81.8

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: In at Hirz Bay at 5:30PM. It is HOT!!! Lots o boat traic. Went up the McCloud to within sight o the bridge and started jigs and senkos in the SHADE. Not much happening or us we ended up with 10 total, no size to speak o. Out at 11:00PM. Oh, I almost orgot the blonde in the back caught 6.
      City: Cottonwood

Monday, June 24th, 2002

  • Plumas County
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      Water Temp: 64-68

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Just returning rom a working (guiding) one week vacation at beautiul Lake Almanor. The smallmouth ishery seems to be holding up well in spite o increased ishing pressure. Some o the locals I talked to seemed alarmed by the increase in tournament pressure. I guess time will tell. I saw many bass boats on the lake during the week or the irst time in over 20 years o ishing the lake. Actually, it was kind o a strange sight - thought I was at Clear Lake!!! Then I looked at Lassen Peak and thanked the Lord or the gorgeous scenery.The ishing was very good and very bad during the week - two ronts passed through which brought some serious wind or a ew days. The morning bite was the best with two or three o the evenings being very slow. That suprised me! I ished a 4 1/2 inch splitshot rigged Magic worm most o the week. Morning Dawn was the best color by ar with June Bug II second best. The bass were spitting up crawdads and baitish both, but the jig bite wasn't as good or me this year. I did lose the biggest smallie o the week on Wed evening using a Rodstrainer jig - it might have gone 4 pounds. I tried to net it mysel - should have had my riend do it. We got a ew topwater ish up to 2 pounds, but it really wasn't very good, nor was the crank bite. One ellow was using lukes with good success. The two highlights o the week were - one good evening I caught 14 bass in a little over an hour - biggest 2 1/4, on a rock wall in pretty heavy wind. All were caught on Magic worms. My guided trip Tues was good, but the Friday trip was really sweet. It ended with a double hookup beore tearing back to the dock at 60 MPH as the lightning got just too close or comort!!! My two clients rom Nevada and I watched the storm develop over Lassen and the ishing just got better as the sky darkened. We ished some avorite spots on the east shore near Hamilton Branch and urther north towards Bailey Creek. We wound up with 16 smallies in the boat with the ive ish limit right at 15 pounds. One client had a 3-2 and a 3-8, both spawned out but beautiul ish!! Again, all were caught on Magic worms, on rock ledges, about 13 to 18 eet deep. I patterned rockpiles and ledges most o the trip and did not do much with stumps this time. I sure hope we ALL take care o this ine ishin' hole!!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Warm, steady weather will bring on a good topwater bite. The trout ishermen are waiting too, as the Hex hatch hadn't happened yet at the end o the week. Dropshotting was going to be on my to-do list, but splitshotting - dragging and casting, was just too good! I tried green craw worms - usually good - but not or me this time. O-shore rockpiles are starting to hold good ish now.

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

      Report: Very tought day today. Launched at 5 am out of capell. Not much wind, headed out to main lake points. Missed about 6 fish on topwater before we landed one, and then that was it for topwater. Threw flukes and dragged split-shot magic worms in greens and browns with no takers. Was forced to switch to the drop-shot rig early, around 9 a.m. Not a damn thing. Left at 10 a.m. with one fish in the boat. Hard day, but for all these days, there are just as many successful ones. Good luck. Devin
      City: Vacaville

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I've never been rog ishing so I decided to give it a try. Started hopping one o those weedless rogs on some thick mossy mats. I had a lot o ish grab it, bump it etc. but never could hook one o them suckers. Sure was un. Went to some Buzzbaits and caught a ew on some riprap with weeds. Caught two on a crankbait on riprap no weeds. Caught our on Senko, rocky bank with some structure (log or tires). All ish were 1-3 lbs. I sure could use some help iguring out this Delta.Mike
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: Got me, i'm still trying to igure this thing out.

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 72

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My buddy and I were out on the water by 0545 hit the rock walls with big dropos...buddy caught the 1st one, weight in at 3.5# with worm, a lot o ollowers...hal an hour later he caught a 5 lber. on a spinner and we inished the day, with me, catching a 4 lber. on a popper...out o the water by 0830, it was a nice day
      City: Hayward

      Tips: hit the walls

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Started at 10:00 to 2:30. Caught 5 ish on Gary Yamomoto Double tail Purple and Watermealon. two were all most 3 lbs. Both were 16" and 17" Had a lot o un with my riend his irst time. He had nothing. Fish got deeper as the day got hotter.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Fish along the weed line and Parellel to the shore. The ish are deeper than I thought.

  • Fresno County
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      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My son and I went looking or the stripers that we have been hearing about that might be a return o some past memories. Wind was at 15+ in the main lake, so we went to winchell cove to catish and throw lures or what ever. I set out a shore pole with a new baitcaster reel,bait was anchovie on a high low rig. 2 hrs. went by and as we were talking to a tub isherman, we all hear this clicking noise. It was my new reel that I had set or just that reason, just to brain dead to connect the two! Anyway missed the ish but got good vibes, so we loaded up the other poles the same way. Between 8pm and 10pm we caught 3 stripers 12-16 inches and 5 nice cats. Bite was getting better but had to leave beor we were locked in. Had a lot o un and let with some positive eelings or that old lake.
      City: madera

      Tips: Used the 2 hook high low rigs and ished toward the marina. Surace lures should work just beor dark. There was a ull moon but did not show untill 9pm.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 77.6-80.1

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Gave my buddy Hasrlan a buzz and o we went to Jones Valley, got in at 840 pm and ran out into the lower pit at 88 degrees and the lake is down past 26t, harlan got on them right o the bat on his own rendition o a grub, he had ive in the boat beore I got my irst and one was a good 2.5 or thereabouts. we hit a bunch o dinks ater that witha ew 1.8's to 1.6 thrown in or good measure. Harlan suggested a spot and we hit a bunch more dinks and a ew good ones and we are passing 30 ish by now, we move to one o my avorites and get a ew more and I stick a 2.2 and an hour later a 2.9 which ended up the big ish o the evening but Harlan had one on that was a good one but hopped o. Beautiul night , slight breeze out o the northeast and we actually saw two other boats ishing. got out at 130 am and the bite was still on. 70 degrees on the way home, GOTTA LOVE THIS NIGHT FISHING!!
      City: Redding

      Tips: mu usual twin tails on a 1/2oz ootball head, color didn't seem to matter ater it got good and dark. Harlan was impressed with the jumping around these spots do at night

Sunday, June 23rd, 2002

  • Amador County
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      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Again, went to try my luck. This time the evening crankbait bite produced a 5.3 lb ish to go along with the other smaller ish. The nite bite was again slow - only a ew 1-2 lb ish. Fished rom 5 pm till 2 am.
      City: Folsom

  • Mason County
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      Water Temp: unsure

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: super windy. caught only one LM 1.5lb. the wind was no un.

      Tips: spinner bait worked ok.

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

      Report: Launched at Capell at 5:15 a.m. Headed for hazard island for topwater, but the water was a little too rough, only had a couple small hits. Headed to another island, throwing spooks and poppers. Only hooked one fish, took my lure with him when he got up to the boat. Hit rock slide area and all through narrows between capell and markely, split shotting magic worms around 8 a.m. Got 9 fish all very small, only one keeper. Changed to dropshot rig about 10 a.m. And missed a nice one, then landed a 2 lb smallie. That was it for the day. 11 fish, only 2 keepers, biggest going 2 lbs. Caught nothing but smallmouth, when last week I caight nothing but largemouth all day. Berryessa is funny like that. Good luck.
      City: Vacaville

      Tips: GET OUT AS EARLY AS YOU CAN. Get the lights out and head to your spot so you are ready to fish when you can see. If possible, locate fish on main lake points and islands if its not too windy.