Fishing Report

Limit:

Saturday, January 13th, 2001

  • Napa County, California
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      Water Temp: 49 degrees

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: i had a fun day at berryessa. the weather was calm, no rain, very little wind... it was cool though... you could see your breath all day. i caught four - 3 largemouth, 1 smallmouth. they averaged about 2 lbs each. i lost a few keepers because i wasn't paying attention. the smallmouth hit a jerkbait in 4ft of water. the largemouths hit dropshot in 40ft plus. my partner limited out on dropshot. he had a real nice 2 lbs. spotted bass... all the fish were really healthy with good markings. thanks to the guys who believe in catch and release. 4 of our bass had hook holes. we released all of our fish too. we fished around big island jumping from point to point.
      City: Fremont

      Tips: believe in your electronics. fish real slow. worm color didn't seem to matter.

  • Lake County, California
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      Water Temp: 47-48

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well it seems like that weather system that came through did not bother the ish at clearlake. We went out at about 4pm on saturday a little windy but, not to bad. We caught one about 5-10 wright o the get. Then at about 5:30 to 6:30 we caught 6 ish 3-10, 4-4, 5-2, 5-4, 5-10 & 7-1. It slowed down until about 9:30, then rom 9:30 to about 11:00 we put another 5 ish in the boat a 5-1, 5-3, 5-4, 7-2 & 7-5In all we caught 16 ish all nite, we got o the water at about 3:30am. Are biggest was the 7-5 no toads but, still some nice quality ish. All but 2 o are ish came on brush hogs the others came on jigs. So the people that say you need to ish with minnows are crazy and using minnows takes no skill. You might catch more on minnows but I belive you can catch better quality with plastics.
      City: Modesto

      Tips: Fish very slow.

    • By

      Water Temp: Cold

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out this Saturday on a guide trip with Ben Williams & Scott Holzchuh and had one o the greatest ishing days ever in January. Over cast skies and a slight breeze met us on this day. We caught maybe 25-30 keepers. The majority o the ish caught were between 3-5 pounds. Our best ive were a 5,5,5,6+ & 10+ or well over 31 pounds and er 7 we would have peaked 40 pounds. Most o the ish we caught were up on lats in anywhere rom 4-16 oot o water. Rocky structure or grass beds, in very protected areas, seemed to be a key to inding ish or us. It also helped tremendously that we had a camera. We caught all but one o these ish on live jumbo minnows, ished either carolina or under a bobber system. Today, I caught my irst ish over 10 pounds on live bait. Also, the bite was strongest between 12:30-3:00. Ironically, this is within a window o peak eeding periods as suggested by a number o Astro tables I've looked at today. I only mention this, as we had a discussion on the Forum about Lunar phases the other day. There's no doubt in my mind, these were also a key to our success.
      City: Oakley

      Tips: Water is very cold and clear, ish are very inactive and not chasing artiicial baits at all. Splitshotting small inesse worms, tubes and whacky riggin Senkos will catch ish, but ya gotta ish so dang slow. Right now, take advantage o this live jumbo minnow bait bite, it is truely awesome and I garuntee you'll have a blast. Just be sure ya buy enough minnows or the entire day, right Ben? HAR!

  • California
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      Water Temp: >?

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got there about 6:30 got nothing in 3 days o ishing. Inact i havent had a ish scince they lowered the lake and riped all o the weed cover out. I usualy get some nice winter ish out there but Nothing the last 3 days. So i settled down and threw some power bait out and got a couple trout and went home. According to the Moon charts (i dont know i these work or not but the 24 25 are supposed to be good and sat and sun are gunna be best and 28-31 are good as well. Im looking or some one to ish with that is into the bassin action a boat would be nice too i could bring drinks and snacks. but any one willing to walk around the lake insearch o those winter bass E mail me and we can set up a date and time to go out thanks alot.! TOm
      City: Pittsburg

      Tips: Late summer and all Fall i ound that Blue and silver stick baits work Great so do lipless cranck bates Ratilin raps renzy's rat l trap etc

  • Alameda County, California
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      Water Temp: 56

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Went to Dell Valle today and ished the eed in creek. We got 4 trout each to about 2 pounds and lost a ew others. they were hitting rapala countdowns and bass tubes i you can believe that. It was a clear and very sunny day and i had a heck o a un time. thanks to Bassen Boy or showing my whats up and where this treasure is. Anyway i got to go but hit it up i you can.
      City: Piedmont

    • By

      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well I was ten minutes late this morning,but it was not as crowded today.Finally motored my way to the dam and immediately started crankin a 15' runner against the rocks,with no takers.Moved around the corner and stuck a mean'ol Bronzeback on a clown ripbait.The red eyed chunk weighed 2.1, but still made me work like mad to land him with those sketchy treble hooks.Kept ishing and stuck a 1.9 blackie in 25' o the bird cages with a brown jig.Ditched my boat when i ran into delta Dan out there.We ished pretty slow with spider grubs the rest o the day,and stuck one more blackie in about 19'on rocks.Better ish about 3lbs and shook Delta Dans spider jig out at the boat.Bummer!A very un day o ishing with one o the nicest isherman ive met.Thanx Dan.Timdog, thanx or the insight and ino on bass boats that you gave me at the launch ramp.All you guys watch out or timdogs gal,she's gonna be a stick!She even backed down the ramp by hersel like a pro.Slow bite,but a great day on ol'delvalle.Tight Lines to all!!!!!!!
      City: livermore

      Tips: Wind can sometimes be wicked out here, but its always good or the bite here.Even in winter.This is when I like try or reaction bites.Ripbaits and at cranks.Bang them as hard as you can against anything,and always cast into the wind.This wind causes current around around the rocky blus which helps position the shallow ish. P.S.,The smallies really like chartreuse here too.

    • By

      Water Temp: 49

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I have never ished here beore, my iance and I decided to go try it out, got on the water at 12:30 and ished until three. 2 very solid keepers on 1/4 oz dartheads, shakin rainbow 3" zipper worms- blue ghost. Pretty much just out havin un.Had three other solid thumps on c-rig junebug brush hogs. It was a un day, not a bad body o water at all or something so close.
      City: Sa Ramon

  • Tuolumne County, California
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      Water Temp: 54-55

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started in six bit creek at daybreak....Got one strike,on a salt & pepper Zipper worm.Fished a couple area's back toward Willow creek"nothing"..App 11 am caught the irst ish,Then 4 more,rom 1 too 21/2 #....ish came on worms rom 20 too 35 t...Nothing on drop shot,spoons,swim bait & grubs.
      City: Riv.

  • Mariposa County, California
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished rom 9 to 11. Not much. Only cought 2. 12 & 14in. Both on a green and brown worm w/ a 1/4oz. weight. Both at the mouth o Bagby in the trees.
      City: Atwater

      Tips: jig slowly w/ a worm.

    • By

      Water Temp: 52'

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished club tourney (CVBC)started and inished on main lake, no takers. Spent most o the day up river ishing points and pockets, shaking worms and dropshotting. I got three keepers, and the backseater got one. From 20'-50' eet. Still very slow. Ran into Steve Green, who said they hadn't gotten as much rain as we in the Bay area during the last storm. By the way, thanks, I got a good keeper rom your advice.
      City: San Leandro

      Tips: Don't dropshot till you see the ish, use small baits.(Thanks JLS)Fish slow

    • By

      Water Temp: unknown

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Local ishing club. Had our one day tournament today at Lake McClure. Weather cleared up or us, ater the storm ront had passed through last couple o days. rom the 8 boats that we launched at irst light, no-one caught a limit. orgot the winning total weight but it was minimal. to make my irst post short, ishing was slow 5 people got skunked, including mysel unless you include the trout I caught using a drop shot rig with predator worm. biggest ish 2 that measured 16in. I tried every color combination seems like blue ghost or purple worms work the best. but other than a slow day ishing it was great participating in my irst Bass tourney.
      City: livermore

      Tips: I guess I wouldn't have any tips since I caught no Bass. But the winning angler caught all his ish with Yamamoto grubs. others caught ish early with crankbaits, caralina rigs or dropshots. good luck and happy ishing.

  • San Luis Obispo County, California
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      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Put about six hours on the water,tossed a Nichols blade all day,silver/white.I ended up with 13 keepers and a couple dinks.All were spots w/ one smallie.All the ish hit me in less then 5t o water,I even seen most o them hit it.All the ish hit on points to 1/2 way back in the coves.Big ish was a spot just shy o 3lbs.This lake can be un this time o year.
      City: Milpitas

      Tips: Cover a lot o water dont give up on the shallow bite,it is a lot o un,or January

  • California
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      Water Temp: 48

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished New Hogan or the irst time today. Nice Lake! Fished as an observer or Bigun who won the CCBC Angler o the year with 4 or a little over 6# (Congratulations). We caught smallies, spots, and largemouth. Best LM (4.38#) I caught on a white speed trap at early in the morning out o the weeds in the back o a shallow cove in 4 eet o water. Bigun had a ew bites and a couple o ish on worm, but out best bait seemed to be brown/green jigs. The 6 keepers we landed came airly shallow (less than 20 eet). Best banks were steep rock. Us observers has a 1 ish option going, thought my 4# would be good enough, but got beat out by a 7#. There are some nice ish in this lake.
      City: Brentwood

      Tips: No real pattern other than the steep rocky banks. Best area was the south end o the lake where the water was a little warmer at 49 degrees.

  • Los Angeles County, California
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      Water Temp: cold

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: my riend ralph and I decided to loat the boat and try some ishing on a nice socal day. we drited quite a bit around the lake or nothing. I decided to try the area just out o the speed zone across the lake rom the launchramp. I was using 4lb test and a loating crawler, my avorite rig,and was driting over submerged trees when a nice size largemouth inhaled my worm. ater a nice ight, I pulled in a bass pushing 5 maybe 6lbs. I snapped some quick pictures and sent the piggy piggy home. that was it or us. sure beat sitting at home. Fish on ellas. stinkywally
      City: los angeles

Friday, January 12th, 2001

  • San Luis Obispo County, California
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      Water Temp: 51

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: all you guys lookin or ish tomorrow at the lake,we ound about 20 ish but only 7 keepers total 7 1/5 pounds or 5 bass,good luck at the ABA tourament.under docks,in clean water,2 to 12 eet deep.Tire housecove and beerock cove were are best spots,water is coming up and temp,is going down,rom 54 to 51, ish sloooow and use small reper on drop-shot.goood luck.
      City: bradley

      Tips: small baits and slow

Thursday, January 11th, 2001

  • Lake County, California
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      Water Temp: 45 to 46

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished several trips during the last several days, and watched the water temp go down, down, down, inally to 45 degrees Tuesday night. I have always elt that the number 47 is very important when ishing or largemouth bass. When the water temp is 47 or below, anglers have their work cut out or them, at least those ishing with artiicials. I have had outstanding trips in 48 and 49 degree water, but not as many in 47 and below. Friday night the temp was 47-48, and two clients and I had a pretty good trip, ishing rom 7pm to 1 am. We had about 15 bites and landed 7 to 7lbs 7 oz, with the ive best at 23 1/2. Again, brush hogs and Weapon jigs were the ticket. We got bit in about 6 dierent rocky locations in the south end. The day beore, on a "learn the lake" trip, a client and I got one bite on a jig - and missed it!!! We didn't ish all the time, but still - very slow day ishing. Talked to a ellow who ripped all day, and he had one bass. The minnow leet was doing well, rom what I saw. Tuesday night was the most interesting weather activity I've ever witnessed in my 22 years o night ishing Clear Lake. It is amazing we caught anything, but we did get an 8-3, 7-8, and a 4, all on Weapon jigs with 6" Yamamoto grub trailers. The weather olks messed up again - instead o a nice evening, we had a cold rain 'til 9 pm, then crystal-clear skies (instantly!) with a ull moon and a 10 to 15 degree air temp drop (real good or ishing, ha!). Keeping my eye on the weather, I noticed the clouds that had just moved east were backing up. I knew that was crazy, so I looked a little closer, and realized that those wern't clouds, but FOG! I couldn't believe it - too soon or og. "Bring 'em in guys, we're outta here!" From the time we let the Wheeler area to when we got to Windlower Point, that whole area ogged up, in minutes! It was amazing. We made it back to the Rattlesnake area just ine, and inished our trip with the our pounder, and a ew misses. I will mention that I was shaking my jig (which I rarely do) violently in order to get bit in the 45 degree water. I may have to rethink that technique, since the 8-3 that answered my calling nearly stretched out my arm. What a hit!!! Make 'em mad enough in that cold water, and they will bite! All the bass we caught on those night trips were no deeper that 15 eet, and some were right on the bank. Interesting.
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: Look or bass, even i they are shallow, near rocky breaks, ledges, steep banks, etc. I you are ishing rockpiles, bass are likely to be near the bottom o the dropo, in 10 to 20 eet - not on the top o the rockpile as they would be in summer and all. Deadstick any bait you are ishing, i possible. For example - rip, rip - eat a sandwich, rip, rip - have a cup o coee. You get the idea!!

Wednesday, January 10th, 2001

  • Tuolumne County, California
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      Water Temp: 54

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: We were on the water beore daybreak...Caught 3 bass,lost 3 & got a couple more hits.All on grubs & 4 in. worms. One on a carolina rig,rest on darter heads in deep water,rom 20 too 60 t.We let at noon,wind had started coming up at app. 10 am & it got too rough too ish.
      City: Riv

      Tips: Pick better day then we did

Tuesday, January 9th, 2001

  • Alameda County, California
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: My riend and I tried tubin a ew hours on 1-5.We tried jigs and cranks with no takers but a nice aternoon none the less.On 1-7 he returned and in the late aternoon sunshine he landed a 23in. ootball.Fiteen minutes later in the same spot he landed another 23in.ootball bass!He measured both ish careully,could it be the same one twice on the same lure? Anyhow they or it ought good.Thanks Ryan or the chat on the water on 1-5.cya
      City: Manteca

      Tips: This time the bites came on SLOW jig n pig.

  • Butte County, California
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      Water Temp: 50

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Interesting comments rom Patrick - I think I agree with him concerning the lack o posts. Anyway, I had a hal-day trip this aternoon out o Lime Saddle. The two ellows couldn't go in the morning, and as I expected, the ishing was ok, but the size was not very good. One o the clients did get a "barely over" spot, and the other 15 were 12 to 14 3/4 inches. One was however, a 14 1/2 inch largemouth. My recent trips to Collins bear out what the post said beore mine - the quality ish are caught early. My job was to show them some good spots to ish in the West Branch and the North Fork, and I think they were surprised to learn that mud sometimes is better than rock. The less rock we had, the better the quality o the bass. We ished brown/orange 3/8 oz Rodstrainer jigs most o the time. As has happened several times recently, the ellow that usually gets his butt kicked, caught most o the ish this trip - 8. He does have a wicked hookset!! The ish were more shallow in the West Branch because the water had more color. They were on a good bite when we started at 12:45 PM, but really shut down about 3:30 PM. The last hour bite wasn't too good since the sun didn't shine much ater 3 PM. I it does, the last hour during the winter can be awesome!
      City: Yuba City

      Tips: We saw a lot o bait in some o the creek channels and did some spooning with no success. Had one hit on a 4 inch Berkley paddle tail worm. Jigs seems to be the answer. So what else is new!

  • California
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      Water Temp: real cold

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started early caught limit o nice trout then went bass ishing. I splitshot live crawlers with no takers ,wish I could ind a place that sold live crawdads. I anyone has any ino it would be appreciated.
      City: Dublin

      Tips: Gold kastmasters or the trout.