Fishing Report

Limit:

Saturday, September 18th, 2004

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

      Report: Went on a journey on the South end of the lake, caught 3 fish in various coves along the walk on white plastics fairly close to shore. Saw a few people in float tubes and on shore near the damn but didnt look like they were catching anything.
      City: San Jo

      Tips: Be patient, fish points.

  • California
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      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: We launched form the dam again int he morning, no wind (was real nice!) My buddies brother landed the 1st, at about 2 lbs. (pig & jig) About 2 hrs later my buddy hooked what looked like the same fish his brother landed hahah! (droppshotting 4"roboworm)
      Me, I was skunked. Not even a nibble! Dropshotting didn't work that day for me.
      wind came up around 10:30am so we headed for the trucks.
      City: Scotts Valley

  • Butte County, California
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      Water Temp: 72-77

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well Bassman and I hit Oroville on Thursday 9/16
      pre-fishing for the upcoming FPT on that following Saturday.

      We had stable weather (hot) and sunny skies started on the main lake throwing custom painted spooks and Bassmans Lunker Plunker (new spook type bait ) and just murdered them!! We had topwater going till 1:00 pm and I mean 16-18 in. spots! So We found em stacked in a few places on the main lake and decided to leave em alone on Friday and look for a back up pattern.

      We hit the main lake on Friday and started with Topwater again big fish but the bite died quick like 9:00 am . The Low was coming in skies were clouding up we though these fish shold be on fire!! They were!! switch to jig and split shot,Cranks and murdered them again!!! All on the main lake and mouth of the south.

      So GAME DAY we decided to hit our first day spots we had 2 that was holding big fish we knew we needed to get the topwaters on em before the sun was showing , Lucky us we are 10th boat out in the first flight!! We head to our first spot and as soon as my spook hit the water BAM ! FISH ON! Nice 1.8 lbder in the boat! We work down this bank and BAM! a 2lbder in the boat! 5 ft more down the bank and Bam ! Bassman nails a nice largemouth about 2lbs ! (we missed 2 blow-ups each OUCH!) These fish were very aggressive I mean coming clear out of the water to nail these spooks! You got one shot the fish would aim and hit our lure and either you had em or they missed and they were gone.

      Sun came up and the bite just DIED!!!! We knew the High was trying to settle back in and this would push those spots out and down.

      So we backed off and hit the points on the main lake me fishing a split shot and Bassman fishing a jig. Right away I nail a keeper size largemouth on the morning dawn 6in worm only about a 1 lb. We got 4 in the boat !!

      Then Jermemy sets on a nice keeper spot on the jig we got 5! We run the main lake some more throwing jigs and topwater but the fish just were being tough! We did manage to cull the largemouth and finished with 7.80 lbs for 5 and got 9th place.

      We caught lots of fish that were undersized on Saturday tryed drop shotting only to get the dinkss so put it away quick.

      If I was headed back this week end I would try topwater in the morning (run shade) and goto jigs or plastics whe the sun hits the water.

      But main thing is find the fish.

      Tight Lines Dom
      City: Tracy

      Tips: If the wind is blowing goto the bank it is blowing into! If you want to catch the bigger fish on Oroville throw spooks,jigs you can catch a ton of small fish drop shotting.

    • By

      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had a really good rip bite going the day before the Future Pro Tour event, but decided with the overcast day that I was going to throw the spook for most of the day, while my wife threw her favorite crank bait in the south arm. My wife put the 1st fish in the boat on the 3rd cast, good for 1.4lbs. I managed to catch about 10 short ones before the second fish came on the spook good for 1.9lbs, then we moved to the middle fork and got another 1.10lber on the spook. Three good fish in the well before noon, felt we had the pattern figured out and then the sun showed its face and it fell a part. We decided to run up the North fork and start drop shotting and got another fish that maybe went for a pound or so. The four fish on weigh in went for 5.76lbs. Obviously my scale is a little off.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Have a solid back up plan.

    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished Future Pro today. Try buzz bait and spook for about an hour with no luck. Switched to drop shot at sout arm and instantly got a 14" keeper. Managed to get two more small keeper for the next 2 hrs by the bridge tower and main lake. It was 12:40pm and we still have three keeper in the boat. Ran back to south arm and got 2 small large mouth and a spot on drop shot. We have 6 keeper whole day long and may be twelve bites. Weighted in at 5.97lb for 5 skinny fishes.

      Tips: keep drop shotting

    • By

      Water Temp: 71-73 degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I fished the Future Pro Tour 9/18/04. Started near boomer just off the main channel. Worked a Pop R...had a couple of blowups...and a 12" spot. Also threw a super spook with no luck. Moved back down to the bridge fished west side bank....several hits....no catches. Dropped shotted in the area south of the bridge...still lots of dinks. Finally with check in about an hour and a half away and no fish in the well, we went up north found an area with about 20-25' of water drop shoted robo worm morning dawn and caught about 10....12" ers and 1-14"er. Weighed 1 fish 14 1/2 = 1.34 lb. With the cloud cover and breeze but no rain...It was a nice but unproductive day for us.
      City: Oakland

      Tips: As much as I hate drop shotting. That was the way to go. Tried dart heads also with no luck. If you can find an area with 20-30 feet of water. And lots of arches on your fishfinder stay there. Warm small fish are in shallow water....colder larger fish are in deeper water.

  • Merced County, California
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      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: well went over to check things out,tip call before
      you go.wind was howling the main lake was closed so i went to the forebay.started right at the ramp fished up to first island jerkbait and rat-l-trap nothing.damn wind,went across to the flats and just to windy even in my 20' ranger.went back
      to the north west end and found some nice weed's
      third cast i cought one about 16".picked up four more but still no size.wait another couple weeks let the weather cool down and things will pick up.
      main lake is coming back up so it should also pick up.
      City: salinas

  • Shasta County, California
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Jerry- How much is MGM paying you to promote the Hoo-Dun-it worm? It is pretty obvious you are targeting the WON bass team anglers for next weeks tournament because you are the only posts in the last week and seem to know not only about the MGM worm but the business behind the worm? Just curious, no response necessary.

  • Sonoma County, California
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      Water Temp: 69-71

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hit the lake today to see how the bite might be in September. Fished points, coves, sand, mud, rocks, weeds with everything in the tackle box and ended up with nothing but dinks and one keeper to 1.5lbs. Had a 4lber follow a spinner up to the boat and snap at it right there, but it missed. Had another follow a black and blue jig to the boat, but no hits. This lake continues to baffle me.
      City: San Mateo

      Tips: Still learning this body of water, so unfortunately, I have nothing to offer here.

Friday, September 17th, 2004

  • Santa Clara County, California
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went out on Friday evening for a couple of hours with my brother and caught only a few bass. Went and fished the back cove and picked up a 3 and 4 1/4 on a blue and silver speed trap within 1/2 hour of each other. my brother picked up a 2 pounder on a tandem blade white spinner bait. Conditions were very windy.
      City: San Jose

  • Sacramento County, California
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      Water Temp: 72-75

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Caught a very quick limit on a blade while fishing just emerging rockpiles in the stiff breeze. Bite changed late morning and the fish wouldn't commit to the blade anymore and were just following. Best 5 went for around 13 lbs. and lots of fun too.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Wind blown points and piles have been the deal for me the last few trips out. Fishing ALL reaction baits (Spooks,Blades & Football Heads)

  • Mohave County, California
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      Water Temp: 77

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: CAUGHT 10 FISH WITH THREE KEEPERS, ALL THE KEEPERS ARE LONG AND SKINNY (17" @ 2.02# 13.5" @ 1.01# 13" @ 1.01.
      City: LA PUENTE

  • Ventura County, California
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      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Partner and I landed 5 keepers, lost 1 at the boat after fishing all day. Caught about 15 mini-dinks on topwater in the vegetation which is all around the lake. Lake at 50% capacity, but launching was no problem off cement.
      City: Long Beach

      Tips: Brown crankbaits in 15-20ft right in the middle of the coves worked best and a purple worm produced. Grass line was at 20ft. No pattern. Tough bite overall. Where are all the keepers?

  • Shasta County, California
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      Water Temp: 73.2-75.1

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Where to start with this report.
      Went to Jones Valley at 0530, pulled around the top of the hill on the dirt road and am confronted with a sea a cars and trucks, start down the hill slowly and stop again, bright lights on and start counting vehicles. `143 cars and 70 plus trucks with trailers behind them parked everywhere. I am figuring I won't be able to get in the water. The road into Jones Valley resort has a huge sign telling people to use the RAMP #2 which now clearly means the low water ramp. I mosey on down and actually find a spot right next to the ramp. I manuever my stuff around all the parked cars and get it in, unloaded and park. The Jones Valley resort is clear out and adjacent to the low water ramp. I see the tags in the windows of vehicles and notice some from Silverthorn also. Find two cars and one truck with their windows smashed out and covered with an inch of dust indicating they have been there a while. I figure I will keep the ramp in view and not run to far as I know that on a friday there will be a lot of houseboats coming in prior to 9AM with those folks preparing to leave.
      Go to the opposite bank south of the resort and start throwing a spook at 0610 and had a ball till 0700 with 24 fish, the largest was a 2.24 and the rest were dinks, had one jump off that might have went 2lbs. motored over to a huge submerged rock pile as the spook bite was going away and started throwing my 3/4 oz wearing the MGM hoo-dun-it in color #23 and started sticking good fish in 12-17 ft of water all around these huge boulders. I had 7 more and the best five ended up at 13.69 lbs. a 3.68, a 3.08, followed by 2.41,2.28 and the 2.24 on the spook. These all came prior to 0810 when the houseboats started moving into the Jones Valley inlet preparing to leave. I beat it back to the ramp which now has ski boats tied up to it and the Jones Valley water truck sitting on the ramp. Get out as quick as I can while a number of idiots stand around wiping their stuff down on the ramp and near it. pull out to the concrete and wipe my dust laden rig down and count 38 cars and trucks going into or coming out of the Jones Valley ramp area. What a mess! The lake is 94.5 ft down.
      City: Redding

      Tips: If you are coming up for the Won Bass TOC team event, I strongly suggest that you avoid Jones valley unless you like a 6 block walk through the gravel and dirt to park your stuff. Better to use Packers which will be down to one lane shortly or bite the bullet and put in at Bridge Bay or Centimudi. DON't go up to Hirz Bay, the float is still in but you are gonna back off the end of the ramp for sure. Sugarloaf is in should you want to pre fish the upper Sac. Pay attention running these days, there is a ton of stuff coming up that most folks have never seen before.

  • Trinity County, California
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      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: As expected, the topwater bite wasn't quite as good as yesterday, but 20+ topwater fish isn't bad. Only 2 smallies over 3lbs. Went down lake and hit main lake points for 3 more 3+ smallies on ball-jig worms, and lots of others. Best 5 today approaching 16 lbs.
      It gets a little discouraging catching all those dinks but I think of it this way, 3 years from now those same fish will be a lot of fun. At least we know there was a very successful spawn. Treat em with respect.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Ive said before that, on Trinity,the wind is your friend. Well,not always. Today the wind came up about 12:30 and struggle as we did, we gave up at 3:30 and could have quit at 1:00 with the same result. Why is the wind good in the spring and terrible in the fall?

Thursday, September 16th, 2004

  • Solano County, California
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      Water Temp: 71

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: came up to do some fun fishing with a buddy that has never seen the delta.started by big break and then to franks tract with only a limit of keepers and probably 50 dinks most on blades with 3lbs being the biggest.Friday started in 14 mile slough little better there had some senko fish rattle trap fish and pop'rs then jumped around a lot finaly found clear water is where we found the fish biggest being 5.13 lbs had a limit in 15 minutes on blades outside tules with a little bit of weeds 2-5 feet of water caught them in dissapointment slough,had to head home about 2pm.you guys up there have it good so much fun to be able to fish reaction fish,not much of that down here.What happen to all the matte that used to be there this time of year?
      City: santa clarita

      Tips: clearer water was the key for us

    • By

      Water Temp: 73.9

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I hadn't been out for about 2 weeks, but I hit The tide just right this morning. My first fish was a 4.5 lber on the frog. In the next hour I had 4 more, 2.8,2.9, 2.3, and a 2 lber all on the frog. The rest of the day was slow for me. I picked up a few more small ones, 1 pounders. I caught a total of 17 fish, not great but I'll take the frog bite any day.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: patience

  • Alameda County, California
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Just an FYI. I fished Chabot once back in the mid 90's and for a lake that looked quite Bassy after 6 hours of hard fishin' I finally caught 1. I tried all the proven lures of that era and could not get them to bite!!! Finally, I walked the banks just for fun when I suddenly came upon a lone fish who was kinda sittin' in one particular spot. Nesting? Homepride? Waiting for the next meal? Who knows? Anyways, the Bass would leave every now and then and come back to the exact spot. I presented every surefire lure to this fish and it would come up to it and then swim away. I finally put the nightcrawler on and it did the same thing!!! (swim close to it and swim away). It came back after a few minutes and somehow decided I'm gonna put it in my mouth this time and the fight was on. My personal best at the time (9 pounds) but 30 minutes to catch this one fish. From that experience I would say that the big fish in this Lake are very hard to catch. Seventeen pounds was the Lake record back then. They would not take a picture of my fish because it was under 10 pounds. There are Big Bass in this lake boys & girls. Go and gettum' and then release them.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: Do onto others as you would have them do onto you and then practice catch and release.

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

      Report: Oop! Sorry about the spelling. I meant to say "South End". (Thanks TIDEPOINT for correcting it.)
      City: Palo Alto

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: I AM SURE HE MENT "SOUTH END" HOPE THAT HELPS YOU.
      City: WATSONVILLE

      Tips: USE YOUR MIND