June 16, 2008

Lake Berryessa has been good but the wind lately has made it tough to fish.  When the wind blows head for the Narrows and fish the windy points.  The bait pushes up and you can find groups of fish stacked in these areas.  The Topwater bite has been great when you can fish the flats on the east side of the main body.

Folsom lake is getting tougher as they have pulled the plug and letting out water dropping the lake 1 to 2 feet a week.  Most of the fish will pull off the banks and suspend over deep water making them tough to catch.  I am still finding some fish holding on steep points close to the bank.  Start looking at off shore rock piles to produce most of the fish.

April 27, 2008

Folsom lake is still doing well.  The lake has been rising about 3 feet a week.  We are finding Bass at all stages from prespawn , spawning , and post spawn.  Most of the fish are being caught using plastics like Carolina rigged Robo worms in Arons Magic color.  Reaction baits are also working if you fish them early in the am.

Good luck!

 March 25,2008

Its a new year and I can finaly update this section of my site.  Sorry for the lack of information but I hope to keep you up on the latest for the lakes that I cover.

Please send me an email if you are looking for addtional info and any other questions you might have.

Folsom Lake

We have been doing very good fishing in the North Fork part of the lake.  In the mornning we start with reaction baits like the Spro ArkuShad lipless crankbait and Luky Craft rip baits like the 110 Pointer Minnow and Stayce 90 in the ghost pattern.   Start to work these baits on the outside points and make your way into the coves.  The Spotted bass are in full spawn mode and fat with eggs.  They will spawn deeper than the Largemouth and at a colder temp.   Most of the fish we have been catching have been Spots but I am starting to see more largemouth.  If the reaction bite is slow for you go to a 1/8 oz. Dart head or Shakey head with a 4 inch robo worm in the Arons Magic pattern and work this from 5 to 15 feet of water on a slow retrive just hoping it slowly off the bottom.  The Carolina rig with the same worm is also doing well.

Good luck!

August 15,2007

Folsom Lake is looking like it does in the winter time, DRY!  You can still catch fish so do not dispare.  The main body has been the best area.  Most of the fish are holding off the points and deep rock piles.  There has been a fair top water bite early and late with Zarra Spooks and Nip-a-DeeDee prop baits doing most of the catching.  Keep your eyes open during the day for an unexpected top water bite as some of the smaller bass are pushing bait fish to the surface.  I have seen this almost every time I have been out in the past few weeks, and you never know when to see it happen.  Plastics in the Arons Magic and Morning Dawn have been working fished on a 1/8 oz. dart head or on a Carolina rig.

The delta has a good to fair frog bite that will last all day if work the tide.  Crank baits in crawdad patterns fished along the weed line at low tide is working for some nice fish.  Use a soft rod with 30 lb. braid and just pull and reel when you feel a bite.  The fish have not been taking the baits hard so do not set the hook to soon or to hard as you will pull the crank bait out of there mouth.  Flipping plastics always will put fish in the boat so try this out if you get frustrated with eveything else.

Good Luck!

July 12, 2007

Summer is hear and you know what that means.  SLOW DOWN! AND IF YOU THINK YOU ARE FISHING SLOW, SLOW DOWN MORE.  I can not say this enough.  The bass, for the most part, in all of our main lakes have gone deep for the summer.  Yes you can still find a topwater bite early and late, but most of the fish do not want to play this game.  Those fish are now holding off main lake points in 20 to 30 feet or more of water looking for a nice area to spend the rest of the summer.  Look for areas that offer quick escape to deep water like points close to main lake channels or offshore islands and rock piles.  This is one of thoses times that I preach about when your electronics are the best tool you own.  If you have not spent the time to play with it you need to do this now.  Go buy about 4 to 6 good marker bouyes.  These will mark your areas so you have a point of refrence to visably see.  Using your electronics criscross points moving your boat more and more out each time over deeper water until you find a sharp drop to deep water or channel that holds fish.  Do not waist time fishing an area unless you have marked fish.  Do alot of moving around and change spots until you find active fish.  Most of these spots will produce fish all day long once you have pin pointed that sweet spot.  This may seam like alot of work, but it will be well worth it as these spots will be good for the rest of summer.

I can not wait for FALL!  Go get them.

Good Luck   

 April 3,2007

Folsom Lake has been putting out constant action on all 3 Bass(Largemouth, Spotted, Smallmouth).  Reaction Baits in the morning has been good with alot of the fish in the top 12 feet of water.  Rip baits, Spinner baits, and Zoom Flukes have been my best baits.  After that bite dies off switch to smoke 3 inch grubs with 1/8 ozs. dart head.  Fish this bait on a constant slow retrieve. Cast it right into cover or on the bank and work it back to the boat.  most of your hits will feel like extra weight or weeds.  Set the hook on anything that feels different.  Other plastics working well are 4 inch Senkos fished on my Pag rig and 4to 6 inch worms fished Texas rig around rocks and brush.

Lake Berryessa has been good all over the lake.  I have been working the flats across from Big Island and the coves in the Narrows. White spinner baits, Crawdad crank baits, Lucky Craft rip baits have been great reaction baits sometimes all day long. Plastics like 3 inch smoke grubs with blue flake and 6 inch straight tail Robo worms in Arons Magic get them this rest of the time.

Good luck! and practice CPR

March 12,2007

Just as I thought. I still have some that want to catch Stripers. I took out a trip on Saturday 10th and found some great topwater action using pencil poppers.  We caught about 7 fish up to about 10 pounds.  The ones we missed looked to be in the high teens judging by the explosion under our baits.  The rest of the day was hit and miss on Fish-Traps and Rat-l-traps.  

Just can't get enough of that kind of action. 

March 5, 2007

Stripers are finaly done for me until September.

Folsom lake has started up finaly with the North Fork.  Fish from 1 to 5 pounds (Spotted Bass), and some nice Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are moving up to feed.  Start off with Rip baits like the Lucky Craft Pointer 100 in the Ghost pattern.  Spinnerbaits like 3/8 in white with silver willow leaf blades slow rolled off points and windy banks.  Small jigs in craw patterns and plastic worms fished on a darter head 1/8oz from 5 to 20 feet.  Work the points leading into coves and fish them on into the coves until you find where the fish are staging.  Your electronics will help you to pin-point the creek channel.

The Delta has been putting out some nice limits of Largemouth Bass up to 35 pounds.  The south end will heat up first and slowly make its way north.  Swim baits like Fish-Traps fished on 3/8oz. heads worked along the deep weed beds in Franks Track and Mildred Island have been good. Spinnerbaits in white and white/chart. are also doing some damage.  Crank baits in craw patterns like speed traps and rattle traps are doing well to.  Senkos pitched along the tules and the holes in the weeds can be another tool for fooling them this time of year.  Never be afraid to change. this is the time of year when the bite changes as fast as the weather.

Lake Berryessa has been fantastic with this early springlike weather.  Spinner baits and crank baits are putting some nice fish in the boat for my clients lately, and Robo worms and small jigs in craw patterns taking up the slack.

Good luck! and practice CPR

December 3,2006

Folsom Lake has been slow for  the last few weeks but with the colder weather the fish have started to group up more. We have been finding them off the mian body points chasing schools of bait.  The best lure for this type of fishing has been the spoon.  Blade Runner bait Company puts out a great spoon in 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ounce. Pearl, chartruse, and a mix of the two have been the best colors.  Jigs in 1/2 to 1 ounce with Hula Grubs have also been good.  The shallow water bite is not consitant but sometimes you will find some nice Spotted bass chasing close to the surface.

The same goes for Lake Berryessa. use alot of the same techniques, but we are finding alot more fish chasing bait up shallow with the Trout.  Spinnerbaits, and Rip type baits will work good for this.

The Delta has been producing alot of Stripers this year with the bite staying consitant. Most of my fish have been on the San Joaquin side all the way down to Discovery Bay.  Look for bird action or do alot of moving around until you find fish and try fish traps, and spoons. The Topwater bite has been on and off but always give it a try. Pencil Poppers do best for this. 

Good Luck!

September 13,2006

Folsom lake

The fishing has been on and off as the weather goes from hot to cold to hot. I have seen alot of bait balls starting to form all over the lake but they are always on the move. Most of the bass are suspended in 20 to 30 feet with the lake falling.  The reaction bite in the morning has been like the weather, but it is always worth a try. Topwater baits like Pop-R, Zarra Spook, and rip baits Lucky Craft Pointer Minnow. Use these baits over the main lake points and outside points in the north and south fork early in the am.  After that go to fishing plastics on a Carolina Rig or Drop-Shot in the same areas. As the water starts to cool down into the high 60's keep your eyes open for feeding frenzees as the Bass will start to feed heavy for the long winter.

Delta

Largemouth Bass are feeding on topwater baits like Buzz baits and poppers fished along the weed lines on moving tides. When the water bottoms out go to pitching jigs and plastics or try running crankbaits on the outside edge of the same weeds. 

August,10,2006

Folsom Lake is fishing in the summer mode.  I have been finding good to great action just before the sun comes up fishing topwater baits in the main body around the peninsula area and some of the of shore willow trees. After about 9 am I start to consentrate more on outside points and offshore rock piles with jigs and plastics. 

Lake berryessa has been alot the same with the topwater and rip bite working good on the main lake and some the coves in the narrows.

The Delta has had a great frog bite with the warm temps. but the recent cooler day's and nights has made the more aggresive on plastics fished on the outside edge of the weeds.

Good Luck!

Folsom Lake has been great in the early morning using topwater baits like Pop-R or Zara Spook in shad finnish. Work the willows in the main body and you will be on some nice Small mouth and Largemouth bass. After the sun comes up and the top bite drops off start with a darthead and a 4 inch worm and work the points. Also try a jig or Carolina rig in the same areas.

The Delta has been kicking out some nice fish on Frogs fished over the weeds and matts. At low tide you will need to probe the pockets will a Flip'n stick and a 6 inch worm or Senko. Buzz-baits have also been good fished around weed points close to moving water.

Lake Berryessa is doing good fishing the points in the Narrows. The submerged rock piles out in the main body are still producing some nice fish if you can get there before the skiers do.

Good luck! and practice CPR

 June 16,2006

Folsom lake has been at full pool for most of the month. The fish have been active early in the am on reation baits such as topwater poppers and Zarra Spooks, rip-baits like Lucky Craft pointer minnows and Staycee in the Ghost pattern, and White spinner baits. After that bite dies off you switch to grubs on 1/8ounce Dart head or Carolina rigged worms. Work areas that have submerged willows or rock piles. Drop-Shot rigs are also putting out in the main body.

Lake Berryessa is going great for an early topwater and rip bite before all the boat traffic hits. You will see allot of bait at the surface chased by small fish but the bigger fish are under the bait. Move to the off-shore rock piles and island tops and fish jigs and worms for some quality Smallmouth and Largemouth when the reaction bite dies.

The Delta has been good but the crazie weather we had this week slowed it down. The hot consitant weather will bring back the topwater and Frog bite.

Good Luck!

May 3,2006

Folsom lake has been on fire. The bass have been spawning all over the lake. Reaction baits and plastics will catch you lots of fish in both the South Fork and the North Fork.

The Delta has been GREAT, Most of the fish have spawned. You can still find fish on beds and some moving up to beds. Work Zoom Horny Toads and spinnerbaits at high tide to find fish. Flip Senkos at low tide around tule clumps and open weed pockets.

Good Luck!

April 3, 2006

Folsom Lake has had a 5 MPH speed limit on the lake due to rising water.  You can still catch fish, but you have to go slow. Spinner baits, Rip baits, and plastics have all been working.

Lake Berryessa has been on a consistent bite with the water viability at about 2 feet. This means warmer water later in the day and the fish moving up close to the bank. Crank baits, and dragging worms have been a solid pattern.

The Delta has had its share of water lately but the fishing is still good on the west side with this water warming sooner than the north east side. Flipping jigs, Senkos, and creature baits  have all been good. Crank baits will also do well.

Good luck!

March 20,2006

Folsom Lake water is on the rise and so is the fishing. Look for bass in the top 15 feet of water getting fat for the spawn. Spinner-baits, Crank-baits, Rip-baits are all working as well as Magic Worms and Grubs on an 1/8 ounce Dart Head. Be careful when running around the lake at sun-up, with the lake rising there is allot of logs, and trees floating all over the lake.

Lake Berryessa is doing good with fish being caught on all over the lake on Spinner-baits, Crank-baits, and Magic Worms. Great Smallmouth bite along rocky banks and inlets.

Delta Black Bass are kicking into high gear with big weights coming on Crank-baits, and Flipping Jigs or worms along the tulle edges.

Good Luck!

CPR

March 2,2006

Delta stripers are going strong in the Mokolume river. Try from New Hope Landing to the mouth using Fish Traps with 1/2 ounce head. Look for birds diving at the first hour of the tide change. Incoming and outgoing have both been good.

Folsom Lake has been good for spooning spotted bass in the creek channels. The lake is very low so drive with you eyes wide open and your depth finder on. There was a crank bait bite going but water fluctuations have slowed it down. Look for the lake to start rising toward the end of the month.

Lake Berryessa has had a steady bite going on big fish using swim baits. Pope creek and Putah creek are good smallmouth bets. The narrows and side coves have been good for spotted bass and largemouth bass.

Good Luck! and practice CPR (catch, photo, release)

February 2, 2006

Finally thanks to the guy's at Western Bass.com I am back on the web. I hope to have weekly updates on the Delta, Folsom Lake and Lake Berryessa. I do fish other lakes but these are my home waters. Feel free to email me for any other details you would like to know. I will be posting all my clients pictures as soon as I can and thanks for putting up with the old ones.

Delta Stripers are back with a vengeance. The San Joaquin is the best stop for them now. Try spoons on the edge of the shoals and Fish Traps and Rattle Traps on top and around the sides of the same.

Folsom Lake has had a good jig bite with a spoon bite mixed in. Also try a Carolina rigged creature bait.

Lake Berryessa will be the first lake to show signs of pre spawn so keep your eyes on this one to blowup soon. Small brown jigs, white spinner baits, crank baits, and rip baits will all work hear.

Good luck and practice CPR (catch,photo,release)

 February,20,2006

Lake Berryessa has a good smallmouth bite going and some of the spots and Largemouth are starting to move.

Folsom Lake had a good crank bait bite going but the cold snap has slowed down the action to drop-shot and spoon speed. Jigs can also be a good bet in the main body.

The Delta will have a great striper bite going in a few days. I still have a few days open for next week. Swim baits and spoons are the bait of choice right now.