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Saturday, October 16th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 64-67 deg

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Well Joe Miller and I fished the Future Pro Tour Tourament hoping to make the TOC. The day had changed to being windy and the temp had droped 4 degs., the air temp also dipped down. Going to our first spot left of the dam in a large cove area finding other fisherman also had the same idea. Seven other boats were in this cove and no fish for us until later. We left to spot two looking for our fish, finding none, (large hump just outside dyke 8 ramp). Returning to spot one, finding that the fish had returned using a Pro Worm # 266 leach on a split shot in 20-30 ft of water. In the next three hours we started catching our 15 bass (four smallies ), culling seven. Moving out to other humps in the main body at 1:30pm looking for balls of bait fish in the 20-50 feet, culling one more before weighting in . We finshed 19 for 7.65 lbs, the big fish winner was a 4.0 lbs +. Some of the winners used jigs, rip baits, drop shot and split shot. To much winds for top water bite. The winning weight was 11.0 ? The small boat division winner had 13.0 + lbs, slow day for some
    City: rocklin

    Tips: Look for large bait balls with large bass on humps in the main body in deep water, work your bait slow.

Monday, October 11th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 71

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I got to fish the windy days at Folsom!! I had two "teach the lake" guide trips - one on Friday when the clouds cleared out at 9 am and a stiff south breeze blew the rest of the trip Gary Dobyns would not have liked that sudden bluebird sky! On a rare Sunday trip for me, we were able to fish for about two hours and then just tried to stay out of gale force winds. My clients yesterday knew the wind would be a problem, but they wanted to go anyway. Actually, after showing them several good areas to work, I decided to take them out in the main body before it was too late. In building swells, I did my best to hold the 520 in place over a big ball of bait at the 30 foot level, just off an island top. I think they were actually giggling as they hooked bass after bass - drop-shotting and spooning. One fellow caught his first spoon fish! I don't know how many we caught there - maybe 10 in 20 minutes, I was throwing a salt and pepper Yamamoto grub with 6# test, jerking it off the bottom, when I got nailed by a hybrid bass of nearly 2 1/2 lbs. I caught two and they caught all the rest. Finally, it was impossible to hold, so I showed them some other main lake areas a quick as I could, then moved to any sheltered water we could find up the south fork where we did catch a few more. One of the clients did make the drop-shot catch of the year - an 8 pound GRIEB!! Getting that bird off was exciting. She was fine, but not-too-happy!! Friday's trip was not so difficult and fishing was fairly good all day. We only fished main body areas with lots of bait. I did get a topwater largemouth (2 lbs) just as the clouds cleared. When you find feeding bass at Folsom, it can be fast and furious! That happened twice in different spots - we had a ball. Spooning was on as was drop-shotting. We ended up with around 25 bass, mostly spots and some smallies.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I, like Cooch, was disappointed. In my case with the quality of the bass we caught on both trips. I have been on spoon bites with fish averaging 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. Couldn't find those fish Friday and certainly didn't have many options Sunday. We caught many over 2 pounds, but not over 2 1/2. Jigs would have been good to use, but my clients wanted to learn how to put numbers in the boat in the fall. You will not have success at Folsom without your head in the meter. You need to watch for rocks at the same time!!! Look for the balls of bait to determine their overall depth. Our magic number was 25 to 33 feet. The biggest bass will usually be working bait in areas with the steepest dropoffs. They are harder to find when the lake is this low. Remember, bait and bass are constantly moving - I noticed that between Fri and Sun. Don't be afraid to move around a lot until you find the Magic Area! Tight schools of bait often don't have fish working them. Look for the bass in the bait balls, which should look a little disorganized. Happy hunting!!

Saturday, October 9th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 68-74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Took Norm and Lucas out to play on Folsom Saturday. Fully expected the overcast day and weather change to turn the fish on. I'm not sure if it did or not, but the catching fell far short of what I expected. We did catch 25-30 fish with the largest being a 4 pound blackie, caught on a One Ton. We did catch one other black on a Norman Crank. Norm stuck a real nice smalley close to 3 pounds on the same Hula grub(he caught the largie too!) The rest of the fish were spotted bass that ranged from a pound to 2 1/2 pounds. Most fish we caught were on bait schools in 10-15 foot of water. As the sun came out and the skies cleared, this seemed to drive both the bait and the bass very deep. We struggle to catch fish after 1:00pm and leaving the main lake area, Norm & Lucas just did not want to fish below 50 feet, and that's where the majority of the fish were when we graphed areas up both the North and South forks. So we ran around exploring major largemouth locals. We only had one taker all afternoon fishing the rock piles of the north fork. Although that 3+ showed his mug, he was not willing ta grab the crank and take a photo opt in our boat. The fish appeared very sluggish on this overcast day.
    City: Oakley

    Tips: On this day, we had to key on the bait fish and some form of a point. Electronics were critical, because if we saw the fish near or in the school of bait, we could catch it. Never caught a fish on a dropshot, Lizards, Hulas and a brown jig-n-pig where the table fair for the day.

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    Water Temp: 68-69 deg

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Only a few fisherman came out in the cloudy cool morning, so Denny Howard and I had most of the lake anywhere and with out shearing the fish. We found bait fish first thing on banks in open water with spots and smallies. With in the first hour we boated 3 smallies and 20 spots. By noon we had moved around finding more balls of bait and larger bass upto 3 lbs. By the time we pulled out of Granite Bay we boated 40 bass using jigs, worms on split shot and drop shot. The water has stayed the same for the last few weeks. Good luck you fisherman at the next upcoming Future Pro Tour tourament.
    City: rocklin

    Tips: try top water, cranks, blades and worms, something will work.

Friday, October 8th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 69 D

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished most of the morning near the dam on the first 3 major points. Fished jigs, spinnerbaits,cranks and worms. Decided not to fish dropshot or slip shot and that may have been the reason for NANA! Third time on the lake in 3 weeks and the water is getting lower, much lower. Down to 7 ft in the channel near the old salmon bridge in the south fork. I have yet to figure this lake out and today may have been my last trip to folsom. Fishing just isn't that great on this lake.
    City: El dorado hills

    Tips: Fish another lake......

Thursday, October 7th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 56-57.2

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Another sunny day on Folsom Lake, the day after the Future Pro TOC Tourament. The fish seam to be hiding after 60 boats (120 fisherman) pounded the lake for there last tourament of the year. We moved around the lake looking for our balls of bait fish, finding some in the main body on flats near deeper waters. A good spot is just left of the dam in the large cove in 15-35 ft of water. Most of the bait fish have moved out and so have the bass. Start looking more at points and soon in the coves at the bass move. The lake has droped again, the rain has helped. The split shot and drop shot still works well with a Pro Worm #266s leach.
    City: rocklin

Wednesday, October 6th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 71-73

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Well...hadn't been to Folsom for a month and a half and saw some new islands last night. Continues to go down. Looked like it was down another 2-3 feet. As for fishing, tried throwing trusty shad-raps in the South Fork with no luck. Then tried blades with no luck. A couple of nibbles on the crank, but that's it. Graphed tons o fish!
    City: Fair Oaks

    Tips: Looks like others are catchin in other areas then the South Fork with things other than cranks and blades. Try something else. Tight Lines!

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    Water Temp: 67-70 deg

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Well the water has not droped at all in the past week and the temp is the same, so the fishing should be better. Jim Ryan and I started out near the Dam on humps with large rocks and drop offs into 40 ft + only find small spots. Todays air temp got upto 84 deg and no winds. Using a jig we found spots in 20 ft again on rocks near Beals Point side of the Dam. Graphed alot of fish in 20 - 40 ft all afternoon unit 6pm. worked the rock garden area around 4:30pm and found fishing jumping in shollow water, so I started using a buzz bait, no bites, cranking none, droping shotting none. "slow afternoon on Folsom"
    City: rocklin

    Tips: work jigs and small worms slow in 20-40 ft, try any colors and sizes.

Sunday, October 3rd, 2004

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    Water Temp: 68-70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Gin Clear is more like it. I have had some good evenning trips in the last few weeks with the better fish just after dark. Pre fished an upcoming Future pro tourn this Sunday during the same hours as the tourn. and Folsom reminded me of the past several falls. Bottom line, my fishing partner Steve and fellow compet. in the tourn circuit caught two dragging a split shot 4 inch worm and I did not get bit once. Tried top water, rip baits, drop shot, jigs and lots more jigs, cranks, ect. Tried shallow, drop offs, humps, and spoons down to 40 feet. Nada. Last year in the TOC I found the fish in 50 feet of water on spoons all day, YAWN..Oh well , I have another weekend or so to find them.
    City: SACRAMENTO

    Tips: Go to the river and Spoon a Salmon.

Sunday, September 26th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 67.8-69.2

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The sun is comming up later and later, the gate at Granite Bay is open before 6am and the boat ramp water is narrower and shallower by the day. Not much room for more than a few boats in that channel at one time. Jim Ryan and I fished the main body for the first two hours, crankbaits, drop shot and split shots were working for the few spots and smallies we got. Moving up into the north fork finding some small bass on deep rocks in 20-40 ft. Work slow and small, no top water yet. We finished with three keepers for 7 bass. The weather is great, two or three lake lice, still have not found the big fish. See you on the water.
    City: rocklin

Saturday, September 25th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 67.8-69

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: In the water @ 6:15am with Denny Howard, very light winds. We headed over to the wind sock area using split shot and a leach, finding 9 spots and one smallie within 1 hour, three were keepers. Moved over to Beals Point area for the next hour and got one more small spot. Headed up the north fork to Anderson Island aroung the big rocks in 15-30 ft using a jig, picked up four more spots and one smallmouth. The morning seems better than the afternoon. Look for large rock with deep water near and bait fish. It's nice to have that 5 mph bouys but it takes so long to travel up to Rattlesnake. See you on the water soon.
    City: rcoklin

Tuesday, September 21st, 2004

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    Water Temp: 68-72 deg

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Well it has been two weeks sense I've been on Folsom lake and the water has droped some, the boat ramp is in 6-8.5 ft of water. The temp has droped off to 68-72 and the days are cooler now, along with the sun going down early. Jim Ryan, Quency Malone and I started out at the wind sock area in 20-35 ft using brown/tan jigs, lizards and worms picking up two dinks. now its time to go north into the 5 mph zone and work around Anderson island, no fish. Did all the fish go out the dam door into the american river, where did they go ????? We did find some more around the big rocks in 25-35 ft. The lake is very nice at this time of the year, I think they should leave the bouys were they are and this will give us more fishing area and no lake lice problems. Today was one of those days you just make the best of it.
    City: rocklin

    Tips: drop shot, slow and on big rocks and maybe in the main body.

Sunday, September 19th, 2004

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Been waiting for these type of conditions in September for 17 years. Had an epic buzzbait bite back then in similar conditions. Went out today and through my trusty buzzbait, Nada. Tried a Rat'l trap and jig, Nada. I think it was a warm front back in the late 80's. Today was windy, cold and a bit wet. Oh well.
    City: Folsom

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    Water Temp: 73 Degrees

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I have gone out twice in the last week and have only managed a single fish on each trip and both were small. I have tried almost everything and both fish came on top water early morning in the south fork. I have fished every water depth with very little success and am beginning to question my decisions. I am losing my confindence in my decision making. I have fished top water,fished w/jigs, crankbaits, jerk baits and worms but nothing bites. I am new to the area and have only fished Folsom about a 5 or 6 times now. Can someone PLEASE HELP?

    Tx,
    Bobby
    City: El Dorado Hills

    Tips: Don't ask me!

Saturday, September 18th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I have been fishing just about every Saturday morning for the last three months.Having good success with blades and jigs the last month.This sat 18 th, blades would not work. Went with a jig and put four in the boat [ South arm ]. A few weeks ago had a awesome blade bite with four fish at 3 to 4 lbs and one fish that jumped and spit the blade that looked to be 6- 7 lbs. The blade bite is definitely off or on, throw it to find out.
    City: Granite Bay

    Tips: 3/8 oz rootbeer colored jigs w/ yamomoto dbl.tail grubs same color

Friday, September 17th, 2004

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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)

Sunday, September 12th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 73-77

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Lots of mudlines created by the stiff wind and the pleasure boaters (lake maggots). Took the kids out to swim for a few hours and found a good pattern right at the 5 mph buoys in the north fork. Fished nothing but a 3/4 oz. football chompers hula grub on wind blown points. Bites were violent as the fish hit and literally took off with the jig. Caught three nice spots and then swam and went home before the bulk of the lake tried to get into Granite. Looks like the lake is set-up for another 20 foot drop which will bring the lowest ramp into play by Columbus day. See ya out there.
    City: Roseville

    Tips: Oddly warm water is keeping the fish really active. Probably could have cranked or bladed but I stuck with the spider grub. Scattered bait keeps fish roaming and not locking in one area so keep the t-motor down and a bait wet.

Monday, September 6th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 69-73 deg

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Jim Ryan and I launched out of Granite Bay @ 6am, the first in the water. The lake is at the same level as 5 days ago. About 10 ft. in front of the ramp. We headed into the north fork south side using top water, no luck. Cranking at points and steep walls, no luck, light breeze. Using split shot and a "white ears weapon" 6" worm getting the next four spots and smallies 1-2 lbs off long rocky points in 10 - 25 ft. The morning skiers are slow coming out. At 9:30 we moved out to the wind sock, drop shot a oxblood 6" robo worm and picking up another spot. Our five bass wt was 8.5 lbs. Home to see the New Fisherman's warehouse in Rocklin on Granite drive. They will be open in a few weeks.
    City: rocklin

    Tips: after the sun hits the water, fish deep in 20-35 ft slow.

Wednesday, September 1st, 2004

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    Water Temp: 75-76

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: STARTED ABOUT 6:30AM WENT INTO THE NORTH FORK ,TRIED TOP WATER WITH A SAMMY NO TAKERS IN WHAT LOOKED LIKE A PRIME SPOT ROCK PILES 8-10 FEET OF WATER TOOK OUT THE CRANK BAIT FIRST CAST CUAGHT A LARGEMOUTH ALMOST 4LBS. ONLY GOOD FISH ON THE SAME STYLE CRANKBAIT JUST A DIFFERENT COLOR ,CAUGHT TWO OTHER FISH IN THE 1 LBS RANGE SAME COLOR .NOT BAD FOR TWO HOURS .
    City: ROSEVILLE

    Tips: AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE ONLY TIP IS THOSE LUCKY
    CRAFT BAITS ,WON'T USE ANY OTHER HARD BAIT TIGHT LINES KEEP THEM WET WHILE YOU CAN .

Friday, August 27th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 77

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Spent a nice evening on the lake with the family. Was continuing to try plastics and blades but only caught fish on lipless crank. Fished in the South Fork in various spots and caught 6. Largest going 3.6 lbs. The others were in the 1-2 pound range.
    City: Fair Oaks

    Tips: Take the kids fishing. If they are young...hook-up and hand-it-over to them to reel in. If not, patiently teach them. Oh, and if you want to catch fish...Rat-L-Trap in 1/2oz size in shad colors is still working for me. Please practice Catch-And-Release.