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Friday, December 23rd, 2005

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    Water Temp: 56

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: wen't up to see water level's check on my boat still in berth,saw lot's of fisherman,talked to a couple-nothing..one got a catfish...way to much flow..water was really high..had to take boat from marina to get to my boat...doe's anyone know if dock's wen't under..or store..
    City: san rafael

Saturday, December 17th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 56

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Saturday from 10 am to 2. Saw no surface activity for bass or steelhead. Tried several techniques to 50 feet in Yorty and Cherry Creek. Got one on in the trees drop shotting a red worm, but it broke off in the branches. No other hits.
    City: Novato

    Tips: No tips. Did anyone do well?

Saturday, December 10th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 52

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: We also had a tough time of it at Sonoma on Saturday. I took my son and a couple of friends took their boat out and the results were similar to Mike's. We started by the marina and my boy caught a 1 1/2 on a 4" Roboworm right off of the bat making me think we were in for a great day. Well, it was a great day (fishing with my son and two good friends always makes it a great day) with beautiful weather for December but the bite was very slow. We fished the Warm Springs arm all day and found a few fish in the 10-20 foot range but getting them to open wide and say ahhh when your worm was in front of them proved to be a challenge. I threw a spider grub and drop shot pretty much all day and got 4 bites and hooked and landed two fish. My boy also got two for a total of 6 bites in 7 1/2 hrs of fishing. The other boat with us had a little better day with one getting a limit with a 3 lb kicker and the other catching I believe 3 fish. They too were fishing grubs, worms ang jigs. The few people we talked to seemed to stuggle with the bite too, but agreed it was such a nice day weather wise, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. We were glad to return to the ramp and find our vehicles unmolested since three out of the last four trips there resulted in some kind of vandalism or theft of our tow rigs.
    City: Ukiah

    Tips: It seemd the fish we found were nosed up against steep banks with most of the bites coming as the bait worked its way down but it is possible there were suspended fish behind us in the trees thet we were not fishing for. The water was much clearer than anticipated so the 12 lb test we were using probably contributed to the slow bite. Fish deep as we had no activity in less than 10 ft of water.

Wednesday, December 7th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Redwood Empire Bass Club next meeting is on December 14th 7pm e Rohnert Park Community Center at the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Snyder Lane. WE welcome new members both boaters and non boaters to fish our tournaments with us. The next tournament will be on December 17th at Lake Sonoma. This is an "open" team tournament which means anyone can fish even if there not a member. You can call me at 707-578-5762 or click onto the clubs section on this website for further info.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: For anyone interested in learning how to bass fish or wanting to meet other bass fisherman,becoming a member of Redwood Empire Bass Club is a great way to start.

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2005

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    Water Temp: 62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Played hooky from work. Caught nothing. Spoke with a few others that had been there since 7am and only caught 2 fish. Each 1 bass, 1 trout. I got there at 2pm so I did'nt feel to bad. Very deep - about 80 ft. 5-10ft. off the bottom.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: flashers, rappala broken backs. Power bait Bright green.

Saturday, November 12th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Skunked. Tried on top, deep. Nothin. We were'nt the only ones either. The morning was windy with white caps. Not a typical day at sonoma - more like clearlake. Got nice at noon and we had to go.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: fish nice days.

Friday, November 11th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Steelies are legal according to sherrif who radio'd fish and game. Fishing tomorrow - let you guys in how we do.
    City: Santa Rosa

Wednesday, November 9th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: So, are the steelies legal or not?
    City: San Anselmo

Monday, November 7th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: To the fishermen who help set me straight regarding steelhead being legal in sonoma thanks. I actually spoke with a sherrif who radio'd fish/game to get it once and for all. Again. thanks, no funny cigs.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Always ask fish and game when in doubt.

Sunday, November 6th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Morning mist. Conditions were not good. However, caught 1-14" Bass. Nothing the rest of the day. Caught trolling a rooster tail.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Don't fish in the rain.

Tuesday, November 1st, 2005

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    Water Temp: surface temp do

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Landlocked Steelies:

    This time of year they're from 40' to the surface. Follow the Shad, you'll find the Steelies.

    Sonoma doesn't 'turn' abruptly like higher altitude lakes. Don't waste time chasing a thermocline, focus on the bait.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: 1) follow the shad 2) #1 and #2 needlefish, rainbow runners, etc. 3) I only use dodgers or flashers below 75' 4) sweeten the lure with a mini-crawler, power bait, anything to coax a second strike on (notoriously) short strikers

    tight lines...Bogey

Monday, October 31st, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: TO THE GUY WHO SAID, STEELHEAD ARE ILLEGAL TO TAKE! Sonoma is unique in having a wild, self-sustaining landlocked steelhead population. Trollers find the best success fishing with minnow imitation lures, such as Cripplures and Needlefish, throughout the year. "The fall is the best time to fish for the trout, since the fish are moving up into the creeks to spawn," said Green. "The fish average 16 to 23 inches long, but larger fish up to 8 pounds are taken."
    City: CLEARLAKE

    Tips: QUIT THOSE FUNNY CIGARETTES!

Sunday, October 30th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: KEEPING MY BOAT IN BERTH FOR WINTER,CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR STEELHEAD, ALSO HOW LONG BEFORE LAKE TURN'S..HAVE BEEN BERTH HOLDER FOR TEN YR'S USUALLY DO WELL IN EARLY SPRING,BUT FINALLY CONVINCED WIFE TO LET ME PUT ON DOWNRIGGER'S.ANY ADVISE WOULD BE APPRECIATED..
    City: SAN RAFAEL

    Tips: HOWEVER I HAVE FOUND DRIFTING WITH A UNWEIGHTED WORM DOE'S WELL...

Friday, October 21st, 2005

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fishin was decent. Trolled and hooked a couple of nice steelhead. Unfortunately, if you know the rules you can't keep em. Their wild in this lake. 3 keeper bass about the 3lbs. range. One really nice one. slow at times, but when one caught a fish the others were slowly behind.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Rappala, Rappala, Rappala, - we tried different things at first including live minnows. nothing worked like a j-7 or j-11 Rappala, broken back. The fingers north offer nice relaxing fishing.

Tuesday, October 4th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 67

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished warm springs arm 6am to 3pm Tuesday.7 fish total with best going 2.5lbs, best limit appx. @10.25lbs. Best fish caught on 6" black senko w/red flake rigged texas style/weightless in 3 feet of water on deadfall. Most of the rest were all dropshots on 4"-6" shad laminate roboworms/berkley cuttails in 35-50 feet of water. Please keep posting tips on this lake!
    City: san anselmo

    Tips: Locate fish on finder, then dropshot or darthead 'em. Some fish shallow in the trees, but LOTS on the bottom and suspended around structure in the coves.

Sunday, August 28th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fishing at Sonoma is tough. On the water at 630 Sunday no fog and already bright out. Ran up to the north end and stated fishing main body points and submerged trees. One 1.5 smallie on 4 inch black worm texas style. Lots of fish on the scope from 12 to 25 ft but not taking anything. Tried worms - spinner and rattle traps. Someone give me the secret to this lake? Once again the marina ramp was a nightmare. People docking and leaving their boats for hours - others learning how to use a jet ski and tons of ski boating kids trying to launch. Took an hour to get to the dock. No more weekend trips here for me.
    City: Rohnert Park

    Tips: Yeah I can use some - my best tip is get out early and leave by 10 am to avoid the zoo at the ramp.

Friday, August 12th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: went camping/fishing thurs.-sat. and the bass fishing was on! fished 6" black and purple worms texas style in the trees in 15-25 feet of water and couldnt keep em off the hook.best 5 on friday went 24 lbs. with a 7.75 kicker and endless 3 pounders. best fishing trip in a long time!!!
    City: Fort Bragg

    Tips: fish dark coloured worms in the trees out on points and along the edges of coves and hold on!!

Tuesday, August 9th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Two weeks back I had a decent day. Caught my biggest bass so far at 10:00 A.M. 5 lbs.
    Also got two small ones that day.
    Then went back this past Tuesday and was SKUNKED!
    I was out there 8 hours from 7:00 A.M. on. I threw everything you could think of. DEAD
    City: santa rosa

    Tips: The best bass I've caught at Lake Sonoma in the past six months were caught on Crank Baits or Senko worms.

Saturday, August 6th, 2005

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    Water Temp: Low 80's

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished here several times in the past two weeks and it has been very good with the frog and buzz bait bite. The morning bite has been some what good with spooks, buzzbaits, and frogs. but in the afternoon when it gets nice and hot, look for good shade where the water is 2-5 degrees cooler and start walking the frog and hold on.
    City: Cloverdale

    Tips: Black Frogs in Sumo, Chartruse Frogs and Sammy's in shad and bait fish colors. Also don't be afraid to throw 10 inch worms weight less over the mats for huge blow ups. look for shade and a slight degree in water change and they will be there. Walk the frog slow.

Saturday, July 16th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 78

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched boat at 5:45a.m. to get an early start. Headed up to Cherry Creek and started throwing crankbaits,zara spooks and frogs with no success for the first hour. My partner, Jack Rosetti started throwing senkos and nailed a 2.5lb. I was determined to catch a frog fish so I kept on trying with still no blowups while Jack gets two more 2lb. fish. We had a bet for first,biggest and most fish so I put down the frog and started throwing senkos. I missed the first two hits because I set too soon so I said next bite I'll let the fish take it before I set. My partner was fishing on the outside edges of the grass so I decided to go shallow and right away a I got a light tick tick. I waited until the line started to move and when I set the fish immediately broke water and I knew it was a big fish. I kept the rod tip down but the bass still jumped out of the water and seeing the fish I knew it was a Hawg. Jack gets really excited and asks where's the net which I never take out of the locker when I'm fun fishing. Well the fight is on and the bass dives into the weeds and keeping pressure on I bring her up close to the boat and then Jack lunges out and grabs the fishes jaw and brings her in the boat.My biggest bass at Lake Sonoma weighed in at exactly 8lbs. We proceded down the bank and caught four more fish.By 9a.m. we had 7 bass with best five going 17lbs.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Keep the boat out in deeper water so you don't spook the fish. Throw on the outside edges and in pockets of the grass and keep a eye on your line. When it twitches wait a few seconds until the line moves and then set. The fish were aggressive and didn't hesitate to run with the Senkos. Best colors were watermelon with black flake and green pumpkin although other colors worked also. Here it was Saturday in the middle of Summer and we didn't see another boat until after 10a.m. It's definitely a early bite so get on the water at first light.Good luck and tight lines.