Folsom Lake (3)
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Folsom Lake (3) Fishing Reports
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Species
Spotted BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Boulders
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Matted Grass
More trailer troubles for me, so with my boat on dry dock, I had to do some hiking. Walked up the North Fork to Mormon's Ravine had some luck using 10.5" Zoom Monster on a Texas Rig setup. I thought I would get a few with a swim bait riding across the top of the grass, but the bass on this day seemed to prefer to stay low and ambush that worm as I pulled it back to shore. I caught this one off a submerged rock pile I know of using the same setup.
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Water Temperature
68°
I was up on the North Fork, above Rattlesnake Bar. Took me a minute to figure it out....but on this day, a Ned Rig using a Z-Man Finesse TRD was the answer. And dark blue, with a white/silver belly was the pattern. At this point, I'm staying away from all the submerged brush. As juicy as they look, the fish just haven't moved there yet and it's not producing. They were all concentrated on the rocky shore lines and submerged boulders just off-shore. It was super windy and super crowded (Translation: Too many wakeboarders about) which made it difficult to lock into position. But if I approached from upwind and let the wind push me into place, I had time for a couple of good casts into my target zones. I caught some nice ones today!
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Boulders
Water Temperature
68°
Snuck out for a couple hours after work today. Ned Rig is still doing the trick, with lots of action casting up to rock ledges and submerged boulders. We even had a surprise Bluegill hit us up. For some reason, no activity to be found in submerged cover? It could be the water temp just isn't warm enough to move them to cover? That's bound to change as things keep heating up here for the summer.
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Topwater Walking
Structure
Standing Timber
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
72°
Anyone that says they have Folsom Lake figured out is exaggerating... On this day, all of the things that worked so well last weekend were fruitless. It came down to experimentation and a very active technique change up approach until I landed on a Whopper Plopper that got me some results.
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Boulders
Water Temperature
48°
Finally! I've been trying to get out to put those Keitech swimbaits I just purchased to work. I got out for a short afternoon run, spending most of my time between Browns Ravine and the dam, and I wasn't disappointed. This was the best one of the day. A 3 lb 6 oz beauty that fought like a 6 pounder. I was targeting submerged rock piles, and keeping in close contact with the bottom, sometimes bumping it off the tops of rock piles.
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Large Hair Jigs
Structure
Ledges
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
49°
First time ever using a large hair jig...and just wow! This was by far, my best day ever on Folsom Lake. Not a dink to be found. I put together a 14lb 1oz bag with this 4lbs 3oz kicker. Needless to say, I'll be getting right back out there with that Chicken Nugget! And I'll be buying a few more. I looked for steep drop offs, would cast to edge, let it sink about 3 feet and then a slow retrieve with tiny little twitches added in. The bites were amazingly subtle, and I feel certain I missed a few. But once I figured it out, did we have some fun!
Norcalyakin
Bronze Ambassador
2/7/23
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
48°
Find rock piles with your side scan, use your 2d and downscan to locate fish in the rock piles. Drop down on fish and deadstick your pole.
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Crankbaits 13'+
Structure
Boulders
I shouldn't be sharing this... On Folsom right now there is a very hot bite that has been going on for a few weeks. If you are fishing in the heat and not getting bit..... STOP. Launch in the evening around 7 pm. Bring 3 rods. 1 for 10-15' small profile cranks, 1 for 15+ large-bodied crankbaits, 1 for 20+ cranks up to yes magnum cranks. Using Active Target start scanning spots for fish in that 10-30' zone. Keep moving spots until you find a better concentration of larger fish. Start cranking as deep as you can. You prob won't get bit until the evening starts to set in. Once it does, it's game on. There are a few spots that are key but I'll leave that up to you to find them. Should work just about anywhere you can graph fish. One key is to throw a variety of baits and keep switching to find out which they want more, tight, wide, loud, silent, small/large profile etc. Been wrecking the spots and smallmouth, doubling up many times when someone else is in the boat and often catching them one after another... The bite will get better as the light disappears. Start with natural smaller profile, or translucent baits and work your way to large and gaudy as the sun goes down. Hope this helps. I'll be sad if this bite gets blown out for sharing but is what it is. I'll go find another bite. Good luck.
