Folsom Lake (3)
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Folsom Lake (3) Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Folsom Lake (3). Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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- Species
Spotted BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSummerStructureBouldersSnuck 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.
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureRock Pile
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!
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueHard Topwater (Walking)SeasonSummerStructureStanding Timber
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.
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueTexas Rigs (Worming)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureMatted 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.
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueTexas Rigs (Worming)SeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureBoulders
Effective April 14 thru May 13, Folsom Lake is closed to all motorized boats, due to mitigation efforts to irradicate the spread of Golden Mussels. In addition, after May 13th, all motorized boats have to be inspected and prove a 30 day quarantine (dry docked) before it can launch on the lake. Scan the QR code in the picture for details.
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueDeep Diving Crankbaits (13'+)SeasonSummerStructureBoulders
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.
- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonSummerStructurePointsI was up on the North Fork for just a couple hours trying various techniques. Was surprised I wasn't hooking up on a ned or wacky rig. Was seeing fish, but they weren't interested in any of the soft plastics I was offering. Ended up catching a nice smallie on a shad pattern crankbait.
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueTexas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)SeasonSummerStructureBoulders
Just had a couple hours Saturday afternoon. Launched at Browns Ravine and headed up the South fork. I was above Salmon Falls Bridge, just Flipping around submerged rock piles. This was the best one of the day...2 1/2 lbs.
