NORTHEAST
Waters in the northernmost reaches of the state provide some of the best vistas to be found, but they also afford an unexpected benefit -- outstanding bass fisheries for anglers looking for something different.

Lake Almanor (Plumas County) -- With Almanor's breathtaking views of Mount Lassen, it's difficult to concentrate on fishing. But the equally magnificent smallmouths swimming its clear waters make looking away relatively easy for bass anglers. This is a numbers lake, and although you'll occasionally hook a trophy, most of the smallies weigh about 2 pounds.

Sierra winters can be brutal, so it's best to come here between April and November. You'll find plenty of shoreline structure to target with downsized crawdad-pattern crankbaits and plastics. When fishing is tough, nothing beats live crickets soaked a few feet below a bobber.

For information, call Peninsula Sports at (530) 596-3822.

Big Sage & Dorris Reservoirs (Modoc County) -- Getting to these reservoirs will take some driving for most anglers, but the experience here is worth the effort. Don't expect to catch large numbers of big bass, but be ready for the ultimate in relaxation. Big Sage and Dorris are ideal for fly anglers and for fishing from canoes or float tubes.

Big Sage and Dorris, shallow lakes with murky waters, have an abundance of vegetation. They fish more like ponds than reservoirs. Frogs and buzzbaits work well, especially during summer. Special regulations allow you to keep 10 bass at each reservoir, with no size limit.

For information, call the Modoc National Forest at (530) 233-5811.

SHASTA CASCADE
Colder weather and a relatively shorter growing season often means sub-par warmwater fisheries, but that's not the case for the largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass in this far-north region of the state.

Shasta Lake (Shasta County) -- Shasta is one of only four destinations that have made California Game & Fish's list of places to cast a lure for bass for 10 consecutive years. Although some smallmouths swim these waters, the honor can be attributed to incredible populations of largemouth and spotted bass. For both numbers of fish and average quality, Shasta provides a rare must-fish opportunity.

Largemouths begin to show in angler's creels when this massive reservoir's waters begin to warm in late spring. The Pit River arm tends to be best, where reaction baits take fish from submerged wood and willows. Spotted bass can be caught all year, but the best fishing is from October through January. Try casting small soft plastics or jigging spoons off any steep bank with chunk-type rock.

For information, call Phil's Propellers at (530) 275-4939.

NORTH COAST
Coastal lakes, which do not rely on snowpack to replenish their waters, are affected by drought more than inland or mountain reservoirs. They also benefit the most from wet years.

Clear Lake (Lake County) -- California's largest natural lake is touted as one of the best largemouth factories west of the Rockies, but to anglers it's much more than that. It's home to more trophy bass in the 8- to 10-pound class than any other body of water in the state. And its cover-laden shoreline provides Westerners with something not available at the region's many man-made reservoirs -- the opportunity to power-fish 365 days of the year.

Just about every bass lure known has taken fish from Clear Lake at one time or another, but a handful of patterns out-produce the rest. Casting swimbaits parallel to long tule stands is popular among trophy hunters, while bulky jigs pitched to holes in submerged vegetation work well too. Also try working frog imitations over weed mats and Rat-L-Traps burned through offshore grass beds.

For information, call Tackle It at (707) 262-1233.