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- Feb 14, 2009
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TOP PICKS
FOLSOM LAKE -- Last week's storm brought cooler temperatures and helped stabilize the lake level, perking up bass fishing. Almost any method worked: spooning, crankbaits, jigging and drop-shotting as bait moved closer to the surface. Look for flats adjacent to creek channels going into coves such as 5 Percent and Beals Point. This is a short term phenomenon and bass will soon be hunkering down in deeper water as the lake continues to cool, so strike while the iron is hot. Second hand reports only, but the cooler water has apparently brought trout and king salmon shallower, too, and perked them up as well. Troll Apexes, Needlefish, hoochies and slow roll shad in front of the dam.
SMITH RIVER -- The Smith got hit with rains big time on Tuesday and opened up for fishing above Rowdy Creek. Wednesday was very mossy and tough to fish, but on Thursday, fishing was wide open for kings to 40 pounds and above, according to Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service. Guide Gary Hix took Tommy Bono of Arcata to a 47-pound king on a plug. Some boats had 10 fish days, but everybody got limits. Desautel had limits by 9 a.m the next day. Guide Tony Sepulveda confirmed the good action and said "big chrome kings were hitting just about anything you wanted to put in front of them, but it looks to be short-lived as the water is dropping out fast."
AMERICAN RIVER -- The American River produced a few steelhead and a few striped bass last week, but fishing was slow, especially with the stormy weather. Unlike years past--at least before last year--no salmon were observed at the base of the fish screens at Nimbus Hatchery and the salmon spawning riffles a few hundred yards downstream. A clarification on the upcoming salmon closure is in order. The American upstream of the power lines at Ancil Hoffman Park to Hazel Ave. Bridge will close to fishing between Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, 2010.
EMERYVILLE -- Excellent action on the Farallon Island rockfish trips, with some good lingcod counts up to limits on one trip on the New Huck Finn. The New Seeker has added a few halibut to rockfish limits on a couple trips, and the Talisman had a good day fishing the bay, scoring seven leopard sharks and a halibut. With rockfish closing Oct. 31, the boat crews are planning their winter strategies. The New Huck Finn will offer bay potluck targeting halibut and striped bass, while the New Seeker is looking forward to sanddab and crab combos.
DAVIS LAKE -- Trollers are still catching big numbers of rainbows. Ed Dillard's last charter picked up 52 fish, mostly 12 to 13 inchers with eight fish in the 17- to 19-inch range. A size 10 black leech did very well early in the day and then the copper/red Dick Nite worked at 6 feet did the trick. Rick Kennedy at Tight Lines Guide Service was out Sunday in the wind and already had 30 fish when contacted by WON. He was catching them on copper/red Dick Nites and had kept three fish weighing 2 1/2 pounds and was releasing the rest. There are a lot of weeds floating in the water, so trollers need to watch their gear to avoid fouling. The best area was from Honker to the island for both guides.
NORTH COAST RIVERS
CHETCO RIVER -- The Chetco River remains closed to fishing until at least Nov. 7. EEL RIVER, main stem -- Opened up to fishing from the mouth to the confluence of the South Fork, but it was running mud, according to Darrell Brown of Brown's Sporting Goods in Garberville.
EEL RIVER, South Fork -- The rains brought the river way up and turned it to mud, but it dropped back out just as quickly. Still closed due to low flows.
MAD RIVER -- The lower river opened from the mouth to the Hammond Trail Bridge, but that really doesn't' mean anything to fishermen...they need the river open higher up to really bring anything in.
ROGUE RIVER, Lower -- The fish are scattered, but most boats are still getting a wild coho or two or three each trip, and kings are being caught in the estuary and in the slots upstream. Action is still good here.
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FOLSOM LAKE -- Last week's storm brought cooler temperatures and helped stabilize the lake level, perking up bass fishing. Almost any method worked: spooning, crankbaits, jigging and drop-shotting as bait moved closer to the surface. Look for flats adjacent to creek channels going into coves such as 5 Percent and Beals Point. This is a short term phenomenon and bass will soon be hunkering down in deeper water as the lake continues to cool, so strike while the iron is hot. Second hand reports only, but the cooler water has apparently brought trout and king salmon shallower, too, and perked them up as well. Troll Apexes, Needlefish, hoochies and slow roll shad in front of the dam.
SMITH RIVER -- The Smith got hit with rains big time on Tuesday and opened up for fishing above Rowdy Creek. Wednesday was very mossy and tough to fish, but on Thursday, fishing was wide open for kings to 40 pounds and above, according to Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service. Guide Gary Hix took Tommy Bono of Arcata to a 47-pound king on a plug. Some boats had 10 fish days, but everybody got limits. Desautel had limits by 9 a.m the next day. Guide Tony Sepulveda confirmed the good action and said "big chrome kings were hitting just about anything you wanted to put in front of them, but it looks to be short-lived as the water is dropping out fast."
AMERICAN RIVER -- The American River produced a few steelhead and a few striped bass last week, but fishing was slow, especially with the stormy weather. Unlike years past--at least before last year--no salmon were observed at the base of the fish screens at Nimbus Hatchery and the salmon spawning riffles a few hundred yards downstream. A clarification on the upcoming salmon closure is in order. The American upstream of the power lines at Ancil Hoffman Park to Hazel Ave. Bridge will close to fishing between Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, 2010.
EMERYVILLE -- Excellent action on the Farallon Island rockfish trips, with some good lingcod counts up to limits on one trip on the New Huck Finn. The New Seeker has added a few halibut to rockfish limits on a couple trips, and the Talisman had a good day fishing the bay, scoring seven leopard sharks and a halibut. With rockfish closing Oct. 31, the boat crews are planning their winter strategies. The New Huck Finn will offer bay potluck targeting halibut and striped bass, while the New Seeker is looking forward to sanddab and crab combos.
DAVIS LAKE -- Trollers are still catching big numbers of rainbows. Ed Dillard's last charter picked up 52 fish, mostly 12 to 13 inchers with eight fish in the 17- to 19-inch range. A size 10 black leech did very well early in the day and then the copper/red Dick Nite worked at 6 feet did the trick. Rick Kennedy at Tight Lines Guide Service was out Sunday in the wind and already had 30 fish when contacted by WON. He was catching them on copper/red Dick Nites and had kept three fish weighing 2 1/2 pounds and was releasing the rest. There are a lot of weeds floating in the water, so trollers need to watch their gear to avoid fouling. The best area was from Honker to the island for both guides.
NORTH COAST RIVERS
CHETCO RIVER -- The Chetco River remains closed to fishing until at least Nov. 7. EEL RIVER, main stem -- Opened up to fishing from the mouth to the confluence of the South Fork, but it was running mud, according to Darrell Brown of Brown's Sporting Goods in Garberville.
EEL RIVER, South Fork -- The rains brought the river way up and turned it to mud, but it dropped back out just as quickly. Still closed due to low flows.
MAD RIVER -- The lower river opened from the mouth to the Hammond Trail Bridge, but that really doesn't' mean anything to fishermen...they need the river open higher up to really bring anything in.
ROGUE RIVER, Lower -- The fish are scattered, but most boats are still getting a wild coho or two or three each trip, and kings are being caught in the estuary and in the slots upstream. Action is still good here.
More...
