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TOP PICKS
AMERICAN RIVER -- The river has closed to fishing upstream of the power lines at Ancil Hoffman Park to Hazel Ave. Bridge between Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, 2010. A few -- very few -- steelhead were being hooked on nymphs under indicators and on the swing, as well as on drifted nightcrawlers, spinners and spoons. The occasional striped bass is being caught along the color line at the mouth of the American. Some salmon are starting to show as they throw themselves against the weir blocking their upstream progress at Nimbus Hatchery.
CAMANCHE LAKE -- Fall trout plants have begun, and the bite has picked up for trollers and for shore anglers fishing the South Shore Trout Pond. Many reports of quality limits came from main lake trollers using Rapalas, Needlefish and Midge Wobblers. In the pond, Power Bait, Kastmasters and bubble-fly combos worked best. Bass fishing is good for anglers using plastic worms and lizards, as well as nightcrawlers. No lunkers, but a good grade of bass to 3-plus pounds were the norm.
DELTA, SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side -- From the banks try anywhere along Highway 160 or the Antioch pier for stripers. Boaters will find them throughout the system and should look for waters with shelves that drop off to 20 feet. Sturgeon numbers were on the rise throughout as well. Broad Slough, Chain Island and by the sheetrock factory (by the Antioch free launch ramp) have been producing shakers but also more keepers. The bluegill bite has taken off as well. Try red worms and wax worms for these panfish.
NORTH COAST RIVERS
CHETCO RIVER -- Salmon are still being caught in the bay, and the upper river is supposed to open up Nov. 7, but whether it stays open or not will depend on how kegged up the kings get, and how much unethical fishing pressure is being put on them, according to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife.
COQUILLE RIVER -- Anglers at the mouth of the Coquille out of Bandon were picking up combos of wild coho and bright king salmon. Fishing from the Lightouse upriver to the bridge on the south side of the river was a producer, as fish were coming on both spinners and cut plug baits. Other areas to try where it seems fish have moved into is the stretch between the town of Coquille and Seven Mile Slough for hatchery kings, spinners seem to out do baits here, according to WON's Field Reporter Dave Pitts.
ROGUE RIVER, Lower -- Kings have moved off the flats in the estuary and are now holding off the mouth of Indian Creek waiting for more rain to get to the hatchery. They're also upriver. The run is slowing down currently.
ROGUE RIVER, Middle -- Fishing for summer steelhead has been fair on the middle section of the Rogue River near Grants Pass, Ore., according to guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. Summer steelhead are holding below spawning fall Chinook salmon, eating salmon eggs. Marint and clients spent a few days fishing the middle river, side-drifting tiny roe clusters, and they scored on ocean caught silver salmon using Pautzke's Borx O Fire (natural color). Anglers can keep hatchery steelhead, which are making up the bulk of the catch right now. Some anglers are drifting single Pautzke salmon eggs with good success. There also are a lot of mallards along the river, creating excellent cast-and-blast opportunities.
RUSSIAN RIVER -- Nothing new to report here. Not enough rain yet to bring anything much in.
SMITH RIVER -- Guide Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service said that fishing on the Smith River is fair with fish being taken at Serena Rd, the Sand Hole and at the Mouth. The river remains closed due to low flows. The fish are being caught using all the traditional tide water and estuary methods, including bobber fishing, sandshrimp, anchovies or roe. Throwing spinners and spoons, trolling Kwikfish and fishing on the bottom with all the above baits using marshmallows or Fishpills to float the bait also work.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen -- It's hard to get reports because so few fishermen are on the water, but a few anglers have been focusing on steelhead between Blue Creek and Johnson's Riffle and hooking a few adults along with some half-pounders on roe, nightcrawlers, and spinners, as well as flies.
KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam -- Fishing for salmon has been good below Iron Gate Dam, but numbers tapered off last week, and it appears the run is tapering off. However, steelhead numbers are increasing.
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City -- Salmon continued to trickle into the upper river, but, given the spotty fishing, angler effort is increasingly switching to steelhead. Not a lot of fish are being caught yet, but fishing has been improving. Pressure on the weekends has been heavy, but during the week, anglers have been finding a large swaths of river to themselves.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek -- The river is in good shape even its lower reaches, and steelheading has been good down around Salyer Bridge, especially for fly fishermen. Few salmon were being caught.
MOTHER LODE
AMADOR LAKE -- Dylan Mills of Burson hopped over here after getting fish at Camanche a couple weeks back, his new target some of the jumbo trout that have been planted for the winter fishing season. He caught two in the 3-plus pound class in just 20 minutes on blue/silver Kastmasters. Night bassers found some action on Saturday fishing the full moon, catching four or five fish in the 3-pound class. Not much catfish effort, so no news there.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR -- The warm temps seems to have killed the trout and salmon bite. Trout trollers report slow action with the best bite early in the morning. Needlefish, Ex-cel spoons and nightcrawlers are top choices. Bass fishing is tough for most, but a few anglers reported action fishing the main lake points with spoons and drop- shot rigged plastic worms. Not much effort on the kings lately, but the most recent reports indicate a slow bite anyway.
LAKE McCLURE -- Trout are the top bet, with trollers now fishing near the surface first thing in the morning, dropping as deep as 30 to 40 feet later in the day. Small spoons and "anything that looks like a shad" will get strikes. Bass action was spotty, with fish roaming after shad; at times, they get a flurry going, but if you don't luck into the wolf packs, you can have a slow day.
LAKE McSWAIN -- Another plant on Friday boosted the catch for many anglers camping at the lake. Several limits were reported, and one lucky angler caught a 5-pound holdover while fishing with marshmallows and nightcrawlers at the handicap dock.
LAKE PARDEE -- Now closed. Re-opens in February, 2010.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR -- Local writer William Heinselman reported very slow striper fishing (no boils at all) but the black bass anglers on the lake are doing very well. The top bite is on surface lures fished along the shoreline. "Two different anglers told me they wished they were fishing a tournament, they did so well!" said Heinselman.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Good reports on most species, with trout hitting for both trollers and anglers stillfishing from boats upriver with minnows. Bass anglers get numbers fishing wind-blown points with plastics; the bass are ambushing schools of shad there. For big fish, the best bet is big swimbaits although there have been lots of misses. At least one angler boated a 10 pounder on a swimbait. While catfish action is slower, one angler caught two big ones to 8.4 pounds, plus a big carp.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR -- Warm temperatures brought out the pleasure craft. Stay away until the weather turns cold again unless you want to dodge skiers all day. Trout are the top bet now, with the early morning best for anglers trolling small spoons, shad and a threaded 'crawler.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE -- You have to keep moving until you find a concentration of bass, but when you do chances are they will be anywhere from 6 feet to 25 feet down. The minnow bite has been very good but jigs, drop- shots, and jerkbaits in the smaller Lucky Craft 78 series, as well as swimbaits such as the Basstrix rigged on a weighted jig head are all catching fish. Catfishing, especially at night can also be very good.
LAKE BERRYESSA -- Most anglers are focused on the bass and spoons still dominate here, although a few drop-shot 4-inch Basstrix Flashtrix minnows in the smelt color also got their attention. Catfishing continues with areas along the edges where water runs in, channels, and under docks and structure good places to target.
LAKE SONOMA -- While still slow for bass, the landlocked steelhead were biting for trollers from 40 to 60 feet down. A minnow imitation or small Apex produced near limits by the dam and down in the Warm Springs area. A few bass were caught on spoons in 40 feet around submerged trees in the north creek arms. Drop 1-inch Hopkins spoons for 1- to 3-pound largemouth or try by the dam for smallies off rocky points with jigs.
UPPER BLUE LAKE -- The lake was recently stocked and will be stocked again this week. Fishing has been excellent with little wind and limits for trout trollers, although the banks have not produced as well, a 9 to 10 pounder was lost at the dock at the Narrows Resort this past week, witnessed by other anglers. Most trout are between 12 to 16 inches. but fat and healthy. Troll in 30 feet with Artic Fox flies in black with green flecks or flasher/worms. Kastmasters and Needlefish have not been as productive as previous years, but then the fish are still down deeper than usual due to warmer waters. One good cold rain should bring them closer to the surface.
DELTA REGION
SACRAMENTO RIVER side -- This coming week the morning incoming tide will be the predominate tide for stripers and sturgeon. As the water continues to cool down to their preferred temperature average of 58 degrees, larger fish counts will increase for both. Surface readings are 60 to 61 degrees now so this could be the week with cooler weather. Good depths for soaking baits for sturgeon will be between 40 and 45 feet, while stripers will be around 20 to 25 feet.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR -- Rainbows averaged from 1 1/2 pounds up to 5-pounds on Speedy Shiner in the Almanor West Flats area from the surface down to 10 feet. As water temperatures get cooler, switch from lures to vertical jigging or bait fishing. As the fish slow down, so should you, especially in the early mornings.
BAUM LAKE -- BWO's are a good bet, as are sparse PMD's, midges, or mahogany duns. Scuds are a good bet for nymphs. Nightcrawlers and mealworms seem to be the bait of choice.
EAGLE LAKE -- Fish are in great condition and fishing has been excellent for trout. Fishing in waters 4 to 10 feet deep, troll orange flies and grubs, brown grubs as well as Arctic Fox flies behind the boat 150 feet. Just below the surface down to a foot off the bottom, grubs have worked best before the sun hits the water, and then switch over to Artic Fox flies.
FALL RIVER WILD TROUT AREA -- Trout fishing has been good here using BWO's, PMD's, woolly buggers. Wiggletail zugs have been good for nymphs.
HAT CREEK WILD TROUT AREA -- Finally, good reports for the past few days, with caddis the dry fly of choice. Try an elk hair caddis in sizes 16-18 or an orange stimulator in size 14 for an October Caddis. There were also good reports at the riffle and at the lower end by the dam.
PIT RIVER -- Nymphing seems to be doing best with rubber leg princes or stones in size 14 and larger. There are continued excellent reports from the Pit 4 and 5 reaches; however the construction is making access difficult there.
LAKE SHASTA -- Limits are being taken all over the lake; just find trout actively feeding on top. Rainbow trout are being targeting these days in the upper arms, the main lake and the dam area. The average size is 16 inches, but trout in the low 20 inches (3 pounds) can also be had on UV Cripplures and Hu Dingers run 150 to 200 feet behind the boat.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
AMERICAN RIVER -- Reports are far and few between with fishing pressure very light according to the Forest Service. Anglers willing to hike down to the river below French Meadows dam should find good rainbow action. Cash Rock and Rock-a-Chuck near Georgetown are two other areas worth a look. The season will end above Hwy 49 on November 15.
BULLARDS BAR -- Very few fishermen out on the lake, so reports are hard to come by. Trout and bass action should be good with the lower water temps bringing on the fall feeding binge.
CAMP FAR WEST -- One angler who fished from 8:30 until 5 late this past week down by the dam reported catching bass from 5 to 8 pounds on artificials. He did not specify what lures he was using. Launching is off the old gravel ramp and only aluminum boats are recommended.
COLLINS LAKE -- There has been very little pressure here lately and reports are far and few between. Not a lot of fish are being caught but the ones that are seem to be good ones. June McClain landed a 4- pound 10-ounce rainbow on Power Bait from the shore at the Open Area. Some trollers are catching a few trout at 20 feet down by the dam. Catfishing has been good for some anglers in Elmer's Cove using sardines at night.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR -- The Army Corps of Engineers had both boat ramps closed down for most of last week for repaving. The ramps should re- open this week. With few boaters able to get on the lake, reports were hard to come by. Some trollers have been doing pretty well in the marina with a toplined Ford Fender and a nightcrawler. The fish have been small rainbows up to 10 inches.
FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- Good brown trout action was reported by Will Fish Tackle. Trollers using a watermelon dodger trailing a nightcrawler or a Rapala have been connecting on fish to 16 inches up in the inlet area as the browns stage for spawning. Rainbows have been hitting in the lower sections of the lake on Rainbow Runners, Needlefish, and Kastmasters.
FULLER LAKE -- Few reports available about the fishing here but there should be holdover fish from the DFG plants made earlier this summer. Shore anglers usually do well from the dam or the day-use area with Power Bait and worms. Trollers can score with flasher/worm combos and Rapalas.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR -- Georgetown Ranger Station reported success for trollers on macks and browns. The macks have been hitting a silver or gold Kastmaster at 60 feet in front of the dam. The browns, up to 23 inches, are staged up at the inlet and hitting Rapalas.
LAKE OROVILLE -- Bass action has been good for anglers fishing topwater early and worms during the day down to 35 feet. Catfish have been hitting live minnows and chicken livers in the Dark Canyon and Lime Saddle area. The coho salmon planted at Lime Saddle a couple of weeks ago are dispersing out into the lake and should be left alone long enough to grow.
RUBICON RIVER -- The Georgetown Ranger Station reported good action on browns one mile below the Ellicott Bridge off Eleven Pines Rd. Use the Lawyer Trail to access the bigger pools holding the fish. Try nightcrawlers and Panther Martins or Rooster Tails in dark colors.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE -- The DFG has announced that it will try to start trout plants here by the end of November. Fishing has been slow with little pressure on the lake recently.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR -- Very little action here. Everyone is just waiting for DFG to resume the trout plants.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- Water levels and launching are good here but no one is fishing. Like at Sugar Pine, everyone is waiting for the DFG to resume trout plants.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY -- When the water level is up in the tules along the shore, throw a Senko. If the water is down, work the off shore tule patches and deeper channels with worms and jigs.
NORTH SALTWATER
BENICIA -- Tony Lopez at Benicia Bait said the hot spot was near Chain Island for both striped bass and sturgeon, with both the Lucky Strike and Barbarian scoring fish there, along with several private boaters. Bullheads worked for the bass, and grass/eel or grass/ghost shrimp baits worked for the sturgeon.
BERKELEY -- Deck assistant Dave Marquardt said the last Happy Hooker trip to the Farallones found great action on the lingcod plus many quality rockfish. They ended with limits of lings, and near limits of rockfish. The Happy Hooker moved to Martinez to fish sturgeon and stripers for a couple months and may move back to fish sturgeon in South Bay.
BODEGA BAY -- Captain Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler reported an excellent finale for the rockfish season, with trips both to the north at Fort Ross and south to Point Reyes. The action was back with limits of jumbo rockfish on the final days of the season. He is now switching to squid, and said that while their will be six-pack boats offering crab only trips, he's not going to on the New Sea Angler.
EMERYVILLE -- With rockfish closed, the landing will be quiet until the crab opener. The final trips targeting bottomfish did well, particularly on Friday when many lingcod boosted bag weights. There were a couple octopus caught, odd enough, and a couple Pacific halibut, those caught on the C Gull II.
EUREKA -- Ocean options continued to decline with the closing of Pacific halibut on Saturday, Oct. 31, and the last of the day surfsmelt runs. Now, about all the guys have to look forward to is crab season opening on Nov. 7, and bay fishing for rays and sharks. Most saltwater anglers are switching to river fishing and hunting.
FORT BRAGG -- Giant squid are on tap and the Telstar ran their second squid trip with success, a total of 14 big squid for 11 anglers. Big squid was a 35 pounder. The action came from 11 miles out in 1,100 feet of water. Captain Randy Thornton said he's planning regular trips for the squid and will also target Dungeness crabs after the Nov. 7 opener.
HALF MOON BAY -- Weather killed trips mid-week, but Friday's efforts bounced back with calm seas helping out the shallow water rockfish action. The final day was again challenged by weather. Next up, crabs and squid.
POINT SAN PABLO -- Captain Frank Miller on the Fury ran three sevengill trips and a bass trip, finding good action on the sharks with limits every day (one per angler). Some of the effort was for a study group, but the biggest caught by a sport angler weighed 35 pounds. The bites came from the deep water off of Yellow Bluff.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Captain Jacky Douglas on the Wacky Jacky finished the rockfish season at the Farallones, finding an excellent grade of big rockfish, including some big bocaccio rockfish. The bite was solid, but a few of the anglers on board were focusing on the lings so the boat didn't limit until a little later in the day.
SAN PABLO BAY -- Striped bass fishing has been a little less intense, with the fish spreading out and taking bullheads for bait off of China Camp, Rodeo, and Mare Island. No real positive sturgeon reports yet, but that will come with rain.
SHELTER COVE -- Pacific halibut season is now closed, crab season opens Saturday, Nov. 7. Abalone season is open until the end of November, but shore rockfish is open all year.
SUISUN BAY -- While the striped bass seems to be the top action, there are already sturgeon reports filtering in. Eel, ghost and grass shrimp are the top baits. The Mothball Fleet and the northern shoreline has been the favorite spots.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
FEATHER RIVER -- The Low Flow Section continued to offer poor steelheading but success was better below the Outlet down to the Gridley Bridge. Both steelhead and salmon. Steelhead were being caught on Glo-Bugs, nightcrawlers and spinners. The occasional striped bass, which were also being taking at Shanghai Bend, was taking jigs, soft swimbaits, jerkbaits and minnows.
FOLSOM LAKE -- Not much change. The lake level continued to gradually drop, keeping bass on the move with the best success on rocky drop- offs and channel edges. Occasionally they could be spotted chasing bait balls out on open water. Fish Carolina-rigging plastics, jigs, and Senkos. Spoon and throw crankbaits when bass are spotted working bait. Salmon and trout fish was only fair, but a few were being caught on Neeedlefish, Apexes, hoochies and slow-rolled shad.
McCLOUD RIVER -- It was pretty much the same story as last week with fair fishing using soft hackle nymphs. An occasional larger brown has been starting to make an appearance in the lower river. The river closes to fishing on Nov. 15.
SACRAMENTO RIVER -- A few keeper stripers were being hooked at Sand Cove on chicken livers and sardines, but the best bet continued to be in the Port of Sacramento and a few miles downstream of the Turning Basin. Downstream try spooning over concentrations of shad. In the Port, troll Fish Traps on a spreader with Mann's and Yo-Zuris. Drifting minnows from the bank or boat has also been effective. Catfish continued to be caught at night off Elverta Road, Virgin Sturgeon, and Bryte Beach.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding -- Fishing was good last week in flows that made for good accessibility. Drift egg patterns in the shallow water behind spawning salmon.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Upper -- The river dropped and cleared and fishing improved to fair to good from Dunsmuir all the way to the lake. Use larger rubber leg nymphs plus a small dropper nymphs imitating the large October caddis hatch under indicators or high stick in the small pockets.
YUBA RIVER -- No change. Fish caddis nymph and egg patterns and under an indicator for trout to around 15 inches and the occasional steelhead. Fishing is restricted to downstream of the Highway 20 Bridge this time of year.
More...
AMERICAN RIVER -- The river has closed to fishing upstream of the power lines at Ancil Hoffman Park to Hazel Ave. Bridge between Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, 2010. A few -- very few -- steelhead were being hooked on nymphs under indicators and on the swing, as well as on drifted nightcrawlers, spinners and spoons. The occasional striped bass is being caught along the color line at the mouth of the American. Some salmon are starting to show as they throw themselves against the weir blocking their upstream progress at Nimbus Hatchery.
CAMANCHE LAKE -- Fall trout plants have begun, and the bite has picked up for trollers and for shore anglers fishing the South Shore Trout Pond. Many reports of quality limits came from main lake trollers using Rapalas, Needlefish and Midge Wobblers. In the pond, Power Bait, Kastmasters and bubble-fly combos worked best. Bass fishing is good for anglers using plastic worms and lizards, as well as nightcrawlers. No lunkers, but a good grade of bass to 3-plus pounds were the norm.
DELTA, SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side -- From the banks try anywhere along Highway 160 or the Antioch pier for stripers. Boaters will find them throughout the system and should look for waters with shelves that drop off to 20 feet. Sturgeon numbers were on the rise throughout as well. Broad Slough, Chain Island and by the sheetrock factory (by the Antioch free launch ramp) have been producing shakers but also more keepers. The bluegill bite has taken off as well. Try red worms and wax worms for these panfish.
NORTH COAST RIVERS
CHETCO RIVER -- Salmon are still being caught in the bay, and the upper river is supposed to open up Nov. 7, but whether it stays open or not will depend on how kegged up the kings get, and how much unethical fishing pressure is being put on them, according to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife.
COQUILLE RIVER -- Anglers at the mouth of the Coquille out of Bandon were picking up combos of wild coho and bright king salmon. Fishing from the Lightouse upriver to the bridge on the south side of the river was a producer, as fish were coming on both spinners and cut plug baits. Other areas to try where it seems fish have moved into is the stretch between the town of Coquille and Seven Mile Slough for hatchery kings, spinners seem to out do baits here, according to WON's Field Reporter Dave Pitts.
ROGUE RIVER, Lower -- Kings have moved off the flats in the estuary and are now holding off the mouth of Indian Creek waiting for more rain to get to the hatchery. They're also upriver. The run is slowing down currently.
ROGUE RIVER, Middle -- Fishing for summer steelhead has been fair on the middle section of the Rogue River near Grants Pass, Ore., according to guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. Summer steelhead are holding below spawning fall Chinook salmon, eating salmon eggs. Marint and clients spent a few days fishing the middle river, side-drifting tiny roe clusters, and they scored on ocean caught silver salmon using Pautzke's Borx O Fire (natural color). Anglers can keep hatchery steelhead, which are making up the bulk of the catch right now. Some anglers are drifting single Pautzke salmon eggs with good success. There also are a lot of mallards along the river, creating excellent cast-and-blast opportunities.
RUSSIAN RIVER -- Nothing new to report here. Not enough rain yet to bring anything much in.
SMITH RIVER -- Guide Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service said that fishing on the Smith River is fair with fish being taken at Serena Rd, the Sand Hole and at the Mouth. The river remains closed due to low flows. The fish are being caught using all the traditional tide water and estuary methods, including bobber fishing, sandshrimp, anchovies or roe. Throwing spinners and spoons, trolling Kwikfish and fishing on the bottom with all the above baits using marshmallows or Fishpills to float the bait also work.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen -- It's hard to get reports because so few fishermen are on the water, but a few anglers have been focusing on steelhead between Blue Creek and Johnson's Riffle and hooking a few adults along with some half-pounders on roe, nightcrawlers, and spinners, as well as flies.
KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam -- Fishing for salmon has been good below Iron Gate Dam, but numbers tapered off last week, and it appears the run is tapering off. However, steelhead numbers are increasing.
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City -- Salmon continued to trickle into the upper river, but, given the spotty fishing, angler effort is increasingly switching to steelhead. Not a lot of fish are being caught yet, but fishing has been improving. Pressure on the weekends has been heavy, but during the week, anglers have been finding a large swaths of river to themselves.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek -- The river is in good shape even its lower reaches, and steelheading has been good down around Salyer Bridge, especially for fly fishermen. Few salmon were being caught.
MOTHER LODE
AMADOR LAKE -- Dylan Mills of Burson hopped over here after getting fish at Camanche a couple weeks back, his new target some of the jumbo trout that have been planted for the winter fishing season. He caught two in the 3-plus pound class in just 20 minutes on blue/silver Kastmasters. Night bassers found some action on Saturday fishing the full moon, catching four or five fish in the 3-pound class. Not much catfish effort, so no news there.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR -- The warm temps seems to have killed the trout and salmon bite. Trout trollers report slow action with the best bite early in the morning. Needlefish, Ex-cel spoons and nightcrawlers are top choices. Bass fishing is tough for most, but a few anglers reported action fishing the main lake points with spoons and drop- shot rigged plastic worms. Not much effort on the kings lately, but the most recent reports indicate a slow bite anyway.
LAKE McCLURE -- Trout are the top bet, with trollers now fishing near the surface first thing in the morning, dropping as deep as 30 to 40 feet later in the day. Small spoons and "anything that looks like a shad" will get strikes. Bass action was spotty, with fish roaming after shad; at times, they get a flurry going, but if you don't luck into the wolf packs, you can have a slow day.
LAKE McSWAIN -- Another plant on Friday boosted the catch for many anglers camping at the lake. Several limits were reported, and one lucky angler caught a 5-pound holdover while fishing with marshmallows and nightcrawlers at the handicap dock.
LAKE PARDEE -- Now closed. Re-opens in February, 2010.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR -- Local writer William Heinselman reported very slow striper fishing (no boils at all) but the black bass anglers on the lake are doing very well. The top bite is on surface lures fished along the shoreline. "Two different anglers told me they wished they were fishing a tournament, they did so well!" said Heinselman.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Good reports on most species, with trout hitting for both trollers and anglers stillfishing from boats upriver with minnows. Bass anglers get numbers fishing wind-blown points with plastics; the bass are ambushing schools of shad there. For big fish, the best bet is big swimbaits although there have been lots of misses. At least one angler boated a 10 pounder on a swimbait. While catfish action is slower, one angler caught two big ones to 8.4 pounds, plus a big carp.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR -- Warm temperatures brought out the pleasure craft. Stay away until the weather turns cold again unless you want to dodge skiers all day. Trout are the top bet now, with the early morning best for anglers trolling small spoons, shad and a threaded 'crawler.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE -- You have to keep moving until you find a concentration of bass, but when you do chances are they will be anywhere from 6 feet to 25 feet down. The minnow bite has been very good but jigs, drop- shots, and jerkbaits in the smaller Lucky Craft 78 series, as well as swimbaits such as the Basstrix rigged on a weighted jig head are all catching fish. Catfishing, especially at night can also be very good.
LAKE BERRYESSA -- Most anglers are focused on the bass and spoons still dominate here, although a few drop-shot 4-inch Basstrix Flashtrix minnows in the smelt color also got their attention. Catfishing continues with areas along the edges where water runs in, channels, and under docks and structure good places to target.
LAKE SONOMA -- While still slow for bass, the landlocked steelhead were biting for trollers from 40 to 60 feet down. A minnow imitation or small Apex produced near limits by the dam and down in the Warm Springs area. A few bass were caught on spoons in 40 feet around submerged trees in the north creek arms. Drop 1-inch Hopkins spoons for 1- to 3-pound largemouth or try by the dam for smallies off rocky points with jigs.
UPPER BLUE LAKE -- The lake was recently stocked and will be stocked again this week. Fishing has been excellent with little wind and limits for trout trollers, although the banks have not produced as well, a 9 to 10 pounder was lost at the dock at the Narrows Resort this past week, witnessed by other anglers. Most trout are between 12 to 16 inches. but fat and healthy. Troll in 30 feet with Artic Fox flies in black with green flecks or flasher/worms. Kastmasters and Needlefish have not been as productive as previous years, but then the fish are still down deeper than usual due to warmer waters. One good cold rain should bring them closer to the surface.
DELTA REGION
SACRAMENTO RIVER side -- This coming week the morning incoming tide will be the predominate tide for stripers and sturgeon. As the water continues to cool down to their preferred temperature average of 58 degrees, larger fish counts will increase for both. Surface readings are 60 to 61 degrees now so this could be the week with cooler weather. Good depths for soaking baits for sturgeon will be between 40 and 45 feet, while stripers will be around 20 to 25 feet.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR -- Rainbows averaged from 1 1/2 pounds up to 5-pounds on Speedy Shiner in the Almanor West Flats area from the surface down to 10 feet. As water temperatures get cooler, switch from lures to vertical jigging or bait fishing. As the fish slow down, so should you, especially in the early mornings.
BAUM LAKE -- BWO's are a good bet, as are sparse PMD's, midges, or mahogany duns. Scuds are a good bet for nymphs. Nightcrawlers and mealworms seem to be the bait of choice.
EAGLE LAKE -- Fish are in great condition and fishing has been excellent for trout. Fishing in waters 4 to 10 feet deep, troll orange flies and grubs, brown grubs as well as Arctic Fox flies behind the boat 150 feet. Just below the surface down to a foot off the bottom, grubs have worked best before the sun hits the water, and then switch over to Artic Fox flies.
FALL RIVER WILD TROUT AREA -- Trout fishing has been good here using BWO's, PMD's, woolly buggers. Wiggletail zugs have been good for nymphs.
HAT CREEK WILD TROUT AREA -- Finally, good reports for the past few days, with caddis the dry fly of choice. Try an elk hair caddis in sizes 16-18 or an orange stimulator in size 14 for an October Caddis. There were also good reports at the riffle and at the lower end by the dam.
PIT RIVER -- Nymphing seems to be doing best with rubber leg princes or stones in size 14 and larger. There are continued excellent reports from the Pit 4 and 5 reaches; however the construction is making access difficult there.
LAKE SHASTA -- Limits are being taken all over the lake; just find trout actively feeding on top. Rainbow trout are being targeting these days in the upper arms, the main lake and the dam area. The average size is 16 inches, but trout in the low 20 inches (3 pounds) can also be had on UV Cripplures and Hu Dingers run 150 to 200 feet behind the boat.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
AMERICAN RIVER -- Reports are far and few between with fishing pressure very light according to the Forest Service. Anglers willing to hike down to the river below French Meadows dam should find good rainbow action. Cash Rock and Rock-a-Chuck near Georgetown are two other areas worth a look. The season will end above Hwy 49 on November 15.
BULLARDS BAR -- Very few fishermen out on the lake, so reports are hard to come by. Trout and bass action should be good with the lower water temps bringing on the fall feeding binge.
CAMP FAR WEST -- One angler who fished from 8:30 until 5 late this past week down by the dam reported catching bass from 5 to 8 pounds on artificials. He did not specify what lures he was using. Launching is off the old gravel ramp and only aluminum boats are recommended.
COLLINS LAKE -- There has been very little pressure here lately and reports are far and few between. Not a lot of fish are being caught but the ones that are seem to be good ones. June McClain landed a 4- pound 10-ounce rainbow on Power Bait from the shore at the Open Area. Some trollers are catching a few trout at 20 feet down by the dam. Catfishing has been good for some anglers in Elmer's Cove using sardines at night.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR -- The Army Corps of Engineers had both boat ramps closed down for most of last week for repaving. The ramps should re- open this week. With few boaters able to get on the lake, reports were hard to come by. Some trollers have been doing pretty well in the marina with a toplined Ford Fender and a nightcrawler. The fish have been small rainbows up to 10 inches.
FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- Good brown trout action was reported by Will Fish Tackle. Trollers using a watermelon dodger trailing a nightcrawler or a Rapala have been connecting on fish to 16 inches up in the inlet area as the browns stage for spawning. Rainbows have been hitting in the lower sections of the lake on Rainbow Runners, Needlefish, and Kastmasters.
FULLER LAKE -- Few reports available about the fishing here but there should be holdover fish from the DFG plants made earlier this summer. Shore anglers usually do well from the dam or the day-use area with Power Bait and worms. Trollers can score with flasher/worm combos and Rapalas.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR -- Georgetown Ranger Station reported success for trollers on macks and browns. The macks have been hitting a silver or gold Kastmaster at 60 feet in front of the dam. The browns, up to 23 inches, are staged up at the inlet and hitting Rapalas.
LAKE OROVILLE -- Bass action has been good for anglers fishing topwater early and worms during the day down to 35 feet. Catfish have been hitting live minnows and chicken livers in the Dark Canyon and Lime Saddle area. The coho salmon planted at Lime Saddle a couple of weeks ago are dispersing out into the lake and should be left alone long enough to grow.
RUBICON RIVER -- The Georgetown Ranger Station reported good action on browns one mile below the Ellicott Bridge off Eleven Pines Rd. Use the Lawyer Trail to access the bigger pools holding the fish. Try nightcrawlers and Panther Martins or Rooster Tails in dark colors.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE -- The DFG has announced that it will try to start trout plants here by the end of November. Fishing has been slow with little pressure on the lake recently.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR -- Very little action here. Everyone is just waiting for DFG to resume the trout plants.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- Water levels and launching are good here but no one is fishing. Like at Sugar Pine, everyone is waiting for the DFG to resume trout plants.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY -- When the water level is up in the tules along the shore, throw a Senko. If the water is down, work the off shore tule patches and deeper channels with worms and jigs.
NORTH SALTWATER
BENICIA -- Tony Lopez at Benicia Bait said the hot spot was near Chain Island for both striped bass and sturgeon, with both the Lucky Strike and Barbarian scoring fish there, along with several private boaters. Bullheads worked for the bass, and grass/eel or grass/ghost shrimp baits worked for the sturgeon.
BERKELEY -- Deck assistant Dave Marquardt said the last Happy Hooker trip to the Farallones found great action on the lingcod plus many quality rockfish. They ended with limits of lings, and near limits of rockfish. The Happy Hooker moved to Martinez to fish sturgeon and stripers for a couple months and may move back to fish sturgeon in South Bay.
BODEGA BAY -- Captain Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler reported an excellent finale for the rockfish season, with trips both to the north at Fort Ross and south to Point Reyes. The action was back with limits of jumbo rockfish on the final days of the season. He is now switching to squid, and said that while their will be six-pack boats offering crab only trips, he's not going to on the New Sea Angler.
EMERYVILLE -- With rockfish closed, the landing will be quiet until the crab opener. The final trips targeting bottomfish did well, particularly on Friday when many lingcod boosted bag weights. There were a couple octopus caught, odd enough, and a couple Pacific halibut, those caught on the C Gull II.
EUREKA -- Ocean options continued to decline with the closing of Pacific halibut on Saturday, Oct. 31, and the last of the day surfsmelt runs. Now, about all the guys have to look forward to is crab season opening on Nov. 7, and bay fishing for rays and sharks. Most saltwater anglers are switching to river fishing and hunting.
FORT BRAGG -- Giant squid are on tap and the Telstar ran their second squid trip with success, a total of 14 big squid for 11 anglers. Big squid was a 35 pounder. The action came from 11 miles out in 1,100 feet of water. Captain Randy Thornton said he's planning regular trips for the squid and will also target Dungeness crabs after the Nov. 7 opener.
HALF MOON BAY -- Weather killed trips mid-week, but Friday's efforts bounced back with calm seas helping out the shallow water rockfish action. The final day was again challenged by weather. Next up, crabs and squid.
POINT SAN PABLO -- Captain Frank Miller on the Fury ran three sevengill trips and a bass trip, finding good action on the sharks with limits every day (one per angler). Some of the effort was for a study group, but the biggest caught by a sport angler weighed 35 pounds. The bites came from the deep water off of Yellow Bluff.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Captain Jacky Douglas on the Wacky Jacky finished the rockfish season at the Farallones, finding an excellent grade of big rockfish, including some big bocaccio rockfish. The bite was solid, but a few of the anglers on board were focusing on the lings so the boat didn't limit until a little later in the day.
SAN PABLO BAY -- Striped bass fishing has been a little less intense, with the fish spreading out and taking bullheads for bait off of China Camp, Rodeo, and Mare Island. No real positive sturgeon reports yet, but that will come with rain.
SHELTER COVE -- Pacific halibut season is now closed, crab season opens Saturday, Nov. 7. Abalone season is open until the end of November, but shore rockfish is open all year.
SUISUN BAY -- While the striped bass seems to be the top action, there are already sturgeon reports filtering in. Eel, ghost and grass shrimp are the top baits. The Mothball Fleet and the northern shoreline has been the favorite spots.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
FEATHER RIVER -- The Low Flow Section continued to offer poor steelheading but success was better below the Outlet down to the Gridley Bridge. Both steelhead and salmon. Steelhead were being caught on Glo-Bugs, nightcrawlers and spinners. The occasional striped bass, which were also being taking at Shanghai Bend, was taking jigs, soft swimbaits, jerkbaits and minnows.
FOLSOM LAKE -- Not much change. The lake level continued to gradually drop, keeping bass on the move with the best success on rocky drop- offs and channel edges. Occasionally they could be spotted chasing bait balls out on open water. Fish Carolina-rigging plastics, jigs, and Senkos. Spoon and throw crankbaits when bass are spotted working bait. Salmon and trout fish was only fair, but a few were being caught on Neeedlefish, Apexes, hoochies and slow-rolled shad.
McCLOUD RIVER -- It was pretty much the same story as last week with fair fishing using soft hackle nymphs. An occasional larger brown has been starting to make an appearance in the lower river. The river closes to fishing on Nov. 15.
SACRAMENTO RIVER -- A few keeper stripers were being hooked at Sand Cove on chicken livers and sardines, but the best bet continued to be in the Port of Sacramento and a few miles downstream of the Turning Basin. Downstream try spooning over concentrations of shad. In the Port, troll Fish Traps on a spreader with Mann's and Yo-Zuris. Drifting minnows from the bank or boat has also been effective. Catfish continued to be caught at night off Elverta Road, Virgin Sturgeon, and Bryte Beach.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding -- Fishing was good last week in flows that made for good accessibility. Drift egg patterns in the shallow water behind spawning salmon.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Upper -- The river dropped and cleared and fishing improved to fair to good from Dunsmuir all the way to the lake. Use larger rubber leg nymphs plus a small dropper nymphs imitating the large October caddis hatch under indicators or high stick in the small pockets.
YUBA RIVER -- No change. Fish caddis nymph and egg patterns and under an indicator for trout to around 15 inches and the occasional steelhead. Fishing is restricted to downstream of the Highway 20 Bridge this time of year.
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