Sacramento Bee RSS Feed
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2009
- Messages
- 442
- Reaction score
- 1
TOP PICKS
AMADOR LAKE -- The trout bite busted lose for the weekend, with possibly warmer water temperatures triggering the bite. Plenty of big fish in the 4- to 5-pound class reported, and one 12 pounder that was a tagged derby fish. "That guy was not entered in the derby," said Debbie Grayson at the Lake Amador Store. "A couple of others were, and one won $50 cash, and another won a free day use and t-shirt!" The action was all in the top foot near the surface, with shore anglers doing best. Kastmasters scored some action, but most stuck with Power Bait and nightcrawlers.
DELTA REGION, Sacramento River side -- The areas from the Middle Ground Islands and higher into the Delta system held not quantities but quality sturgeon. The bite shifted away from stripers this past week as the larger outgoing tides proved to be the more productive for sturgeon. Soaking ghost shrimps produced both sturgeon and some keeper stripers. Up around Liberty Island there were a few stripers netted of better quality, so it was 1 or 2 larger ones up here, or plenty of shakers farther down in the system.
DELTA REGION, San Joaquin River side -- Sturgeon were the hot bite and several were taken in the Honker Bay area, where anglers were soaking shrimps or fresh shad in 6 to 30 feet of water. The striper bite was slower with the cooler waters and more were picked up by anglers soaking shrimp, mudsuckers, or shad for sturgeon. Franks Tract found action for numbers of them, but generally they were shakers.
RANCHO SECO LAKE -- Fishing pressure continued to be heavy on the weekend, but not so bad during the week--and for good reason. Lots of trout continued to be taken. Holdovers from previous plants and new rainbows being added regularly by DFG and Mount Lassen Hatchery. Anglers bunched up at popular places like the boat ramp, but with a bit of exploring, others were able to find a bit of solitude. Slow trolling with wooly buggers, leeches, Kastmasters, Apexes, and grubs probably produced more fish than fishing from the bank, but anglers fishing outside the usual Power Bait, Power Egg box did pretty well by slow-retrieving woolly buggers and Power Worms behind a spin bubble.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park) -- The break in the weather brought out the anglers here and both trollers and shore fishermen were doing well. Several nice browns to 4 1/2 pounds were weighed at the Sly Park Resort. Most of the shore anglers are using worms at the boat docks and the first dam while the trollers are dragging dodgers and worms or spoons. The roads are all clear but there is still snow on the ground.
NORTH COAST RIVERS
CHETCO RIVER, Ore. -- Tail end of the king salmon season, although they keep showing up, including some monsters. It's steelhead season, even though they're catching both kings and steelies still. River was blown out, but coming down as of press time, and runoff is expected to keep the river in perfect shape for Christmas steelheading.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem -- It was blown out before the weekend rains, so not likely to be fishable any time soon. The river is only open up to the confluence with the South Fork.
EEL RIVER, South Fork -- The river is open, but there's not a lot of water flowing. It's at 8 feet Sylvendale, according to guide Mark Nimitz of Pipe Creek Outfitters, but the flows are at 847 cfs, and that's "barely moving", he said. There are fish in the river, but conditions aren't ideal.
ELK, SIXES rivers, Ore. -- Guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing said that king salmon were still being caught from both of these rivers.
GARCIA, GUALALA rivers -- The small coastal rivers (Big, Albion, Navarro, Garcia, and Gualala) came up and got muddy then dropped very quickly and were running very low and clear over the weekend. Much of this storm soaked into the ground. The next storm should put them into winter shape. "I did not hear of a single fish caught on the Gualala the two fishable days," said guide and WON Field Reporter, Craig Bell of Greenwater Guide Service. "Several wakes were seen moving up the Gualala estuary and a Seal caught one steelhead. The coastal streams usually do not get going with fishable numbers of steelhead until the first or second week of January."
RUSSIAN RIVER -- Everything about the river was perfect for steelhead, except for the lack of fish. There were reports of an 8- and 13-pound steelies caught, plus one other, but the mouth has been closing up from the high surf, and steelies are having a tough time getting into the river. Excellent conditions and flows, just no fish, according to Nick Wheeler of King Sport and Tackle in Guerneville.
SMITH RIVER -- 'Tis the season over here, and there's some chromer steelhead in the offing, along with some king salmon that are beginning to turn. The river was blown out but dropping as of Sunday, and is expected to be prime for the Christmas weekend.
VANDUZEN RIVER -- It was low and clear, but the rain line looked like it was hitting the area, so it may be fishable by the weekend. It was open from low flows as of Sunday.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen -- The river was blown out by the most recent rains and more was falling as of Sunday.
KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam -- Fishing for half-pounders and adult steelhead to 5 pounds was very good last week down to I-5. The water warmed a bit because of the rain perking up the bite, and fish were biting side-drifted roe, Glo-Bugs, and nightcrawlers, backtrolled Hot Shots and dead-drifted nymph/egg pattern combinations under indicators.
TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City -- The recent rains have brought a big influx of fresh steelhead. Not huge, but bright and full of fight. Conventional anglers have been scoring by back-trolling Brad's Wigglers and Wee Warts or side-drift roe. Fly fishers have been drifting egg patterns, copper Johns, and Prince nymphs, fished under indicators as well as swinging leeches and birds' nests. The river was in good fishing shape as of Sunday evening down to the North Fork. The river is much higher and off-color farther downstream so almost all of the action is concentrated in the upper reaches below Lewiston.. Even though the upper river was in good shape, more rain was falling as of Sunday evening so anglers should call ahead before making a trip.
MOTHER LODE
CAMANCHE LAKE -- Trout fishing remained great for both trollers and shore casters, with limits caught both ways. Top tactic for trollers was toplining Rapalas, which scored rainbows to over 4 pounds. Toplining Needlefish scored fish to 10 pounds. Shore fishing is best for anglers still fishing with Power Bait products. The South Shore Trout Pond remained good for bait and lure casters, with Power Eggs and Magic Bullet spoons working best. Top bet for bass is drop- shotting plastic worms in shad colors, or fishing dark colored jigs on the breaks around Dikes 1, 2 and 3, and in the narrows.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR -- The bass bite showed more improvement after the cold snap, with a combination of rising water levels as well as temperatures triggering a better jig bite in the rocks and wood. No reports from the trout and salmon trollers, but that bite should also be improving.
LAKE McCLURE - Conditions for bass fishing have improved since the Dec. 12 WON BASS team event. "It never stopped raining all day!" said Mother Lode director Bill Kunz. Big fish was a 2.03 pounder caught by the winning team of Chappell-Riggs, who weighed 8.84 pounds total. While the bite was tough, over half the teams weighed limits. Trout fishing is a good bet for trollers fishing the top 10 feet with flasher/'crawler combos and small spoons. The top bite is along the shoreline, and the few shore fishers trying are getting some action on salmon eggs, nightcrawlers and Power Bait.
LAKE McSWAIN -- Marilyn Kern at the marina said that there are plenty of fish in the lake, with 7,000 pounds in the last plant, but reports were mixed. "One guy caught his limit on yellow sparkle Power Bait near the handicap dock," she said. "But others only caught one or two fish."
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR -- The black bass fishing is a better bet now that the water warmed a little. Top patters are drop-shotting small worms and jigs on the main lake points and steep, rocky banks. Otherwise, pressure is light, and striper fishing is dead.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Still a top bet, particularly for shore anglers, with some quality holdover rainbows on tap. Fresh trout planters are also boosting the bite. Most anglers are fishing Glory Hole Cove and the Tuttletown ramp, where soaking Power Bait products in 5 to 20 feet of water has worked for rainbows nearing the 4-pound mark. Even boaters are giving up on trolling in favor of still fishing, but those who must troll are using Needlefish, Rapalas, Ex-Cel spoons in the major creek arms. There are some big browns here, and the top way to catch them is trolling a rainbow trout patterned Rapala or Trophy Stick.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR -- Guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing said his clients had mediocre results fishing Green Springs with shad. "We only boated three fish to 2 pounds, and lost four others," said Smith. The action came from the 20 to 23-foot range. He said water temps were at 52 degrees, the chill slowing the bite.
NORTH SALTWATER
BERKELEY -- Scott Sutherland at Berkeley Sportfishing reported good crabbing on the crab only and combo trips, but the fish and crab combos are not finding much in the way of halibut or striped bass, and the sanddabs are still scarce. The boats will switch to sturgeon after the holidays.
BODEGA BAY -- More hot action for giant squid, with the New Sea Angler scoring 10-plus per rod averages with a whopping 480 squid slapping the deck on Friday's trip. Squid to 72 pounds were boated. The action is coming from the Cordell Bank, and while the first hookups are sometimes deep, the squid have come up to the surface every time to create a wide open shallow bite.
EUREKA -- The commercial crabbing counts have dropped, and the ocean was pretty rough for the sport guys. By the weekend, the ocean came down, but no reports were available by deadline. Ben Williams at the Pro Sport Center said the surfperch were back on the snap at Centerville Beach, with one angler doing well using sandcrabs for bait. "The perch are there year-round, it's just that few people are trying, and the ocean is usually too rough," he said.
FORT BRAGG -- Crabbing remained good with limits for anglers on the Telstar when Captain Randy Thornton pulled his pots prior to taking a holiday break. He'll still run squid and crab combos after the break.
HALF MOON BAY -- The Huli Cat has been out for chilipepper rockfish and giant squid, as well as crabs. "Our last trip out resulted in 161 squid for 15 anglers, then we rean in for 17 limits of crabs for anglers and crew," said Captain Tom Mattusch. The chilipepper trip was a NOAA/NMFS venture that found the chilis in 580 to 640 feet of water, but Mattusch reminded anglers that he has a special permit to offer trips for sport fishing for chilipepper rockfish.
MARTINEZ -- Captain Steve Talmadge on Flash Fishing reported some great sturgeon action around Buoy 6 on Wednesday, with three anglers catching seven sturgeon (and five shaker stripers), big fish an oversized 76 incher. Eel and grass shrimp worked for the hot bait. Earlier in the week, two anglers hooked up and landed 11 sturgeon, releasing three. "One of the sturgeon was a green sturgeon," said Talmadge. Another had a $20 DFG tag. The action came from 17 feet of water near the Mothball Fleet.
SAN PABLO BAY -- The rains helped out the sturgeon bite, but not many anglers are trying. Still a good bet for leopard sharks, but the cooler temps slowed the striped bass action.
SUISUN BAY -- Striper action has given way to a hot sturgeon bite, and now the action has spread out through the system with good reports from many different spots including the Mothball Fleet, Big Cut and on down towards Benicia and Martinez. Salmon roe, grass shrimp and eel in various combinations have been the top baits.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE -- The morning's here have just not worked out. Between the fog and the cold starts to the day, the mid to afternoon bite was better. Try the south end, as the north is very shallow, with jumbo minnows. For those determined to stick with artificials, a jerk bait, jig, drop-shot, LV 500 lipless crank bait, or a small swim bait.
LAKE BERRYESSA -- Spoons, jigs and drop-shotting Robo Worms are still producing bass on points in the morning but moved to the deeper sides when the sun comes out. Crawdad colors seemed to work better than the shad patterns, as the baitfish are not around after the cold weather.
UPPER BLUE LAKE -- Try a Ford Fender behind a Kastmaster or Needlefish with a chunk of worm. The trout bite is on, and few are here to capitalize on it. Limits were found for both those trolling and from on the docks. The bass bite, however is non-existent.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR -- The edges thawed just a bit, as did the ramp at the dam, making it worthwhile for a few locals to launch and fish the east side. Big Daddy's Guide Service reported an "up/down but solid" bite with a mix bag of trout weighing from 1 to 6 pounds. The bite was in the top 10 feet, and the lures were anything that looked like a baitfish in black/white.
BAUM LAKE -- Fishing has continued to be fair, but some really nice fish were caught this past week from 6 1/2 pounds to over 13 pounds. They were all natives, as the hatchery has not planted their usual brood stock plant as yet. Nightcrawlers or Kastmasters should get their attention, but fly-fishing is also very popular here.
EAGLE LAKE -- One ramp at the marina may still be open. A few locals fished from belly boats, kayaks or the shoreline (with some long casting involved) and mixed results. Trout weighed from 2 to 3 pounds. The season officially closes the end of this month.
PIT RIVER -- Open to catch and release only, barbless hooks, and artificials only from Lake Britton dam downstream.
LAKE SHASTA -- The bass bite has been solid for anglers. Find the bait and you'll find the fish in 15 to 35 feet. When finesse fishing with Senkos look for standing timber that can hold baitfish as well as bass. The southern shores of the lake produced some quality rainbows weighing from 2 to 3 pounds. Silver/blue or red/gold Speedy Shiners or Apex's were among the top producers. From the shore, drop your lines in right at the dam as fish are in the area.
SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS
BOCA LAKE -- According to Mountain Hardware and Sports, the lake is snowed in and iced over making for dangerous access and fishing conditions. Wait! CAPLES LAKE--The Caples Lake Resort has reopened for the winter-early spring season, December 18 through April 15. The resort is primarily open to provide cabin rentals for skiers going to Kirkwood, but should still be a source of info about ice fishing conditions. EID has issued a warning about fluctuating water levels that would make for very dangerous ice conditions. Don't take any chances.
CARSON RIVER (East)--Todd Sodaro reported that he hasn't seen any anglers on the catch-and-release section of the East Carson with all the ice and snow in the area.
DAVIS LAKE -- The roads up to the lake have been cleared all the way to Mallard Cove. The ice is 4 to 5 inches thick and anglers are picking up some nice rainbows on Power Bait and nightcrawlers.
DONNER LAKE -- Same as Boca, access is difficult due to the snow and the lake is iced over.
FRENCHMAN LAKE -- Lots of ice here making for difficult access to the water but a Reno angler limited out three days in a row with nightcrawlers for rainbows running just over a pound early this past week.
GOLD LAKES BASIN -- Hwy 49 is plowed regularly by Caltrans but the roads to all the lakes are snowed in. The lake roads are not plowed by groomed for access by snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers. No one is fishing.
ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR -- Ice House Road is plowed but the road to the lake is not, making access questionable. Dale Daneman at Dale's Foothill Guide Service was going to drive up and check the road because the Ice House Resort is closed for the season.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR -- Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that the lake has frozen over and ice fishing conditions are uncertain. Wait until spring!
JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR -- Snowed in and iced over. Not a place you want to go to now.
LAKE TAHOE -- The break in the weather made for good action for mackinaw with Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters. In shirt sleeve weather on Saturday, he kept 4, tagged 3 and lost 5 or 6 fish for 2 clients. On Sunday with a front moving in bringing wind, he kept 3, tagged 8, and lost 5 or 6 fish. Daniels has been trolling from 120 to 450 feet deep with most of the fish in the deeper water. The macks were running from 3 to 8 pounds. Weather is forecast through Tuesday.
LOON LAKE -- Snowed in, stay away from here for a while, most likely until spring.
PROSSER LAKE -- According to Mountain Hardware and Sports, the lake is snowed in and iced over making it dangerous.
PYRAMID LAKE -- Very foggy conditions have made for treacherous driving and boating conditions. Not a lot of fishermen have been venturing out because of the cold and fog. Those who have made it out are catching the smaller under slot fish, 17 to 20 inches, either trolling or from shore.
RED LAKE -- Iced over. Forget this lake for awhile. It's much too dangerous until someone who knows what they're doing checks out the thickness of the ice for safe fishing.
SILVER LAKE -- EID has issued a winter ice warning. The water level may fluctuate leaving a space between the ice and the water making for very dangerous conditions for ice fishing. It would be better to avoid this lake until spring.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR -- Mountain Hardware and Sports says this lake is snowed in and iced over making for very dangerous conditions.
TRUCKEE RIVER -- Though there is some access along I-80, it has been cold and fishermen have been far and few between.
UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR -- The roads into the lake are not plowed and access is questionable at best. Fishermen should probably take this lake off their list of places to go until spring.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
AMERICAN RIVER -- Steelhead fishing continued to be slow with even good anglers scoring a strike one in two or three outings. The fish being hooked have typically been in the couple of pound class. Those beautiful grey ghosts finning in the holding pond at Nimbus Hatchery are apparently racing upstream in the dark, or just plain aren't biters. Try Paradise Beach and Watt Ave for the best odds.
FEATHER RIVER -- Steelhead fishing continued to be slow, although a few small steelies to about 2 pounds were being caught in the Low Flow Section mostly on drifted roe and nightcrawlers.
FOLSOM LAKE -- Bass fishing has been a challenging experience because of the cold and slow fishing. However some success is being reported on mostly spotted bass by locating concentrations of baitfish and spooning around the edges of the school The bait might be 25 feet down or at the surface. That's why binoculars have sometimes been a better aid to finding fish than electronics. Work the lips of channels heading into a cove, or for a change of pace, move deeper into coves where inflows from tributaries are a bit warmer than the lake and contain food. Trolling for trout has been slow, but some planters are being caught near the plant sites at Brown's Ravine and Granite Bay.
SACRAMENTO AREA PONDS -- It's pretty much a continuing story this time of year. Local ponds are being regularly planted with trout giving inner city residents, especially kids a shot at some fun fishing.
SACRAMENTO RIVER -- About the only river action being reported was once again in the Port of Sacramento. Anglers are finding some decent fishing on schoolie-sized striped bass by spooning for them with Hopkins and Duh spoons in blue and green patterns. Troll until a fish is hooked then switch to spoons. Or just use electronics or look for birds working bait near the surface.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Knights Landing -- The river didn't come up all that much from the last rain, but lots of debris and mud still made for tough fishing conditions and poor success. The season closes Dec. 31. The sturgeon bite is picking up, and fishing for them should be on the upswing all through spring.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding -- Trout fishing below Keswick Dam, was fair, but not many anglers were out trying. They were catching around a dozen per outing to about 3 pounds on an egg pattern and nymph dropper under an indicator. Spin fishermen were drifting Glo-Bugs and backtrolling small Hot Shots.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
BULLARDS BAR -- Cold weather has put a damper on the number of people visiting the lake. On Sunday, one cartopper had launched at Emerald Cove but hadn't checked in by press time. The lake level has come up a little from all the rain but not enough to allow trailered boat launching at Emerald Cove. Launching is available at Dark Day.
CAMP FAR WEST -- The water level has come up enough to open the concrete ramp again, allowing all size boats to launch without 4-wheel drive. Four boats were on the lake on Sunday when WON called but no one had reported any success. Bass should be biting on worms and jigs on points and drop-offs at 30 to 35 feet.
COLLINS LAKE -- It's been pretty slow here with only a few people coming up. Mark Contreras of Wheatland landed a 7 1/2-pound largemouth bass on a shad crankbait. Alex Allard of Dixon caught a 3-pound catfish on live minnows at the dam. Two junior hunters killed bucks at the Daugherty Hills Wildlife Area adjacent to the lake during a special drawing hunt.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR -- A few trollers are doing fair on small rainbows trolling silver flasher/worm combos from Boston Bar to Buck's Beach. Dillon Davis reported shooting 4 mallards and a honker near Black's Ravine while parked in the back of a cove.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR -- A daring 4-wheeler barely made it in and out of here this past week with a cartopper and caught 40 rainbows to 2 1/2 pounds. Use extreme caution if you plan on driving up to this lake, bring survival supplies in case you get stuck, or better yet wait until spring!
LAKE OROVILLE -- The lake had dropped another foot making launching even more problematic at the old gravel road at the Spillway. Launching is "4-wheel drive only, launch-at-your-own-risk". Bass and coho are still very active but are in deeper water, 30 to 40, feet all over the lake. Anglers are catching both bass and coho on the same baits-- worms, jigs and minnows. Bass weighed up to 3 pounds and the coho are now up to 1 pound and growing. There are reports of good trout and coho action below the dam at the diversion pool for anglers casting a silver Kastmaster spoon, white Roostertail, or using nightcrawlers.
ROLLINS LAKE -- No reports were available, but this is a NID lake and should be planted by the DFG the first week of January if it's on the same schedule as Scott's Flat, another NID lake.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE -- The lake level is rising from the rains and there is no snow to cause any problems with access, but no one has been fishing all week. NID has announced that DFG trout plants will resume the first week of January, 2010.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR -- 4-wheel drive access is open to the lake but no one has been fishing. Hopefully the DFG will plant this lake after the first of the year.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- The roads are sloppy and 4-wheel drive is recommended to access this lake. Rumor has it that the DFG will resume trout plants in January, if they can get to the lake.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY -- Action has been DEAD with no reports of any bass or steelhead being caught this past week.
More...
AMADOR LAKE -- The trout bite busted lose for the weekend, with possibly warmer water temperatures triggering the bite. Plenty of big fish in the 4- to 5-pound class reported, and one 12 pounder that was a tagged derby fish. "That guy was not entered in the derby," said Debbie Grayson at the Lake Amador Store. "A couple of others were, and one won $50 cash, and another won a free day use and t-shirt!" The action was all in the top foot near the surface, with shore anglers doing best. Kastmasters scored some action, but most stuck with Power Bait and nightcrawlers.
DELTA REGION, Sacramento River side -- The areas from the Middle Ground Islands and higher into the Delta system held not quantities but quality sturgeon. The bite shifted away from stripers this past week as the larger outgoing tides proved to be the more productive for sturgeon. Soaking ghost shrimps produced both sturgeon and some keeper stripers. Up around Liberty Island there were a few stripers netted of better quality, so it was 1 or 2 larger ones up here, or plenty of shakers farther down in the system.
DELTA REGION, San Joaquin River side -- Sturgeon were the hot bite and several were taken in the Honker Bay area, where anglers were soaking shrimps or fresh shad in 6 to 30 feet of water. The striper bite was slower with the cooler waters and more were picked up by anglers soaking shrimp, mudsuckers, or shad for sturgeon. Franks Tract found action for numbers of them, but generally they were shakers.
RANCHO SECO LAKE -- Fishing pressure continued to be heavy on the weekend, but not so bad during the week--and for good reason. Lots of trout continued to be taken. Holdovers from previous plants and new rainbows being added regularly by DFG and Mount Lassen Hatchery. Anglers bunched up at popular places like the boat ramp, but with a bit of exploring, others were able to find a bit of solitude. Slow trolling with wooly buggers, leeches, Kastmasters, Apexes, and grubs probably produced more fish than fishing from the bank, but anglers fishing outside the usual Power Bait, Power Egg box did pretty well by slow-retrieving woolly buggers and Power Worms behind a spin bubble.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park) -- The break in the weather brought out the anglers here and both trollers and shore fishermen were doing well. Several nice browns to 4 1/2 pounds were weighed at the Sly Park Resort. Most of the shore anglers are using worms at the boat docks and the first dam while the trollers are dragging dodgers and worms or spoons. The roads are all clear but there is still snow on the ground.
NORTH COAST RIVERS
CHETCO RIVER, Ore. -- Tail end of the king salmon season, although they keep showing up, including some monsters. It's steelhead season, even though they're catching both kings and steelies still. River was blown out, but coming down as of press time, and runoff is expected to keep the river in perfect shape for Christmas steelheading.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem -- It was blown out before the weekend rains, so not likely to be fishable any time soon. The river is only open up to the confluence with the South Fork.
EEL RIVER, South Fork -- The river is open, but there's not a lot of water flowing. It's at 8 feet Sylvendale, according to guide Mark Nimitz of Pipe Creek Outfitters, but the flows are at 847 cfs, and that's "barely moving", he said. There are fish in the river, but conditions aren't ideal.
ELK, SIXES rivers, Ore. -- Guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing said that king salmon were still being caught from both of these rivers.
GARCIA, GUALALA rivers -- The small coastal rivers (Big, Albion, Navarro, Garcia, and Gualala) came up and got muddy then dropped very quickly and were running very low and clear over the weekend. Much of this storm soaked into the ground. The next storm should put them into winter shape. "I did not hear of a single fish caught on the Gualala the two fishable days," said guide and WON Field Reporter, Craig Bell of Greenwater Guide Service. "Several wakes were seen moving up the Gualala estuary and a Seal caught one steelhead. The coastal streams usually do not get going with fishable numbers of steelhead until the first or second week of January."
RUSSIAN RIVER -- Everything about the river was perfect for steelhead, except for the lack of fish. There were reports of an 8- and 13-pound steelies caught, plus one other, but the mouth has been closing up from the high surf, and steelies are having a tough time getting into the river. Excellent conditions and flows, just no fish, according to Nick Wheeler of King Sport and Tackle in Guerneville.
SMITH RIVER -- 'Tis the season over here, and there's some chromer steelhead in the offing, along with some king salmon that are beginning to turn. The river was blown out but dropping as of Sunday, and is expected to be prime for the Christmas weekend.
VANDUZEN RIVER -- It was low and clear, but the rain line looked like it was hitting the area, so it may be fishable by the weekend. It was open from low flows as of Sunday.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen -- The river was blown out by the most recent rains and more was falling as of Sunday.
KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam -- Fishing for half-pounders and adult steelhead to 5 pounds was very good last week down to I-5. The water warmed a bit because of the rain perking up the bite, and fish were biting side-drifted roe, Glo-Bugs, and nightcrawlers, backtrolled Hot Shots and dead-drifted nymph/egg pattern combinations under indicators.
TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City -- The recent rains have brought a big influx of fresh steelhead. Not huge, but bright and full of fight. Conventional anglers have been scoring by back-trolling Brad's Wigglers and Wee Warts or side-drift roe. Fly fishers have been drifting egg patterns, copper Johns, and Prince nymphs, fished under indicators as well as swinging leeches and birds' nests. The river was in good fishing shape as of Sunday evening down to the North Fork. The river is much higher and off-color farther downstream so almost all of the action is concentrated in the upper reaches below Lewiston.. Even though the upper river was in good shape, more rain was falling as of Sunday evening so anglers should call ahead before making a trip.
MOTHER LODE
CAMANCHE LAKE -- Trout fishing remained great for both trollers and shore casters, with limits caught both ways. Top tactic for trollers was toplining Rapalas, which scored rainbows to over 4 pounds. Toplining Needlefish scored fish to 10 pounds. Shore fishing is best for anglers still fishing with Power Bait products. The South Shore Trout Pond remained good for bait and lure casters, with Power Eggs and Magic Bullet spoons working best. Top bet for bass is drop- shotting plastic worms in shad colors, or fishing dark colored jigs on the breaks around Dikes 1, 2 and 3, and in the narrows.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR -- The bass bite showed more improvement after the cold snap, with a combination of rising water levels as well as temperatures triggering a better jig bite in the rocks and wood. No reports from the trout and salmon trollers, but that bite should also be improving.
LAKE McCLURE - Conditions for bass fishing have improved since the Dec. 12 WON BASS team event. "It never stopped raining all day!" said Mother Lode director Bill Kunz. Big fish was a 2.03 pounder caught by the winning team of Chappell-Riggs, who weighed 8.84 pounds total. While the bite was tough, over half the teams weighed limits. Trout fishing is a good bet for trollers fishing the top 10 feet with flasher/'crawler combos and small spoons. The top bite is along the shoreline, and the few shore fishers trying are getting some action on salmon eggs, nightcrawlers and Power Bait.
LAKE McSWAIN -- Marilyn Kern at the marina said that there are plenty of fish in the lake, with 7,000 pounds in the last plant, but reports were mixed. "One guy caught his limit on yellow sparkle Power Bait near the handicap dock," she said. "But others only caught one or two fish."
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR -- The black bass fishing is a better bet now that the water warmed a little. Top patters are drop-shotting small worms and jigs on the main lake points and steep, rocky banks. Otherwise, pressure is light, and striper fishing is dead.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Still a top bet, particularly for shore anglers, with some quality holdover rainbows on tap. Fresh trout planters are also boosting the bite. Most anglers are fishing Glory Hole Cove and the Tuttletown ramp, where soaking Power Bait products in 5 to 20 feet of water has worked for rainbows nearing the 4-pound mark. Even boaters are giving up on trolling in favor of still fishing, but those who must troll are using Needlefish, Rapalas, Ex-Cel spoons in the major creek arms. There are some big browns here, and the top way to catch them is trolling a rainbow trout patterned Rapala or Trophy Stick.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR -- Guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing said his clients had mediocre results fishing Green Springs with shad. "We only boated three fish to 2 pounds, and lost four others," said Smith. The action came from the 20 to 23-foot range. He said water temps were at 52 degrees, the chill slowing the bite.
NORTH SALTWATER
BERKELEY -- Scott Sutherland at Berkeley Sportfishing reported good crabbing on the crab only and combo trips, but the fish and crab combos are not finding much in the way of halibut or striped bass, and the sanddabs are still scarce. The boats will switch to sturgeon after the holidays.
BODEGA BAY -- More hot action for giant squid, with the New Sea Angler scoring 10-plus per rod averages with a whopping 480 squid slapping the deck on Friday's trip. Squid to 72 pounds were boated. The action is coming from the Cordell Bank, and while the first hookups are sometimes deep, the squid have come up to the surface every time to create a wide open shallow bite.
EUREKA -- The commercial crabbing counts have dropped, and the ocean was pretty rough for the sport guys. By the weekend, the ocean came down, but no reports were available by deadline. Ben Williams at the Pro Sport Center said the surfperch were back on the snap at Centerville Beach, with one angler doing well using sandcrabs for bait. "The perch are there year-round, it's just that few people are trying, and the ocean is usually too rough," he said.
FORT BRAGG -- Crabbing remained good with limits for anglers on the Telstar when Captain Randy Thornton pulled his pots prior to taking a holiday break. He'll still run squid and crab combos after the break.
HALF MOON BAY -- The Huli Cat has been out for chilipepper rockfish and giant squid, as well as crabs. "Our last trip out resulted in 161 squid for 15 anglers, then we rean in for 17 limits of crabs for anglers and crew," said Captain Tom Mattusch. The chilipepper trip was a NOAA/NMFS venture that found the chilis in 580 to 640 feet of water, but Mattusch reminded anglers that he has a special permit to offer trips for sport fishing for chilipepper rockfish.
MARTINEZ -- Captain Steve Talmadge on Flash Fishing reported some great sturgeon action around Buoy 6 on Wednesday, with three anglers catching seven sturgeon (and five shaker stripers), big fish an oversized 76 incher. Eel and grass shrimp worked for the hot bait. Earlier in the week, two anglers hooked up and landed 11 sturgeon, releasing three. "One of the sturgeon was a green sturgeon," said Talmadge. Another had a $20 DFG tag. The action came from 17 feet of water near the Mothball Fleet.
SAN PABLO BAY -- The rains helped out the sturgeon bite, but not many anglers are trying. Still a good bet for leopard sharks, but the cooler temps slowed the striped bass action.
SUISUN BAY -- Striper action has given way to a hot sturgeon bite, and now the action has spread out through the system with good reports from many different spots including the Mothball Fleet, Big Cut and on down towards Benicia and Martinez. Salmon roe, grass shrimp and eel in various combinations have been the top baits.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE -- The morning's here have just not worked out. Between the fog and the cold starts to the day, the mid to afternoon bite was better. Try the south end, as the north is very shallow, with jumbo minnows. For those determined to stick with artificials, a jerk bait, jig, drop-shot, LV 500 lipless crank bait, or a small swim bait.
LAKE BERRYESSA -- Spoons, jigs and drop-shotting Robo Worms are still producing bass on points in the morning but moved to the deeper sides when the sun comes out. Crawdad colors seemed to work better than the shad patterns, as the baitfish are not around after the cold weather.
UPPER BLUE LAKE -- Try a Ford Fender behind a Kastmaster or Needlefish with a chunk of worm. The trout bite is on, and few are here to capitalize on it. Limits were found for both those trolling and from on the docks. The bass bite, however is non-existent.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR -- The edges thawed just a bit, as did the ramp at the dam, making it worthwhile for a few locals to launch and fish the east side. Big Daddy's Guide Service reported an "up/down but solid" bite with a mix bag of trout weighing from 1 to 6 pounds. The bite was in the top 10 feet, and the lures were anything that looked like a baitfish in black/white.
BAUM LAKE -- Fishing has continued to be fair, but some really nice fish were caught this past week from 6 1/2 pounds to over 13 pounds. They were all natives, as the hatchery has not planted their usual brood stock plant as yet. Nightcrawlers or Kastmasters should get their attention, but fly-fishing is also very popular here.
EAGLE LAKE -- One ramp at the marina may still be open. A few locals fished from belly boats, kayaks or the shoreline (with some long casting involved) and mixed results. Trout weighed from 2 to 3 pounds. The season officially closes the end of this month.
PIT RIVER -- Open to catch and release only, barbless hooks, and artificials only from Lake Britton dam downstream.
LAKE SHASTA -- The bass bite has been solid for anglers. Find the bait and you'll find the fish in 15 to 35 feet. When finesse fishing with Senkos look for standing timber that can hold baitfish as well as bass. The southern shores of the lake produced some quality rainbows weighing from 2 to 3 pounds. Silver/blue or red/gold Speedy Shiners or Apex's were among the top producers. From the shore, drop your lines in right at the dam as fish are in the area.
SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS
BOCA LAKE -- According to Mountain Hardware and Sports, the lake is snowed in and iced over making for dangerous access and fishing conditions. Wait! CAPLES LAKE--The Caples Lake Resort has reopened for the winter-early spring season, December 18 through April 15. The resort is primarily open to provide cabin rentals for skiers going to Kirkwood, but should still be a source of info about ice fishing conditions. EID has issued a warning about fluctuating water levels that would make for very dangerous ice conditions. Don't take any chances.
CARSON RIVER (East)--Todd Sodaro reported that he hasn't seen any anglers on the catch-and-release section of the East Carson with all the ice and snow in the area.
DAVIS LAKE -- The roads up to the lake have been cleared all the way to Mallard Cove. The ice is 4 to 5 inches thick and anglers are picking up some nice rainbows on Power Bait and nightcrawlers.
DONNER LAKE -- Same as Boca, access is difficult due to the snow and the lake is iced over.
FRENCHMAN LAKE -- Lots of ice here making for difficult access to the water but a Reno angler limited out three days in a row with nightcrawlers for rainbows running just over a pound early this past week.
GOLD LAKES BASIN -- Hwy 49 is plowed regularly by Caltrans but the roads to all the lakes are snowed in. The lake roads are not plowed by groomed for access by snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers. No one is fishing.
ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR -- Ice House Road is plowed but the road to the lake is not, making access questionable. Dale Daneman at Dale's Foothill Guide Service was going to drive up and check the road because the Ice House Resort is closed for the season.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR -- Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that the lake has frozen over and ice fishing conditions are uncertain. Wait until spring!
JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR -- Snowed in and iced over. Not a place you want to go to now.
LAKE TAHOE -- The break in the weather made for good action for mackinaw with Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters. In shirt sleeve weather on Saturday, he kept 4, tagged 3 and lost 5 or 6 fish for 2 clients. On Sunday with a front moving in bringing wind, he kept 3, tagged 8, and lost 5 or 6 fish. Daniels has been trolling from 120 to 450 feet deep with most of the fish in the deeper water. The macks were running from 3 to 8 pounds. Weather is forecast through Tuesday.
LOON LAKE -- Snowed in, stay away from here for a while, most likely until spring.
PROSSER LAKE -- According to Mountain Hardware and Sports, the lake is snowed in and iced over making it dangerous.
PYRAMID LAKE -- Very foggy conditions have made for treacherous driving and boating conditions. Not a lot of fishermen have been venturing out because of the cold and fog. Those who have made it out are catching the smaller under slot fish, 17 to 20 inches, either trolling or from shore.
RED LAKE -- Iced over. Forget this lake for awhile. It's much too dangerous until someone who knows what they're doing checks out the thickness of the ice for safe fishing.
SILVER LAKE -- EID has issued a winter ice warning. The water level may fluctuate leaving a space between the ice and the water making for very dangerous conditions for ice fishing. It would be better to avoid this lake until spring.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR -- Mountain Hardware and Sports says this lake is snowed in and iced over making for very dangerous conditions.
TRUCKEE RIVER -- Though there is some access along I-80, it has been cold and fishermen have been far and few between.
UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR -- The roads into the lake are not plowed and access is questionable at best. Fishermen should probably take this lake off their list of places to go until spring.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
AMERICAN RIVER -- Steelhead fishing continued to be slow with even good anglers scoring a strike one in two or three outings. The fish being hooked have typically been in the couple of pound class. Those beautiful grey ghosts finning in the holding pond at Nimbus Hatchery are apparently racing upstream in the dark, or just plain aren't biters. Try Paradise Beach and Watt Ave for the best odds.
FEATHER RIVER -- Steelhead fishing continued to be slow, although a few small steelies to about 2 pounds were being caught in the Low Flow Section mostly on drifted roe and nightcrawlers.
FOLSOM LAKE -- Bass fishing has been a challenging experience because of the cold and slow fishing. However some success is being reported on mostly spotted bass by locating concentrations of baitfish and spooning around the edges of the school The bait might be 25 feet down or at the surface. That's why binoculars have sometimes been a better aid to finding fish than electronics. Work the lips of channels heading into a cove, or for a change of pace, move deeper into coves where inflows from tributaries are a bit warmer than the lake and contain food. Trolling for trout has been slow, but some planters are being caught near the plant sites at Brown's Ravine and Granite Bay.
SACRAMENTO AREA PONDS -- It's pretty much a continuing story this time of year. Local ponds are being regularly planted with trout giving inner city residents, especially kids a shot at some fun fishing.
SACRAMENTO RIVER -- About the only river action being reported was once again in the Port of Sacramento. Anglers are finding some decent fishing on schoolie-sized striped bass by spooning for them with Hopkins and Duh spoons in blue and green patterns. Troll until a fish is hooked then switch to spoons. Or just use electronics or look for birds working bait near the surface.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Knights Landing -- The river didn't come up all that much from the last rain, but lots of debris and mud still made for tough fishing conditions and poor success. The season closes Dec. 31. The sturgeon bite is picking up, and fishing for them should be on the upswing all through spring.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding -- Trout fishing below Keswick Dam, was fair, but not many anglers were out trying. They were catching around a dozen per outing to about 3 pounds on an egg pattern and nymph dropper under an indicator. Spin fishermen were drifting Glo-Bugs and backtrolling small Hot Shots.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
BULLARDS BAR -- Cold weather has put a damper on the number of people visiting the lake. On Sunday, one cartopper had launched at Emerald Cove but hadn't checked in by press time. The lake level has come up a little from all the rain but not enough to allow trailered boat launching at Emerald Cove. Launching is available at Dark Day.
CAMP FAR WEST -- The water level has come up enough to open the concrete ramp again, allowing all size boats to launch without 4-wheel drive. Four boats were on the lake on Sunday when WON called but no one had reported any success. Bass should be biting on worms and jigs on points and drop-offs at 30 to 35 feet.
COLLINS LAKE -- It's been pretty slow here with only a few people coming up. Mark Contreras of Wheatland landed a 7 1/2-pound largemouth bass on a shad crankbait. Alex Allard of Dixon caught a 3-pound catfish on live minnows at the dam. Two junior hunters killed bucks at the Daugherty Hills Wildlife Area adjacent to the lake during a special drawing hunt.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR -- A few trollers are doing fair on small rainbows trolling silver flasher/worm combos from Boston Bar to Buck's Beach. Dillon Davis reported shooting 4 mallards and a honker near Black's Ravine while parked in the back of a cove.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR -- A daring 4-wheeler barely made it in and out of here this past week with a cartopper and caught 40 rainbows to 2 1/2 pounds. Use extreme caution if you plan on driving up to this lake, bring survival supplies in case you get stuck, or better yet wait until spring!
LAKE OROVILLE -- The lake had dropped another foot making launching even more problematic at the old gravel road at the Spillway. Launching is "4-wheel drive only, launch-at-your-own-risk". Bass and coho are still very active but are in deeper water, 30 to 40, feet all over the lake. Anglers are catching both bass and coho on the same baits-- worms, jigs and minnows. Bass weighed up to 3 pounds and the coho are now up to 1 pound and growing. There are reports of good trout and coho action below the dam at the diversion pool for anglers casting a silver Kastmaster spoon, white Roostertail, or using nightcrawlers.
ROLLINS LAKE -- No reports were available, but this is a NID lake and should be planted by the DFG the first week of January if it's on the same schedule as Scott's Flat, another NID lake.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE -- The lake level is rising from the rains and there is no snow to cause any problems with access, but no one has been fishing all week. NID has announced that DFG trout plants will resume the first week of January, 2010.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR -- 4-wheel drive access is open to the lake but no one has been fishing. Hopefully the DFG will plant this lake after the first of the year.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- The roads are sloppy and 4-wheel drive is recommended to access this lake. Rumor has it that the DFG will resume trout plants in January, if they can get to the lake.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY -- Action has been DEAD with no reports of any bass or steelhead being caught this past week.
More...
