TOP PICKS
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Striped bass fishing was still pretty good, with some being caught in the Port of Sacramento, and the mouths of the American and Feather rivers. But the best action was occurring downstream below Clarksburg trolling and even on topwater lures. A few sturgeon were starting to show, as well, although it's still a bit early to be targeting them.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa--Catching a salmon in the open stretch between Red Bluff Diversion Dam and Knight's Landing, wasn't a sure thing, but at least 1 ocean fresh king was being put into many boats, and there were even some boats coming back with limits for all on board. Both Kwikfish and spinners were working, with most of the spin fishing action taking place on anchor from Colusa downstream. Most kings weighed between 15 and 25 pounds, but there were a fair number of fish being caught that weighed over 30 pounds.
EMERYVILLE--The combo trips continued to set the pace for crab limits with every trip maxing out. Rockfish numbers were the same, but lingcod counts fluctuated, with the usual count around 2 or 3 per boat, up to 7 per boat. The action came at the Farallon Islands for the bottomfishing, while the pots are scattered between the islands and the Golden Gate.
DELTA: SACRAMENTO RIVER side--Surface plugs like Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks in shad patterns are netting steady limits of stripers averaging 8 to 10 pounds but a few whoppers were also reported. Baits did well at Sandy Beach, Sandy Bar, and the lower Cache Slough. A few sturgeon are also being reported in the deeper waters during the end, slack, and beginning of the tide sets. Move to shallower water during the main portion of the tide set. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side-- Baits like anchovies, shad, and mudsuckers found stripers in the lower San Joaquin as did Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks, and Lucky Craft Sammie's in shad patterns. The topwater bite has been dropping off by 10 a.m. at which point switching over to shad colored swimbaits will produce fish 10-20 feet deep. Try Frank's Tract, False River or Fisherman's Cut.
AMADOR LAKE--Lake level is still low, but the bass fishing rates good, and the trout action is even better with all the heavy planting by lake managers. They have been putting 3,500 to 5,000 pounds of Donaldson's trout in the lake every week. Catch tactics for the trout never change; anglers need to get their offering in the top 2 feet. Power Bait, nightcrawlers filled with air, spoons and mini-jigs all worked. Bass are hitting topwater and worms, with fish to 5 pounds reported. A 20-pound catfish hit for an Ione man, the fish now residing in the store aquarium.
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
CHETCO RIVER--Salmon and steelhead are available here, though the river cleared and dropped quickly after Thursday's rain. Anglers fishing Kwikfish and roe found some mostly dark kings from the low water bridge to Social Security Bar and the occasional dimer steelhead. With not much rain the near future, the water will continue to drop out and fishing should get tough.
EEL RIVER--Getting low and froggy over the weekend and not a whole heck of a lot going on. Before this thing cranks up again, we're going to need some rain!
MAD RIVER--The first few steelhead of the year were taken this week by anglers tossing spinners and eggs by the hatchery and the Blue Lake Bridge. There were also some kings around, but they were all pretty dark - and have to be released anyway. Flows were down here over the weekend and not much is going to change until some weather hits.
REDWOOD CREEK--Super low and clear and in desperate need of some precipitation!
RUSSIAN RIVER--A trickle, but there should be some steelies ready to come in if the flows ever come up. Do a rain dance!
SMITH RIVER--The river came up on Thursday but was already low and clear again over the weekend. The king bite has been on the scratchy side mostly, with some dark fish hitting Kwikfish and roe in the early morning hours. Not much rain's in the forecast, so it may be a long, slow week here.
VAN DUZEN RIVER--Low, clear and not exactly what you'd call really "fishy" at the moment. Before making a long drive to fish up here, call local tackle shops to get an updated report on the conditions.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVER
KLAMATH RIVER, Happy Camp--The mid- and upper river produced some good steelheading last week in beautiful fall weather and few other anglers--a great combination. The steelies were a mix of halfpounders and adults to 6 pounds. They were biting a variety of lures and bait, including swinging beadhead assassins, Glo-Bugs under indicators, backtrolled Hot Shots and roe.
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City--Persistent and good steelheaders were managing from 1 to 4 steelhead a day to about 8 pounds, but they were really working for them. The best fishing was above Del Loma, but even there it was challenging fishing. Drifting nightcrawlers was a good way to go for non-fly fishers, while fly fishers swung assassins and dead-drifted copper Johns under indicators. Fishing on the lower end of the Trinity was tough, and it was difficult to intercept the relatively few fish moving through that portion of the river.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
AMERICAN RIVER--A very few steelhead were being hooked below the closure at Ancil Hoffman Park, with riffles at River Bend
ark (formerly Goethe Park), Watt Avenue, and Paradise Beach offering the best odds for hooking an adult to 6 pounds, or a halfpounder. Small caddis and May fly-imitating nymphs fished under an indicator are one way to go. Swinging steelhead streamers like assassins and brindle bugs are another. Non-fly fishers are drifting roe, 'crawlers, spinners like Blue Foxes and spoons like Little Cleos.
FEATHER RIVER-- Steelheading was fair, with fly fishers doing better than guys throwing bait. Most of the action was on nymphs which imitate the Mayfly hatches, like a small beadhead flashback pheasant tail, or dark brown and black rubberlegs with a small nymph trailer. Drifted nightcrawlers and king mealworms were also producing a few adults to about 6 pounds and halfpounders.
FOLSOM LAKE--This is the time of year when baitfish bunch up into tight schools, and fishing has been good. Snglers who have been able to find the bait with electronics or, occasionally, with sharp eyes when they're being driven to the surface. Spoon for the deeper bass at the edges of drop-offs into channels at the entrances to the North and South forks. You might get lucky and hook a nice landlocked king salmon that way, too. A good thing, because trolling was still lousy.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding--Flows were down to a little over 5,000 cfs, and trout fishing slowed a bit. There were still some salmon spawning, mostly in the upper stretch of the river, and not many, so trout were still keying on egg patterns and Glo-Bugs.
North Saltwater
BERKELEY--Lingcod counts fluctuated, but the crabs and rockfish offered limit action every trip on the California Dawn. Captain James Smith said that Tuesday was the hot lingcod trip when 25 anglers caught 25 lingcod. The boat didn't run Saturday, but on Sunday, the action was back with limits of rockfish and crabs, and 12 lings from the Farallon Islands.
BODEGA BAY-- While crab counts have been low, the boats had mostly good days targeting bottomfish with limits the rule. Most of the action is coming from up at Fort Ross, with crab pots off the Russian River producing a few keeper Dungeness. The word is that the commercial boats were already stacking their gear after their first pull because of the low number of crabs per pot.
EUREKA--The shallow water was best for crabs, with sport anglers reporting limits of Dungeness. Even the guys who dropped right outside the jetties got nice crabs. The ocean laid down nicely on the weekend, and anglers headed out to the jetties to shore fish for rockfish, and to the beaches for redtail surfperch. Surf smelt runs are about over, according to Ben Williams at the Pro Sport Center.
FORT BRAGG--Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar had a great weekend of crabbing with limits for his 23 anglers on Sunday after an 18-hour soak in 50 feet of water north of Noyo Harbor. "We ran our string and were a little short, but were able to run a few extras for limits," said Thornton. Bottomfishing is still open south of Point Arena,
HALF MOON BAY--Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat reported a tough bite at the Farallon Islands for rockfish and lingcod, but he did find some willing rockfish around the North Island. In checking his crab pots, he found the third string off by itself was the big producer with 7 to 11 per pot. The others that were around the more traveled areas produced only 1 to 3 per pot. "Go figure," said Mattusch.
LOCH LOMOND--Captain Gordon Hough reported for Captain Mike Shimel on the Morning Star, noting that most of their efforts were for leopard sharks this week, with a sprinkling of striped bass in the count. On Saturday, a youth trip targeted "anything that bites," and the kids on board caught the usual bay plethora of sharks, rays, skates, etc. Top trip was Thursday when 12 anglers caught 14 leopard sharks and 3 striped bass at the Sisters.
MARTINEZ--Captain Jim Smith on the Happy Hooker struggled a little on Saturday but found his pace on Sunday and scored limits of striped bass for his 22 anglers, topped by a 25 pounder. Most hit bullheads.
SAN PABLO BAY--Sharks and striped bass are the top targets these days, and while not many are fishing the north end, the area around the Sisters seems to work for leopards and the occasional striped bass for anglers soaking squid, midshipmen and cut baits.
SUISUN BAY--The action was good for anglers targeting both striped bass and sturgeon, with emphasis on the bass. Bullheads were the top bait for stripers, but the sturgeon preferred eel, ghost and grass shrimp.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE--Though one angler "found the fish" at night mid-week on Brush Hogs, most are using minnows. Clear Lake Guide Service said by moving around the lake and hitting a variety of docks, piers, and shorelines he have been able to catch from 15 to 20 fish a day to 5 pounds. Most of the fish were solid 3 pounders as an average size.
LAKE BERRYESSA--Trout anglers in a local derby found fish in the Narrows, Steele Park Pipeline, and Monticello Dam areas drifting with live minnows, trolling to 25-35 feet, and using Kastmasters.
UPPER BLUE LAKE--Trout fishing was slow but the lake is due for a plant this week. By the end of the week fish should have spread out and surface trolling with Kastmasters or nightcrawlers should entice fish.
LAKE SONOMA-- Bass pro and Marine Unlimited manager, Scott Green said the water remains gin clear with no wind, making for a tough bite. As soon as the rain starts and stains up the water look for the fish to move shallow and feed up before winter. The landlocked steelhead have also been tougher to catch, trollers top lining white Jay Fair trolling flies or Yo-Zuri Pin minnows are only hooking one to three fish a day to 18 inches.
DELTA REGION
NORTHEASTERN AREA
BAUM LAKE--Fishing remains good in the mornings and evenings with good hatches of PMD's, and rusty spinners. Callibaetis cripples are working, as are caddis emergers. Nymph fishermen are doing well with pheasant tails with a flashback and copper Johns. Woolly buggers along the weedbeds also picked up fish. Lure wise, Panther Martins are doing well, but don't hesitate to try a Kastmaster. Bait fishermen using small 'crawlers and/or Power Bait did well, as did mealworms.
BRITTON LAKE--According to Vaughn's Sporting Goods the smallmouth and crappie bite is still good. Topwater action for the smallies is great in the evenings. Spinners are also working well in the evenings. Fly fishermen are using poppers or large dries.
CASSEL FOREBAY--Try rusty spinners and PMD's on the water in the mornings and evenings, with pheasant tails and copper Johns for nymphs. Caddis emergers or nymphs are also working. Panther Martins are working here, as are Kastmasters. Bait fishermen are doing best with small nightcrawlers, crickets, and salmon eggs.
EAGLE LAKE--The season's winding down and will close on Dec. 31, but 3- and almost 4-pound trout continue to be taken. Those choosing to launch their boat can but call ahead to see which ramps are open. Shoreline anglers have been doing very well fishing off Rocky Point at the entrance to Bucks Bay. Toss out a nightcrawlers under a bobber or float a 'crawler off the bottom. Many anglers have also been catching fish tossing out small jigs under a bobber and retrieving them slowly towards shore.
FALL RIVER (wild trout stream)--There's an excellent PMD hatch in the upper river in the mornings, also some trico's and rusty spinners on the water. Otherwise stick with the usual nymphs, pheasant tails, and woolly buggers.
HAT CREEK (wild trout section)--Good hatches of PMD's and trico's in the mornings below the riffle. Nymph fishermen are taking fish using caddis emergers, pheasant tails, and copper Johns. Bird's nests are also taking fish. Evening fishermen are using rusty spinners and callibaetis to take fish.
UPPER HAT CREEK--Bait fishermen did best with crickets, grasshoppers, and small 'crawlers. Lure fishermen using Rooster Tails doing well.
LEWISTON RESERVOIR--Trout bite slowed a bit with the full moon but look for it to pick right back up by the end of the week when Power Bait or a combination of white and red eggs will do the trick.
MCCLOUD RESERVOIR--The bite here is redhot with trout everywhere, gorging themselves on midges and caddis flies, which were hatching all afternoon, according to SC Guide Service. Though 14- to 17-inch trout were feeding on the surface, a few brown trout were taken deeper, in 30 feet of water.
PIT RIVER (wild trout stream)--Fishing has slowed somewhat with the weather, but rubber leg nymphs are still working, and there's fairly good hatches in the evenings fished best with a large caddis or stimulator pattern. Smaller, black bead-headed nymphs are also working.
LAKE SHASTA--The McCloud arm had a redhot trout bite with limits of fat fish from 15 to 20 inches being taken on Firetiger Cripplures and a few on Flee-Bittys.
LAKE SISKIYOU--An excellent place to fish as well. Limiting out on a combination of brook, brown and rainbow trout is the norm. Try trolling a Sep's dodger with a worm trailer thru the surface.
Motherlode
CAMANCHE LAKE--John Cunningham reports catfish has rebounded after a slow spell, the rains and recently warmer temps produced fish to 9 pounds, the action good. Top bets are fishing with anchovies and mackerel in China Gulch and East Cove. Trout fishing is good for shore anglers on both sides of the lake at the day use areas, Power Bait and inflated 'crawlers the top bet. Trollers fish upriver between 12 and 18 feet with a nightcrawler behind a dodger. On cloudy days, toplining is beginning to work; water temperatures cooled to 59 degrees.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR--Water levels stabilized, but fishing remains tough with few anglers trying. A few reported small bass on tap, the bite moving deeper. Morning topwater has faded, but rip baits are getting some attention. Trout and salmon trollers are few, but the usual dodger/'crawler or slow-rolled shad is a good bet.
LAKE McCLURE--The lake actually rose about a foot early last week, but stabilized later in the week. The marina is closed, so reports are hard to come by. Jim Nudo was working around the marina last weekend, and he said he talked with one angler who caught 2 rainbows while trolling McClure Point. Bass fishing is decent for small fish, worms and jigs the top bet now. There have been a few anglers trying for crappie, one catching a dozen or so fishing behind the marina.
LAKE McSWAIN--While the great weather brought out some anglers, the bite was kind of tough. A new plant from Calaveras Trout Farm on Nov. 14 didn't even boost the action. Dedicated efforts produced about a fish per rod. "I think it's was the full moon," said Marilyn Kern at the Marina.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR--Striped bass are hitting some artificial lures, but trollers using bait reported the best success. Catfish were a better bet, with the evening bite good for fish to 3 pounds, top baits mackerel, anchovies and chicken livers. The lake level is fairly stable, but still very low at 26-percent of capacity.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR--Shore action picked up for trout, with two plants in two weeks spurring the bite for anglers soaking Power Bait and 'crawlers combined with a marshmallow. Trout trollers picked up a few fish also, mostly on shad colored lures or bead spinners tipped with worms. Bass fishing rated slow, with the most action from small fish in the shallows.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR--Trout action stayed about the same with trollers getting a mix of planters and holdovers, the best action up above Green Springs and Black Creek arms. The fish are feeding on shad, so blue/silver or shad patterned lures, or the real thing in frozen shad have been best. Very little bass activity. Launching is now possible from the lower ramp.
Sierra Lakes/Rivers Formcharts
BOCA LAKE--The inlet still fishing decent, according to Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee. He said evenings have been a bit better for bigger fish; try gold colors.
Big rainbows chasing minnows in the dam area and small Rapalas, gold with black backs, in rainbow and brown trout colors, have been working. Trolling still good back in the northwest corner of the lake.
CARSON RIVER (East, West)--The Sunday opening of winter catch-and release season was fairly well attended on the East Carson River. At least a dozen anglers worked the stream below Hangman's Bridge near Markleeville.
DAVIS, LAKE--Lake producing well despite yo-yoing weather changes. Troll Fire-Tiger Needlefish at 8 feet deep north of Honker. Fly fishermen getting action north of Jenkins, but expect to change patterns often to find out what the 'bows want.
DONNER LAKE--Lots of small rainbows being caught, try small gold Kastmasters in the morning, silver during the day. Best 'bow bite 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Keith Kerrigan with Sierra Anglers Guide Service in Truckee said small Mackinaw being caught jigging, but nothing over 8 pounds.
FRENCHMAN LAKE--Lake is down, but shore fishing continues to produce for most anglers. Both Lunker and Turkey points have been the fishing spot for much of the action. Try night crawlers or chartreuse Power Bait. Docks are out of the water now, but Frenchman Campground is still open for dry camping.
ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR--Action has slowed here. Denise Cole at Sly Park Resort in Pollock Pines said she fished Ice House early in the week and found the rainbows generally disinterested in anything they were offered. She said there were lots of fish, but lots of natural food in the lake have made the 'bows hard to catch.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR--Lake perked up a bit and Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort said he talked to anglers who had success casting green Woolly Buggers. The biggest rainbow was a nice one about 5 pounds.
JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR--Nothing very good here. Fishing at the dam and at the inlets definitely off.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Brown bite busting out and warm weather has plenty of anglers out as well. A 9 pounder topped the browns caught so far, with fish over 3 pounds coming in a distant second place. Denise Cole at Sly Park Resort said lots of planter rainbows also being caught.
PROSSER LAKE--Action slowed down some. Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said at the Prosser Creek inlet try nightcrawlers or red salmon eggs. Dark lures can work in the morning.
PYRAMID LAKE--With warm weather conditions, boaters were doing better over the weekend. Jason Molino at the Pyramid Lake Store in Sutcliffe said boats have been getting 10 to 15 fish per trip, getting the cutthroat at 45 to 50 feet deep. Molino said they weighed in two fish in the 6 1/2-pound range, both caught at Blockhouse. Fly fishermen have reported cutts up to 5 pounds, 5 ounces.
RED LAKE--A few anglers have been fishing here since the weather warmed up. Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort said a couple of anglers he talked to picked up limits, mainly a mix of brookies and few rainbows.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR--Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said anglers in boats have been catching small Mackinaw between the island and the dam. Best bet is jigging for the fish on the bottom at 60-feet deep.
LAKE TAHOE--While the number of anglers has dropped sharply, Mackinaw fishing has been good. Chuck Self with Chuck's Charter Fishing in Zephyr Cove said the fish are still scattered all over the place, but he has still been getting limits of macks, the biggest a 9 1/2 pounder. Among other lures, Lucky Craft have been good producers. Macks are still feeding on shrimp. Self said he has also been getting some rainbows running from 12 inches to 3 or 4 pounds.
TRUCKEE RIVER--Winter catch-and-release fishing kicked off on Sunday, Nov.16, and Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said fishing was pretty good. He said crayfish patterns, as well as emergers and duns have been working.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
AMERICAN RIVER--Trout season closed on Nov. 15th but river will remain open to catch and release fishing with artificial lures with a single, barbless hook.
BULLARDS BAR--Cool weather has put the trout bite back on with anglers drifting worms up at the inlet. The small spotted bass bite is picking again all around the lake on nightcrawlers and 4-inch plastic worms
CAMP FAR WEST--Launching is still off the old dirt ramp but boaters getting out are catching lots of bass. One angler reported picking up 25 fish with 18 from 2 to 2 1/2 pounds. He was using nightcrawlers and said the fish were hungry and looked a little skinny for their length.
COLLINS LAKE--Launching is good and so is the fishing. Trout are hitting worms for shore anglers at the bridge, the marina and the boat ramp area. Trollers are working near the dam at 10 to 15 feet with flasher/dodger and worm combos for trout to 3 pounds. Some nice catfish have been weighed in recently with one 9 1/2 pounder caught by a troller near the dam. A 7 1/2 pounder came in on stink bait from the bridge. Local guide Larry Hemphill hit the lake last week on an exploratory trip and caught 7 bass on worms and jigs.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR--Not much fishing pressure here lately with few current reports available.
FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR--Roads still open here but little pressure. Try for browns at the inlet area.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR--Lake level up with water pumped in from French Meadows. Try for browns up at the inlet.
LAKE OROVILLE--Launching is still 4-wheel drive only, "launch-at-your-own-risk", at the Spillway. Bass anglers getting out are doing well on drop-shot worms, jigs and tubes from 15 to 45 feet on main lake points with little water in the forks. McCabe's cove in the South Fork is completely dry. No word on coho or catfish but they should be biting, just not enough fishermen getting out with the launching situation.
ROLLINS LAKE--Lots of bass boats on the lake but few are reporting in. Lake level is rising 1 foot/day and launching is no problem at Long Ravine Campgrounds and Resort.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE--The water has come up a foot and the lake has turned over with a lot of trout activity up shallow. Trollers are using flasher/dodger and worm combos for limits of fish up to 14 inches. One kayaker checked in with a 7 pounder drifting Power Bait down by the dam.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR--Lake was planted last week and trollers should start checking out the inlet area for browns with a big Rapala.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY--Lots of cold water coming out of Lake Oroville has slowed down the bite. Big steelhead to 5 pounds are hitting trolled Sling Blade/nightcrawler combos near the walls and pipes. Bass has slowed down with minnows working the best.
-Western Outdoor News
www.wonews.com
http://www.sacbee.com/fishing_hunting/story/1412125.html
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Striped bass fishing was still pretty good, with some being caught in the Port of Sacramento, and the mouths of the American and Feather rivers. But the best action was occurring downstream below Clarksburg trolling and even on topwater lures. A few sturgeon were starting to show, as well, although it's still a bit early to be targeting them.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa--Catching a salmon in the open stretch between Red Bluff Diversion Dam and Knight's Landing, wasn't a sure thing, but at least 1 ocean fresh king was being put into many boats, and there were even some boats coming back with limits for all on board. Both Kwikfish and spinners were working, with most of the spin fishing action taking place on anchor from Colusa downstream. Most kings weighed between 15 and 25 pounds, but there were a fair number of fish being caught that weighed over 30 pounds.
EMERYVILLE--The combo trips continued to set the pace for crab limits with every trip maxing out. Rockfish numbers were the same, but lingcod counts fluctuated, with the usual count around 2 or 3 per boat, up to 7 per boat. The action came at the Farallon Islands for the bottomfishing, while the pots are scattered between the islands and the Golden Gate.
DELTA: SACRAMENTO RIVER side--Surface plugs like Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks in shad patterns are netting steady limits of stripers averaging 8 to 10 pounds but a few whoppers were also reported. Baits did well at Sandy Beach, Sandy Bar, and the lower Cache Slough. A few sturgeon are also being reported in the deeper waters during the end, slack, and beginning of the tide sets. Move to shallower water during the main portion of the tide set. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side-- Baits like anchovies, shad, and mudsuckers found stripers in the lower San Joaquin as did Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks, and Lucky Craft Sammie's in shad patterns. The topwater bite has been dropping off by 10 a.m. at which point switching over to shad colored swimbaits will produce fish 10-20 feet deep. Try Frank's Tract, False River or Fisherman's Cut.
AMADOR LAKE--Lake level is still low, but the bass fishing rates good, and the trout action is even better with all the heavy planting by lake managers. They have been putting 3,500 to 5,000 pounds of Donaldson's trout in the lake every week. Catch tactics for the trout never change; anglers need to get their offering in the top 2 feet. Power Bait, nightcrawlers filled with air, spoons and mini-jigs all worked. Bass are hitting topwater and worms, with fish to 5 pounds reported. A 20-pound catfish hit for an Ione man, the fish now residing in the store aquarium.
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
CHETCO RIVER--Salmon and steelhead are available here, though the river cleared and dropped quickly after Thursday's rain. Anglers fishing Kwikfish and roe found some mostly dark kings from the low water bridge to Social Security Bar and the occasional dimer steelhead. With not much rain the near future, the water will continue to drop out and fishing should get tough.
EEL RIVER--Getting low and froggy over the weekend and not a whole heck of a lot going on. Before this thing cranks up again, we're going to need some rain!
MAD RIVER--The first few steelhead of the year were taken this week by anglers tossing spinners and eggs by the hatchery and the Blue Lake Bridge. There were also some kings around, but they were all pretty dark - and have to be released anyway. Flows were down here over the weekend and not much is going to change until some weather hits.
REDWOOD CREEK--Super low and clear and in desperate need of some precipitation!
RUSSIAN RIVER--A trickle, but there should be some steelies ready to come in if the flows ever come up. Do a rain dance!
SMITH RIVER--The river came up on Thursday but was already low and clear again over the weekend. The king bite has been on the scratchy side mostly, with some dark fish hitting Kwikfish and roe in the early morning hours. Not much rain's in the forecast, so it may be a long, slow week here.
VAN DUZEN RIVER--Low, clear and not exactly what you'd call really "fishy" at the moment. Before making a long drive to fish up here, call local tackle shops to get an updated report on the conditions.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVER
KLAMATH RIVER, Happy Camp--The mid- and upper river produced some good steelheading last week in beautiful fall weather and few other anglers--a great combination. The steelies were a mix of halfpounders and adults to 6 pounds. They were biting a variety of lures and bait, including swinging beadhead assassins, Glo-Bugs under indicators, backtrolled Hot Shots and roe.
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City--Persistent and good steelheaders were managing from 1 to 4 steelhead a day to about 8 pounds, but they were really working for them. The best fishing was above Del Loma, but even there it was challenging fishing. Drifting nightcrawlers was a good way to go for non-fly fishers, while fly fishers swung assassins and dead-drifted copper Johns under indicators. Fishing on the lower end of the Trinity was tough, and it was difficult to intercept the relatively few fish moving through that portion of the river.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
AMERICAN RIVER--A very few steelhead were being hooked below the closure at Ancil Hoffman Park, with riffles at River Bend
ark (formerly Goethe Park), Watt Avenue, and Paradise Beach offering the best odds for hooking an adult to 6 pounds, or a halfpounder. Small caddis and May fly-imitating nymphs fished under an indicator are one way to go. Swinging steelhead streamers like assassins and brindle bugs are another. Non-fly fishers are drifting roe, 'crawlers, spinners like Blue Foxes and spoons like Little Cleos.FEATHER RIVER-- Steelheading was fair, with fly fishers doing better than guys throwing bait. Most of the action was on nymphs which imitate the Mayfly hatches, like a small beadhead flashback pheasant tail, or dark brown and black rubberlegs with a small nymph trailer. Drifted nightcrawlers and king mealworms were also producing a few adults to about 6 pounds and halfpounders.
FOLSOM LAKE--This is the time of year when baitfish bunch up into tight schools, and fishing has been good. Snglers who have been able to find the bait with electronics or, occasionally, with sharp eyes when they're being driven to the surface. Spoon for the deeper bass at the edges of drop-offs into channels at the entrances to the North and South forks. You might get lucky and hook a nice landlocked king salmon that way, too. A good thing, because trolling was still lousy.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding--Flows were down to a little over 5,000 cfs, and trout fishing slowed a bit. There were still some salmon spawning, mostly in the upper stretch of the river, and not many, so trout were still keying on egg patterns and Glo-Bugs.
North Saltwater
BERKELEY--Lingcod counts fluctuated, but the crabs and rockfish offered limit action every trip on the California Dawn. Captain James Smith said that Tuesday was the hot lingcod trip when 25 anglers caught 25 lingcod. The boat didn't run Saturday, but on Sunday, the action was back with limits of rockfish and crabs, and 12 lings from the Farallon Islands.
BODEGA BAY-- While crab counts have been low, the boats had mostly good days targeting bottomfish with limits the rule. Most of the action is coming from up at Fort Ross, with crab pots off the Russian River producing a few keeper Dungeness. The word is that the commercial boats were already stacking their gear after their first pull because of the low number of crabs per pot.
EUREKA--The shallow water was best for crabs, with sport anglers reporting limits of Dungeness. Even the guys who dropped right outside the jetties got nice crabs. The ocean laid down nicely on the weekend, and anglers headed out to the jetties to shore fish for rockfish, and to the beaches for redtail surfperch. Surf smelt runs are about over, according to Ben Williams at the Pro Sport Center.
FORT BRAGG--Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar had a great weekend of crabbing with limits for his 23 anglers on Sunday after an 18-hour soak in 50 feet of water north of Noyo Harbor. "We ran our string and were a little short, but were able to run a few extras for limits," said Thornton. Bottomfishing is still open south of Point Arena,
HALF MOON BAY--Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat reported a tough bite at the Farallon Islands for rockfish and lingcod, but he did find some willing rockfish around the North Island. In checking his crab pots, he found the third string off by itself was the big producer with 7 to 11 per pot. The others that were around the more traveled areas produced only 1 to 3 per pot. "Go figure," said Mattusch.
LOCH LOMOND--Captain Gordon Hough reported for Captain Mike Shimel on the Morning Star, noting that most of their efforts were for leopard sharks this week, with a sprinkling of striped bass in the count. On Saturday, a youth trip targeted "anything that bites," and the kids on board caught the usual bay plethora of sharks, rays, skates, etc. Top trip was Thursday when 12 anglers caught 14 leopard sharks and 3 striped bass at the Sisters.
MARTINEZ--Captain Jim Smith on the Happy Hooker struggled a little on Saturday but found his pace on Sunday and scored limits of striped bass for his 22 anglers, topped by a 25 pounder. Most hit bullheads.
SAN PABLO BAY--Sharks and striped bass are the top targets these days, and while not many are fishing the north end, the area around the Sisters seems to work for leopards and the occasional striped bass for anglers soaking squid, midshipmen and cut baits.
SUISUN BAY--The action was good for anglers targeting both striped bass and sturgeon, with emphasis on the bass. Bullheads were the top bait for stripers, but the sturgeon preferred eel, ghost and grass shrimp.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE--Though one angler "found the fish" at night mid-week on Brush Hogs, most are using minnows. Clear Lake Guide Service said by moving around the lake and hitting a variety of docks, piers, and shorelines he have been able to catch from 15 to 20 fish a day to 5 pounds. Most of the fish were solid 3 pounders as an average size.
LAKE BERRYESSA--Trout anglers in a local derby found fish in the Narrows, Steele Park Pipeline, and Monticello Dam areas drifting with live minnows, trolling to 25-35 feet, and using Kastmasters.
UPPER BLUE LAKE--Trout fishing was slow but the lake is due for a plant this week. By the end of the week fish should have spread out and surface trolling with Kastmasters or nightcrawlers should entice fish.
LAKE SONOMA-- Bass pro and Marine Unlimited manager, Scott Green said the water remains gin clear with no wind, making for a tough bite. As soon as the rain starts and stains up the water look for the fish to move shallow and feed up before winter. The landlocked steelhead have also been tougher to catch, trollers top lining white Jay Fair trolling flies or Yo-Zuri Pin minnows are only hooking one to three fish a day to 18 inches.
DELTA REGION
NORTHEASTERN AREA
BAUM LAKE--Fishing remains good in the mornings and evenings with good hatches of PMD's, and rusty spinners. Callibaetis cripples are working, as are caddis emergers. Nymph fishermen are doing well with pheasant tails with a flashback and copper Johns. Woolly buggers along the weedbeds also picked up fish. Lure wise, Panther Martins are doing well, but don't hesitate to try a Kastmaster. Bait fishermen using small 'crawlers and/or Power Bait did well, as did mealworms.
BRITTON LAKE--According to Vaughn's Sporting Goods the smallmouth and crappie bite is still good. Topwater action for the smallies is great in the evenings. Spinners are also working well in the evenings. Fly fishermen are using poppers or large dries.
CASSEL FOREBAY--Try rusty spinners and PMD's on the water in the mornings and evenings, with pheasant tails and copper Johns for nymphs. Caddis emergers or nymphs are also working. Panther Martins are working here, as are Kastmasters. Bait fishermen are doing best with small nightcrawlers, crickets, and salmon eggs.
EAGLE LAKE--The season's winding down and will close on Dec. 31, but 3- and almost 4-pound trout continue to be taken. Those choosing to launch their boat can but call ahead to see which ramps are open. Shoreline anglers have been doing very well fishing off Rocky Point at the entrance to Bucks Bay. Toss out a nightcrawlers under a bobber or float a 'crawler off the bottom. Many anglers have also been catching fish tossing out small jigs under a bobber and retrieving them slowly towards shore.
FALL RIVER (wild trout stream)--There's an excellent PMD hatch in the upper river in the mornings, also some trico's and rusty spinners on the water. Otherwise stick with the usual nymphs, pheasant tails, and woolly buggers.
HAT CREEK (wild trout section)--Good hatches of PMD's and trico's in the mornings below the riffle. Nymph fishermen are taking fish using caddis emergers, pheasant tails, and copper Johns. Bird's nests are also taking fish. Evening fishermen are using rusty spinners and callibaetis to take fish.
UPPER HAT CREEK--Bait fishermen did best with crickets, grasshoppers, and small 'crawlers. Lure fishermen using Rooster Tails doing well.
LEWISTON RESERVOIR--Trout bite slowed a bit with the full moon but look for it to pick right back up by the end of the week when Power Bait or a combination of white and red eggs will do the trick.
MCCLOUD RESERVOIR--The bite here is redhot with trout everywhere, gorging themselves on midges and caddis flies, which were hatching all afternoon, according to SC Guide Service. Though 14- to 17-inch trout were feeding on the surface, a few brown trout were taken deeper, in 30 feet of water.
PIT RIVER (wild trout stream)--Fishing has slowed somewhat with the weather, but rubber leg nymphs are still working, and there's fairly good hatches in the evenings fished best with a large caddis or stimulator pattern. Smaller, black bead-headed nymphs are also working.
LAKE SHASTA--The McCloud arm had a redhot trout bite with limits of fat fish from 15 to 20 inches being taken on Firetiger Cripplures and a few on Flee-Bittys.
LAKE SISKIYOU--An excellent place to fish as well. Limiting out on a combination of brook, brown and rainbow trout is the norm. Try trolling a Sep's dodger with a worm trailer thru the surface.
Motherlode
CAMANCHE LAKE--John Cunningham reports catfish has rebounded after a slow spell, the rains and recently warmer temps produced fish to 9 pounds, the action good. Top bets are fishing with anchovies and mackerel in China Gulch and East Cove. Trout fishing is good for shore anglers on both sides of the lake at the day use areas, Power Bait and inflated 'crawlers the top bet. Trollers fish upriver between 12 and 18 feet with a nightcrawler behind a dodger. On cloudy days, toplining is beginning to work; water temperatures cooled to 59 degrees.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR--Water levels stabilized, but fishing remains tough with few anglers trying. A few reported small bass on tap, the bite moving deeper. Morning topwater has faded, but rip baits are getting some attention. Trout and salmon trollers are few, but the usual dodger/'crawler or slow-rolled shad is a good bet.
LAKE McCLURE--The lake actually rose about a foot early last week, but stabilized later in the week. The marina is closed, so reports are hard to come by. Jim Nudo was working around the marina last weekend, and he said he talked with one angler who caught 2 rainbows while trolling McClure Point. Bass fishing is decent for small fish, worms and jigs the top bet now. There have been a few anglers trying for crappie, one catching a dozen or so fishing behind the marina.
LAKE McSWAIN--While the great weather brought out some anglers, the bite was kind of tough. A new plant from Calaveras Trout Farm on Nov. 14 didn't even boost the action. Dedicated efforts produced about a fish per rod. "I think it's was the full moon," said Marilyn Kern at the Marina.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR--Striped bass are hitting some artificial lures, but trollers using bait reported the best success. Catfish were a better bet, with the evening bite good for fish to 3 pounds, top baits mackerel, anchovies and chicken livers. The lake level is fairly stable, but still very low at 26-percent of capacity.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR--Shore action picked up for trout, with two plants in two weeks spurring the bite for anglers soaking Power Bait and 'crawlers combined with a marshmallow. Trout trollers picked up a few fish also, mostly on shad colored lures or bead spinners tipped with worms. Bass fishing rated slow, with the most action from small fish in the shallows.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR--Trout action stayed about the same with trollers getting a mix of planters and holdovers, the best action up above Green Springs and Black Creek arms. The fish are feeding on shad, so blue/silver or shad patterned lures, or the real thing in frozen shad have been best. Very little bass activity. Launching is now possible from the lower ramp.
Sierra Lakes/Rivers Formcharts
BOCA LAKE--The inlet still fishing decent, according to Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee. He said evenings have been a bit better for bigger fish; try gold colors.
Big rainbows chasing minnows in the dam area and small Rapalas, gold with black backs, in rainbow and brown trout colors, have been working. Trolling still good back in the northwest corner of the lake.
CARSON RIVER (East, West)--The Sunday opening of winter catch-and release season was fairly well attended on the East Carson River. At least a dozen anglers worked the stream below Hangman's Bridge near Markleeville.
DAVIS, LAKE--Lake producing well despite yo-yoing weather changes. Troll Fire-Tiger Needlefish at 8 feet deep north of Honker. Fly fishermen getting action north of Jenkins, but expect to change patterns often to find out what the 'bows want.
DONNER LAKE--Lots of small rainbows being caught, try small gold Kastmasters in the morning, silver during the day. Best 'bow bite 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Keith Kerrigan with Sierra Anglers Guide Service in Truckee said small Mackinaw being caught jigging, but nothing over 8 pounds.
FRENCHMAN LAKE--Lake is down, but shore fishing continues to produce for most anglers. Both Lunker and Turkey points have been the fishing spot for much of the action. Try night crawlers or chartreuse Power Bait. Docks are out of the water now, but Frenchman Campground is still open for dry camping.
ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR--Action has slowed here. Denise Cole at Sly Park Resort in Pollock Pines said she fished Ice House early in the week and found the rainbows generally disinterested in anything they were offered. She said there were lots of fish, but lots of natural food in the lake have made the 'bows hard to catch.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR--Lake perked up a bit and Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort said he talked to anglers who had success casting green Woolly Buggers. The biggest rainbow was a nice one about 5 pounds.
JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR--Nothing very good here. Fishing at the dam and at the inlets definitely off.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Brown bite busting out and warm weather has plenty of anglers out as well. A 9 pounder topped the browns caught so far, with fish over 3 pounds coming in a distant second place. Denise Cole at Sly Park Resort said lots of planter rainbows also being caught.
PROSSER LAKE--Action slowed down some. Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said at the Prosser Creek inlet try nightcrawlers or red salmon eggs. Dark lures can work in the morning.
PYRAMID LAKE--With warm weather conditions, boaters were doing better over the weekend. Jason Molino at the Pyramid Lake Store in Sutcliffe said boats have been getting 10 to 15 fish per trip, getting the cutthroat at 45 to 50 feet deep. Molino said they weighed in two fish in the 6 1/2-pound range, both caught at Blockhouse. Fly fishermen have reported cutts up to 5 pounds, 5 ounces.
RED LAKE--A few anglers have been fishing here since the weather warmed up. Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort said a couple of anglers he talked to picked up limits, mainly a mix of brookies and few rainbows.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR--Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said anglers in boats have been catching small Mackinaw between the island and the dam. Best bet is jigging for the fish on the bottom at 60-feet deep.
LAKE TAHOE--While the number of anglers has dropped sharply, Mackinaw fishing has been good. Chuck Self with Chuck's Charter Fishing in Zephyr Cove said the fish are still scattered all over the place, but he has still been getting limits of macks, the biggest a 9 1/2 pounder. Among other lures, Lucky Craft have been good producers. Macks are still feeding on shrimp. Self said he has also been getting some rainbows running from 12 inches to 3 or 4 pounds.
TRUCKEE RIVER--Winter catch-and-release fishing kicked off on Sunday, Nov.16, and Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said fishing was pretty good. He said crayfish patterns, as well as emergers and duns have been working.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
AMERICAN RIVER--Trout season closed on Nov. 15th but river will remain open to catch and release fishing with artificial lures with a single, barbless hook.
BULLARDS BAR--Cool weather has put the trout bite back on with anglers drifting worms up at the inlet. The small spotted bass bite is picking again all around the lake on nightcrawlers and 4-inch plastic worms
CAMP FAR WEST--Launching is still off the old dirt ramp but boaters getting out are catching lots of bass. One angler reported picking up 25 fish with 18 from 2 to 2 1/2 pounds. He was using nightcrawlers and said the fish were hungry and looked a little skinny for their length.
COLLINS LAKE--Launching is good and so is the fishing. Trout are hitting worms for shore anglers at the bridge, the marina and the boat ramp area. Trollers are working near the dam at 10 to 15 feet with flasher/dodger and worm combos for trout to 3 pounds. Some nice catfish have been weighed in recently with one 9 1/2 pounder caught by a troller near the dam. A 7 1/2 pounder came in on stink bait from the bridge. Local guide Larry Hemphill hit the lake last week on an exploratory trip and caught 7 bass on worms and jigs.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR--Not much fishing pressure here lately with few current reports available.
FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR--Roads still open here but little pressure. Try for browns at the inlet area.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR--Lake level up with water pumped in from French Meadows. Try for browns up at the inlet.
LAKE OROVILLE--Launching is still 4-wheel drive only, "launch-at-your-own-risk", at the Spillway. Bass anglers getting out are doing well on drop-shot worms, jigs and tubes from 15 to 45 feet on main lake points with little water in the forks. McCabe's cove in the South Fork is completely dry. No word on coho or catfish but they should be biting, just not enough fishermen getting out with the launching situation.
ROLLINS LAKE--Lots of bass boats on the lake but few are reporting in. Lake level is rising 1 foot/day and launching is no problem at Long Ravine Campgrounds and Resort.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE--The water has come up a foot and the lake has turned over with a lot of trout activity up shallow. Trollers are using flasher/dodger and worm combos for limits of fish up to 14 inches. One kayaker checked in with a 7 pounder drifting Power Bait down by the dam.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR--Lake was planted last week and trollers should start checking out the inlet area for browns with a big Rapala.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY--Lots of cold water coming out of Lake Oroville has slowed down the bite. Big steelhead to 5 pounds are hitting trolled Sling Blade/nightcrawler combos near the walls and pipes. Bass has slowed down with minnows working the best.
-Western Outdoor News
www.wonews.com
http://www.sacbee.com/fishing_hunting/story/1412125.html
