TOP PICKS
AMERICAN RIVER--The fishing opener on New Year's Day was pretty good for a few, but not so good for the majority. Pressure was heavy, especially in the upper part of the river above Sunrise Bridge, but activity tapered off quickly as folks became discouraged. Unfortunately, too many wading anglers went tromping over salmon spawning areas without any thought of the about-to-hatch eggs they were crushing. They also were hurting their own odds of catching a steelhead because the fish are very spooky in the low (900 cfs), clear flows. Driftboaters caught a few on backtrolled Hot Shots, with, and without a nightcrawler trailer. Drifting nightcrawlers out-fished other techniques for spin and conventional fishermen, while fly fishermen scored on swung leeches in black and brown.
RED LAKE--Good ice fishing reported here. Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station in Woodfords said this lake is first on his list of ice-fishing lake right now. He said there is about 8 inches of snow over four inches of ice, 2 inches of slush and another four inches of ice. Some nice brookies have been taken through the ice, a few limits reported.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Plenty of steelhead--and some coho--came in, but the river is low and clear again, flowing at 350 cfs over the weekend. Amazing drop-out after the rain! Catching a steelhead here now requires stealth, light tackle and small presentations, according to Nick Wheeler at Kings Sport & Tackle. A good number of big steelies close to 17 pounds landed. Check your fish: coho salmon have adipose-clipped fins, too, but must be released!
SMITH RIVER--Plunkers have been getting fish when it's high, and drifters one to three fish per boat when in shape. The river was flowing just a little under 12 feet at Jedidiah Smith but the color was beautiful and it's totally doable in a driftboat, according to guide Khevin Mellegers of Mad River Outfitters. Be there when it's right and you'll catch steelhead. "These next 4 or 5 weeks are peak time up here, and it's nice to see this one starting out strong," said Tony Sepulveda of Green Water Guide Service.
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City--Good fishing for winter run steelhead got even better toward the end of last week, and anglers were getting half a dozen hookups or more, per day. Nymphs like golden stones and copper Johns dead-drifted under indicators were working best, but drifting spoons, spinners, roe and nightcrawlers were producing well, too. Some of the adults being caught were quite big for the Trinity, ranging up to 11 pounds.
TOPAZ LAKE--Lake's New Year's Day opener saw rainbows on a hot bite and anglers landing lots of limits. Eagle Lake-strain rainbows up to nearly 4 pounds are the featured attraction. About the only thing that slows down the action is some bad weather. Lake level is up some and no boat launching problems reported.
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures, and you should always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed by low flows. The DFG's Low Flow Closure Hotline for north coast rivers is 707) 822-3164. For the Russian River and counties of Mendocino, Sooma and Marin, call (707) 944-5533. South Central Coast streams number is (831) 649-2886.
CHETCO RIVER-- The river was flowing at 9,350 cfs over the weekend and dropping, and predicted to continue dropping. Plunkers having varied success, according to WON Field Reporter David Pitts, at Nook, Miller and Redwood downriver to the South Water Tower. Fishing slow, but best bet are bright Spin 'n' Glos. Expected to be great fishing when in shape, which could be as you read this. Drift fishing will come into play as water levels readh 4,000 c fs, then side drift spawn sacks, roe or pink worms.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Unfishable in the legal fishing area from the mouth to the confluence with the South Fork since it blew out, and not looking fishable for some time to come. There were some nice kings and steelies in it when it was fishable early on.
EEL RIVER, South Fork--It has been fishable in the upper reaches this past week, but blown out again on Friday and still flowing at 2710 at 9.9 feet at Sylvandale on Sunday. But depending on snowmelt and any unforeseen storms, it could be fishable up by Leggett by this weekend. Call ahead.
GARCIA RIVER--Since flows on the Russian are too low, and that's the gauge for the other smaller coastal rivers, the Garcia will be closed to fishing this week due to low flows, barring any unforeseen water flows. Very few reports, but it was expected that some were fishing it this weekend.
GUALALA RIVER--Flows on the Russian dropped below 500 cfs at the Hacienda Bridge on Sunday, actually to 350 cfs, so this river should be closed by the weekend. It went up to 550 cfs on Sunday, but is expected to drop out quickly, according to Nick Wheeler at Kings Sport & Tackle in Guerneville. It was open for 3 or 4 days last week and there were some steelhead caught, but not many. The high water during Christmas would have been the best time, but the DFG was closed and didn't open it.
MAD RIVER--Open, but dismal looking season, so far, according to Khevin Mellegers of Mad River Outfitters. Slow fishing, and nobody knows what's going on. He said there's maybe 50 fish in the holding pen, but should be hundreds coming in. Last year was great, but this year it's very slow so far. Anglers are working the river, despite the high water and more rain is expected and they're looking at it spiking to 4,000 cfs, but could be in shape by the weekend.
MATTOLE RIVER--Open for fishing as of Jan. 1, but no reports. None at all, zero, zip, nada.
REDWOOD CREEK--It's still way blown out and nobody has been fishing it.
ROGUE RIVER--Still blown out and will be that way for some time, as rains keep coming in on a consistent basis.
VANDUZEN RIVER--Still blown out and unfishable. Keep an eye on the rains to see when it might drop out.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate--Temperatures dropped, but steelheading continued to be very good. The very few anglers on the water were catching 6 to8 adult steelhead to around 5 pounds, mostly on backtrolled Hot Shots with a worm trailer. Copper Johns and golden stones dead-drifted under indicators also accounted for some fish. The river was fishable down to Happy Camp, but call ahead.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek--The river below the South Fork was still high and muddy, but around Hawkins Bar working deep holes and the slower, shallow side of the river with weighted lures and bait scored a few traveling winter adult steelhead.
Sierra Lakes/Rivers Formcharts
BOCA LAKE--Some open water at the dam, but access is difficult. Lake mostly iced over now.
CAPLES LAKE--Lake iced over now, but there have been no reports of ice conditions or snow cover on the lake. Extreme caution is essential at this time for anyone thinking about trying ice fishing. Ice thickness here unlikely safe to walk on yet.
CARSON RIVER (East, West)--Not much going on these days. Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort near Markleeville said he's seen only a few vehicles parked along the river, but not many anglers are braving the cold weather temperatures. Single-digit temps are discouraging most. Sodaro said the river is frozen along the edges to the point of covering at least 50-percent of the water,
DAVIS, LAKE--Lake almost completely covered by ice and any remaining open water is not reachable. Ice is far from safe to walk on, so fishing here is done until ice reaches safe thickness. Single-digit nighttime temperatures should hasten the process as they occur.
DONNER LAKE--Lake iced around edges in the morning, and Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said the ramp is still closed by snow. Very little fishing activity right now.
FRENCHMAN LAKE--Lake iced over at the north end, but Terri Stancil at Wiggin's Trading Post in Chilcoot said there's no ice safe enough to walk on yet. Much of the south end of the lake has open water , but how far anglers can go around the lake is limited by snow. Road is plowed as far as the dam and that's about it. For latest lake and road conditions, call Wiggin's at (530) 993-4683.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR--Very fishable through the ice here, but access difficult due to snow. Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station in Woodfords said ice around the edges of the lake is at least six inches thick. Problem is the road in to the lake isn't plowed. Snowmobiles are about the only way in.
JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR--Access now is only by snowmobile, according to Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Very little going on here. Jeff Cole at Sly Park Resort said a few people have been going down to the lake to fish, but none have come back with anything to brag about. He said the lake level has come up some since the last snow/rain in the area.
LOON LAKE--Too much snow and ice for access now.
PROSSER LAKE--Lake iced over and any open water is out in the middle of the lake. Fishing here is about done for now.
PYRAMID LAKE--Cutthroat action has improved over the past couple weeks to the point that fish weighing 12.7 and 11.4 pounds, as well as good numbers of fish in the 7- to 8-pound range are beginning to show more frequently. Anglers fishing from boats, casting spoons from shore and fly fishing, have all been sharing in the better big-fish bite.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR--Road closed by too much snow and ice. Snowmobiles can get to the lake, but the covering of unstable ice likely limits any decent fishing opportunities.
LAKE TAHOE--High wind and very-cold weather temperatures have been the bane of Mackinaw action at times of late, but the bite bounces back when the wind drops and temperatures rise. Mickey Daniels at Mickey's Big Mack Charters said while he has had to cancel some trips recently, some good trips have been mixed in, too. Over the past couple weeks his clients have caught macks up to 7 pounds, as well as a whopper in the 11- to 12-pound range.
TRUCKEE RIVER--Too much ice on the Little Truckee for anglers now. Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said the main Truckee also has lots of ice and most decent fishing is downstream below Hirschdale. He said some determined fly fishermen are out there trying.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
FEATHER RIVER--There were a fair number of steelhead caught on the reopening of the section of river from the Highway 70 Bridge to the Table Mountain Bicycle Bridge on New Year's Day, but very few were adults and mostly weighed no more than a couple of pounds.. Drifting nightcrawlers seemed to be the most effective fishing technique, by far.
FOLSOM LAKE--Bass, at least some of them, seemed to alter their pattern last week by moving into shallow water--to try warm up perhaps. The bite was pretty good on Carolina-rigged plastic worms in shad and darker patterns. There were also a fair number of bass still holding in water about 15-20 feet deep at the edges of the river and creek channels. A few planter trout were being caught around the Granite Bay boat ramp.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Striper fishing tapered off to dead slow last week with a sudden drop in water temperature. A few schoolie-size stripers were caught by trollers putting in lots of hours in the Port of Sacramento.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Tisdale--Anglers switched gear and gears to fish for sturgeon which seemed to be about the best fishing bet. A pair of first time sturgeon fishermen caught 4 sturgeon near the old Tisdale boat ramp, on ghost shrimp/pileworms in combination. Two were keeper-size, between 46 and 66 inches long.
North Saltwater
BENICIA-- A little quiet, but there have been some good stories like the one from the angler who released an oversized sturgeon in Suisun Bay, and the night time dock security guy who caught a 20-pound striped bass on a cut bullhead. The cold water temperatures have kept the stripers and sturgeon action slow, but there were plenty of bait-stealing kingfish (white croakers) up near the fleet on the weekend.
BERKELEY--The charter fleet didn't report any trips. Pier fishing has been slow, but a few pile perch, jacksmelt and kingfish are showing.
BODEGA BAY-- The outside has been a little rough for most anglers, so not many tried for squid. The last trips were banner ones, with exhausting, all you wanted action and some surface flurries.
EMERYVILLE--The New Salmon Queen ran the landing's first giant squid trip of 2009, finding decent action that wore out the anglers on board even though the 11 on board only put 35 on the deck. That was plenty for them. Most came from 100 to 200 feet down. The spot was 11 miles southwest of the Farallones.
EUREKA--Very little activity on the ocean, with cold weather and rough seas creating the usual winter obstacles. Crab is an option on the outside, and red tail surfperch are possible in the bay, but the crab success has been poor. In fact, most of the commercial crabbers have pulled their pots and moved on to other options.
FORT BRAGG--Very quiet, with no reported charter trips. Currently open are sport crab, shore rockfish and surfperch, but very few anglers are trying.
HALF MOON BAY--Giant squid is still the focus, with Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat doing most of the fishing. His first trip last week produced plenty of hookups, but not so many over the rail Still, the group on board put 29 squid on, and they scored half limits of crabs. The second trip produced multiple hookups but only on on the deck. Increased wind made getting down tough.
MARTINEZ--Captain Jim Smith on the Happy Hooker may have figured out how to catch stripers when the water temps get below 47 degrees, a school of deep water stripers cooperating for him and his passengers on three trips last week. The action came from 50 to 60 feet of water, and produced fish to 22 pounds on mudsuckers and bullheads. Captain Steve Talmadge on Flash Fishing targeted sturgeon on New Years Eve, but cold temps meant suspended fish. A couple good pumps and a 10-pound striper that ate a bullhead were the reward.
SAN PABLO BAY--Some sturgeon action off the mouth of Sonoma Creek, the Napa River and near China Camp, but mostly just shakers. Top baits are grass shrimp and pile worms.
SUISUN BAY--The action was starting to pick back up as temps crept up, but the cold snap on the weekend put the bite back into slow motion. Top bets were fishing bullheads and mudsuckers in deep water. A few sturgeon reported, but no real consistent bites.
Motherlode
AMADOR LAKE--Trout fishing is the top draw, and with planters weighing 10 pounds going in, the chances of catching a big fish is good. The fish are right on top, so that's where your bait and lures need to be. Flycasters did well on Sunday, not sure what patterns though. .
CAMANCHE LAKE--Trout fishing rated "great" with good upriver action for trollers catching fish to 10 pounds. Top lures are Rapalas in firetiger and black/gold, but Ex-Cel, R-Lures, Sockeye Slammers and Needlefish also work in gold/red or silver/blue colors. Another top choice is a Sep's 2-inch Pro Scent Grub in orange or pearl. Top choices for shore anglers are the north low water launch island or the trout pond at South Shore. Power Bait, Nuggets and Eggs are top baits to rig with a sliding sinker outfit.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR--A great bet for trout with the big holiday plants. Shore anglers reported limits beached at Blue Oaks on Power Bait, salmon eggs and nightcrawlers. No trolling reports, but anglers who want to try should find good action on bead spinners, spoons and threaded 'crawlers behind a dodger.
LAKE McCLURE--The heavy plants have really boosted the trout bite, and guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing proved it by taking his daughters and one of their friends out for a trolling trip. "The fishing action was non-stop!" said Smith. A 4.5 hour effort produced 30 fish, 10 released and 3 lost. The action came on Ex-cel spoons in the 7- to 15-foot zone. While most were cookiecutter planters, there were some nice fish weighing nearly 2 pounds boated. The lake level has actually dropped more since Christmas, but Smith said there is no trouble launching.
LAKE McSWAIN--While no new plants came after New Years, anglers continued to do well, plus more anglers showed up than have been out to the lake in awhile. One regular reported limits every trip in the past 12, all his fish caught on Power Eggs in white, bubblegum and chartreuse. Also, two big fish reported, a 5 pounder caught at the handicap dock and a 6 pounder at the brushpile. Lake managers are planning maintenance, so the lake level will be dropped during the week, but levels will be returned to normal for the weekend.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR--Cold temps dampened the bite. Top bets for stripers were soaking cut baits or slow-trolling live minnows. Black bass also slowed, with the occasional decent largemouth hitting a jig, but smaller fish taking Carolina rigged worms best. Lake level rose slightly.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR--Easy limits for bank anglers with the winning combo a two-rod stamp, and one rigged with Power Bait or a marshmallow-nightcrawler combo and the other set up with a castable lure like a Rooster Tail or Kastmaster. Even boat anglers are beaching and still-fishing. Bass action rated slow, with fish sluggish due to cold temps. Top bass bets are small worms rigged drop-shot or split shot style.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR--The work is supposed to start on the dam, so water levels are drawn down as far as they will be for the maintenance. Launching was getting iffy, but now with all the hot action at surrounding lakes, anglers are ignoring this fishery anyway.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE-- Most anglers are reporting catching between two to seven fish a day on artificials. Rattle baits, swimbaits, worms, jigs, and heavy spinnerbaits are the baits of choice for those catching fish. Anglers using live bait found the bite a little slower but at least were picking up fish. Whether drop-shotting or swimming shiners under floats, anglers are catching 10 to 20 fish a day.
LAKE BERRYESSA-- Needlefish, small Cleo's, and Kastmaster trolled in 15 to 25 feet will help get the trout though many were marked and few taken. Try Spanish Flats, which has been good for trout and a few kokes. Bass guide Don Paganelli said the bass bite slowed a little with the colder temperatures but said spoons, worked over bait schools in the Narrows has been the best bet. Drop-shot and jigs worked on points in the main body and deep rock piles has also been good. If you are not getting any bites, slow down and use your electronics.
LAKE SONOMA--Few anglers were out, but try the main body from 30 to 60 feet down for trout with white streamer flies or Kastmasters. The bass bite has been helped by using jigs back in the upper arms.
DELTA REGION
SACRAMENTO RIVER side--Flounder are being taken by anglers using shrimp for sturgeon and stripers. The stripers were less plentiful but we have some great tides this week which will make fishing the shallows a good bet for stripers and sturgeon. Most of the stripers and sturgeon hooked this week were shakers. Montezuma Slough was a good bet for all of them but the flounder are as far up as the Rio Vista Bridge.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Jigs in darker colors like black/red or black/blue worked better for black bass. Just outside of the weed lines in the shallows in the Sand Mound, Taylor and other smaller sloughs are good areas to check out.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR--Bankies will find the deeper waters in the Hamilton Branch and Big Springs areas a better bet. Early morning is best for surface trolling white streamer flies and a little later, fishing deep waters jigging with spoons and Git-Zits, in 30 to 40 feet just off the bottom.
BAUM LAKE--The Lake has been really good for browns and rainbows from 15 to 20 inches with nightcrawlers, Power Baits, Kastmasters, Panther Martins, small nymphs, blue wing olives, and woolly buggers. Roads are open.
EAGLE LAKE--Closed on the last day of 2008 but the season ended with anglers finding near limits of fish that went from 2 to 5 pounds.
LEWISTON RESERVOIR--Power Bait or a combination of white and red eggs will help entice the trout here. No new reports though as few are here to pursue them.
PIT RIVER--It remains open to zero kill, barbless hooks, and artificials only from Lake Britton Dam downstream to Shasta Lake but no reports were available. Black AP's, golden stones, rubber-leg prince did well when last reported.
LAKE SHASTA-- Dart-headed worms in colors like FM No. 40, Senkos and tubes enticed bass which are going up to 3 pounds. A few spinners and reaction fish, too, but that bite has slowed. Anglers are targeting bass in 10 to 15 feet. Drizzle and clouds have helped both the bass and trout bite. The trout are right on the surface and limits are being taken on Red Magic Needlefish, Needlefish or Krocodile in chrome blue, UV and glow shad Cripplures, Hum Dingers in brass red or silver/black/white Hum Dingers in the shad patterns.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
AMERICAN RIVER--North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork in the Sierra District (Placer, Eldorado, Amador, Alpine counties) remain open to catch-and-release fishing with artificial lures with barbless hooks only. There have been few reports of any angling pressure.
BULLARDS BAR--Lake received a lot of rain last week but the concrete ramp is out of the water with launching on the rock bank below the ramp. 4-wheel is not required for launching. There has been very little pressure on the lake lately because of the weather but a few hardy souls when out last week and ran up to the upper end of the lake in the river arm and caught limits of rainbows, 12 to 14 inches, casting silver Kastmaster spoons.
CAMP FAR WEST--It was very cold and windy on Saturday and the only boater on the lake gave up early. Sunday the wind was down but heavy frost made conditions tough on the boaters out on the lake. The water has come up 6 to 7 feet and the 5 mph restriction has been removed, but personal watercraft are still banned from the lake until further notice. There was a big "Polar Bear Club" contingent on the lake for New Years' Day but angling pressure and success are otherwise very low.
COLLINS LAKE--Despite the frosty cold conditions, both trollers and shore anglers have been catching some nice trout, both browns and rainbows. All the fish reported have been caught on worms drifting in the coves or off the bank at the group area and the dam. Browns have been running up to 2 1/4 pounds. The lake has come up 6 feet with all the recent rain.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR--Trollers are still doing well on brown trout, 14 to 20 inches, and rainbows, 10 to 14 inches, on dodger/worm combos down near the marina and dam at 10 feet. Bank and dock anglers are still catching their share on a sliding bobber/worm set at 10 feet.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR--The Placer County Water Agency is plowing the road from Foresthill up to the junction of Eleven Mile Road, but a snowmobile or "extreme 4x4" is required to reach the lake. The water district runs a snow cat to the lake regularly and the 2 feet of snow on the road is packed. Georgetown Ranger Station reports that a group of bank anglers were casting silver spoons and catching stocked browns. It was raining at this elevation on Friday and some of the snow was melting and getting icy making for dangerous access. Only those people equipped with the right vehicles should try to get here but fishing can be good.
LAKE OROVILLE--Despite all the rain, the lake is still dropping. Construction is continuing on the concrete ramp extension at Bidwell Canyon and the project is scheduled to be completed in February, weather permitting. Bass and coho action has been good for those getting a boat in the water at the Spillway. All anglers are concentrating on coves and pockets with water trickling into the backs where bass to 4 1/4 pounds and coho to 2 1/2 pounds are chasing bait attracted to the nutrients being washed into the lake. Bass are hitting spinnerbaits, crankbaits, tubes and jigs in the top 15 feet in the main body and the Middle and North Forks. Coho are hitting live minnows at 5 to 10 feet or a trolled Sling Blade/minnow or nightcrawler combo at 30 to 35 feet near the running water, too. If you don't want to run very far, coho are hitting minnows and anchovies at the buoy line at the dam at 45 to 50 feet.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE--The launch ramp on the Hwy. 20 side of the lake is now clear because the rain melted all the snow. The concrete ramp is back in the water with the water level rising with all the precipitation. There have been no anglers on the lake recently so there are no current fishing reports available according to Scott's Flat Lake Recreation Area staff.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR--The road to the lake is clear but the access to the launch and parking are restricted. There has been no pressure on the lake according to the Foresthill Ranger Station.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR--4-wheelers have been making it up to the lake and shore anglers are catching a few rainbows on Power Bait and worms, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY--Steelhead success has slowed down to where 2 fish is a good day, but the fish are still running 5 to 7 pounds. Shore anglers at Wilbur Rd. or the Hwy. 162 Bridge are either working a minnow or nightcrawler on a bobber at 5 to 6 feet or inflating a nightcrawler and fishing the bottom. Trollers have had success with a silver Sling Blade using a minnow or nightcrawler on a 2-foot leader near the Hwy. 162 Bridge.
_ Western Outdoor News www.wonews.com
http://www.sacbee.com/fishing_hunting/stor...Fishing/Hunting
AMERICAN RIVER--The fishing opener on New Year's Day was pretty good for a few, but not so good for the majority. Pressure was heavy, especially in the upper part of the river above Sunrise Bridge, but activity tapered off quickly as folks became discouraged. Unfortunately, too many wading anglers went tromping over salmon spawning areas without any thought of the about-to-hatch eggs they were crushing. They also were hurting their own odds of catching a steelhead because the fish are very spooky in the low (900 cfs), clear flows. Driftboaters caught a few on backtrolled Hot Shots, with, and without a nightcrawler trailer. Drifting nightcrawlers out-fished other techniques for spin and conventional fishermen, while fly fishermen scored on swung leeches in black and brown.
RED LAKE--Good ice fishing reported here. Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station in Woodfords said this lake is first on his list of ice-fishing lake right now. He said there is about 8 inches of snow over four inches of ice, 2 inches of slush and another four inches of ice. Some nice brookies have been taken through the ice, a few limits reported.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Plenty of steelhead--and some coho--came in, but the river is low and clear again, flowing at 350 cfs over the weekend. Amazing drop-out after the rain! Catching a steelhead here now requires stealth, light tackle and small presentations, according to Nick Wheeler at Kings Sport & Tackle. A good number of big steelies close to 17 pounds landed. Check your fish: coho salmon have adipose-clipped fins, too, but must be released!
SMITH RIVER--Plunkers have been getting fish when it's high, and drifters one to three fish per boat when in shape. The river was flowing just a little under 12 feet at Jedidiah Smith but the color was beautiful and it's totally doable in a driftboat, according to guide Khevin Mellegers of Mad River Outfitters. Be there when it's right and you'll catch steelhead. "These next 4 or 5 weeks are peak time up here, and it's nice to see this one starting out strong," said Tony Sepulveda of Green Water Guide Service.
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City--Good fishing for winter run steelhead got even better toward the end of last week, and anglers were getting half a dozen hookups or more, per day. Nymphs like golden stones and copper Johns dead-drifted under indicators were working best, but drifting spoons, spinners, roe and nightcrawlers were producing well, too. Some of the adults being caught were quite big for the Trinity, ranging up to 11 pounds.
TOPAZ LAKE--Lake's New Year's Day opener saw rainbows on a hot bite and anglers landing lots of limits. Eagle Lake-strain rainbows up to nearly 4 pounds are the featured attraction. About the only thing that slows down the action is some bad weather. Lake level is up some and no boat launching problems reported.
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures, and you should always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed by low flows. The DFG's Low Flow Closure Hotline for north coast rivers is 707) 822-3164. For the Russian River and counties of Mendocino, Sooma and Marin, call (707) 944-5533. South Central Coast streams number is (831) 649-2886.
CHETCO RIVER-- The river was flowing at 9,350 cfs over the weekend and dropping, and predicted to continue dropping. Plunkers having varied success, according to WON Field Reporter David Pitts, at Nook, Miller and Redwood downriver to the South Water Tower. Fishing slow, but best bet are bright Spin 'n' Glos. Expected to be great fishing when in shape, which could be as you read this. Drift fishing will come into play as water levels readh 4,000 c fs, then side drift spawn sacks, roe or pink worms.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Unfishable in the legal fishing area from the mouth to the confluence with the South Fork since it blew out, and not looking fishable for some time to come. There were some nice kings and steelies in it when it was fishable early on.
EEL RIVER, South Fork--It has been fishable in the upper reaches this past week, but blown out again on Friday and still flowing at 2710 at 9.9 feet at Sylvandale on Sunday. But depending on snowmelt and any unforeseen storms, it could be fishable up by Leggett by this weekend. Call ahead.
GARCIA RIVER--Since flows on the Russian are too low, and that's the gauge for the other smaller coastal rivers, the Garcia will be closed to fishing this week due to low flows, barring any unforeseen water flows. Very few reports, but it was expected that some were fishing it this weekend.
GUALALA RIVER--Flows on the Russian dropped below 500 cfs at the Hacienda Bridge on Sunday, actually to 350 cfs, so this river should be closed by the weekend. It went up to 550 cfs on Sunday, but is expected to drop out quickly, according to Nick Wheeler at Kings Sport & Tackle in Guerneville. It was open for 3 or 4 days last week and there were some steelhead caught, but not many. The high water during Christmas would have been the best time, but the DFG was closed and didn't open it.
MAD RIVER--Open, but dismal looking season, so far, according to Khevin Mellegers of Mad River Outfitters. Slow fishing, and nobody knows what's going on. He said there's maybe 50 fish in the holding pen, but should be hundreds coming in. Last year was great, but this year it's very slow so far. Anglers are working the river, despite the high water and more rain is expected and they're looking at it spiking to 4,000 cfs, but could be in shape by the weekend.
MATTOLE RIVER--Open for fishing as of Jan. 1, but no reports. None at all, zero, zip, nada.
REDWOOD CREEK--It's still way blown out and nobody has been fishing it.
ROGUE RIVER--Still blown out and will be that way for some time, as rains keep coming in on a consistent basis.
VANDUZEN RIVER--Still blown out and unfishable. Keep an eye on the rains to see when it might drop out.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate--Temperatures dropped, but steelheading continued to be very good. The very few anglers on the water were catching 6 to8 adult steelhead to around 5 pounds, mostly on backtrolled Hot Shots with a worm trailer. Copper Johns and golden stones dead-drifted under indicators also accounted for some fish. The river was fishable down to Happy Camp, but call ahead.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek--The river below the South Fork was still high and muddy, but around Hawkins Bar working deep holes and the slower, shallow side of the river with weighted lures and bait scored a few traveling winter adult steelhead.
Sierra Lakes/Rivers Formcharts
BOCA LAKE--Some open water at the dam, but access is difficult. Lake mostly iced over now.
CAPLES LAKE--Lake iced over now, but there have been no reports of ice conditions or snow cover on the lake. Extreme caution is essential at this time for anyone thinking about trying ice fishing. Ice thickness here unlikely safe to walk on yet.
CARSON RIVER (East, West)--Not much going on these days. Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort near Markleeville said he's seen only a few vehicles parked along the river, but not many anglers are braving the cold weather temperatures. Single-digit temps are discouraging most. Sodaro said the river is frozen along the edges to the point of covering at least 50-percent of the water,
DAVIS, LAKE--Lake almost completely covered by ice and any remaining open water is not reachable. Ice is far from safe to walk on, so fishing here is done until ice reaches safe thickness. Single-digit nighttime temperatures should hasten the process as they occur.
DONNER LAKE--Lake iced around edges in the morning, and Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said the ramp is still closed by snow. Very little fishing activity right now.
FRENCHMAN LAKE--Lake iced over at the north end, but Terri Stancil at Wiggin's Trading Post in Chilcoot said there's no ice safe enough to walk on yet. Much of the south end of the lake has open water , but how far anglers can go around the lake is limited by snow. Road is plowed as far as the dam and that's about it. For latest lake and road conditions, call Wiggin's at (530) 993-4683.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR--Very fishable through the ice here, but access difficult due to snow. Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station in Woodfords said ice around the edges of the lake is at least six inches thick. Problem is the road in to the lake isn't plowed. Snowmobiles are about the only way in.
JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR--Access now is only by snowmobile, according to Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Very little going on here. Jeff Cole at Sly Park Resort said a few people have been going down to the lake to fish, but none have come back with anything to brag about. He said the lake level has come up some since the last snow/rain in the area.
LOON LAKE--Too much snow and ice for access now.
PROSSER LAKE--Lake iced over and any open water is out in the middle of the lake. Fishing here is about done for now.
PYRAMID LAKE--Cutthroat action has improved over the past couple weeks to the point that fish weighing 12.7 and 11.4 pounds, as well as good numbers of fish in the 7- to 8-pound range are beginning to show more frequently. Anglers fishing from boats, casting spoons from shore and fly fishing, have all been sharing in the better big-fish bite.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR--Road closed by too much snow and ice. Snowmobiles can get to the lake, but the covering of unstable ice likely limits any decent fishing opportunities.
LAKE TAHOE--High wind and very-cold weather temperatures have been the bane of Mackinaw action at times of late, but the bite bounces back when the wind drops and temperatures rise. Mickey Daniels at Mickey's Big Mack Charters said while he has had to cancel some trips recently, some good trips have been mixed in, too. Over the past couple weeks his clients have caught macks up to 7 pounds, as well as a whopper in the 11- to 12-pound range.
TRUCKEE RIVER--Too much ice on the Little Truckee for anglers now. Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee said the main Truckee also has lots of ice and most decent fishing is downstream below Hirschdale. He said some determined fly fishermen are out there trying.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
FEATHER RIVER--There were a fair number of steelhead caught on the reopening of the section of river from the Highway 70 Bridge to the Table Mountain Bicycle Bridge on New Year's Day, but very few were adults and mostly weighed no more than a couple of pounds.. Drifting nightcrawlers seemed to be the most effective fishing technique, by far.
FOLSOM LAKE--Bass, at least some of them, seemed to alter their pattern last week by moving into shallow water--to try warm up perhaps. The bite was pretty good on Carolina-rigged plastic worms in shad and darker patterns. There were also a fair number of bass still holding in water about 15-20 feet deep at the edges of the river and creek channels. A few planter trout were being caught around the Granite Bay boat ramp.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Striper fishing tapered off to dead slow last week with a sudden drop in water temperature. A few schoolie-size stripers were caught by trollers putting in lots of hours in the Port of Sacramento.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Tisdale--Anglers switched gear and gears to fish for sturgeon which seemed to be about the best fishing bet. A pair of first time sturgeon fishermen caught 4 sturgeon near the old Tisdale boat ramp, on ghost shrimp/pileworms in combination. Two were keeper-size, between 46 and 66 inches long.
North Saltwater
BENICIA-- A little quiet, but there have been some good stories like the one from the angler who released an oversized sturgeon in Suisun Bay, and the night time dock security guy who caught a 20-pound striped bass on a cut bullhead. The cold water temperatures have kept the stripers and sturgeon action slow, but there were plenty of bait-stealing kingfish (white croakers) up near the fleet on the weekend.
BERKELEY--The charter fleet didn't report any trips. Pier fishing has been slow, but a few pile perch, jacksmelt and kingfish are showing.
BODEGA BAY-- The outside has been a little rough for most anglers, so not many tried for squid. The last trips were banner ones, with exhausting, all you wanted action and some surface flurries.
EMERYVILLE--The New Salmon Queen ran the landing's first giant squid trip of 2009, finding decent action that wore out the anglers on board even though the 11 on board only put 35 on the deck. That was plenty for them. Most came from 100 to 200 feet down. The spot was 11 miles southwest of the Farallones.
EUREKA--Very little activity on the ocean, with cold weather and rough seas creating the usual winter obstacles. Crab is an option on the outside, and red tail surfperch are possible in the bay, but the crab success has been poor. In fact, most of the commercial crabbers have pulled their pots and moved on to other options.
FORT BRAGG--Very quiet, with no reported charter trips. Currently open are sport crab, shore rockfish and surfperch, but very few anglers are trying.
HALF MOON BAY--Giant squid is still the focus, with Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat doing most of the fishing. His first trip last week produced plenty of hookups, but not so many over the rail Still, the group on board put 29 squid on, and they scored half limits of crabs. The second trip produced multiple hookups but only on on the deck. Increased wind made getting down tough.
MARTINEZ--Captain Jim Smith on the Happy Hooker may have figured out how to catch stripers when the water temps get below 47 degrees, a school of deep water stripers cooperating for him and his passengers on three trips last week. The action came from 50 to 60 feet of water, and produced fish to 22 pounds on mudsuckers and bullheads. Captain Steve Talmadge on Flash Fishing targeted sturgeon on New Years Eve, but cold temps meant suspended fish. A couple good pumps and a 10-pound striper that ate a bullhead were the reward.
SAN PABLO BAY--Some sturgeon action off the mouth of Sonoma Creek, the Napa River and near China Camp, but mostly just shakers. Top baits are grass shrimp and pile worms.
SUISUN BAY--The action was starting to pick back up as temps crept up, but the cold snap on the weekend put the bite back into slow motion. Top bets were fishing bullheads and mudsuckers in deep water. A few sturgeon reported, but no real consistent bites.
Motherlode
AMADOR LAKE--Trout fishing is the top draw, and with planters weighing 10 pounds going in, the chances of catching a big fish is good. The fish are right on top, so that's where your bait and lures need to be. Flycasters did well on Sunday, not sure what patterns though. .
CAMANCHE LAKE--Trout fishing rated "great" with good upriver action for trollers catching fish to 10 pounds. Top lures are Rapalas in firetiger and black/gold, but Ex-Cel, R-Lures, Sockeye Slammers and Needlefish also work in gold/red or silver/blue colors. Another top choice is a Sep's 2-inch Pro Scent Grub in orange or pearl. Top choices for shore anglers are the north low water launch island or the trout pond at South Shore. Power Bait, Nuggets and Eggs are top baits to rig with a sliding sinker outfit.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR--A great bet for trout with the big holiday plants. Shore anglers reported limits beached at Blue Oaks on Power Bait, salmon eggs and nightcrawlers. No trolling reports, but anglers who want to try should find good action on bead spinners, spoons and threaded 'crawlers behind a dodger.
LAKE McCLURE--The heavy plants have really boosted the trout bite, and guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing proved it by taking his daughters and one of their friends out for a trolling trip. "The fishing action was non-stop!" said Smith. A 4.5 hour effort produced 30 fish, 10 released and 3 lost. The action came on Ex-cel spoons in the 7- to 15-foot zone. While most were cookiecutter planters, there were some nice fish weighing nearly 2 pounds boated. The lake level has actually dropped more since Christmas, but Smith said there is no trouble launching.
LAKE McSWAIN--While no new plants came after New Years, anglers continued to do well, plus more anglers showed up than have been out to the lake in awhile. One regular reported limits every trip in the past 12, all his fish caught on Power Eggs in white, bubblegum and chartreuse. Also, two big fish reported, a 5 pounder caught at the handicap dock and a 6 pounder at the brushpile. Lake managers are planning maintenance, so the lake level will be dropped during the week, but levels will be returned to normal for the weekend.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR--Cold temps dampened the bite. Top bets for stripers were soaking cut baits or slow-trolling live minnows. Black bass also slowed, with the occasional decent largemouth hitting a jig, but smaller fish taking Carolina rigged worms best. Lake level rose slightly.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR--Easy limits for bank anglers with the winning combo a two-rod stamp, and one rigged with Power Bait or a marshmallow-nightcrawler combo and the other set up with a castable lure like a Rooster Tail or Kastmaster. Even boat anglers are beaching and still-fishing. Bass action rated slow, with fish sluggish due to cold temps. Top bass bets are small worms rigged drop-shot or split shot style.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR--The work is supposed to start on the dam, so water levels are drawn down as far as they will be for the maintenance. Launching was getting iffy, but now with all the hot action at surrounding lakes, anglers are ignoring this fishery anyway.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE-- Most anglers are reporting catching between two to seven fish a day on artificials. Rattle baits, swimbaits, worms, jigs, and heavy spinnerbaits are the baits of choice for those catching fish. Anglers using live bait found the bite a little slower but at least were picking up fish. Whether drop-shotting or swimming shiners under floats, anglers are catching 10 to 20 fish a day.
LAKE BERRYESSA-- Needlefish, small Cleo's, and Kastmaster trolled in 15 to 25 feet will help get the trout though many were marked and few taken. Try Spanish Flats, which has been good for trout and a few kokes. Bass guide Don Paganelli said the bass bite slowed a little with the colder temperatures but said spoons, worked over bait schools in the Narrows has been the best bet. Drop-shot and jigs worked on points in the main body and deep rock piles has also been good. If you are not getting any bites, slow down and use your electronics.
LAKE SONOMA--Few anglers were out, but try the main body from 30 to 60 feet down for trout with white streamer flies or Kastmasters. The bass bite has been helped by using jigs back in the upper arms.
DELTA REGION
SACRAMENTO RIVER side--Flounder are being taken by anglers using shrimp for sturgeon and stripers. The stripers were less plentiful but we have some great tides this week which will make fishing the shallows a good bet for stripers and sturgeon. Most of the stripers and sturgeon hooked this week were shakers. Montezuma Slough was a good bet for all of them but the flounder are as far up as the Rio Vista Bridge.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Jigs in darker colors like black/red or black/blue worked better for black bass. Just outside of the weed lines in the shallows in the Sand Mound, Taylor and other smaller sloughs are good areas to check out.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR--Bankies will find the deeper waters in the Hamilton Branch and Big Springs areas a better bet. Early morning is best for surface trolling white streamer flies and a little later, fishing deep waters jigging with spoons and Git-Zits, in 30 to 40 feet just off the bottom.
BAUM LAKE--The Lake has been really good for browns and rainbows from 15 to 20 inches with nightcrawlers, Power Baits, Kastmasters, Panther Martins, small nymphs, blue wing olives, and woolly buggers. Roads are open.
EAGLE LAKE--Closed on the last day of 2008 but the season ended with anglers finding near limits of fish that went from 2 to 5 pounds.
LEWISTON RESERVOIR--Power Bait or a combination of white and red eggs will help entice the trout here. No new reports though as few are here to pursue them.
PIT RIVER--It remains open to zero kill, barbless hooks, and artificials only from Lake Britton Dam downstream to Shasta Lake but no reports were available. Black AP's, golden stones, rubber-leg prince did well when last reported.
LAKE SHASTA-- Dart-headed worms in colors like FM No. 40, Senkos and tubes enticed bass which are going up to 3 pounds. A few spinners and reaction fish, too, but that bite has slowed. Anglers are targeting bass in 10 to 15 feet. Drizzle and clouds have helped both the bass and trout bite. The trout are right on the surface and limits are being taken on Red Magic Needlefish, Needlefish or Krocodile in chrome blue, UV and glow shad Cripplures, Hum Dingers in brass red or silver/black/white Hum Dingers in the shad patterns.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
AMERICAN RIVER--North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork in the Sierra District (Placer, Eldorado, Amador, Alpine counties) remain open to catch-and-release fishing with artificial lures with barbless hooks only. There have been few reports of any angling pressure.
BULLARDS BAR--Lake received a lot of rain last week but the concrete ramp is out of the water with launching on the rock bank below the ramp. 4-wheel is not required for launching. There has been very little pressure on the lake lately because of the weather but a few hardy souls when out last week and ran up to the upper end of the lake in the river arm and caught limits of rainbows, 12 to 14 inches, casting silver Kastmaster spoons.
CAMP FAR WEST--It was very cold and windy on Saturday and the only boater on the lake gave up early. Sunday the wind was down but heavy frost made conditions tough on the boaters out on the lake. The water has come up 6 to 7 feet and the 5 mph restriction has been removed, but personal watercraft are still banned from the lake until further notice. There was a big "Polar Bear Club" contingent on the lake for New Years' Day but angling pressure and success are otherwise very low.
COLLINS LAKE--Despite the frosty cold conditions, both trollers and shore anglers have been catching some nice trout, both browns and rainbows. All the fish reported have been caught on worms drifting in the coves or off the bank at the group area and the dam. Browns have been running up to 2 1/4 pounds. The lake has come up 6 feet with all the recent rain.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR--Trollers are still doing well on brown trout, 14 to 20 inches, and rainbows, 10 to 14 inches, on dodger/worm combos down near the marina and dam at 10 feet. Bank and dock anglers are still catching their share on a sliding bobber/worm set at 10 feet.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR--The Placer County Water Agency is plowing the road from Foresthill up to the junction of Eleven Mile Road, but a snowmobile or "extreme 4x4" is required to reach the lake. The water district runs a snow cat to the lake regularly and the 2 feet of snow on the road is packed. Georgetown Ranger Station reports that a group of bank anglers were casting silver spoons and catching stocked browns. It was raining at this elevation on Friday and some of the snow was melting and getting icy making for dangerous access. Only those people equipped with the right vehicles should try to get here but fishing can be good.
LAKE OROVILLE--Despite all the rain, the lake is still dropping. Construction is continuing on the concrete ramp extension at Bidwell Canyon and the project is scheduled to be completed in February, weather permitting. Bass and coho action has been good for those getting a boat in the water at the Spillway. All anglers are concentrating on coves and pockets with water trickling into the backs where bass to 4 1/4 pounds and coho to 2 1/2 pounds are chasing bait attracted to the nutrients being washed into the lake. Bass are hitting spinnerbaits, crankbaits, tubes and jigs in the top 15 feet in the main body and the Middle and North Forks. Coho are hitting live minnows at 5 to 10 feet or a trolled Sling Blade/minnow or nightcrawler combo at 30 to 35 feet near the running water, too. If you don't want to run very far, coho are hitting minnows and anchovies at the buoy line at the dam at 45 to 50 feet.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE--The launch ramp on the Hwy. 20 side of the lake is now clear because the rain melted all the snow. The concrete ramp is back in the water with the water level rising with all the precipitation. There have been no anglers on the lake recently so there are no current fishing reports available according to Scott's Flat Lake Recreation Area staff.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR--The road to the lake is clear but the access to the launch and parking are restricted. There has been no pressure on the lake according to the Foresthill Ranger Station.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR--4-wheelers have been making it up to the lake and shore anglers are catching a few rainbows on Power Bait and worms, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY--Steelhead success has slowed down to where 2 fish is a good day, but the fish are still running 5 to 7 pounds. Shore anglers at Wilbur Rd. or the Hwy. 162 Bridge are either working a minnow or nightcrawler on a bobber at 5 to 6 feet or inflating a nightcrawler and fishing the bottom. Trollers have had success with a silver Sling Blade using a minnow or nightcrawler on a 2-foot leader near the Hwy. 162 Bridge.
_ Western Outdoor News www.wonews.com
http://www.sacbee.com/fishing_hunting/stor...Fishing/Hunting
