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TOP PICKS
FOLSOM LAKE--Bass have been streaming steadily to the shallows as the spawning urge gets ever stronger. They're in newly-flooded brush and off points. Their internal clocks are telling them spawning season is just around the corner. The fishing pattern has been shifty with the shifting weather. The reaction bite is just beginning, but turns off with unsettled weather, such as occurred over the weekend when Robo-Worms in Aaron's Magic garnered more bites than crankbaits. Landlocked king salmon provided some thrills for trollers, and a few fish weighing over 4 pounds were caught in front of Dyke 8 on grub hootchies fished 20 to 30 feet deep.
RANCHO SECO LAKE--Even though quite a few trout exceeding 5 pounds were taken at the recent derby, there are still plenty swimming around, along with plenty of smaller fish, and they are willing biters. The usual baits like Power Bait and nightcrawlers will catch fish, but the folks paddling around in float tubes, pontoon boats and kayaks are the ones doing best by slowly dragging a variety of lures and baits including Kastmasters, Rapalas, and nightcrawlers, and plastic grubs.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Sturgeon fishing was still excellent last week with fish being hooked from Freeport to above Verona, even at Bryte Beach and Sand Cove. Striped bass fishing was still inconsistent, though, with debris-laden, dirty and variable flows making for difficult fishing conditions, especially from the bank. Most anglers in the know agree, though, the fish are there--if you can just get to them without getting too much junk fouling your line. It's definitely a bait affair, though.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Great conditions, and not detrimentally impacted by the rain. It's been good fishing all week, even for fly guys who are finding offerings in orange red work best, according to Nick Wheeler at Kings Sport & Tackle in Guerneville. He and owner Steve Jackson fished Steelhead Beach to Johnson's last week and hooked 4 and landed two, bluebacks and adults. It seems there's more wild fish around right now than hatchery fish, and a lot of beautiful "4- to 5-pound bluebacks that are chrome and beautiful".
The Warm Springs Hatchery only go 640-650 fish, and Coyote only about 300 as of March 13, Wheeler said, and they should have over 7,000 combined by this time of year, another indication the run is down.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Mackinaw action could be turning on here. Jeff Cole at Sly Park Resort said a nice 12-pound mack was caught by Sarah Orman from Placerville, who was trolling a Kastmaster at about 50 feet deep. Also, in spots around the lake where water is warming some, bass action has started to pick up. Trout anglers have been getting fair numbers of planter and holdover rainbows. Cole said the lake is scheduled to be planted with brown trout within the week.
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, Sonoma and Marin, call (707) 944-5533. South Central Coast streams number is (831) 649-2886. For the Eel and other North Coast rivers, call (707) 822-3164. Many streams close, and others change to artificial/barbless only on March 31.
CHETCO RIVER--The quick-moving storm that blew through colored up the water and brought in a few more bluebacks, but they're outnumbered by the downrunner adult, spawned-out steelies. Some fishing action, but it's definitely on its last legs.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Way blown out and won't be fishable for a long time. By then, expect most all the steelhead to be gone. Say bye-bye!!!
EEL RIVER, South Fork-- Guide Marc Nimitz of Pipe Creek Guide Service said the South Fork was a fishable color on Saturday above Benbow, but was still on the high side. He had no reports, since he didn't know of anybody fishing it--they were going to wait until Monday, but then the weekend storm it it back out again. The river may come back in later in the week, he said.
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FOLSOM LAKE--Bass have been streaming steadily to the shallows as the spawning urge gets ever stronger. They're in newly-flooded brush and off points. Their internal clocks are telling them spawning season is just around the corner. The fishing pattern has been shifty with the shifting weather. The reaction bite is just beginning, but turns off with unsettled weather, such as occurred over the weekend when Robo-Worms in Aaron's Magic garnered more bites than crankbaits. Landlocked king salmon provided some thrills for trollers, and a few fish weighing over 4 pounds were caught in front of Dyke 8 on grub hootchies fished 20 to 30 feet deep.
RANCHO SECO LAKE--Even though quite a few trout exceeding 5 pounds were taken at the recent derby, there are still plenty swimming around, along with plenty of smaller fish, and they are willing biters. The usual baits like Power Bait and nightcrawlers will catch fish, but the folks paddling around in float tubes, pontoon boats and kayaks are the ones doing best by slowly dragging a variety of lures and baits including Kastmasters, Rapalas, and nightcrawlers, and plastic grubs.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Sturgeon fishing was still excellent last week with fish being hooked from Freeport to above Verona, even at Bryte Beach and Sand Cove. Striped bass fishing was still inconsistent, though, with debris-laden, dirty and variable flows making for difficult fishing conditions, especially from the bank. Most anglers in the know agree, though, the fish are there--if you can just get to them without getting too much junk fouling your line. It's definitely a bait affair, though.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Great conditions, and not detrimentally impacted by the rain. It's been good fishing all week, even for fly guys who are finding offerings in orange red work best, according to Nick Wheeler at Kings Sport & Tackle in Guerneville. He and owner Steve Jackson fished Steelhead Beach to Johnson's last week and hooked 4 and landed two, bluebacks and adults. It seems there's more wild fish around right now than hatchery fish, and a lot of beautiful "4- to 5-pound bluebacks that are chrome and beautiful".
The Warm Springs Hatchery only go 640-650 fish, and Coyote only about 300 as of March 13, Wheeler said, and they should have over 7,000 combined by this time of year, another indication the run is down.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Mackinaw action could be turning on here. Jeff Cole at Sly Park Resort said a nice 12-pound mack was caught by Sarah Orman from Placerville, who was trolling a Kastmaster at about 50 feet deep. Also, in spots around the lake where water is warming some, bass action has started to pick up. Trout anglers have been getting fair numbers of planter and holdover rainbows. Cole said the lake is scheduled to be planted with brown trout within the week.
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, Sonoma and Marin, call (707) 944-5533. South Central Coast streams number is (831) 649-2886. For the Eel and other North Coast rivers, call (707) 822-3164. Many streams close, and others change to artificial/barbless only on March 31.
CHETCO RIVER--The quick-moving storm that blew through colored up the water and brought in a few more bluebacks, but they're outnumbered by the downrunner adult, spawned-out steelies. Some fishing action, but it's definitely on its last legs.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Way blown out and won't be fishable for a long time. By then, expect most all the steelhead to be gone. Say bye-bye!!!
EEL RIVER, South Fork-- Guide Marc Nimitz of Pipe Creek Guide Service said the South Fork was a fishable color on Saturday above Benbow, but was still on the high side. He had no reports, since he didn't know of anybody fishing it--they were going to wait until Monday, but then the weekend storm it it back out again. The river may come back in later in the week, he said.
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