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- Feb 14, 2009
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TOP PICKS
RUSSIAN RIVER--The first of the spring shad showed up on Friday and Saturday evenings, with "2 or 3" fish for anglers trying below Johnson's and down at Guernewood and Monte Rio. River is in perfect shape, and the mouth is open, so barring anything unforeseen, the shad run should build from here and be very good within a few weeks. Only 1100 steelies made it to both hatcheries this year, down from 6500 last year. Dismal!!!
AMERICAN RIVER--Even though flows have been increased once again, to 4,500 cfs, this has not seemed to have encouraged many striped bass to enter the American River, judging by the lack of success by anglers. A bright spot, though discovered only by a few, is a fresh run of small steelhead which have been providing good fishing for a few anglers dead-drifting small caddis-like nymphs like hares' ears around Sailor Bar. The higher flows make for tougher fishing conditions, but are ideal for hardware throwers and bait drifters.
FEATHER RIVER-- Striper fishing slowed in the lower reaches of the river, but some nice fish, a few to over 20 pounds, were caught from the Bear River to Shanghai Bend. Some shad have started showing up, too, even though it seems to be somewhat early. With flows below the Outlet at 3,500 cfs, shad will be able to go up the Yuba River.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Striper fishing was good for some, not so good for others, but it was clear that there are plenty of fish around. Bankies were catching mostly schoolies behind Raley Field, Miller Park, and Bryte Beach. Boaters worked the river from Freeport to above Verona, trolling deep-divers with a worm trailer, drifting minnows and soaking bait. While most fish weighed under 10 pounds, there were increasing numbers of fig females being caught. More and more anglers are releasing the bigger fish, recognizing they are the spawners responsible for the future of the striped bass fishery
EMERYVILLE--A great week of halibut fishing, although the counts dropped by the weekend when tides started getting faster and pressure greater. Some big ones caught on the New Huck Finn including 21 and 25 pounders. All the boats are still trolling, since live bait still hasn't been of satisfactory quality to put in the receivers. Also a mix of striped bass coming in on the trips.
COLLINS LAKE--Trout fishing action is still off the charts with all the weekly plants. Trollers and shore anglers are doing equally as well and limits are no problem. Jim Cooper landed an 11 3/4-pound rainbow trolling an orange Flee Bitty in the east side bay where most of the big fish have been caught lately. Shore anglers are doing well on various colors of Power Bait at the dam
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures. Always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed or no reports. 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. Many streams closed, and others change to artificial/barbless only on March 31 and others on April 25.
ROGUE RIVER--"The Rogue is dead, and has been for more than a week now," said David Pitts, WON's Field Reporter who lives near the river. "High winds are killing it, and even boats using two anchors and drift socks are still getting hammered." To catch spring kings, boats need to anchor in a specific "travel lane" to catch fish.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER--Fishing the upper end of the Klamath the first few miles below Iron Gate Dam continued to be very good, even though there were very few anglers other than locals on the water. Hot Shot/worm combinations, drifting bait, and swinging flies or dead-drifting nymphs under indicators all were effective.
TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City--Releases to the river at Lewiston will peak at 4,500 cfs by the beginning of May, pretty much putting fishing out of business until flows start dropping back and reach 2,000 cfs the beginning of June, making the first spring run Chinook salmon available to fishermen. The river demands caution at any level, but it is particularly hazardous at these high springtime flows.
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RUSSIAN RIVER--The first of the spring shad showed up on Friday and Saturday evenings, with "2 or 3" fish for anglers trying below Johnson's and down at Guernewood and Monte Rio. River is in perfect shape, and the mouth is open, so barring anything unforeseen, the shad run should build from here and be very good within a few weeks. Only 1100 steelies made it to both hatcheries this year, down from 6500 last year. Dismal!!!
AMERICAN RIVER--Even though flows have been increased once again, to 4,500 cfs, this has not seemed to have encouraged many striped bass to enter the American River, judging by the lack of success by anglers. A bright spot, though discovered only by a few, is a fresh run of small steelhead which have been providing good fishing for a few anglers dead-drifting small caddis-like nymphs like hares' ears around Sailor Bar. The higher flows make for tougher fishing conditions, but are ideal for hardware throwers and bait drifters.
FEATHER RIVER-- Striper fishing slowed in the lower reaches of the river, but some nice fish, a few to over 20 pounds, were caught from the Bear River to Shanghai Bend. Some shad have started showing up, too, even though it seems to be somewhat early. With flows below the Outlet at 3,500 cfs, shad will be able to go up the Yuba River.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Striper fishing was good for some, not so good for others, but it was clear that there are plenty of fish around. Bankies were catching mostly schoolies behind Raley Field, Miller Park, and Bryte Beach. Boaters worked the river from Freeport to above Verona, trolling deep-divers with a worm trailer, drifting minnows and soaking bait. While most fish weighed under 10 pounds, there were increasing numbers of fig females being caught. More and more anglers are releasing the bigger fish, recognizing they are the spawners responsible for the future of the striped bass fishery
EMERYVILLE--A great week of halibut fishing, although the counts dropped by the weekend when tides started getting faster and pressure greater. Some big ones caught on the New Huck Finn including 21 and 25 pounders. All the boats are still trolling, since live bait still hasn't been of satisfactory quality to put in the receivers. Also a mix of striped bass coming in on the trips.
COLLINS LAKE--Trout fishing action is still off the charts with all the weekly plants. Trollers and shore anglers are doing equally as well and limits are no problem. Jim Cooper landed an 11 3/4-pound rainbow trolling an orange Flee Bitty in the east side bay where most of the big fish have been caught lately. Shore anglers are doing well on various colors of Power Bait at the dam
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures. Always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed or no reports. 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. Many streams closed, and others change to artificial/barbless only on March 31 and others on April 25.
ROGUE RIVER--"The Rogue is dead, and has been for more than a week now," said David Pitts, WON's Field Reporter who lives near the river. "High winds are killing it, and even boats using two anchors and drift socks are still getting hammered." To catch spring kings, boats need to anchor in a specific "travel lane" to catch fish.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER--Fishing the upper end of the Klamath the first few miles below Iron Gate Dam continued to be very good, even though there were very few anglers other than locals on the water. Hot Shot/worm combinations, drifting bait, and swinging flies or dead-drifting nymphs under indicators all were effective.
TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City--Releases to the river at Lewiston will peak at 4,500 cfs by the beginning of May, pretty much putting fishing out of business until flows start dropping back and reach 2,000 cfs the beginning of June, making the first spring run Chinook salmon available to fishermen. The river demands caution at any level, but it is particularly hazardous at these high springtime flows.
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