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TOP PICKS
LAKE PARDEE-- The trout opener on Friday was red hot for almost everyone who fished, and while crowds on Saturday were lighter than last year, the fishing was still sizzling. They were still dumping truckloads of trout in on Saturday, and there were trout on every stringer, including many in the 2-, 3- and even 4-pound class. Lures were a good choice early in the day, but the best offering was Power Bait or Gulp! in almost any color combination.
RUSSIAN RIVER--The rain last week was just enough to bring it up and color it, bringing in more steelhead and spreading them out throughout the system, according to Kevin Quigley of the Outdoor Pro Shop in Rhonert Park. The fish are all the way up to Cloverdale and anglers are doing well on bait or spoons. The fish are running about 7 pounds, but plenty of them are in the 10- to 12-pound range, too. Last minute report: Sunday night rain didn't budge the river very much, but Tuesday nights storm is expected to possibly blow it out for a day, but will maintain good fishing conditions.
FEATHER RIVER--A few steelhead were still being caught in the Low Flow Section, but very few anglers were trying for them. A better bet was to fish for striped bass attracted upriver by the annual dumping of yearling steelhead into the Feather by DFG. While fish were being caught on rainbow-patterned shallow running plugs from Shanghai Bend to the mouth at Verona, the best action was just below the Shanghai Rapids, because the striped bass can go no farther upstream because of low flows. For the same reason, leave the boat at home.
CAPLES LAKE--Ice fishing has been good here on days when weather is decent. Anglers have been catching some nice Mackinaw through the ice, although none like the 10 pounder caught by Jackson fisherman John Cornell. As good reports come in, the winter survival of fish in the drained-down lake seems more of a possibility.
CROCKETT--The Morning Star ran three trips to find plenty of action, but not many keepers. On Tuesday, 2 keeper stripers were the take, while Thursday produced a 69-inch oversized sturgeon, released. Saturday finally found a keeper sturgeon. All trips targeted the flats around the Pumphouse. "The bay is really salty," said Captain Gordon Hough. "These rains will only help. There is a lot of competition for the bait out there." Fresh water influx will help flush out the bullheads, rays and sharks and give the sturgeon a chance to find a bait.
DELTA, SACRAMENTO RIVER side-- This week the incoming tides in the mornings will be the best tides. By the weekend, it will still be better in the morning but it will be an outgoing tide, so fish in 20 to 25 feet. Try the outer edges of Grizzly, Honker Bay or the flats below Chain Island, though fish are spread out.
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.
CHETCO RIVER--Very low and clear as of press time, flowing at 800 cfs and the one or two driftboats that try it a day are scraping bottom. May be over for the year, but with a good rain--and that may have happened by now--there might be late fish showing up. Forecast for the spring salmon run is dismal, too, according WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts. But rain was in the forecast!
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Only an inch or rain hit here last week, not enough to bring the rivers up, so it was still low and clear but with more color earlier in the week. That may have changed since presstime on Sunday, however. Some of the upper sections produced some good fishing for a couple of local driftboat pluggers, resulting in some big, chromer steelies. Rain was expected, and that will improve conditions dramatically, according to guide Marc Nimitz of Pipe Creek Guide Service. Pressure is light and fish are in the river. Last minute word: Expected to be blown out by Tuesday sotrm.
EEL RIVER, South Fork--The light rain last week brought it up a bit and colored it, but it dropped out again quickly. Some new fish should be on the way after that rain, and the current rains that are in the forecast might have helped out a bunch. Call ahead. Last minute report: Should get good rain Tuesday, might be fishable by weekend.
GARCIA RIVER--Closed due to low flows, but that might have changed with the rain. Call low flow line.
MAD RIVER--Still open to fishing, but low and clear and very few trying until weekend rains, still coming down at press time. Could be good.
MATTOLE RIVER--Closed due to low flows at presstime but it was raining, so that all might change. Call ahead.
NAVARRO/NOYO RIVERS--Closed due to low flows as on Sunday, but raining...and that could change when the DFG updates the low flow closure line.
ROGUE RIVER--It was raining here at presstime on Sunday and "it may be enough to raise it and give it some color," said Jim Carey at the Rogue Outdoor Store. He figured it might bring in the last of the steelhead, but he wasn't "too optimistic". Fishing the river has been "dead".
SMITH RIVER--The weekend rains didn't impact the river, still low and clear with zero's, ones and two, according to guide Bice Dusi, but he's on his way back up here from the Eel, expecting the Tuesday night storm to bring it back up and bring more steelhead in.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVER
KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam--Fresh-run adult steelhead continued to be scarce, but there was some nice action on halfpounders which were biting Glo-Bugs and Puffballs with a bit of yarn. Fishing pressure was light.
KLAMATH RIVER, Happy Camp--Steelhead fishing continued to be quite good with few anglers on the water. Fish ranged up to 7 pounds and were being caught sidedrifting roe and back-trolling Hot Shots with or without a nightcrawler trailer.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek--There was no change from last week--some halfpounders were being caught, but fishing was slow, with almost all the action coming on nightcrawlers
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City--Few new steelhead have been arriving lately, and the water stayed low and clear even with the rain. That meant many anglers were getting one or two opportunities an outing, but quite a few were getting skunked. Fly fishermen dead-drifted small nymphs like caddis pupa, copper Johns, and golden stoneflies under indicators.
Sierra Lakes/Rivers
BOCA LAKE--Ice fishing has been pretty good here, with weather conditions dictating how many folks will be on the lake. Fishing small jigs or dunking 'crawlers, eggs or Power Bait will work.
CARSON RIVER (East, West)--Only a very few fishermen even trying on the restricted winter-fishing stretch of the East Fork now, according to Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort near Markleeville. Unsettled weather for much of the week chased most folks off the river.
DAVIS, LAKE--Ice fishing rated just fair, averaging just 1 fish per rod as weather conditions deteriorated early in the week. Jerry Dollard at Dollard's Sierra Market in Portola said the fish being caught have been nice rainbows weighing up to 2 1/2 pounds. He said Power Bait has been the top bait when fished from 6 to 10 feet deep. Ice thickness still 10 to 12 inches thick and there is vehicle access on the eastside road as far as Mallard Cove. Caution is a must for anglers when on the ice.
DONNER LAKE--Mackinaw fishing has turned on some, and macks up to 12 pounds have been landed. Try trolling original AC Plugs or Needlefish around 125 feet deep in the China Cove area.
FRENCHMAN LAKE--There was reportedly fishable ice at the dam, but more open water in other areas of the lake. With continuing unsettled weather conditions, extreme caution is required when trying to fish any part of the lake. Roads are icy now, and covered with snow.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR--Reports are sketchy, but some fishermen have been getting in to the lake and have had some success picking up some of the lake's rainbows. Nothing big reported.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Cold weather for much of the week encouraged most anglers to stay off the lake. Jeff Cole at Sly Park Resort said a few boats did get out and picked up a few planter rainbows for their effort. Cole said the lake level is up and there are no problems launching boats now.
PROSSER LAKE--Anglers ice fishing here have been pulling in a few small rainbows using Power Bait, nightcrawlers or small jigs. Nasty weather conditions definitely keeping angler numbers down.
PYRAMID LAKE--Most of the cutthroat action here has been coming to fly fishermen at the north Nets. Fish from 6 1/2 to nearly 12 pounds reported. Boaters have had to deal with wind and choppy water at times and the slow action has only been good for a couple fish per day. Continued stormy conditions are likely to slow the action down even more
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR--Lake still attracting little angler interest. Access remains difficult, if possible at all, and what ice there is likely isn't safe for fishing.
LAKE TAHOE--When not caught in a windstorm, Mackinaw fishing has been pretty good. Mickey Daniels with Mickey's Big Mack Charters out of Carnelian Bay said windy conditions have been curtailing his fishing activities at times. Fishing as deep as 400 feet, Daniels has been pulling in macks running 6 1/2 pounds. Trolling Sting Kings or Koke-a-Nuts behind Sling Blade dodgers has been working. He said early morning has been the best time for bigger fish.
TOPAZ LAKE--Fishing here has slowed sharply as nasty weather invites anglers to do something else, somewhere else. Linda Fields at Topaz Landing Marina said a few boats have been on the lake between storms and the best action has been 5 fish for two fishermen. At Topaz Lodge, only 2 fish were weighed in for the lodge's fishing derby. Justin Walsh from Minden caught a 2-pound, 7-ounce rainbow using red Power Bait on the north shore, and Donna Hembrough, from Silver Springs, landed a 2-pound, 4 ouncer she caught with Power Bait on the south side of the lake.
TRUCKEE RIVER--No surface action, and according to Brian Nylund at Mountain hardware and Sports in Truckee, fishing the river is limited now to fishing nymphs in slow water. He recommended little zebra midges, brassies, little baetis patterns, sometimes with a big attractor out in front. Spin fishermen haven't been having much success.
North Saltwater
BENICIA--Still slow, with only a few reports of sturgeon and striped bass. There were some bright spots, like a pair of keeper sturgeon that came in Sunday morning, and a 15.5-pound striper caught under the Benicia Bridge on Saturday. Curtis Hayes from Benicia Bait fished with Chris Kane of Outcast Sportfishing on Saturday, and while they had plenty of action, they didn't sack a keeper. Both caught 40-inch class shaker sturgeon that they released, and "tons" of small stripers. That action came from the Garnet Point area.
BERKELEY--Very quiet, with only the occasional sturgeon trip. A few sharks, rays and kingfish available on the pier, but not many anglers trying.
BODEGA BAY-- The ocean bumped up and even shore action opportunities declined. Crabbing remained slow, and with no other gamefish "fair game," boat anglers are nonexistent.
BROOKINGS, OR--Bottomfishing rated fair to good, most of the variability in the weather. Top spots are Bird Island, Black Rock, Akins Point, Twin Rock and House Rock. Anglers are waiting for an April 17 commission meeting that may boost the bag limit on rockfish and possibly lingcod. There are concerns that the bigger bag limits will result in early season closures. Good redfin perch fishing.
EMERYVILLE--Sturgeon trips resulted in only leopard sharks and a shaker sturgeon, and then on Saturday, no shows canceled the trip. The fleet is ready for a repeat of last year's halibut season, but no talk of any trips until live bait is available.
EUREKA--The rains changed the happening bites, with the mouth of the Eel River perch bite flushed out, and fresh water in Humboldt Bay slowing the inside bite on surfperch, sharks and rays. The ocean was too rough for fishing the jetties.
FORT BRAGG--Crabbing remained a viable option, with the Telstar picking up gear due to the approaching storm, and finding 43 crabs for 5 anglers, not quite 2 per pot. Water temps were 49 to 50 degrees, and the ocean looks great with good bait stacks, and lots of sonar fish. On the weekend, the ocean bumped up and produced some 20 footers, so there wasn't much shore action.
HALF MOON BAY--Most anglers are laying low, with slow crabbing and few options. Squid remained absent, and the ocean conditions weren't conducive to squidding, anyway. The only other opportunities are sanddabs and mackerel, but no reports of tries for either.
MARTINEZ--A few sturgeon and stripers coming in, the weekend producing keeper sturgeon on a couple of the sportfishing boats. Lots of weekend boat traffic seemed to slow things down, but there were a couple sturgeon and stripers weighed in at Martinez Bait and Tackle.
SAN PABLO BAY--Lots of salinity in the bay, these rains will help out the sturgeon action by flushing the bait stealers out. Most anglers reported lots of small leopard sharks, bat rays, bullheads and a few small stripers, but only the occasional sturgeon.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE-- Live bait anglers are still doing better, catching between 15 and 25 fish a day. The mid to southern areas are seeing most of the action. On the artificial side, anglers are finding the bite anything but easy and a day to day affair. One day success, the next a struggle. A few anglers are reporting success using a variety of ripbaits, rattle baits, and plastic worms.
LAKE BERRYESSA-- Silver Excels, Wedding Rings with a threaded 'crawler or silver Cripplures are all good choices for trout and salmon, but whatever your method of choice is, you have to work for these fish and be patient. Bass anglers used jigs, drop-shot and shaky-head worms in natural colors. One bass weighed in at 11 pounds, but generally, the bite is slow.
LAKE SONOMA--Fish for a few bass in the top 15 to 30 feet off points, cranking and flipping jigs, but the bite continues to be slow. This lake has some nice landlocked steelies, though the locals aren't talking. Trout were taken by the dam with the usual tackle.
DELTA REGION
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Black bass action has been a challenge with the colder water but plastics in heavy cover and on rocks are producing a few bites. Big Break has seen fair action. Rains this week may help warm things up a bit.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR-- Rapalas in a variety of colors including black and silver have been producing in 7 to 10 feet of water, and nearly 200 feet behind the boat, with heavy doses of Pro-Cure's Trophy Trout scent. Jigging deep, in 40 to 50 feet with 1/8-ounce Hopkins spoon in silver worked better for others. A few brown trout to 4 1/2 pounds were taken but most were smaller.
BAUM LAKE--Try a copper John in green. Panther Martins and Kastmasters worked well for those that prefer lures, while worms and eggs did the trick for bait anglers. Crowds on weekends are finding trout from 12 to 18 inches by the inflows.
LEWISTON RESERVOIR--New trout pens, new docks, and a new sign out in front, await guests at the Pine Cove Marina. Fish for the pen rearing project will arrive soon. A few trout have been caught from the fishing dock there using Power Bait and some fly fishermen out, but very few people out. There seems to be quite a bit of surface activity in the early afternoon up by the dam, but other than that it is pretty slow. The water level doesn't change here but Trinity River is still pretty low.
McCLOUD RESERVOIR--Anglers can pick up some nice trout here with K-7 KwikFish (frog pattern) fished between 20 and 40 feet along the shoreline.
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.
LAKE SHASTA--This week the series of fronts coming through may not help the trout bite, though it has been holding fairly steady, it should help the bass bite. If there is some runoff, that'll add some color too. For trout try red and gold-back lures like Red Magic Needlefish but use the smaller lures and run slower, as the fish are moving slower as well. For bass, surface fish early with swimbaits or spinnerbaits and then go deep later on with drop-shot worms in pearl olive, or watermelon fleck off points and cuts, as well as rock walls.
LAKE SISKIYOU--Trolling Sep's kick dodgers (smeared with krill paste) with woolly bugger worm trailers, netted nice trout in the 1.5- to 3-pound range but a few larger ones weighed in at 5 pounds.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
AMERICAN RIVER--A few fresh steelhead continue to trickle up the American River, and the count at Nimbus Hatchery is ahead of last year's, but the numbers are still low compared to 2006. Low clear conditions made for challenging fishing, but there are opportunities to hook into a chromer steelhead. A little bit more of good news, is that fishing pressure is low. Again, it's critical to fish light line (6-pound test, max), small baits and lures, and please leave spawning fish to do their thing in peace.
FOLSOM LAKE-- Trout fishing was pretty decent again last week for planters around the boat ramp at Granite Bay and trollers on the main body and in the coves with feeder creeks. Bass, too, were being attracted to the coves where the water is a bit warmer. They're also being stirred to begin to think about spawning because of the warmer water temperatures but also because days are getting longer. Try Brush Hogs in green pumpkin, and plastic worms in darker colors drop-shotted, Carolina-rigged in browns and blacks, especially where the water is off-color. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits are getting some strikes now, too.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Fishing, around Sacramento proper continued to be slow. Best bets were to go downstream toward the Delta or upstream to Verona (for stripers attracted to the Feather River because of the yearling steelhead dump on the Feather. Sturgeon fishing continues to improve around Knight's Landing and Tisdale, too.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding--Native trout continued on a pretty good bite around Redding where the river was still low and clear. Flows were up a bit and a little off-color below feeder creeks as one worked downstream toward Red Bluff, so the fly bite was off. But spin fishermen were still getting pretty good action on nightcrawlers and Glo-Bugs. Fly fishermen continued to do well on caddis, baetis, and stonefly imitations around Redding.
Motherlode
AMADOR LAKE--Bass action increased, but trout was still the main course, the fish hugging the shoreline and surface. Mini-jigs and Power Bait were top strike getters. Bassers have been fishing main lake points with jigs, and while nothing large was weighed in, some fish were boated.
CAMANCHE LAKE--Trout action remained good for shoreline anglers fishing from both boat ramps and in the South Shore Trout Pond. Trollers found the biggest fish, including an 11 pounder caught by a Grass Valley angler. Rebels and Rapalas are getting the bigger fish, with both the main body near Hat Island and the narrows. Bass fishing was good until the cold fronts started moving through, with a club tourney producing a 19-pound limit, and a 6.5-pound big fish.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR--Continued good action on trout, with shore anglers catching limits at Blue Oaks on Power Bait and Power Eggs. Not too many trolling reports, but there were some bass anglers who reported trout hitting their spoons, jigs and worms. The bass fishing remained tough.
LAKE McCLURE--Trout action held on for both shore and trolling anglers, with the lake levels rising slowly, making the fish hug the shoreline even closer as they forage for flooded-out bugs. The weekend saw a minor drop as water was allowed to refill McSwain down below.
LAKE McSWAIN--The lake level dropped very low this past week for dam maintenance. "On Friday, it was the lowest I've ever seen it since I've been here, 1991," said Marilyn Kern at the Lake McSwain Marina. The low water was also murky. The lake managers are trying to fill the lake back up on the weekends, and promised that there would be plenty of water for the holiday weekend. You could launch a boat on Saturday afternoon, despite the mid-week low levels. Apparently there is still work to be done, so expect more mid-week low water issues.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR--With all the great trout fishing on other area lakes, this one isn't getting much pressure. The cold temps slowed the striper bite, and the black bass action has been slow also. Water level remained the same, but should start to rise with the forecasted rain.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR--A good spoon bass bite persists, with guide John Chiarpotti taking a client to a 3-plus-pound average on their seven best fish. Biggest weighed 6.57 pounds. Chiarpottie also caught a 5-pound brown trout while spooning at 50 feet! Another brown weighing nearly 6 pounds hit a trolled Cripplure near Horseshoe Bend. The rainbows are still coming good for the shore anglers fishing Power Bait, nightcrawlers and marshmallows.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR--Wide open trout action for trollers, with guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing leading clients on Wednesday to a great day of catch and release and keep, final tally two limits of rainbows and one kokanee. Water levels are up again, and launching is back to normal, but there is a lot of debris in the lake. Shad and Vance's flashers with a 'crawler worked best
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
BULLARDS BAR--Small spotted bass are hitting drop-shot worms, jigs and spoons off the points. There have been a few keeper bass showing but they're just barely legal. Trout action is reported as "slow". Water level is coming up slowly and there are no problems launching any boats.
CAMP FAR WEST--Water level is up a little more and main concrete ramp is operational for all boats. Fishing has been very slow with few of the many boats on the lake reporting any success. Two boys fished off the bank all day and only caught one bass.
COLLINS LAKE--Fishing has been slow here with few anglers reporting any success. The same guys that were reported on last week went out again and trolled Humdingers from the marina to the dam with only a few small rainbows caught. Weather has been unsettled over the last few days and more rain is forecast this week. The lake will receive a plant of trophy trout this week.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR--There's plenty of water here with lots of fishermen on the lake. The old guys in the pontoon boat that were reported last are still catching lots of 9- to 11-inch planters trolling in the marina. Another boater reported catching some nice trout, browns and rainbows, up to 16 inches while trolling from Buck's Beach up to the 5 mph buoy line. Boaters drifting worms and Power Bait up above the 5 mph buoy line are doing well also.
LAKE OROVILLE--The parking lot for the new ramp extension at Bidwell is now complete, leaving the road between the two the only major construction that needs to be finished. Even though the contractor is saying the project will be done by the middle of March, the job will most likely be finished much sooner. Lake is still coming up about 6 inches a day. Bass and catfish are hitting for bait drifters. Catfish up to 20 pounds have been hitting cut mackerel in creek channels in both the North Fork and the South Fork at 30 to 40 feet. Bass were reported being caught on tubes, minnows, and nightcrawlers all over the lake up to 3 3/4 pounds.
ROLLINS LAKE--Lake is over 80-percent capacity with the water level up a little more with the recent rains and more rain in the forecast. Two anglers were trolling flasher/worm combos over the channel up river for brown trout up to 16 inches. A shore angler from Colfax has been fishing near the dam with rainbow glitter Power Bait and picking up small planters.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE--Water level has been coming up slowly with the recent rains and lots of anglers are hitting the lake. Smallmouth bass and small planter trout have been cooperating for boaters and shore fishermen. The same angler from Colfax has been here too, fishing from shore near the boat ramp for small rainbows with Power Bait.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR--No snow around the lake with the parking lots and launch ramp open, but no one is fishing according to the Foresthill Ranger Station.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY--Steelhead action is holding up with a 7 1/2 pounder weighed in on Sunday. Shore anglers are still using minnows and nightcrawlers at both Wilbur Rd. and the Hwy. 162 Bridge for fish that average 4 to 5 pounds.
- Western Outdoor News
www.wonews.com
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LAKE PARDEE-- The trout opener on Friday was red hot for almost everyone who fished, and while crowds on Saturday were lighter than last year, the fishing was still sizzling. They were still dumping truckloads of trout in on Saturday, and there were trout on every stringer, including many in the 2-, 3- and even 4-pound class. Lures were a good choice early in the day, but the best offering was Power Bait or Gulp! in almost any color combination.
RUSSIAN RIVER--The rain last week was just enough to bring it up and color it, bringing in more steelhead and spreading them out throughout the system, according to Kevin Quigley of the Outdoor Pro Shop in Rhonert Park. The fish are all the way up to Cloverdale and anglers are doing well on bait or spoons. The fish are running about 7 pounds, but plenty of them are in the 10- to 12-pound range, too. Last minute report: Sunday night rain didn't budge the river very much, but Tuesday nights storm is expected to possibly blow it out for a day, but will maintain good fishing conditions.
FEATHER RIVER--A few steelhead were still being caught in the Low Flow Section, but very few anglers were trying for them. A better bet was to fish for striped bass attracted upriver by the annual dumping of yearling steelhead into the Feather by DFG. While fish were being caught on rainbow-patterned shallow running plugs from Shanghai Bend to the mouth at Verona, the best action was just below the Shanghai Rapids, because the striped bass can go no farther upstream because of low flows. For the same reason, leave the boat at home.
CAPLES LAKE--Ice fishing has been good here on days when weather is decent. Anglers have been catching some nice Mackinaw through the ice, although none like the 10 pounder caught by Jackson fisherman John Cornell. As good reports come in, the winter survival of fish in the drained-down lake seems more of a possibility.
CROCKETT--The Morning Star ran three trips to find plenty of action, but not many keepers. On Tuesday, 2 keeper stripers were the take, while Thursday produced a 69-inch oversized sturgeon, released. Saturday finally found a keeper sturgeon. All trips targeted the flats around the Pumphouse. "The bay is really salty," said Captain Gordon Hough. "These rains will only help. There is a lot of competition for the bait out there." Fresh water influx will help flush out the bullheads, rays and sharks and give the sturgeon a chance to find a bait.
DELTA, SACRAMENTO RIVER side-- This week the incoming tides in the mornings will be the best tides. By the weekend, it will still be better in the morning but it will be an outgoing tide, so fish in 20 to 25 feet. Try the outer edges of Grizzly, Honker Bay or the flats below Chain Island, though fish are spread out.
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.
CHETCO RIVER--Very low and clear as of press time, flowing at 800 cfs and the one or two driftboats that try it a day are scraping bottom. May be over for the year, but with a good rain--and that may have happened by now--there might be late fish showing up. Forecast for the spring salmon run is dismal, too, according WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts. But rain was in the forecast!
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Only an inch or rain hit here last week, not enough to bring the rivers up, so it was still low and clear but with more color earlier in the week. That may have changed since presstime on Sunday, however. Some of the upper sections produced some good fishing for a couple of local driftboat pluggers, resulting in some big, chromer steelies. Rain was expected, and that will improve conditions dramatically, according to guide Marc Nimitz of Pipe Creek Guide Service. Pressure is light and fish are in the river. Last minute word: Expected to be blown out by Tuesday sotrm.
EEL RIVER, South Fork--The light rain last week brought it up a bit and colored it, but it dropped out again quickly. Some new fish should be on the way after that rain, and the current rains that are in the forecast might have helped out a bunch. Call ahead. Last minute report: Should get good rain Tuesday, might be fishable by weekend.
GARCIA RIVER--Closed due to low flows, but that might have changed with the rain. Call low flow line.
MAD RIVER--Still open to fishing, but low and clear and very few trying until weekend rains, still coming down at press time. Could be good.
MATTOLE RIVER--Closed due to low flows at presstime but it was raining, so that all might change. Call ahead.
NAVARRO/NOYO RIVERS--Closed due to low flows as on Sunday, but raining...and that could change when the DFG updates the low flow closure line.
ROGUE RIVER--It was raining here at presstime on Sunday and "it may be enough to raise it and give it some color," said Jim Carey at the Rogue Outdoor Store. He figured it might bring in the last of the steelhead, but he wasn't "too optimistic". Fishing the river has been "dead".
SMITH RIVER--The weekend rains didn't impact the river, still low and clear with zero's, ones and two, according to guide Bice Dusi, but he's on his way back up here from the Eel, expecting the Tuesday night storm to bring it back up and bring more steelhead in.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVER
KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam--Fresh-run adult steelhead continued to be scarce, but there was some nice action on halfpounders which were biting Glo-Bugs and Puffballs with a bit of yarn. Fishing pressure was light.
KLAMATH RIVER, Happy Camp--Steelhead fishing continued to be quite good with few anglers on the water. Fish ranged up to 7 pounds and were being caught sidedrifting roe and back-trolling Hot Shots with or without a nightcrawler trailer.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek--There was no change from last week--some halfpounders were being caught, but fishing was slow, with almost all the action coming on nightcrawlers
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City--Few new steelhead have been arriving lately, and the water stayed low and clear even with the rain. That meant many anglers were getting one or two opportunities an outing, but quite a few were getting skunked. Fly fishermen dead-drifted small nymphs like caddis pupa, copper Johns, and golden stoneflies under indicators.
Sierra Lakes/Rivers
BOCA LAKE--Ice fishing has been pretty good here, with weather conditions dictating how many folks will be on the lake. Fishing small jigs or dunking 'crawlers, eggs or Power Bait will work.
CARSON RIVER (East, West)--Only a very few fishermen even trying on the restricted winter-fishing stretch of the East Fork now, according to Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort near Markleeville. Unsettled weather for much of the week chased most folks off the river.
DAVIS, LAKE--Ice fishing rated just fair, averaging just 1 fish per rod as weather conditions deteriorated early in the week. Jerry Dollard at Dollard's Sierra Market in Portola said the fish being caught have been nice rainbows weighing up to 2 1/2 pounds. He said Power Bait has been the top bait when fished from 6 to 10 feet deep. Ice thickness still 10 to 12 inches thick and there is vehicle access on the eastside road as far as Mallard Cove. Caution is a must for anglers when on the ice.
DONNER LAKE--Mackinaw fishing has turned on some, and macks up to 12 pounds have been landed. Try trolling original AC Plugs or Needlefish around 125 feet deep in the China Cove area.
FRENCHMAN LAKE--There was reportedly fishable ice at the dam, but more open water in other areas of the lake. With continuing unsettled weather conditions, extreme caution is required when trying to fish any part of the lake. Roads are icy now, and covered with snow.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR--Reports are sketchy, but some fishermen have been getting in to the lake and have had some success picking up some of the lake's rainbows. Nothing big reported.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Cold weather for much of the week encouraged most anglers to stay off the lake. Jeff Cole at Sly Park Resort said a few boats did get out and picked up a few planter rainbows for their effort. Cole said the lake level is up and there are no problems launching boats now.
PROSSER LAKE--Anglers ice fishing here have been pulling in a few small rainbows using Power Bait, nightcrawlers or small jigs. Nasty weather conditions definitely keeping angler numbers down.
PYRAMID LAKE--Most of the cutthroat action here has been coming to fly fishermen at the north Nets. Fish from 6 1/2 to nearly 12 pounds reported. Boaters have had to deal with wind and choppy water at times and the slow action has only been good for a couple fish per day. Continued stormy conditions are likely to slow the action down even more
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR--Lake still attracting little angler interest. Access remains difficult, if possible at all, and what ice there is likely isn't safe for fishing.
LAKE TAHOE--When not caught in a windstorm, Mackinaw fishing has been pretty good. Mickey Daniels with Mickey's Big Mack Charters out of Carnelian Bay said windy conditions have been curtailing his fishing activities at times. Fishing as deep as 400 feet, Daniels has been pulling in macks running 6 1/2 pounds. Trolling Sting Kings or Koke-a-Nuts behind Sling Blade dodgers has been working. He said early morning has been the best time for bigger fish.
TOPAZ LAKE--Fishing here has slowed sharply as nasty weather invites anglers to do something else, somewhere else. Linda Fields at Topaz Landing Marina said a few boats have been on the lake between storms and the best action has been 5 fish for two fishermen. At Topaz Lodge, only 2 fish were weighed in for the lodge's fishing derby. Justin Walsh from Minden caught a 2-pound, 7-ounce rainbow using red Power Bait on the north shore, and Donna Hembrough, from Silver Springs, landed a 2-pound, 4 ouncer she caught with Power Bait on the south side of the lake.
TRUCKEE RIVER--No surface action, and according to Brian Nylund at Mountain hardware and Sports in Truckee, fishing the river is limited now to fishing nymphs in slow water. He recommended little zebra midges, brassies, little baetis patterns, sometimes with a big attractor out in front. Spin fishermen haven't been having much success.
North Saltwater
BENICIA--Still slow, with only a few reports of sturgeon and striped bass. There were some bright spots, like a pair of keeper sturgeon that came in Sunday morning, and a 15.5-pound striper caught under the Benicia Bridge on Saturday. Curtis Hayes from Benicia Bait fished with Chris Kane of Outcast Sportfishing on Saturday, and while they had plenty of action, they didn't sack a keeper. Both caught 40-inch class shaker sturgeon that they released, and "tons" of small stripers. That action came from the Garnet Point area.
BERKELEY--Very quiet, with only the occasional sturgeon trip. A few sharks, rays and kingfish available on the pier, but not many anglers trying.
BODEGA BAY-- The ocean bumped up and even shore action opportunities declined. Crabbing remained slow, and with no other gamefish "fair game," boat anglers are nonexistent.
BROOKINGS, OR--Bottomfishing rated fair to good, most of the variability in the weather. Top spots are Bird Island, Black Rock, Akins Point, Twin Rock and House Rock. Anglers are waiting for an April 17 commission meeting that may boost the bag limit on rockfish and possibly lingcod. There are concerns that the bigger bag limits will result in early season closures. Good redfin perch fishing.
EMERYVILLE--Sturgeon trips resulted in only leopard sharks and a shaker sturgeon, and then on Saturday, no shows canceled the trip. The fleet is ready for a repeat of last year's halibut season, but no talk of any trips until live bait is available.
EUREKA--The rains changed the happening bites, with the mouth of the Eel River perch bite flushed out, and fresh water in Humboldt Bay slowing the inside bite on surfperch, sharks and rays. The ocean was too rough for fishing the jetties.
FORT BRAGG--Crabbing remained a viable option, with the Telstar picking up gear due to the approaching storm, and finding 43 crabs for 5 anglers, not quite 2 per pot. Water temps were 49 to 50 degrees, and the ocean looks great with good bait stacks, and lots of sonar fish. On the weekend, the ocean bumped up and produced some 20 footers, so there wasn't much shore action.
HALF MOON BAY--Most anglers are laying low, with slow crabbing and few options. Squid remained absent, and the ocean conditions weren't conducive to squidding, anyway. The only other opportunities are sanddabs and mackerel, but no reports of tries for either.
MARTINEZ--A few sturgeon and stripers coming in, the weekend producing keeper sturgeon on a couple of the sportfishing boats. Lots of weekend boat traffic seemed to slow things down, but there were a couple sturgeon and stripers weighed in at Martinez Bait and Tackle.
SAN PABLO BAY--Lots of salinity in the bay, these rains will help out the sturgeon action by flushing the bait stealers out. Most anglers reported lots of small leopard sharks, bat rays, bullheads and a few small stripers, but only the occasional sturgeon.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE-- Live bait anglers are still doing better, catching between 15 and 25 fish a day. The mid to southern areas are seeing most of the action. On the artificial side, anglers are finding the bite anything but easy and a day to day affair. One day success, the next a struggle. A few anglers are reporting success using a variety of ripbaits, rattle baits, and plastic worms.
LAKE BERRYESSA-- Silver Excels, Wedding Rings with a threaded 'crawler or silver Cripplures are all good choices for trout and salmon, but whatever your method of choice is, you have to work for these fish and be patient. Bass anglers used jigs, drop-shot and shaky-head worms in natural colors. One bass weighed in at 11 pounds, but generally, the bite is slow.
LAKE SONOMA--Fish for a few bass in the top 15 to 30 feet off points, cranking and flipping jigs, but the bite continues to be slow. This lake has some nice landlocked steelies, though the locals aren't talking. Trout were taken by the dam with the usual tackle.
DELTA REGION
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Black bass action has been a challenge with the colder water but plastics in heavy cover and on rocks are producing a few bites. Big Break has seen fair action. Rains this week may help warm things up a bit.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR-- Rapalas in a variety of colors including black and silver have been producing in 7 to 10 feet of water, and nearly 200 feet behind the boat, with heavy doses of Pro-Cure's Trophy Trout scent. Jigging deep, in 40 to 50 feet with 1/8-ounce Hopkins spoon in silver worked better for others. A few brown trout to 4 1/2 pounds were taken but most were smaller.
BAUM LAKE--Try a copper John in green. Panther Martins and Kastmasters worked well for those that prefer lures, while worms and eggs did the trick for bait anglers. Crowds on weekends are finding trout from 12 to 18 inches by the inflows.
LEWISTON RESERVOIR--New trout pens, new docks, and a new sign out in front, await guests at the Pine Cove Marina. Fish for the pen rearing project will arrive soon. A few trout have been caught from the fishing dock there using Power Bait and some fly fishermen out, but very few people out. There seems to be quite a bit of surface activity in the early afternoon up by the dam, but other than that it is pretty slow. The water level doesn't change here but Trinity River is still pretty low.
McCLOUD RESERVOIR--Anglers can pick up some nice trout here with K-7 KwikFish (frog pattern) fished between 20 and 40 feet along the shoreline.
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.
LAKE SHASTA--This week the series of fronts coming through may not help the trout bite, though it has been holding fairly steady, it should help the bass bite. If there is some runoff, that'll add some color too. For trout try red and gold-back lures like Red Magic Needlefish but use the smaller lures and run slower, as the fish are moving slower as well. For bass, surface fish early with swimbaits or spinnerbaits and then go deep later on with drop-shot worms in pearl olive, or watermelon fleck off points and cuts, as well as rock walls.
LAKE SISKIYOU--Trolling Sep's kick dodgers (smeared with krill paste) with woolly bugger worm trailers, netted nice trout in the 1.5- to 3-pound range but a few larger ones weighed in at 5 pounds.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
AMERICAN RIVER--A few fresh steelhead continue to trickle up the American River, and the count at Nimbus Hatchery is ahead of last year's, but the numbers are still low compared to 2006. Low clear conditions made for challenging fishing, but there are opportunities to hook into a chromer steelhead. A little bit more of good news, is that fishing pressure is low. Again, it's critical to fish light line (6-pound test, max), small baits and lures, and please leave spawning fish to do their thing in peace.
FOLSOM LAKE-- Trout fishing was pretty decent again last week for planters around the boat ramp at Granite Bay and trollers on the main body and in the coves with feeder creeks. Bass, too, were being attracted to the coves where the water is a bit warmer. They're also being stirred to begin to think about spawning because of the warmer water temperatures but also because days are getting longer. Try Brush Hogs in green pumpkin, and plastic worms in darker colors drop-shotted, Carolina-rigged in browns and blacks, especially where the water is off-color. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits are getting some strikes now, too.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Fishing, around Sacramento proper continued to be slow. Best bets were to go downstream toward the Delta or upstream to Verona (for stripers attracted to the Feather River because of the yearling steelhead dump on the Feather. Sturgeon fishing continues to improve around Knight's Landing and Tisdale, too.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding--Native trout continued on a pretty good bite around Redding where the river was still low and clear. Flows were up a bit and a little off-color below feeder creeks as one worked downstream toward Red Bluff, so the fly bite was off. But spin fishermen were still getting pretty good action on nightcrawlers and Glo-Bugs. Fly fishermen continued to do well on caddis, baetis, and stonefly imitations around Redding.
Motherlode
AMADOR LAKE--Bass action increased, but trout was still the main course, the fish hugging the shoreline and surface. Mini-jigs and Power Bait were top strike getters. Bassers have been fishing main lake points with jigs, and while nothing large was weighed in, some fish were boated.
CAMANCHE LAKE--Trout action remained good for shoreline anglers fishing from both boat ramps and in the South Shore Trout Pond. Trollers found the biggest fish, including an 11 pounder caught by a Grass Valley angler. Rebels and Rapalas are getting the bigger fish, with both the main body near Hat Island and the narrows. Bass fishing was good until the cold fronts started moving through, with a club tourney producing a 19-pound limit, and a 6.5-pound big fish.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR--Continued good action on trout, with shore anglers catching limits at Blue Oaks on Power Bait and Power Eggs. Not too many trolling reports, but there were some bass anglers who reported trout hitting their spoons, jigs and worms. The bass fishing remained tough.
LAKE McCLURE--Trout action held on for both shore and trolling anglers, with the lake levels rising slowly, making the fish hug the shoreline even closer as they forage for flooded-out bugs. The weekend saw a minor drop as water was allowed to refill McSwain down below.
LAKE McSWAIN--The lake level dropped very low this past week for dam maintenance. "On Friday, it was the lowest I've ever seen it since I've been here, 1991," said Marilyn Kern at the Lake McSwain Marina. The low water was also murky. The lake managers are trying to fill the lake back up on the weekends, and promised that there would be plenty of water for the holiday weekend. You could launch a boat on Saturday afternoon, despite the mid-week low levels. Apparently there is still work to be done, so expect more mid-week low water issues.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR--With all the great trout fishing on other area lakes, this one isn't getting much pressure. The cold temps slowed the striper bite, and the black bass action has been slow also. Water level remained the same, but should start to rise with the forecasted rain.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR--A good spoon bass bite persists, with guide John Chiarpotti taking a client to a 3-plus-pound average on their seven best fish. Biggest weighed 6.57 pounds. Chiarpottie also caught a 5-pound brown trout while spooning at 50 feet! Another brown weighing nearly 6 pounds hit a trolled Cripplure near Horseshoe Bend. The rainbows are still coming good for the shore anglers fishing Power Bait, nightcrawlers and marshmallows.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR--Wide open trout action for trollers, with guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing leading clients on Wednesday to a great day of catch and release and keep, final tally two limits of rainbows and one kokanee. Water levels are up again, and launching is back to normal, but there is a lot of debris in the lake. Shad and Vance's flashers with a 'crawler worked best
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
BULLARDS BAR--Small spotted bass are hitting drop-shot worms, jigs and spoons off the points. There have been a few keeper bass showing but they're just barely legal. Trout action is reported as "slow". Water level is coming up slowly and there are no problems launching any boats.
CAMP FAR WEST--Water level is up a little more and main concrete ramp is operational for all boats. Fishing has been very slow with few of the many boats on the lake reporting any success. Two boys fished off the bank all day and only caught one bass.
COLLINS LAKE--Fishing has been slow here with few anglers reporting any success. The same guys that were reported on last week went out again and trolled Humdingers from the marina to the dam with only a few small rainbows caught. Weather has been unsettled over the last few days and more rain is forecast this week. The lake will receive a plant of trophy trout this week.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR--There's plenty of water here with lots of fishermen on the lake. The old guys in the pontoon boat that were reported last are still catching lots of 9- to 11-inch planters trolling in the marina. Another boater reported catching some nice trout, browns and rainbows, up to 16 inches while trolling from Buck's Beach up to the 5 mph buoy line. Boaters drifting worms and Power Bait up above the 5 mph buoy line are doing well also.
LAKE OROVILLE--The parking lot for the new ramp extension at Bidwell is now complete, leaving the road between the two the only major construction that needs to be finished. Even though the contractor is saying the project will be done by the middle of March, the job will most likely be finished much sooner. Lake is still coming up about 6 inches a day. Bass and catfish are hitting for bait drifters. Catfish up to 20 pounds have been hitting cut mackerel in creek channels in both the North Fork and the South Fork at 30 to 40 feet. Bass were reported being caught on tubes, minnows, and nightcrawlers all over the lake up to 3 3/4 pounds.
ROLLINS LAKE--Lake is over 80-percent capacity with the water level up a little more with the recent rains and more rain in the forecast. Two anglers were trolling flasher/worm combos over the channel up river for brown trout up to 16 inches. A shore angler from Colfax has been fishing near the dam with rainbow glitter Power Bait and picking up small planters.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE--Water level has been coming up slowly with the recent rains and lots of anglers are hitting the lake. Smallmouth bass and small planter trout have been cooperating for boaters and shore fishermen. The same angler from Colfax has been here too, fishing from shore near the boat ramp for small rainbows with Power Bait.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR--No snow around the lake with the parking lots and launch ramp open, but no one is fishing according to the Foresthill Ranger Station.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY--Steelhead action is holding up with a 7 1/2 pounder weighed in on Sunday. Shore anglers are still using minnows and nightcrawlers at both Wilbur Rd. and the Hwy. 162 Bridge for fish that average 4 to 5 pounds.
- Western Outdoor News
www.wonews.com
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