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SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Sturgeon fishing was still good last week, although high flows and lots of trees coming down the river made boating a real dicey situation. Bank fishing was pretty good, however, and even a few striped bass were caught, in spite of the tough conditions. Anglers are anxiously awaiting flows to drop, stabilize and clear. That should trigger the start of the spring striper run. South River Road, Miller Park, Tisdale, Verona and Knight's Landing were some of the spots were sturgeon and/or stripers were caught last week.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Nick Wheeler of Kings Sport & Tackle in Guerneville said the river was just getting into shape, and a couple of steelhead were even caught at Dry Creek. He said the river will be good around Healdsburg by Tuesday, and then Wednesday or Thursday at Guerneville. "The weekend should be great", Wheeler said. "March is one of the big months for the Russian and we should have fresh fish and then bluebacks the first part of April and the downrunners as well as the last main push of fresh adult steelhead."
EEL RIVER, South Fork--"Just shaping up beautiful right now," said Daryl Brown of Brown's Sporting Goods in Garberville on Sunday. It's still on the high side due to melting snow. Currently a milky green color with visibility 6 to 8 inches at Garberville, but much clearer and perfect near Leggett and Pearcy. Guide Marc Nimitz of Pipe Creek Guide Service confirmed that, saying that there should be a good mix of fresh fish and downers. March is the month when some big numbers of steelies can be caught here!
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Lots of brown trout action here, topped for the week by a 7 pounder. Other browns from 4 to 6 pounds have been caught on Kastmasters and nightcrawlers. Biggest fish of the week was a 10-pound, 9-ounce Mackinaw.
LAKE TAHOE--Latest Mackinaw action outstanding, according to Chuck Self with chuck/s Bait, Tackle & Guide Service in Kings Beach. Reporting from his boat on the lake, he said clients had been releasing fish all day and had a pair of 7 pounders in the boat. Good weather has put the macks on a bite that Self call "stellar." MegaBaits, Tazmanian Devils and Needlefish all working at various times. He said rainbows are currently few and far between.
LAKE OROVILLE--Lake came up 30 more feet this week and put Bidwell Canyon's upper ramp in operation. Now all three main ramps are in the water: Lime Saddle, the Spillway, and Bidwell. Bass action has been pretty good with a Saturday tournament being won with 11 1/2 pounds. Bass are hitting plastics and jigs from the bank down to 30 feet. Catfish should be hitting cut baits and chicken livers in areas with a good inflow of run-off. No word on coho action but try at the dam with minnows at 40 to 50 feet.
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--Currently they're seeing downrunners and bluebacks, mostly averaging around 8 pounds. Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service fished it on Sunday with WON staffer Rich Holland, and they caught one downrunner about 9 or 10 pounds. It was snowing, and they didn't see another boat.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Blown out by the rains and staying that way due to melting snow in all the tributaries.
MAD RIVER--It's way too high for fishing, and melting snow keeps it high, according to Mad River Guide Service. Every time flows get down to 2000 cfs the snowmelt brings it back up.
MENDOCINO COASTAL RIVERS--Good amounts of rain on the Navarro, Noyo, Gualala, Garcia and Mattole rivers, but as these are mostly short, coastal streams they were coming into shape for the weekend. Guide Craig Bell of Greenwater Guide Service fished the Garcia on Saturday, and his clients hooked 6 and landed 3, but on Sunday they were skunked. "Looks like we're between runs," Bell said. He said he had heard the Navarro and Gualala were slow, but Nick Wheeler of Kings Sport & Tackle, said that two anglers checked in with him on Saturday and they had hooked 9 downrunners..
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SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Sturgeon fishing was still good last week, although high flows and lots of trees coming down the river made boating a real dicey situation. Bank fishing was pretty good, however, and even a few striped bass were caught, in spite of the tough conditions. Anglers are anxiously awaiting flows to drop, stabilize and clear. That should trigger the start of the spring striper run. South River Road, Miller Park, Tisdale, Verona and Knight's Landing were some of the spots were sturgeon and/or stripers were caught last week.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Nick Wheeler of Kings Sport & Tackle in Guerneville said the river was just getting into shape, and a couple of steelhead were even caught at Dry Creek. He said the river will be good around Healdsburg by Tuesday, and then Wednesday or Thursday at Guerneville. "The weekend should be great", Wheeler said. "March is one of the big months for the Russian and we should have fresh fish and then bluebacks the first part of April and the downrunners as well as the last main push of fresh adult steelhead."
EEL RIVER, South Fork--"Just shaping up beautiful right now," said Daryl Brown of Brown's Sporting Goods in Garberville on Sunday. It's still on the high side due to melting snow. Currently a milky green color with visibility 6 to 8 inches at Garberville, but much clearer and perfect near Leggett and Pearcy. Guide Marc Nimitz of Pipe Creek Guide Service confirmed that, saying that there should be a good mix of fresh fish and downers. March is the month when some big numbers of steelies can be caught here!
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Lots of brown trout action here, topped for the week by a 7 pounder. Other browns from 4 to 6 pounds have been caught on Kastmasters and nightcrawlers. Biggest fish of the week was a 10-pound, 9-ounce Mackinaw.
LAKE TAHOE--Latest Mackinaw action outstanding, according to Chuck Self with chuck/s Bait, Tackle & Guide Service in Kings Beach. Reporting from his boat on the lake, he said clients had been releasing fish all day and had a pair of 7 pounders in the boat. Good weather has put the macks on a bite that Self call "stellar." MegaBaits, Tazmanian Devils and Needlefish all working at various times. He said rainbows are currently few and far between.
LAKE OROVILLE--Lake came up 30 more feet this week and put Bidwell Canyon's upper ramp in operation. Now all three main ramps are in the water: Lime Saddle, the Spillway, and Bidwell. Bass action has been pretty good with a Saturday tournament being won with 11 1/2 pounds. Bass are hitting plastics and jigs from the bank down to 30 feet. Catfish should be hitting cut baits and chicken livers in areas with a good inflow of run-off. No word on coho action but try at the dam with minnows at 40 to 50 feet.
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--Currently they're seeing downrunners and bluebacks, mostly averaging around 8 pounds. Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service fished it on Sunday with WON staffer Rich Holland, and they caught one downrunner about 9 or 10 pounds. It was snowing, and they didn't see another boat.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Blown out by the rains and staying that way due to melting snow in all the tributaries.
MAD RIVER--It's way too high for fishing, and melting snow keeps it high, according to Mad River Guide Service. Every time flows get down to 2000 cfs the snowmelt brings it back up.
MENDOCINO COASTAL RIVERS--Good amounts of rain on the Navarro, Noyo, Gualala, Garcia and Mattole rivers, but as these are mostly short, coastal streams they were coming into shape for the weekend. Guide Craig Bell of Greenwater Guide Service fished the Garcia on Saturday, and his clients hooked 6 and landed 3, but on Sunday they were skunked. "Looks like we're between runs," Bell said. He said he had heard the Navarro and Gualala were slow, but Nick Wheeler of Kings Sport & Tackle, said that two anglers checked in with him on Saturday and they had hooked 9 downrunners..
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