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TOP PICKS
POINT SAN PABLO -- "This is the best halibut fishing I've ever seen," said Captain Frank Miller on the Fury. His group Friday went home with flatty limits, one angler catching two 20 pounders and a 10 pounder for a 50-pound limit. The fish came from just about everywhere they stopped, including the south end of San Pablo Bay. "We're doing great with those live sardines that everyone is complaining about!" said Miller.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Catfish gone crazy here, with a 33 pounder weighed at Glory Hole Sports, that fish just 3 pounds short of creating a new lake record. The angler who caught it was fishing at Peoria Flat, no details on bait. Others used live minnows and crawdads to score some good catfish action. Kokanee are probably done for the year, with the bite tough and few trying. Bass are cemented in their late summer pattern, with a morning-evening topwater bite. Mid-day, mud lines and deeper water produces best for anglers using plastic worms, Brush Hogs, spinnerbaits and Senkos.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR -- With kokanee season finished in most lakes, anglers can turn to the big trout and salmon here. Guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing fished with dad Don on Thursday for four big rainbows to 4 pounds plus a pair of landlocked kings over 3 pounds. The trout hit a mix of gear including shad, Ex-Cel Spoons, Vance's Slim Fins and Shasta Tackle Cripplures. The trout were down around 50 feet, while the salmon were double that.
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen -- Superlatives keep coming in about the salmon fishing at the lower end of the Klamath River with the best action from Klamath Glen to Blue Creek. Anglers have been catching them boondoggling or drifting roe. They're also catching the occasional steelhead on spinners, nightcrawlers and roe. The Indian nets are out, and the fish are pouring in.
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, Lower -- Salmon action still going great in the estuary, but variable day-to-day based on how rough it is at the mouth, and weather the kings can enter or not. Still plenty of big kings, and almost all caught slow-trolling baits or spinner-rigs with bait, although some caught mooching first thing in the morning.
RUSSIAN RIVER -- Still catching plenty of smallmouth bass, and now the daytime bite isn't bad, either, since much of the river traffic in the form of water sports has slowed down.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City -- It's just starting, but anglers are starting to catch decent numbers of bright fall run king salmon plus some steelhead from Douglas City to Big Bar. Steelhead seem to be concentrated a little farther downstream. Backtroll Kwikfish early, then switch to roe as the sun hits the water for the salmon. For steelhead, swing spinners deep, or backtroll Hot Shots and Wee Warts. Flies are working, too.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek -- It's been quite hot during the day -- at least until the weekend cool down-- but there are good numbers of both salmon and steelhead making the right hand turn from the Klamath to the Trinity. Fish shaded canyon holes and at the mouths of feeder streams early and late.
LAKE TAHOE -- Mike Neilsen of Tahoe Topliners reports he's had the best action of the season recently with early boat limits of Macks and kokanee everyday this week. Trolling for Macks with Bomber Long A's and jigging with No.4 BuzzBombs is producing limits of 3 to 6 pounders at first light from 115 to 160 feet deep. Kokanee action is red hot off Richardson Bay at 85 to 95 feet on No. 2 and No. 4 BuzzBombs. The kokes are turning red.
MOTHERLODE
AMADOR LAKE -- Bass fishing showed some improvement with plastic worms producing some good action, and conditions ripe for fall topwater action. A 15-pound catfish was weighed at the Amador Store--the fish took liver near the spillway. Trout plants are scheduled in another two or three weeks, thanks to cooling temps.
CAMANCHE LAKE -- While catfish are the normal hot news this time of year, some good trout reports put the whiskerfish in the back seat. Trolling the 32-foot level in the main lake produced a limit of 2 to 3 pounders for one angler, and another pair of anglers caught six fish to 6.5 pounds, also trolling. Top catfish stories are coming from campers and the north day use area.
LAKE McCLURE -- Bass action rated good for fish in the slot size, with small plastic worms working on main lake points. Trout trollers are also picking up bass, so the fish are suspending with the shad schools. Trolling action has been best for trout, the top action coming from about 40 to 60 feet down on silver/blue spoons and shad.
LAKE McSWAIN -- The Bondos 7th Annual VFW tournament resulted in some great trout action thanks to a plant the day before. Marilyn Kern at the Lake McSwain Marina said that most anglers caught limits, with bead spinners the dominant lure for boaters. Shore anglers scored well too, especially up near the headwaters, where there is an evening hatch and lots of risers. While anglers are still getting limits fishing with bait, all reporting in added that flies would have been better still.
LAKE PARDEE -- Cooling temperatures spurred the shore bite, but looks like the heat is coming back, so that may be temporary. Fred Dorman at Pardee Recreation said top spots have been behind the boathouse, at Stony Point Landing and near the woodpile. Water temps are at 73 near the marina, so things are cooling off. Trollers and anglers still fishing from boats have done well upriver. A few kokanee are still coming in.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR -- Local outdoor writer William Heinselman reported improving striper action, finally. He caught fish and saw several others caught around him. "I saw at least 10 fish caught on Thursday, had five hits and landed a 4 pounder myself," said Heinselman. He said the action is about 3 months behind normal. Striper chasers here troll with shad and minnow-imitation lures, or target the surface boils with topwater lures, spoons and flukes.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR -- Trout trolling should pick up here for anglers fishing 15 to 20 feet down with shad and small spoons that resemble shad. Bass anglers can find lots of small fish around the docks casting small plastic worms and tube baits, and a good morning and evening topwater bite for bigger fish.
NORTH SALTWATER
BERKELEY -- Dave Marquardt reported for the Happy Hooker, Captain Bob Wright at the helm finding 12 halibut to 22 pounds for 12 anglers on Saturday. Eddie Gallia on the New El Dorado III whacked a nice white seabass weighing 33 pounds.
BODEGA BAY -- Captain Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler reported on his first albacore effort last Thursday, and while the day started good with calm seas, they fought 15- to 20-knot winds after they arrived at the tuna grounds. The 15 anglers on board did manage 7 albacore to 25 pounds, the fish coming on three jig stops. The rest of the week focused on bottomfish, with great action and quality, plus one day a few extra lingcod, all from down around Point Reyes.
EMERYVILLE -- Another steady week for bottomfishing, and some more amazingly good scores of halibut. The flatty bite just keeps on keeping on. On the New Huck Finn, Wednesday and Thursday's trips both scored.
EUREKA -- Tuna appeared as close as 15 miles out in the middle of the week, then the weather came up with the storm that blew in on Sunday.
FORT BRAGG -- Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar is recuperating from his salmon adventures out of Eureka, but he said he will start offering abalone diving trips and possibly look around for some local Pacific halibut. Crab season opens on Nov. 7.
HALF MOON BAY -- Weather has impacted the bottomfishing occasionally, but overall, limits are the rule for anglers fishing the local reef spots. A groundswell slowed the weekend action, but there were some great days on the Queen Of Hearts prior, with limits on Thursday, and a banner day on Wednesday with limits for 14 and lots of big Bolinas, copper and black rockfish.
LOCH LOMOND -- Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star reported an interesting week of fishing with halibut and stripers the main goal, but a sturgeon spicing up the action on Sunday. "We went up to San Pablo Bay to see if the striped bass had arrived yet," said Hough. "There were no stripers, only one 51-inch sturgeon." The rest of the action revolved around halibut.
SAN PABLO BAY -- A couple early forays for striped bass got mixed reviews. One private boater trolling with two anglers caught and released 14 bass, but another caught only a couple shorties. One try by a party boat with live bait found no linesides, but a curious sturgeon, 51 inches, did take the bait.
SAUSALITO -- A couple nice halibut caught on the Salty Lady, including a 15 pounder and a 25 pounder, and plenty of smaller flatties, too.
SHELTER COVE -- The local boats are still running up to fish for bottomfish above the 40'10 line, and when the weather cooperates, so do the fish. Captain Trent Slate on Bite Me said they had some good days on lingcod, with limits for the boat. The tuna action has been off and on, dependent on the weather and warm water outside. Pacific halibut fishing has slowed, although a 40 pounder did bite for an angler on the Bite Me mid-week.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE -- The algae bloom is definitely on the decline and lessening with the cooler weather. Still, there are lots of areas with green surface algae, but it is clearing. Weeds are fading away quickly too, most are subsurface and not a hindrance to navigation or fishing. Water temperatures are hanging in the low to mid 70s depending on the time of day. The most consistent bite has been with a plastic worm fished on either a drop-shot or the flick shake. The topwater bite has been off and on, but if you stick with it, you will catch fish. Ricos, spooks, and frogs have been the most productive choices.
LAKE BERRYESSA -- Look for schools of bait with bigger fish around them and you're in the bass game. The cooler weather will have these fish on a fall bite soon. Spooks and poppers along the weed edges of the main body and in the Narrows will be good starters and then switch to plastics like Robo Worms in Aaron's Magic fished on a Carolina-rig worked over rock piles in about 20 to 30 feet of water. Don't forget your spoons, as they have also been producing some nice bass.
UPPER BLUE LAKE -- Larger trout from a previous private plant are on the east basin side where anglers are finding fair results trolling down to 39 feet with a flasher and worm or using deepwater flies. Bass anglers are catching 3 to 5 pounders in the brush areas along the shoreline with crankbaits in the mornings and evenings.
LAKE SONOMA -- Bass fishing was still slow here, but with cooler nights there have been some topwater and drop-shot bass caught here. Big catfish are a nighttime favorite of campers here and panfish are coming up for red worms. A nice 5-pound steelie was caught here recently off the shoreline. If you're trolling, go down 40 to 50 feet.
INDIAN VALLEY RESERVOIR -- Tubes and kayakers worked the shoreline for bass with good results. Another plus here are the big catfish.
DELTA REGION
SACRAMENTO RIVER side -- Striper and sturgeon fishing should remain good despite larger tides, especially on the afternoon incoming tides. Baits to consider include eel and roe for sturgeon, but ghost and grass shrimp should continue to be affective for both.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side -- Lures such as Rat-L-Traps produced stripers to 30 inches from Sherman Lake to the Broad Slough area and up into Franks Tract. Bait anglers faired just as well using small sardines, as the good shad have been hard to come by, and gobi's are not available yet. Sturgeon fishing picked up on grass shrimp but cured ghost shrimp or salmon roe also worked from the Mothball Fleet on up.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR -- What a difference a week makes! Smallies, rainbow and brown trout, plus salmon were all on tap, although the salmon bite was slower than the trout bite. The lake will start to turn over soon and a surface bite is already evident. Start your trolling efforts with a worm first and once the temperature starts to come up, switch to lures such as Needlefish in pearl colors off downriggers set at 20 to 30 feet or just leadcore four or five colors out.
BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR -- No reports, but typically P. G. & E. starts to draw the lake down at this time so you can expect lower water levels. Most fish will continue to be caught in the boat launch area of the lake or off the dam in deeper water. Power Bait, lures, and worms will continue to produce good action. Topwater action should improve in the evenings in the shallows near the boat launch area as the water temperature cools. Try PMD nymphs and cripple patterns then.
BAUM LAKE -- Still good hatches of PMD's, caddis, callibaetis, and trico's on the water, with pheasant tails doing best for nymph fishermen. Kastmasters are working well, but any lure in a trout pattern should work. Nightcrawlers and salmon eggs are working for the bait fishermen but rainbow Power Bait is also working very well currently.
BRITTON LAKE -- Smallies are still the best bet in the mornings and evenings, but the crappie bite has slowed.
BURNEY CREEK -- Above the falls has been quite productive with lures and nightcrawlers. Below the falls, good results were found with pt's and copper John nymphs. Fish continue to rise for the caddis hatch in the evenings.
CASSEL FOREBAY--The canal above Powerhouse No.1 continues to provide some excellent fishing with spinners and Power Bait the preferred methods to take some nice rainbow and brook trout this past week. Early mornings and early evenings remain the most productive times to fish. Pressure on this area remains low to moderate, so this is a good bet for some quality fishing. Fly-fishing was excellent with black or olive crystal buggers and red copper Johns catching some big rainbows and brookies. The topwater bite continues to be good with the best action in the early mornings and late evenings.
EAGLE LAKE -- Time to come back up, as trout are moving into shallower waters. Troll Sep's watermelon, amber, or brown grubs 5 feet deep in waters 7 to 15 feet deep and baits set 150 feet behind the boat, or use a side planner. The Artic Fox trolling flies in the Tui Chub pattern are also producing fish at the same depths. Anchor up in 15 to 20 feet of water and drop threaded nightcrawlers down 8 to 10 feet deep between Pelican Point and the Youth Camp Point, where trollers and bobber anglers will have to share space now.
FALL RIVER WILD TROUT AREA -- Fishing reports have been fair with PMD's, rusty spinners, woolly buggers and zugs for nymphs.
HAT CREEK WILD TROUT AREA -- The riffle has been best fished with pt's, birdsnest, or hare's ear. Look for PMD's, caddis, and callibaetis with the warmer temperatures coming back. Reports indicate fishing/catching has been slow.
UPPER HAT CREEK -- Many limits were taken as well as some very nice brook trout in the 3- to 5-pound class. Most fish were taken on worms, eggs, and Panther Martins. The pressure should remain light to moderate throughout the month of September, but the fishing should be good as DFG continues weekly plants. Fly-fishing on the upper creek was fair on gold crystal buggers and copper Johns. As always, fish deep here to catch more fish.
LEWISTON RESERVOIR -- Best time to be on the water here has been between 6-8 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. as it cools down. Trout trollers are using salmon and white eggs 10 to 15 feet down while fly anglers used woolly buggers or black/purple leeches for kokes.
PIT RIVER -- No reports this week, though several fishermen inquiring about access information here at Vaughn's Sporting Goods in Burney.
MANZANITA LAKE -- Fishing was very good with most activity happening in the early morning and late afternoons. Flying red ants were abundant and ant imitations were the hot fly to use. Callibaetis cripples, PMD's, and red copper Johns were also taking fish. Topwater action should continue to be good through September as long as the weather holds. Remember to heed the special fishing restrictions for this lake.
TRINITY RESERVOIR -- The lake is down more than 100 feet and dropping about 4 inches per day. With all the cruisers and jet skis the water has been muddied up and fishing was tough. Mud lines develop as early as 10 a.m. on weekends when the skiers hit the lake. A few bass were found near steep banks using dark colored plastics. Everything is out of the water including the rock plies up at the north end. Trinity is only at 45 percent of capacity and still falling.
LAKE SHASTA -- Fishing on the Sacramento arm at Goose Neck, anglers found a large school of fish at 90 feet but couldn't get them to bite until late afternoon. Apexes, HumDingers and Wiggle Hoochies with sling blades and Pro-Cure scent produced trout and salmon to 5.3 pounds and 22 inches long. Dart-headed worms in dark colors provided bass averaging 1 1/4 pounds at 25 feet up in the Squaw Creek arm on the rocky side of Ski Island in shady areas.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
AMERICAN RIVER -- Water temps are dropping with the colder nights but the day time heat is still keeping most anglers from making the hike into the access spots along the Middle and North Forks. For those that make the effort, rainbows and browns are holding in the deep pools.
BULLARDS BAR -- The lake is down to 66-percent capacity. Lots of bass are in the marina and at the point out past the houseboats. The spots are loading up on baby bluegill and running up o 4 pounds. Some trout action, but it has been spotty.
CAMP FAR WEST -- Launching is now off the old gravel ramp. Bass action has been pretty good for anglers concentrating on the brushy areas that are starting to show along the banks as the water drops. The better fish are running 3 to 4 pounds and hitting worms and jigs. Catfish are still hitting at night on standard baits.
COLLINS LAKE -- The lake is now down 37 feet from full. Fishing is improving as the water cools off, though early morning and night are still the best time to try for trout, catfish and sunfish. Bait anglers are doing well in Elmer's Cove, the Bridge and the boat docks. Trollers are still connecting early in the morning working Wobbler spoons and flasher/worm combos along the east side and the dam. Big fish of the week was a 10 1/2-pound catfish caught by Jerry Freeman in Elmer's Cove on sardines.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR -- The lake is at 94-percent capacity. Will Fish Tackle reports that trollers are catching limits of 10- to 12-inch rainbows at the dam trolling gold blade/black-yellow dot Panther Martins at 40 to 50 feet. With the lake so high, boaters are running all the way up to Missouri Bar and Rice's Crossing and drifting worms along the bottom in 10 feet of water for rainbows running 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. There will be an Army Corps sponsored "Lake Cleanup Day" on Sept. 19. Volunteers are needed to clean up trash around the lake and boaters are encouraged to come. Meet at the Army Corp ramp at the dam at 8:30 a.m. A barecue lunch will be provided for the workers by the Army Corps.
FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- Camper pressure is way down and few reports were available. With the colder nights, the bite should be improving as the water temps drop. Trollers should try along the dam and near the inlet in the early morning with Rapalas and flasher/worm combos.
FULLER LAKE -- Lake was planted this past week and trollers and shore anglers are doing well. Trollers are catching limits on flasher or dodger/worm combos while Power Bait and worms are working for the shore anglers at the dam and day-use access.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR -- Lake is at 69-percent capacity. Vertical jiggers are still catching some smaller Macks at the dam at 60 to 80 feet on Gibbs Minnows and Crippled Herring. Some kokanee are being caught trolling and jigging but the kokes are starting to 'turn' in preparation for spawning. Browns are falling for Rapalas in the early morning at the powerhouse and the inlet.
LAKE OROVILLE -- The lake is at 38-percent capacity. The discharge rate has slowed from 1 to 2 feet per day to 5 to 9 inches per day. Most the local anglers are concentrating on the steelhead and striper action in the Feather River so there are few reports coming in. Bass and catfish action should be improving as the water temp drops. Drop-shot worms are good for the bass and mackerel and anchovies are the choice for those after the cats.
ROLLINS LAKE -- Bass to 2 pounds are hitting jigs on the rocky points. Brown trout are hitting for boaters drifting worms and Power Bait up at the inlet of the Bear River. Catfish action has been good at night off the docks at Long Ravine.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE -- Scott's Flat Lake reported very slow action for any kind of fishing this past week. DFG has cleared the lake to resume trout plants but won't start planting until 2010.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR -- Foresthill Ranger Station reported very little success for anglers here. Bass and bluegill still provide a chance for success while you're having a picnic at the nicely maintained day-use areas.
SPAULDING LAKE -- Trollers are catching limits of kings, 1 1/2 to 3 pounds, trolling chrome dodger/threaded worm combos in front of the powerhouse at 70 feet. Troll slow, .8- to 1.2-mph, with the rig set back 100 feet from the downrigger weight.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- Water levels are down but the temps are dropping with the colder nights. Bass and catfish are still the only hope for anglers coming here. Hopefully the DFG will resume planting here when they finish their endangered species surveys.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY -- Still some decent bass action on the tule banks with Senkos, but most of the locals are hitting the steelhead and stripers on the river below the Afterbay.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
AMERICAN RIVER -- Flows went down to 500 cubic feet per second for a short while to install the pickets for the weir at the bottom of the fish ladder at Nimbus Dam, and took already poor striper and steelhead fishing down with them. Several accesses have been closed such as the one at the lower end of Sailor Bar Park, and Grist Mill, which is a popular launch and takeout spot for drift boats. Flows were raised back to 2,000 cfs.
FEATHER RIVER--Steelhead fishing was lousy in the Low Flow Section, but some nice stripers were caught in the Outlet on swim baits, poppers, and bombers. More stripers were being caught around Shanghai Bend. Fish early and late for the best odds.
FOLSOM LAKE -- Bass fishing was spotty with no real pattern. Best chances seemed to be to work jigs and plastic worms over a range of depths from 15 to 35 feet deep over flats and rocky points. With boat traffic easing off after Labor Day, bass should be more willing to come into the shallows at least early and late. Not many people have been trying for trout, but Bud Pratt, striped bass expert at Sacramento Pro Tackle has been making forays to Folsom for a change of pace and catching a few trout between 50 and 60 feet on Speedy Shiners in blue and silver by the dam. He's been fishing them naked (no dodger or blades).
MATHER LAKE -- A few bass were being caught out of personal craft (needed because heavy weeds make it almost impossible to fish from shore). Try top water plugs, jerk baits and Senkos early and late.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento -- About the only word of quasi-decent striper fishing was coming from around Courtland where fishers were taking a few barely legal-sized stripers on mudsuckers. A better bet was to fish for catfish in the main river, sloughs, Port of Sacramento and Sutter Bypass. In addition to the usual catfish baits, try freshly dead minnows.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Knight's Landing--There were a few reports, not many, of mostly keeper-sized stripers being caught between Knight's Landing and Colusa on streamer flies and minnows. An occasional larger fish in the 20-pound class was being hooked as well, but, so far, fishing for bigger stripers has not measured up either in size or numbers to last year's run.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding -- Fly fishermen continued to catch some nice trout plus the occasional steelhead by dead-drifting nymphs like prince's, pheasant tails, and copper Johns under indicators. Spin fishermen also were scoring on Glo-Bugs with or without a bit of roe, night crawlers, and crickets.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Upper -- With days so hot, most of the trout activity was occurring early and late and in the upper parts of the Sac around Dunsmuir. Dead-drift prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and copper John's deep, on short lines into pocket water. Use lots of weight.
SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS
BLUE LAKES -- Upper Blue Lake is scheduled for a DFG plant this week. Not a lot of pressure here since Labor Day weekend, so few reports were available from Woodfords Station.
BOCA LAKE -- The lake is at 65-percent capacity. Lake was planted last week and the bite is much improved. Shore anglers are doing well at the boat ramp and on the beach off the left side of the dam with worms, Power Bait, Rooster Tails and a Kastmaster. Trollers are using a No.7 crawdad Rapala or a pumpkin Gulp! Minnow behind a dodger.
CAPLES LAKE -- The concrete boat ramp is now out of the water and launching will be available off the gravel beach through October. The big EID trophy fish are still being caught with Andy Azevedo and Dennis Garcia of Ceres landing a 6 pounder and two 8 pounders on a bobber/worm rig at the spillway this past week. Shore anglers are doing well for quick limits of 10- to 12-inch rainbows on Power Bait, worms, and lures from the dam and spillway. Trollers are catching limits of small planters on dodger/worm combos. Traffic has slowed down here since Labor Day.
CARSON RIVER (East, West) -- The West Fork got a good rain over the weekend. The water is still low and clear, but a few fish are being caught by experienced anglers. The East Fork has good water flows and received 1450 pounds of 3-pound average rainbows this past week from Alpine County. Jackie Lima came into Carson River Resort with 3 big trout: 6.2, 3.7 and 3.5 pounds. Alpine County has three more big plants scheduled through the end of October.
DAVIS LAKE -- The lake is down to 52-percent capacity. The water is cooling down with the colder nights, which is helping the trout bite. Ed Dillard reported catching 15 to 28 fish on his 4-hour charters using copper/red Dick Nites, metallic perch Needlefish, and red Rainbow Runners. Dillard is trolling from 8 to 16 feet deep from the Honker ramp to the island. Most of the rainbows measure 12 to 13 inches with one or two good fish, 18 to 20 inches, per trip. Fly casters are using cinnamon wooly buggers in 8 feet of water. No word on shore fishing, but it had been improving with the lower water temp (64-degrees) and should continue to do so.
DONNER LAKE -- The lake was planted last week and all the public piers are good, especially Pier 13. The boat ramp is also good for shore angler using Power Bait and worms. Trollers are using a J7 gold/black Rapala or rainbow pattern Rapala for Macks that have moved up shallow to feed on the new planters.
FEATHER RIVER CANYON -- Plenty of anglers just not many fish being caught. It's been two weeks since the last DFG plant and the pressure has taken its toll. Caribou Powerhouse trout fishing has been slow but smallmouth bass to 2 1/2 pounds are hitting early before the sun gets too high on the water.
FRENCHMAN LAKE -- The lake is down to 38-percent capacity. Fishing has improved with the cooler water temps. Shore anglers are using Power Bait and worms at the dam. Trollers are running flasher/worm combos at the dam for rainbows measuring 14 to 18 inches.
GOLD LAKES BASIN -- Packer Lake and Upper Salmon Lake are scheduled for DFG plants this week.
ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR -- Planter rainbows, 10 to 12 inches, are hitting flasher or dodger/worm combos at 20 feet in the SE corner of the lake. Limits before noon are a good possibility.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR -- Nothing has changed here with the low water level. The fish are in the deep channel that runs from the ramp to the dam and small boaters and float tubers have the best chance at success.
JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR -- The lake is at 68-percent capacity. Not much to report, according to Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee. Shore anglers and trollers are still picking up a few fish.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park) -- The lake is at 59-percent capacity. The Macks are on the attack with several fish, 6 to 10 pounds, coming in for trollers working the second dam at 60 feet with Rapalas and Kastmasters.
LOON LAKE -- Trollers are catching rainbows and the occasional brown from the ramp to the dam on dodger/worm combos, J5 Rapalas, and Sep's watermelon Side Kick dodgers with a Sep's brown grub from the top down to 24 feet depending on the sunlight. The fish are up on top early then drop deeper as the sun gets higher. Fish are running 12 to 14 inches.
PROSSER LAKE -- Lake was planted last week and fishing has been good for the DFG rainbows. The smallmouth population is growing and the trout have to feed more aggressively to compete, so jigging with crawdad pattern plastics is getting more popular. Otherwise, use Power Bait and worms near the boat ramp. Trollers need to concentrate on the main body of the lake with the water level dropping in the creek arms.
RED LAKE -- There's still too much algae for good fishing. The area needs a good hard freeze to cure the problem. Small boaters can get out in deeper water for a better chance at success on the brookies and cuts.
SILVER LAKE -- The lake is full of fish, but the bite was slow for Dale Daneman at Foothill Guide Service who only landed 3 of 6 hookups last week. Daneman trolls Sep's brown grubs on most of his high elevation lake charters. The water level is dropping fast.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR -- The lake is down to 50-percent capacity. Will Fish Tackle reports that browns are hitting Rapalas in the early morning at the inlet and the dam. Macks are hitting No. 7 Rapalas in 75 to 100 feet of water at the dam. The kokanee are turning red and the bite has slowed.
TRUCKEE RIVER -- The General Section is running 118 cfs so concentrate on the faster deeper water with worms and spinners. The Special Section is pretty much all nymph fishing now with the cold nights putting an end to most insect hatches and terrestrial activity. An unweighted nymph with a weighted nymph on a dropper is popular.
UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR -- The lake is at 74-percent capacity. Dale Daneman reported that the kokanee bite is very slow but a few fish are being caught and some are running up to 17 inches. The fish are turning and have lost their scales but are still hard fighting and fat. Macks to 15 inches are hitting also.
WEST WALKER RIVER -- DFG plants are scheduled again for this week. Pressure is way down but the few anglers that are fishing have reported into the Toiyabe Motel that they are catching limits. The fish are mostly DFG planters with an occasional 1 3/4- to 2 1/4-pound Alpers trout from the Mono County plants. As the water cools and the fall bite turns on, fly fishermen will be hitting the river for a chance at a good brown.
- Western Outdoor News
www.wonews.com
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POINT SAN PABLO -- "This is the best halibut fishing I've ever seen," said Captain Frank Miller on the Fury. His group Friday went home with flatty limits, one angler catching two 20 pounders and a 10 pounder for a 50-pound limit. The fish came from just about everywhere they stopped, including the south end of San Pablo Bay. "We're doing great with those live sardines that everyone is complaining about!" said Miller.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Catfish gone crazy here, with a 33 pounder weighed at Glory Hole Sports, that fish just 3 pounds short of creating a new lake record. The angler who caught it was fishing at Peoria Flat, no details on bait. Others used live minnows and crawdads to score some good catfish action. Kokanee are probably done for the year, with the bite tough and few trying. Bass are cemented in their late summer pattern, with a morning-evening topwater bite. Mid-day, mud lines and deeper water produces best for anglers using plastic worms, Brush Hogs, spinnerbaits and Senkos.
DON PEDRO RESERVOIR -- With kokanee season finished in most lakes, anglers can turn to the big trout and salmon here. Guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing fished with dad Don on Thursday for four big rainbows to 4 pounds plus a pair of landlocked kings over 3 pounds. The trout hit a mix of gear including shad, Ex-Cel Spoons, Vance's Slim Fins and Shasta Tackle Cripplures. The trout were down around 50 feet, while the salmon were double that.
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen -- Superlatives keep coming in about the salmon fishing at the lower end of the Klamath River with the best action from Klamath Glen to Blue Creek. Anglers have been catching them boondoggling or drifting roe. They're also catching the occasional steelhead on spinners, nightcrawlers and roe. The Indian nets are out, and the fish are pouring in.
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, Lower -- Salmon action still going great in the estuary, but variable day-to-day based on how rough it is at the mouth, and weather the kings can enter or not. Still plenty of big kings, and almost all caught slow-trolling baits or spinner-rigs with bait, although some caught mooching first thing in the morning.
RUSSIAN RIVER -- Still catching plenty of smallmouth bass, and now the daytime bite isn't bad, either, since much of the river traffic in the form of water sports has slowed down.
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
TRINITY RIVER, Junction City -- It's just starting, but anglers are starting to catch decent numbers of bright fall run king salmon plus some steelhead from Douglas City to Big Bar. Steelhead seem to be concentrated a little farther downstream. Backtroll Kwikfish early, then switch to roe as the sun hits the water for the salmon. For steelhead, swing spinners deep, or backtroll Hot Shots and Wee Warts. Flies are working, too.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek -- It's been quite hot during the day -- at least until the weekend cool down-- but there are good numbers of both salmon and steelhead making the right hand turn from the Klamath to the Trinity. Fish shaded canyon holes and at the mouths of feeder streams early and late.
LAKE TAHOE -- Mike Neilsen of Tahoe Topliners reports he's had the best action of the season recently with early boat limits of Macks and kokanee everyday this week. Trolling for Macks with Bomber Long A's and jigging with No.4 BuzzBombs is producing limits of 3 to 6 pounders at first light from 115 to 160 feet deep. Kokanee action is red hot off Richardson Bay at 85 to 95 feet on No. 2 and No. 4 BuzzBombs. The kokes are turning red.
MOTHERLODE
AMADOR LAKE -- Bass fishing showed some improvement with plastic worms producing some good action, and conditions ripe for fall topwater action. A 15-pound catfish was weighed at the Amador Store--the fish took liver near the spillway. Trout plants are scheduled in another two or three weeks, thanks to cooling temps.
CAMANCHE LAKE -- While catfish are the normal hot news this time of year, some good trout reports put the whiskerfish in the back seat. Trolling the 32-foot level in the main lake produced a limit of 2 to 3 pounders for one angler, and another pair of anglers caught six fish to 6.5 pounds, also trolling. Top catfish stories are coming from campers and the north day use area.
LAKE McCLURE -- Bass action rated good for fish in the slot size, with small plastic worms working on main lake points. Trout trollers are also picking up bass, so the fish are suspending with the shad schools. Trolling action has been best for trout, the top action coming from about 40 to 60 feet down on silver/blue spoons and shad.
LAKE McSWAIN -- The Bondos 7th Annual VFW tournament resulted in some great trout action thanks to a plant the day before. Marilyn Kern at the Lake McSwain Marina said that most anglers caught limits, with bead spinners the dominant lure for boaters. Shore anglers scored well too, especially up near the headwaters, where there is an evening hatch and lots of risers. While anglers are still getting limits fishing with bait, all reporting in added that flies would have been better still.
LAKE PARDEE -- Cooling temperatures spurred the shore bite, but looks like the heat is coming back, so that may be temporary. Fred Dorman at Pardee Recreation said top spots have been behind the boathouse, at Stony Point Landing and near the woodpile. Water temps are at 73 near the marina, so things are cooling off. Trollers and anglers still fishing from boats have done well upriver. A few kokanee are still coming in.
NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR -- Local outdoor writer William Heinselman reported improving striper action, finally. He caught fish and saw several others caught around him. "I saw at least 10 fish caught on Thursday, had five hits and landed a 4 pounder myself," said Heinselman. He said the action is about 3 months behind normal. Striper chasers here troll with shad and minnow-imitation lures, or target the surface boils with topwater lures, spoons and flukes.
TULLOCH RESERVOIR -- Trout trolling should pick up here for anglers fishing 15 to 20 feet down with shad and small spoons that resemble shad. Bass anglers can find lots of small fish around the docks casting small plastic worms and tube baits, and a good morning and evening topwater bite for bigger fish.
NORTH SALTWATER
BERKELEY -- Dave Marquardt reported for the Happy Hooker, Captain Bob Wright at the helm finding 12 halibut to 22 pounds for 12 anglers on Saturday. Eddie Gallia on the New El Dorado III whacked a nice white seabass weighing 33 pounds.
BODEGA BAY -- Captain Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler reported on his first albacore effort last Thursday, and while the day started good with calm seas, they fought 15- to 20-knot winds after they arrived at the tuna grounds. The 15 anglers on board did manage 7 albacore to 25 pounds, the fish coming on three jig stops. The rest of the week focused on bottomfish, with great action and quality, plus one day a few extra lingcod, all from down around Point Reyes.
EMERYVILLE -- Another steady week for bottomfishing, and some more amazingly good scores of halibut. The flatty bite just keeps on keeping on. On the New Huck Finn, Wednesday and Thursday's trips both scored.
EUREKA -- Tuna appeared as close as 15 miles out in the middle of the week, then the weather came up with the storm that blew in on Sunday.
FORT BRAGG -- Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar is recuperating from his salmon adventures out of Eureka, but he said he will start offering abalone diving trips and possibly look around for some local Pacific halibut. Crab season opens on Nov. 7.
HALF MOON BAY -- Weather has impacted the bottomfishing occasionally, but overall, limits are the rule for anglers fishing the local reef spots. A groundswell slowed the weekend action, but there were some great days on the Queen Of Hearts prior, with limits on Thursday, and a banner day on Wednesday with limits for 14 and lots of big Bolinas, copper and black rockfish.
LOCH LOMOND -- Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star reported an interesting week of fishing with halibut and stripers the main goal, but a sturgeon spicing up the action on Sunday. "We went up to San Pablo Bay to see if the striped bass had arrived yet," said Hough. "There were no stripers, only one 51-inch sturgeon." The rest of the action revolved around halibut.
SAN PABLO BAY -- A couple early forays for striped bass got mixed reviews. One private boater trolling with two anglers caught and released 14 bass, but another caught only a couple shorties. One try by a party boat with live bait found no linesides, but a curious sturgeon, 51 inches, did take the bait.
SAUSALITO -- A couple nice halibut caught on the Salty Lady, including a 15 pounder and a 25 pounder, and plenty of smaller flatties, too.
SHELTER COVE -- The local boats are still running up to fish for bottomfish above the 40'10 line, and when the weather cooperates, so do the fish. Captain Trent Slate on Bite Me said they had some good days on lingcod, with limits for the boat. The tuna action has been off and on, dependent on the weather and warm water outside. Pacific halibut fishing has slowed, although a 40 pounder did bite for an angler on the Bite Me mid-week.
NORTH COAST LAKES
CLEAR LAKE -- The algae bloom is definitely on the decline and lessening with the cooler weather. Still, there are lots of areas with green surface algae, but it is clearing. Weeds are fading away quickly too, most are subsurface and not a hindrance to navigation or fishing. Water temperatures are hanging in the low to mid 70s depending on the time of day. The most consistent bite has been with a plastic worm fished on either a drop-shot or the flick shake. The topwater bite has been off and on, but if you stick with it, you will catch fish. Ricos, spooks, and frogs have been the most productive choices.
LAKE BERRYESSA -- Look for schools of bait with bigger fish around them and you're in the bass game. The cooler weather will have these fish on a fall bite soon. Spooks and poppers along the weed edges of the main body and in the Narrows will be good starters and then switch to plastics like Robo Worms in Aaron's Magic fished on a Carolina-rig worked over rock piles in about 20 to 30 feet of water. Don't forget your spoons, as they have also been producing some nice bass.
UPPER BLUE LAKE -- Larger trout from a previous private plant are on the east basin side where anglers are finding fair results trolling down to 39 feet with a flasher and worm or using deepwater flies. Bass anglers are catching 3 to 5 pounders in the brush areas along the shoreline with crankbaits in the mornings and evenings.
LAKE SONOMA -- Bass fishing was still slow here, but with cooler nights there have been some topwater and drop-shot bass caught here. Big catfish are a nighttime favorite of campers here and panfish are coming up for red worms. A nice 5-pound steelie was caught here recently off the shoreline. If you're trolling, go down 40 to 50 feet.
INDIAN VALLEY RESERVOIR -- Tubes and kayakers worked the shoreline for bass with good results. Another plus here are the big catfish.
DELTA REGION
SACRAMENTO RIVER side -- Striper and sturgeon fishing should remain good despite larger tides, especially on the afternoon incoming tides. Baits to consider include eel and roe for sturgeon, but ghost and grass shrimp should continue to be affective for both.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side -- Lures such as Rat-L-Traps produced stripers to 30 inches from Sherman Lake to the Broad Slough area and up into Franks Tract. Bait anglers faired just as well using small sardines, as the good shad have been hard to come by, and gobi's are not available yet. Sturgeon fishing picked up on grass shrimp but cured ghost shrimp or salmon roe also worked from the Mothball Fleet on up.
NORTHEASTERN AREA
LAKE ALMANOR -- What a difference a week makes! Smallies, rainbow and brown trout, plus salmon were all on tap, although the salmon bite was slower than the trout bite. The lake will start to turn over soon and a surface bite is already evident. Start your trolling efforts with a worm first and once the temperature starts to come up, switch to lures such as Needlefish in pearl colors off downriggers set at 20 to 30 feet or just leadcore four or five colors out.
BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR -- No reports, but typically P. G. & E. starts to draw the lake down at this time so you can expect lower water levels. Most fish will continue to be caught in the boat launch area of the lake or off the dam in deeper water. Power Bait, lures, and worms will continue to produce good action. Topwater action should improve in the evenings in the shallows near the boat launch area as the water temperature cools. Try PMD nymphs and cripple patterns then.
BAUM LAKE -- Still good hatches of PMD's, caddis, callibaetis, and trico's on the water, with pheasant tails doing best for nymph fishermen. Kastmasters are working well, but any lure in a trout pattern should work. Nightcrawlers and salmon eggs are working for the bait fishermen but rainbow Power Bait is also working very well currently.
BRITTON LAKE -- Smallies are still the best bet in the mornings and evenings, but the crappie bite has slowed.
BURNEY CREEK -- Above the falls has been quite productive with lures and nightcrawlers. Below the falls, good results were found with pt's and copper John nymphs. Fish continue to rise for the caddis hatch in the evenings.
CASSEL FOREBAY--The canal above Powerhouse No.1 continues to provide some excellent fishing with spinners and Power Bait the preferred methods to take some nice rainbow and brook trout this past week. Early mornings and early evenings remain the most productive times to fish. Pressure on this area remains low to moderate, so this is a good bet for some quality fishing. Fly-fishing was excellent with black or olive crystal buggers and red copper Johns catching some big rainbows and brookies. The topwater bite continues to be good with the best action in the early mornings and late evenings.
EAGLE LAKE -- Time to come back up, as trout are moving into shallower waters. Troll Sep's watermelon, amber, or brown grubs 5 feet deep in waters 7 to 15 feet deep and baits set 150 feet behind the boat, or use a side planner. The Artic Fox trolling flies in the Tui Chub pattern are also producing fish at the same depths. Anchor up in 15 to 20 feet of water and drop threaded nightcrawlers down 8 to 10 feet deep between Pelican Point and the Youth Camp Point, where trollers and bobber anglers will have to share space now.
FALL RIVER WILD TROUT AREA -- Fishing reports have been fair with PMD's, rusty spinners, woolly buggers and zugs for nymphs.
HAT CREEK WILD TROUT AREA -- The riffle has been best fished with pt's, birdsnest, or hare's ear. Look for PMD's, caddis, and callibaetis with the warmer temperatures coming back. Reports indicate fishing/catching has been slow.
UPPER HAT CREEK -- Many limits were taken as well as some very nice brook trout in the 3- to 5-pound class. Most fish were taken on worms, eggs, and Panther Martins. The pressure should remain light to moderate throughout the month of September, but the fishing should be good as DFG continues weekly plants. Fly-fishing on the upper creek was fair on gold crystal buggers and copper Johns. As always, fish deep here to catch more fish.
LEWISTON RESERVOIR -- Best time to be on the water here has been between 6-8 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. as it cools down. Trout trollers are using salmon and white eggs 10 to 15 feet down while fly anglers used woolly buggers or black/purple leeches for kokes.
PIT RIVER -- No reports this week, though several fishermen inquiring about access information here at Vaughn's Sporting Goods in Burney.
MANZANITA LAKE -- Fishing was very good with most activity happening in the early morning and late afternoons. Flying red ants were abundant and ant imitations were the hot fly to use. Callibaetis cripples, PMD's, and red copper Johns were also taking fish. Topwater action should continue to be good through September as long as the weather holds. Remember to heed the special fishing restrictions for this lake.
TRINITY RESERVOIR -- The lake is down more than 100 feet and dropping about 4 inches per day. With all the cruisers and jet skis the water has been muddied up and fishing was tough. Mud lines develop as early as 10 a.m. on weekends when the skiers hit the lake. A few bass were found near steep banks using dark colored plastics. Everything is out of the water including the rock plies up at the north end. Trinity is only at 45 percent of capacity and still falling.
LAKE SHASTA -- Fishing on the Sacramento arm at Goose Neck, anglers found a large school of fish at 90 feet but couldn't get them to bite until late afternoon. Apexes, HumDingers and Wiggle Hoochies with sling blades and Pro-Cure scent produced trout and salmon to 5.3 pounds and 22 inches long. Dart-headed worms in dark colors provided bass averaging 1 1/4 pounds at 25 feet up in the Squaw Creek arm on the rocky side of Ski Island in shady areas.
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS
AMERICAN RIVER -- Water temps are dropping with the colder nights but the day time heat is still keeping most anglers from making the hike into the access spots along the Middle and North Forks. For those that make the effort, rainbows and browns are holding in the deep pools.
BULLARDS BAR -- The lake is down to 66-percent capacity. Lots of bass are in the marina and at the point out past the houseboats. The spots are loading up on baby bluegill and running up o 4 pounds. Some trout action, but it has been spotty.
CAMP FAR WEST -- Launching is now off the old gravel ramp. Bass action has been pretty good for anglers concentrating on the brushy areas that are starting to show along the banks as the water drops. The better fish are running 3 to 4 pounds and hitting worms and jigs. Catfish are still hitting at night on standard baits.
COLLINS LAKE -- The lake is now down 37 feet from full. Fishing is improving as the water cools off, though early morning and night are still the best time to try for trout, catfish and sunfish. Bait anglers are doing well in Elmer's Cove, the Bridge and the boat docks. Trollers are still connecting early in the morning working Wobbler spoons and flasher/worm combos along the east side and the dam. Big fish of the week was a 10 1/2-pound catfish caught by Jerry Freeman in Elmer's Cove on sardines.
ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR -- The lake is at 94-percent capacity. Will Fish Tackle reports that trollers are catching limits of 10- to 12-inch rainbows at the dam trolling gold blade/black-yellow dot Panther Martins at 40 to 50 feet. With the lake so high, boaters are running all the way up to Missouri Bar and Rice's Crossing and drifting worms along the bottom in 10 feet of water for rainbows running 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. There will be an Army Corps sponsored "Lake Cleanup Day" on Sept. 19. Volunteers are needed to clean up trash around the lake and boaters are encouraged to come. Meet at the Army Corp ramp at the dam at 8:30 a.m. A barecue lunch will be provided for the workers by the Army Corps.
FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- Camper pressure is way down and few reports were available. With the colder nights, the bite should be improving as the water temps drop. Trollers should try along the dam and near the inlet in the early morning with Rapalas and flasher/worm combos.
FULLER LAKE -- Lake was planted this past week and trollers and shore anglers are doing well. Trollers are catching limits on flasher or dodger/worm combos while Power Bait and worms are working for the shore anglers at the dam and day-use access.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR -- Lake is at 69-percent capacity. Vertical jiggers are still catching some smaller Macks at the dam at 60 to 80 feet on Gibbs Minnows and Crippled Herring. Some kokanee are being caught trolling and jigging but the kokes are starting to 'turn' in preparation for spawning. Browns are falling for Rapalas in the early morning at the powerhouse and the inlet.
LAKE OROVILLE -- The lake is at 38-percent capacity. The discharge rate has slowed from 1 to 2 feet per day to 5 to 9 inches per day. Most the local anglers are concentrating on the steelhead and striper action in the Feather River so there are few reports coming in. Bass and catfish action should be improving as the water temp drops. Drop-shot worms are good for the bass and mackerel and anchovies are the choice for those after the cats.
ROLLINS LAKE -- Bass to 2 pounds are hitting jigs on the rocky points. Brown trout are hitting for boaters drifting worms and Power Bait up at the inlet of the Bear River. Catfish action has been good at night off the docks at Long Ravine.
SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE -- Scott's Flat Lake reported very slow action for any kind of fishing this past week. DFG has cleared the lake to resume trout plants but won't start planting until 2010.
SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR -- Foresthill Ranger Station reported very little success for anglers here. Bass and bluegill still provide a chance for success while you're having a picnic at the nicely maintained day-use areas.
SPAULDING LAKE -- Trollers are catching limits of kings, 1 1/2 to 3 pounds, trolling chrome dodger/threaded worm combos in front of the powerhouse at 70 feet. Troll slow, .8- to 1.2-mph, with the rig set back 100 feet from the downrigger weight.
STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR -- Water levels are down but the temps are dropping with the colder nights. Bass and catfish are still the only hope for anglers coming here. Hopefully the DFG will resume planting here when they finish their endangered species surveys.
THERMOLITO AFTERBAY -- Still some decent bass action on the tule banks with Senkos, but most of the locals are hitting the steelhead and stripers on the river below the Afterbay.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
AMERICAN RIVER -- Flows went down to 500 cubic feet per second for a short while to install the pickets for the weir at the bottom of the fish ladder at Nimbus Dam, and took already poor striper and steelhead fishing down with them. Several accesses have been closed such as the one at the lower end of Sailor Bar Park, and Grist Mill, which is a popular launch and takeout spot for drift boats. Flows were raised back to 2,000 cfs.
FEATHER RIVER--Steelhead fishing was lousy in the Low Flow Section, but some nice stripers were caught in the Outlet on swim baits, poppers, and bombers. More stripers were being caught around Shanghai Bend. Fish early and late for the best odds.
FOLSOM LAKE -- Bass fishing was spotty with no real pattern. Best chances seemed to be to work jigs and plastic worms over a range of depths from 15 to 35 feet deep over flats and rocky points. With boat traffic easing off after Labor Day, bass should be more willing to come into the shallows at least early and late. Not many people have been trying for trout, but Bud Pratt, striped bass expert at Sacramento Pro Tackle has been making forays to Folsom for a change of pace and catching a few trout between 50 and 60 feet on Speedy Shiners in blue and silver by the dam. He's been fishing them naked (no dodger or blades).
MATHER LAKE -- A few bass were being caught out of personal craft (needed because heavy weeds make it almost impossible to fish from shore). Try top water plugs, jerk baits and Senkos early and late.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento -- About the only word of quasi-decent striper fishing was coming from around Courtland where fishers were taking a few barely legal-sized stripers on mudsuckers. A better bet was to fish for catfish in the main river, sloughs, Port of Sacramento and Sutter Bypass. In addition to the usual catfish baits, try freshly dead minnows.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Knight's Landing--There were a few reports, not many, of mostly keeper-sized stripers being caught between Knight's Landing and Colusa on streamer flies and minnows. An occasional larger fish in the 20-pound class was being hooked as well, but, so far, fishing for bigger stripers has not measured up either in size or numbers to last year's run.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding -- Fly fishermen continued to catch some nice trout plus the occasional steelhead by dead-drifting nymphs like prince's, pheasant tails, and copper Johns under indicators. Spin fishermen also were scoring on Glo-Bugs with or without a bit of roe, night crawlers, and crickets.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Upper -- With days so hot, most of the trout activity was occurring early and late and in the upper parts of the Sac around Dunsmuir. Dead-drift prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and copper John's deep, on short lines into pocket water. Use lots of weight.
SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS
BLUE LAKES -- Upper Blue Lake is scheduled for a DFG plant this week. Not a lot of pressure here since Labor Day weekend, so few reports were available from Woodfords Station.
BOCA LAKE -- The lake is at 65-percent capacity. Lake was planted last week and the bite is much improved. Shore anglers are doing well at the boat ramp and on the beach off the left side of the dam with worms, Power Bait, Rooster Tails and a Kastmaster. Trollers are using a No.7 crawdad Rapala or a pumpkin Gulp! Minnow behind a dodger.
CAPLES LAKE -- The concrete boat ramp is now out of the water and launching will be available off the gravel beach through October. The big EID trophy fish are still being caught with Andy Azevedo and Dennis Garcia of Ceres landing a 6 pounder and two 8 pounders on a bobber/worm rig at the spillway this past week. Shore anglers are doing well for quick limits of 10- to 12-inch rainbows on Power Bait, worms, and lures from the dam and spillway. Trollers are catching limits of small planters on dodger/worm combos. Traffic has slowed down here since Labor Day.
CARSON RIVER (East, West) -- The West Fork got a good rain over the weekend. The water is still low and clear, but a few fish are being caught by experienced anglers. The East Fork has good water flows and received 1450 pounds of 3-pound average rainbows this past week from Alpine County. Jackie Lima came into Carson River Resort with 3 big trout: 6.2, 3.7 and 3.5 pounds. Alpine County has three more big plants scheduled through the end of October.
DAVIS LAKE -- The lake is down to 52-percent capacity. The water is cooling down with the colder nights, which is helping the trout bite. Ed Dillard reported catching 15 to 28 fish on his 4-hour charters using copper/red Dick Nites, metallic perch Needlefish, and red Rainbow Runners. Dillard is trolling from 8 to 16 feet deep from the Honker ramp to the island. Most of the rainbows measure 12 to 13 inches with one or two good fish, 18 to 20 inches, per trip. Fly casters are using cinnamon wooly buggers in 8 feet of water. No word on shore fishing, but it had been improving with the lower water temp (64-degrees) and should continue to do so.
DONNER LAKE -- The lake was planted last week and all the public piers are good, especially Pier 13. The boat ramp is also good for shore angler using Power Bait and worms. Trollers are using a J7 gold/black Rapala or rainbow pattern Rapala for Macks that have moved up shallow to feed on the new planters.
FEATHER RIVER CANYON -- Plenty of anglers just not many fish being caught. It's been two weeks since the last DFG plant and the pressure has taken its toll. Caribou Powerhouse trout fishing has been slow but smallmouth bass to 2 1/2 pounds are hitting early before the sun gets too high on the water.
FRENCHMAN LAKE -- The lake is down to 38-percent capacity. Fishing has improved with the cooler water temps. Shore anglers are using Power Bait and worms at the dam. Trollers are running flasher/worm combos at the dam for rainbows measuring 14 to 18 inches.
GOLD LAKES BASIN -- Packer Lake and Upper Salmon Lake are scheduled for DFG plants this week.
ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR -- Planter rainbows, 10 to 12 inches, are hitting flasher or dodger/worm combos at 20 feet in the SE corner of the lake. Limits before noon are a good possibility.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR -- Nothing has changed here with the low water level. The fish are in the deep channel that runs from the ramp to the dam and small boaters and float tubers have the best chance at success.
JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR -- The lake is at 68-percent capacity. Not much to report, according to Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee. Shore anglers and trollers are still picking up a few fish.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park) -- The lake is at 59-percent capacity. The Macks are on the attack with several fish, 6 to 10 pounds, coming in for trollers working the second dam at 60 feet with Rapalas and Kastmasters.
LOON LAKE -- Trollers are catching rainbows and the occasional brown from the ramp to the dam on dodger/worm combos, J5 Rapalas, and Sep's watermelon Side Kick dodgers with a Sep's brown grub from the top down to 24 feet depending on the sunlight. The fish are up on top early then drop deeper as the sun gets higher. Fish are running 12 to 14 inches.
PROSSER LAKE -- Lake was planted last week and fishing has been good for the DFG rainbows. The smallmouth population is growing and the trout have to feed more aggressively to compete, so jigging with crawdad pattern plastics is getting more popular. Otherwise, use Power Bait and worms near the boat ramp. Trollers need to concentrate on the main body of the lake with the water level dropping in the creek arms.
RED LAKE -- There's still too much algae for good fishing. The area needs a good hard freeze to cure the problem. Small boaters can get out in deeper water for a better chance at success on the brookies and cuts.
SILVER LAKE -- The lake is full of fish, but the bite was slow for Dale Daneman at Foothill Guide Service who only landed 3 of 6 hookups last week. Daneman trolls Sep's brown grubs on most of his high elevation lake charters. The water level is dropping fast.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR -- The lake is down to 50-percent capacity. Will Fish Tackle reports that browns are hitting Rapalas in the early morning at the inlet and the dam. Macks are hitting No. 7 Rapalas in 75 to 100 feet of water at the dam. The kokanee are turning red and the bite has slowed.
TRUCKEE RIVER -- The General Section is running 118 cfs so concentrate on the faster deeper water with worms and spinners. The Special Section is pretty much all nymph fishing now with the cold nights putting an end to most insect hatches and terrestrial activity. An unweighted nymph with a weighted nymph on a dropper is popular.
UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR -- The lake is at 74-percent capacity. Dale Daneman reported that the kokanee bite is very slow but a few fish are being caught and some are running up to 17 inches. The fish are turning and have lost their scales but are still hard fighting and fat. Macks to 15 inches are hitting also.
WEST WALKER RIVER -- DFG plants are scheduled again for this week. Pressure is way down but the few anglers that are fishing have reported into the Toiyabe Motel that they are catching limits. The fish are mostly DFG planters with an occasional 1 3/4- to 2 1/4-pound Alpers trout from the Mono County plants. As the water cools and the fall bite turns on, fly fishermen will be hitting the river for a chance at a good brown.
- Western Outdoor News
www.wonews.com
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