NORTH COAST RIVERS

ROGUE RIVER, Upper-There have been some fall kings showing up for anglers working Kwikfish and roe below Gold Ray Dam. Upstream, the steelie bite is showing definite signs of life from Tou Velle Park on up for anglers swinging Silver Hiltons and Brindle Bugs and drifting eggs and stones under indicators.

ROGUE RIVER, Lower-The king bite at the mouth is perking up in the evenings for anglers trolling plug-cut herring and anchovy spinnerbaits. No real toads lately, though there have been some really nice coho to 15 pounds in the mix as well. Just remember to release all wild silvers!

RUSSIAN RIVER-Low, warm and virtually fishless – unless you’re into chasing half-pint smallmouth on light tackle.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen-According to Rivers West Outfitters, there are so many Indian gill nets killing salmon and blocking the river that a boat can’t negotiate down to the mouth. There weren’t so many on Sunday near the shop, good news, but the Indians had only moved them farther upriver, bad news. Even so, excellent halfpounder steelhead action on the smaller fish that wiggle through the nets, and also big numbers of jack salmon with the occasional escapee adult.

TRINITY RIVER, DOUGLAS CITY—Good action continues on the first part of the fall run salmon, but mostly jacks that escaped the nets at the mouth. There are some decent adults showing, though, along with some steelhead in the faster water. Target what you want, where you want: faster runs for steelies, deeper holes for salmon. Flows are 450 cfs.

TRINITY RIVER, JUNCTION CITY-WON staffer Bill Karr and friend Shelley Larson fished with guide Dave Jacobs of Professional Guide Service on Friday afternoon from the shore at the Cable Hole using roe for an 11-pound king, and they drifted the next morning to Pigeon Point for a pair of jacks to 5 pounds, and few missed steelies on K15 Kwikfish. Very smoky from backfires, but that’s expected to diminish this week now that the fires are under control. There were no other boats fishing the entire stretch, but rafters began about 10 a.m.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-That 50-pound striper really brought out the crowds, and while they didn’t score any really big fish, there were a surprisingly large number of 3- to 5-pound fish finding their way into creels. The fish were hitting most anything offered, from early and late topwater to deeper swimbaits, to cut baits, pileworms and jumbo minnows. It was best from the Hazel Bridge downstream.

FEATHER RIVER-Steelhead are still being caught in the low flow by bait-tossers using nightcrawlers or roe, and the fly anglers are using smaller nymphs to entice the fish. They haven’t been big fish, generally, but there are some to about 7 pounds showing now and then. Stripers are still around downstream by Shanghai Bend and available for those throwing Zara Spooks early or late, or using swimbaits of cut bait during the day. Any deep water section will hold stripers.
FOLSOM LAKE-The early and late topwater bass bite has been good for fish from 2 to 5 pounds, then anglers need to switch to Brush Hawgs, according to Yee Vang at Broadway Bait Rod and Gun. He said you can expect about a fish an hour. Not much word on other species, but it’s the time of year for catfish to be on a good bite here, too. Remember, the entire lake is now 5 mph.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-That 50-pound striper last week brought out the anglers in force, and they found surprisingly good action on stripers from 3 to 5 pounds all over the place-from the Hwy. 80 bridge upstream past Discovery Park, and up into the American. There are still a lot of smaller bass, but there have been enough keepers to keep everyone happy. Trollers are finding fish, as well as baitdunkers using anchovies, pileworms and jumbo minnows.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-Rainbow trout fishing continues good to very good for those back-trolling Hot Shots or swinging flies, all the way down to Anderson. Small nymphs are still working if they’re caddis, but only limited dry fly action.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-No slowdown on the halibut action with near limits on one trip on the California Dawn for 16 anglers, and flatties to 27 pounds. What didn’t happen was the striped bass action, either at the Brothers nor at Mel’s Reef. On the Happy Hooker, Captain Bob Wright reported a good save on Saturday when the stripers didn’t bite, finding 26 halibut. Earlier in the week, a Sacramento woman nailed a 33-pound halibut on the Happy Hooker. The boats are also running rockfish trips, finding some good action up the Marin Coast as well as at the Farallones.

BODEGA BAY- Still great action on the rockfish north of the Head, with most anglers fishing Fort Ross to Timber Cove. Plenty of black, blue and red rockfish and the occasional lingcod. Night surf smelt are still running at the mouth of the Russian, with netters finding near limits.

EMERYVILLE-Halibut counts remained high with one of the top trips on Wednesday when 27 anglers caught 53 halibut to 40 pounds on the New Huck Finn, a nice mix of both quantity and quality. The boats are also tapping rockfish and lingcod at the Farallon Islands, with limits the rule on rockfish and a half dozen lings on most trips. A typical trip was on the Captain Hook on Saturday when 24 anglers caught rockfish limits and 9 lingcod, while 26 anglers on the New Superfish caught rockfish limits and 10 lingcod to 12 pounds.

EUREKA-Calm seas on the weekend provided the conditions needed for excellent action at Cape Mendocino and outside of Trinidad for rockfish and lingcod. The Pacific halibut are still coming in, the most recent reports from 100 to 200 feet of water off of Trinidad. Surf fishing is good for redtail surfperch and day surf smelt, but the night smelt runs are disappearing. California halibut fishing in Humboldt Bay has been slow, but the fish caught have been better quality.

FORT BRAGG-Still off and on action on the bottomfishing, but the anglers who stick with it can generally get fish. Some jumbos showed up on the Telstar, including a 14-pound lingcod and a couple of big vermilion rockfish. Top spots have been off of Virgin Creek and Hair Creek. Most of the rockfish are still the bottom dwellers, although on Thursday morning, the school fish cooperated and the Telstar’s anglers caught some big blacks and blues.

HALF MOON BAY-Some of the bigger fish are starting to show on the bottomfishing efforts, with some lingcod and halibut sprucing up the catch. On the Queen Of Hearts, anglers have caught halibut to 22 pounds, lingcod to 17 pounds and cabezon to 14 pounds. Most of the action is coming from Bean Hollow, Pescadero or Pigeon Point.

SAN FRANCISCO-Captain Steve Talmadge of Flash Fishing was back at it again, this time finding halibut for a group of newbies who caught 12 despite the learning curve, while on Tuesday, a group of four anglers caught 8 halibut. The action came from South San Francisco Bay.

SHELTER COVE-Great weather conditions over the weekend meant a good chance at the big Pacific halibut again, and those putting in the effort caught rockfish limits. Lingcod continue to suffer from lockjaw.

SUISUN BAY-Not a lot of effort, but there were a few anglers trying for sturgeon and stripers during the big full moon tides and finding some fair action. Top bet was salmon roe for the sturgeon. Captain Kevin Yost on Lucky Strike will be heading back to Pittsburg to start his sturgeon season on Labor Day weekend. “Got plenty of roe in the freezer. From the looks of it, the sturgeon season this fall should mirror our great season in 07!”

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE-According to Clear Lake Guide Service, this past week continued to be a tough one, with many guides only putting together 10 to 20 fish a day. Most of the fish ran in the 2-pound range, with an occasional big fish weighing in at around 4 pounds. One productive method during the day has been drop-shotting plastic worms, either Robo Worms or Zoom trick or finesse worms in a variety of colors, 12 to 20 feet down. The Narrows area of the lake is starting to produce some consistent action, as the silverside minnows are beginning to show up in big numbers. Guide Larry Hemphill caught a 9-lb., 14-oz. bass at the top end of the lake on a 10-inch black Power Worm, by working the night bite.

LAKE BERRYESSA- Captain Rene Villanueva of Steelie Dan’s Fishing Guide Service netted an 18 incher as well as 6 kings, 2 kokanee, and trout, all caught on the main body of the lake.

UPPER BLUE LAKE-Looks like it’s not getting a plant this month, according to a local paper, but The Narrows Resort reported anglers, “in the know” had fair success by trolling a flasher/worm or Needlefish 35 feet down. Bass to 6 1/2 pounds where found along the tree line and tules with spinnerbaits, and were good looking fish.

LAKE SONOMA- According to the Outdoor Pro Shop in Rohnert Park, Cherry Creek was good for drop-shot bass to 5 pounds. The first and last hours of the day were best for bass. Catfishing was good at both ends of the lake, as well as at the dam and public launch ramp.

LAKE MENDOCINO–A few stripers were taken by trollers using downriggers during the last hour before dark, with some of the stripers weighing as much as 15 pounds.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-Almanor Fishing Adventures said the Rec. 1 area was very good, as the pond smelt are just outside the log boom in front of the osprey nest and the browns are activity feed from first light till 11:00 am. Anglers found good action around Spar Buoy, for mostly brown trout, to 4.9 pounds on a large threaded crawler with Pro-Cure Trophy Trout gel. Crickets and mealworms, or double crickets off the bottom. Big Springs will be your best bet for the salmon, with premium anchovy tails and Pro-Cure’s Krill Scent, four to eight cranks off the bottom or crawlers. Expect to see some browns in there as well. Reports have shown a mix of browns and rainbows, with an occasional salmon in the Big Springs area.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR-Rim Rock Ranch reported baitfishing here is still good but has slowed somewhat. Worms and Power Bait are still catching fish but Kastmasters and Z-Rays have also done well. Most trout fish range in the 10- to 14-inch class but some larger fish were taken as well. The points and dam areas produced the best, so fish the transition zones into deeper water. Fly-fishing is still a bit erratic, with more activity mid-morning. PG&E. started to draw the lake down a bit so the time to fish is now. Though fewer fish seem to be working the surface and major hatches are not as prevalent, you can still catch trout on Adams, mosquitoes, orange stimulators and nymph patterns. A lot of the fish have gone deep, so try a fast sinking line, and get into the channels with leeches, crystal buggers, and nymphs to entice the big ones that hold deep.

BAUM LAKE–The Hat No. 1 Powerhouse bridge at Baum Lake has been closed to foot-traffic, thus fishermen must access from the hatchery side of the bridge only. According to Vaughn’s Sporting Goods, there are still decent hatches of callibaetis, PMD’s, and caddis. Nymph anglers had the best luck. Try a pheasant tail or a copper John in red. Bait anglers are still doing best on ‘crawlers or Power Bait, while lure anglers are doing best on Panther Martins and Kastmasters. Some nice trout up to 3 pounds are being taken.

BRITTON LAKE- The crappie bite is definitely off. Anglers are unsure if it is the hot weather, the weed growth on the lake, or just plain bad luck, but catches are almost nil currently.

CASSEL FOREBAY- Vaughn’s Sporting Goods reported that still quite a few caddis and a few callibaetis are appearing. Fly-fishermen are taking a few fish on dries, but patience is a must. Fish early morning and late evenings for the best chance of hooking up. Bait anglers are using ‘crawlers and salmon eggs, while lure anglers are doing best on Rooster Tails and Panther Martins.

EAGLE LAKE- Tom Muller of Eagle Lake Charters said fishing was a little slower the last few days and that the bite has been later, like from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Bobber fishing was difficult, folks should try a free-line, which will slowly pass through the depths and could increase success. Shasta Tackle’s pink Scorpion and a threaded worm have gotten solid hookups because of the trailing hook. Fish in 40 to 50 feet of water and down 30 feet. The west side, just south of Shrimp Island, Minors Bay, and the Eagles Nest are still good for both bobber and trolling. The bite will probably be later for the next week until we get into the waning moon.

FALL RIVER- Still good hatches in the mornings, though nymph anglers are doing okay all day.

HAT CREEK WILD TROUT AREA-You’ll find fairly good hatches of PMD’s, caddis, callibaetis, and spinners during the mid-day when it’s not too smoky. Nymph anglers are doing best with birdsnest and copper John’s in red or green.

UPPER HAT CREEK- Bait fishermen have been catching lots of fish on worms, eggs, and Power Bait. For the lure fisherman, Panther Martins and small Kastmasters have worked well. Fly -fishing on the upper creek improved and some fishermen are starting to catch more fish on top. Hatches of black caddis are happening and grasshoppers have been spotted, so the action will definitely pick up in the area. Even so, the best fly-fishing on the upper creek usually involves fishing deep, with crystal buggers, nymphs and bead head patterns, so add more weight and get it down.

LEWISTON RESERVOIR-Fishing by the dock at Pine Cove Marina found trout to 20 inches with nightcrawlers, though fishing pressure has been light all summer due to area fires. Roads have been closed off and on. Check CHP website for closures.

MANZANITA LAKE- Good hatches equal good fish activity, the only thing that was tough was the catching. With cooler nights this year the better hatch is mid-morning. By afternoon, the wind can sometimes affect the fishing. Callibaetis cripples, PMD nymphs and dries caught fish as well as various mayfly and midge imitations. Smaller fly patterns seem to work better later in the season, so try various midge patterns to improve the take. Weed growth is not as bad as past years but is still pretty heavy in some areas of the lake. Remember to heed the special fishing restrictions for this lake.

McCLOUD LAKE/RIVER -A worm with a flasher for trolling or dark flies at about 20 feet are working best. Power Bait in rainbow is working from the banks with fish averaging 15 inches for mostly rainbows, but a few browns as well. The upper McCloud is doing well as they keep it well stocked.

PIT RIVER-Caddis pupa in shades of brown seem to be the ticket currently, though rubber legs are also picking up fish. Fishermen may want to keep a close watch out for bears that are frequenting the river banks in search of berries and other food. This time of year, sow bears can be dangerous if their cubs are with them.

LAKE SHASTA-A few managed to fish early and late in the day due to record hot temperatures, finding fair results for bass, trout, and a few salmon. Bass are suspended in about 30 feet of water but the addition of some “potential” cloud cover, according to Phil’s Props in Redding, could help extend the reaction bite to all day. Though the summer fish are smaller, baits like spinners, rip baits and topwater should continue to be productive. Crankbaits in a shad pattern are also worth a try. Trout and a few salmon averaged 16 inches and ran up to 2 pounds, according to Gary Miralles, of Shasta Tackle. The main body from Bridge Bay to the dam was good from 36 feet down to 100 feet. Dry Creek was still good for both salmon and trout, though the salmon are generally holding in the deeper waters.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR-Re-opened since the fire was out, but fishing here was only possible early, early in the day or late in the evening, as it is packed-quite literally-with waterskiers, jetboats, swimmers and others getting out of the heat.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-Just fair fishing along the Hwy 50 corridor. Again, for the hardy adventurer type, hike in to the Middle and North Forks for unpressured browns of lunker proportions.

BULLARDS BAR RESERVOIR-The heat and the traffic have made this a poor choice for anglers. Little encouraging word on the kokanee and trout and even the bass are on a tough bite.

CAMP FAR WEST LAKE-The bass and catfish are on a good bite and the stripers are starting to show for bait fishermen. One angler checked in with 18 fish, a mix of bass, catfish, and a couple keeper stripers. Shore anglers are doing well near the boat ramp for catfish at night on anchovies. The water level is down to 40 percent capacity and launching will be very tough in a couple weeks with the ramp almost out of water now.

COLLINS LAKE-Trout and catfish are hitting for anglers out in the late afternoon and at night. The rental boat docks is the hot spot to be after dark with trout, catfish, and bass all hitting bait. Use Power Bait for the trout, anchovies for the cats, and worms will get both the cats and some bass. Tuli Palma took an 11-pound cat off the docks and Paul Vistalli landed two big cats, a 16 1/2 and a 12 1/2, fishing late at night from the same place. Trollers are going up above the power lines pulling a dodger with a worm at 8 to 15 feet for fish up to 2 pounds in the early evening.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-Trout fishing is still good for small planters and some browns for bait anglers. Shore anglers and boaters are soaking worms for limits. One boater reported good action up in the Boston Bar area. Some bass have been seen cruising around.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-No recent plants make this a fair choice for success at best. Shore anglers rely on Power Bait and the trollers use flashers and worms.

FULLER LAKE-Planted last week so fishing should be good here for trollers who have more luck here than shore anglers because of the limited shore access.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-Trout and kokanee have been hitting for trollers at the upper end of the lake near the powerhouse and the inlet. Macks are near the dam for boaters deep jigging.

LAKE OROVILLE-The Bidwell ramp is the only ramp operational now. Bass are hitting on outside main lake points with the lake down to below 40 percent capacity and some coves getting too shallow. Jigs and worms are best very early or at night, with some crankbait and topwater action. The coho are deep with the hot, hot weather. Try the bridge and dam with anchovies and minnows mooched at 60 to 80 feet.

LITTLE GRASS VALLEY RESERVOIR-The kokanee bite is wide open for trollers working gold dodgers with pink Uncle Larry’s spinners tipped with pink corn at 35 to 50 feet.

ROLLINS LAKE-Catfish the best bet here on anchovies and nightcrawlers for fish up to 13 pounds recently. Trout and bass only fair at best.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-Trout planted last Friday. The trout are biting best up the river on Power Bait and worms. Catfishing is good all over the lake at night for anglers soaking hot dogs and chicken livers. There is still a lot of recreational traffic that can make fishing conditions tough during the day.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-No plants for some time, so only expect fair success for bait anglers using Power Bait and trollers pulling flasher/worm combos.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-Not planted for a couple of weeks, so the fishing is only fair for bait anglers and trollers.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-The water level is still up in the tules so the bass bite is better, but the weather has been so hot that fishing is only fair. Get out early or late for the best chances at success on frogs, buzzbaits, jigs and Senkos. Family anglers are heading out with the old minnow under a bobber for bass.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-Fishing is slow to nonexistent. Too warm, too low, and too much work for too few fish.

BLUE LAKES- Lower Blue is uncommonly full of water, and quite a few anglers caught fish using nightcrawlers and Power Bait off the bottom. No limits, but the action was steady. Upper blue is a lot lower, but there were still “a few fish caught” according to Dave Kirby at Woodford’s Station. He said one float tube fly fishermen reported in and said he caught and released 6 trout, all rainbows, in the 1- to 2-pound category.

CAPLES LAKE-The drawdown continues, but pressure from anglers had Eldorado Irrigation District and the DFG coming up with a 10-year plan, similar to Lake Davis, for bringing back the fishery, beginning Aug. 25 with staging for the movement of fish from Caples to Silver Lake. Tons of anglers showed up this weekend, but action wasn’t that great due to the full moon and fishing pressure. Launching is still possible off the beach beginning at 8 a.m. when the resort opens, and rentals are available. The lodge, cabins, store and marina are open until the end of October.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)–A few fish were caught this past weekend from the West Carson, according to Dave Kirby of Woodfords Station, including a 5 1/2-pound rainbow planter caught on a black 1/8th-ounce Panther Martin by Ty Bryson of Sacramento. Fish are still being planted, but the flows are way down and it’s a difficult fishery. Small cutthroats were planted, and anglers should take care in releasing them alive. The East Carson has more water and better flows, but still dropping and clear. Plants continue and anglers are still doing okay with light leader and a sneaky approach. Look for fish in the moving, oxygenated water and not necessarily in the deep holes.

DAVIS, LAKE-Definite slowdown (even more) except for a few bright spots, according to Dollard’s Sierra Market in Portola, like for Bob Crews who caught 4 fish to 2 1/2 pounds trolling Needlefish in metallic perch and firetiger at Lightning Tree in 20 to 22 feet of water on Tuesday, Aug. 12. And, fly fishermen have a good opportunity during a blood midge hatch in Jenkins Cove, beyond the weedbeds in the south portion of the cove, between 9 and 11 a.m. If those are the only two highlights, opportunities are limited at best.

DONNER LAKE-It’s a tough bite in weather like this, and the fish are all holding in the cooler water, wherever the heck that is. You know it’s deep. Mark Chamberlain of Mountain Hardware and Sports said that trollers have to get down to 90 or more feet to find a kokanee, and the Mackinaw action isn’t happening.

ICE HOUSE-Still full, amazingly, but subject to drawdown at any time! Fishing is fair to good for those on the water before and after the waterskiers and jetboats, but even then it’s not a great bite, just a fish here and there. Earlier in the week the bite was in front of the kids camp, but the waterski boats blew the bite off just after dawn.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Low and lots of moss, and not much happening at all. The fish are looking for and holding in cold water, and when an angler can find that there’s a fish or two to be caught. Early and late are the only chances for the shorebound.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-The lake is expected to get fresh water from the Caples Lake drawdown, and that should not only cool it down, but bring it up in elevation. Right now it’s still a smallmouth bass lake with some trout available early and late and on trout plant days near the launch ramp. Anglers are fishing off the Mormon Immigrant road alongside the southwest shoreline to avoid paying the entrance fees, especially since they fenced off access to the second dam area, which used to be a favorite fishing spot.

LOON LAKE- It’s close to 70 degrees at the surface here, and guide Kyle Neeser of Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service is going down 50 feet on downriggers to find the trout! He can’t believe this high elevation lake is this warm! He said it’s a little over 1/2 full, fishing is okay, but you have to watch for rocks while boating around the upper end and the north shoreline.

PROSSER LAKE- Smallmouth bass are the only option because they love this warm water, and anglers find them in the coves. Trout guys aren’t doing diddly, unless they can get down into the deepest, coldest parts of the lake.

RED LAKE-Dave Kirby at Woodford’s Station said the lake is virtually dead, and there’s no reports this time of year. Why? Because nobody is fishing. Why? Because the fish are deep and not actively feeding. They’re staying where it’s cool.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The heat is killing the fishing. Kokanee are down 90 to over 100 feet and even then tough to get to bite. You’ll find action slow and even then only if you keep searching and changing out lures. Smallmouth action is good, however, in the coves and ledges where they’re enjoying the warmer water.

LAKE TAHOE-Same kind of action that’s been going on, where the fishing is okay for Mackinaw, but they’re at various depths all over the lake, clear down to 300 feet, but beginning to school back up, finally. Look for lake trout from 3 to 6 pounds with the occasional bruiser coming out. Kokanee action remains good near the mouths of the inlets where they’re beginning to stage for the spawn.

TRUCKEE RIVER-Warm water flows and hot temperatures are keeping the fish in the main Truckee worrying more about survival than food, except for a few choice hours early and late. But the Little Truckee is much colder, coming from the bottom of the dam at Stampede, and it’s seeing a lot of pressure, requiring long leaders, extra fine tippet and a good drag, according to Mark Chamberlain of Mountain Hardware & Sports. He’s going to use a crawfish molt pattern Monday morning, as it’s that time of year.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-According to guide Kyle Neeser of Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service, the kokanee bite here has taken a major dump, with one exception: anglers who get there and get deep at first daylight might catch a few fish before the sun hits the water. When that happens, it’s over. The trout bite is nonexistent except for persistent anglers trolling way deep, or at the Powerhouse inlet when it’s moving water.