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-There’s been good days and there’s been great days in the estuary of the Rogue this past week, and Saturday morning was “red hot” until 1 p.m. when they got lockjaw. It’s back and forth day in and day out. A good bite also developed upstream at Lobster Creek. A few silvers showing up, too

RUSSIAN RIVER-Smallmouth bass can be found most anywhere there’s deeper water and structure in the river, in good numbers, and fish from 12 to 16 inches normally are caught. Rooster Tails are good, or other small spinner-bladed lures. This is a summer recording: change will occur when it rains.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-Not much going on here except for a few schoolie stripers picked up at the color change around the mouth of the river, according to Dennis Pfanner at Sacramento Pro Tackle. Yee Vangfrom Broadway Bait Rod and Gun said there are also a few stripers hitting Pencil Poppers and jumbo minnows at the Dredger Hole and between Howe and Watt. Flows went from 2500 cfs down to 500 cfs on Sept. 8 for clearing hazardous debris and installing the hatchery weir, then back up to 2,000 cfs on Sept. 9.

FEATHER RIVER-Pulse flows in the low flow have the water down from 61-66 degrees to 59-64 degrees, and there’s “pretty good numbers” of 3- to 5-pound steelhead in the low flow, along with some darker spring salmon showing up in the riffles to spawn, so the egg pattern is expected to develop. Rat-L-Traps downstream in the Outlet Hole are picking up some stripers that were pulled up by the increased flows. There was great night time striper action during the full moon around Boyd’s Pump to Nicholas Bridge and even Shanghai Bend.

FOLSOM LAKE-Hit and a miss for everything, according to Dennis Pfanner of Sacramento Pro Tackle, who said he’s been selling small shad that anglers use for slow rolling salmon, “but even that’s been slow,” he said. The ones they are getting are down 60 to 120 feet of water, mostly by the dam. For bass, it’s typical topwater in the a.m. and p.m., he said, then switch to spinnerbaits at the drop offs to 20 feet.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-There have been a few schoolie stripers caught at the water color change line at the mouth for anglers using jumbo minnows, and then up to the State Fairgrounds. Catfishing has been good using in quieter water areas around up and down the river.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona-Anglers fishing in two boats for smallmouth bass suddenly found themselves hooking 10- to 18-pound stripers in a 2-hour melee on small cranks. Is it the first good push of stripers into the river, or just a passing school? Up to now, anglers have been finding only a fish here and there, and nothing big.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-It’s still good trout fishing up here for wild rainbows averaging 2 to 4 pounds and the occasional steelie to 5 pounds. Most of the fly action is on drifted nymphs. Spin guys are throwing Glo-bugs with or without roe, ‘crawlers or lures.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Upper-The cooler weather is expected to improve the action up here, but currently it’s still best early and late, mostly fishing deeper and in the bottoms of riffles and in pocket water.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-The Goldeneye 2000 had a great trip on Saturday with limits of lingcod and near limits of rockfish in great ocean conditions. The lings hit whole sardines and mackerel. Captain James Smith on the California Dawn reported a good week with action outside and inside San Francisco Bay. A trip on Thursday got the jumbos, with an even mix of big halibut and lingcod for 32 fish total for 20 anglers. Later in the week, Cal Dawn found good action inside the bay on the Berkeley Flats, where his trips averaged three around with a few stripers sprinkled in.

BODEGA BAY- Bottomfishing remained good for anglers between the windy days, with rocky spots north and south of the harbor producing. Top spots were around Point Reyes on the south side, off Tomales Bay’s point and Fort Ross on the north side.

EMERYVILLE-Mostly rockfish trips, but there were a couple halibut efforts that produced good numbers of flatties despite the fast tides. On Friday, the New Huck Finn reported 42 halibut for 18 anglers, plus a striped bass. On Saturday, the Talisman had 15 halibut for six anglers. An even better day for variety was on Friday, when the New Salmon Queen scored rockfish limits, two lingcod, three halibut and five white seabass to 45 pounds.

EUREKA-The salmon season finished off with rough seas; the bite never did pick up, although a few salmon were caught from about the 220-foot contour out to the 15-mile mark, where some anglers were fishing as deep as 300 feet. The Sea Weasel had limits fishing like that, with downriggers. WON staffer Bud Neville fished on Wednesday on the Telstar, and out of 17 anglers, only two salmon were boated, both in the 13- to 14-pound class.

FORT BRAGG-Private boats tried for tuna, but were turned back due to weather. Abalone season is open, and you can still catch rockfish from shore.

HALF MOON BAY-After the ocean laid down, the action got hot. Wednesday was the top day on the Queen Of Hearts, when a great grade of rockfish filled sacks, including some nice Bolinas and copper rockfish; anyone who fished caught limits. All trips produced limits for the anglers who stuck with it, but boat limits were not the rule. A few lingcod including an 18 pounder caught on Monday sprinkled in the catch also. Top spots were the Ritz, Pigeon Point and Franklin.

LOCH LOMOND-Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star reported some surprisingly good halibut action while fishing the Berkeley Flats on Friday, with 23 halibut for 13 anglers. There were fish to 26.5 pounds caught, but most were either shakers or “clearly keepers,” in the 7- to 8-pound class.

SAN FRANCISCO-Captain Steve Talmadge on Flash Fishing reported okay action on the live bait trips, his most recent efforts finding fish inside San Francisco Bay (the weather was up outside). He found halibut to 21 pounds, most caught on live sardines.

SHELTER COVE-Salmon fishing remained tough, with fish holding deep. Above the 40′10 line the rockfish action was solid with limits the rule. Some good lingcod action also. No reports on the Pacific halibut, but when conditions are right, the boats will be targeting them.

SUISUN BAY-Captain Jeremy Kangas on Stickem reported more striped bass activity, with the fish moving in from the ocean and main bay downstream. He’s been getting them on bullheads, with several fish boated and released, including the big one caught by the captain, a 16 pounder.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BLUE LAKES-Upper Blue Lake was planted this past week by the DFG. Holiday weekend crowds were down in number with few reports available.

BOCA LAKE-A DFG trout plant is scheduled for this week. Water level is still good but it has been seasonally windy here and fishing is tough in a boat. Stay in the NW corner of the lake near the inlet for the best chance for a trout, especially early in the morning when winds are low.

CAPLES LAKE-Shore anglers and trollers are still doing well. Ben Lawson of Elk Grove caught a 5-pound EID rainbow off the shore at the spillway on Power Bait on a 15-inch leader/egg sinker rig. Justin Bare of El Dorado used a Mepp’s Spinner to land a 5 ½-pound EID rainbow from the same spot. Trollers are using a dodger/crawler combo at 25 feet for a mix of rainbows, brookies and browns.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-The East Fork received a plant of trophy fish from Alpine County and anglers are coming in with limits of trout averaging 3 pounds. Erika and Bryan Ruth of Galt brought in 8 fish that averaged 3 1/2 pounds apiece after culling out all the smaller fish. The West Fork also received an 800-pound trophy plant but low, clear flows make for much tougher fishing here.

DAVIS LAKE-The wind has been blowing 20 to 30 mph here all week making for very tough fishing. Ed Dillard got out one day last week and only caught 7 fish before getting chased off the water. He’s still trolling the copper/red Dick Nite at 12 to 16 feet from Honker ramp to the island and the fish are only 12 to 13 inches. Fly fishermen were shut out by the wind. Shore anglers had a tough time too.

DONNER LAKE- DFG trout plant is scheduled for this week. Fishing for rainbows has been slow, but the new planters will help a lot. The public piers and the area around the boat launch are best for the rainbows. Macks are hitting minnows, caught out of the lake in 120 feet of water. One angler caught 8 Macks, 4 to 8 pounds, on a 3-way swivel rig with a live minnow or a Berkley Gulp! Minnow.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-DFG planters are being caught out pretty quickly after the fish are stocked on the North Fork. Native fish to 5 pounds are starting to show up for anglers on the East Branch. A group of fly fishermen, students taking a fly casting class trying out their new skills, caught and released a number of trout to 20 inches in the East Branch this past week. The Caribou Powerhouse is still kicking out 2- to 3-pound rainbows at the powerhouse outlet.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-Colder night time temps have cooled off the water and the bite has improved considerably. Shore anglers using inflated nightcrawlers to get out of the weedy bottom are catching limits of 16- to 20-inch rainbows running 2 to 3 pounds. Trollers are picking up some limits on Needlefish and Dick Nite spoons at 25 to 30 feet near the dam.

GOLD LAKES BASIN-Upper Sardine and Upper Salmon lakes were fishing pretty well, but the trout were not very big. Fishing worms off the shore produced the best. Gold Lake had very small crowds, but some Bay Area anglers reported fishing from shore with worms and catching limits.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-Fishing was slow over the holiday weekend with no specific reports available from the Ice House Resort. Lots of wind this past week made fishing tough.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-The campgrounds were full over the holiday weekend, but only those anglers with small boats or float tubes who could get out to the channel between the dam and ramp were having much success.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR-The section from Pass Creek to the dam was fair for shore anglers throwing Roostert Tails and Kastmasters or soaking bait. Trollers working the dam at 30 to 50 feet with a Needlefish or Krocodile are picking up 12- to 15-inch rainbows with a chance at an occasional 18 incher.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-Fishing was reported to be very slow over the holiday weekend with the lake overrun with recreational boaters and watercraft.

LAKE TAHOE-Macks are hitting at 400 to 450 feet in the North and 160 to 200 feet deep in the South. Mickey Daniels is using Sling Blades and minnows, while Tahoe Topliners was trolling Bomber Long A’s. Kokanee are schooled up at 75 to 85 feet and falling for vertically jigged spoons or trolled dodgers and bugs or spinners at South Shore. The kokes are starting to turn.

LOON LAKE-Windy conditions made this an early morning choice only. Some fish being caught by shore anglers tossing spoons and Rapalas. Trollers getting out very early, if the wind permitted, had a chance with dodgers and worms at the dam for some nice rainbows.

PROSSER LAKE-A DFG trout plant is scheduled for this week. Water level has been dropped to winter pool. At the inlet end of the lake, the creek channels are accessible and the fish are holding in the deeper water. Shore anglers using nightcrawlers, Panther Martins, and Rooster Tails can pick up some 10- to 14-inch trout. The evening midge hatch is productive for fly casters in the same areas, though the smallmouth bite has dwindled for bass anglers.

RED LAKE-Lots of algae and very little pressure made for few reports of success.

SILVER LAKE-Trollers are still doing well in the deeper water with a flasher/worm combo. Wind has been a problem, so don’t take any unnecessary chances when boating.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-A DFG trout plant is scheduled for this week. Trout fishing is best early in the morning before the wind gets too bad. Trolling with a dodger and a Dick Nite has been producing from the ramp to the dam and into the cove to the left of the dam, according to Will Fish Tackle in Auburn. The Sagehen arm is producing some early morning browns on Rapalas, trolling for kokanee and macks has slowed with the best action on kokanee coming for boaters metering schools of fish and jigging spoons for a reaction bite. The kokes are starting to ‘turn’. Any Macks are at 80 to 90 feet, below the kokanee.

TRUCKEE RIVER-Flows are low in the General Section and anglers need to concentrate on the fast water running into the deeper pools with bait and spinners. Try a small Needlefish with a splitshot 6 inches above the spoon; it seems to have a very good action that fish are hitting. The Special Section has been good with a hopper/dropper set up on windy days which has been every day lately. Crawfish are still active for those throwing the big crawdad patterns. Try the size 18 or 20 midge in the evening.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-A DFG trout plant is scheduled for this week. It has been tough for kokanee and trout fishing has only been fair at best. The plant this week should improve the bite. Wind has been a problem for boaters.

WEST WALKER RIVER-The DFG has been planting here weekly and Mono County stocked a load of Alpers trophy rainbows, 1 1/2 to 3 pounds, this past week on Sept. 2. The trophy fish are already being caught with Dave Lofgren of San Mateo picking up 2 1/2 and 2 3/4 pounders. One family of seven caught 32 fish last Saturday, so limits are almost a sure thing. Worms and salmon eggs account for most of the fish. Water levels are still good.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE- The fall bite is getting ready to bust wide open as the nights are cooling. Anglers are still junk fishing with a variety of set-ups including Carolina rigs, shakey heads, topwater, crankbaits and spinnerbaits were being reported as successful ways to get onto some fish. Look for the bite with live bait to start to pick up as the water temperatures continue to drop. The catfish have been biting very well and it was not uncommon to catch 10 to 15 pounders. Mackerel, nightcrawlers, or minnows all will produce catfish. Very few crappie are being caught, but that should pick up in the next couple weeks.

LAKE BERRYESSA-Time’s running out for kokes, although a descent bite at the dam continues. Fish were caught from 60 to 70 feet deep on Rocky Mountain Tackle’s hyper plaid dodgers, spinners in blue, and hoochies in white and orange. The fish at the dam are far along, as the males have pink to orange skin but went from 15 to 16 1/2 inches long with a few females going 18 plus inches.

UPPER BLUE LAKE- DFG planted this past week, but most of the trout were under12 inches. A better bet will be to fish for the larger fish from a previous private plants on the east basin as the new little trout are still in the west basin. Troll down to 39 fleet with a flasher and worm or deepwater flies for these fish. Bass anglers are catching 3 to 5 pounders in the brush areas along the shoreline with crankbaits in the mornings and evenings.

LAKE SONOMA-There are some topwater and drop-shot bass still being caught here. Big catfish are crusin’ now and panfish are coming up for red worms. The best news was that of a 5-pound steelie caught off the shoreline. If you’re trolling, go down 40 to 50 feet.

INDIAN VALLEY RESERVOIR-A few anglers are making their way up here and into the very low lake for bass from tubes and kayaks with good results. Another plus here are the big catfish. Watch out for rattlesnakes now though, as they are plentiful.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-The bite slowed as the winds picked up, but a small piece of worm did the trick in 35 to 38 feet of water midway on east shore from Benton House to the Dorado Inn. Jig fishing on anchor or driftfishing with a pearl Git-Zit produced brown trout around Big Cove. A small No. 1 bikini Needlefish in pearl/white caught a ton of topwater bass early and late in the day.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR-The fishing switched back to early mornings. Most fish continue to be caught in the boat launch area of the lake or off the dam in deeper waters. Power Baits and worms were the most productive again this past week. Topwater action was best around the dam and north shore of the lake as surface activity was fair very early in the morning. For topwater action try a caddis or cripple pattern.

BAUM LAKE-There’s been good action here for trout and some large ones as well. Nightcrawlers and salmon eggs are working, as are Kastmasters, but any lure in a trout pattern should work. There are also still some good hatches of PMD’s, caddis, callibaetis, and trico’s here on the water, with pheasant tails doing well.

BRITTON LAKE-Not much has changed here as smallies are still the best bet in the mornings and evenings, but the crappie bite has slowed.

BURNEY CREEK-Good results were found below the falls with pt’s and copper John nymphs in the morning. In the evenings go for the caddis hatches. Above the falls continues to produce with lures and nightcrawlers.

CASSEL FOREBAY–Early mornings and early evenings remain the most productive times to fish the canal above Power House No.1, which continues to fish well with spinners and worms for some nice rainbows. Limits are common and many large trout are still being caught. Fly-fishing was good with Adams parachute, blue-wing olives, and callibaetis nymphs catching fish. The topwater bite continues to be good with the best action early mornings and late evenings.

EAGLE LAKE-Trolling in 50 to 60 feet of water and toplining, or at 30 feet, found a good trout bite starting at about 6 a.m., although anglers caught fish until about 9 a.m. Most anglers are fishing on the east side between Miners and Eagles Nest, since there is shade there longer.

FALL RIVER WILD TROUT AREA- The heat hasn’t helped here, but fishing has been fair with PMD’s, rusty spinners, caddis for dries, 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.

UPPER HAT CREEK- Many limits were taken this past week and not just a few large brookies, as the majority of fish were in the 12- to 15-inch class. Some larger brook trout in the 5-pound range were also landed. Most fish were taken on worms, eggs, and Panther Martins. Fly-fishing on the upper creek was good with quite a few fish being taken on stone flies and copper Johns.

LEWISTON RESERVOIR-Trout are surfacing early, so get out between 6-8 a.m. and in the evenings as it cools down with surface flies. Trout trollers are using salmon and white eggs 10 to 15 feet down while fly anglers used woolly buggers or black/purple leeches for fly anglers.

PIT RIVER- Fish were very active until the sun hits the water, then the bite shut off. Almost any nymph produced hits and takes. Good bets were pheasant tails and prince nymphs.

MANZANITA LAKE- Fishing here was very good with most activity happening in the early morning and mid afternoon. Callibaetis cripples, PMD’s, and red copper John’s are taking fish. The 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.

LAKE SHASTA-Dart-headed worms in dark colors provided bass averaging 1 1/4 pounds and the largest reported weighed 3 1/2 pounds, caught at 25 feet up in the Squaw Creek arm on the rocky side of Ski Island in shady areas. Trout and salmon were up in the main channel by the dam in 100 to 150 feet for salmon and a little shallower for trout using darker colored Wiggle Hoochies behind UV Sling Blades, dark colored Paddle-Tails behind UV Sling Blades and a variety of Cripplures and HumDingers behind Sling Blades.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR-The koke bite was slow and many were in bad shape, but a few were taken by the dam and in the main body of the lake on a pink UV Apex and a green wiggle hoochie both behind UV Sling Blades set at 85 feet.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-Not much being reported to the locals tackle shops about any success, so it’s hard to say just what’s happening here. You have to walk in to any place worth fishing on the North Fork and the Middle Fork. With the heat, the fish will be in the deeper pools and hitting worms and spinners.

BULLARDS BAR-Busy over the holiday weekend with lots of recreational boaters. Fishing has been slow overall with bass providing the bulk of the action. Reports are that spotted bass to 3 pounds have been hitting a variety of live and plastic baits in steep, rocky areas of the lake.

CAMP FAR WEST-Bass action is reported to be good up in the river arm where the trees are showing in the water. The most recent success was had on crankbaits for fish up to 4 pounds. Lots of bluegill are hitting worms off the shore for the kids.

COLLINS LAKE-The bite has really slowed down here after a long, hot summer. No trout were reported at the store for the first time all season. Catfish, on the other hand, are hitting all over the lake with cats to 6 1/2 pounds weighed in this past week. Night fishing off the docks is a sure way to get in on the catfish action using worms and chicken livers.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-A group of people on a houseboat vacation ran their fishing boats up into the Cherokee area near Boston Bar and caught 3 limits of trout that ran 14 to 18 inches long, using worms. Houseboat owners are still catching limits of 10- to 12-inch rainbows in the marina on worms and Power Bait. There are some big bass, 5 to 7 pounds, hanging out in the marina near the docks and support cables.

FULLER LAKE-A DFG trout plant is scheduled for this week. Trollers have been doing well on flasher/worm combos for easy limits. Shore anglers are using Power Bait and worms off the dam.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-Boaters are jigging for Macks and kokanee at the dam. The kokanee are starting to “turn”, getting ready for the rigors of spawning. The fish are hitting Gibbs Minnows, Crippled Herring, and Yo-Zuri Hydrometal spoons at 60 to 70 feet.

LAKE OROVILLE-Bass and catfish are still providing good action. The lake level has remained pretty stable over the past week and the fish are settling into more predictable patterns. Bass are hitting live minnows and plastic worms throughout the lake off main points and drop-offs at 25 to 40 feet. Catfish are hitting anchovies and minnows at Lime Saddle and Foreman Creek. Bass are running up to 4 pounds and the cats are hitting 6 1/2 pounds.

ROLLINS LAKE-Bass are providing the only action reported this past week.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-The Nevada Irrigation District has announced that the DFG has cleared Scott’s Flat for trout plants. Plants will resume this winter when the water temps drop back down to acceptable levels. Smallmouth bass to 3 pounds are hitting Bomber shad pattern crankbaits on the rocky points on the South side of the lake.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The summer has taken its toll on the lake and fishing is very slow. Trollers may catch an occasional trout, but bass and catfish are providing what little action there is to be had. Hopefully the DFG will put this lake back on the planting list and things will get back to normal.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-Two anglers reported into Feather River Outfitters and said they caught 12 or 13 bass up to 3 pounds on Senkos on tule banks.

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