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.

CHETCO RIVER—Still closed to fishing until at least Nov. 7 above the Hwy. 101 bridge, although some action is coming from the estuary by boats trolling bait and spinner. There were five boats fishing yesterday, according to guide Harvey Young of Fishawk Guide Service said on Sunday, and all five caught fish over 20 pounds.

ROGUE RIVER, Lower—Slow fishing the four days preceding Sunday, but fish were trolling all over the sand bar in front of Indian Creek. Not many boats working the area, and not very many fish, but there are still some big, bright kings, and guide Curtis Palmer put an 18-pound Chinook in the boat using one of his homemade spinners. Bank anglers casting both spoons and spinners are also connecting on kings and coho, said WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts. “When it is rough and the bay is slow, head upriver and get into those deep slots where an offering of roe or a sardine-wrapped Kwikfish will entice a fish. Try Lobster Creek and above.  Take your time, come down slow and go back up and do it again,” he said. Larry Prestininzi of Lex’s Landing on the Rogue said, “this season is not over yet!”

RUSSIAN RIVER—The next rain should see some fish come into the system—at least everyone is hoping so.

SMITH RIVER—A lot of fish came in on the rain and are still holding in the lower end where fishermen are finding good success from shore and boat. Anglers are doing really well using spoons and using roe with a bit of shrimp under a slip bobber, keeping it just two feet up off the bottom. The DFG is writing a lot of tickets for those “lining” kings that are stacked up in holes like the Sand Hole, so keep it legal. The kings are running big.

WINCHUCK RIVER—Totally closed for the take of salmon all year.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen—There are still some salmon, as well as steelhead entering the river, but, while a few anglers are trying for steelhead, especially around Blue Creek and Johnson’s Riffle, very few anglers are trying for the salmon.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam—Lots of salmon are jammed up between Interstate 5 and the dam, but they are dark, so are best only for catch-and-release fishing. More steelhead are showing up, mostly small fish, so far, but they are providing ever increasing action on a variety of lures, bait and flies.

TRINITY RIVER, Junction City—There are a fair number of fish in the river, a mix of fall run salmon bright and dark, coho salmon, and steelhead. Very few bright salmon were being caught, however, and it appears the fall salmon run is turning into a “bust” compared to the optimistic predictions. There is way more Indian netting going on in the Trinity this time of year than in the past. Steelhead numbers do appear to be increasing, however, and there are quite a few silver salmon in the river providing some good catch-and-release fishing. Smolts have continued to be a problem requiring the use of larger baits and hooks than normal.

TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek—An occasional bright fall run salmon is being caught, but catching them continues to be a challenge, as is being experienced by anglers upstream.  Fly fishers have been scoring a few steelhead, but, again, pesky smolts have been harassing anglers.   

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER—A reminder: The river closes to fishing upstream of the power lines at Ancil Hoffman Park to Hazel Ave. Bridge between Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, 2010. A few steelhead—mostly halfpounders–were being hooked on nymphs under indicators and on the swing, as well as on drifted nightcrawlers, spinners and spoons. Still not many signs of salmon.

FEATHER RIVER—Fishing continued to be poor. As one long time angler commented: ” Now you’re seeing the result of the fish kills from the warm water years that you (guides) were all complaining about.. they, (DWR) have wiped out two, maybe three, returning runs of salmon for who knows how many years?” A few small steelhead were being caught early in the morning in the Low Flow Section before the sun hit the water.

FOLSOM LAKE—The lake level dropped a couple of feet last week, and pushed bass off the flats. Fish might be on rocky drop-offs, channel edges, or even chasing bait on the surface (bring along a pair of binoculars). The best bet has been Carolina-rigging plastics, jigging, and even Senkos, but there are times when crankbaits score, too. Trout and king salmon fishing has improved, too. Not so much for numbers, but the fish being caught are quality, and even catching only one fish, if it’s a 4-pound king, makes for a very pleasant day on the water.

Mc CLOUD RIVER—The river has cleared, but fishing was only “fair” compared to some past years. However there are 3 weeks left before the river closes to fishing (Nov. 15).

SACRAMENTO RIVER—It’s still almost all shakers on the main river all the way to Colusa. However, the Port of Sacramento offered a bright spot. Trollers used Fish Traps with a jig and worm trailer, Mann’s 15’s and 20’s to catch stripers to 8 pounds. Bank fishermen drifted jumbo minnows, bullheads, and mudsuckers. Catfish were being caught in good numbers at night at various places along the river off Elverta Road, Virgin Sturgeon, and Bryte Beach.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding—The river has cleared and fishing has improved. Flows are 5,800 cfs below Keswick so boaters can drift below the Cypress Ave. Bridge. Drift egg patterns in the shallow water behind spawning salmon.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Upper—The river dropped and cleared and fishing improved to fair to good from Dunsmuir all the way to the lake. Use larger rubber leg nymphs plus a small dropper nymph imitating the large October caddis hatch under indicators or high stick in the small pockets.

YUBA RIVER—No change. Fish caddis nymph and egg patterns and under an indicator for trout to around 15 inches and the occasional steelhead. Fishing is restricted to downstream of the Highway 20 Bridge this time of year.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BLUE LAKES—The campgrounds are closed but the road is still open to the lakes. There is very little pressure on the fishing here, but some people are still camping off the side of the road, according to Woodfords Station.

BOCA LAKE—Water level is low but fishing has been good, especially at the inlet. Big spinners and CD Rapalas are picking up some 2- to 4-pound macks below the inlet and some nice rainbows and browns, 16 to 20 inches, are still staged at the inlet.

CAPLES LAKE—Caples Lake Resort and boat ramp will be closed for the season as of October 26. Last week more big EID trophy rainbows were landed. A 9 pounder was caught trolling on the south side of the lake with a Rapala at a depth of 7 feet in 15 feet of water. Dan Soria of Rescue and Curt Hayes of Cameron Park caught 7 1/2 and 11 1/2 pounders on green Power Bait off the dam this last Tuesday. Most trollers were catching limits of 12- to 14-inch planters on flasher/worm combos at 10 to 15 feet.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)—Last week’s rain is still evident with improved flows in the West Carson and limits of 2 1/2- to 3 –pound rainbows from the Alpine County plant being caught. The East Carson is still kicking out big fish. Joe Valentine of Minden, NV, caught a 4 1/2- pound, 24-inch rainbow last week and a 21-inch, 3 1/2 pounder on Sunday along with numerous smaller fish. Judy Dlugosh of San Leandro landed a 4 pounder on salmon eggs on Saturday.

DAVIS LAKE—Trollers are still landing 30 to 50 fish a day. Ed Dillard has been using a cinnamon or olive wooly bugger/leech fly early in the morning and then switching over to the copper/red Dick Nite. Most of the rainbows are 12 to 13 inches with an occasional good fish up to 19 inches. Fish are hitting from 8 to 20 feet deep. Shore anglers have been doing better at Mallard Cove on Power Bait and worms for fish up to 23 inches. Fly fishing has been hit or miss on the northeast corner of the lake with a nymph under an indicator for fish 14 to 22 inches.

DONNER LAKE—Public piers are kicking out 12- to 14-inch rainbows and 2- to 4-pound macks on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. At the outlet into Donner Creek, kokanee with nowhere to go are spawning and the rainbows are feeding on the spawn, so try a salmon egg. The DFG planted small rainbows in Donner Creek at the park below the lake.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON—Butt Valley Reservoir and the Caribou Powerhouse kicked out 100 fish over three days for two fly casters in float tubes stripping nymphs. They didn’t catch anything bigger than 3 pounds. The North Fork below Caribou Powerhouse is producing easy limits of native fish on small Panther Martins.

FRENCHMAN LAKE—Shore fishing and trolling has been good all week. Float tubers fly casting near Frenchman Campground boat ramp were picking up 10 to 12 fish each on black and olive birds’ nest nymphs, 12 to 16 inches. The Snallygaster area has been producing limits of 16- to 20-inch rainbows on Power Bait.

GOLD LAKES BASIN—Fish are being caught at Gold, Packer, Sardine and Upper Salmon. The resorts are closing at Packer and Sardine for the season.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR—The fall feeding frenzy is in full gear and the bite is WIDE OPEN with 20 to 30 fish days the rule. Topline any lure (Needlefish, Dick Nite, Rainbow Runner) before the sun hits the water then switch to a threaded nightcrawler or a green grub after the sun gets up. The rainbows are running 11 to 15 inches.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR—The cooler water temps have brought the fish to the surface and a husband-wife team of float tubers caught 10 fish averaging 2 ½ pounds on wooly buggers this past week.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR—Trollers have been doing the best here up in the Middle Yuba arm and at the dam for rainbows averaging 12 to 14 inches with some bigger fish, 16 to 18 inches. A big 29-inch brown was caught last week in the Middle Yuba on a Rapala.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)—Mackinaw, brown trout, and bass are all active. Smaller macks are still hitting for trollers along the east side of the lake near the second dam. Browns have been hitting bait around the resort. Kayakers have been doing well on the bass up in the Narrows.

LAKE TAHOE—Mickey Daniels reported that the fishing had “busted wide open” with big numbers of macks from 3 to 7 pounds. One day this past week he kept 7 fish, tagged 7 more fish and lost 7 or 8 fish from 7 to 11 a.m. Daniels is using the Sting King lure and a Sling Blade/Koke-a-nut combo at 300 feet for multiple hook-ups. Chuck Self at Chuck’s Charters said the rainbow activity is picking up with lots of fish seen jumping and cruising in the shallows. He’s doing best on the ‘bows with a flasher/minnow combo for fish up to 18 inches.

LOON LAKE—WIDE OPEN trolling action here with 30 to 40 fish days the norm. Like at Ice House, topline any lure before the sun rises and then switch over to a threaded nightcrawler or a brown grub after the sun hits the water. The fish are all 11-to 12-inch planters.

PROSSER LAKE—The lake is getting very low and smallmouth bass action is very good at the dam on minnow imitations: Rapalas, white jigs, silver spoons and spinners. The trout are grouped up on the points in the creek channels, especially Prosser Creek, and hitting Power Bait and nightcrawlers.

PYRAMID LAKE—Trollers are doing the best on a red or chartreuse U-20 FlatFish for fish running 17 to 24 inches. No big fish were checked into the Pyramid Lake Store this past week. Fly fishermen are picking up a half-dozen fish casting copper johns from a float tube or off the ladders, but no big fish have been reported.

RED LAKE—No current reports available from Woodfords Station but fishing should be good for rainbows, brookies and cutthroats on worms along the south side of the lake, as it was last week.

SILVER LAKE—No current reports were available from Woodfords Station or Caples Lake Resort but there should be plenty of fish caught by trollers using a flasher/worm combo or Power Bait, worms, spoons and spinners from the shore.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR—The dam is producing some nice macks and rainbows for trollers and bait fishermen. The macks are running 2 to 4 pounds and the rainbows are up to 20 inches. The kokanee spawn is still occurring at the Little Truckee inlet and rainbows and browns are stacked up to feed on the loose eggs. Drift a salmon egg for a chance at a good fish.

TRUCKEE RIVER—Water flows are very low through the system. In the General Section in Truckee, concentrate on any pool with some flow for easy fishing for 10- to 12-inch browns and rainbows. There are some 14 to 16 inchers lurking around. Fly casters in the Special Reg Section are having success early or late (no sun on the water) with streamers. A Sofa Pillow with a bead nymph dropper is good in the pockets with some fish to 20 inches being seen.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR—Trout are hitting here but not in the numbers seen at Ice House or Loon. Topline a spoon early then switch over to a threaded nightcrawler for planter rainbows. The main ramp at Sunset is closed; launching is available at the dam.

WEST WALKER RIVER—Fishing is still good for bait tossers and fly fishermen. Limits of fish are common with the better fish running 2 to 3 pounds. A woman out with her husband hooked and lost a fish estimated at 5 pounds this past week, so there are still some good fish to be caught.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE—The one thing anglers fishing the FLW Series last week found is that the bite is inconsistent but the bass average 3 pounds. Two primary areas to concentrate on include the deeper rocks of the southern arms in 15 to 20 feet of water and the shallower off shore grass beds on the north end that are sitting in 5 to 9 feet of water. Jigs and trailers in contrasting colors, translucent patterns of rip baits, craw colored crankbaits, and paddletail and talon swimbaits are good choices. There has been a bite on rattle baits depending on the day but it is a rough way to fish spending a lot of time pulling through weeds and picking them off the baits on most casts. The bite on live bait is also picking up. Look for catfish in on the edges of incoming waters and under docks.

LAKE BERRYESSA— A few trout and king salmon can be found from 40 to 110 feet down with salmon on the deeper end. Most of the bass are spots with some smallmouth mixed in up to 3 pounds on spoons. Catfishing should be kicking in, but no reports of anglers working that bite yet.

LAKE SONOMA– Trolling for steelies from 40 to 60 feet down with a minnow imitation or small Apex produced near limits between 3 and 7 pounds by the dam and down in the Warm Springs area. Bass were caught on spoons in 40 feet above submerged trees at the north end in the creek arms by dropping 1-inch Hopkins spoons for 1- to 3-pound largemouth, or try over by the dam for smallies off rocky points with jigs.

UPPER BLUE LAKE—A fresh plant of trout will spread fish into both basins. Kastmasters were used without flashers or leadcore pulled out 5 to 6 colors. Fishing has been fair to good but will only get better with cooling conditions spurring them on to feed up for the winter.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY—The landing was pretty quiet, with live bait availability starting to decline. The boats are still chasing halibut and striped bass in the bay, or rockfish and lingcod outside. Crab combos start on Nov. 7, but since rockfish closes on Oct. 31, the boats will have to do halibut and crab combos, or sanddab combos.

BODEGA BAY— As rockfish season winds down (ends Oct. 31), the party boats are planning new adventures like crabbing and giant squid fishing. The bottomfishing has been mostly great until late in the week when a plankton bloom south of Tomales slowed the bite there. North side action remained good with limits on the weekend for the boats trying.

EMERYVILLE—The New Seeker had a good day early in the week, with a light load of 10 anglers catching rockfish limits and eight lingcod to 27 pounds, plus a bonus 37-pound pacific halibut. The bottomfishing was good until the weather came up on Saturday, then the boats had less than limits. A few striped bass and halibut caught on some of the boats that tried the bay’s waters on the way home.

EUREKA—Weather killed the outside action most of the week, but the bay is still an option for anglers who want to bend a rod on sharks and rays. Most like to fish the low tide where the fish are concentrated in the channels. Squid is the cheap and easy bait.

FORT BRAGG—Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar ran a squid trip for a special harbor commission meeting; they’re trying to find something to draw more business to the region, and the squid seem a reasonable option. His four anglers caught eight squid, all jumbos, from 1,100 feet of water about 10 miles out. Biggest was around 35 pounds. “It’s hard to tell because the scale hooks pull out when they get that big!” said Thornton. He’s looking at running crab and squid combos.

HALF MOON BAY—Weather once again played havoc with the fleet, but when they could, the boats got out for rockfish and lingcod. The season ends Oct. 31.

LOCH LOMOND—Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star is back on the water after performing some annual maintenance, but didn’t get out before deadline. He’ll be targeting leopard sharks, stripers and halibut, then on to sturgeon.

SAN PABLO BAY—Striped bass and leopard sharks are the main grab, with trollers reporting good numbers of linesides, mostly small. A few rumors of sturgeon, but nothing confirmed.

SHELTER COVE—Pacific halibut is open until Oct. 31, and crab season opens on Nov. 7. Abalone season closes Nov. 30. Rockfish still open for shore anglers and spearfishermen. Not much activity at the port though.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR— Speedy Shiners and three colors pulled out on leadcore took fall trout feeding from the surface down to 10 feet. Smallmouth bass have slowed with the cooler waters.

BAUM LAKE— BWO’s are a good bet, good patterns are sparse PMD’s, midges, and mahogany duns are appearing. Scuds are a good bet for nymphs. Nightcrawlers and mealworms seem to be the bait of choice, but no reports on which lures are doing best.

EAGLE LAKE—Trollers were hooking and releasing 10 to 12 fish per day from a foot below the surface to 6 feet deep in waters five to 10 feet deep. Sep’s 2-inch grubs in the brown color pattern, Pearl white, watermelon, and orange grubs have also begun to take fish regularly. Fish early!

FALL RIVER WILD TROUT AREA—Fishing reports have been good with BWO’s, PMD’s, woolly buggers, and wiggletail zugs for nymphs.

HAT CREEK WILD TROUT AREA—Reports indicate fishing has been slow but the riffle is best fished with pt’s, birdsnest, or hare’s ear. Look for PMD’s, and callibaetis.

PIT RIVER—Continued excellent reports from the Pit 4 and 5 reaches, however the construction is making access difficult. Nymphing seems to be doing the best with rubber leg prince or stones in size 14 and larger.

LAKE SHASTA—Dragging Rapalas and Speedy Shiners found lots of trout takers for trollers from Centimudi to Dry Creek and the dam area. From the shoreline near the Centimudi ramp Kastmasters and nightcrawlers were good for trout. Brown trout were up in the McCloud Arm, and found while trolling blue/silver Krocodile spoons on the surface. King salmon were also showing in the same area, though they’re running 40-80 feet deep. Troll with shad, small anchovies, spoons, and body baits for them. Spotted bass are holding from 10 to 40 feet down, hitting on crankbaits and jigs with either a twin tail or Hula Grub trailer.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER—Very few reports are available as the trout season winds down to the last two weeks. Middle Fork anglers can try at Cash Rock or below the French Meadows dam.

BULLARDS BAR—Emerald Cove Marina has been slow to provide reports but bass fishing should be good as the fall feeding frenzy kicks into high gear. Trout should be hitting upriver on drifted salmon eggs. Trollers should try a flasher/worm combo or dodger/spoon as baitfish gather near the surface.

CAMP FAR WEST—Crappie and bass are still hitting for anglers fishing near the dam and around the exposed stumps along the shore. Crappie to 2 pounds are falling for mini-jigs and worms. The bass have been hitting worms and jigs, but try a crankbait early in the morning.

COLLINS LAKE—The lake is down 45 feet from full. Fishing has been slow with a little bit of everything being caught, just not in big numbers. Trout to 4 pounds have been caught on Power Bait from shore and trolling flasher/worm combos near the dam. Jerry Freeman of Live Oak caught more whiskerfish, 3 3/4 to 6 1/4 pounds, on sardines in Elmer’s Cove at night. He’s been throwing back the cats over 10 pounds because they don’t taste good.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR—Good action for trout trollers using flasher/worm combos, dodger/spoon combos, and Rapalas at the dam and up toward the buoy line. Bait drifters are doing well up river from Buck’s Beach to the inlet with Power Bait and worms. The trout are running 12 to 13 inches.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR—Boaters making the trek to the lake are still catching good numbers of small rainbows trolling flasher/Rainbow Runner or Needlefish combos. Orange has been the best color for lures.

FULLER LAKE—Though the lake has not received any more DFG trout plants, holdover fish should still be available for shore anglers using Power Bait and worms off the dam or trollers working a flasher/worm combo.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR—Very little pressure here, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station, but browns should be staging at the inlet and falling for a trolled Rapala. Macks should be at the dam and hitting jigging spoons.

LAKE OROVILLE—The water level has remained stable and the bass bite has been pretty good. Larry Hemphill had a good day this past week, guiding his clients to 20 fish to 2 pounds on shady banks and rocky points in the South Fork. The fish came primarily on Flashtrix minnows drop-shot at 30 to 40 feet or on a splitshot Roboworm. Feather River Outfitters reported catfish to 15 pounds coming out of Dark Canyon on live minnows. Newly planted cohos are hitting minnows in the Lime Saddle Marina for houseboaters.

ROLLINS LAKE—Will Fish Tackle reported good keeper bass action on frog Hula Poppers near Orchard Springs. John Wadden also said that catfish, up to 5 pounds, were hitting chicken livers in the Freeloaders Cove area.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE—A marina employee went out trolling near the dam and bait fishing at the inlet and got skunked in both areas. The lake really needs a DFG trout plant now that it has been put back on the planting list.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR—No reports of any success came in from the Foresthill Ranger Station. The lake could sure use a DFG trout plant now that it has been put back on the stocking list.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR—Very few anglers are giving the lake a try. Everyone is waiting for the DFG to resume trout plants since the lake was put back on the stocking list.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY—A kayaker had a great day this last week, catching 16 bass to 7 pounds on Senkos on the tule banks. If the water drops, the fish move out to the weed beds or the deeper channels.