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, Estuary; Gold Beach, Oregon–Trolling the bay for the chinook season is in full swing, but it’s still in the very early stages, and only a few fish are being caught each day. Most of the angler’s have moved off of the anchor in the lower river and are trolling Rogue River Riggin’s with anchovies or sardines behind them in the bay now. Fishing reports from the cleaning station are showing 1-3 Chinooks a day are being caught. With stories of a few more destroyed baits from salmon grabbing a meal and missing the hooks. Perch fishing in the area is good and remember high tide is the best time to fish for these taste fish.

RUSSIAN RIVER-The only game in town is smallmouth bass, and try not to stick one of the inner tubes or kayakers while they’re crowding around you for casting space. Bite is getting better, especially with the summer dams in, warming the water. Mepps spinners work, as do any small, minnow-imitating lure.

UMPQUA RIVER, Main Stem; Roseburg, Oregon–This river offers one of the most pleasant ways to fish for smallmouth bass: Dirft fishing. Floating the river from a drif boat on any of it’s many runs can have you catching as many as 75 fish in a days time. Summer steelhead fishing is still on the locals minds, according to guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. Mid-day fishing is slow for these exceptionally fun sport fish. “I suggest targeting steelhead in the early evening, as I didn’t make my first cast last night until the shadows started to fall on the water,” Palmer suggested.

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork; Glide, Oregon–The banks are lined with anglers trying to catch their limit of spring Chinook. There are lots of springer’s being caught and yes; There are still some bright fish being harvested. “I wasn’t able to find the time to drive up the river and go fishing, but if I had it would of been for summer steelhead,” said guide Curtis Palmer. “Almost all of the fast water is holding these grey ghost’s. Well-cured roe is a favorite for most anglers. I will sometimes bait my hook with a cured piece of tiger prawn.” The fly fishing only section of the river is world famous for it’s summersSteelhead fishing. July and August are some of the best times of the season to spend in this section of river. Cast an Umpqua Special or Skunk Fly.

TRINITY-KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate-There’s still some trout action going on, but hot temperatures and warming water has led to a significant slowdown in the trout bite, and anglers should call ahead before committing to a trip.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen-Early in the week there were reports of some nice steelhead being caught on spinners, but by the weekend, tides swings were mild, and not many new fish, salmon or steelhead, were entering the river. Rich Mossholder of Rivers West Guide Service predicted a new push of both species, this time, fall run Chinook should be making a major push up the Klamath. He said that salmon fishing was very slow, and even steelheaders were working hard for a grab or two. Fly fishermen were especially at a disadvantage because flows were still high for this time of year. He said drifting spinners was a better way to go until flows drop further.

TRINITY RIVER, Junction City-River flows dropped some more, and should be down to an ideal 700 cfs by the time this issue of WON hits the stands, and salmon fishing was excellent last week. Some very large (for the Trinity) salmon were being caught, too, up to 28 pounds. The best fishing was above Junction City, and the bait of choice is roe.

TRINITY RIVER, Burnt Ranch-A few salmon were still being caught in the Burnt Ranch Falls area, but fishing was much better up by Junction City and above.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-Salmon fishing remained spotty, but the bottomfish action at the Farallon Islands continued limits the rule, with some lings to boot. Inside the bay, the halibut and striper bite fluctuated with the increasing tides, but trips early in the week indicated some excellent halibut action in main bay spots. On board the California Dawn, Captain James Smith reported a 53 halibut day on Monday, and 29 on Tuesday. Captain Jim Smith on the Happy Hooker found some interesting action on the south outside, finding some jumbo black rockfish on isolated rock spots, along with some lingcod and halibut to 26 pounds.

BODEGA BAY- Bottomfishing remained the top bet, with the north side outperforming on big rockfish and lingcod. Captain Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler reported limits the rule after five weeks of hard north winds subsided and offered ideal ocean conditions. His north side trips to Fort Ross and Salt Point produced jumbo vermilion, copper and Bolinas rockfish and lings to 14 pounds. There are some salmon hitting off of Bird and Elephant rocks for anglers trolling the shallower zone, but it’s a scratchy bite, if the result is the occasional 20-plus pounder.

BROOKINGS, OR- Tuna fever ignited when a commercial angler brought in some albacore, and several sport boats headed out, one scoring a California yellowtail. The local action focused on bottomfish, with lingcod limits and some big vermilion hiking the stringer weights of rockfish. One angler caught a 9-pound plus vermilion.

EMERYVILLE-The fleet focused on Farallon Island bottomfishing or bay potluck. The island trips produced limits across the board, with some lingcod reported. Potluck trips scored some big halibut, with a 23 pounder on the Captain Hook, a 29 pounder on the Aku Nui, and a 22 pounder caught on the New Huck Finn. The boats found their big flatties on the North Bar, and most trips also produced some rockfish and lings as well.

EUREKA-Private boaters and the charter boats got into a hot Pacific halibut bite, finding boat limits in many cases. A 128 pounder is leading the Englund Marine derby. The fish have moved in shallow from the deeper waters, allowing some of the best action yet on big fish. Salmon was slow, but bottomfishing at the Cape was great with limits the rule. Kayakers scored some California halibut inside the bay, but finding big enough anchovies to use as bait is a challenge. Successful anglers are finding other kinds of baitfish to use.

FORT BRAGG-Salmon rated slow, but a late season crab combo effort produced some great results on the Telstar, and the bottomfishing really showed some spunk. “We had about an hour of fast action on Tuesday, you’d hook up every time your gear hit bottom,” said Captain Randy Thornton. Friday was the crab combo trip, and 12 anglers scored near limits of rockfish, one lingcod and 61 crabs.

HALF MOON BAY-Silver salmon are the only pink meat showing, but the bottomfishing has been great with more lings and some jumbo cabezon showing. Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat said Pescadero was a good spot for his anglers who caught nine lings to 21 pounds along with six cabs and a mix of vermilion, china, black and grass rockfish.

SAN FRANCISCO-Salmon fishing remained slow, with the Wacky Jacky trying a mooching effort on Thursday that turned into a halibut chase at Bonita Cove, which saved the day. Saturday’s effort produced rockfish limits on the Wacky Jacky. On board the Bass Tub, Captain Erik Anfinson took a youth group out on Wednesday, finding a couple halibut in a half day trip at Alcatraz.

SHELTER COVE-The weather finally laid down offering excellent action for rockfish and some lings. A few salmon showed, and while some of the boats headed up to try for Pacific halibut, the reports weren’t in by deadline.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-Still running high, so use caution if you’re hiking to the deeper holes in the Middle Fork. It’s been hot, so the rattlesnakes are out-keep your eyes open!!

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is down to 92-percent capacity. Small kokanee are still being caught up in the Garden Point area. Spotted bass action is good on the main lake points. Heavy recreational boat traffic makes it tough on anglers on weekends, so either fish during the week or very early and very late in the day on weekends.

CAMP FAR WEST-The lake is down to 89-percent capacity. Bass action has been best at the dam and along the rocky banks on worms and jigs. Recreational boat traffic is very heavy on this lake, so anglers do best very early or late in the day or during the week.

COLLINS LAKE-Lake is down 7 feet from full. Lots of people fishing and all of them are catching fish. The trout are deep, 30 to 35 feet, and hitting for shore anglers at the dam and the docks. Trollers are doing best in the middle of the lake over the channel with dodger/worm combos and Rapalas. Catfish action has been steady at night on chicken livers and sardines. Lots of bluegill, redears, and crappie are hitting in the shallows around the submerged bushes and trees or the docks. Boaters need to head up to the no-ski area near the bridge to avoid the heavy day-time recreational boat traffic, particularly on weekends.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 94-percent capacity. Trollers getting down to the 30- to 40- foot level from Black’s Ravine to the dam are picking up 10- to 16-inch rainbows on a
Sep’s watermelon dodger trailing a nightcrawler. Kashe McHugh caught a 20-inch, 2 ½-pound kokanee off the marina docks on a nightcrawler early this past week-this should dispel any doubts that there are kokes in this lake. Bass are hitting in Keystone Cove and Long’s Ravine on plastics with some fish running up to 5 pounds. There’s lots of bluegill along the banks for the kids. Recreational boat traffic is very heavy on the weekends, so trollers should try during the week.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-No changes here. Campgrounds are all open and fishing has been good for shore anglers and boaters. No specific reports on the fishing were available from the Foresthill Ranger Station, but there are a lot of people up at the lake enjoying themselves.

FULLER LAKE-The lake has been planted a couple of times now by the DFG and fishing should be good from the day-use area and the dam for shore anglers using Power Bait, worms, small spoons, and spinners.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 97-percent capacity. Plenty of variety for fishermen with rainbows, browns, kokanee, and the occasional Mack showing up for trollers. Kokanee are getting deeper and harder to locate, bring you’re A-game.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake has started to drop and is at 75-percent capacity. Bass action is still good either very early or very late in the day. The topwater bite should be good in the dark shade pockets, early and late. Roboworms and tubes should be working on the points in 20 to 30 feet of water. Coho trolling is still pretty good at the Green Bridge and the main body using Sling Blade/Koke-a-nut combos at 60 to 80 feet. Mooching anchovy tails and nightcrawlers at the buoy line at the dam is producing silvers at the same depths.

ROLLINS LAKE-The lake is still almost full. Lance Englestad at Long Ravine Resort reported that bass and crappie action has been good in the coves and around the marina docks for bass running 1 1/2 pounds and slabs up to 2 pounds. Trout action is best up at the Bear River inlet for trollers and bait drifters using worms. Recreational boat traffic is very heavy on the main body of the lake, especially on weekends.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-The lake is at 98-percent capacity. Smallmouth and largemouth bass action has been better than the trout fishing. The coves have been producing bass on tubes and Roboworms for catch-and-release anglers who have reported good action. Trout fishing has been slow. There are plenty of bluegill and crappie along the banks for the kids.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-A beautiful setting with no recreational boat traffic makes this a perfect get-away for campers and fishermen. The lake has been planted a couple of times by the DFG, so there are plenty of trout to be caught.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is still virtually full at 99.6-percent capacity. Shore anglers have been checking into the Georgetown Ranger Station with stringers of 10- to 12-inch rainbows taken on Power Bait and worms. Trollers are picking up planters on flasher/worm combos.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-Water levels are up with Lake Oroville releases and the bass are up in the tules. Throw Senkos, jigs, worms, and frogs in the shady pockets along the tule banks.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BLUE LAKES-There were big crowds here over the weekend after PG&E planted trout in both Upper and Lower lakes. Shore anglers did well on nightcrawlers and Power Bait, according to Woodfords Station.

BOCA LAKE-The lake has dropped to 73-percent capacity. The bite is very early or very late in the west side coves or at the inlet for rainbows running 12 to 14 inches. Try the dam very early with small Rapalas for browns up to 20 inches.

CAPLES LAKE-The lake is still full and scheduled for another DFG trout plant this week. Fishing has been okay for both shore anglers and trollers. Trollers have been fishing deeper in the middle of the lake and over by Wood’s Creek with Rapalas and flasher/worm combos. Shore anglers are picking up mixed stringers of rainbows and browns on nightcrawlers and Power Bait at the dam, spillway, and Wood’s Creek inlet, but it has been taking a while to pick up a limit. A 5 pounder was caught on a blue/silver Kastmaster off the dam and an 8 pounder hit the same lure for a troller this past week.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-Nearby Markleeville Creek is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The West Fork is dropping steadily and should be in good condition in another week. Some fish are being caught but no limits according to Woodfords Station. The East Fork is in great condition and fishing very well with a 6-pound rainbow checked into the Carson River Resort this past week. Some of the trophy 8- to 10-pound fish planted over the past two weeks have been hooked, but no one has landed any-just broken rods and lines to show for the effort. 10- to 18-inch browns have been hitting worms and an 8 1/2 pounder was rumored to have been caught, but could not be verified.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is down to 66-percent capacity. Surface temp is 69-degrees, usually 75-degrees by now. Rainbows are still hitting copper/red Wee Dick Nites and #1 Dick Nites at the island at 8 to 15 feet deep. Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Fishing Guide Service had 25 fish, 11 fish, and 18 fish on his last three trips, and lost a 5 pounder at the boat. Fly fishing has been good in the Jenkins area on Renegades, Flashback Greens, and Sheep Creeks, all in #12 or #14, where a fly fishing club averaged 12 fish/person/day this past week. The rainbows ran 15 to 18 inches and the big fish measured 20 inches.

DONNER LAKE-The lake is at 98-percent capacity. The rainbow trout fishing is wide-open. It’s a “no-brainer”, according to Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports, for shore anglers using nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and Power Bait at the public piers. This is a great place to bring the kids for sure-fire action.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-Still some big rainbows, 20 to 22 inches, coming out of the Caribou Powerhouse when the generators are running. Most anglers are using a water-filled casting bobber and a nightcrawler to reach the far shore. Some good fish are also being caught in the deeper holes in the North Fork. Mike Hanson from Caribou Crossroads Resort fished the main Feather River, above and below the junction with the North Fork, and caught a dozen smallmouth bass on Kalin brown/purple flake grubs. Most of the smallies were 13 inchers, but he had three 2 pounders. The smallmouth bite is good a Butt Valley Reservoir, no word on the trout-they’re going deep.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is down to 49-percent capacity. Trolling with a Thomas Buoyant has been excellent for 15- to18-inch rainbows in the Lunker Point area. Ed Dillard of Dillard’s fishing guide Service hit the lake with a buddy and used fly gear to land 19 fish in 4 hours on beaded PT nymphs, 5 to 6 feet under an indicator, at Lunker Point.

GOLD LAKES BASIN-Packer Lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 93-percent capacity. The bite was tough for Kyle Neeser of Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service. The trout are scattered all over the lake and limits require a day’s work using pink/purple Wee Tads behind a green tape Wild Thing at 10 to 30 feet. The fish are small planters, 8 to 11 inches.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-The campgrounds will close on July 12 for repaving and are scheduled to reopen on August 11. Access to the lake will still be available from the dirt roads running along the east side of the lake. No current reports were available from Woodfords Station.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR-The lake is at 99-percent capacity. Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that the bite was slow here. The best bet is for trollers working up into the Yuba River arm or at the dam in the early morning with flasher/worm combos, Dick Nites, and Needlefish.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-The lake is still full. 14- to 16-inch planter trout action is still pretty good in the Narrows and at the first dam for shore anglers using Power Bait. A local angler picked up a 5-pound largemouth bass this past week.

LAKE TAHOE-Macks are still stacked at all depths on the north end of the lake. Chuck Self at Chuck’s Charter Fishing has been working for limits of 1 to 7 pounders from 140 to 370 feet deep. The morning bite has been good, but the afternoons have been cut short by the arrival of strong winds. Mike Nielsen at Tahoe Top Liners has been jigging and trolling for his fish at the south end of the lake. One day he did well jigging 3- to 4-ounce Williamson jigs at 175 to 250 feet for Macks running 2 to 7 pounds. The next day he was trolling Rapala Husky Jerks from 50 to 120 feet deep for 2 to 6 pounders. Nielsen has also been picking up a few nice browns. Nielsen reported catching some of the first kokanee of the season at the mouth of Emerald Bay suspended over deep water at 25 to 55 feet deep. The kokes are running 13 to 15 inches.

LOON LAKE-The lake is at 89-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The bite has been hit-or-miss-not up to par for this time of year yet. The bite should really kick-in in a week or so, according to Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle.

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is down to 77-percent capacity. The smallmouth bass bite is good from 4 p.m. to dark for anglers tossing small Rapalas or jigging tubes and worms. Fly casters have been doing well on the smallies from 7 p.m. to dark on poppers. Rainbow action has been best from the point between the creek arms and near Hobart Mills. The inlet area is best in the early morning, while afternoons are best in the main lake out from the inlets in deeper water.

PYRAMID LAKE-With the trout season closed, the only fishing open is for the Sacramento perch. Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters recommends using teal/white or teal/black crappie jigs on 4-or6-pound test line at the pinnacle rocks out from Hell’s Kitchen, outer Pyramid, and “The Wall”. Work the jigs down the rocks from 30 to 80 feet deep for keepers running 1 to 1 1/2 pounds.

RED LAKE-Shore anglers picking up some brookies and a few cutthroats on worms, according to Caples Lake Resort.

SILVER LAKE-A 22-pound, 9-ounce Mackinaw was caught by a Nolan Rhodes on a Kwikfish this past Thursday. Otherwise, fishing has been slow by most available reports.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 67-percent capacity. Shore fishing has been very good for shore anglers using inflated nightcrawlers or ‘crawler/marshmallow combos along the dam. The kokanee action has slowed down with eight out of ten boats doing poorly, while two boats are killing them. Just have to have the right bait combination in front of the school of fish that are in the mood to hit. The kokes are being caught on dodgers with a short rigged hoochie in white, pink, or red/green at 50 to 65 feet, with the best bite coming at 50 to 55 feet. Some Macks have been taken jigging Buzz Bombs and Crippled Herring below the kokanee.

TOPAZ LAKE-Boaters have been doing best at the south end of the lake either at or up in the inlet still fishing with nightcrawlers and Power Bait. Trollers using downriggers are working 30 to 40 feet deep with flasher/worm combos and Rapalas in the early morning for limits of 1- to 1 1/2-pound rainbows. A few largemouth bass have been showing up for bait anglers.

TRUCKEE RIVER-Lots of fly fishing activity going on right now with PMD’s, golden stones, small stones, caddis, March Browns, PED’s all showing throughout the day. The Restricted Section below Trout Creek has been producing fish from 8 to 20 inches. In the General Section above Trout Creek into Truckee, the bite has been good on lures and bait for fish running 14 to 16 inches.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 94-percent capacity. The kokanee and Macks were hitting the same rigs for Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle. 6- to 14-inch kokanee and 2- to 3-pound Macks were hitting pink/purple Wee Tads behind a Wild Thing dodger at 35 feet. The kokes also hit pink prawn hoochies and a Crystal Basin proto-type spinner off the Yellow jacket area.

WEST WALKER RIVER-The West Walker River and the Little Walker River are scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. The West Walker is running at 700 cfs-optimum flow for bait fishing is 500 cfs, and for fly fishing it’s 300 cfs. The river is fishable and the rainbows are biting, but it takes all day to get a limit. Big fish so far for the “How Big is Big Trout Derby” is a 4 ½ pounder, but this fish won’t last long at top with a load of 3 to 7 pounders scheduled for planting early this week. With the river flows dropping 50 cfs/day, the river should be in excellent shape by the weekend.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE-Senkos were the name of the game although the topwater bite picked up as did night fishing. A little topwater action early in the morning turns into drop-shot worms, thin Senkos, and baby Brush Hogs after the sun hits the water and wacky rigged 5-nch Senkos around the weed beds and tule lined shores at the upper end of the lake.

LAKE BERRYESSA-Kokes were tougher to find in part due to warming waters but limits were possible with some work. Topwater tactics applied early in the morning using Splash-it or Zara Spooks along weedbeds and then switching to Carolina rigged Robo Worms in Aarons Magic and Drop-Shot rigs as the day heated up.

UPPER BLUE LAKE-With no anticipated trout plant the fishing slowed. The mouth at each end of the Narrows and through the Narrows at about 25 feet down produced a few planters on flashers and a worm or a woolly buggers with an action disk. The shallows with shady areas under the trees, found bedding bass for sight anglers teasing them with plastic worms.

LAKE SONOMA-Bass are still bedding up in creek arms, where anglers did their best to tease them off beds with weightless Senkos, drop-shot worms, and tubes in 4 to 7 feet of water. A few trout were taken by trollers still up by the dam.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-Flows were constant at 4,000 cfs, last week, and anglers were still catching shad in decent numbers, although their days are likely numbered. The occasional striped bass was being hooked, too, some on soaked sardines, crawdads, and minnows, and some on lures. Most of the shad were now in the upper parts of the river from Rossmoor Bar upstream to the Hazel Ave. Bridge. Don’t bother fishing when the sun is high. By far the best time to be on the water for shad is the last two hours of legal fishing, which ends 1 hour after sundown. That’s also the time frame where striped bass are most likely to emerge from deep holes and start their hunts.

FEATHER RIVER-A few striped bass were being caught very early in the morning just below the rapids at Shanghai Bend, and a very few smaller steelhead were being caught in the Low Flow Section. But, excitement is building for the salmon season due to start on July 31. Anglers should be aware though, that the upper fishing limit is 1,000 feet below the Outlet which has now been marked with signs. The good news is that lots of salmon are being observed in the Outlet, the Low Flow Section, around Gridley, and at the Shanghai Rapids.

FOLSOM LAKE-Fishing was slow again last week, with dedicated bass fishermen doing a lot of exploring and experimenting, and trout fishermen largely fishing other waters. A few bass were being taken early in the morning around flooded brush and trees on topwater lures, crankbaits, and dartheaded plastics, but success was far from universal. Drop-shotting Robo-Worms deeper over flats also has worked at times, but again, there does not seem to be a pattern for success. There is one universal truth: Avoid weekends.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-Some decent-sized striped bass were being taken in the Turning Basin on bluegill first caught on redworms. Miller Park has also been producing some stripers, but a higher percentage are too small to keep, and the keepers are also small. Fishing for catfish was pretty good at calm spots along the river.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa-The river is loaded with baby striped bass, but there are some whopper-sized fish being caught, too, including several weighing around 20 pounds. The trick is being patient enough to wade through a dozen or more sub-legal-sized fish for every keeper. Around Tisdale has been one of the better areas for a chance at a big striped bass.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff-Trout fishing continued to be good from Red Bluff to Redding with trout to 3.5 pounds even taking dry flies in the evening. However, the best fishing was still on nymphs under indicators or Glo-Bugs.

UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER, Dunsmuir-Flows continue to drop, the river continues to become more fishable, and more fish are being caught. Fishing pocket water with prince nymphs, copper Johns is the best bet, although dries like stimulators and elk hair caddis are scoring in the evening.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-Storms ripped through the area but by press time things were settling down and transitional fish were moving into their summer patters and haunts. A cricket and mealworm in 30 to 40 feet a few feet off the bottom worked well. Salmon are in deeper holes, like Big Springs, the A-frame and out in front of Rec. 1 but use anchovy fillet or a piece of the tail for them, you can troll for them in these areas as well.

ANTELOPE LAKE-Anglers found 40 to 50 fish days with trout going to over 2 pounds, as well as dinks. Both the launch and ramp are in good shape but there is a launch fee here now. Fish were everywhere except the shallows. Trolling in 25 to 35 feet with woolly buggers in cinnamon produced fish, as did the steep shorelines with chartreuse colored Power Bait.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR-Fishing continued to be a bit slow for the bigger fish but lots of pan-sized rainbows and browns were taken. The water is very high so the bite is a bit off. Lots of fish are working the middle of the lake so a boat is definitely an advantage. Power Bait and worms were both working well. Fly fishing found good topwater action early in the morning and late evenings. Mosquitoes, caddis and ants were all taking fish. Some large fish were showing over submerged rock points so float tubing these areas is a must for catching large fish. Streamers and crystal buggers fished over the old creek channel also produced.

BAUM LAKE- Lots of trout being caught as it was recently planted, although they’ve gone down to cooler waters with the heat. Lure fishermen seemed to prefer Kastmasters or Panther Martins. Mini nightcrawlers were the choice for bait fishermen, though salmon eggs and Power Bait eggs were doing well also. Fly fishermen mainly used pheasant tails, wiggle-tail Zugs, callibaetis, PMDs, little yellow stones and caddis.

BRITTON LAKE- Crappie are biting, as are the smallmouth bass. Good bets are crappie jigs, crappie nibbles or crappie magnets. Color doesn’t seem to be an issue at the present time. Regulation changes now include bluegill and perch in the 25 fish limit on crappie, so be sure to count them in your total catch.

BURNEY CREEK-Caddis and callibaetis are best above the falls. Below the falls, try a pheasant tail, copper john, bird’s nest or hares ear.

CASSEL FOREBAY-The forebay continues to be the best place to take kids as lots of fish were being caught. Worms, salmon eggs, and Power Bait all worked. The water is slower in this area with little brush to snag lines. With hotter weather upon us there is less shade so come prepared. Fly fishing has been excellent in the early morning and late evening nymphing on callibaetis and PMDs fished on a dead drift. Fish are ranging between 12 -14 inches with a few in the 18-inch range.

EAGLE LAKE- Both bobber fishing and trolling was best on the west side of the lake but, start at first legal fishing time. Using nightcrawlers in a slip bobber setup set at 6 to 8 feet, or troll a No. 2 Sep’s grub in orange for trout to 4 pounds.

FALL RIVER-With the summer heat kicking in this past week the PMD dry fly action slowed down, though fishing can still be good dead drifting or swinging nymphs and wet flies. There was some caddis action in the afternoons, and the Hex hatch has been good to great in the evening.

UPPER HAT CREEK-Limits were common and everyone seemed to have a great time despite some late afternoon storms. DFG continues to plant twice a week with large numbers of catchable trout. Worms and salmon eggs are the most popular baits on the creek but don’t count out lures as many of the larger brood stock came on on spinners like Panther Martins. There are still a lot of 3- to 6-pound fish out there so be patient and fish deep. Fly fishing improved a lot with streamers and weighted nymphs all working well. Some of the large brood stock have fallen this past week to crystal buggers and stone fly imitations.

HAT CREEK (wild)-Little yellow stones, callibaetis cripples and PMDs are a good bet. Nymph fishermen did best on hare’s ear, birds nest and pheasant tails.

LEWISTON RESERVIOR–Nightcrawlers, Cripplures and Sep’s flashers or drifting the Lewiston Cocktail (salmon egg and white Power Bait combo) were a good bet in front of the Pine Cove Marina. Pine Cove will hold their annual family fishing derby July 24, releasing quite a few nice 8 to 10 pounders for the event.

MANZANITA LAKE– The warmer weather has improved the fishing but some of the big browns are leaving the shallows for weed beds and deeper water. Ants, callibaetis, damsels and cripples were the most productive. Afternoon thunderstorms kept fishermen off of the water for most of the evening action so not a lot to report for that time period. More rainbows are on the take so the action has definitely improved. Remember to heed the special restrictions on this lake.

PIT RIVER-There’s been good conditions and fishing in all the different sections of the Pit, although Pit 3 has been a bit crowded. If you are struggling with bigger nymphs, try downsizing to No. 16 or 18. This will be really critical as the water warms up later this month. The flows are going to increase, so get here soon. There has been a combination of nymphing the pocket waters with some dry fly action midday on warm days with caddis, some PMDs, golden stoneflies, even salmon flies.

LAKE SHASTA-Trout responded to a variety of tackle and anglers looking for salmon had to go down 200 feet. Bass were also going down after the sun hit the water in 30 to 40 feet. Numbers were found on topwater baits such as Spooks, while better fish came on 6- and 7-inch Lunker Plunkers.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR-A very good bite continues here for nice looking kokes and a few good rainbows, 40 down to 60 feet down on the south side of the bridge. This year has seen some of the cleanest kokes in many years.