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, Gold Beach, Ore.- During the beginning of the week, the Rogue estuary was straight up good fishing for Chinooks, said guide and WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. Several salmon of the days catch would be well into the 30-pound range. “Then, Wednesday and Thursday turned out to be two of the slowest days we had seen in a month of fishing the bay, but if a boat put in enough time on the water and really paid attention to every detail, they would of most likely had a opportunity to put a king salmon in the fish box,” Palmer said.

RUSSIAN RIVER-Summer mode, with some smallmouth bass fishing early and late, before and after the rafters and kayakers hit the river and get it stirred up.

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork, Glide, Ore.–Fishing for steelhead and salmon slowed down drastically this last week. “The few pictures that have been shared with me are of old. dark Chinooks,” said Field Reporter Curtis Palmer.” That had no appeal to me for sport as an angler, and certainly not as table fare. One day rafting trips are a great way to spend time on this river now.”

UMPQUA RIVER, Main Stem, Reedsport, Oregon–Chinook fishing has been very good on some days and downright discouraging on other days. Without any apparent reason, the catching of these excellent salmon will come to a complete halt. The good news is that there is over a month left to get involved in some great days of fishing for kings.

TRINITY-KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate-Air and water temperatures have really heated up, and trout fishing is pretty much ended until fall when salmon and steelhead return to the upper stretches of the river.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen-What a difference a week makes. Guide Steve Huber struck the mother lode of newly-arrived salmon and steelhead, and had it almost to himself by putting 6 salmon and 4 steelhead into the boat by 8:30 a.m. on Friday! There were lots of fish spread throughout the river, but fishing was best around Blue Creek. Side-drifting and boondoggling roe were the most effective methods for taking fish.

TRINITY RIVER, Junction City-Salmon fishing started out pretty good at the beginning of last week, but tapered off and became tougher and tougher as the week wore on, until anglers were happy to score one or two salmon in a hard day’s fishing. Back bouncing roe into faster riffles was producing an occasional salmon, but success rates were better for anglers anchoring up in a “honey hole” and camping out.

TRINITY RIVER, Burnt Ranch-No direct reports, but lots of cars are still parked at the trail head leading down to the falls, indicating that it’s still worth the long, steep climb into the canyon. Drift tuna balls.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-Flows were dropped below Oxbow to allow for easy crossing by horses and riders participating in a 100-mile ride event. Fishing has been good with the lower flows for browns and rainbows in the deeper pools on worms.

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is at 85-percent capacity. Small kokanee, 10 to 12 inches, are hitting for trollers up at Garden Point on standard rigging– dodgers and hoochies, bugs, or small spoons, according to John Wadden at Will Fish Tackle in Auburn. The area down by the dam is impossible to fish due to the heavy recreational boat traffic.

CAMP FAR WEST-Heavy recreational traffic has made this lake tough for fishermen. No reports of any action were available from North Shore Resort. There should be decent catfish action at night on nightcrawlers, chicken livers, and sardines.

COLLINS LAKE-The lake is still only down 9 feet, higher than it’s been in several years at this time. With more water, the fishing has been good for all species-trout, catfish, panfish, and bass. Limits of trout are still occasionally being seen, but most anglers still pick up 2 to 4 rainbows on worms or Power Bait, particularly at the docks, the dam, and the bridge. Trollers are still picking up some nice fish at the powerlines on Kastmasters and flasher/worm combos. Catfish have been hitting all over the lake at night on chicken livers, nightcrawlers and sardines. Bluegill and redears are providing lots of action for the kids fishing around all the brush in the water with worm/bobber rigs. Bass to 6 pounds have been hitting plastic worms up near the bridge.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 92-percent capacity. Heavy recreational boat traffic has kept most anglers off the lake this past week, though there are plenty of bass and bluegill on the banks. The bluegill are spawning and easy to catch on worms. The bass are cruising the shore feeding on the bluegill. Anglers who get into the coves away from the recreational boaters should do well on both species. Trout action has been non-existent with the heat and boat traffic.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The campgrounds were alive with people and both shore anglers and trollers were catching fish, according to the Forest Service. Early morning is the time to get out for the best chance at success. Trollers are using flasher or dodger/worm combos while the shore anglers rely on Power Bait and worms.

FULLER LAKE-This lake hasn’t been planted by the DFG since the July 4 holiday week. but the small browns that were put in are still hitting slow trolled dodger/worm combos.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-The Mackinaw bite has been good for 4 to 6 pounders on dodger/worm combos fished 15 feet deep at the mouth of the Rubicon River, according to John Wadden at Will Fish Tackle in Auburn.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake is down to 71-percent capacity. Bass action is still very good for ‘slot fish’ either very early or very late in the day when the sun is off the water. The topwater bite is producing some of the bigger fish, but worms and tubes are working from 25 to 40 feet on the main points. The coho bite has slowed way down as the heat has driven the fish into 60 to 80 feet of water at the Green Bridge and the dam. Sling Blade/nightcrawler or hoochie combos are working for trollers and moochers at the buoy line at the dam are using anchovy tails. The coho are running 17 inches with some hitting 2 pounds.

LITTLE GRASS VALLEY RESERVOIR-Rick Kennedy at Tight Lines Guide Service reported good action on 11- to 13-inch kokanee, and a few rainbows to 15 inches, trolling pink/copper Sling Blades and Sep’s Gold Starlight dodgers trailing pink Pee Wee hoochies tipped with pink Pautzke Fire Corn at 40 to 50 feet. Kennedy fished in the afternoon, but suggested that the early morning bite would be better.

ROLLINS LAKE-Rainbow trout are hitting for boaters drifting worms along the dam inside the “no-ski” buoy line and at the “Sand Bar”. Browns are hitting worms at the inlet of the Bear River. The rest of the lake is over-run by recreational boaters and PWC.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-Planter rainbows have been hitting worms at the inlet and little smallmouth bass have been keeping the kids happy on nightcrawlers.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-Fishing is best early in the morning before the sun hits the water for both shore anglers and trollers after DFG planters. There are some bass in the lake that seem to prefer the area from the ramp to the dam.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The campgrounds were full over the weekend and lots of people were fishing both from the shore and trolling, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station. Early morning is the best time to fish with the warm weather, though there were some big thunderstorms forming over the weekend that cooled things off.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-The water level was up this past week due to the heavy releases coming out of Lake Oroville. Senkos and jigs have been picking up a few bass early and late, but there is the chance for a good frog bite along the tule banks in the middle of a hot afternoon.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-Fishing for striped bass was pretty good on big streamers like Clouser minnows, topwater lures like Zara Spooks, swimbaits, and Pencil Poppers, and soaking minnows, sardines and crawdads. Fish are spread throughout the river from Paradise Beach to Sunrise. Although most of the stripers being caught have been small, weighing up to 8 pounds, every once in awhile, a real lunker weighing 20 pounds or more makes an appearance.

FEATHER RIVER- Most of the buzz is over the salmon opener on Saturday. There are lots of fish in the river, but most reports have the majority of them already in the section still closed to fishing upstream from 1,000 feet below the Outlet Hole. So, it’s anybody’s guess as to how good the fishing will be. It’s going to be a zoo out there. Some nice striped bass were being caught in the evenings from Boyd’s Pump on down to the mouth either by casting swimbaits, jerkbaits, and surface lures to sandbars and structure or trolling Bombers and Yo-Zuri’s. A very few small steelhead were taking nightcrawlers with a bead and nymphs under an indicator in the Low Flow Section. The bite, what little there is, turns off as soon as the sun hits the water.

FOLSOM LAKE-Bass can still be caught at Folsom Lake but anglers have to adjust to the dropping water level-10 feet in the past two weeks. Don Paganelli said that fish have moved into deeper water, 20 feet deep and deeper except for very brief forays into shallows with quick access to deeper water very early in the morning when they might take a topwater bait. They are mostly being caught on drop-shotted and Carolina-rigged plastics, like Robo-Worms in darker colors or shad patterns. Try one or the other until you find what works. It’s very crowded on weekends, so try to get out on the water on weekdays.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-Fishing on the Sac has locked into a summertime pattern with anglers able to catch lots of little stripers, but very few that are legal to keep (18 inches and over). Soaking sardines and bloodworms at Miller Park and the Turning Basin will certainly get bites and maybe an occasional fish one is able to keep. Fishing for catfish continued to be good in quiet holes near shore and in side sloughs on worms, stinkbaits, chicken livers, and mackerel.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Knight’s Landing-Occasional lunker striped bass continue to surprise anglers used to catching loads of babies. This past week it was a 35 pounder reported caught out of Colusa on a minnow.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff-Trout fishing was very good from Redding to Red Bluff, but it’s the fly fishers who are shining now, drifting small nymphs under indicators or dries sometimes in the evenings. Glo-Bugs, crickets, and Hot Shots are getting a few bites, but not nearly as many this time of year as fly fishers.

UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER, Dunsmuir-Trout fishing has been very good throughout the river with bigger fish more often caught in the lower part of the river. Dry flies are still accounting for a few fish late in the evenings, but prince nymphs, copper Johns, pheasant tail nymphs, and hare’s fished on short lines are still better bets.

YUBA RIVER-Trout fishing continued to be good, from Highway 20 on down on both wets and dries. This is the time of year when hopper patterns can be quite effective, and loads of fun. Make sure not to be too quick to try to set the hook on a typical splashing strike.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-The boats have been mixing up trips to the Farallon Islands, the Marin Coast and the bay with great action on rockfish, some solid halibut scores and the occasional striped bass. Captain Bob Monckton on Reel-lentless found halibut willing early in the week with scores of eight to 15 pounds, and nine to 14 pounds on two days. A mid-week effort produced three limits of rockfish and six lings to 12 pounds.

BODEGA BAY- Salmon action was great early in the week, and showed some promise on Sunday. On Monday, the New Sea Angler scored 15 limits of kings to 28 pounds, as did a half dozen other boats that braved windy conditions to target the kings. Then the mid-week hiatus and slow fishing made the salmon scene ho-hum. On Sunday, the Sandy Ann scored seven kings for six anglers, topped by a 24 pounder. Captain Bob Monckton on Reel-lentless ran his first trip out of this harbor on Saturday, targeting Gualala rockfish and scoring limits plus two lings to 10 pounds. On Sunday, a salmon effort produced one halibut before he switched to rockfish and found limits.

BROOKINGS, Ore.- Due to a high number of yelloweye rockfish caught, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has restricted anglers to fishing in less than 120 feet of water for rockfish, and cabezon season closed for boat anglers. A 37-pound lingcod was weighed at the Chetco Outdoor Store. “The local charter boats have been faring well on bottomfish,” said WON field reporter Dave Pitts.

EMERYVILLE-Great bottomfishing all week both at the Farallon Islands and up off of the Marin Coast. Most of the boats have been stopping off for halibut on the North bar on the way home. That has resulted in interesting scores like the one from the New Huck Finn on Thursday, when 16 anglers caught rockfish limits, then put nine halibut to 12 pounds in the box on the way in. The Talisman ran north and had six limits of rockfish from the Marin Coast, then scored eight halibut to 14 pounds from the bar. The C Gull II concentrated on rockfish, finding limits every day plus some lingcod. The New Salmon Queen got into the lings on Saturday, finding 15 to 12 pounds for 22 anglers, as well as rockfish limits.

EUREKA-Peak of summer variety, with nearly every option going strong. About the only weak link has been salmon, but that scene showed some promise through the weekend as more boats started getting some fish. Pacific halibut action was on high for awhile, with every boat trying the 260- to 300-foot zone getting at least one fish, and some boat limits reported. A few California halibut showed up in the bay, but until recently, there hasn’t been much in bait inside. That changed, and now the bait receiver is open and selling bait at $10 per half scoop. Redtail surfperch action is on high, with the mouth of the Eel as well as all the other traditional spots offering red hot action and limits the rule.

FORT BRAGG-Salmon showed up north of Fort Bragg, and sources hoped for some good action close to home soon as the fish move down the line. Bottomfishing has been mostly good with the calm ocean conditions. Abalone season reopens on Aug. 1.

HALF MOON BAY-Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat said bottomfishing has been good at Tunitas and out at the Farallones, with a recent trip offering a glimpse of blue whales. Mattusch took a look for giant squid, but found no takers. “They should start showing up soon,” he said.

LOCH LOMOND-Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star focused on big halibut spots most of the week, finding some 20-pound class fish at main bay spots like Alcatraz and Angel islands, and Raccoon Straights. “You don’t catch as many at those spots, but the fish are generally bigger!”

POINT SAN PABLO-Captain Frank Miller on the Fury ran a research trip targeting sevengill cow sharks and the crew scored a 194 pounder measuring nearly 9 feet at Yellow Bluff on squid. The rest of the week, he reported a little less than one around on halibut and stripers on live bait trips “all over” the bay including Southampton, Paradise, and Richmond.

SAUSALITO-Captain John Atkinson on the New Rayann got into some kings at Duxbury, with three boated on Saturday but only one on Sunday. The quality was excellent with big fish going 25 pounds. One lucky Mill Valley angler caught two of the kings on Saturday, one 18 pounder and another that went 20 pounds.

SHELTER COVE-Scattered reports of salmon counts both by private and commercial anglers are promising. The Pacific halibut action comes and goes, but the rockfish and lings are on high. Abalone season reopens Aug. 1.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 74-percent capacity. The warm weather has made the action here an early morning affair-before the sun gets on the water. Try the west side coves and the inlet. Recreational watercraft keep the water roiled up during the day.

CAPLES LAKE-The lake is still running over the spillway. The lake received 1600 pounds of 1/2- to 1-pound catchables and 700 pounds of 3 to 6 pounders sponsored by EID and Kirkwood Meadows Utility District this past week and the bite has been good for big rainbows at Emigrant Cove and in the deeper areas of the lake. Joe Rizzo of Daly City had a couple of fantastic days at Emigrant Cove landing a five-fish limit of rainbows, all 4 to 5 pounds, on copper dodgers and worms on Thursday, and then picking up seven fish over 4 pounds with his brother Sal on Saturday on worms. Shore anglers are doing fair for planter-sized rainbows and browns on Power Bait, worms, Panther Martins, and Kastmasters.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-Alpine County planted 1800 pounds of rainbows and browns this past week and Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort rated the fishing as “superbly awesome”. Limits of fish are EASY!! Cameron Koehler of Fair Oaks landed a 6-pound, 9-ounce rainbow and George Rabon of Lodi had a limit that included two 4 1/4 pounders and two 2 pounders on the East Fork. Worms and salmon eggs are accounting for most of the fish being caught.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is at 65-percent capacity. When WON contacted Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Fishing Guide Service on Sunday morning he had already landed 15 fish, all 14- to 15-inch rainbows, on copper/red Wee Dick Nites and #1 Dick Nites fished at 14 to 16 feet deep near the island. Fly fishing has been sporadic depending on the insect hatches along the west side of the lake. One angler reported picking up 15 fish on damsel patterns during a hatch near Jenkins in the early morning.

DONNER LAKE-There’s steady action on planters at the public piers and the beach. Little word being heard on any kokanee or Mackinaw success.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-Mike Hanson at Caribou Crossroads Resort reported that some big trout are still coming out of the Caribou Powerhouse-one angler checked in with a 5 pounder. The North Fork and East Branch of the Feather are still producing a few trout and the main river is kicking out some little smallmouth bass out of the deeper pools. Butt Valley Reservoir is kicking out smallmouth to 3 pounds on wacky-rigged brown Senkos in shallow water. Hanson picked up 8 fish from shore in the SE corner of the lake.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is at 47-percent capacity. Ed Dillard reported that trollers were doing well straight out from the Frenchman’s ramp using yellow watermelon Needlefish and gold Thomas Buoyants at 15 to 30 feet for 15- to 18-inch rainbows. Fly fishing has been pretty good on copper johns.

GOLD LAKES BASIN-Packer and Sardine have been planted and should be good using worms.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 93-percent capacity. The fish are deeper and tough to catch-mostly small 8- to 10-inch planters.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Fishing has been good for nice rainbows in the deeper channel that runs from the boat ramp to the dam. Early morning is best.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR-Trollers are doing best up in the Yuba River arm inlet area. Shore fishing has been slow.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle reported that trollers were catching all the fish they wanted on a Wild Thing/spinner combo along the south side of the lake on up into the Narrows. One boat picked up a 3-pound Mack on a chrome Needlefish in the same area.

LAKE TAHOE-Thunderstorm activity chased most boats off the lake over the weekend. Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters reported that he got skunked for only the third time in 20 years-“fishing was slow and terrible”. Mike Neilsen at Tahoe Top Liners did well trolling 90 to 230 feet deep at South Shore early this past week for limits of 3 to 6 pounders, but the bite got tough and he had to switch to vertical jigging. Neilsen did manage to catch a fluke 18-pound Mack at 3 p.m. mid-week using a silver/black Thunder Stick at 90 feet deep over 160 feet of water.

LOON LAKE-The lake is at 86-percent capacity. Dale Daneman at Dale’s Foothill Fishing Guide Service longlined a “naked 2-inch Sep’s brown grub” and hooked 18 fish on his last trip here. They landed 12 rainbows from 10 to 15 inches. The best bite is very early-they had the first limit between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. The bite is much slower after the sun gets on the water. Daneman said he fished from the top down to 25 feet deep depending on the sunlight.

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is at 76-percent capacity. No changes here, early morning at the inlet of Prosser Creek is the most productive for trout. Some smallmouth action is being found at the dam and in the backs of the coves in the late evenings.

PYRAMID LAKE-The Sacramento perch bite is wide open according to Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters. His last trip produced 51 fish, mostly 1 1/2 to 2 pounders with a couple weighing 2 1/2 pounds. The best lure is a 1/4-ounce yellow/black or red/black crappie jig worked from 25 to 40 feet deep on rock structure. The outer “Needles” was good this past week when Mendes landed 108 fish for a tribal feast at the reservation that encompasses the lake.

RED LAKE-Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station reported that the huge chub population in the lake has had a very negative effect on the trout action. Anglers are reporting little success here.

SILVER LAKE-The lake is full. Shore fishing has been slower than the trolling, according to Plasses Resort. Fish are being caught with some limits seen running from planters to trout weighing several pounds.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 65-percent capacity. Both Rick Kennedy at Tight Lines Guide Service and Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service fished here this past week and gave similar reports. The bite is early and the fishing is tougher. Kennedy got bit right out of the gate on a UV Sling Blade with a green Pee Wee hoochie tipped with pink Pautzke Fire Corn at 44 feet, after that he had to try a lot of different rigs and depths for any success. Neeser fished the lake all week and was catching 20 to 30 kokanee /day, but had to work hard for them once the sun hit the water. He started with dark-colored spinners at 40 feet in the early morning and ended up out at 70 feet deep with colors and rigging changing daily. The kokanee are nice sized fish, 15 to 19 inches, with some weighing up to 2 pounds. After 9 a.m. the bite is TOUGH!!

TOPAZ LAKE-The water temp is already 75-degrees, and the trout bite has shut off completely here. Linda Fields at Topaz Landing Marina said that this is pretty much the end of the fishing for the season. There are some bass in the lake, but most bass anglers practice catch-and-release and only a few fish have been reported. There were dangerous thunderstorms on Sunday morning that drove everyone off the lake, but the weather had calmed by afternoon. Unless the fishing gets good by some miracle, this will be the last fishing report on Topaz Lake. Though the lake is open to recreational boating all year, the fishing season is official closed on October 1 until January 1.

TRUCKEE RIVER-Not much change here. Stone and caddis patterns are the most reliable with PMD’s working in the shady areas or on cloudy days. Morning bite is best for lure fishermen.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 91-percent capacity. Kokanee are moving to their summer haunts over the deepest water in the lake, at the dam and mid-lake. Ken Mathis at Ken’s Custom Tackle was picking up 3 or 4 fish per person using purple/pink or orange hoochies and pink or green bugs tipped with corn at 50 to 70 feet in the early morning. Fishing was over by 9 a.m., but the fish are fat 13 to 16 inchers.

WEST WALKER RIVER-The West Walker and the Little Walker are both scheduled to receive DFG trout plants this week. Toiyabe Motel owner Linda Foster rated the fishing as “awesome”, saying fishermen are picking up quick limits of nice fish with many running 3 to 5 pounds. The current leader in the “How Big is Big Trout Derby” is a 6-pound, 4-ounce rainbow caught by
Dave Lawrence. The river is in perfect condition, 350 cfs. Worms, salmon eggs, and lures are all producing trout and fly fishing should just be getting started with the slower flows.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE-Topwater bass action on frogs, spooks, and Ricos was good for a few larger fish. but the bite was still inconsistent. Now into summer patterns, try deep diving crankbaits, jigs, shaky heads, spinnerbaits, drop-shot, and flipping/punching. The midsection of the lake has been producing some fish at depths between 15 and 20 feet. Parts of Horseshoe Bend and Henderson Point have also been productive some days. Catfishing remains good with mackerel, nightcrawlers, live crawfish, and all of the traditional catfish baits working.

LAKE BERRYESSA- Kokanee limits were found but it took time due to dropping water levels which had the bite off and on. It took a little longer to get them, but they were nice fish from 16 to 20 inches found by the Ranch House and Big Island. Try plastics throughout the day for bass and go for the topwater bite in the mornings. Fish slower as the waters warm.

UPPER BLUE LAKE-Trout fishing slowed due to warming waters and no recent plants.

LAKE SONOMA- A few small trout are still being taken by trollers up in the mouths of the creeks but fishing was generally slow except for catfish and panfish.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-Finesse tactics were key here this past week and not everyone found the right pattern. Troll in 26 to 30 feet and scale down all your stuff. Use smaller hooks and garden worms. With clear waters fish are finding food easier, all these fish are fat and full.

ANTELOPE LAKE-Trolling a Rapala, a flasher/worm, or several different colors of Needlefish in 15 feet produced trout, as did the steep shorelines with chartreuse colored Power Bait. Bass, catfish and panfish are also options here.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR- Trout fishing has been very slow due to very warm water temperatures. Reports indicate that bait fish are about all that is being caught at this time.

BAUM LAKE- Reports from here have been good the last few weeks and should continue as long as it continues to get stocked. Look for damsels and callibaetis to be hatching. The dry fly fishing during the callibaetis hatch can be a lot of fun. The most productive methods are stripping small olive damsel nymphs or callibaetis nymphs on an intermediate line, or fishing small nymphs under an indicator.

BRITTON LAKE- Crappie and smallmouth bass continue to be good bets here. 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-No changes here, caddis and callibaetis are still best above the falls and a pheasant tail, copper John, bird’s nest or hares ear were better below.

CASSEL FOREBAY- The forebay is fishing well for 10- to 15-inch rainbows. Power Bait, worms and lures are all producing but you need to beat the mid-day heat to catch more fish. Pressure here can be intense at times, but this is the place to bring the kids. Fly fishing continues to be good in the mornings but with the hot temperatures the evening rise is sporadic until just before dark. Some nice fish are on the rise but you have to be quick to hook up. The fish have been hitting both dry flies and nymphs like caddis and callibaetis. Fishing should improve when evening temperature decline slightly.

EAGLE LAKE- The fishing picked back up once trout moved to their summer spots. Try Miners Bay and Eagles Nest for either slip bobber fishing or trolling at 25 to 30 feet deep in water that is 50 to 60 feet deep.

FALL RIVER-Still fishing consistently. Look for both tricos and pmd hatches into the early afternoon and then switch to small nymphs. Top producers under the indicator have been micro mayflies and pheasant tails. Damselflies are also in full effect so make sure you bring some flies to imitate them.

UPPER HAT CREEK- Water flows are just about perfect for mid-summer fishing. With generous plants by DFG there are lots of catchable rainbow and brook trout in the creek. Worms and Panther Martins are working best as the largest take of fish are brookies followed by rainbows. A few larger fish are still coming in but the majority are 12 to 16 inches. Fly fishing was fair to good with copper Johns and realistic stones working well. Most fish are caught deeper so add weight as needed.

HAT CREEK (wild)-Nymphing is the best, but callibaetis cripples can yield some good results. Nymph fishermen did well on hare’s ear, birds nest and pheasant tails.

IRON CANYON RESERVOIR–Current reports show fishing has improved here and lots of fish are being caught.

LEWISTON RESERVIOR–Some 450 pen reared trout between 5 and 8 pounds were just released here. Worms and orange Power Baits fished early or late in the day were the top baits. There are tons of midges here now, so woolly buggers, black leeches, black midges, anything with olive green in it will work. Big fish in last weekend’s Feed the Trout event was a 3 1/2-pound trout caught by 13-year-old Alex Fridely from McKinlkyville. Start at the dam in the morning and head to Coopers Gulch and Mary Smith campgrounds during the day. Fish were caught from the surface down to 15 feet.

MANZANITA LAKE– The warmer weather has improved surface activity and some larger fish are going for adult damsels. Mosquitoes, baetis, and pheasant tails are producing. The fishing has been fair and weed growth has accelerated. Still a great place to relax and fish with a chance at a real trophy. Remember to heed the special restrictions on this lake.

McCLOUD RIVER–The flows and clarity have been great and the fishing up and down has been too. Nymphing under strike indicators, swinging streamers, or fishing dries in the evenings have all been producing fish. There have been a lot of really nice fish caught lately including some big lake-run browns. The Super Floss rubber legs still seems to be the top producer and dropping a smaller nymph behind it will pick up some nice fish as well.

PIT RIVER-The Pit 3 reach access is now closed until Labor Day weekend, then it closes again until October. The river is still fishing good to great, but this time of the year downsize your flies and target the faster whitewater. In the evenings there can be some strong caddis hatches providing some good dry fly fishing. There has also been a combination of nymphing in the pocket water for some dry fly action midday on warm days with caddis, some PMDs, golden stoneflies, even salmon flies.

LAKE SHASTA-For the first time we are starting to see shad in trout bellies, so they have hatched. As shad slowly start to show and ball up the trout will be less scattered and easier to target as they follow and feed on the shad balls. Trolling in 40 to 60 feet trout and a few salmon to 18 inches were found. Salmon were by the Pitt River Bridge and Dry Creek areas and found on wiggle hoochies and silver/blue Cripplures with UV Sling Blades in 80 feet of water. Trout were taken on HumDingers, or an Apex in the Sacramento arm in the Goose Neck area and east of the opening of the Bridge Bay Resort. Bas are in their summer patterns with early and late topwater action.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR-Add the coldwater curtain area and the dam area to the red hot koke bite from 40 to 60 feet down on the south side of the bridge. This year has seen some of the cleanest kokes in many years. Shasta Tackle UV Sling Blades and UV Apex combinations have been the best producing presentations trolled between 1.8 and 2.2 mph.