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.

COOS RIVER, Coos Bay, Oregon-Everyone who is fishing here is happy, according to guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service, and some boats are catching four to eight kings a day while trolling bait, and the average weight is 15 pounds, Palmer said. Fish can also be caught on a spinner, though. Good numbers moving into the Millicoma and South forks. WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts agreed, saying the action is “fair to good, depending on where in the system you’re fishing. From the lower bay all the way up into the channels, fish are scattered, so no reason to bunch up on this system.”

COQUILLE RIVER, Bandon, Oregon-King salmon fishing slowed down middle of the week, but came back with a vengeance over the weekend when those trolling bait caught fresh kings that are still feeding, Palmer said. Pitts said it’s some days on, some days off. “Many believe the main influx of fish over the past month have moved higher in the system and out of reach,” said Pitts.

COQUILLE RIVER, Riverton, Oregon-The king salmon are in, and locals are “stocking up their freezers” according to Palmer. Cut herring still works here, of course, but hardware like colorful spinners with some copper or gold also work. Troll with the tides and stay deep.

ROGUE RIVER-According to WON Field Reporter and Chetco Outdoor Store manager Dave Pitts, it was another dreary week of action-or lack thereof–on the Rogue estuary. “Each year at this time anglers will see a slight upswing in bent rods primarily in the late evening hours, making it appear things are turning around. Trollers will see a few fish again this time of year, but according to records, the main body of returning fish are well upriver, thus the reason anglers in Grant’s Pass are seeing some pretty darn good days on the water. Near Agness, halfpounder steelheading has been consistent, and mid-river, Chinook catches are fair to good for plug-pullers and side-drifters.

RUSSIAN RIVER-There won’t be anything but smallmouth bass fishing here until the rains come. Finally, recreation water activity has slowed dramatically.

UMPQUA RIVER, Winchester Bay, Ore.-Some nice kings are being caught here, but seals are the big problem for salmon fishermen, according to WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts, who said they’re ripping the kings and cohos right off lines. “Keep your nets low until time to net, when you hold your net up the seals and sea lions correlate it to ‘dinner time’.”

UMPQUA RIVER, Roseburg, Ore.-Kings are stacking up at the confluence of the north and south forks again, where roe and yarn are getting some nice fish, according to Curtis Palmer of RiverSecrets Guide Service. At the coastal end, they’re still getting a good number of kings and silvers using plug cut herring, Kwikfish or spinners.

TRINITY-KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen-Salmon and steelhead are “pouring” into the mouth of the Klamath, and fishing has been pretty good. However, the success rate falls off on weekends due to the heavy fishing pressure. The best results have been from the mouth to Starwin Riffle.

KLAMATH RIVER, Weitchpec-Tom Wilson of Spey-Ghee Guide Service said that fishing for steelhead improved greatly last week with both adults to 6 pounds and dozens of halfpounders being caught some days between Weitchpec and to Hopkins Creek on big Blue Fox spinners and brindle bugs.

TRINITY RIVER, Weitchpec-Salmon fishing remained slow in the lower end of the Trinity according to Ed Duggan of “D” Guide Service, and fall fish had yet to turn up in any great numbers. The good news was that air and water temperatures were cooling, and fall fish should be moving in at any time.

TRINITY RIVER, Junction City- Fishing has been pretty good, but most of the salmon were darker spring runs with only a smattering of fall fish showing up yet. There were a few more reported around Del Loma plus some steelhead showing up.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 71-percent capacity. Fishing is best at the dam or the inlet. Anglers fishing off the dam prefer throwing CD Rapalas, Kastmaster spoons, or Power Bait and inflated ‘crawlers on a 2 1/2-foot leader. Trollers are doing well on flasher/worm or Needlefish combos and Rapalas in the early morning at the inlet. If the lake continues to drop at the current rate, the boat ramp might become unusable by this weekend.

CAPLES LAKE-John Voss at Caples Lake Resort reported that kayak angler, Charlie Wilson landed a 10-pound brown while throwing a gold Kastmaster near the dam and that a shore angler picked up a 4-pound rainbow at the dam on a nightcrawler. Shore anglers have been doing best with a nightcrawler under a bobber, and trollers are using flasher/worm combos, Kastmaster spoons, and Jointed Rapalas with good success. Fishing is getting better as the water temp drops due to the colder nights.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-Alpine County made a special plant of 1000 pounds of trout on Saturday just on the East Carson. 70-percent of the fish were browns running one to six pounds and the rest were rainbows, two to eight pounds. Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that fishing is “spectacular” on bait, spinners and flies. One San Jose angler came in with a limit of browns that weighed from 1 1/2 to four pounds that were caught on a Panther Martin. The year-round section below Hangman’s Bridge has been producing nice fish for dry flies.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is at 60-percent capacity. Trollers are doing better now that the water is cooler using red dot frog and firetiger Needlefish and the Wee and No.1 copper/red Dick Nite at 12 feet. Fly fishing has been good on blood midge patterns under an indicator on the west side above Jenkins Point. One first-time lady fly caster landed a 22-inch rainbow. Most of the fish being caught are running 14 to 15 inches, and a good day produces 10 to 20 fish.

DONNER LAKE-The lake is at 90-percent capacity. With the recent DFG plants, anglers are doing well on the public piers, beach and boat ramp with Power Bait and worms. Some trollers have been picking up a few small, 16- to 17-inch Macks and 10- to 11-inch kokanee at 45 to 50 feet on flasher or dodger/hoochie rigs.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-Butt Valley Reservoir is at 82-percent capacity. Dick Mason at Dick’s Guide Service reported limit action on good fish to 23 inches on threaded nightcrawlers at 2 1/2 colors near the buoy line at the dam. Fishing will get even better as the water cools. The North Fork received an unannounced DFG trout plant this past Thursday and fishing was “fantastic” according to Mike Hanson at Caribou Crossroads Resort. Hanson said he caught-and-released 20 fish to 18 inches in a big pool just above the resort in an hour using Panther Martins. The North Fork above Caribou Powerhouse is kicking out limits of 12-inch native rainbows for hikers.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is at 41-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Shore anglers have been catching some nice rainbows from the dam and Lunker Point using worms. Trollers should be picking up 15- to 18-inch trout at 25 feet on the main body of the lake on spoons and Rapalas.

GOLD LAKES BASIN-Gold Lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Fishing has been good from shore at Sardine, Salmon, and Packer for anglers using Power Bait and worms for 9- to 11-inch rainbows. The bite has been tougher at Gold Lake, but that should improve with the next plant.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 90-percent capacity. Trout action is slow!!

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Shore anglers have been picking up a few rainbows on inflated nightcrawlers fishing near the new campgrounds, according to Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR-The lake is at 72-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Shore fishing has been sporadic but the plant should give the bite a big boost. The dam and the Pass Creek area are popular with shore anglers. Trollers prefer the Yuba arm, but try near the boat ramp after the plant.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-The lake is at 86-percent capacity. Shore anglers are picking up a few rainbows in the Narrows on Power Bait and worms. Some of the local trollers have been catching some small Macks up to 18 inches along with a few nice holdover rainbows on Kastmaster spoons and Rapalas at 20 feet.

LAKE TAHOE-Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters reported good action at 400 feet for Macks running up to 5 1/2 pounds. Daniels landed eight fish on his last trip and lost five or six more using flasher/tubes or minnows. John Shearer at Tahoe Sportfishing reported that Mack fishing is very good for fish running two to 7 1/2 pounds. Shearer also said that kokanee anglers are still getting lots of fish as they school up in front of Taylor Creek. Trollers are doing well with dodger/hoochie combos or jigging with 2- or 3-ounce Crippled Herring. Chuck Self at Chuck’s Charter Fishing has been picking up limits of Macks and said that some rainbows to four pounds are showing up at Crystal Bay and Lake Forest. Mike Nielsen at Tahoe Top Liners has been doing better on the Macks trolling Storm Thunder Sticks at 200 to 220 feet deep on both ends of the lake. Nielsen said that once you find a big school of fish you can limit out quickly.

LOON LAKE-The lake is at 65-percent capacity. Trolling for holdover rainbows has been good using a Sep’s Side Kick with a brown grub at 15 feet. One troller reported picking up nine fish in a couple of hours.

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is at 58-percent capacity. Shore anglers have been doing the best near Hobart Mills for 10- to 12-inch rainbows on Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers.

PYRAMID LAKE-The perch bite is still fair but the cutthroat trout are still hammering the perch jigs in incredible numbers for Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters. Mendes is predicting a “phenomenal” trout opener on October 1. There is also the big $50,000 Cutthroat Challenge coming up on October 2-3. A $65 entry allows an angler to fish for one of five $10,000 tagged fish, plus 20 other tagged fish worth other prizes.

RED LAKE-Still some algae bloom on the lake, but in areas where it is clear, some brookies and cutts are hitting worms.

SILVER LAKE-The lake is at 77-percent capacity. According to Plasses Resort, Ray Mitchoff of Lake Tahoe landed a 16-pound Mackinaw while trolling 35 feet deep in the middle of the lake. Local, Ken Stroh, drifts green Power Bait at 40 feet deep off the island for regular limits. Shore anglers haven’t been doing very well, or at least they haven’t been telling anyone at Plasses if they are.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 58-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The kokanee bite has slowed way down from quick limits to two to four fish for a morning of trolling. The kokes are still hitting at 75 feet, but some are being metered shallower as the water cools. The males are hitting 5-to-1 over the females as they are much more aggressive. Some of the kokes are very red, but there are still plenty that should be edible, especially the females according to Keith Zenker at Mountain Hardware and Sports. Shore angling for trout will improve after the plant near the boat ramp on Power Bait and worms.

TRUCKEE RIVER-Good fly fishing using big nymphs with small droppers during the day and dries in the evening. Try hoppers near grassy banks on a windy day.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 74-percent capacity. Kyle Neeser of Crystal Basin Tackle reported that kokanee action is still good off Sunset Point at 60 to 80 feet over 200 feet of water using a watermelon Wild Thing dodger with a pink/purple Wee Tad. The fish are turning red, but providing good action even if they won’t be much good to eat.

WEST WALKER RIVER-The West Walker received a DFG trout plant this past week and is scheduled for another DFG plant this week, along with the Little Walker River. The Mono County Chamber Of Commerce will be making a plant of 2-pound Alpers trout, too. Sam
Foster at the Toiyabe Motel reported “the river is stunning and the fish are plentiful. Any way you want to fish, you’ll catch a limit.”

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-Great weekend action along the coast and at the Farrallon Islands with some big halibut and lingcod topping the catches on the New Easy Rider, Flying Fish, New El Dorado III and El Dorado. The New Easy Rider had a great day on halibut Saturday, with 38 to 26 pounds for 21 anglers. Silver Fox racked up the ling count fishing the coast, with 26 lingcod, half limits of rockfish and eight halibut. The California Dawn had a great day on Sunday with 17 lingcod limits, 31 halibut and half plus limits of rockfish. The Happy Hooker did equally well with 19 lingcod limits, 11 halibut and a smattering of rockfish.

BODEGA BAY- Captain Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler fished up north off of Salt Point as well as down near Point Reyes, finding limit rockfish action plus improving lingcod action, at least on the north side. “We didn’t get any lings down south, just big sacks of big reds, vermilion, Bolinas and coppers,” said Powers. Sunday’s trip was a pelagic bird variety, which took the New Sea Angler out about 27 miles, where Powers found 57-degree water. “We might go out on an exploratory trip for albacore this week,” he said.

EMERYVILLE-Rockfish, lingcod and halibut dominated the trips, with a combination of effort out at the Farallon Islands and up along the Marin Coast. The New Huck Finn ran Wednesday through the weekend with limits of rockfish and up to 16 lings, with bonus halibut on most trips. On Saturday, all the boats scored rockfish limits and up to one lingcod around.

EUREKA-Excellent bottomfishing at the cape, with a great grade of blacks and some lings to 15 pounds reported on the six-pack boats. Pacific halibut are still biting, with three boated on the Sea Weasel, one a 70 pounder. The Humboldt Tuna Club got into some hogs 50 miles out and north, none were under 25 pounds. There were some great live bait stops on the Reel Steel, which ended up with 11 fish in the box for four anglers, and nine lost.

FORT BRAGG-Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar said the last day of salmon season (Monday) offered fair action with three fish for five anglers. Since then, not much going on, although he plans to look for Pacific halibut and giant squid. The fuel dock at Noyo Harbor closed, complicating things for the few moored boats that are trying to keep fishing.

HALF MOON BAY-Bottomfishing heated up with the school fish now on a big time bite, the current problem no longer finding limits, but getting past hoards of blues. “We’ve had good fishing from the harbor down to Pescadero,” said Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat. One unusual catch that showed up on two boats were wolf eels. Lingcod and halibut were also possible bonuses.

LOCH LOMOND-Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star found some biting ‘buts in Richardsons Bay, one that broke the 20-pound mark. He also scored keepers at Southampton, and found some rockfish and lingcod in the outer bay. The ling went 16.5 pounds.

POINT SAN PABLO-Captain Frank Miller on the Fury reported a good rockfish trip to the Marin Coast, finding near limits and two lings for his group of five anglers. Coming up this week, halibut trips focusing on the outside sand bars, and a Sunday big shark trip targeting the waters off of Yellow Bluff.

SHELTER COVE-Captain Trent Slate on Bite Me reported wide open bottomfishing up above the 40’10 line where he found a new spot just north of Punta Gorda. It’s a bottomfishing dream with pebbly bottom and few snags, but absolutely loaded with big rockfish and lings, plus the occasional Pacific halibut. In six consecutive trips, his anglers caught lingcod and rockfish limits, plus two 40-pound class ‘buts. Flat seas on Sunday and a great forecast for the week had the local fleet thinking albacore; one boat slipped out earlier in the week when the weather wasn’t so great and boxed 24 before having to turn around.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-There are quite a few small steelhead present, and they are taking caddis nymph imitations, as well as dries in the evenings. Most are steelhead smolts to 10 inches, but some are decent-sized fish to 20 inches, and there are even a few adults to 6 or 7 pounds. Stripers seem to have declined in numbers, but are still present. However, most striper fishermen have gone down to the Delta where the bite has been better.

FEATHER RIVER-Some steelhead are moving into the Low Flow Section, but the many salmon also present are hard to avoid hooking by accident. No matter, if you cannot avoid hooking salmon, you must move to another spot or risk a ticket, since there is no allowance for catch-and-release fishing for salmon. A few stripers are being caught in the lower part of the river around Star Bend.

FOLSOM LAKE-Pretty much the same story as last week. You won’t catch many or large bass, but they are being caught mostly on the main body off Peninsula and toward Dike 8. Work rocky structure and points around 20 feet deep where there is a dropoff to 25 feet. Fish Robo-Worms in Aaron’s Magic Carolina-rigged or drop-shotted. It’s still important to get on the water early. The lake is still relatively high, and recreational boaters are still coming out in good numbers even though it’s past Labor Day.

MCCLOUD RIVER-Trout fishing continued to be very good, and even improved a bit as the water cools. They are taking Mayflies and caddis nymph patterns under indicators, with the occasional hatch allowing some dry fly action in the evening.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-Fishing for salmon was surprisingly good last week, at least downstream of Verona, and some big fish to 35 pounds were being caught, mostly by trolling double-bladed Silvertron spinners. Try red and pink or chartreuse. The best fishing reports were coming from between Rio Ramaza and Verona, and down in front of the Yacht Club. The early season on the Sac runs through Oct. 3 from the Highway 113 Bridge near Knights Landing to the Carquinez Bridge.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Knight’s Landing-Salmon fishing between Verona and Knight’s Landing, the uppermost point where fishing for salmon is allowed until Oct. 3, was, in a word, dead. However, a few anglers were able to catch a few legal striped bass among all the dinks by throwing Clouser streamers.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff-Fly fishing for trout continued to be very good from Redding to Red Bluff. Although nymphing under indicators produced most of the bites, there was still some dry fly action in the evenings. Two floats have been particularly popular: Bonneview down to Anderson, and Anderson to Balls Ferry.

UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER, Dunsmuir-Trout fishing continued to improve with cooler weather and cooler water. Some bigger trout to 20 inches were being taken in the lower part of the river toward the lake, while smaller, but more fish were being caught the farther upstream you go. High stick or indicator fish pockets with Prince nymphs, rubberlegs, and Foxes’ Poopahs.

YUBA RIVER-Trout were still taking hopper imitations upstream and down from the Highway 20 Bridge or driftboaters to Sycamore Ranch above the Daguerre Dam.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE- With the weeds and algae continuing to disappear, some bass are starting the move into the shallows to start to feed on small baitfish. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and assorted crankbaits are great choices to cover as much water as possible in search of active fish. Other good choices for the upcoming fall period will include jigs, surface baits, and wake baits.

LAKE BERRYESSA-The Skiers Cove area is still a good spot for kokes. Depths from 75 to 90 feet deep produced a mixed bag of fish that included some red males, although their meat still looked good, and females. A few small bass were biting drop-shot Basstrix Flashtrix 4-inch smelt minnow, but generally the bite is still slow.

LAKE SONOMA-They are marking plenty of steelies on electronics between 45 and 65 feet, but they were gorging heavily on the shad. It was a hit and miss deal and fish are also moving around. Even so, one was caught weighing 3 pounds. Bass were up in the Cherry Creek arm and the bite was considered “fair.”

UPPER BLUE LAKE-Bass will continue to be a better bet until the lake is planted, no word on when that will be. Warm water and weather has trout deeper and the bite slow.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-The fall fishing pattern is developing and trout can be taken closer to the surface on lures such as Speedy Shiners or trolling flies. Try starting at the tip of the peninsula above Rec. 2 and head west almost to Bailey Creek. Fish at 10 feet down in this area in 25 to 35 feet of water.

ANTELOPE LAKE-The lake is moving into its fall pattern but many trout are still being caught. A good bet here will be woolly buggers in 18 to 20 feet of water and fishing 12 to 15 feet deep.

BAUM LAKE-The overall bite is getting better with cooling conditions. Power Bait, Power Eggs and nightcrawlers have been favorites. Fly fishermen have been doing better with the cooler temperatures, too, and the hatches in the evenings have been fairly good. Red copper john’s or brown or olive colored wooly buggers, Panther Martins and Kastmasters were productive as well.

BRITTON LAKE-Good bets here continue to be crappie jigs, crappie nibbles and crappie magnets for crappie. The bass bite should start to pick up with the cooler weather also cooling the water.

BURNEY CREEK- Upper Burney Creek was well planted for the holiday weekend and there are plenty of trout left. The bite has been consistent all summer on caddis and callibaetis above the falls or attractor patterns. Below the falls a pheasant tail, copper John, bird’s nest or hares ear worked best.

CASSEL FOREBAY- The forebay continues to produce lots of fish and eggs and worms were working well. The pressure here has let up a bit, which provides excellent opportunities to experience some great fishing. Both the morning and evening bite have been good. Fly fishing has improved with more activity presenting both mornings and evenings. Copper Johns, midges and callibaetis dead drifted under an indicator worked well. More topwater action was also present.

EAGLE LAKE-The lake is in transition and fish are on the move in cooler waters towards the north end where it is shallower. Limits to 3 pounds are still being taken. Just fish shallow and use bright colored grubs if water clarity is not good.

UPPER HAT CREEK-Fishing remained good following the Labor Day weekend, but with recent storms the morning temperatures have really come down. The fishing is still very good, but the bite has slowed somewhat due to extreme fluctuations in temperatures from around 34 degrees in the morning to near 80 mid-afternoons. Lots of limits are still being taken with some huge 3 to 6 pounders in the lot. DFG continues to plant twice a week so lots of fish are still available for anglers. Water conditions remain ideal and worms and spinners continue to be the most productive at this time. Fly fishing was slower this past week with crystal buggers in olive and gold worked best.

HAT CREEK (wild) -Nymph anglers did best on hare’s ear, birds nest and pheasant tails. Nymphing was the best, but callibaetis cripples also yielded some good results.

MANZANITA LAKE–Not as many reports this past week except to say that topwater action was still happening. Small presentations under stimulators are still the way to go. Motor boat caddis activity is still present. The water temperatures at this higher elevation have come way down so now is the time to fish for some exceptional trophies. Remember to heed the special restrictions on this lake.

PIT RIVER-Downsize your flies and target the faster whitewater. The fish push up into those areas because there is more oxygen for them. Adding another splitshot or two is a good idea and will help you get down to the fish. The road to Pit No. 3 is closed again

LAKE SHASTA-Smaller trout and salmon were found at all depths. The Dry Creek arm, the main body and out in front of Digger Bay are good areas to target. All presentations were catching fish but they weren’t very large. The bass bite is still slow but cooler conditions should help turn that around.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-The flows in the Middle Fork are normal-low and clear-and trout are concentrated in the deeper pools. There are fewer rafters disturbing the fish and hikers should have good success on a mix of rainbows and browns in the Georgetown area. The Middle Fork below French Meadows dam is always good for rainbows.

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is at 68-percent capacity. There’s very little happening here since the big wildfire. Emerald Cove Marina reported that communication lines have been fixed. Boat traffic is way down with schools back in session. The marina sent some rental boats up to Willow Creek and Dark Day to fish, but they reported very little success.

CAMP FAR WEST-The lake is at 40-percent capacity. Bass action has been good at the dam on jigs for fish to 4 pounds, according to North Shore Resort. Some catfish to 5 pounds are hitting for night fishermen

COLLINS LAKE-The lake is 21 feet from full. Fishing pressure is way down since the start of school. Trout and catfish are still showing but no limits have been caught-only one or two fish on the average. The rental docks have been providing the best action at night for anglers using worms and Power Bait. Trout plants are set to resume in mid-October.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 90-percent capacity. Recreational traffic has slowed way down, making it more enjoyable for fishermen. Trollers have been catching a mix of holdover and planter rainbows, plus some small browns using flasher/worm combos from the marina up to Keystone Cove. The fish are 10 feet deep in the marina and down to 20 feet deep in the main body heading toward Keystone. Rainbows up to 17 inches and browns to 13 inches were reported this past week.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is at 64-percent capacity. The Foresthill Ranger Station reported that fishing pressure was down since school started. The Forest Service wants to remind hunters that French Meadows is inside a State Game Refuge, so guns and archery equipment may not in their possession, even if not hunting. Hunters cannot use the campgrounds and have guns or archery equipment in their possession. There should be some trout action up at the inlet of the Middle Fork trolling Rapalas in the early morning.

FULLER LAKE-This lake is finally scheduled for another DFG trout plant this week. Action should be excellent off the dam on worms, Power Bait and small Kastmaster spoons.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 81-percent capacity. There’s still a mix of kokanee and trout coming in for trollers, according to Will Fish Tackle in Auburn. The Rubicon River inlet is good in the early morning using Rapalas. Kokanee action is winding down as the fish ‘turn’ in preparation for spawning. Middle Meadows and Big Meadows Campgrounds will close on September 19. Only Lower Hell Hole Campground will be open for vehicles and Upper Hell Hole Campground is boat accessible only unless you want to haul all your camping gear in over a “snake infested trail”.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake is at 54-percent capacity. With the lake level still dropping like a rock, bass action is very tough!! Even the locals are avoiding the lake until the water level stabilizes and the surface temp drops. According to Feather River Outfitters, there have been no reports on any recent coho action, but there are probably a few at the buoy line at the dam that will hit minnows or nightcrawlers in deep water.

ROLLINS LAKE-The lake is at 90-percent capacity. One angler reported good action for bass up at the inlet of the Bear River. Long Ravine Resort reported good crappie action on jigs off the marina docks. Trout and catfish have been hitting bait for shore anglers. The trout are eating nightcrawlers, and the catfish prefer hot dog chunks.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-The lake is at 80-percent capacity. Very slow with only a few smallmouth bass to 1 1/2 pounds coming out of the Cascade Shores area. Trout anglers are waiting until the surfaced temp drops. The Scott’s Flat Resort Marina will close on September 27 and then customers needing marina services will have to check in with the office for service.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-Still no more DFG plants, so action is slow.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is at 89-percent capacity. The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that boaters were doing well drifting worms and Power Bait at the Pilot Creek inlet for limits of rainbows up to 14 inches.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-According to Feather River Outfitters, no one has reported any recent fishing success here. Bass should be up on the tule banks if the water level is up.