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 close, and others change to artificial/barbless only on, March 31 and others on April 25.
Trouble identifying salmon or steelhead? Go to: http://www.swr.noaa.gov/fmd/identify.htm.

ROGUE RIVER, Lower, Ore.-The spring salmon run is definitely slowing, but recent rains pushed a good number of fish into the river late last week, and WON Staffer Bill Karr found them with WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets, landing two and missing others. Guide are averaging 1 to 4 fish, but they’re heading upstream towards Lobster Creek to head them off.

ROGUE RIVER, Grant’s Pass-The Upper Rogue continues to be great for spring salmon and is finally winding down for steelhead, according to guide Greg Glossop of steelheadmaniac@gmail.com. Boats are getting most fish between Rogue Elk and Shady Cove using Kwikfish and back bouncing roe. Bank fishermen are having the best luck at the hatchery deadline, throwing beads, corkies, and roe. Trout just opened up on the Rogue and Applegate rivers, so anyone looking to do some trout fishing, that is another option. Throwing spoons, spinners, and XFactor Tackle’s miracle worm will put you on some fish.

RUSSIAN RIVER-The weather was miserable on Saturday, but the river was still full of boats, canoes, swimmers, and shad! One angler fished Johnson Beach in the midst of the melee and still caught 10 shad. The shad run is still in the early stages, as few females have shown, so upcoming warmer weather should see the best action of the year, especially during weekdays when things are calmer.

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork; Roseburg, Ore.–The king’s are in the river in full force, wasting no time in findong their way to the upper end near the town of Glide, according to WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. There have been several good days of salmon fishing this last week from all the bank access areas on the upper section of the river. “I am planning on a few days of chasing hot springers down the banks of the North Umpqua river around June 10. To join him, call Palmer at (541) 670-9451.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City- The release to the Trinity from Lewiston Dam was below 3,500 cfs over the weekend, and dropping, while at Cedar Flat the river was flowing at 4,520 cfs, down to a little more than half of the flow a week ago. Although flows were still far higher than ideal for fishing, some diehards were trying for brown trout and spring run Chinook salmon, and there were some reports of success, mostly in the upper river above Douglas City. Even though flows were much higher at Burnt Ranch and Grays falls, a few locals were making the long trek into the canyon and catching a few springers on roe weighed down with at least one ounce of weight.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam-The release from Iron Gate Dam was still 3,200 cfs as of last weekend, still quite high and unfishable. Hopefully flows will start dropping into the fishable range again soon.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-The Middle Fork near Georgetown was running high and cold, but clear enough to fish. A Georgetown local hiked down to the river and picked up a couple of nice rainbows. Heavy rain over the holiday weekend made for poor fishing conditions. As warmer weather prevails, the runoff will increase and muddy up the river.

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is at 95-percent capacity. Heavy rain over the holiday weekend slowed the fishing. Bass action should be good when the weather stabilizes with 20- to 25-pound limits of spots a distinct possibility.

CAMP FAR WEST-The lake is full and spilling. According to Dorothy Greenwood at the North Shore Resort, the bass and crappie fishing has been very good. One angler checked in at the store with 3 bass in the 4- to 5-pound range that were caught in the Bear River arm. Crappie fishing is still very good in the submerged brush found all around the shore-mini-jigs are picking up big stringers of slab-sized fish.

COLLINS LAKE-The lake is full. Trout fishing improved and lots of limits were weighed in by both trollers and shore anglers. The biggest trout checked in this past week were two lunkers-a 10 1/4-pound fish caught by Dave Bunting from shore on Power Bait, and an 11 pounder landed by Steve Smith of Orangevale while trolling a Rapala in the east bay. Some big catfish were caught also, including a 12 1/4 pounder caught by a troller.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 101-percent capacity and spilling. The unsettled weather has taken a toll on the fishing. Some houseboaters in the marina have reported picking up some rainbows while fishing bait off the back of their boats. Bass have been seen on the beds and cruising the shorelines. Stable weather will help the bite for trout and bass.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The Foresthill Ranger Station reported that the roads to the boat ramp and campground still had 3 to 4 feet of snow on them after the late season snows experienced recently and more snow fell over the holiday. The road across the dam is closed due to construction.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 92-percent capacity. According to the Georgetown Ranger Station, the Middle Meadows campground was full for the Memorial weekend. The Hell Hole campground and the big parking lot at the boat ramp are available for camping or RV parking. With the unsettled weather, fishing has been slower than expected with only a few browns and rainbows reported.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake is at 95-percent capacity. Bass and coho action was still wide-open for bass boaters. Trollers have experienced hit-or-miss action for coho-some get ’em, some don’t. Dink bass are swarming all over the bank, the bigger fish are holding at 10 to 20 feet pretty much all over the lake. Lots of nice smallmouths have been showing up, also. The coho seem to prefer a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Senko working in the same areas as the bass are found. Trollers have been working the area between the Green Bridge and the Bidwell Marina houseboats with Sling Blade/white hoochie rigs at 25 feet. The trollers have been picking up a few salmon running 14 to 17 1/2 inches, according to John Kline, Sacramento area Shasta Tackle pro-staffer. A C.A.S.T. for Kids event, co-sponsored by DWR/DFG, is scheduled for June 18 and volunteer bass boats, river boats, and patio boats are needed. Call Don Reighley at (530) 533-8182 if you can help out.

ROLLINS LAKE-According to Lance Englestad at Long Ravine Resort, brown trout to 5 1/2 pounds and rainbows to 4 pounds were checked in this past week. Trollers are working the inlet and the dam with Kastmaster spoons and Rapalas. One bass angler did well reporting a 40 fish day and a 20 fish day this past week. The Long Ravine Resort is in full operation. The beach was expanded with the addition of 200 tons of sand. There will be live music at the Outrigger Grill on Friday and Saturday afternoons. The parking has been expanded also. Call ahead for campground reservations at (530) 346-6166.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-The trout fishing has been good for both trollers and shore anglers. Trollers reported doing well for 12- to 14-inch rainbows at the inlet and the dam. Shore anglers have been fishing off the campgrounds with Power Bait. Smallmouth bass have been active along the shore for worm and jig fishermen.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-The lake was planted by the DFG this past week. The Foresthill Ranger Station reported that the campgrounds were open, but that campers would need to bring their own drinking water until the concessionaire could get the water system tested to ensure its safety for public use. Check with the Foresthill Ranger Station at (530) 367-2224.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is full. The campgrounds were full over the holiday weekend, but the lousy weather made fishing tougher than expected. Earlier in the week, the Georgetown Ranger Station reported that one angler did well from the shore for some 12- to 14-inch holdover rainbows.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-The lake is at 71-percent capacity. All the cold water flowing through the Afterbay has slowed the bass bite. Local pro, Don Reighely, said the bite won’t get good until July after the water has had a chance to warm up. Reighely also said that the DFG indicated they may release some more steelhead into the Afterbauy area with all the cold water being released out of Lake Oroville.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE- The topwater still has not taken off but after the first week of stable, warm weather the frog fishing should get going. There are still some bed fish spawning for sight fishing, and lot of fry in the lake now, so post spawn patterns such as jigs on rock piles, Snag Proof frogs on grass and Sammy’s across points should work. The carp have invaded the north end, just in time for the 32nd annual Clear Lake Bowfishing Championships held this coming weekend on June 4 and 5. The catfish bite has been fair, and the crappie bite is improving.

LAKE BERRYESSA- Limits of kokanee to 17 inches are being taken from Skiers Cove and the mid lake with of gold blade spinners from the T-Roy collection and copper spinners from Uncle Larry’s in blue/ pink and green UV.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 89-percent capacity. Snow over the holiday weekend slowed the action but there were browns, rainbows and macks congregating at the inlet before the weather settled in. Trollers can do well at the inlet or at the dam in the early morning. The better trout are running 18 inches, while the macks measure 18 to 24 inches.

CAPLES LAKE-Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported that there was about 100 feet of open water at the Woods Creek inlet for shore fishing, but enough snow fell to close some of the mountain passes over the holiday weekend.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-There was snow over the holiday weekend and the cold weather slowed the runoff, keeping the flows and water clarity good for fishing. Linda Goza of Shingle Springs caught a 7-pound, 11-ounce rainbow on a salmon egg in the East Fork near the Carson River Resort. John Daly of Alturas picked up a 5 1/4-pound rainbow on salmon eggs in the East Fork also. The West Fork was fishing well. Alpine County planted 1800 pounds of 3- to 4-pound rainbows in the East Fork, West Fork, Markleeville Creek, and Silver Creek this past Wednesday.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is at 90-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Guided Fishing reported that trolling was good before the snows arrived over the holiday weekend. Rainbows to 19 inches were still hitting firetiger Needlefish and Sockeye Slammers at 6 to 15 feet. The cold weather made it tough for shore anglers and fly fishermen.

DONNER LAKE-Sporadic action for 18-inch Mackinaws using inflated nightcrawlers from shore. The trout bite has been tough, but the weather isn’t helping with snow over the holiday weekend.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-The water releases into the North Fork were dropped but the weather kept lots of people out of the mountains over the holiday weekend. Caribou Crossroads Resort reported very little action from fishermen.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is at 96-percent capacity. Poor weather slowed the fishing to a crawl as cold winds and snow hit the area over the holiday weekend. Fishing should improve dramatically with better weather.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 53-percent capacity. More snow fell over the holiday weekend postponing the opening of campgrounds by the USFS until at least June 13, according to Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service. The Forest Service still needs to clear out hazardous trees and get the water systems tested for safety. Dale Daneman at Dale’s Foothill Guide Service reported that a friend hit the lake this past Friday and limited out on 14-inch rainbows trolling Sep’s green grubs. The ramp is in the water now so launching is easy, but the courtesy dock has not been installed.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Strong winds and then snow over the holiday made fishing conditions tough for shore anglers and fly fishermen. Very few anglers were willing to head out in the lousy weather.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-Snowy weather over the holiday weekend chased most everyone out of the campgrounds by Saturday and only a few people stayed to do some shore fishing at the first dam for planter rainbows.

LAKE TAHOE-Snowy, windy weather kept most people off the lake over the holiday weekend. On Friday, May 27, Mike Nielsen at Tahoe Top Liners struck pay dirt again when he put Buck Shoneson on a 28 1/2-inch, 12-pound brown. Nielsen was trolling an F-13 Rapala north of Rubicon Point in 80 feet of water heading into the shallows when the big fish hit. Nielsen finished out the day jigging Williamson Benthos jigs in 120 feet of water for limits of macks. Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters braved the weather in the afternoons and put clients on a few macks, 4 to 6 pounds, trolling in 80 to 135 feet deep. On Wednesday, he had 7 fish by 8 a.m. and lost several more in stable weather. Check out the 18th Annual Jake’s on the Lake Charity Derby, Raffle and Brunch on June 5 in Tahoe City to benefit the Boy Scouts. The $50 entry includes a t-shirt, the brunch, and raffle. $1000 prize for the largest Mackinaw, $500 for biggest brown, and $250 for best rainbow. Call (530) 583-0188 or visit www.jakestahoe.com

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is at 51-percent capacity. According to Mountain Hardware and Sports, the trout bite has been slow. Throwing a rainbow trout Kastmaster from the steeper banks along the Prosser Creek arm can produce one or two 16- to 18-inch rainbows per hour. Smallmouth bass, 2 to 3 pounds, have been hitting pearl white tube baits fished at the dam and along the banks more easily reached by boat in the Prosser Creek arm.

PYRAMID LAKE-Heavy winds and rain blew boaters off the lake over the holiday weekend. This past week before the weather soured, Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters put clients on 16 cutts, 17 to 23 inches, trolling RBT and watermelon Apex at 17 to 25 feet deep over 200 feet of water off Warrior Point.

RED LAKE-Still ice fishing, but the weekend weather was tough with more snow and high winds.

SILVER LAKE-Still ice fishing, but the snow and high winds over the holiday weekend cut into the comfort level required to sit on a frozen lake.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 92-percent capacity. Poor weather over the holiday weekend made fishing uncomfortable at best. Rick Kennedy at Tight Lines Guide Service fished on Friday and quit early with only a few kokanee due to the wind, rain and snow. Some boats he talked to did well, but others got skunked. Kennedy did best with a gold/orange Sling Blade trailing an Uncle Larry’s Copper Back tipped with red Pautzke’s Fire Corn at 10 to 20 feet deep from Jay’s Cove into the Little Truckee arm.

TOPAZ LAKE-Very few people chose to come out in cold windy, rainy weather with scattered snow showers over the holiday weekend. Only three boats launched the whole weekend at Topaz Landing Marina and they got chased off the lake in a hurry.

TRUCKEE RIVER-The Little Truckee between Stampede and Boca is high but fishable in the slower pockets and eddies. It’s pretty tough except for the expert fly fisherman using BWO emergers, midges, and San Juan Worms. The main Truckee along Hwy 89 is fishable, along Hwy 80 it’s blown out.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 79-percent capacity. Snow over the holiday weekend kept the campgrounds and boat launch at Sunset closed until further notice by the Forest Service.

WEST WALKER RIVER-The West Walker and Little Walker are both scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. The cold weather slowed the run-off and both the West Walker and Little Walker were fishable over the holiday weekend, but there were few anglers on hand. The weekend snow closed Sonora Pass, making access almost impossible for those came from the west side.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-The boats concentrated on live bait potluck, finding some good action in South San Francisco Bay. The striped bass bite really picked up on the Happy Hooker, with Saturday’s group of 23 anglers hooking 16 stripers and 11 halibut, plus a leopard shark and a sole. The weather became issue on Sunday, but the 17 anglers who showed up caught 12 bass and 5 halibut. On the California Dawn, Thursday’s trip stood out with 15 bass and 10 halibut for 20 anglers, and one around on Friday’s trip for 23 anglers topped by an 18-pound halibut. The weekend scores dropped off due to weather.

BODEGA BAY- Salmon fishing has been pretty good, with the fish down deep early in the week, but coming up by the weekend to make for some solid action on the few charter boats running. “We had 7 limits on Saturday,” said Captain Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler. “Captain Vince Orsini had 8 fish for 6 anglers and he was about six miles south of us.” The kings boated on the New Sea Angler were quality, topped by a 22 pounder, and averaging in the teens. They were loaded with krill, said Powers.

EMERYVILLE-The fish counts on the Emeryville Sportfishing Center fleet reflected improving striped bass action, with limits on the Tigerfish one day, and over one around on some of the other boats. The action is coming from South San Francisco Bay where the linesides are scattered out chasing masses of anchovies. A few halibut are still showing up, but the weekend was dominated by striped bass.

EUREKA-A rough ocean continued to hamper anglers here, but there were some good reports regardless, with the Shellback scoring salmon limits for seven anglers on Saturday. Friday’s trip was down to the Cape for bottomfish with rockfish limits and 4 lings the result. On the Reel Steel, there was a 40-pound Pacific halibut caught, but the rough ocean made for tough ‘but fishing.

FORT BRAGG-Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar reported hit and miss salmon action, with most days producing one or two legal kings. Friday’s trip was a crab combo with near limits of Dungeness but no kings boated.

HALF MOON BAY-Like everywhere else, a rough ocean kept the boats in, or hampered efforts. The Queen Of Hearts did fish for salmon on Thursday, and despite good action, had no keepers for the effort, releasing small kings and silver salmon only.

LOCH LOMOND-Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star said there is so much fresh water coming down the system that the top live bait action is south of the Berkeley Pier, with Treasure Island a top spot for halibut, producing fish to 18 pounds. The tough part was the wind, which forced a move to less productive spots every day he fished. Also some striped bass in the mix, and on Thursday, he’s switching back to sturgeon fishing for a day. “The bite is red hot in San Pablo Bay!” he said.

OYSTER POINT-Captain Jack Chapman on the Lovely Linda Too reported a fun day fishing that rewarded Jessica Reimche of Berkeley with a 16-pound halibut from the Alameda Rockwall. “She caught it on the third drift, and it made her day, and the day of her grandfather Julius!” said Chapman.

SAN FRANCISCO-Captain Jacky Douglas on the Wacky Jacky scored some nice kings while fishing off the Marin Coast, the first solid king action of the season. “All of our fish were loaded with krill, so they came from deeper water,” she said. One angler from Montana caught a 36-pound limit. Her group on Saturday also released one shaker and 7 silvers.

SAN PABLO BAY-The sturgeon bite is so hot the Morning Star is going to target diamondbacks on Thursday again. Top action is going to anglers fishing around the Pumphouse and Sonoma Creek with ghost and mud shrimp. The late season bite comes as the record spring snowmelt reaches a peak, freshwater pushing hard into the bay system.

SHELTER COVE-Good salmon action remained the top draw here, but rockfish and pacific halibut stories happen too. The weather has been the main limiting factor, as with many of the north coast ports.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-A busy holiday weekend meant few reports but not much changed. Fishing the Almanor West shoreline produced limits of decent rainbow trout, all thick and averaging 2 pounds along with some browns and a few salmon. Rainbow Runners and Speedy Shiners, downrigged around 6 and 8 feet, and then dropping a little deeper later in the morning to about 14 to 16 feet will get you started.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR- There have been some attempts at access, but no substantiated reports of the road being open as of this writing.

BAUM LAKE- There are some really big fish in Baum Lake. According to Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney anglers seemed to have their best luck with Kastmasters, olive woolly buggers, nightcrawlers, and floating baits. Expect some midges, caddis, BWO’s for the coming weekend.

BRITTON LAKE-Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney reported chocolate milk-colored water again, but the crappie bite has definitely been good, even with the colored water. The smallmouth are in spawning mode, so action is quite good for them as well. The best results have been in the areas where water is coming into the lake and fish do not seem to be particular yet on colors of jigs.

BURNEY CREEK–Lower Burney Creek in the state park area should be good, according to Vaughn’s Sporting Goods but otherwise, the water is muddy above the falls and this includes town and the upper Burney Creek but with some dry weather it should clear quickly.

CASSEL FOREBAY-Rim Rock Ranch fishing has been good with lots of limits taken. Most fish were rainbows with a few large brookies in the mix. Floating baits, worms and lures continue to be the baits of choice. According to one report, fish were on the bite all day long. This section of the creek was a bit crowded but should lighten up for a few weeks following the holiday. Fly fishing activity was slow but there was some topwater action mid-day. Pmd or callibaetis nymph activity should pick up anytime now. With no surface activity, go with streamer and sculpin style patterns for more action.

EAGLE LAKE-This past weekend’s opener lived up to its reputation, with trout to 3 1/2 pounds taken and limits of healthy, fat fish. The west shoreline from Pelican Point down to Slough Point or on the east side along the Youth Camp shoreline area were good using Sep’s No. 2 grubs in brown or amber colors and working them 2 feet off the bottom on downriggers. Remember, it’s a 2 fish per day limit here with a total of 4 in your possession and fishing hours are from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

FALL RIVER-The Fly Shop in Redding reported cold unstable air, which put the trout on a funky eating pattern with dries one second, then on nymphs the next, then back. The weather has been interesting to say the least over the past week. Sunny skies and stable conditions over the next week will get the Hex’s hatching once the weather warms up.

IRON CANYON RESERVOIR-The reservoir has come up a little, but expect to find difficulty launching. Water conditions are great and fishing has been good.

UPPER HAT CREEK- Rim Rock Ranch reported lots of fish, now if only the weather would cooperate. Water conditions are still good but the hardy souls that came to camp Memorial Day weekend braved unpredicted temperatures in the 30s and 40s as well as 5 inches of snow Saturday into Sunday. Historically, in the next two weeks it should be 70-plus degrees. DFG planted four times for the holiday weekend and should continue to plant twice a week in the coming weeks. Pressure was moderate for a holiday and will remain light for a few weeks. Fishing was still very good with some huge rainbows and brookies coming in. The baits to use were worms and floating baits. Fishing the next two weeks should be excellent with great fish plants and fewer fishermen. Fly fishing was slow as weather was cold but crystal buggers and fry patterns worked well.

HAT CREEK (wild trout section)-Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney reported brookies to 4 pounds. Nightcrawler anglers seemed to be having the best luck, but Rooster Tails and other spinners resulted in some decent fish.

KESWICK RESERVOIR–Water conditions are going to be too variable through the rest of May. Fishing will mostly be fair at best. You may want to wait until mid July.

MANZANITA LAKE- Cold weather has hampered the fishing here. To catch more fish right now you have to go deep with full sink lines and a slow retrieve. Streamer and leech patterns work well as do weighted nymphs. Because the water temperatures have been cold, the bigger fish have been a bit sluggish. This should change in the next few weeks as the spawn is nearing. This is a catch and release lake with special regulations so be sure and check for specific restrictions.

LEWISTON RESERVIOR-The water conditions are good and fishing has been great on warm days but it’s been really cold up here. Look for cruising rainbows eating callibaetis duns along the edges of the lake.

PIT RIVER-Vaughn’s Sporting Goods reported lots of hookups but fish have been difficult to land. Water is definitely high and colored, but fishable. Be extremely careful as water volume is well above the normal flows. Visibility is getting better, but water is definitely not clear. The Pit 5 reach water was colored, but nightcrawlers were doing the trick for some nice trout.

McCLOUD RIVER–There is a humongous boulder blocking the road between Ah-Di-Na campground and the Nature Conservancy entrance and parking area. For now you’ll have to walk around the boulder or detour along the river, driving to the hike in point will be a real challenge if not impossible. The boulder should be removed, and the fishing has been fair.

LAKE SHASTA-No.2 Needlefish in pearl/red head and pearl bikini patterns at two colors out on the leadcore took hungry trout in Jones Valley to 17 inches. The upper Sacramento arm also found limits for trout trollers covering depths from 15 to 45 feet on a blue Wiggle Hoochie behind a UV Sling Blade and a copper/orange Humdinger behind a UV Sling Blade. Bass fishing was up and down. Stable weather is what is needed her. Once we get it, bass to 5 pounds will be possible. When conditions stabilize target the shade pockets during the day with Senkos, worms and tubs in shad patterns. In the morning and evening you can fish anywhere you want.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR-Trout guide Mike Elster reported the koke bite has slowed as the weather conditions continue to change from day to day. Kokes from 14 to 16 inches were found on both sides of the 299 Bridge though using UV Apex’s behind UV Sling Blades in depths from 30 to 50 feet. The 16-inch kokes though went over 2 pounds and are so fat.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER- The river has come down to a decent-for-fishing flow of 5,000 cfs level, but the cold water is still hampering the shad bite. They’re there, and are now spread throughout the river, but the counts for a few hours effort typically range from just a couple to perhaps 8 or 10 if the angler is on his-or her-game. Spin fishermen continued to outdo fly fishers who will come into their own when flows drop by another 1,000 cfs or so. Mini-jigs with a curly-tail worm in chartreuse or pink drifted under a float are the ticket for spin fishers. Fly fishers are using fast sinking shooting heads. Striped bass fishing continued to be hampered by the cold water.

FEATHER RIVER, Yuba City-Striped bass fishing continued to be very good, but heavy boat traffic put the bite off somewhat over the Memorial Day weekend. Still, it was possible to catch a limit of stripers weighing from 3 to 8 pounds plus the occasional whopper female. Minnow fishermen scored more numerous, but smaller fish than trollers. Fly fishers were doing well, too. The best stretch was between Star Bend and Boyd’s Pump over the weekend, but that is subject to change as flows change and fish decide to move for reasons known only to them.

FEATHER RIVER, Oroville-A few small steelhead were being caught in the Low Flow Section, but fishing was slow once again.

FOLSOM LAKE-Bass are either on their beds and reluctant to bite, or moving back into deeper water after spawning. The latter offers the best chances at success, as they are hungry. However, it’s back to finding where they are hanging out, and fishing slower and deeper with the best results coming from drop-shotting or dragging plastics. Ripbaits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits and swimbaits, might attract a few bites early and late.

RANCHO SECO LAKE, MATHER LAKE-Area ponds and small lakes continued to produce some good bass fishing as the unseasonably cold weather has kept fish into the shallows longer than normal. Try wacky-rigged Senkos, Carolina-rigged plastics, crankbaits, swimbaits, until you find out what is working.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-The river was still murky, and shad concentrations moved from Miller Park to Discovery Park, although some small stripers were still being caught at Miller on pileworms, bloodworms, and sardines. The best striper fishing in the area was behind the wing dams below Verona. Some sturgeon were being caught in the same area.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Tisdale-Some stripers were being caught between the Red Sea and Tisdale, but the river was still pretty muddy and most striper fishermen were over on the Feather which seem to hold more fish. Some stripers were reported being caught around Colusa and the launch ramp there was still open as of the weekend.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-Trout fishing around Redding was good last week even with the higher 11,500 cfs flows. Drifting Glo-Bugs with a bit of roe, and nightcrawlers or crickets worked well. Some very large trout were being caught, some over 3 pounds, and even up to 6 pounds. Fly fishermen, too, were drifting golden stones and rubberlegs, and smaller Mayfly nymphs and tiny egg patterns under indicators.

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