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, Gold Beach, Ore.-Salmon action has been good both in the Bay for trollers, and upstream for those anchoring up and using springer baits and lures. These are probably fall fish. WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer has been anchoring upriver early in the day, then trolling the Bay in the afternoon and doing well both ways, nailing bright kings fairly consistently. A very good bite erupted above the bridge in the Bay on Sunday afternoon for a couple hours, where almost every boat landed a nice fish.

ROGUE RIVER, Grant’s Pass– Fall salmon are starting to be caught on the middle Rogue, according to local angler Greg Glossup. Retention of salmon closes on the upper rogue as of August 1 above Dodge Bridge, he warned. Summer steelhead continue to heat up. “Throw spoons, spinners and flies in riffles for some good action,” Glossup suggested.

RUSSIAN RIVER-It’s summertime, and this is a recording: smallmouth bass action is great early and late in the day around structure, and the smaller stripers are still hanging in the river, and if you run into a school you’ll have a great time.

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork; Glide, Oregon–Summer steelhead fishing is off to an exciting start by the sound of some stories told by anglers over the last week, according to WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer. “One close fishing buddy told me how he had hooked 5 fish and landed all 5 of them in an evening just above the Swiftwater Bridge,” he said. “A small piece of orange yarn with a tiny chunk of Tiger Shrimp had the steelhead taking the bait. There are many good spots to fish in the Glide area.”

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City-Fishing for spring run Chinook salmon continued to be very good, but the bulk of the fish have moved above Junction City, and fishing pressure has increased. Still anglers were being rewarded with limits of jacks and adults with the occasional springer weighing as much as 30 pounds. Backtrolled Kwikfish have producing well early, and roe is the thing to use after the sun hits the water. Lots of fat jacks are in the mix.

TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek-Daytime temperatures have soared to 100 degrees along with water temperatures. A few salmon were being caught at Grays Falls, including a monster 30 pounder, but fishing was slow.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam-Scott Caldwell of SC Guide Service reported that fishing was good for trout and small steelhead to 20 inches. He was employing a variety of methods, from drifting nightcrawlers to backtrolling Hot Shots and swinging Zonkers.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen-Steve Huber of Steve Huber’s Guide Service said that fishing for salmon and steelhead throughout the lower Klamath has been good, with adult salmon to 16 pounds, fat jacks, and steelhead to 12 pounds taking side-drifted and boondoggled roe.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-The flows were down and the water looked great, but no one had reported any fishing success to the Georgetown Ranger Station. For those willing to hike down to the Middle Fork near Georgetown, good rainbows and browns are holding in the deeper pools and should be hitting worms and spinners.

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is at 91-percent capacity. Lots of recreational boat traffic has slowed the fishing. Emerald Cove Marina said no one had reported any fishing success, but there should be plenty of small bass hitting worms up in the North Fork along with a few trout and kokanee for experienced trollers.

CAMP FAR WEST-The lake is scheduled to begin dropping quickly during August, according to the North Shore Resort. The lake has been a mad house of recreational watercraft for the past couple of weeks and fishermen have been far and few between. Night fishing for catfish should be a safe bet for shore anglers using anchovies and sardines.

COLLINS LAKE-The lake is down 8 feet from full. Collins Lake Resort reported that fishing was still “pretty good” though only a few limits of trout were checked in this past week-most trout fishermen were only catching 2 or 3 fish each. Catfish action is good with the warmer weather and water temp-night fishing is the most consistent for shore anglers at the docks, dam, and the bridge. Kids are still having a ball catching bluegill, redears and baby frogs.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 94-percent capacity. Trout and bass have been on a good bite. Trout fishermen were drifting bait, trolling flasher//worm combos or Rapalas, or fishing off the backs of their boats from Bonanza Cove to the inlet. The bigger trout, 14 to 16 inchers, were on the lower half of the lake and smaller fish were more prevalent at the inlet. According to Dillon Davis at Skippers Cove Marina, there were “hundreds” of bass spawning at the inlet of the South Fork on the sandy banks. Brett Herting and Chuck Ragan hit the area for 20 to 30 fish each up to 4 pounds on lizards and topwater.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is at 90-percent capacity. Will Fish Tackle in Auburn reported slow action for two different groups of anglers who visited the lake this past week. Trollers were previously doing well on browns at the inlet in the early morning and at the dam in the late afternoon.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 96-percent capacity. The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that macks to 7 pounds hit for trollers working 70 to 90 feet deep at the dam. Will Fish Tackle said that two customers reported catching limits of kokanee trolling dodger/worm combos at 30 feet deep at the dam. Campers walking into the Upper Hell Hole campground were picking up rainbows and browns up to 18 inches fishing from shore at the inlet of the Rubicon River.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake is at 99-percent capacity. Bass fishing is very good with 30 to 40 fish days common. Ron Gandolfi said that he was doing well on Paradise Tackle Company worm heads rigged with green pumpkin Roboworms and Senkos fished on long points at 20 to 25 feet deep. There was also a good topwater bite where big schools of pond smelt were being pushed up to the surface. Gandolfi said he was catching lots of 2 pounders. Largemouth bass running 1 1/4 pounds were making a good showing, too. Coho fishing is good at the Green Bridge and the dam with the pond smelt schooling up-meter the depth of the bait and run a Sling Blade/hoochies combo, or tie up to the buoy line at the south end of the dam and mooch anchovy tails or minnows. Fishing for coho in the river below the dam is illegal.

ROLLINS LAKE-Will Fish Tackle in Auburn reported that one boater picked up some 12- to 13-inch bass while trolling black/gold Panther Martin spinners in the Bear River arm. Long Ravine Resort reported that bass and catfish were hitting nightcrawlers in the shady coves and up the inlet arms above the “No-Ski” buoys. Recreational boat traffic has been very heavy and fishing has suffered accordingly.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-The DFG planted trout here two weeks ago, so there should be some rainbows around the dam for bait fishermen and trollers who get out very early before the recreational boaters take over the lake. Up the inlet arms above the “no-ski” buoys is always a safe bet for fishing.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-The Foresthill Ranger Station reported that fishing was slow for trout and bass. Early mornings or evenings were best for those wanting to give the fishing a try.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is still full. The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that trollers were catching limits of 12- to 16-inch rainbows on flasher/worm combos.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-The lake is at 80-percent capacity. Wacky-rigged Senkos and Flukes were working along the tule banks, according to Bruce Gibson at Paradise Tackle Company. Jigs pitched along the rocky banks and around the weed mats were producing-try brown/purple and sprayed grass colors. Gibson said the fish were running 2 to 4 pounds.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 96-percent capacity. Early morning until sunrise is the best time to fish-when the trout are up shallow and the waterskiers and wake boarders are still in bed. A few browns have been caught trolling Rapalas, Trophy Sticks, or Pin Minnows before sunrise. Try the inlet in the early morning or late evening using caddis, yellow sally, and PMD’s.

CAPLES LAKE-The lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. WON Editor Bill Karr and friends did well drifting salmon eggs off Wood’s Creek for limits of rainbows up to 2 1/2 pounds. Fly fishermen have been catching rainbows and brookies from 12 inches up to 4 pounds at the dam, spillway and Wood’s Creek on leeches and wooly buggers, according to Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-The East Fork, West Fork, and Markleeville Creek are all scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. The West Fork was in beautiful shape and fishing very well for both fly fishermen and bait and lure anglers. The East Fork was still running a little high, but fishermen were catching some nice fish. Heavy thunderstorms and rain washed out the whole basin over the weekend and it will be several days before the river gets back into shape. Before the weather soured, rainbows to 9-pounds, 15-ounces were caught on the East Carson at the Pebble Beach campground at the Carson River Resort, and a 7 3/4 pounder was caught on the West Fork at Sorensens.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is at 85-percent capacity. Trolling slowed to a standstill, according to Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Guided Fishing. Dillard switched over to bait fishing-anchoring in 30 feet of water off Honker Point using a sliding sinker rig with Power Bait. Dillard’s last trip produced 15 rainbows, 16 to 19 1/2 inches. Shore fishing has been slow, though some anglers fishing south of Honker Point at Grasshopper managed to pick up a few limits casting as far as they could to get into deeper water.

DONNER LAKE-The lake hasn’t been planted for over two weeks and the fishing has slowed for rainbows at the piers and docks on the west end. Anglers can do okay if they are at the right place at the right time with the right combination of bait and lures. Early morning is always best. Some 13- to 14-inch kokanee are still being caught at 45 to 55 feet deep on dodger/hoochies combos in a wide variety of colors-bring plenty of choices, the fish are finicky.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-The flows were down, but the fishing was slow with no DFG plant since before July 4. Some fish were reported from the Caribou Powerhouse, according to Mike Hanson at Caribou Crossroads Resort.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is at 95-percent capacity. A friend of Ed Dillard, Lake Davis guide, fished here this past week and reported easy limits of 13- to 14-inch rainbows trolling 17 feet deep between Lunker’s Point and Turkey Point with Needlefish and Sockeye Slammers

GOLD LAKES BASIN-Gold Lake and Lower Sardine Lake are scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. According to Bassetts Station, all the lakes have been fishing well with worms, either from the shore or trolled behind a flasher.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 89-percent capacity. Not many reports were available from here due to the red-hot kokanee bite at nearby Union Valley Reservoir. Trout action should be good for trollers running a dodger/brown grub combo.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-The area was blown out by heavy thunderstorms this past weekend-strong winds and torrential rains muddied up the water.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR-Mountain Hardware and Sports reported tough action here for both shore anglers and trollers. Trollers probably have the best chance getting out very early and working the dam and inlet with Rapalas. This is the place to get away from the crowds!

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-Fishing was only fair this past week. Shore anglers picked up the smaller DFG planters using Power Bait at the first dam and in the Narrows, while trollers who had plenty of experience were picking up limits of 2 pounders on flasher/worm combos.

LAKE TAHOE-Fishing was good for all the charter operators contacted by WON. Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters reported picking up 8 macks to 7 pounds. Over 600 feet of water, he hooked 5 fish at once and landed 4 of them, one a 10-year-old tagged fish from a long ago trip. Chuck Self at Chuck’s Charter Fishing caught 13 fish on his last trip, keeping 10 macks to 9 pounds and releasing 3 small macks while trolling Rapalas and Rebels at 300 to 400 feet deep. Mike Nielsen was doing best on the macks jigging a 4-ounce pink glow Williamson Abyss jig at 180 to 200 feet deep off the Edgewood Golf Course. Nielsen has also been limiting out on 11-inch kokanee running flasher/spoon, hoochie, or spinner combos off Camp Richardson. He also tried for trout and landed an 18-inch rainbow and a 4-pound brown off Meeks Bay and Rubicon, but the trout bite is very slow and sporadic.

LOON LAKE-The lake is at 86-percent capacity. The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that one local limited out on holdover and planter rainbows during several trips this past week while trolling. Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service reported that his buddy “Adam” of Pollock Pines caught easy limits of 12- to 14-inch rainbows and a few browns toplining a green spinner tipped with a nightcrawler behind a watermelon Wild Thing dodger.

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is full and spilling. Smallmouth bass action is better than the trout fishing here. Smallies from 8 to 14 inches were hitting a variety of lures including crayfish flies, grubs, and tubes in dark colors. Trout fishing has been tough except for the Prosser Creek inlet at first light.

PYRAMID LAKE-Heavy thunderstorm activity brought strong winds, torrential rains, and lightning fires to this area over this past weekend. The weather should clear by early this week. Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters reported that the currents had slowed down and the Sacramento perch bite was finally turning on. His clients were catching 12 to 18 perch, 1 to 2 pounds, on crappie jigs at Hell’s Kitchen and the Needles. The bite will only get better as the lake settles down after the weekend storms.

RED LAKE-Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported off-and-on action in the early morning and late evening on dry fly patterns.

SILVER LAKE-The lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Plasses Resort reported good action for small rainbows in the middle of the lake on marshmallows.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 97-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Kyle Neeser of Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service spent most of the past week fishing here and reported that the kokanee action was “brutal”. Fishing hard all morning only produced two to five 14- to 16-inch fish per boat for 4 rods using watermelon Wild Thing and UV Kicker dodgers trailing hoochies, bugs, and spinners in a variety of colors-red worked the best-worked 40 to 70 feet deep. The fish were scattered all over the lake and were never in the same place two days in a row. Friends of Neeser’s caught a 14-inch rainbow and a 3-pound mack incidental to the kokanee trolling.

TOPAZ LAKE-Heavy thunderstorm activity pretty much blew through this area all this past weekend making outdoor activities both uncomfortable and dangerous, due to strong winds, torrential rain, hail, and lightning. No one was out fishing, though some boaters who were out reported lots of debris floating on the lake from the heavy inflows caused by the storms.

TRUCKEE RIVER-The main river is in good shape from Tahoe City to the Boca outlet. Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported good early morning and late afternoon action for 14- to 18-inch rainbows on green drakes, golden stones, San Juan Worms, Princes, and caddis. The Little Truckee is flowing at 400 cfs and producing 14- to 20-inch rainbows and browns on green drake, yellow sally, beetle, PMD, and ant dries and green drake nymphs.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 90-percent capacity. The kokanee bite was still wide open according to Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service. The fish have begun to school up and provided consistent action at 30 to 40 feet deep, though bigger fish were hitting in deeper water. Dodger/spinner or hoochies combos were working if you stayed on top of the fish after they were located.

WEST WALKER RIVER-The Little Walker and West Walker are both scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. Heavy thunderstorms brought lots of rain to the region over this past weekend and blew out the river making for a slow end to the “How Big is Big” Trout Derby which ended on Sunday. The 8.2 pounder caught the previous weekend by Curt Harner of Carson City won the first prize of a Fenwick fly rod and reel combo with no real challengers brought in during the final week of the derby.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE- The lake has seen more weekend pressure, with a few tourneys taking place; it has been fishing smaller due to algae blooms in the arms. Jigs, crankbaits, and plastic worms have been the most productive baits fished shallow early and then deeper as the day goes on. Fish have been caught between 4 and 28 feet. Successful anglers continue to move around a lot and cover many spots, looking for better clarity. The catfish bite continues to hold up with fish between 8 and 12 pounds.

LAKE BERRYESSA- The koke bite is going strong and fish are getting bigger. The water temperature is in the mid 70s in the morning and climbing into the low 80s in the afternoon. Trollers are finding them with herring scent on RMT dodgers in Hyper Plaid, Bahama Mama, Uncle Larry’s spinners in Red Pop, Copper Pop, Copper blue pink, Too Hot Tiger and RMT glow hoochies in pink, blue and yellow in deep water one day and on structure the next. Try topwater in the morning for bass, although the spoon bite is picking up.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-A tough trout bite continues, with the biggest problem being the abundance of food already in the water for fish to gorge on. Once the hatches die off, the bite will start to return.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR-Fishing has been fair, with most fish taken on worms and floating baits. Fishing the rocks off of the north shore is a good place to start. A lot of bigger fish are holding deeper so go 25 to 30 feet for a better chance at bigger fish. Pressure continues to be light both on the water and in the campground. For the fly fisherman, going deep is about the only way to catch fish larger than 10 to 12 inches here and streamers and buggers are the way to go.

BAUM LAKE- Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney reports little yellow stones, PMD’s and callibaetis doing the job for trout. Nightcrawlers and floating baits are doing well, as are two-toned Kastmasters. Nymphs of choice have been copper John’s in red or pt’s.

BRITTON LAKE-Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney reports that the water color has improved. And the crappie bite is still on, with some nice stringers reported. Try crappie jigs or meal worms for best results. Best places have been areas with some structure. Smallies continue to bite also.

BURNEY CREEK–Vaughn’s Sporting Goods reports good nymphing at the base of the falls still with green copper Johns. Bait and lure fishermen are catching trout above the falls.

CASSEL FOREBAY-Rim Rock Ranch reported good to excellent fishing. Large numbers of fish are being taken here every week but also expect to see more fishermen here as well. Kastmasters, spoons, spinners and bait have all done well here, as have Pmd’s and callibaetis nymph patterns and cahill or Adams fly. Fish early mornings and late evenings since the hatches are very early and very late.

FALL RIVER-The Fly Shop in Redding reported time is running out. After the first week of August, the Hex hatch tapers off to only a few mayflies a night emerging from the dark waters of the lower river. The insect hatches have been sparse; however, rainbow trout are coming to dry flies as long as the presentation and fly are correct. Nymphing under indicators or swinging flies has been most productive in the mornings and early afternoons.

IRON CANYON RESERVOIR-The Fly Shop reports good fishing in the mornings, but then the bite tapers off after noon. Best flies can be clousers, woolly buggers and No. 16-18 pheasant tail nymphs. When fishing nymph patterns like the pheasant tail, suspended them under indicators for best results. Water color is less than clear but can be ideal for good trout fishing. The fishing should pick up in the late afternoon and early evening.

UPPER HAT CREEK-Rim Rock Ranch reports the water levels have come down a bit. so the fishing has been quite good. Expectations are that this will continue to be the case for the remainder of the season. There’s lots of rainbow trout in the 3-pound-class and there were also some even larger ones this past week. Panther Martins have been hot lately, especially in yellow, black and red patterns. Worms and floating baits also continue to work well. Fly fishermen have been doing well on colored nymphs and stone patterns.

HAT CREEK (wild trout section)-Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney reported nymphing was still the way to go, best with fishermen doing best on the stretch just below the Powerhouse. There were also good results with pt’s, copper johns, and some decent hatches of PMD’s and callibaetis starting to show.

KESWICK RESERVOIR-The Fly Shop had no changes to report except that good dry fly fishing can happen along the edges of the reservoir where the flows start to slow down near sunset.

MANZANITA LAKE–Rim Rock Ranch reported mid-morning and late evening seems to be the pattern of late. Hatches seem to vary so finding a consistent pattern to fish has been tough. Callibaetis cripples, midges, brassies and pheasant tails have all worked well at times. Some motorboat caddis activity is popping up so some quick action for some bigger trout is just around the corner. Remember to check the special regulations on this catch and release lake.

McCLOUD RIVER-According to The Fly Shop the river is fishing well for some, and great for others. Water conditions have cleared up. Indicator nymphing with Mercer’s brown or black micro mayflies in no. 16 has been working well.

PIT RIVER-Releases are around 340 cfs now and the water has finally cleared. Anglers are doing best with big stones on the bottom but be extremely careful of slippery rocks.

SHASTA LAKE-Mike Elster reports trout scattered from 45 to 60 feet as they are looking for bait down there, the kings have been even deeper, between 85 and 100 feet if not deeper. Sling Blade and UV Apexes produced a few trout between 15 and 16 inches in the McCloud arm. Other areas to try would be under the I-5 Bridge, Packers Bay, and No Name Island.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-Ups and downs on the fleet, with salmon trips scoring big one day, light the next. Some big kings showing up, with fish to 34 pounds boated. The potluck trips are also high one day, low the next, with the average fish count of 8 per boat on Friday jumping to 28 on Saturday, a mix of halibut and stripers. Some of the boats fishing the Central Bay rock spots (Happy Hooker) found striped bass limits much of the week. Rockfish action is improving steadily, with the Farallon Island trip on Saturday producing limits of rockfish and 14 lings to 18 pounds.

BODEGA BAY- A wide open salmon bite mid week down at 10-Mile Beach, then the bite slowed. Some halibut caught also. Bottomfishing was great down around Point Reyes, with limits on the New Sea Angler, along with a few lingcod. Captain Rick Powers said the hot bite was on Wednesday when his 16 anglers caught limits of kings to 42 pounds. Monday and Tuesday’s trips were challenged by the weather, but they still had good action on salmon, with 10 anglers on Monday boating 6 kings and 2 halibut, and 25 anglers on Tuesday boating 6 salmon before switching to rockfish for 155 plus 3 lings.

EMERYVILLE-Great action on the bay live bait trips with limits of stripers for some, and halibut to 30 pounds caught. There was also a 30-pound soupfin shark boated on the C Gull II. The Farallon Island trips showed improvement with rockfish limits and climbing lingcod counts.

EUREKA-Salmon fishing wasn’t wide open, but anglers still worked for limits of kings, with some good quality fish caught. On Saturday, Reel Steel was high boat with 7 fish. On Sunday, WON reader Lonnie Dollarhide fished with Captain Gary Blasi on Sea Weasel and they ended with boat limits and Dollarhide caught the go-home fish, a 19 pounder. Cape Mendocino is still kicking out limits of rockfish, the Shellback finding 60 for 6 anglers on Sunday.

FORT BRAGG-Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar reported 6 kings and several lost on Wednesday’s trip, topped by a 25-pound hog. They fished 6 miles northwest of Fort Bragg.

HALF MOON BAY-While the salmon fishing was slow, the rockfish and lingcod made up for it with limits of rockfish the norm, and good numbers of bonus lingcod.

LOCH LOMOND-Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star reported tapering action on the live bait potluck trips as the tides picked up momentum on the weekend. His best trip was on Wednesday before the tides got crazy, when 12 anglers caught 13 halibut and 4 striped bass. His anglers put halibut to 27 pounds in the boat, most from the Raccoon Straights, Angel Island and Alcatraz areas.

OYSTER POINT-Captain Jack Chapman on the Lovely Linda Too reported great action at the Farallon Islands, his trip on Thursday with five anglers finding a mother lode of action with 63 rockfish and 11 lingcod to 20 pounds boated, and another 15 undersized lings released.

SAN FRANCISCO-Salmon boats had some good action and fish in the 20-pound class, with plenty of opportunities and lost fish when the scores were low. Captain Erik Anfinson said the Bass Tub had a great week of action, finding limits or near limits of striped bass and good halibut action in Central San Francisco Bay.

SAUSALITO-Salmon continued to fill fish boxes, and the Hog Heaven reported the biggest king of the season so far, a 45 pounder caught at the Towers by a Novato angler.

SHELTER COVE-Captain Trent Slate on the Bite Me out of Shelter Cove Sportfishing finally made it back up to the halibut grounds on Saturday and Sunday, finding 3 on Saturday, biggest a 60 pounder. On Sunday, his group caught boat limits, with one just at 80 pounds, and one just over. Most trips are getting limits of rockfish and lingcod. The salmon bite slowed down after the commercial season opened, but not before the commercials put 15,000 to 20,000 fish in their holds on the opener.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER- Salmon fishing was slow except for a few being caught in Nimbus Basin, but striped bass were boiling and biting up and down the river, from Sailor Bar to the mouth. While most weighed a few pounds up to 10 pounds, bass to 22 pounds were caught, and others even larger were lost. They were grabbing topwater plugs, swimbaits, minnows, and crawdads. Clouser-type streamers worked for fly fishers. Schools of shad were still concentrated in the Sailor Bar Area. Flows have dropped again, to 3,500 cfs. Use caution when wading.

FEATHER RIVER, Yuba City-The river below the Outlet is low and warm, and salmon fishing was lousy. A few were being caught right below the “No Fishing” boundary below the Outlet at first light, on spinners, but steelhead fishing was a much better bet than trying for salmon. Threaded nightcrawlers, spinners, GloBugs, and Berkley Gulp Eggs were doing the trick on steelies up to 4 pounds.

FOLSOM LAKE-Bass fishermen continued to work hard for a few bites. Early morning weekdays were by far the best times to fish, but even then, anglers struggled to scratch out a few fish. Try crankbaits and topwater plugs early then switch to working plastics through the branches of brush and trees later on.

MATHER LAKE-Weeds are heavy now, but fishing for bluegill is still good at Mather Lake, and other area ponds like Rancho Seco Lake and the pond at William Pond Park when you find a bit of open water.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-Salmon were being caught at the mouths of the American and Feather rivers on spinners and Kwikfish, but the action can be pretty good one day as fish are passing through, and lousy the next. So putting in the hours and not getting discouraged on slow days are keys to success. Fishing for catfish continued to be good in area sloughs and anywhere the water slowed on the Sacramento River.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff-Salmon fishing improved last week and very good and persistent anglers scored up to 7 salmon per boat. The more typical catch was a couple of fish, however. They are beautiful, bright salmon and some weigh up to 30 pounds. A key to success is to avoid stretches with lots of boat traffic. The stretch of river below Deschutes Bridge opened to salmon fishing last Monday, August 1.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-Trout fishing was very good once again for spin fishermen drifting Glo-Bugs and crickets and fly fishermen dead drifting caddis- and Mayfly imitating nymphs under floats.

YUBA RIVER-Trout fishing on the Yuba River is “red hot.” Small nymphs under indicators worked well, but so did some larger dries.