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.

COQUILLE RIVER; Bandon, Ore.–There are a few king’s in the river, but not the numbers to ensure a good day of fishing, said WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. “I have fished this river off and on for the better part of my life and any one of the next high tides is going to bring the first big school of Chinook’s into the river. When that happens, a new season of angling stories will start.”

ROGUE RIVER, Lower, Ore.-Fair to good fishing, but not the usual: Now you can get them trolling in the estuary at the top of the tide, or anchored up with springer presentations, or backbouncing lures or bait. The fish are all through the lower river, and beginning to show in the middle river, too. Some big fish to 41 pounds.

ROGUE RIVER, Upper, Ore.-Good salmon action on the first of the fall run in the middle river, and also some good steelhead action, according to angler Greg Glossop, who fished below the Applegate with a friend for 7 kings one evening. He said the steelies are providing good action below Dodge Bridge.

RUSSIAN RIVER-It doesn’t change here in the summer: smallmouth bass are good early and late in the day before and after the water-sport folk, using minnow-imitating lures around most any habitat, especially in the backed up dam areas on the river.

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork, Glide, Ore.– Report after report coming in of anglers hooking 5 or 6 summer steelhead in a single trip. “I have been told by several fisherman that it has been a long time since they have seen steelhead numbers this high, during this time of year. This is one of the great steelhead river of the west and now is the time to be fishing it,” said WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City-Fishing for spring run Chinook salmon slowed a bit last week due to the warm water conditions, but some continue to be caught very early during the day, The fall run should start hitting the Trinity soon, along with steelhead, as the spring run fades. Some steelhead were being caught down in the Del Loma area on spinners.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam-Water conditions were still good, and trout and small steelhead to 18 inches were being caught on nightcrawlers, back-trolled Hot Shots, and streamers swung on fly rods.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen-Fishing on the lower end of the Klamath River continued to be consistently good , although most of the salmon being caught were jacks or small adults. Some very large steelhead were being caught, as well, some gorgeous adult steelies weighing up to 14 pounds.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that the river was running low and clear. Fishermen concentrating on the deeper pools should be able to pick up some nice rainbows and browns on nightcrawlers.

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is at 83-percent capacity. Heavy recreational boat traffic has made fishing tough this summer. Some trout were caught by trollers up in the North Yuba arm, according to Craig Robertson at Emerald Cove Marina. Boat traffic will slow over the next two weeks as schools get back in session allowing fishermen to get back on the lake. Small 6-inch kokanee were seen on the surface this past week. Big spotted bass have been hard to come by-the locals are anxiously waiting for fall and cooler weather to improve the bite. When the bass bite gets going, a houseboat makes a great base of operation.

CAMP FAR WEST-The lake is dropping steadily. North Shore Resort reported one angler picked up 5 bass on topwater and 5 more on jigs in the early morning-nothing big, just keepers. Catfishing has been good at night.

COLLINS LAKE-The lake is down 11 feet from full. Trout and catfish both made good showings this past week for shore anglers and trollers. Catfish to 6 1/4 pounds were hitting anchovies, stink bait, and worms at the dam, power lines, campgrounds, and across from the marina. Trout to 2 1/4 pounds were biting unusually well for shore anglers at the dam. Several limits were checked in by anglers using worms and Power Bait. Trolling was producing limits for those fishing 25 to 30 feet deep off the dam with Sep’s dodgers and worms.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 92-percent capacity. The upper end of the lake at the confluence of the North and South Yuba is still producing bass and trout. With the water level dropping, the water temp is increasing and bass are becoming more active. Dillon Davis at Skippers Cove Marina reported seeing 1- to 4-pound bass all over the banks. Boaters running up to Missouri Bar and drifting bait were catching trout up to 22 inches.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is at 82-percent capacity. The Foresthill Ranger Station reported that few have said anything about the fishing. Campers can probably find a campsite here without a reservation on the weekends.

FULLER LAKE-This lake is finally scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 92-percent capacity. The Georgetown Ranger Station reported good action for browns and kokanee. One troller reported a triple hookup on both-a nice brown on a toplined Rapala and two kokes on the downriggers at 80 feet deep on dodger/hoochie rigs in the early morning near the powerhouse. The group campground is reserved for the whole summer. Campers might find a site in the Big Meadows campground-50 sites on a first come/first served basis. Reservations are recommended.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake is at 97-percent capacity. Bass fishing has been hit-or-miss. Lots of small “slot” fish were up shallow this past week chasing bait. Guide Ron Gandolfi reported doing well on main body points for 2 to 2 1/2 pounders using Paradise Tackle Company worm jigs, and Senkos. Cranking mudlines in the afternoon has been good for fish to 3 pounds. There is a good drop-shot bite around schools of bait where the fish are gorging themselves-bass are spitting up a ton of smelt as they come to the boat.

ROLLINS LAKE-Long Ravine Resort reported that the lake is dropping about 3 feet each week. Fishing has been slow but steady. One young angler caught a nice string of 12-inch crappie on worms. Trout action has been best at the dam for shore anglers using Power Bait.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-The lake is down 6 feet from full-still very high for this time of year. The marina reported that the dam has been the most productive spot for both trollers and shore anglers after rainbow trout. Rainbows running 14 to 16 inches were hitting Power Bait and nightcrawlers for the shore anglers while the trollers used flasher/worm combos. Some boaters reported some success drifting nightcrawlers up at the inlet for trout. Catfish are showing up more frequently with the warmer water.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-The Foresthill Ranger Station reported that campers need to make reservations for a campsite. Fishing has been “nothing to talk about” according to the USFS.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that the campground has been packed and fishermen have been picking up limits of rainbow from the shore-trolling has been okay with lots of boat traffic. Reservations for a campsite are mandatory!

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-The lake is at 83-percent capacity. Anglers need to concentrate on the outside tule patches, isolated brush and wood, and the outside edge of the rip rap. Senkos, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwater were all working for guide Ron Gandolfi. Fish the swimbaits and topwater early. Senkos, blades and cranks work best in clearer water on the outside edges of the tules and rip rap-use a deep diver for the rocky banks.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-On the California Dawn, Captain James Smith focused on the outside action, finding rockfish limits, ling counts up to 25, and halibut counts up to 34, that day on a Penn Fishing University trip with Steve Carson. The Happy Hooker scored striped bass limits again on the weekend trips as full moon tides kicked in. The hero of the fleet was Captain Brian Guiles on the Flying Fish who took the time to check out the channel buoys for salmon on Thursday, loading up 12 limits of kings. When he called in the fleet, several other boats also got limits, some of the best salmon fishing of the season for the Golden Gate fleet.

BODEGA BAY- Salmon was good early in the week, but slowed mid-week and most anglers switched to targeting bottomfish. Captain Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler split his trips between the wreck at Point Reyes and the north side around Fort Ross and Timber Cove, with limits of rockfish and varying counts on the lingcod.

EMERYVILLE-The fleet scored salmon limits, not every day, but more consistently than any other time this season, with salmon to 30 pounds boated. Striped bass limits and rockfish limits were the other highlights of the week, along with a stray thresher shark on Tuesday, and a white seabass on Monday.

EUREKA-The week started out normal enough with salmon limits still the norm on the six-pack charter boats and many of the private boaters trying. On some days, the charter boats had limits of salmon early. On Friday, the Reel Steel had five anglers who had salmon limits by 9:30, then they switched to Pacific halibut, boating limits from 300 feet of water with fish from 15 to 45 pounds, all by 1 p.m.! The halibut action was great, with fish to 80 pounds boated, and many boat limits reported. The kings are now to the north, holding off of the Mad River mouth in 140 feet of water. Tuna water is pushing close, but the boats couldn’t run out because of the weather. Rumors of a sailfish hanging out outside the mouth of Humboldt Bay had some anglers on a trophy hunt, and yes, this is quite rare this far north, this close to shore.

FORT BRAGG-Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar said salmon fishing has been improving, with some quality fish in the mix. Thursday’s trip produced 3 kings to 23 pounds, but Tuesday’s effort found more, with 9 kings boated, big fish a 25 pounder.

HALF MOON BAY-An interesting week on the Queen Of Hearts, which had a barracuda and a thresher shark to talk about after slipping up the line to fish for salmon o the north. The bottomfishing trips to local waters were limits the norm, if not all rockfish, then a mix of cabezon and rockfish, plus a half dozen lings or so.

POINT SAN PABLO-Captain Frank Miller on the Fury targeted sevengill cow sharks on Tuesday, then live bait potluck finding halibut and striped bass on Saturday. The shark trip was some of the best of the year, with several fish caught and released, with one angler opting to keep a 125 pounder.

SAN FRANCISCO-The salmon numbers jumped for the fleet, with limits on some of the trips, and some of the boats. On Thursday, the Wacky Jacky scored limits for 9 anglers out at the channel buoys, heading out there after Captain Brian Guiles on the Flying Fish found a hot bite. Captain Jacky Douglas on the Wacky Jacky said there are still kings along the coast too, at Stinson Beach, Duxbury and Rocky Point.

SAUSALITO-A great week for the salmon boats, with fish to 35 pounds caught on the New Rayann. The boats found salmon up off the Marin Coast and out at the channel buoys.

SHELTER COVE-While salmon fishing has been tough since the commercial season opened a few weeks back, the bottomfishing remained wide open, weather permitting, and to top that off, there was tuna water looming close.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 96-percent capacity. The bite has been slow due to the heavy recreational boat traffic. The only chance at catching a fish is to be at the dam or the inlet at dawn while the water is still cool and calm.

CAPLES LAKE- The lake is still full and should stay very high through September. Caltrans road work on Hwy 88 has been plagued with road closures and lane restrictions from the east up over Carson Pass making access to this lake problematic from that direction. Fishing was good at Wood’s Creek, Emigrant Creek, the dam, and spillway according to John Voss at the Caples Lake Resort. Shore anglers and trollers/bait drifters were picking up limits of mostly planters with a sprinkling of the 3 to 5 pounders put in by EID. One resort cabin guest caught 10 fish to 2 pounds in 30 minutes at Wood’s Creek on nightcrawlers this past week.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-Both Forks are scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported extremely crowded conditions on the Carson drainage due to the heavy planting program-it’s obviously working!! The East Fork is still a little too high for good fly fishing, but lure and bait fishing is fantastic. Steven Courteaux of Florida caught a 10-pound rainbow on a nymph while fishing with Jarrod Beer of Tahoe Fly Fishing. The West Fork is flowing slower and providing some good dry fly action mid-morning on yellow sallies and mayflies. The Alpine County Fish and Game Commission planted 1800 pounds of 3-pound average rainbows this past week-the DFG is planting this week, so Alpine County will plant again this next week. Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that Jim Halleib of Grass Valley caught an 11-pound, 11-ounce rainbow on a Rapala in the East Fork which was backed up by a 9 pounder landed by George Long of San Andreas on a Little Cleo.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is at 83-percent capacity. The lake is very weedy and trolling can be difficult. Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Guided Fishing reported that he did best in the early morning trolling a copper/red head Wee Dick Nite from the dam to Honker at 12 to 18 feet deep. On two trips, he landed 12 and 20 rainbows averaging 15 to 16 inches. Shore action for trout has been slow, but catfishing has been good for 10 to 12 inchers on nightcrawlers.

DONNER LAKE-Depending on what dock you’re on at the west end, the fishing can be great or a bust. The lake hasn’t been planted for a month and trout action is sporadic. Trollers have been picking up a few kokanee at 70 to 80 feet deep. The macks are down at 90 to 120 feet deep and susceptible to a trolled Rapala or a jigged 4- to 6-ounce Buzz Bomb, Nordic or Pucci jig.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-The DFG planted the North Fork this past week and fishing was excellent-even a 3-year old caught a limit-according to Mike Hanson at the Caribou Crossroads Resort. Dylan O’Rear of Concow caught and released several limits of fish and came in with five 16-inch rainbows. Worms and salmon eggs were working best. One angler caught a 3-pound smallmouth in the North Fork near the resort on a brown jig. Butt Valley Reservoir has been kicking out some nice rainbows to 2 1/2 pounds for fly fishermen float tubing the dam area during the Hex hatch.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is at 91-percent capacity. Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Guided Fishing caught 12 rainbwos 14 to 16 inches trolling brass/red head Dick Nites from the dam to the Narrows west of the Frenchman ramp. There were no weed problems here and the fish were 18 to 30 feet deep in the clear, clean water. Start out trolling shallow in the early morning and drop deeper as the sun comes up.

GOLD LAKES BASIN-Upper Salmon, Lower Sardine and Packer have been fishing well for everyone. Gold Lake has been tougher, with some experienced trollers picking up some nice macks and others getting skunked. Gold Lake was planted by the DFG this past week, which should make for better rainbow trout action.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 85-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Campers need to make reservations for a campsite here, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station-demand has been unusually high this year.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported that the lake turned over and looked like a pot of pea soup-a heavy algae bloom has slowed the fishing.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR-Fishing was tough according to the last report into Mountain Hardware and Sports. The report was that this was a great place to get away from it all, just not for the fishing.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-Rainbow trout action was steady for those shore anglers fishing at the first dam or at the Narrows with Power Bait and worms. One troller caught a 3-pound, 21-inch brown while trolling a flasher/worm combo in the Narrows at 60 feet.

LAKE TAHOE-Fishing got a bit tougher for the charter operators on the north shore. Chuck Self at Chuck’s Charter Fishing said he was scratching out limits if clients could land every hookup, otherwise it was 4 or 5 fish a day. The macks were 120 to 250 feet deep and running 2 to 5 pounds. Self reported catching some 12- to 16-inch kokanee and rainbow trout to 4 pounds trolling in shallower water. The kokanee were located from the top down to 60 feet deep, while the rainbows were close to the bottom in 45 feet of water. Mickey Daniels had a tough week and only hooked one good fish on his last trip. On Sunday, 20 to 25 mph winds suddenly came up and blew everyone off the lake. Mike Nielsen at Tahoe Top liners had a great week at South Shore with clients landing big macks from 8 to 16 1/2 pounds trolling 100 to 170 feet deep. After the early mack bite slowed, Nielsen was catching limits of kokanee trolling from the top to 50 feet deep off Camp Richardson on flasher/Apex combos. The kokes were running 12 to 14 inches.

LOON LAKE-The lake is at 81-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. According to the Georgetown Ranger Station, campers need to make reservations for a campsite due to record campground usage. Dale Daneman at Dale’s Foothill Guide Service reported wide-open action for rainbows on Sep’s dodger/grub combos. The fish were all 11- to 13-inch long and located from the top down to 12 feet.

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is at 99-percent capacity. The fishing has slowed way down and the only real chance for success was to be out at dawn at the inlet for rainbows averaging 14 inches. There is an evening bite near the surface for fly fishermen or bobber/worm floaters, but the fish are much smaller-8 to 10 inches.

PYRAMID LAKE-Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters was doing well on his perch trips to Hell’s Kitchen and the Needles-lots of incidental cutthroats coming on light spinning gear and small jigs. The perch run 1 to 2 pounds; the trout go 2 to 3 pounds and must be released since the season is closed. Lake started to turn over bringing algae to the surface, reducing the clarity. This is happening a month early and should clear up by the October 1 opener.

RED LAKE-Road closures and lane restrictions on Hwy 88 from the east side of Carson Pass has made access to this lake a problem.

SILVER LAKE-Hwy 88 from the east seeing closures and lane restrictions due to road work by Caltrans-from the Sac Valley, no problem. A friend of Dale Daneman from Dale’s Foothill Guide Service trolled here all day this past week and only hooked one fish, but it was a 27-inch brown (released).

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 94-percent capacity. Fishing for rainbows has been good in the coves in the morning-just beware of all the snags. The kokanee and macks are holding tight to the bottom at 80 to 110 feet deep and the bite has slowed, according to Mountain Hardware and Sports. Experiment with colors and rigging to find the right combo to trigger a koke strike, and then be ready to change again!

TOPAZ LAKE-Warm water and extremely heavy recreational boat and watercraft pressure has slowed the fishing to a crawl. The best chance for a fish during the week is to run up into the inlet channel and soak bait.

TRUCKEE RIVER-Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported good morning action, all on nymphs, from Truckee to the border. There have been sporadic fish rising to dries, but you have to quickly take advantage of them when they’re up. The flows are low in the Little Truckee and those with a PhD in fly fishing are hooking some fish on size 20 and 22 midges on 6X and 7X tippets-landing a good fish becomes a challenge!

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 87-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service reported limit action on 13- to 15-inch kokanee for those getting out early and trolling watermelon Wild Thing dodgers and dark colored hoochies (pink, green, blue) at 40 to 50 feet. According to the Georgetown Ranger Station, campers need to make reservations for a campsite here due to the unusually high demand.

WEST WALKER RIVER-The Little Walker and West Walker are scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. The North Mono Chamber of Commerce will plant 200 pounds of 2-pound Alpers trout this week in the West Walker. The West Walker flows vary from 325 to 370 cfs depending on the time of day. Fishing has been excellent with everyone catching limits that include mostly DFG planters plus a few 2- and 3-pound Alpers to sweeten the creel. Bait and lures are working best in the upper reaches of the river. As the river flows north of Walker and some of the ranchers pull irrigation water out, the flows drop into the good fly fishing range of 300 to 350 cfs.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-Anglers are continuing to score striped bass throughout the river on topwater plugs, soft plastic swimbaits, big streamer flies, jumbo minnows, and crawdads. Lure and fly fishing has been better upstream of Grist Mill, while bait fishing has been a better bet downstream. A few more salmon were being taken trolling, but fishing continued to be mostly hit and miss.

FEATHER RIVER, Yuba City-Flows were bumped up last week, spurring an influx of salmon. Fishing still was not red hot, but hard working anglers trolling the Shanghai Bend area were scoring up to five takedowns an outing. Skunks were still common, too. Steelhead fishing continued to be good around Gridley and in the Low Flow Section. Try drifted nightcrawlers, Glo_Bugs, and Berkley Gulp Eggs, as well as flies.

FOLSOM LAKE-Bass fishing continued to be a challenge, and the method producing the most success was to work plastics slowly over and through structure where there were concentration of bait fish. Use darker patterns which imitate crawdads, and lighter patterns that imitate pond smelt.

MCCLOUD RIVER– The upper McCloud has had lots of angling pressure, but fishing has been good by dead-drifting a nymph under a bushy dry fly with a nymph. Pressure is lighter, and fishing pretty good for smaller trout on the Lower McCloud below the McCloud Reservoir.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-Salmon fishing continued to be hit-when fish are moving through-and miss-when they are not-at the mouth of the American River and at the mouth of the Feather. Trolling Kwikfish, FlatFish, and Silvertron Spinners.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff-Salmon fishing continued to be successful mostly for anglers willing to work hard and put in their time. Larger fish seemed to be holding around Hamilton City, while Red Bluff seemed to be doing better for smaller fish. Try backbouncing roe, or backtrolling Kwikfish and Brad’s Fish Killers.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-Trout fishing continued to be very good, with rainbows from 12 inches to 3 pounds taking drifted Glo-Bugs and nightcrawlers, as well as dead drifting caddis- and Mayfly imitating nymphs under floats on the long rod.

UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER–Trophy rainbow trout in the 3- to 12-pound range are being planted every week in a five mile stretch of river through Dunsmuir. These can be taken with any legal sport fishing method. Fly fishing has been very good, but now that the heat of August has arrived, most of the action now is on nymphs. Some larger fish are being caught, up to 20 inches long, in the lower reaches of the river, below Gibson.

YUBA RIVER-Trout fishing on the Yuba River continued to be very good, with anglers scoring on caddis and Mayfly nymphs under indicators, as well as dry flies.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE-The bite remains slow and you have to cover a lot of water, trying a variety of techniques to catch fish. Catching 6 to 10 fish on a trip is considered good and a 5 pounder is considered a kicker size fish. Currently almost any technique used long enough and covering enough water will produce bass with a 3-pound average.

LAKE BERRYESSA-The kokanee pre-spawn is starting and a lot of the bigger fish are on the bottom or hanging on vertical structure. Good places to fish structure are on the main lake from Skiers Cove to Spanish Flats or up on the east side from the Ranch House to the green tree up north.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-Rainbow trout have been the best bet, although a few nice browns (including a 13-plus-pound fish) were caught. Troll threaded nightcrawlers, nightcrawlers with flashers or dodgers, or Speedy Shiners in nickel down deep. The east shore from the Hamilton Branch to the dam has been the area to target.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR- Pressure remains very light and fishing has been a bit slow. Worms and lures have been the most productive with the best activity in the vicinity of the dam. A sinking line is about the only way to avoid the large number of chubs near the surface. Streamers have been working well on the rainbows, but the browns have been slow to take.

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 Johns in red or pt’s.

BRITTON LAKE-According to Vaughn’s Sporting Goods, the lake is fuller than it has been in years. The crappie bite is still on, with some nice stringers reported. Try crappie jigs or meal worms for best results around structure. The smallies also continue to bite.

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

CASSEL FOREBAY-Rim Rock Ranch reported fishing in the forebay continues strong with some very big rainbows coming in. Eggs and Kastmasters are taking the majority of fish for the bait folks, but worm anglers have been catching their fair share as well. Pressure has been lighter and should continue this way until Labor Day weekend. Fly fishing has been hot with a lot of surface activity in the late evening. Anglers have been mostly nymphing and PMD nymphs floated high have been taking the most fish.

FALL RIVER-According to Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney, anglers have been mainly nymphing, but there has been some dry activity, especially with the sun. There has been good dry fly action on PMD’s. Also, a few tricos starting to show.

IRON CANYON RESERVOIR- According to The Fly Shop, the fly fishing has been good here. Use a boat, float tube or pontoon boat to get out on this quiet lake. Insect hatches have tapered off, but rainbows and browns will chase clouser minnows and Lite Bright Buggers. Suspending nymphs like zebra midges, no.16 black micro mays, or no.’s 16-18 flashback PT nymphs were good for rainbows, browns and the occasional brook trout.

UPPER HAT CREEK-Rim Rock Ranch reports the fishing has been very good, with heavy plants twice a week by Fish and Game, so there are lots of fish on the bite. Many schools are starting this week so pressure on the creek will ease somewhat until Labor Day Weekend. Worms and eggs have been hot all summer but try spinners and crickets when the fish get picky. Water conditions are about perfect so spend some time on the water to have a chance a catching some impressive trout. Fly fishermen have been doing well fishing deep with stonefly patterns, beaded nymphs and buggers.

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 there have been some decent hatches of PMD’s and callibaetis showing.

KESWICK RESERVOIR-The Fly Shop had no changes to report, just great fishing here, with the best bite after 11:00 a.m. Fishing no.12 birds nests and no.12 Marlee midges are producing some good fishing for anglers willing to make the journey into this remote piece of water.

MANZANITA LAKE–Rim Rock Ranch reported late afternoon action has been best. Water boatmen and Rickards callibaetis have been working well. Most fish have been smaller, but an occasional brown in the 18 to 24-inch range are being caught. Winds continue to be a problem but fishing has been good. Remember to check the special regulations on this catch and release lake.

McCLOUD RIVER-Reports from The Fly Shop are that fishing is great, with light crowds but hot. The best dry fly fishing seems to be around 10:00 a.m. and near sunset.

PIT RIVER-Fishermen are doing best with black stones, copper Johns in red and birds nest in larger sizes fished on the bottom. There have been good reports from the few fishermen braving the increased flows.

SHASTA LAKE-Mike Elster reports continued good trout action in front of Packers Bay and No Name Island where there are lots of shad in 40 to 60 feet. Digger Bay also had bait balls. Anglers are finding limits to 18 inches possible for those that can stay in the bait on Wiggle Hoochies, Paddle-Tails and Capt. America Hum Dingers.