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.-Spring salmon action has been off and on, in other words: normal for this time of year. You might get one or two, even 4, or you might get a big ol’ skunk, which is not uncommon right now, according to guide Steve Huber. He said the flows are coming down and the temperatures are going up. But as of June 1, anglers can keep hatchery fish and wild fish, and there’s some weather forecast for the upcoming week, which will help a lot.

RUSSIAN RIVER-According to Steve Jackson at King’s Sport and Tackle in Guerneville, guys are getting a few shad early and late, from Guerneville to Monte Rio and towards Steelhead Beach. Some anglers are getting half a dozen to a dozen in the mornings or evenings, which are the only times to fish with all the daytime river activity by kayakers and swimmers. Smallmouth are starting to happen, and the river is down to 400 cfs and dropping out nicely.

UMPQUA RIVER, Sutherlin, Ore.–Shad are moving through the river system with an estimated 1,000,000-plus fish a year, according to WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secret’s Guide Service. These fish are fun for young and old, from inexperienced to avid anglers alike. The Umpqua River has several shad holes that have good bank access and over a half dozen boat ramps. The entire month of June offer’s good opportunities for these tough fish. Spring Chinook fishing on the middle of the Umpqua River is doing better this past week. Most of the guide boats are catching multiple salmon a day. With water temperatures at approximately 50 degrees, these fish are moving steadily upstream. There’s close to 5 feet of visibility which makes seeing a bait or spinner easy for these fish.

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork; Glide, Ore.–Springer fishing is HOT at the Narrows, Windy Rock and the Rock Creek Pool on the North Umpqua River, according to guide and WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secrets. The first spring Chinook brought into Idleydle Trading Post was on April 28th this year. “Usually the first springer is caught around the 5th of April in the Glide area, but it is becoming obvious to me that the salmon are late this year,” Palmer said. “I suggest that bank angler’s grab their best salmon roe and set there alarm clock’s for O’dark thirty and spend some time on this river.”

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen–The lower Klamath is in “perfect” fishing conditions with good flows and clarity, but fishing success dropped off last week. However, with bigger tides coming, the prediction is that fishing should improve Memorial weekend, peak by the first of June, stay strong through June, and then taper off in July. Fish were ranging from 12 to 19 pounds, and were being taken on spinners in hammered brass or half and half, green and chartreuse with the best fishing between the Highway 101 Bridge and McCovey.

TRINITY RIVER–The river is dropping now, but is still too high to fish throughout its length. According to Ed Duggan of “D” Guide Service, the upper part of the river should be fishable sometime around middle to late June and the lower part of the river should come into fishable shape sometime around July 4.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 65-percent capacity. Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that little was happening here. The boat ramp is now open and the inlet area is generally best for trollers after holdover fish.

CAPLES LAKE-The lake is 7 feet from full. John Voss at the Caples Lake Resort reported that the lake was completely ice-free, the marina-store-launch ramp was open, and fishing was slow due to the cold water. A couple weeks of warm weather will improve the fishing, but in the meantime a few nice macks were being caught.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-Markleeville Creek and Silver Creek are both scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that Alpine County would be making another 1800-pound plant of 2- to 4-pound average rainbows (with a few 8- to 10-pound lunkers thrown in for good measure) into the East and West Carson this week in time for the holiday weekend. The flows in the Carson fell from 650 cfs early this past week to 525 cfs by Sunday. Experienced anglers were catching limits or near limits of mixed cutthroats and rainbows in the slower pocket water on worms and salmon eggs.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is at 82-percent capacity. Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Guided Fishing reported excellent trout trolling this past week. Running firetiger Needlefish, firetiger Sockeye Slammers, and gold/red sand Humdingers at 7 feet deep from the island north produced limits of 15- to 17-inch rainbows. Shore fishing was best at Eagle Point on Power Bait. Fly fishing was good along the west side of the lake at Camp 5, Cow Creek, Jenkins Point, and Freeman Creek on nymphs below an indicator.

DONNER LAKE-Mountain Hardware and Sports reported good trolling for 8- to 10-inch kokanee at 60 to 80 feet deep on dodger/hoochie combos in UV glow colors. Some nice macks were moving into the shallower water in the early morning on the west end of the lake and hitting spoons and Rapalas, but after the sun gets up the fish move out to deeper water to feed on the kokes.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-The North Fork above Hwy 70 is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Mike Hanson at the Caribou Crossroads Resort reported improving action in the main Feather as the flows dropped. Taylor Hunt caught a limit of 15- to 17-inch native rainbows. Caribou Powerhouse kicked out some 14- to 15-inch native rainbows for anglers using small jigs. Butt Valley Reservoir was red-hot for smallmouth bass this past week. Two bass boats from Oroville hit the lake and landed a bunch of 3 to 5 pounders sightfishing with tubes and lizards. Guide Dick Mason tried the lake for trout and caught a dozen 15- to 17-inch rainbows in 4 hours trolling spoons and threaded worms.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is at 81-percent capacity. Wiggins Trading Post reported good fly fishing on the NE side of the lake for casters using nymphs for rainbows to 16 inches. Shore anglers using nightcrawlers and Power Bait were doing well for 14- to 16-inch rainbows at the dam and Big Cove. Trollers should be doing well on spoons and threaded nightcrawlers.

GOLD LAKES BASIN-According to Bassetts Station, all the lakes-Salmon, Sardine, Packer, and Gold– were open and it was rumored that the lakes had been planted this past week.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 91-percent capacity. The ramp is open and the Forest Service was trying to get the campgrounds open for the holiday weekend. Dale Daneman at Dale’s Foothill Fishing Service hit the lake this past week and his clients caught 14 rainbows to 14 inches on Sep’s 2-inch grubs in brown or orange, with and without a dodger from the surface to 17 feet deep. Another boat picked up 9 trout up to a 19-inch brown-all on threaded nightcrawlers behind a dodger. Call the Pacific Ranger Station for campground availability at 530-647-5400.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that the fishing was best in the early morning or evening, but limits were uncommon. Anglers were only picking up 1 or 2 fish in the first 3 hours after sunrise from shore or better yet in the late afternoon from a float tube.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR-Earlier this past week, the road was open to one lane and fishermen could reach the lake. It could be clear by the weekend. The campgrounds probably won’t be open by the holiday weekend, but check with the Sierra District USFS office for the latest info.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-The lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Smallmouth bass fishing was good up in the Narrows for anglers throwing worms and tubes for fish up to 3 1/2 pounds. Some planter rainbows were still coming in for shore anglers at the first dam using Power Bait, but this will improve dramatically after the plant this week.

LAKE TAHOE-Mackinaw trolling was excellent on both ends of the lake this past week. Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters reported “super good” trolling at 300 to 350 feet deep off Carnelian Bay for macks running 3 to 7 1/2 pounds. On Saturday he caught limits, and tagged and released or lost several more. On Sunday he had limits, tagged 3 or 4 more, and lost 3 or 4 on Sling Blade/Koke-a-nut combos and T-55 FlatFish. Both days he had quadruple hookups. Chuck Self at Chuck’s Charter Fishing reported a “fantastic” bite for macks from 2 to 8 pounds trolling small spoons and stickbaits from 65 to 265 feet deep. For numbers, the key was to use 2 1/2- to 4-inch long lures, 6-inch baits drew fewer strikes but bigger fish. Mike Nielsen at Tahoe Top Liners reported a slowdown in the brown trout trolling, but the mack bite was solid at 40 to 50 feet deep for 3 1/2- to 4-pound fish on Storm ThunderSticks. The macks were full of crayfish and sculpins. Nielsen said he heard of one boat that caught some big macks from 15 to 30 pounds off Sand Harbor and Cave Rock on AC Plugs after a NDOW trout plant this past week.

LOON LAKE-The lake is at 88-percent capacity. The Forest Service was trying to have the campgrounds and boat ramp open for the holiday weekend.

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is at 71-percent capacity. Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that boat ramp was open. Heavy fishing pressure had slowed the bite on both trout and smallmouth bass.

PYRAMID LAKE-Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters reported good action while trolling in the Warrior Point, Shot Dog, and Spider Point area with bleeding frog, chrome, or purple FlatFish. Mendes picked up 38 cutthroats to 26 inches at 25 to 35 feet deep on the downriggers or 125 to 150 feet back with a 2-ounce banana weight on the toplines on his Saturday trip. The water temp was 59- to 62 degrees. The trout season ends on June 30.

RED LAKE-When WON Editor Bill Karr drove by here this past week, the lake was ice-free and anglers he spoke to who were fishing near the highway weren’t doing very well-only one cutthroat. Karr said there were cars at the north end of the lake.

SILVER LAKE-The lake is full. In the past two weeks, several large Mackinaws up to 25 pounds were caught by trollers working the area in front of the waterfalls with AC plugs. Pick a windy or overcast day and try this area when the macks are more active.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 94-percent capacity. Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that kokanee to 14 inches were hitting dodger/hoochie or spinner combos at 20 to 30 feet deep in the Little Truckee arm. Trout were hitting from the boat ramp into the Sagehen arm and smallmouth bass were active from the dam up into the Davies Creek arm.

TOPAZ LAKE-Chuck Fields at Topaz Landing Marina reported great smallmouth bass action on the north end of the lake. One angler reported catching-and-releasing 30 smallies 2 to 3 pounds apiece on crankbaits. Trout trolling was still good on the west side of the lake for boaters using Rapalas and Needlefish 200 feet off the shore. Shore anglers were only catching 2 or 3 fish a day on Power Bait-pretty slow!

TRUCKEE RIVER-The main river below the Boca outlet was running 610 cfs to 670 cfs-too high for good fly fishing, but acceptable for lures, especially Rapalas rigged with single Siwash hooks. The river below Tahoe City was only running 70 cfs and 247 cfs through Truckee below Donner Creek-fishable with lures, streamers, golden stones, and caddis.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 93-percent capacity. Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service reported that a friend fished the lake this past week and caught four 13-inch kokanee and 4 rainbows trolling Wild Thing dodgers with worm tipped spinners in the top 10 feet off the points.

WEST WALKER RIVER-The Little Walker and West Walker are both scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. According to Sam Foster at the Toiyabe Motel, the spring runoff had blown out the river making it unfishable as of Sunday. For the latest river flows call Foster at 530-495-2281 before making the trip.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-Flows have continued to drop, now to 2,000 cfs, just about perfect, especially for fly fishermen. Shad are now throughout the river, and spin and fly fishermen are doing well. Fly fishermen are swinging shad flies and spin fishermen are drifting mini-jigs with a 1.5-inch curly tail grub in champagne or chartreuse colors. Most of the shad being caught are small males weighing a couple of pounds, but some larger females to 5 pounds are also being caught. A few striped bass are being caught, as well, but striper fishing will really take off as the water warms up.

FEATHER RIVER-Striper fishing was very slow, but a few were being caught on swimbaits at Shanghai Rapids. The real action was on shad, and fishing was best at the same place. Swing minijigs with a 1.5- or 2-inch curly tail grub in champagne or chartreuse.

FOLSOM LAKE- The lake is full, and smallmouth and spotted bass are off the beds and back into deeper water. There are still some largemouth bass spawning, though. Points on the main body, brush or fishing up the Forks are all producing, and fish might be caught using a number of methods. Casting into flooded brush and trees with Senkos can do very well, so can moving offshore and darthead or drop-shotting deeper water. Bass are also taking crankbaits and swimbaits, even topwater fished early and late. Give it up after 9:30 or so, because that’s when recreational boaters pretty much take over the lake. Anglers have all but given up trying for trout and landlocked king salmon.

RANCHO SECO LAKE-Trout slowed significantly but anglers in rafts, kayaks, pontoon boats or canoes were still catching a few by working holes with Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and trolling flies, Rapalas, and Kastmasters. Bass were biting on crankbaits, ripbaits, swimbaits and Senkos. Redeared sunfish were being caught on worms under bobbers.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-A few striped bass were still being caught, but fishing for them has slowed. However, there are loads of shad in the river, and loads of anglers trying for them. Two of the best spots were Miller Park and Discovery Park. Catfish in the 2- to 3-pound range were being caught in Lisbon Slough and Sutter Bypass.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa-Striper fishing success fell off a cliff last week as water temperatures approached 70 degrees. A few schoolie-sized fish were being caught by anglers putting in lots of time, but most anglers were either going over to the Feather River to fish for shad or farther upstream to fish for rainbow trout. Shad fishing should take off any time on the Sacramento River, too.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-Trout fishing was excellent, once again, last week, and getting better all the time. The release from Keswick was 10,000 cfs over the weekend. Fishing was good all the way from Redding to Red Bluff for anglers side-drifting nightcrawlers or Glo- Bugs, nightcrawlers, or crickets. Fly fishers were dead-drifting small brown and gray nymphs under floats.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Dunsmuir-The river is dropping but still high and swift, so there’s not much wading. But, it is fishable and anglers are getting grabs by high sticking along seam edges with rubber legs, Prince nymphs, and hare’s ears.

YUBA RIVER-Shad fishing was good with fly fishers working the area around Hallwood, and others going up to the dump.

NORCAL SALTWATER

BERKELEY-Halibut and stripers inside the Bay gave anglers multiple options. The Happy Hooker fished the Richmond Rock Wall Sunday to boat 3 halibut and 6 striped bass and make youngsters Marcos Casllias and Samuel Texeira very happy. The Lovely Linda scored halibut by drifting anchovies and squid at South Hampton Shoals and Red Rock. The California Dawn caught 11 halibut to 17 pounds plus 2 stripers to 8 pounds for 21 anglers, fishing the Berkeley Flats with live anchovies. The Jilly Sea fished the Paradise area for 2 13-pound halibut plus a big 26-pounder.

BODEGA BAY- The latter part of the week held some wind, but by the weekend the weather calmed and the fishing was good. The Reel-lentless had 5 fish up to 18 pounds landed for 5 guys, fishing just 1.5 miles SW of Bodega Head. Straight rigged herring was the favored bait. Al Nunez of Santa Rosa caught an 18-pounder and Bob Nunez took twin 15-pounders.

DILLON BEACH- Larger salmon showed up, and then so did the wind. Fish in the 20’s and even a few 30’s were caught before the wind started mid-week and turned the ocean over again. Dungeness crab catch has been good, not too many limits but most folks readily secured a crab dinner. Perch are biting for surf fishers. No halibut were reported and rockfish season is not open until June 1st.

EMERYVILLE- With a load of live anchovies late in the week, fish counts jumped. Salmon bit near Point Reyes and both halibut and striped bass bit inside the Bay. On Saturday, out of Emeryville Sportfishing Center, the C-Gull II had 24 anglers catch 4 halibut to 9 pounds and 3 stripers to 5 pounds. The Sea Wolf had 23 anglers hook 4 halibut to 8 pounds and 6 stripers to 7 pounds. The New Huck Finn’s 17 anglers got 34 stripers to 9 pounds. The New Salmon Queen saw 22 fishers get 8 salmon to 15 pounds. The New Seeker had 19 anglers catch 15 salmon to 20 pounds. The Super Fish’s 23 fishers hooked 4 halibut to 15 pounds and the Talisman saw 6 anglers haul in 2 halibut to 6 pounds and 4 stripers to 9 pounds.

EUREKA-On any day the wind allowed boats to make it out, salmon fishing was great for the Reel Steel and Shellback as well as the private boat fleet. Pacific halibut action picked up dramatically to the point of limits at times. Trips to Cape Mendocino produced easy limits of rockfish with lingcod surprises.

FORT BRAGG-Salmon proved plentiful and hungry as close by as the Whistle Buoy. Early season rockfishing was wide open and lingcod bit swimbaits on leadheads. Jetty anglers enjoyed continued success on greenling, cabezon and rockfish, all of which readily bit squid strips.

HALF MOON BAY-The Huli Cat hauled in limits of salmon and then added to the overall groceries list by hauling pots of Dungeness crabs. Private boaters enjoyed short runs to productive fishing and shallow water trolling, with salmon feeding roughly 35 feet from the surface. A run to points south of Pigeon Point resulted in good catches of rockfish for Half Moon Bay Sportfishing.

MARTINEZ-Sturgeon and stripers were both caught in decent numbers by boat and shore fishers alike. Boaters are getting a more even mix on eel baits but shore and pier anglers are getting more stripers than sturgeon on bullheads. Young Adolfo Sazo, who is 9 years old, caught a nice sturgeon a couple weeks back and followed it with a 30-inch striper on Saturday.

OYSTER POINT-Halibut moved from 15- to 20-foot depths down to 20- to 25-foot depths as the water cleaned up. The fish are scattered from Bird Cage to the A-Frame where trollers and drifters hooked them along with striped bass to 9 pounds. From local piers, jacksmelt bit willingly and bigger fish included 1 halibut, several big rays and numerous smaller sharks including leopards and 7-gill.

PORT SONOMA-Striped bass and sturgeon were caught in the mouths of the Petaluma and Napa Rivers. Big sturgeon put on jump shows in the Petaluma River. Upper San Pablo Bay held good numbers of both species yet winds kept many small boats off the water for much of the week.

SAN FRANCISCO-The live bait receiver is stocked and bait is for sale. Live shiners and live anchovies greatly improved chances for success for San Francisco Wharf boats and area private boaters. The Flash is back in action after seasonal refitting and upgrades.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-According to the Georgetown Ranger Station, a couple of anglers hiked down into the Middle Fork this past week and caught limits of 14- to 16-inch browns on worms and spinners. The river was in beautiful condition.

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is at 99-percent capacity. The kokanee bite was still good for nice 12-inch fish on the main lake above the marina and up in Willow Creek on dodger/hoochie combos in the top 15 feet. The bass fishing was still good, but a lot of fish have spawned so the big females were dropping off the shore into deeper water. Senkos have been consistent producers for the big spots, according to Emerald Cove Marina.

CAMP FAR WEST-The lake is still full. North Shore Resort reported good bass fishing for anglers using morning dawn or green pumpkin worms and lizards. The fish are mostly 1- to 1 1/2-pound males on beds. Crappie fishing has been slow. Catfish action was picking up for anglers using sardines.

COLLINS LAKE-Trout fishing was very good for both shore anglers and trollers. Shore anglers caught rainbows up to 3 1/2 pounds at the dam and bridge. Trollers did well at the dam and along the east side for trout up to 4 1/4 pounds on grubs and Rapalas. Bass to 3 pounds were caught on blue grubs.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 94-percent capacity. Trout and bass action was good this past week. Husband/wife team of Jessie and Stephanie Byrnes of Sacramento caught a 2-pound bass and a 2.1-pound rainbow while shore fishing near the launch ramp. Skippers Cove Marina reported that a couple more of the big trophy trout they released were caught along with plenty of planters.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-Will Fish Tackle in Auburn reported that trollers were catching browns trolling F-9 vampire Rapalas at the inlet. Call the Foresthill Ranger Station for the latest word on campground availability at 530-367-2224.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that trollers were catching limits of 12- to 14-inch kokanee on dodger/spinner combos at the dam and powerhouse at 10 to 20 feet deep. Middle Meadows campground will be open for the Memorial Day weekend on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the Ranger Station for more info at 530-333-4312.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake is at 99-percent capacity. Bass fish was excellent this past week. Guide Ron Gandolfi reported having a 200 fish day with 15 fish over the slot guiding two good anglers. With less experienced fishermen, Gandolfi’s trips were producing 75 fish days on Senkos, tubes, and spinnerbaits. The fish were holding on secondary points on walls, in the debris pockets and on flooded trees at 5 to 10 feet deep in the West Branch and North Fork. Fishing in the upper slot was slower than expected. Salmon were being caught occasionally by bass fishermen, though the most salmon can be caught trolling dodger/hoochie combos or mooching anchovy tails at the Green Bridge-find the bait first before fishing for salmon!!

ROLLINS LAKE-The lake is full. Will Fish Tackle in Auburn reported that trollers were picking up some nice trout in the Bear River arm on Rapalas. Casey Reynolds reported that rainbow and brown trout were hitting for shore anglers at the Long Ravine. Bass fishing was good for spots up to 4 1/2 pounds on spinnerbaits, worms, jigs, Senkos, and live crawdads.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-The lake is full. Jim Caldwell at Scott’s Flat Lake Resort reported that the smallmouth bass fishing was very good for fish to 4 pounds. The flooded willow trees near the handicap docks up toward the inlet produced a lot of bass this past week. The rainbow trout were scattered at the dam, Cascade Shores, and left of the marina-only 10- to 12-inch fish though.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-The lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The campgrounds will be open for the Memorial Day weekend-call the Foresthill Ranger Station for more info at 530-367-2224.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake was planted by the DFG this past week and shore anglers and trollers were catching limits of rainbows according to the Georgetown Ranger Station. The campgrounds are open.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-The lake was at 133.7-foot elevation-82-percent capacity at press time. With the water level stable for the past week or two, the water temp has put bass and carp in spawning mode. When the carp are tearing up the shallows, the bass move out. Look for the bass on the tule banks and rocky points– try pumpkin jigs and Senkos, according to guide Ron Gandolfi.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE-Other than sight fishing, the fishing is a little on the tough side. But Senkos, plastic worms, chatterbaits, and swimbaits are catching fish, many in the south end of the lake. In the coming weeks look for fishing pressure to begin to slow down again as the lake begins to settle in to summer just weeks.

LAKE BERRYESSA-The kokanee and rainbow action on the main lake is in full swing with the best fishing being up at mid lake. For salmon, head to the dam and ballpark. Your speed is important; for these fish too slow is okay but 1.3 to 1.6 is ideal for the kokes, and for the kings, just put your presentation in the water and get the bait to do a slow roll, somewhere around 1.3 to 1.5 is good, just like for kokanee.

UPPER BLUE LAKE-The bass have moved in and Sunday, even the kids were having fun catching them (and releasing) from the dock. The trout bite was fair mid lake but the fish are a little deeper now. Bluegill were also on tap along the shoreline.

LAKE MENDOCINO-For bass, try topwater tackle in the morning, switching to drop-shotting around primary and secondary points as well as some of the island humps after the sun hits the water. The planter trout are growing and eating floating baits on sliding sinker rigs in the upper arm of the lake.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-The trout and salmon bite backed down a bit as the changing water temperatures have them in transition but that’s not to say they weren’t biting, just not as aggressively. Also on a good bite were bass that are either spawning or preparing too. Hamilton Branch Creek will get a plant this week as well.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR–The road to the lake is now passable but no reports yet on how it is fishing. With notification, Fish and Game should start making plants here soon.

LAKE BRITTON-Crappie in the 10- to 12-inch size and smallmouth bass fishing is good.

BAUM LAKE-The lake is fishing fairly well, especially since it will be stocked this week. Nightcrawlers should produce limits of rainbows in the 12- to 14-inch range. It’s been a little crowded here though, with the Cassel Forebay closed.

CASSEL FOREBAY–Closed until further notice for repairs. All water has been drained into the natural creek channel that flows into Baum Lake in order to work on structure repairs.

EAGLE LAKE–Opens this Saturday on May 26 and will receive a plant as well.

FALL RIVER—Fishing was fair to good but with no hatches, but it is improving. Once it warms up so should the fishing.

MANZANITA LAKE–Fishing is starting to pick up as day and nighttime temperatures are on the rise. Browns are starting to get more active and have been moving closer to shore and structure looking for their next meal. Streamers, damsels, lake dragons, and crystal buggers were all taking fish this past week. The rainbows were taking nymphs a bit better just below the surface once the sun hit the water. This lake has special restrictions so be sure to read the regulations. Lassen Park has not opened all the way over the summit as yet but there is a chance they will have it open for the Memorial weekend.

MCCLOUD RIVER-Water conditions are great and the fishing has been good with the dry fly action hot for anglers moving from run to run.

LAKE MCCUMBER-You can find a nice stringer of browns and rainbows here on spinners. DFG makes scheduled rainbow trout plants in this small Shingletown area lake during the spring and early summer.

PIT RIVER-Fishing has been fair to good but the wading conditions bad. The Pit 3 reach was good using red copper johns and black AP nymphs for fish from 10 to 14 inches.

SHASTA LAKE-You’ll find rainbows in the top 30 feet and weighing up to 3 pounds with Apex’s, HumDingers and Wiggle Hoochies. Dry Creek has been where anglers headed to for kings up to 3 1/2 pounds. Bass were in 10 to 20 feet deep on points on the north side of Jones Valley. The Squaw Creek arm was also good for a bunch of spots that were hitting a Senko before it could reach the bottom.

TRINITY LAKE–The salmon bite was slow on Saturday, but earlier in the week one over 7 pounds was caught as well as a few over 6 pounds. If you are heading to Trinity for kings, the bite has been unpredictable, but the trout bite was good in the top 20 feet.

UPPER HATCREEK-Fishing was a bit tougher with varying temperatures and periods of rain causing water flows to fluctuate a bit. People are still catching fish, just a bit tougher to get down to where they are holding. Mornings have been fishing better than the evenings, but the fishermen who tough it out are still finding fish. DFG is planting as many fish as ever, so it’s just a matter of finding them as water conditions change. A few big brookies are still coming in so you never know when you may hook up on a great fish. Both eggs and worms have been catching fish but you need to put your time in. DFG should plant up to three times leading into Memorial Weekend, including some large brooders, increasing your odds of catching a whopper rainbow or brook trout. Fly fishing on the upper creek is always a challenge but flies have been working well. Flies with flash always seen to work well as do your terrestrials like hoppers and stoneflies. Bead heads work best as you need some weight to get down to where the fish are holding.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR-The bite was not wonderful for kokes but the rainbows were willing to bite. The kokes don’t seem to be around; they just haven’t been abundant as they have been in the past. Rainbows are in the top 20 feet for limits of fish between 15 and 18 inches and clean and fat. They were hitting on Needlefish behind Sling Blades or HumDingers behind Sling Blades.