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.

CHETCO RIVER, Ore.—“The trophy season this fall is a 3-mile bubble fishery opening in early October that allows us to harvest one king salmon a day for 12-14 days,” said WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. “I have fished this several times and have released salmon in the low 20’s because fishing was just to good. I have also limited four of us in under an hour many times during this season.” He said the ocean salmon fishing was “the best it has been this year” on Saturday, but slowed on Sunday.

ROGUE RIVER, Gold Beach, Ore.—Anglers have generally switched to trolling the Rogue estuary now, although a few late springers and early fall kings have been caught up around Agness. There’s a lot of bottom contour changes in the Bay, so anglers would be smart to survey the bottom with electronics before fishing. The sandspit is “larger than I’ve seen in 12 years,” said WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. He said trolling was slow last week, although Al King of Arizona caught 2 to 28 pounds on July 7. Great surf perch fishing off the sandspit.

ROGUE RIVER, Shady Cove, Ore.—Curtis Jermain of The Fishin’ Hole in Shady Coe fished Friday and Saturday and said there are still quite a few spring salmon around, and some bright ones, but the summer steelhead have begun to show up, and he caught 2 each day up to 25 inches. He said there’s also been some action on searun cutthroats to 15 inches. He suggested fishing the Gold Hill area later this month through September for late spring and early fall kings.

RUSSIAN RIVER—Smallmouth bass are available for anglers fishing early or late, but once the sun comes up the river is inundated with kayakers, tubers and swimmers.

 

UMPQUA RIVER,Winchester Bay, Ore. -Chinook’s have been working their way into the mouth of the river and back out on the tides. The jetty on the south side of the river, known as the “Triangle” is a great place for shore angler’s to get access to salmon entering the river, according to guide Curtis Palmer. “From the south jetty, anglers can fish the ocean to the south or they can fish the mouth of the river to the north. This can also be a good area to catch bottomfish from the rocks.”

 

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen—Salmon fishing continued to be fair one day as a new pod of fish moved through, but slow the next.  Patient, and lucky, anglers were scoring from 1 to 3 salmon a day on CV-7 spinners in green and chartreuse.  Fishing for steelhead, both halfpounders and adults to about 6 pounds, continued to improve for anglers using Blue Fox spinners, swinging streamer flies, and drifting  nightcrawlers, around Blue Creek and Johnson’s Riffle.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam—Temperatures climbed into the 90’s last week, and trout fishing has slowed.   There were some fish to about 18 inches still being caught on big nymphs and on backtrolled crawdad plugs and drifted nightcrawlers.

TRINITY RIVER–The release at Lewiston continued to drop, down to about 1,500 cfs over the weekend, and fishing for spring run Chinook salmon  continued to improve, with anglers knowing how to fish high water catching limits of two salmon per day.  Flows were still high, however, so the best action was by drifting roe.  Fishing was also improving higher up in the river around Douglas City.  A wider variety of methods will be possible as flows drop to summertime levels of 400  cfs the end of July.

 

NORCAL SALTWATER

BERKELEY— The California Dawn reported excellent groundfish action up the Marin coast. Monday’s trip produced 20 limits of rockfish and 23 lingcod. Wednesday’s run saw 17 limits of rockfish and 13 lingcod. On Thursday they got 18 limits of rockfish, 6 lingcod plus two halibut. On Friday the report was 29 limits of rockfish and 16 lings and on Saturday it was 25 limits of rockfish and 8 lingcod. Berkeley Marina Sportfishing reported slower salmon fishing until late in the week when the New El Dorado III busted things open with 15 limits of salmon to 26 pounds.

BODEGA BAY—Rocky shorelines gave up rockfish and kept plenty of tackle. Salmon boats saw glory with a solid bite underway. Good rockfish and cabezon provided incentive. Salmon anglers didn’t have far to go to get in on the bite… Elephant Rock, Bird Rock and the Bodega Bay Whistle Buoy.

DILLON BEACH—Salmon action was found from Elephant Rock to Bodega Head for trollers fishing shallow. Rockfish bit baits hungrily and steadily all week. Halibut catches were reported near Marshall.

EMERYVILLE—Salmon and rockfish both bit well. On Saturday, the C-Gull II caught 17 limits of salmon to 24 pounds, the Sea Wolf got 28 salmon to 15 pounds for 15 anglers, the New Salmon Queen hauled in 35 salmon to 25 pounds for 23 anglers, the Sundance managed 8 limits of salmon to 18 pounds, the New Huck Finn caught 25 limits of rockfish plus 39 lingcod to 21 pounds and the 4-pak Wet Spot ran a combo trip for limits of rockfish plus 3 salmon to 14 pounds. On Sunday the Sundance reported in early with 8 limits of salmon to 25 pounds.

EUREKA— Weather hampered private boat salmon fishing during the early part of the week, but by the weekend boats were out hauling in salmon frantically. Bait was concentrated and both mooching and trolling produced good counts. Red tail perch went on a rampage near the Eel River. Leopard sharks and rays bit in the Bay.

FORT BRAGG—Rockfishing enthusiasts brought in high catch counts with 90% limits plus lingcod to 20 pounds reported by the Trek II fishing off of Mendocino down coast and near Westport up coast. Salmon fishing has been on the slow side, but some fish bit for trollers in 200 feet of water off of Pudding Creek.

HALF MOON BAY/PACIFICA—Stripers bit hot & heavy along the beaches near Pacifica where surf fishers cast for both surf perch and stripers. The reduction in minimum size limits for salmon to 20-inches resulted in more dependable limits. Shallow water rockfish filled sacks throughout the week.

MARTINEZ—Good sturgeon fishing from the Martinez Pier came to anglers using herring sold in trays at Martinez Marina Bait and Tackle. Striper fishing seemed slow as did local flounder action.  Salmon fishing opens up July 16th eastward of the Carquinez Bridge, which is expected to bring good fishing and good business to Martinez and Benicia.

PORT SONOMA—Good bait supplies at Leonard’s Bait and Tackle in Port Sonoma kept local anglers well-armed for sturgeon. Other willing biters were striped bass, bat rays and sharks.

SAN FRANCISCO/SAUSALITO—Angler focus is on salmon. Capt. Jacky Douglas of the Wacky Jacky reported plenty of action for both fleets near the navigational buoys outside the Gate. On some days boats made longer runs down coast towards Half Moon Bay or up the coast off the Marin coast, but most of the time salmon ranged closer to home port. Fish counts were generally better than a fish per rod and the lively action was capable of producing steady limits but for lost opportunities which later become great fish stories.

 

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BLUE LAKES—Both lakes were stocked by the DFG this past week and fishing was good on Lower and Upper Blue for rainbows.

BOCA LAKE—The lake is at 75-percent capacity.  Last week’s DFG plant improved the fishing dramatically.  The north end of the lake near the campground was kicking out limits for shore anglers—trollers had a tough time due to the extremely heavy recreational boat and watercraft traffic.  The shore anglers did best on Kastmaster and Little Cleo spoons, and bait.

CAPLES LAKE—The lake is at 90-percent capacity and was planted by the DFG this past week.  Caples Lake Resort reported good action on rainbows to 3 pounds for shore anglers fishing at the dam and Wood’s Creek with nightcrawlers and Power Bait.  Trollers did well running flasher/worm combos off Wood’s Creek.  Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters (TFFO) reported that a fly fisherman caught-and-released an 8-pound brown trout while stripping a white woolly bugger at Wood’s Creek.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)—The DFG planted 1000 pounds of trout in the Carson this past week—500 pounds each in East and West.  Alpine County planted 1800 pounds of 2 1/2- to 5 1/2-pound rainbows—900 pounds each in the east and west.  Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that fishing was excellent on anything you wanted to use—bait, lures, and flies.  Fishermen were catching 20 to 40 fish per day and keeping some limits of big fish running 3 to 4 pounds each.  Wilson Ornellas of Valley Springs landed a limit out of the East Carson that included a 3 pounder and a 4 pounder on a Power Bait/worm combo.  TFFO reported that their clients were catching lots of fish, some to 20 inches, on size 16 PT nymphs.

DAVIS LAKE—The lake is at 77-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week.  Ed Dillard reported that trollers were still picking up limits of rainbows running red-dot frog Needlefish at 25 feet deep from the island to Honker Cove.  Dillard put 78-year old Patricia Dear of Folsom on her very first fish while bait fishing in 20 feet of water at Fairview. Shore fishermen were still doing well at Eagle Point and fly fishing was improved in light of the damsel hatches along the west side weed beds at Cow Creek, Jenkins, Freeman.

DONNER LAKE—The lake is at 96-percent capacity.  Mountain Hardware and Sports reported the heaviest recreational boat traffic seen in years on the lake over the July 4 week.  Fishing was almost impossible for boaters and the shores were pounded by wave action making it tough on the bank fishermen.  When things calm down, the kokanee should still be hitting for trollers at 60 to 70 feet deep.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON—The DFG made a plant of big trout this past Thursday—most were 14 to 18 inchers with some to 3 pounds.  Mike Hanson at Caribou Crossroads Resort reported that everyone was catching fish from the bridge above the campgrounds down to the resort.  “Worms were just flying off the shelf,” he said.

FRENCHMAN LAKE—The lake is at 72-percent capacity.  Wiggins Trading Post reported that shore fishermen were still catching lots of nice rainbows at the dam on nightcrawlers and Power Bait.  With the hot weather, the trollers were dropping down to 25 feet deep off the Frenchman boat ramp with flasher/worm or Apex combos.

GOLD LAKES BASIN—Jon Rose at Bassett’s Station reported that Snag Lake was kicking out limits after recently being planted by the DFG.  Fishing was also good at Gold Lake and Lower Sardine.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR—The lake is at 91-percent capacity.  With the water temp in the 70’s, the fishing was slow this past week, according to Dale Daneman at Dale’s Foothill Fishing Service.  If the weather stays hot, the bite could be slow until after mid-August when the longer nights begin to cool the water.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR—Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that fishing pressure here was very low in light of the excellent fishing in the Carson River.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR—The lake is at 89-percent capacity.   Tom Brochu at Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that a couple who camped at the boat-in campsite were picking up limits of rainbows on nightcrawlers from shore and trolling black/gold CD 7 Rapalas and gold/orange Cripplures in the east arm.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)—The lake is at 96-percent capacity.  Jeff Cole at Sly Park Resort reported that one troller picked up 5 fish in the Narrows at 50 feet deep over 70 feet of water on dodger/nightcrawler combos—2- and 3-pound macks and three 15- to 16-inch rainbows.  A local shore fisherman caught limits of rainbows on Power Bait by the second boat ramp at the upper end of the Narrows.

LAKE TAHOE—Chuck Self at Chuck’s Charter Fishing, Mike Nielsen at Tahoe Top Liners, and John Shearer at Tahoe Sportfishing all reported excellent action on macks and kokanee.  Self was limiting out before 9 a.m. all this past week trolling at Crystal Bay and Dollar Point in shallower water—all his fish were full of crawdads and weighed from 6 to 12 pounds.  Mike Nielsen had a trip this past week where the client caught a bunch of kokanee early at South Shore trolling 30 to 40 feet deep with flasher-dodger/hoochie, Apex, or spinner combos and then moved up to Homewood and jigged up 16 macks and a 6-pound rainbow in 30 minutes.  Tahoe Sportfishing was catching limits of kokanee off Ski Run, Richardson, and the Keys and heading to the north end for limits of macks drifting live minnows at 80 to 100 feet deep at Dollar Point.

LOON LAKE—The lake is at 85-percent capacity.  Dale Daneman at Dale’s Foothill Fishing Service reported that a friend trolled here this past week and got skunked—the surface temp was 68 degrees, unseasonably warm for this time of year.  Daneman said the fish hug the bottom when the water is this warm and are hard to locate and reach on rocky bottoms with trolling gear.

PROSSER LAKE—The lake is at 70-percent capacity.  Smallmouth bass fishing was good off the dam for anglers using small Panther Martins.  Trollers were picking up 13- to 14-inch rainbows on flasher/’crawler, Needlefish, or Dick Nite combos at 25 feet deep.

PYRAMID LAKE—Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters reported that perch fishing was just fair—eight 1- to 1 1/2-pound fish on his last trip along with two cutthroat trout, 20 and 22 inches released, as trout season is closed.  Mendes said that the water temp was still too cold for good fishing, 62 degrees—68 to 72 degrees is ideal.  The Hell’s Kitchen and the Needles areas were producing some nice perch on crappie jigs and light spinning gear.  The good trout bite gets going after mid-August.

RED LAKE—With no recent DFG plant, the best action according to TFFO was to be found at the inlet, which requires a hike or a float tube.

SILVER LAKE—The lake is at 91-percent capacity and was stocked by the DFG this past week, so the fishing should have been much better than the previous week when everyone got skunked.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR—The lake is at 82-percent capacity.  Heavy recreational boat and watercraft traffic this past week made for tough fishing conditions.  Kokanee were still hitting pink or orange hoochies behind pearl/orange Vance’s dodgers at 60 to 90 feet deep between the island and the Little Truckee arm.  One troller caught 18- and 22-inch browns on koke gear.  A 7-pound mack was reported to Mountain Hardware and Sports

TOPAZ LAKE—Chuck Fields at Topaz Landing Marina reported that flasher/worm combos 30 feet deep on the south end of the lake was still producing limits.  Shore fishing was still a bust due to the high water temp.

TRUCKEE RIVER—According to TFFO, the flows below the Boca outlet dropped to 520 cfs and fishing improved on nymphs and dries in the early morning and evening—too hot during the day.  Try caddis and yellow sally patterns in the late evening for the best action.  Flows on the Little Truckee dropped to 66 cfs—head out early or late for the best results.  Anglers need to remember that the restricted section on the main river from Truckee to Stateline is artificial lures only with a 2-fish over 15 inches possession limit—many people were seen using bait in this section during the holiday and the DFG will cite violators.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR—The lake is at 91-percent capacity.  Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service reported that the kokanee fishing was tough, though he managed to scratch out a limit of 14-inch salmon for a client this past week.  Neeser said the kokanee were still scattered around the lake. With the surface temp at 70 degrees, he felt that the kokes would be moving to the dam soon to find cooler water and would begin schooling up.  Neeser used a chrome Wild Thing dodger and red, orange, or pink spinners at 35 to 45 feet deep to pick up his fish.  A small mack also hit the kokanee gear.

WEST WALKER RIVER—The flows were down to below 100 cfs this past week and fishing was excellent with lots of catch-and-release for anglers using bait, lures, and flies for fish averaging 1 to 1 1/4 pounds.   Sam Foster at the Toiyabe Motel reported that the Northern Mono County Chamber of Commerce would be planting 750 pounds of 3- to 5-pound rainbows this week to support the “How Big is Big” trout derby that runs the whole month of July (July 1 to July 31).  Top fish so far was a 4 1/4-pound rainbow taken by Matthew Vidito of Gilroy.  The no-entry derby’s official weigh station is the Walker General Store.  Any fish over 5 pounds qualifies for a 5-pound club hat sponsored by the Walker Burger.  There is a junior division for kids 12-years old and under.

 

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE—Topwater baits from frogs, spooks, poppers, wakebaits and buzzbaits, if worked long enough will produce. The summer is when you can fish with what you like best, just do it early or late in the day. Plastics and techniques such as punching, flipping, drop-shot, shaky head, crankbaits, jigs and Senkos will also put fish in the boat.

LAKE BERRYESSA—It was another great week for kokes here. Fish are still holding from 55 to 65 feet in the water column and with warmer weather they are going to drop some. In the following weeks the fish are going to start their pre-spawn phase and you’re going to have to make your presentation a little more aggressive. Work the main body points early in the morning with topwater baits and then using drop-shot rigs and Carolina rigs with Aaron’s Magic or Morning Dawn Robo worms for bass.

UPPER BLUE LAKE—Anglers are catching limits to 2 pounds mixed in with the smaller, new planters. Try going down 30 feet with a Kastmasters, Needlefish or a woolly bugger with an action disk.

 

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR—Expect it to take a little longer to catch your limit, since fish have been feeding 24/7 with the full moon and an abundant supply of food. Brown trout have been weighing up to 4 pounds, while the rainbows went to 3 pounds. There were also a few large salmon taken, but more were in the16- to 18-inch range.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR—Fishing here, like the weather, turned hot. This lake saw much higher fishing pressure than usual but the bite was excellent as both shore anglers and boaters were all catching fish. Most of the fish were pansize with a mix of both rainbows and browns. There are some big fish here, so a chance at a real trophy is not out of the question.  Worms, floating baits and lures were all working well and limits were not uncommon. Fly fishermen did well on leeches, streamers and prince nymph patterns fished on full sinking line type two or three.

BAUM LAKE—As the weather heats up you’ll find a better bite both early and late in the day.

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 in the canal.

EAGLE LAKE—The bite slowed down, but then, there was a full moon.

FALL RIVER—Fishing had been fair to good, but the fish are well fed from a night hatch so it hasn’t been an early bite.

MANZANITA LAKE–The bite here has been very erratic this year, but with summer weather here to stay, expect typical hatch patterns to come off. Midges, water boat caddis and pheasant tail patterns took fish this past week. Fish along the weed beds on the southwest side, which is where the majority of the action is taking place. Mostly rainbows are coming in at present but there are some beautiful browns as well. This lake has special restrictions so be sure and read them.

MCCLOUD RIVER—Water conditions are excellent and the fishing continues to be good with hatches late in the day.

PIT RIVER—Fishing has been very good lately with good hatches but the wading here is tough.

SHASTA LAKE—Pro Guide Kirk Portocarrero of Sac River Guide has been trolling shad and Wiggle Hoochies 80 to 100 feet deep for salmon up to 6 pounds. And he’s still catching limits of salmon and trout. Ripbaits and crankbaits worked along the rocky shores in the Pit Arm of the lake has been good for numbers of bass, or try a 4-inch plastic worm for bigger fish.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR—Trolling under the 299 Bridge produced easy, quick limits of kokes for Mike Elster’s clients averaging 12 inches. All were clean, fat and healthy and had no copepods. An apex or pink peewee hoochies about 8 inches behind a Sling Blade did the trick. Even though they are small now, the next two years here should be good if conditions stay the way they are now.

UPPER HAT CREEK—Fishing has been excellent, with many fish between 2 1/2 and 5 pounds taken on worms, lures and salmon eggs. Fly anglers were using nymphs and topwater and finding an equally good bite.

 

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER—Shad fishing is tapering off, according to Mike Powers of American Fly Fishing, but some big females are still being caught in the upper river, especially in the evening.  He also said that fishing for striped bass has been very good from the mouth up to around Grist Mill on Clouser streamers.  Conventional fishermen have been getting them on bait, swimbaits, and even some topwater lures.  Some summer run steelhead to about 22 inches are showing up, joining the plentiful steelhead smolts.  The American River opens to salmon fishing on July 16.  Make sure to check DFG regulations.

FOLSOM LAKE—Fishing for trout and landlocked king salmon continued to be good, and guide John Enos has been getting limits every time out by fishing in front of the dam before recreational boat traffic gets heavy.  Bass fishing has been pretty good, too, by dragging bait such as crawdads across main points, according to Lucas Boden of Broadway Bait Rod and Gun.  There’s a bit of a topwater bite very early but it doesn’t last long.

FEATHER RIVER—Good steelheading continued last week in the Low Flow Section.  Drift nightcrawlers or dead-drift small caddis-imitating nymphs under indicators. There’s still a bit of shad fishing below the Outlet, and there are also still some stripers around.  Remember salmon season opens July 16, but there is a closure 250 feet above and below the Outlet, and there is no salmon fishing allowed in the Low Flow Section.

FOLSOM LAKE—Fishing for trout and landlocked king salmon continued to be very good, and guide Big John Enos has been getting limits for his clients daily by fishing up the North Fork, with Speedy Shiners trolled between 40 and 50 feet deep.  Bass fishing was a challenge, but some were being caught off outside points between 15 and 20 feet deep and in flooded brush up the North Fork.  Work drop-shotted and Carolina-rigged plastic worms slowly, and fish Pop-

RANCHO SECO LAKE—A few bass were being caught on crankbaits, ripbaits, swimbaits and Senkos by float tubers early and late, but bass fishing was slow.  Redeared sunfish continued to provide the best action on worms under bobbers.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento—Fishing for small striped bass continued to be very good, especially along South River Road, Garcia Bend and Miller Park, but you have to sort through lots of sub-legal (less than 18 inches)  shakers for every keeper.  Fishing for catfish continued to be good in sloughs, and eddies off the main channel and the Deep Water Channel. Anticipation is high for the salmon opener from July 16 through Dec. 16 from 150 feet below the Lower Red Bluff  (Sycamore) boat ramp to the Carquinez Bridge.  Be sure to check your DFG regs for detailed regulations.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa—Anglers were catching lots of stripers—10 shaker to every keeper–to 8 pounds on bait.  Anticipation is high for the start of salmon season from – July 16 through Dec. 16 from 150 feet below the Lower Red Bluff  (Sycamore) boat ramp to the Carquinez Bridge.  Be sure to check your DFG regs for detailed regulations.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding—Trout fishing continued to be very good last week, especially from Redding to Anderson.  Fly fishers were using caddis imitations dead-drifted under indicators.  Leaders have to be a bit longer to compensate for the higher flows.  Crickets, small plugs, and Glo-Bugs were effective, too.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Dunsmuir—Good trout fishing continued last week along the Upper Sacramento River above Shasta Reservoir and the McCloud River.  There’s even been some good dry fly fishing going on in the evenings just about anywhere on the Upper Sacramento.  On the McCloud, it’s fishing for wild fish below the dam, and fishing for planters above the lake.

YUBA RIVER—Shad fishing continued to be very good for waders coming in from Walnut Ave. and for jetboaters coming up from the mouth.  There has been good fishing for trout and small steelhead above the Daguerre Dam on both nymphs and grasshoppers, both real and imitation.

 

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER—The Georgetown Ranger station reported that the flows were low and clear.  Fishing was very on the Silver Fork in light of the two DFG trout plants in recent weeks.

BULLARDS BAR—The lake is at 91-percent capacity.  There was fairly heavy recreational boat traffic on the lake this past week with the July 4 holiday.  Emerald Cove Marina had little to report about the fishing.  Some kokanee were being caught up in the North Fork by trollers.  Small bass were hitting live bait and plastic worms in the shallows all around the lake.

CAMP FAR WEST—The lake is at 72-percent capacity.  Fishing was very slow this past week due to the overwhelming number of recreational boats and watercraft on the lake.  Give the place a chance to calm down and fish during the week for small bass in the Rock Creek arm on plastic worms and creature baits.

COLLINS LAKE—The lake is 12 feet from full.  The dam and bridge were still the most productive sites for trout fishing this past week for shore anglers using Power Bait, Power Eggs and worms.  Bass and catfish showed up in good numbers for both shore anglers and boaters.  Bass to 3 1/2 pounds and catfish to 6 1/4 pounds were taken along with some nice crappie.  The brushy areas along the east side were good for warmwater species.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR—The lake is at 92-percent capacity.  Skippers Cove Marina reported that some trout were still being caught drifting bait in the 5 mph zone on the upper end of the lake.  Recreational boat traffic on the lower end of the lake made fishing difficult.  Bass fishing should be good in the marina and Keystone Cove.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR—The lake is at 83-percent capacity.  The Foresthill Ranger Station reported that shore anglers and trollers were picking up some limits of rainbows after the DFG stocked the lake this past week.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR—The lake is at 79-percent capacity.  The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that kokanee and brown trout fishing was productive for trollers.  The kokes this week were 40 feet deep in front of the dam and outlet from French Meadows and hitting dodger/hoochie combos.  One fly fisherman did well on browns stripping woolly buggers from the shore at the inlet.  Troll Rapalas in the early morning at the inlet for browns, also.

LAKE OROVILLE—The lake is at 89-percent capacity.  Guide Ron Gandolfi reported that small bass were still over the banks in shallower water.  The harder to find bigger fish were either down 20 feet deep or sitting on steep rocky points or ambush points on walls.  The point fish were hitting lipless crankbaits and the deeper fish were hitting worms and jigs.  Guides Ron Gandolfi and Larry Hemphill both recommended night fishing with dark colored worms and jigs.  Try topwater a dusk.

ROLLINS LAKE—The lake is at 96-percent capacity.  Heavy recreational boat traffic all this past week made it tough for fishermen.  Give the lake a chance to calm down and try fishing at the Bear River inlet for bass and trout.  Trolling deep at the dam could produce some nice rainbows.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE—The lake is at 97-percent capacity.  Jim Caldwell at Scott’s Flat Lake Resort reported good action for 2- to 3-pound smallmouth bass and a few nice largemouth bass on rocky points and submerged trees up near the handicap dock area toward the inlet.  Trollers were picking up some nice rainbows 45 to 55 feet deep at the dam on flasher/worm combos and Rapalas.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR—Sarah Hill from the Foresthill Ranger Station walked the shore from the boat ramp to the bridge on July 4 and saw anglers with some limits of rainbows taken on Power Bait and worms after the lake was stocked by the DFG.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR—The lake is at 94-percent capacity.  The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that shore anglers and trollers were still catching rainbows, but the bite had slowed and limits were harder to come by.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY—The lake was at 132.25-foot elevation at press time—72-percent capacity.  With the lake at this level, the water should be back in the tules.  Try frogs in the late afternoon during the hottest part of the day in front of the tules and back in the pockets.