Report by Western Outdoor News @ wonews.com

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.—It’s between seasons here, with the springer run all but done, and the fall run has yet to begin staging in the Rogue Bay.

ROGUE RIVER, Shady Cove, Ore.—“Fishing has improved a little this week in the Grants Pass area, with some reports of salmon catches from the Gold Ray dam site south down the river to below Robertson Bridge,” according to guide Troy Whitaker at U-Save Tackle in Grants Pass. “You can keep a wild salmon in this area now, too. Most catches are being made on green-lipped Kwikfish with a sardine wrapper, or back-bounced shrimp or roe below the rapids.  It’s the same report from Upper Rogue areas.  Trout fishing remains good along most areas on drifted flies behind a float, or spinners floated through the tops of rapids.” WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets had this to say of the area, “
Free fishing weekend had the banks a little more full with anglers trying to catch spring Chinook.  The “deadline” at the hatchery saw the largest amount of pressure at any one single time period. There was a bit more action during the weekend, but it seems that much of that action was people just having a good time while being on the river.”

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork, Glide, Ore.–
The salmon fishing in Glide has gotten better than the week before last. “I have been stopped by anglers all week, and each of them has their own exciting story of their success while fishing recently,” said guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets. “They have been catching bright salmon all of last week. Many people are tagging out.”

RUSSIAN RIVER—Flows are still low and warm, the summer dams are up and filling, and action is limited to smallmouth bass, and that action is mostly early or late in the day when water sports fans are off the river.

 

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam—The eagerly-awaited salmon fly hatch is just starting, but  it’s mostly nymphing now, but and the big dries should be starting soon.  It’s only a couple of weeks affair, so don’t dawdle.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen—A few  spring run Chinook salmon  are entering the estuary, and they’ve encountered both nets and lots of algae, but they’re determined.  A few anglers trolling CV-7’s have been getting a few, but algae has to be cleared off your terminal gear every few minutes.

TRINITY RIVER, Gray’s Falls—Salmon are coming through in small pods, and be there at the right time with tuna and roe and you should catch fish.  These fish are beautiful and the algae taste is gone.  Flows are dropping fast and it’s hot.

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City—Flows are dropping, and salmon from down below are just starting to travel upstream, but they’re coming.  Some fish are coming past Gray’s Falls now and some are being caught.  Fishing should be starting any time soon.

 

NORCAL SALTWATER

BERKELEY—Berkeley boats targeted rockfish and lingcod, stopping in the Central Bay on their way back in to toss halibut and striped bass on top of the stack of rockfish. California Dawn, Happy Hooker and El Dorado posted good numbers. Some boats went after salmon and posted scores from the Channel Buoys and near the Farollones. New El Dorado III and New Easy Rider pulled salmon duty and had fish over the 30-pound mark.

BODEGA BAY/LAWSON’S LANDING—Salmon action was right out of Bodega Bay and also off of Tomales Point. Rockfish and lingcod fishing was best up at Fort Ross and the Russian River. New Sea Angler passengers got salmon to 20 pounds and lingcod to 22 pounds.

EMERYVILLE— Rockfish boats worked reef zones off the Marin Coast and reports of limits were so steady it was almost a given. Lingcod counts went above a fish per rod and C-Gull II on Saturday nearly pulled off limits of lings with 37 for 20 people. Then the boat stopped inside the Bay on the way back in and added 5 halibut to 17 pounds and a 10-pound striped bass. The biggest salmon reported for the week was a 22 pounder brought aboard New Huck Fin.

EUREKA—Winds and seas took a toll on all forms of fishing, however the professionals and hardcore private boats made it out. Shellback reported limits of salmon.  Private boat Red Rider braved the seas and came back with limits. When the wind settles, salmon fishing should go wide open. Jetty fishers managed greenling, cabezon, rockfish and lingcod.

FORT BRAGG—Salmon catching was a bit spotty, but some jumbo fish were caught, including a 31 pounder aboard Telstar. Trek II ran up north and found easy fishing for rockfish and lingcod. Jett fishers used snares to bring in late-season crabs. Hook and line anglers caught perch and rockfish.

HALF MOON BAY—Rockfish and lingcod were the sought after species, while salmon fishing remained slow. Reef zones from Martins Beach to Pescadero gave up a great assortment of rockfish and lingcod for boats including Queen of Hearts, New Capt. Pete and Huli Cat.

SAN FRANCISCO—Some boats went out the Gate for salmon and Marin Coast rockfish and lingcod. Wacky Jacky was among them. Other boats, like Argo and Bass Tub fished hard for halibut and striped bass. Central Bay was best for halibut and bass.

 

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE— Conditions have not changed much, it’s been hot and there are a lot of weeds and algae blooms. Many fished around the weeds with weightless Senkos, punching, and fishing the edges and openings with bladed jigs and a few frogs.

LAKE BERRYESSA—The kokes are starting to school up and good action was found around the Big Island in 80 to 100 feet of water as the fish were holding at 55 feet. Aurora fire spinner by Uncle Larry behind a Rocky Mountain Tackle (RMT) Hybeen with a dodger produced limits all week. The bass fishing was good with poppers, Zara Spooks and buzzbaits along weed edges and points on the east side of the main body and the back of coves.

LAKE SONOMA—Target bass to 4 pounds in standing timber in 10 to 20 feet of water in the main Dry Creek arm.  Green pumpkin Senkos caught the majority of the fish and the 4 pounder came on a jig. Trout trollers need an early start for landlocked steelhead biting shad patterned Apexs, Needlefish and Humdingers in the 15 to 30 feet of water. You can find a few channel catfish to 10 pounds soaking stinkbaits in the evenings from shore.

 

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR— Aquatic insect hatches are still popping off around the lake and will continue into August. Anglers were trolling more than mooching this past week. Try the Dorado area on the east shore for trout and Big Springs for king salmon.

BAUM LAKE—Always a good beat, this lake is a go-to spot with its cold, clean water and abundance of habitat and insects. Try to fish early and late when the sun is not high.

BUCKS LAKE—The mackinaw bite is slowing down, but a few fish from 9 to 17 pounds were found in water 30 to 45 feet down in the middle of the lake. The koke bite has been wide open using sliver dodgers or the new Pro Troll UV 4-inch dodger with Uncle Larry’s spinners in pink tiger tipped with corn from 20 to 30 feet down for fish from 12 1/2 to 13 inches.

EAGLE LAKE—Try bobber fishing by Shrimp Island in 8 to 10 feet of water with a threaded nightcrawler down 6 feet. Ron Beck of Flying Eagle Guide Service was catching his first fish around 5:30 a.m. and coming off the lake by 10:00 with limits for his clients.

FALL RIVER—The Fly Shop in Redding reports an improved Hex hatch with warming weather. The night fishing has been great.

UPPER HAT CREEK—As the weather warms up, so have lots of good salmon fly hatches. The Power House No. 2 riffle has been giving up fish, but it is crowded.  You can get most, if not all of it to yourself near or at sundown. Pay attention to fishing regulations near sunset. Water conditions have been great.

MANZANITA LAKE— The fishing has been good. It’s mid-June, which means there should be some good dry fly fishing during the late morning Callibaetis hatches. Remember this is a catch-and-release, single hook, artificial lure-only lake and check Lassen Park’s special regulations here.

McCLOUD RIVER—River conditions are good and the dry fly action has been good early and late. Nymphs are always an option here, but now add salmon flies.

PIT RIVER—The best river conditions are going to be found below Lake Britton Dam at Pit no.3 and it has been fishing well. Hatches have been going off mid-morning to early evening, but cover some water.

SHASTA LAKE—For a ton of the little bass, throw Senkos and that big one still might bite. The salmon bite was excellent over the main channel in Dry Creek. Set your downriggers at 80 and 120 feet trolling both rolled shad and anchovies for kings between 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 pounds. Try for trout around Toupee Island with chrome and watermelon Apexs at 20 and 40 feet.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR—This lake continues to be red hot for 12- to 14-inch kokes and easy limits. Troll both sides of the 299 Bridge at 40 to 60 feet. Anything pink worked such as Apexs, hoochies behind a Sling Blade tipped with Pro Cure Kokanee Special and white corn. If it starts to slow down or gets too crowded, check out the coldwater curtain and fish from 60 to 80 feet down.

 

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BLUE LAKES—The gates to the lakes were still closed early this past week, but were supposed to be open by the weekend. Upper and Lower Blue are scheduled for DFW trout plants this week.

BOCA LAKE—The lake is at 42-percent capacity.  The best action was at the Little River inlet where flyfishermen were probing the ledges with nymphs under indicators in the evenings for some nice rainbows.  The next best bet was to fish the deep water at the dam.

CAPLES LAKE—The lake is at 97-percent capacity.  The DFW stocked 60,000 fingerling rainbow trout this past week and will plant catchable rainbows this week.  Caples Lake Resort reported that trolling was slow, but should improve rapidly after the plant.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)—The East and West Carson are scheduled for DFW trout plants this week.  Alpine County stocked the West Carson, Silver Creek, and Markleeville Creek this past week also.  The East Carson was still running a little muddy and fishing was slow.  The West Carson, Silver Creek, and Markleeville Creek were running clear and fishing was very good.

DAVIS LAKE—The lake is at 64-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFW trout plant this week.  Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Guided Fishing reported that trolling was improving for a mix of 12-inch planters and holdover fish to 18 inches.  During the day, Needlefish in metallic perch, red-dot frog, and watermelon were working well at 5 to 8 feet deep up near Lightning Tree.  In the evenings, the copper/redhead Wee Dick Nite worked best.  Shore fishing was fair at Eagle Point and flyfishermen were picking up a few fish at Jenkins stripping nymphs.

DONNER LAKE—The lake is at 98-percent capacity.  Kokanee trolling was good right across from the boat ramp in 120 to 180 feet of water using dodgers with pink and orange hoochies and spinners at 60 to 80 feet deep.  These fish averaged 11 to 13 inches.  A group of smaller fish was still schooled up between Loch Leven and China Cove and hitting the same lure combinations at 40 to 60 feet deep over 80 to 110 feet of water.  Shore fishing was good at the west end for rainbows, but patience was required.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON—The Middle Fork at Graeagle and North Fork at Belden were scheduled for DFW trout plants this week.  Mike Hanson at Caribou Crossroads Resort on the North Fork reported that fishing was slow.

FRENCHMAN LAKE—The lake is at 46-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFW trout plant this week.  Wiggins Trading Post reported that Big Cove was producing nice rainbows for shore anglers and trollers.  With the warmer weather, the small bullhead catfish were beginning to hit worms.

GOLD LAKES BASIN—Gold Lake and Lower Sardine Lake are scheduled for a DFW trout plant this week.  Shore anglers were doing well at Salmon Lake, Sardine Lake and Packer Lake using Power Bait and worms.  Gold Lake was producing for trollers working the north shore in front of the private homes.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR—The lake is at 92-percent capacity.  Trollers getting out early in the morning were still picking up planter rainbows on dodgers and nightcrawlers and Sep’s brown grubs.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR—Alpine County stocked the lake with 900 pounds of 1- to 4-pound rainbows for the Kids’ Derby held this past weekend, so there should still be plenty of good fish left this week.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR—The lake is at 94-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFW trout plant this week.  Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that fishing had slowed, but the plant should help.  Trollers do best at the dam this time of year in the early morning.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)—The lake is at 82-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFW trout plant this week.  Anthony Miller caught an 11-pound, 6-ounce brown trout from the shore casting a spoon this past week.  Shore anglers were still picking up a few rainbows at the first dam, but the fishing will be good after the plant.

LAKE TAHOE—Chuck Self at Chuck’s Charter Fishing reported that trolling was “the best he’s seen this season.”  Self was catching quick limits of 4- to 10-pound macks and releasing lots of fish less than 4 pounds on his early morning trips trolling 155 to 420 feet deep from Tahoe City to Crystal Bay Point.  Mike Nielsen at Tahoe Topliners Sportfishing said he was slamming the macks jigging at Dollar Point at 150 to 240 feet deep.  Nielsen said clients were seeing 20 to 30 fish days with multiple double and triple hookups.  Kokanee trolling was sporadic with 8- to 10-inch fish showing on the main lake and bigger fish in Emerald Bay.  Brown trout trolling was slowing down with only one or two fish in a morning running Rapalas in the shallows from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay.

LOON LAKE—The lake is at 88-percent capacity.  Trollers were doing well—20 fish days—running flasher/worms or Sep’s grubs in the top 12 feet all over the lake.

PROSSER LAKE—The lake is at 35-percent capacity.  The best trout action was still being found at the Prosser Creek inlet.  Try for smallmouth bass at the dam using tube jigs and darthead worms.

PYRAMID LAKE—Crosby’s Lodge reported they only weighed in two fish this past week—15 1/2 and 16 1/4 pounders.  Both were caught by trollers.  Valarie Taylor at Crosby’s said trollers were picking up 30 to 50 fish per day on a variety of lures including FlatFish and Apex.  Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters said one of his clients lost a 12 pounder at the boat and minutes later hooked and landed a 15 pounder at the Needles on an Apex.

RED LAKE—Runoff has filled the lake, according to Dave Foley at Caples Lake Resort, and fishing at the dam should produce a few cutthroats and brookies using worms and salmon eggs.

SILVER LAKE—The lake is full and scheduled for a DFW trout plant this week.  Dave Foley at Caples Lake Resort reported that fishing for shore angers and trollers was good.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR—The lake is at 31-percent capacity.  Kokanee were still hitting for trollers working the island at 50 to 60 feet deep using watermelon dodgers and pink hoochies or spinners tipped with corn.

TOPAZ LAKE—Chuck Fields at Topaz Landing Marina reported the lake was dropping, but he was still able to launch single-axle trailered boats to 18 feet.  Recreational boat and personal watercraft traffic was increasing as the water temp increased and fishing was beginning to slow as the trout moved into deeper water.  The few trollers out were still able to catch a few nice rainbows in the early morning, but limits took all day.

TRUCKEE RIVER—The green drake hatch was moving west from the Stateline area and evening hatches were attracting generating good action.  Caddis and little yellow stone hatches were more common and also providing good opportunity for dry fly specialists.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR—The lake is at 96-percent capacity.  Ken Mathis at Ken’s Custom Tackle and Guide Service reported that kokanee trolling was fair to good for 12- to 14-inch fish with a few to 16 inches.  Running chrome dodgers and hoochies or spinners in orange, purple, or pink at 25 to 45 feet deep in the early morning at the powerhouse and the dam was the most productive.  The mack bite was sporadic as the lake has begun to turn over.

WEST WALKER RIVER—The Little Walker and West Walker are scheduled for DFW trout plants this week.  The Toiyabe Motel reported that fishing pressure was light, but a couple of guests said they caught rainbows to 4 pounds flyfishing and casting spinners in the canyon south of the bridge.

 

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER—Flow have increased to 2,000 cfs.  That’s great for fishing the American River but it’s short term, and the lake is dropping earlier than usual and stripers will be heading out to deeper water. Flows will ultimately have to drop later this summer.  Shad fishing is good, particularly above Sunrise Blvd. and many of the shad are big females weighing up to 4 pounds or more.  Fish late in the afternoon after 5 p.m. for the best action.  Try for striped bass early in the morning on Clouser Minnows when fly fishing, or soft plastics, or Yo-Zuri’s or even soft crawdads when bait fishing.

FEATHER RIVER—It may take a trip or two to hook up, but shad are still being caught around Bend or the Rock Wall behind Live Oak.  A few small steelhead have been taking nymphs under indicators in the Low Flow Section.

FOLSOM LAKE—The lake is dropping fast because of higher flows down the American River and stripers are moving out to deeper water.  Carolina rigged jigs and drop-shotted Robo-Worms have been getting a few strikes.  Live minnows have been effective, too.  Trollers using Speedy Shiners have continued to catch some bigger fish near the surface. Jerry Lamkin of TNG Motor sports Guide Service, said that a friend of his went out after the seminar he had presented and landed an 8-pound king salmon.

RANCHO SECO LAKE— Trout fishing is about over. A few topwater plugs worked late at night might get a strike or two from the big bass that hang out at Rancho Seco.  Bluegill are moving into the shallows.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento—Striped bass fishing continued to be slow, with lots of shaker caught for every keeper fish. Try bloodworms and sardines. A few larger fish were being caught on swimbaits and topwater plugs.  Catfish are one of the better bets in the Deep Water Channel and at Verona on shad guts.

SACRAMENTO, Tisdale—A few striped bass, largely spawned out,  were still are being caught from Verona to Colusa, mostly on minnows,

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding—Trout fishing was good from Redding to Red Bluff, and some nice shad are present at Los Molinos and around Corning, making combo trips a nice outing.  Fishing was still good for fly fishers dead-drifting small caddis nymph imitations and even stone flies.  Spin fishermen were drifting nightcrawlers and Glo-Bugs.

YUBA RIVER—Fishing was mostly for shad down in the lower half of the river below Matthews Avenue and trout fishing was slow, mostly on nymphs below indicators. Some nice trout were being caught at DeGuerre Dam, as well as trout.  It’s still mostly nymphs, but dries should be good very soon.