LAKE OROVILLE: Bass fishing is the top draw as there is a total of 7 tournaments scheduled on the lake over the next month. Springtime is prime time for bass on Oroville, and the best action remains with pond smelt imitations on a finesse presentation along rockpiles or bluff walls at depths from 20 to 30 feet of water. King salmon action is a concern as CDFW’s planting of small kings in the spring has let to excessive predation from spotted and largemouth bass along with birds. The lake rose 18 feet within two weeks to 840.16 feet in elevation and 76 percent. The forks are muddy and there is debris on the surface.
LAKE SHASTA: John Boitano of Phil’s Propellers reported some very good main body action with bass feeding on plastics and jigs in deeper water between 30 and 50 feet. Some blade action and slow-rolling Keitechs are also producing. Jeff Goodwin has reported a solid winter trout bite with fish up shallow in the water column. Side planers have been best with 1- to 2-ounec snap weights. Trolling speeds vary from 2.5 to 2.8 mph. The lure of choice has been Trinidad Tackle Optimizer Jr’s. Dark colors early and flashy UV colors after the sun hits the water.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek: The Trinity is green and in great shape. The lower river doesn’t have many adult steelhead at the moment as most have made their way upriver. The winter steelhead run should begin in January. Reportedly, the river is loaded with half-pounders. Flows Sunday morning were around 1,580 cfs on the Hoopa gauge. Another decent rise is predicted for early Monday morning.
AMERICAN RIVER/above Folsom Lake: The flows have risen from 953 to 1388 cfs at Chili Bar, and the weekend’s storm will bring further mud and debris to the Middle Fork due to the burn scar from the Mosquito Fire. As a result, fishing has been limited in the dirty water. The upper river is catch-and-release, artificials, and barbless hooks only through the end of May.
AMERICAN RIVER/Sacramento: few reports of any action but there should be some steelies in the system. 516,000 steelhead smolts will be released this week from the Sunrise Launch Ramp.
FEATHER RIVER: No good reports currently. Conditions are good and the steelies should be in.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Keswick Reservoir to Red Bluff: The Fly Shop in Redding reported that the river is still in good shape and action remains solid for the wild rainbows. Dark smaller flies working in the am with Birds’ Nests, Poopahs and amber Bubblebacks fishing well later in the day. As of now the river remains very wadable. Steelies continue to hold in the Jelly’s Ferry area below the hatchery.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa to Tisdale: no change. Reports from Colusa remain light but anglers are reporting some action with resident striper.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro area: Dennis, Sacramento Pro Tackle reported slow striper action with some resident fish being taken in the Freeport area. Bass, catfish and blue gill action still good in some of the smaller water. Guide Rustic Rob Reimers reported very good sturgeon action below Sherman Island on roe, and eels. He continues to report some decent riper action around Rio Vista or West Bank with fish taken on Yo-Zuri Hydro minnows with a white or chartreuse plastic trailer.
The bi-weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state.
