LAKE OROVILLE: Bass fishing continues to improve with quality spots taken on finesse presentations mimicking the lake’s pond smelt. The Middle Fork is kicking out fish in 20 to 30 feet of water with 3-inch swimbaits on a 3/16th-ounce dart head. King salmon fishing remains slow, and there is concern over the DFW’s planting of small kings in the spring since the predation from spotted and largemouth bass along with birds has been excessive. The lake rose 4 feet within two weeks to 822.19 feet in elevation and 69 percent.
LAKE SHASTA: 64 boats showed up for the first Pro/Am of the season with the winning two-day weight at 28.51 pounds. 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 lower Trinity was muddy Friday with flows right around 7,500 cfs on the Hoopa gauge. Conditions don’t look to improve anytime soon as Saturday’s storm is projected to push flows to nearly 26,000 cfs. With more rain in the forecast mid next week, it may not fish all week. Fishing pressure continues to be light, but that should change when the winter steelhead begin to show up in bigger numbers.
AMERICAN RIVER/Above Folsom: The flows have risen to 953 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. The upper river is catch-and-release, artificials, and barbless hooks only through the end of May.
AMERICAN RIVER/Sacramento: Steelhead season opened on January 1. There have been some decent numbers of fish returning to the hatchery indicating a decent run overall, but action has been mixed. The crowds at Sailor Bar have been manageable but access to prime water can be challenging if you don’t get there early. Beads under a bobber has been the top producing rig but there has been some spinner action as well. There was a water release on January 3, but flows are now steady at about 1,808 cfs.
FEATHER RIVER: No good reports currently. Conditions are good and the steelies should be in. Water levels are variable.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Keswick Reservoir to Red Bluff: The Fly Shop in Redding reported that the river is still fishable with decent water clarity from the top down to Cottonwood Creek. There was a moderate water release on January 6, but the river has settled back down, and flows have been holding around 5,360 to 5,500 cfs and remains wadable. Midge and BWO hatches have the fishing looking for smaller dark flies in the am and Zebra Midges, Micro Mays, BP Weiss Nymphs later in the day. Guide Garrett Kenyon reported a slower bite but some late fall/ winter salmon still spawning and trout, steelhead hitting the smaller beads below.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa to Tisdale: No change. Reports from Colusa remain light, but anglers are reporting some action with resident striper. Social media continues to post decent fish, but these are smart, resident fish and the numbers are low. Most taken on big glide baits.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro area: Action in the metro area remains mixed to poor for an occasional resident striper with some action in the port. Lower delta action remains mixed with some decent numbers in the Rio Vista area.
The bi-weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state.
