LAKE OROVILLE: Bass fishing continues to be the top draw on the lake, and Joseph Orozco of Bass Union has been finding good action at depths from the banks to 30 feet with RoboWorms or Z-Man’s TRD’s on a drop-shot, weedless darter head, or weedless Ned-rig along with Keitech swimbaits. A full day session is producing over 60 fish. King salmon action is null and void. Bidwell is on the 2nd parking lot, and it is the shortest walk to your tow vehicle. Loafer Creek is open, but the walk is longer, The Spillway is open with two lanes with no dock. The lake dropped slightly to 41 percent with water releases down the Feather River.
LAKE SHASTA: Bass action remains best in the cooler water of the Pit or Squaw arms, but there has been a significant uptick in bass action on the main body. Kelly Sens took a 9.95 hog on a football head screw lock with a weedless Senko on the flats in front of Jones Valley. Trout action has been great, and Shasta Lake is finally putting out the size and numbers of fish that can be expected at this time of the year. The action is found by rolling shad-patterned spoons behind a dodger at 60 to 70 feet. The lake is at 37 percent.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek: The Trinity was muddy over the weekend due to a flash flood sending mud and debris down Dutch Creek. Fishing below that area came to a halt. And now a few fires are burning in the Willow Creek/Sayler area, which will curtail any fishing. The majority of the spring salmon have made their way upriver and the numbers counted at the Junction City weir have already surpassed last year’s totals. As of Sunday, flows were 750 cfs on the Hoopa gauge.
AMERICAN RIVER/Above Folsom: The flows remain up and down depending upon the time of day as water releases for recreational rafting continues. The river varies from a high of 1735 cfs to a low of 442 cfs at Chili Bar with the highest flows from mid-morning into the afternoons. You have to travel far from access areas to find good action in the deep pools with small presentations and light line.
AMERICAN RIVER/Sacramento: Salmon remain stacked from the mouth of the American to the Interstate 80 Bridge, but catch numbers have been low. The water temperatures in the main river up to 74 degrees. Striped bass have been ‘hit or miss.’ The flows at Fair Oaks have dropped slightly from 4,032 to 3,757 cfs. but conditions and temperatures are very good with the water temperature currently at 62 to 64 degrees.
FEATHER RIVER: Salmon action is still slow, but there are increasing numbers of fish showing up every day. The water temperature appears to have stabilized at about 65 degrees at Boyd’s Pump. The decent water flows and favorable temps. should pull in some fresh fish once they enter the system.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Keswick Reservoir to Red Bluff: Salmon opener at the Barge Hole was very good with an early morning bite and many limits before 9:00 a.m. The bite has slowed following heavy pressure, and this week anglers had to work for what they caught. Fish are moving upriver and starting to show below the hole indicating a favorable season to come. The flows below Keswick are down slightly from 4,474 to 4,470 cfs. but some pulsing has been reported. Trout action was phenomenal following the river opening above Highway 44 with good catch numbers and good size reported. Fishing pressure was heavy, and the bite dropped off a bit but is only expected to get better. Caddis and mayfly patterns working best in the mornings or evenings.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Chico: Salmon action remains slow with no fish reported. No real changes with other species. Some stripers still holding in the vicinity of Corning with fish spread out in the cooler water to Red Bluff. The Chico-area also producing shakers. Smallmouth and largemouth action remains fair early in the day on spinnerbaits or topwater lures at the mouth of the creeks and tributaries or in the slower water. The flows at the Colusa Bridge down from 3,280 to 3,247 cfs. but conditions are generally favorable.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro area: A large concentration of fish remains stacked in the main Sacramento River from Discovery Park down to Hwy 80; however, boat traffic is high and catch numbers remain low. The water temperatures currently in the mid 70’s. Herring-wrapped Flatfish patterns in silver, silver/chartreuse remain the top producing lure. Striper action has been slow with a few fish reported as the water temperatures remain high in the mid-70-degree range.
The weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state.
