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 closed, and others change to artificial/barbless only on March 31 and others on April 25.

CHETCO RIVER-Big stuff coming down here on the salmon run, and local Oregon Fish and Wildlife officials are being made to look silly with some of their actions. "Many local anglers and calls from out-of-town anglers who are worried about the downward spinning numbers returning to the Chetco River. Local state ODFW officials say we might see 900 or fewer returning Chinook to the system," said WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts. Local ODFW is planning on closures and reduction of take. Concerned anglers should write to State Rep. Wayne Kreiger rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us.

ROGUE RIVER-A week of storms turned the river around completely, bringing up the flows, bringing down the temps and bringing in the kings. Anglers did well for a short term here at the end of the springer run, but it's not expected to last. Some good action did happen with the good conditions. River is dropping out and clearing now, and that will make the springer fishing more difficult with dwindling numbers expected in the run now.

RUSSIAN RIVER-Flows were still too high to fish, but not too high for the expected shad run, and with flows to 785 at Guerneville over the weekend, shad could have moved over the dams with ease. Jimmy Dean at Kings Sport & Tackle said he wouldn't be surprised to see shad all the way up to Healdsburg or farther. Keep holding on!!!

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen-The river blew out last week, but was dropping and coming back into fishable shape. No one was out on the water though, as of Sunday. A few salmon were reported caught from around Orleans, located upstream of the mouth of the Trinity on the Klamath.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate-The salmon fly hatch has yet to begin because of the changeable weather, but if the streak of warm, sunny days continues, trout should soon start keying on the hummingbird-sized insects-starting with the nymph stage. In the meantime, they are biting backtrolled Hot Shot/worm combinations, drifted bait, and flies.

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City- Springtime flows are dropping but the magic number for being able to fish reasonably effectively is 2,000 cfs, a number which is expected to be reached next week. A fair number of salmon should have sneaked up the Trinity during the high flows, though, and fishing could be good when the river is fishable again.

NORTH SALTWATER

ALBION-Rockfish and lingcod season opens on May 15. Abalone season is open, and weather permitting, the local rocks and kelp are producing limits for nearly every diver trying.

BERKELEY-Halibut trolling trips suffered with big tides, but the boats using live bait had a better count, with a half fish around on the trips that used live shiner perch and frozen anchovies. Still no live bait at the receivers and no word on when the bait boats might be able to find anything other than pinheads.

BODEGA BAY- Redtail surfperch were the top bet on Doran Beach, with some black perch showing along the harbor breakwater. Sandcrabs were the top natural bait, but Berkley Gulp! sandworms and sandfleas worked well if you didn't want to catch your own.

CROCKETT- Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star wound up his sturgeon season with two productive trips, Friday's producing one keeper and Saturday's two keepers. "There was plenty of action, with rays and sharks, plus some striped bass and flounder caught," said Hough. He's starting halibut trips from the Loch Lomond Marina in San Rafael now.

EMERYVILLE-The Tigerfish and New Huck Finn ran on Saturday with a combined 33 anglers for half a fish around, mostly halibut and a handful of striped bass. The boats are still trolling until live bait is available.

EUREKA-Anglers are organizing to address the MLPA as it heads north, and many local saltwater anglers were at a dinner meeting on Saturday. The ocean was rough all week until Sunday, then the ocean laid down and several boats headed out for Pacific halibut on Sunday, but no reports were available by deadline Sunday afternoon.

FORT BRAGG-Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar reported excellent crabbing and while he didn't have big loads, he was able to get the pots in the water to gauge the activity. Recent abalone diving trips produced some jumbos, including a 9.25 incher and a 9.75 incher. Both of those came south of the harbor near the Botanical Gardens. The crabbing was good off of Pudding Creek; on Saturday, he said about 60 percent were soft, but his crew still managed to put 35 good ones in the box.

HALF MOON BAY-Most of the boats cancelled trips due to wind and the forecast of more wind. Local beaches offered surfperch and surf smelt action, and some scattered striped bass catches.

LOCH LOMOND-Halibut trips are starting back up on the Morning Star, the first ones scheduled to run with frozen bait and live shiner perch, but a switch to live anchovies as soon as they are available.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY-Halibut counts were all over the place, with from one or two per boat to half a fish around. Top spots have been Paradise, Southampton and the Berkeley Flats. Still no live bait for sale in the bay.

SAN PABLO BAY-Still a prime bet for sturgeon, even though no one seems interested. On Friday there was only two boats fishing North Bay, and on Saturday, only one. Despite that, the action is high, with lots of bites, a few keeper sturgeon and

SHELTER COVE-Still no chance to head up the coast for Pacific halibut due to wind, although Sunday's ocean laid down, and conditions may have allowed for a window for the boats to head north early in the week. Captain Trent Slate on Bite Me out of Shelter Cove Sportfishing fished Sunday, but the wind came up right after he launched. He was able to get to his crab string, pulling four limits of Dungeness for his anglers. Rockfish season opens May 15.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-Water level is coming up, but it's on the "no plant" list, so rainbows are in short supply and tough to come by. Some decent activity on holdovers and some browns where the Little Truckee comes in, but watch the "moving water", as that's under special regs. Some nice browns by the dam for those casting lures towards surface activity.

CAPLES LAKE-Set to open Memorial Weekend for lodging, store and marina. In the meantime, anglers are catching some trout and mackinaw out of open areas of ice thaw. Major trout plants are expected once the lake is ice free.

CARSON RIVER-- (East, West)-High and muddy, a little over 600 cfs at West Carson. On Saturday a few guys catching fish, but tough. Work the sides and eddies if you want to try it. East Carson is flowing at a very high1550 cfs. A few fish are being caught, but it's tough also. Stay out of the main channels and work eddies and sides. A lot to do with bait control, as there is a lot of food in the water.

DAVIS LAKE-No detailed reports available on Sunday except fishing for boat anglers has been "awesome", and fishing for shore anglers has been only fair, although Tom Lavoti caught a 2 1/2-pound rainbow off Eagle Point using rainbow Power Bait, according to Dollards Sierra Market in Portola.

DONNER LAKE-Slow action here for the rainbow anglers since there's no trout plants, but a few holdover fish available. More anglers are going for the good kokanee action, however, and there's also been some good Mackinaw fishing here. The Mack's are around 50 to 70 feet below the kokanee, which are now reaching 17 inches and fat, according to Bryan Nylund of Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-Nobody is coming back into Wiggin's Trading Post and sharing their success, but it's been good, and there were two truck loads of trout dumped in this past week, also. Boat anglers have been doing better than shore anglers here, and some are doing well dropping a 'crawler to the bottom, picking it up a few cranks and drifting the boat. Level has come up a little after the rains.

GOLD LAKES BASIN-Just opening up here, and the road is now open all the way through from Bassett's Station to Greyeagle. Gold Lake is still 3/4's frozen, which means Sardine and Packer probably are, too, although reports are that many anglers are heading up there now. No detailed reports, but the fishing is usually great at ice out at all the lakes up here.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The full moon put the kibosh on fishing up here this past week, and reports were slim, according to Julie Siebert of Ice House Resort. Trollers were doing better than shore anglers, however. Trout were planted last week.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Fair fishing on Saturday for anglers out of float tubes who can get out in the deeper channel from the launch ramp to the dam, according to Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station. They're using woolly buggers and nymphs, mostly. "One guy caught four fish, the biggest a 4 1/2-pound rainbow. Shore anglers can't get out to the deeper water," he said.

JACKSON MEADOWS-Access here is still limited to snowmobiles only, but fishing has been reported as good, according to Brian Nylund of Mountain Hardware and Sports in Trukee. He said one snowmobiler took the trip and caught 8 very nice-sized trout using 'crawlers where Pass Creek enters the lake.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-A whole lot of people at the lake over the weekend, but not a lot of success. Some rainbows and some bass being caught, but nothing big.

LAKE TAHOE-Good early morning bite starting out at 60 feet and going to 300 - 350 feet. Sling Blades and J Plugs are being used in the morning, and then Kok-a-Nut lures with downriggers later in the day. Tributaries not open for fishing until Memorial Day, but some poachers are working it-call the wardens if you see 'em fishing streams in the Tahoe Basin-they're not open yet!

LOON LAKE-Still closed, but one angler hoofed it to the lake and told Julie Seibert at Ice House Resort that he caught some nice brown trout.

PROSSER LAKE-Fishing is generally slow here for rainbows, since there are no trout being planted, but the smallmouth bass action near the dam and rocky areas has been good for those throwing Panther Martens and other smallie baits. Surprisingly, it's also been slow fishing at the north end where Prosser Creek flows in. Trout anglers do better in the deeper, middle part of the lake.

PYRAMID LAKE-Fishing hasn't been that good this week, as the warmer weather slowed it down and the fish are now deep. Crosby Lodge suggested going south and fishing deep. Shore anglers around the Blockhouse area are sinking lures deep and still "doing okay." No big fish reported.

RED LAKE-No reports from anglers here, although the ice is breaking up rapidly and the lake should be free of ice by this weekend with the warming temperatures.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-Trout plants are still going on here, but most anglers are focusing on the good kokanee fishing, where limits are now common for fish that average 14 inches but go to 16 inches, and they're in great shape. Kokes are 20 to 30 feet down, and Mackinaw are under them, also providing good action. Browns are also being caught around the kokanee, but nearer the points. Launching is improving as the lake level comes up.

TOPAZ LAKE-Linda Fields at Topaz Landing reported that fishing has been good at deeper levels because of warming water, and the full moon has also slowed fishing a bit. Trout are running 14 to 18 inches and some over 2 pounds. Trollers are using flashers and a trailing nightcrawler or a Needlefish, and finding the trout a little deeper than the 12 to 15 fee of before.

TRUCKEE RIVER-Flows are starting to come down after big rains last week, and it's still a little high, but fishable. The General Fishing section from Truckee to Tahoe City is kicking out some nice rainbows and browns, as usual for this time of year. Float a 'crawler or salmon eggs for action. From below Trout Creek and downriver it's barbless only lures and flies. It's been good action. The top hatch has been March browns, and there's a few caddis and bluewing olives on cloudy days, but that's slowing down now. There's always stoneflies, said Brian Nylund of Mountain Hardware and Sports.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-Still not accessible by the top road, but you can get there at the dam. DFG planted rainbows this past week, but no detailed reports on the fishing action.

WEST WALKER RIVER-There's lots of fish in the river but still not many anglers looking for them, and conditions are still a bit messed up. Flows are dropping and things are looking better, should be excellent, with plenty of trout soon.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-High elevation rain last week caused a big run-off and the whole system is blown out with the Forest Service patrolling to prevent anyone getting caught in heavy currents. Play it safe and wait a while before attempting a trip here.

BULLARDS BAR-Lake is 9 feet from full. Fishing has been slow for all species. A group of anglers came up for a private kokanee derby and only 6 fish were caught for 42 trollers. The kokanee were very small, only 8 inches, and caught near the dam.

CAMP FAR WEST-Bass fishing is still wide open for anglers on dart-headed worms in the Bear River arm for fish to 3 pounds. No word on any stripers or catfish recently.

COLLINS LAKE-Trout, trout, and more trout!! Lake will receive a double or triple plant from the DFG this week. Shore anglers are doing better than the trollers with lots of 5- to 6-pound rainbows filling stringers. Big fish for the week was a 7 1/2 pounder caught at the dam on Power Bait. Trollers are doing well under the power lines with Rapalas, Needlefish, and Kastmasters. No big bass reports recently but one angler caught some largemouth to 14 inches that were still full of eggs, so some fish are still in pre-spawn here.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-Lake is high and murky from all the runoff and fishing has slowed way down. A few scattered kokanee are showing for trout trollers using pink/white Needlefish. 10- to 12-inch rainbows are being caught trolling silver/blue Kastmasters from Boston Bar to Buck's Beach. Shore anglers or boaters drifting bait need to keep their bait 8 feet off the bottom to get above the weeds which are growing 6 feet high. Use a small float in addition to the Power Bait to keep the bait up out of the weeds, try a piece of a foam ear plug above the hook.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-Heavy high elevation rains melted the snow and opened the road. Anglers are hitting the lake but there are no reports on the fishing yet. Kokanee and mackinaw should be hitting for trollers.

LAKE OROVILLE-The bass bite is wide open with some anglers reporting 100-fish days. The FLW Stren Series Tournament will be in town all week putting a lot of pressure on the lake. The most sought after bait in town is a smoke/red flake Senko. The better fish being caught are running up to 7 pounds and hitting black buzzbaits and the Senko. Catfish action has kicked in, with houseboaters soaking cut mackerel for fish up to 14 pounds. No word lately on any coho action.

ROLLINS LAKE-Will Fish Tackle reports that trollers are picking up rainbows and browns on pink splatter Rocky Mountain hoochies behind copper/pink Sep's dodgers at 20 feet. Fish are averaging 12 to 14 inches with a few to 16 inches. Some kids were casting Mepp's and Rooster Tail spinners in the Long Ravine marina and catching browns, 15 to 18 inches. Keeper bass are hitting drop-shot green Senkos. It took over 11 pounds to win a recent tournament with a 2 1/2-pound big fish. NID and the Union newspaper are sponsoring a weekly big fish derby at Rollins and Scott's Flat from May 22 to June 19. The weekly angler with the biggest fish will win a season pass to the lake, there is no entry fee.

SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE-Smallmouth bass are on a wide open bite for anglers throwing plastic worms and crawdads in browns and greens. An angler from Reno caught over 30 fish one day last week. Fish are concentrated on the banks with large rock and tree stumps. Lots of catfish are starting to show up for anglers using worms and hot dogs for bait.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-Lake is open but fishing is reported to be slow with no plants from the DFG this year. Limits will be tough to get but the holdover trout will be bigger.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-Trollers are having limited success on trout with dodger/threaded worm combos at 30 feet in 40 to 50 feet of water across from the launch ramp. Limits are hard to come by but the fish are bigger than usual, running 14 to 16 inches. With no plants this year from the DFG, holdover trout are all that's available.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-A drop in the water level pulled the bass off the bank and shut down the hot bite of last week. Water will have to get back up into the tules for the bite to pick back up.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-Shad have arrived in good numbers in the lower end of the river from Grist Mill on down and should be all the way to Sailor Bar within days. Flows have dropped to 3,000 cfs, so fly fishermen should be able to get to them with fast sinking shooting heads. Spin fishermen are swinging curlytail grubs in pink and chartreuse using enough weight to keep the jig close to the bottom, or are dead drifting the jig under a bobber. Stripers remained elusive, however. They are likely in the river, and it should only take the water to warm up a few degrees to turn on the bite.

FEATHER RIVER, Outlet/Low Flow Section-Some salmon are being caught at the Outlet on spinners as part of a Department of Water Resources study of salmon movement habits. This is strictly catch-and-release fishing, and anglers must sign up with on-site. A few steelhead were still being caught in the Low Flow Section, mostly on nightcrawlers, and there were even a few striped bass showing up at the Outlet as a result of the high water enabling them to get past Shanghai Rapids.

FEATHER RIVER, Yuba City-The river went up, way up, early last week due to flows of up to 20,000 cfs in the Yuba River. Flows have dropped and the river is clearing, but fishing in the lower end of the river above the mouth, has slowed considerably since the storm. Some stripers were being caught around Boyd's Pump on bait, including a few weighing up to 20 pounds, but most of the action lately has been on bait. That should change as the river continues to drop and clear. Shad fishing went from pretty good to poor with the high, muddy water.

FOLSOM LAKE-Bass don't seem to have moved away from flooded brush and trees, but anglers have to go much deeper now to get to them as a result of the lake level going up more than 10 feet in a little over a week. More bass are going into their post-spawn feeding mode, and small pond smelt are a favorite target. So, try ripbaits over the flooded vegetation early in the day, then go to slowly worked, Carolina-rigged Robo-Worms in Aaron's Magic and Morning Dawn later on. A few nice landlocked king salmon were caught on the main body on hoochies tipped with a chunk of anchovy behind a dodger. Troll between 30 and 40 feet deep, and don't expect more than a bite or two. But they're nice fish.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-The water is still high and off-color from the last storm, but it is dropping, and anglers have been out in force at various Sacramento locations like Miller Park, I-Street Bridge, Btyte Beach and the mouth of the American River. Fishing for schoolie-sized stripers has been pretty good, but almost all of the action has been on bait like sardines, bloodworms, and pileworms. Shad have pretty much disappeared, drawn up into tributaries, no doubt, by the high flows.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa-The river was clearing and dropping, although still somewhat off-color, and anglers were finding some decent-not great-striper fishing, mostly on minnows. Plastic worms and trolling were also scoring a few. Shad pretty much disappeared in the high flows, but some nice sturgeon found the high, murky conditions to their liking.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-The river blew out for a few days, but is clearing and back in fishable condition. Fishing success has been up and down like the river, but the trout bite should turn on again, with what appears to be some steady, nice weather conditions. Flows are dropping below 7,000 cfs, so boats should be able to get past the Cypress St. Bridge again. But before trying it, make sure to check updated stream flows as they frequently change (530-246-7594). Even then, do not try it unless you a quite experienced boater.
YUBA RIVER- Forget it for a little longer. It's no longer at a near-flood level of 20,000 cfs, which it reached for a short time last week, but it's still high and off-color. When it drops back into shape, it should offer some good trout fishing, even some stripers which managed to get over Shanghai Rapids in the high water.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE- Look for a good week of weather to really kick off the bass bite here this next week. The weather improvement late last week helped the bite with water temperatures edging back up into the upper 60s and with the full moon, a new batch of bass moved into the shallows around the lake. Anglers on the front edge of the bite should start throwing wake baits. Work baits like MS Slammers and AC Plugs during early and late light conditions which offer the prime window. Wake Bait Jr.'s can bring some good action and a good fish to start or end a day.

LAKE BERRYESSA-Kokanee are starting to dive deeper as the weather gets warmer. Try starting out at 35 feet and work your way down 48 or 52 feet deep. A 3/0 Sep's dodger in chrome and gold starlight or a watermelon colored one with Uncle Larry's spinners, Rocky Mountain Tackle spinners, Radical Glow Tubes or gold star hoochies produced fish up to 16 inches. Pro-cure gel on hardware and oils on the corn are a must as the water is a little warmer in the mornings now (63 degrees) and warming to 65 or 66 degrees in the afternoon. Smallmouth bass are already post spawn and the Senko bite has also been hot here.

INDIAN VALLEY RESERVOIR- If you have a small cartop boat or a float tube, you'll find fish, and solitude here as largemouth, smallmouth bass, as well as catfish action is still near the dam.

LAKE PILLSBURY-The trout are in the top 20 feet and hitting on Needlefish, an Apex, Kastmasters and worms. Bass are also in the shallows here.

LAKE SONOMA- A good bass bite was found up in the arms on spooks and Senkos over trees.

UPPER BLUE LAKE-Planted for the first time in months, it didn't take trout anglers long to return. Power Baits, worms, and Kastmasters are good choices here. Three of the largest trout were tagged for the Big Bad 'Bow Challenge. The first tagged fish brought into one of the three participating resorts (Pine Acres, the Le Trianon Resort or the Narrows Resort) will receive the $1000 bounty, the second tag will be rewarded with $500 and the third tagged fish will be worth $250. All you need to do is pay $25 to participate and you can do that at any of the three resorts. If you don't register, you just get the fish.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-Trout will be off pond smelt now and onto blood midges, leeches, and snails in the top 12 feet. They will also continue to be scattered, as they are hunting down the midges and other insects. Try Speedy Shiners or Rapalas in gold, red, and black colors. If you're under clear and bright skies, try a mini-crawler on a No. 8 hook. The east and west shores are still the best areas to target rainbows, brown trout, and salmon.
BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR--No reports that the road to this lake is yet open. Typically one can access Battle Creek Reservoir between the middle of May and Memorial Day.
BAUM LAKE- PMD's, caddis, and callibaetis are on the water, with pheasant tails doing best for nymph fishermen. Lure fishermen still prefer Kastmasters and Panther Martins for best results, while nightcrawlers and Power Bait are the bait fishermen's choice.

BRITTON LAKE-Crappie should be back up with the warmer weather. No current report on how bass fishermen are doing though.

BUCKS LAKE-Now accessible, anglers are targeting the Macks here by working the area near Rainbow Point. A Stingfish from Pro-Troll set at a variety of depths between 25 and 35 feet produced fish to 16 pounds last week.

BURNEY CREEK-Above the falls has been quite productive with lures and nightcrawlers. No report from below the falls.
CASSEL FOREBAY-Fishing in the canal above the Power House remains good. Pressure is still moderate and eggs or worms have been working best. Most fish are in the 1- to 2-pound class with an occasional fish in the 3-plus-pound class. With warmer days this water should only get better. Fly fishing has improved as the days have been warmer and producing more hatches. Nymphing has been the most productive. PMD's, callibaetis, and blue wing olive nymphs all producing. The topwater bite should pick up dramatically in the coming weeks.
FALL RIVER WILD TROUT AREA-Reports indicate fair hatches, but best luck by nymphs, try a wiggle-tail zug.

HAT CREEK WILD TROUT AREA- Hatches have picked up in the "flats." Look for caddis, PMD's, and callibaetis. Best bet for nymphs are hare's ear and birds nest.
UPPER HAT CREEK-- Worms were the preferred bait this past week but salmon eggs and Panther Martins or other flashy spinners still catch fish. With light fishing pressure the fishing should remain good. Water levels are higher due to spring runoff; use more weight as needed to get your presentation deeper as most fish are near the bottom of the water column. Fly fishing on the upper creek is still slow this time of year but nymphs and crystal buggers should still produce. Add weight to get deeper if needed.
IRON CANYON RESERVOIR--Latest report showed fish were biting well but the water was quite low.

LEWISTON LAKE-Fishing before the sun hits the water was key here and the flow is pretty steady which makes trolling great. Trollers and shore limits are being met. Leaches are working well in front of the marina by the island as well as down across from the 10 mph sign. The hot set up right now for the trolling guys is to use a Sep's flasher below a sliding sinker with about 2 feet of leader and a Cripplure or a Red Dog. Wedding rings and Needlefish have also been working quite well.
MANZANITA LAKE- This water is now open and fishable. Not too many reports as yet but nymphing with very small presentations in sizes 18-22 typically induces more strikes. Work the drop offs near weed beds and pebble beaches or inlets. With warmer days, the topwater action could start up at any time. Remember to heed the special fishing restrictions for this lake.
PIT RIVER- Water flows have returned to normal. Try dark lords, prince nymphs, pheasant tails, copper John's, or black AP's in sizes 16 and larger. Caddis and PMD's are showing in the afternoons and early evening.

LAKE SHASTA-The Pitt arm, McCloud and by the dam were good areas to start for trout. From the shallows out to 15 feet is where to look for bass. Throw dart-headed worms or try surface lures to start the day like Pop-R's. Then it's on to jerk baits, rip baits, and crankbaits after that.

LAKE SISKIYOU-Recently planted trout were found trolling a gold colored Sep's dodgers with a worm trailer in an "S" pattern.

WHISKEYTOWN RESERVOIR- The water is still cold here and kokes have not schooled up yet. Last year at this time it was 66 degrees, this year it is still only 56 degrees and there is no plankton in there yet either.