Editors note: The North State fishing report will return to its normal scheduled release each Friday beginning next week Feb. 11.
LAKE OROVILLE: Bass fishing is best with plastics on the drop-shot or shakey head along with Bass Union jigs are working at depths from 25 to 40 feet. Slow-dragging the bottom is the best method. King salmon action is limited to the possibility of a fish at best on a hoochies behind a green flasher in the main channel over the trees. The lake rose slightly to 46 percent, and there is floating and submerged debris on the lake. Boaters have to be cautious. Four tournaments are scheduled in February in addition to the American Bass Association tournament on February 12 th and the Wild West Bass Trails two-day event on February 19/20 th . The Lime Saddle Marina ramp is open as is the Bidwell Canyon ramp is on stage 1. Loafer Creek is open on the stage 2 ramp, but the Spillway ramp remains closed for construction.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Chico: The water levels are dropping into shape and conditions continue to improve. Striped bass have been moving into the system, and the action has been pretty good. DFW released a load of salmon smolt near Balls Ferry, and that helped kick off the bite. The nighttime action has been solid for experienced guides using shallow divers, glide baits and 6-inch Bomber swimbaits.
AMERICAN RIVER/Above Folsom: Water levels continue to fluctuate wildly between 200 cfs. and 1450 cfs. creating unfishable conditions.
AMERICAN RIVER/Sacramento: Kiene’s Fly Shop in Sacramento reports that the steelhead are few and far between right now. The water is low and there just haven’t been any fish moving through. 800 downstream steelhead were released from the hatchery, and bank anglers are picking up the downstreamers on nightcrawlers or Little Cleos. Steelhead smolt plants are scheduled on the American River this week. The water levels at Fair Oaks have dropped to 1811 cfs.
FEATHER RIVER: The river levels have settled down, and water flows at Gridley have jumped to 3064 cfs. Steelhead numbers have been low above the Thermalito Afterbay to the hatchery with an occasional fish taken along the apron at the Thermolito Afterbay or with roe or beads under an indicator along the bank, pools, or riffles up to the hatchery. Aaron Searcy at Johnson’s Bait and Tackle in Yuba City reported that there are some resident stripers as well as some fresh fish being taken in the lower Feather, near live oak. He was fishing this past week and landed a couple over ten pounds.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Keswick Reservoir to Red Bluff: The Fly Shop in Redding reports that river flows at Keswick have dropped to 3110 cfs. and the water clarity is good with only a little stain, but the river is fishing has been fair. There are fewer steelhead being taken but their size remains in about the 5-pound range. There are still some good numbers of trout. Bottom bouncing egg sacs has remains the best. Fly fishermen in the drift boats are seeing fair catches using roe or Prince nymphs, rubber legs, and Bird’s Nests under a bobber and are also seeing fish up to 24 inches. Most of the drift boats are fishing the Smith or Trinity rivers. Water flows at Battle Creek good at 321 cfs. Water flow at Bend Bridge down to 4600 cfs.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro area: Dennis Phanner of Sacramento Pro Tackle reported area fishing remains slow. There are some reports of sturgeon starting to trickle in with bites being reported near Tisdale, China Bend, and Knights Landing. Striper action remains slow. Water flows at Freeport continue to fluctuate as much as 1000 cfs. every couple of days. Fishing should pick up once the flows stabilize.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek: The lower Trinity is in good shape, but the water is a little on the clear side. There are some adult steelhead being caught below the South Fork along with plenty of half-pounders. As of Sunday, flows were down to 3,025 cfs on the Hoopa gauge and dropping.
LAKE SHASTA: Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin’s Fishing reported the clearer water is near the dam, and trolling for trout has been off and on from day to day. Bass fishing is up and down with a good reaction bite one day followed by finesse only the following day. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and the Frenzy Baits A-Rig are effective along flat points in 15 ft of water has been the key, the bites have been in 7-10 ft range when you find them. There has also been a bluff wall bite typical of winter. Jigs, and Shakey heads such as the Frenzy Nail and EWG Dart Heads in dark colors have been getting bites. Darker colors have been working best. The key has been to drag the bait slowly with very little shaking or hoping. There has also been a good jig bite with brown or brown/purple TNT Jigs M-80 series in ½- or ¾- oz. from 10 to 35 feet. The fish have been pressured, moving around a lot is key to locating the fish and getting bites.
The weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state.
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