LAKE OROVILLE: Only the Spillway Ramp is open for 4xD vehicles only as Bidwell and Loafer Creek have closed until the lake rises once again. Bass fishing has been excellent with plastics on the dart-head or drop-shot along with jigs at depths from the banks to 40 feet. The pond smelt are moving into shallower water, and the bass are following the baitfish.
LAKE SHASTA: Phil’s tournament number 2 saw 74 boats and decent action with 14 boats weighing in over 10-pounds. Bass Union Team Joe Orozco and Gary Souza took first with a bag of 12.44-pounds while Troy Gray and Chris Ayers were edged out by mere ounces and weighed in with 12.43-pounds for a $1,430 payout. The big fish was taken by Glen Lockart and Joe Hinkle at 4.12-pounds. Top 14 boats received a payout. The lake rose slightly to 32 percent. The public ramps at Centimudi, Jones Valley, and Sugarloaf remain open.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek: Fishing pressure has been light as temperatures remain very cold. Fall regulations for Chinook salmon fishing on the Trinity River run through Dec. 31. The main stem downstream of the State Route 299 Bridge at Cedar Flat to the Denny Road Bridge in Hawkins Bar is closed to all fishing through Dec. 31. Anglers may monitor the quota status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling the information hotline at 800-564-6479. As of Sunday, flows were up to 3661 cfs on the Hoopa gauge, and they are expected to rise significantly with the arrival of Monday’s storm.
AMERICAN RIVER/above Folsom Lake: The National Forests are open once again, but there are still several areas closed due to restoration from last summer’s Mosquito Fire. The flows dropped from1998 to 1008 cfs at Chili Bar, and the river is off-colored and muddy from the runoff from the fire-damaged areas. The river is catch-and-release barbless hooks with no bait until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 2023.
AMERICAN RIVER/Sacramento: Kiene’s Fly Shop in Sacramento reported scattered steelhead moving upriver into the closed section with some very nice fish showing at the hatchery. Action has been slow but recent rains should bring in some fresh fish. Small caddis, nymphs and egg patterns have been top patterns. Flows at Fair Oaks holding at 1,450 cfs. The upper section of the river from the U.S. Geological Survey gauging station cable crossing about 300 yards downstream from the Nimbus Hatchery fish rack site to the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park closed at the end of October. This section of the river will open to steelhead fishing on January 1.
FEATHER RIVER: Steelhead in the upper low flow section but numbers low. Flows at Gridley down from 1,349 to 817 cfs. Salmon fishing below the Thermalito is now closed from the unimproved boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall to 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp. This section of the river will open to steelhead fishing on January 1.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Keswick Reservoir to Red Bluff: The Fly Shop in Redding reported decent action with nice bows still taken on Baetis Nymphs, and rubber legs from the Posse Grounds down through Redding. Conditions good with clear low water. Jeff Goodwin reported very good native trout action with improving steelhead numbers. Flows holding at 2,923 cfs. The river closed for salmon on December 16 before reopening on July 16, 2023.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa to Tisdale: Very slow with poor water conditions. River flow at Colusa Bridge 3,940 cfs. The river closed for salmon on December 16 before reopening on July 16, 2023.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro area: Very slow for salmon with poor water conditions. The water is off-color from the recent run off. There should be salmon coming through with the big tides this week. The river closed for salmon on December 16 before reopening on July 16, 2023.
The weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state.
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