LAKE OROVILLE: Joseph Orozco of Bass Union reported outstanding bass fishing for up to 100 spotted bass per trip with plastics on Bass Union dart-head, 3/16th-ounce Neko Rig, or with Z-Man’s TRD on a 3/16th Bass Union Ned Head at depths around 15 feet are also effective. The bass are aggressive and holding on the grass flats. King salmon remain elusive, and the prospects aren’t encouraging for this season. Loafer Creek is the best launch, but the Spillway is back open with 6 to 7 lanes and plenty of parking. Lime Saddle launch is another option as there is plenty of access on the lake. The lake held at 55 percent.
LAKE SHASTA: The bass bite has been outstanding on top water Spooks and jumbo glidebaits in a trout pattern to 10 inches worked around the trees. Plastics, such a Z-Man’s on a variety of presentations or Senkos are all working along the shoreline. The trout bite remains very good for troller long-lining blue/silver Optimizer Jr’s. at 3.5 mph down to 15 feet in the morning then dropping down to 30 feet by mid-day. The kokanee bite has been mixed with healthy fish but low numbers. The lake held at 40 percent.
TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek: Flows are dropping Sunday on the lower Trinity following rain over the weekend. Fishing conditions are good, and they should continue to improve this week. There are some trout being caught in the Willow Creek area. As of Sunday, flows were 5,100 cfs on the Hoopa gauge.
AMERICAN RIVER/Above Folsom: The flows have risen slightly from 1881 to 1939 cfs at Chili Bar, and the water levels are perfect. Fishing is when anglers walk up or down river from the normal access points. The opening day for bait fishing in the upper American is the Saturday prior to Memorial Day. Until then, catch-and-release artificial-only, barbless hook fishing remains best with small presentations in the clear waters for both fly fishermen and those casting lures.
AMERICAN RIVER/Sacramento: Shad can be caught from Discovery Park to Sailor Bar, further downstream between Miller Regional Park in Sacramento, and near the Freeport Bridge on shad darts tipped with curtail grubs, small brightly colored spoons, and spinners. Striper action has been hit and miss with both down streamers and fresh fish moving through the system. The flows are 1506 cfs at Fair Oaks.
FEATHER RIVER: Stripers remain spread throughout the river, but most are post spawn and fewer fresh fish are moving into the system. G-Ratt Sneaky-Pete glide baits have been most effective as are extra-large minnows on the drift. Shad are in between Verona and Shanghai Bend. Flows at Gridley currently 2,317 cfs.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Keswick Reservoir to Red Bluff: The wild rainbow trout fishing remains very good despite strong winds. Drift boats fishing from below Highway 44 to Red Bluff continue to report fish between 18 to 22 inches. The Fly Shop in Redding reported decent fishing throughout the day with most fish still taken on PMD’s, rubber legs or nymphs under an indicator. The flows below Keswick are steady at 3,350 cfs.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa to Tisdale: Striped bass activity slowed this week, and most fish are post spawn. Some small keepers, shakers, and down streamers. The flows at the Colusa Bridge are steady at 3,977 cfs.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro area: Decent striper numbers continue to move through the metropolitan area, there are few real concentrations of fish. The mouths of the American and the Feather Rivers and the area below the Freeport Bridge have all been holding a mix of stripers and shad, but striper hookups have been hard earned. Anglers fishing the Port of Sacramento continue to see a mix of resident-transient stripers, and shad. Boats trolling the main channel with shad patterns and bank anglers using cut baits are also taking fish. River flow currently 7,938 cfs at Freeport.
The weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state.
Credit: Source link
