|
Coastal Mountains
LAKE SONOMA LANDLOCKED STEELHEAD/RUSSIAN RIVER SMALLMOUTHS
(Cloverdale) If you want to hook quality landlocked steelhead, now’s the time to hit Lake Sonoma. Although most of the fish go 15 to 16 inches long, larger fish up to nearly 8 pounds are hitting.
For example, Tom and John Hill of Novato had a great day of trout fishing with Rich Crispi of TW Guide Service at Lake Sonoma on Tuesday, August 24 when they landed 6 landlocked steelhead, topped by a 7 lb. 10 oz. beauty measuring 25 inches long.
“We picked up the fish while trolling from 40 to 50 feet deep in the middle of the lake in front of the dam,” said Crispi. “The big fish hit a nightcrawler behind a Sep’s dodger, while the other fish fell for silver Kastmaster and silver Cyclops lures.”
On his previous trip, Crispi ended up with 3 steelhead to 3 pounds and a 2-1/2 lb smallmouth bass. “We’re catching an average of 1 to 3 big fish per trip, while the rest are 15 to 16 inches,” he added.
“The bass fishing at Sonoma is been hit and miss,” said Joshua Tatum at Outdoor Pro Shop. “One day a guy will hook 8 to 10 fish on rip baits and the following day nothing. The largemouth range from 2-1/2 to 7 pounds.”
The Russian River is producing lots of smallies in the Alexander Valley. “I’m using olive Wooly Bugger and yellow white micro poppers yfrom 6 to 9 pm,” said Tatum. “Most of the fish are 8 to 12 inches, but I caught and released a 20 incher and my buddy nailed a 22 inch smallmouth last week.”
 Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
North Coast
KLAMATH RIVER CHINOOKS
(Klamath) An influx of cold water from the Trinity River has cooled the water on the lower Klamath, spurring good numbers of adult chinook salmon to move upriver.
“Fishing is pretty good,” said Dave Castellanos of Cast Guide Service. “We caught limits two days this week, although we didn’t get any fish the third day. We caught salmon to 17 pounds while boondoggling roe, as well as trolling in the estuary.”
Steve Huber of Steve Huber’s Guide Service reported an average of 7 salmon per trip, a mixture of adults and jacks, with an occasional slower day mixed in.
“The two anglers fishing with me on Saturday, August 29, caught two adults weighing 13 and 12 pounds and one jack,” said Huber. “On Friday, my two anglers landed 4 adults to 12 pounds and 3 jacks.”
Huber hasn’t boated a steelhead for a week. “The salmon pushed real hard upriver with the cooler water and filled up the holes,” he noted.
Tom Holson caught the big fish of the week, an 18 lb. chinook, while fishing with Huber.
“Fishing continues to be decent with a lot of fish coming from the mouth, depending on the tides, and the holes from Klamath Glen to Blue Creek,” said Dave Mierkey of Rip Their Lips Off Guide Service. “We are hooking both steelhead and salmon with sea lice and full of fight.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Oregon
ROGUE ESTUARY SALMON
(Gold Beach) King salmon reward bay anglers, while steelhead action begins to heat up in Rogue. Steelheading remains slow on the Umpqua, but smallmouth action remains consistent.
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Rogue estuary is full of chinook and a handful of coho. Catching these chinook has been a little tougher with the warmer water in the bay, but anglers are consistently catching chinook around the top of tide and as the tide is going out. Anglers are reminded that temporary regulations are in effect.
Summer steelhead and half pounders are scattered throughout the Lower Rogue. Early on some of the best fishing will be around the Agness area. With warmer water temperatures anglers will want to be on the water at first light or last. Fly fishing or tossing small spinners work equally well.
On the middle Rogue, chinook fishing has been slow. Steelhead fishing has begun to pick up. Fishing is best in mornings and evenings with fish being caught on worms, spinners, and flies. The flow at Grants Pass prior to press time was 1,780 cubic feet per second and the water temperature was 61 degrees.
Summer steelhead have begun to show up in the Upper Rogue. Pressure has been light but anglers have been catching steelhead on yarn or worms with corkies; spinners are also working. Fishing has been best in mornings and evenings. The river upstream of Dodge Bridge is closed to chinook angling. Between Gold Ray and Dodge Bridge, chinook fishing has been slow.
Due to the warm water, the steelhead bite has been slow the Umpqua’s mainstem. Anglers will want to fish during the coolest part of the day.
Over 12,700 spring chinook and 2,500 summer steelhead have crossed Winchester Dam. Due to production problems in 2007, the hatchery steelhead numbers are lower than normal. Fishing in the Rock Creek area for chinook is closed.
Summer steelhead angling is slow. Remember that only adipose fin-clipped steelhead can be harvested on the North Umpqua. The North is open to catch-and-release trout fishing from the mouth upstream to Soda Springs Dam.
With warm conditions, smallmouth bass fishing is now the best bet for anglers visiting the Umpqua.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS
SHASTA LAKE SPOTTED KING SALMON/RAINBOW TROUT
(Redding) Anglers visiting Lake Shasta have plenty of options to choose from. The lake’s rainbows and kings are biting the best, but anglers that choose to target bass are catching plenty of fish also.
Trollers are hooking both rainbows and kings, according to Gary Miralles of Shasta Tackle Company. Dry Creek, the dam, Digger Bay and Toupee Island are the hottest spots although there are fish scattered all over the main body and in deep coves.
For rainbows, Miralles recommends trolling from 50 to 100 feet deep with UV Hum Dingers and Cripplures behind UV Sling Blades. For kings, he advised anglers to troll as deep as 150 feet deep with UV Sling Blades trailed by UV Hoochies or UV Wiggle Hoochies. Many of the kings holding in deeper water run 4 to 5 pounds.
“The salmon bite is red hot at Shasta and we expect it to continue through the fall,” reported Bill Divens of Salmon King Lodge. “We are hooking 20 to 30 fish each trip. Most salmon are in the 14 to 22 inch range with the bigger kings pushing 4 pounds. Fishing is good for landlocked kings on the bite at 70 to 105 feet. The salmon are hitting on Seps watermelon and UV fruit salad dodgers followed by bait. Trout are hitting Seps Pro Spoons behind 4/0 UV Blueberry dodgers.”
Tony Messer at Phil’s Propellers describes the Shasta bass bite as “fair.” According to Messer, to catch bass during the middle of the day, you can’t beat drop shotting worms 30 to 40 feet beneath the surface.
As of press time, Lake Shasta was 110 feet from maximum pool.
Mike Elster of Mike Elster’s Guide Service reported productive kokanee fishing at Whiskeytown Reservoir. For the best results, Mike recommends fishing early in the morning. Apex Lures, hoochies and Wiggle Hoochies trolled behind UV Sling Blades have been fooling the ‘kokes.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Monterey Bay
CARMEL/SANTA CRUZ ROCKISH
(Monterey) Charter boaters fishing off the Monterey Coast are nailing limits of colorful rockfish on the calm days and near-limits when the wind and swell comes up.
“It was a tough weekend for fishing off Monterey on August 29 and 30,” said Todd Arcoleo of Chris’ Fishing Trips. “The weather was sloppy, with rock and roll conditions. The anglers who fished caught limits, but a number of anglers were sea-sick.”
Passengers aboard the Star of Monterey, Caroline and Checkmate averaged 7 to 8 fish per rod over the weekend while fishing shrimp flies, bars and jigs off Carmel. Arcoleo expects the action to rebound with the arrival of calmer weather.
“Our one albacore trip to date this season yielded 5 longfins for 12 anglers – the weather was rough that day,” said Arcoleo. “We have live bait set up, so we’re looking forward to fishing for the tuna as soon as we get some decent weather.”
“Anglers aboard the Chubasco caught near limits of rockfish in the local reefs over the weekend,” confirmed Chrissie Chonacki of Randy’s Fishing Trips. “The fishermen caught mixed bags of yellowtail. Blue and yellowtail rockfish.”
The fishing for rockfish was good in the relatively protected waters at the Mile Buoy, Natural Bridges, and 4 Mile Beach off Santa Cruz on August 30. “ The wind was blowing near Franklin Point, making things hard on anglers who ran that way,” said Todd Fraser of Bayside Marine in Santa Cruz. “The halibut are still being caught on the north coast when the swells and wind allow.”
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Northeast California
PIT RIVER TROUT/LAKE BRITTON SMALLMOUTH BASS
(Burney) The Pit #5 Powerhouse reach of the Pit River is a prime spot to catch big, healthy rainbows with flies, lures and bait.
“Fly fishermen are using prince nymph and rubberlegs patterns for rainbows in the 10 to 17 inch range,” said Steve Vaughn at Vaughn’s Sporting Goods. “Bait anglers are also catching fish on nightcrawlers, while lure tossers are using Panther Martin and Roostertail spinners.”
The Cassel area and Baum Lake continue to kick out rainbows and a few browns, mostly planters with some holdovers mixed in. Most fish go 8 to 14 inches long, along with an occasional big fish to 20 inches.
“Spin fishermen are using nightcrawlers, crickets, Panther Martins and Roostertails,” tipped Vaughn. “The best flies there are small callibaetis and midge patterns.”
Upper Hat Creek is producing rainbows from 8 to 12 inches long, spiced up by some brown and brook trout. Fishermen are throwing out an array of bait, spinners and flies in the Old Station area. Trout fishing remains slow for fly fishing enthusiasts on the wild trout section of Hat Creek.
Fall River is a good bet for fly fishermen wanting to hook some gorgeously colored rainbows ranging from 10 to 20 inches. “Wet flies including Zug Bugs, Copper Johns and pheasant tail nymphs are working best,” he noted.
The smallmouth bass action continues to be decent at Lake Britton, while the crappie fishing is tough. Toss out buzzbaits and top water lures for the 10 to 15 inch smallmouths early and late in the day. Then fish with plastic worms and jigs during the heat of the day.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Northern Sierra Nevada
EAGLE LAKE RAINBOWS
(Spalding) Eagle Lake’s acrobatic rainbow trout are now holding over deep water in the lake’s southern basin. The trout are feeding heavily on minnows. Despite the excellent fishing that is on tap, crowds continue to be light.
“Although the trout will feed all day long, the best bite is still taking place early in the morning,” reported Tim Noxon of Fish Traveler Guide Service. “We are dropping out lines in the water at 5:30 in the morning and generally begin hooking fish right away.”
Before the sun hits the water Noxon is working the top 30 feet of the water column. Once the sun hits the water the most consistent action takes place from 12 to 30 feet deep.
“The best trolling baits are minnow imitations such as Sep’s Grubs in watermelon, brown or amber, Needlefish in red or orange, trolling flies and when all else fails, night crawlers,” tipped Noxon.
According to Noxon, the best areas for trolling is Miner’s Bay on the east side and the stretch from Shrimp Island to Wildcat Point on the west side.
Tom Muller of Eagle Lake Charters has also been enjoying very good fishing “The fishing is very good and there are very few anglers out on the water,” said Muller. “I’ve been getting limits of trout in the 2.5 to 3 pound range while trolling near the surface over 50 to 60 feet of water. I’ve been using Uncle Larry’s Spinners tipped with worms and Berkley plastic minnow bait.”
Gwen Beck of the Eagle Lake RV Park related that her husband, owner of Flying Eagle Guide Service, has been taking limits just about every morning while fishing worms dipped into Eagle Claw garlic flavor trout gravy, 25 feet below slip bobbers. He is hitting the stretch between Miner’s Bay and the Eagle’s Nest for his fish.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Sacramento Valley
COLUSA/KNIGHTS LANDING STRIPERS
(Oroville) (Yuba City) The striped bass action is perking up, as evidenced by the latest trip to the Sacramento River by Bob Boucke, owner of Johnson’s Bait and Tackle, and Scott Feist of Feisty Fish Guide Service.
The piscatorial duo landed three fish weighing 6, 15 and 25 pounds while drifting jumbo minnows in the Grimes area. The fly fishing is also expected to pick up as it did last year at this time.
“The largest concentration of stripers is in the stretch from Meridian to Knights Landing, though fish can be found throughout the system,” reported Rob Reimers at Johnson’s Bait and Tackle.
“A few keeper stripers are being caught by anglers tossing out black plastic worms, flukes and poppers early and late in the day in the Colusa area,” divulged Garrett Charter at Kittle’s Outdoors in Colusa. “However, we haven’t heard of any really big fish since the 55 pound striper was taken earlier this summer.”
Expect the steelhead fishing to pick up in the coming weeks as the fish move upstream on their annual spawning journey. Fish salmon roe, nightcrawlers and plugs for fish ranging from 2 to 8 pounds.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
San Joaquin Valley/Mother Lode
NEW MELONES CHANNEL CATFISH/TROUT
(Angels Camp) The previously hot kokanee bite has shut off at New Melones, so anglers are now focusing on night fishing for catfish and trout.
“Catfish offer the strongest bite at the lake,” said Melanie Lewis at Glory Hole Sports. “The Glory Hole Point is offering the top action, but any where with rip rap and gravel should be good for catfish. Mackerel, sardines and anchovies are the best baits.”
Jack Porovich topped the catches with three channel cats to 12-1/2 pounds that he landed while fishing anchovies from the bank at Glory Hole Point. Steve Lawrence of Rio Linda also bagged an 8 lb. 9 oz. cat while soaking a nightcrawler.
“Night fishing under lights is your best bet for catching trout,” said Lewis. “Boaters still-fishing with crawlers and Power Bait by the dam are bagging rainbows in the 1 to 3 pound range. George Clark nailed two trout to 2 pounds, 11 ounces while fishing a nightcrawler by the spillway.”
If you want to catch kokanee, you need to fish deep at 100 to 110 feet and not be afraid to bounce the bottom, according to Lewis. Anglers are nailing 1 to 1-1/2 pound kokes while trolling blue hoochies, spinners and bugs, tipped with corn, behind dodgers at the dam.
Bryce Korflinger of Mountain Ranch nailed a 1-1/2 lb. kokanee while trolling with his dad, Glenn, on Saturday, August 29. Big bass honors go to Hung Ho, who landed 4 lb. largemouth on August 28.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Central Sierra Nevada
CAPLES LAKE RAINBOWS/BROOKIES/BROWNS
(Kirkwood) Trout fishing remains very good at Caples Lake, regardless of whether you troll, fly fish or dunk bait.
Gary Barlali topped the catches on Saturday, August 29 when he nailed an 11 lb. rainbow, reported Chris Bugely at the Caples Lake Resort. He enticed the fish with a trolled Rapala.
“The fly fishing is excellent in Emigrant Cove,” stated Bugely. “Anglers are nailing rainbows ranging from 1 to 9 pounds while using Wooly Buggers and an array of dry flies.”
Bait fishermen are also nailing their share of rainbows, with a few brook and brown trout mixed in. Fish Power Bait, Power Eggs, nightcrawlers and Pautzke salmon eggs for maximum success.
“Trout fishing on the East Carson River is great,” divulged Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort. “Anglers fishing over the weekend of August 29-30 caught lots of fish in the 3 to 4 pound range while using spinners, bait and flies.”
For example, Ron Byes weighed in a stringer of rainbows averaging 3-1/2 pounds each while casting Panther Martins on the West Fork on August 29.
For brook trout, Machado suggested fishing Panther Martins and nightcrawlers on Red Lake. The fish range from 10 to 16 inches.
“Trollers fishing crawlers behind flashers and dodgers are nailing good numbers of rainbows at Silver Lake,” Machado added.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Southern Sierra Nevada
LOWER OWENS RAINBOWS & BROWNS/SILVER & GULL LAKE TROUT
Anglers visiting the Eastern Sierra will find plentiful trout and nice comfortable daytime temperatures. The unseasonably cool temperatures have created a minor stumbling block on some waters, but any angler with a bit of determination should do quite well.
(June Lake) According to the staff at Ernie’s Sporting Goods, Silver Lake and Gull Lake have both been kicking out a lot of fish. Shore anglers are using Power Bait, worms and Pautzke Salmon eggs. Lure tossers are scoring with Thomas Buoyants and Tasmanian Devils. Fly guys are working 10 feet deep with various midges and by fly nymphs.
At Grant Lake, brown trout are available, but not many anglers are talking. Conventional tackle anglers will want to employ 3 to 5 inch minnow plugs, while stripping large streamers offers the best chance of success for fly anglers.
June Lake is providing red-hot action, but the trout bite has been steady. Bait fishing is the best method and Power Bait has been the best offering.
(Bishop) Fishing in the Owens River Gorge and on the Lower Owens has been good, but recent ups and downs in temperature have made the trout fishing more difficult than it normally would be.
“Fishing a dropper and dry fly is the best choice in the Owens River Gorge,” reported Eric Hein of the Trout Fly. “One of the best things about the Gorge is how simplistic the fly fishing can be. A size 14 dry teamed with a trailing No. 16 to 18 nymph is all you need to catch trout. There have been some snakes showing in the Gorge, so use caution.”
The Lower Owens is kicking out trout for fly anglers tossing midges, tricos and down wing spinner patterns in the morning. In the afternoon the bite changes with PMDs, caddis imitations and small stonefly imitations becoming the most productive offerings.
(Bridgeport) “The East Walker River is flowing at around 165 and with the cooler weather we’ve had the past few days the fishing has been great,” reported Jim Reid at Ken’s Sporting Goods. Fish are liking PMD's and tricos in the mornings, small midges and caddis nymphs throughout the day, and dry caddis and attractors in the evenings. Still lots of reports on 20 plus trout days coming out of there.”
“Bridgeport has been a little tough lately though we have had some good reports from both trolling and bait anglers. Trolling with lead-core and Needlefish or Rapalas has been going well, and bait fishing with Gulp! eggs and crawlers in the Buckeye Bay area has been good,” said Reid.
“The Virginia Lakes are doing well lately, bait, lures and flies are all producing well. Gulp! eggs, Power Bait, crawlers, Panther Martins, Kastmasters, matukas, beetles and small buggers are all producing lots of fish up there,” added Reid.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Nevada
WILDHORSE TROUT/WIPERS
(Elko) The cooling weather at Wildhorse Reservoir has resulted in an excellent trout bite. Shore anglers and boaters are nailing cuttbows and rainbows averaging 3 pounds and going up to 5 pounds, reported Dennis Dunn at the Wildhorse Resort.
“Trolling is best in the canyon at 8 to 15 feet deep,” said Dunn. “Boaters are using spinners and nightcrawlers behind flashers and dodgers. Bank anglers are also nailing some trout while using Power Bait and nightcrawlers off the rocky faces near the dam.”
Wipers are scattered in schools throughout the lake. “Trout anglers are hooking them while using nightcrawlers,” said Dunn. “To target them, use crankbaits, jigs, plastic worms and the same lures you use for bass.”
While most wipers are under the 15 inch minimum size limit, anglers have nailed wipers to 7-1/2 pounds lately.
The yellow perch are good-sized, but don’t expect to hook big numbers of them, according to Dunn. For the best action, use small jigs, worms or a combination of the two in the Warm Springs area.
The lake level is approximately 10 feet from full.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
San Francisco Bay & Ocean
CENTRAL BAY HALIBUT
(San Rafael) Halibut fishing slowed down on San Francisco Bay over the past several weeks as the summer nears its end. Nonetheless, anglers caught some hefty halibut while drifting live bait.
“The fishing has been abysmally slow,” quipped Gordon Hough, captain of the Morning Star. “However, the good news is the quality of the fish, averaging 8 to 12 pounds. We’re catching the majority of fish in the deep water at Alcatraz, Treasure Island, Angel Island and Raccoon Strait.”
A trip by the Morning Star on Tuesday, August 25 yielded 10 halibut for 19 anglers, while Thursday’s trip produced 10 halibut and 3 striped bass for 20 passengers. Friday’s venture produced 6 halibut for 16 anglers, Saturday’s trip yielded 8 halibut for 20 people and Sunday’s angling adventure produced 10 halibut for 15 passengers.
Big fish honors go to Gary Savinsky, who nailed a 16-1/2 lb. halibut at Alcatraz.
The Bass Tub, out of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, checked in with 4 halibut and one leopard shark for 15 anglers on Saturday, August 29. Richard Rivera won the jackpot with a 34 lb. halibut. “The rest of the halibut ranging from 10 to 15 pounds, while the shark weighed about 20 pounds,” reported Captain Erik Anfinson.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
Delta Reports
East Delta
(Stockton) Both striper and black bass fishing are solid options for East Delta anglers. For the average angler, the stripers are the best target since they are aggressive. Catching black bass is a bit more challenging due to fluctuating water temperatures.
“There are a lot of striped bass moving into the East Delta,” reported Randy Pringle of The Fishing Instructor Guide Service. “Most of the stripers are running 3 to 8 pounds and they are hitting a variety of different baits. Hopkins Spoons have been pretty deadly, as have the Optimum Double Diamond and the Berkley Hollow Belly. I’m rigging both of these plastic swimbaits on 1/2 ounce Persuader heads. When the water is calm, I lean toward the Hollow Belly. If there is breeze the Double Diamond works the best.”
“There are plenty of black bass of all sizes available at this time, but a lot of anglers are struggling when it comes to hooking them. It’s summer and we all want to fish reaction baits, but that isn’t the pattern right now. The temperature has been up and down all over the map. This is making for lethargic unhappy bass. To catch them you’ve got to slow down,” tipped Pringle.
“Two of the most effective baits have been Berkley Chigger Craws and Persuader E-Chip Jigs. Berkley Hand Poured Worms whacky rigged on Zappu Heads are also working well. I’m fishing all these baits in water that is 5 to 10 feet deep. Fish holding in deep water are less affected by temperature changes and are more willing to strike,” said Pringle.
When water temperatures peak in the afternoon, Pringle has been tempting a few fish on Persuader spinnerbaits, Strike King crankbaits and the Persuader Pop ‘N’ Walker topwater plug.
Rio Vista
(Rio Vista) The fall striper run is off to a good start in the Rio Vista area. Most of the bass being caught these days run 3 to 8 pounds and there are lots of them.
“We are starting to see big numbers of stripers,” reported Jason Shepard at Rio Vista Bait. “Bait anglers are using shad, pile worms and anchovies, while trollers are using shallow runners. Some of the guys I’ve talked to are catching up to 20 bass per day.”
“I haven’t had any reports from successful sturgeon anglers recently, but I don’t think there are many guys trying for them. We are still seeing a lot of cats being landed by guys fishing the sloughs,” said Shepard.
“The striper action has improved,” disclosed Audie Urbano at Hap’s Bait. “Six stripers have been brought into our shop and we’ve heard about lots of other fish being hooked. Trollers are doing well and so are bait anglers fishing with shad.”
Rene Villanueva of Steelie Dan’s Guide Service recently took a trip in the Rio Vista area and did well while trolling deep running Yo-Zuri’s off the west bank.
“The stripers are starting to move in, but to get big numbers of fish you still have to work hard,” related Villanueva.
Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
West Delta
(Pittsburg) West Delta striper fishing is going well for both bait anglers and trollers on days when the wind isn’t blowing hard. Strong winds prevent bait anglers from fishing open water effectively and the wind also muddies the water, hurting the trolling bite.
“The striper fishing is good and it’s going to get a whole lot better once fall arrives,” reported Captain Barry Canevaro of the Fish Hookers Sportfishing. “Guys fishing bait are doing well out at the Middle Grounds when the wind isn’t blowing. Most guys are using sardines and frozen shad at this time, although bullheads are probably the best bait if you can get your hands on them. Bullheads have been difficult to find. If you do get some bullheads, try fishing them in shallow water for the best results.”
“Trollers are out in force and doing well. Once again the best fishing is taking place on days when the winds back off. We haven’t been seeing any really large fish. Most of the bass average 5 to 7 pounds, but we’ve seen a few fish that range up to 12 pounds,” said Canevaro.
According to Canevaro, reports of anglers catching sturgeon have been few and far between. Overall the sturgeon bite seems to be slow, but this could simply stem from the fact that few anglers are targeting them as a result of the solid striper fishing that is on tap.
 Back to "Hot-Bites" Report Index
|
