The Clear Lake Bassmasters held their annual open tournament on October 9, the event drew 49 boats, and the winning weight was 27 pounds taken by John Brossard Owner of Northlake Ford. "We had a great turnout and were pleased with the results of the event," said Higgins. "The bite has been pretty consistent over the past few weeks, and this event was no different."

The majority of anglers stated that deep diving Norman DD14's or DD 22's were the ticket around deep rockpiles. Higgins also suggested that chrome and blue Rat L traps and brown and purple jigs were the rage. The bass have been hanging in the 6 to 18 foot range.

The bluegill bite has awakened of late and Higgins reported that many anglers are experiencing success for the panfish around docks with mini crawlers or mealworms. Crappie are still being taken, but they appear to be going deeper and are striking mini jigs.

The 23 anglers aboard the Trek II nailed limits of black, blue and red rockfish while fishing with Thornton on Saturday, October 16. They fished shrimp fly teasers and 6 ounce hex bars in 80 feet of water off Hardy Creek.

The 18 anglers nailed near-limits of rockfish on October 17 while fishing the same area. "We also landed six keeper lingcod," said Thornton. Anchor Charters will be available for crab fishing adventures when the season opens on Saturday, November 27.

"The salmon season is open through November 13 and we might give it a try before the season closes," added Thornton. "The water and bait conditions looked very good for salmon on our rockcod trip yesterday and we've released some salmon on bottomfish trips this week."

Randy Thornton of Telstar Charters has also experienced great rockcod action on his latest fishing adventures. The Telstar ended up with limits of big blues after fishing right next to the buoy on Saturday. "They landed limits in only two hours," said Thornton.

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"The river has been a bit mossy the past few weeks, but now the moss is beginning to dissipate and were having a blast with this incredible run of coho salmon moving through the system," reported Mike Hoefer of Rogue Sportfishing. "The only down side to the good run is that the majority of fish in the river are native fish that have to be released."

According to Hoefer, this current year's run of fall chinook are showing up later than normal. "Were hoping that a few good downpours will bring in some fresh fish to target," he explained.

Once the rain does start, Hoefer expects the fish to make a fast journey up the Rogue River. "Once the fish start pushing up with the rain, most of the local guides will bounce back and forth from the Rogue to the Chetco and Elk/Sixes rivers," he noted.

During his most recent trip on the Rogue, Hoefer and his clients boated one chinook salmon, 3 hatchery coho salmon and also released an additional 7 wild fish. "We fished a five mile stretch of river from Lobster Creek to Quosatana Creek," remarked Hoefer.

Mike caught the chinook trolling cut-plug herring, while the coho bit G-Spot spinners and anchovies.

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"The fall steelhead are starting to arrive in the Junction City area. We are averaging 2-3 fish a day in the 5 to 7 pound range," indicated Scott Stratton of Trinity River Adventures. "Most of the fish we're catching are hitting egg pattern flies, but October caddis nymphs and pheasant tails are also producing fish."

Along with the feisty steelhead, Stratton is also landing fall chinook, also on egg pattern flies. "The river still has a lot of fresh fall salmon coming through the system, while the spring run are either on beds or spawned out," he added. Stratton has experienced the best salmon fishing below Douglas City.

On a recent drift down the Trinity River, guide Steve Huber of Steve Huber's Drift Boat Guide Service and a client were off the water with a limit of salmon by 8:00 a,m.

"We pulled out two salmon and a 7 pound wild steelhead from the first hole we fished," remarked Huber. "The big salmon of the day weighed 19 pounds. Most of the steelhead we're catching now are in the 5 to 8 pound range."

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Anglers fishing out of Chris' Fishing Trips hauled in easy limits of assorted yellowtail and red rockfish during recent light tackle trips south of the harbor towards Point Sur in 100 feet of water. "Everyday this week has produced a boat limit of assorted rockfish and a few keeper lingcod per boat," noted Todd Arcoleo. Anglers are catching the school fish using shrimp flies, rubber Fish Traps and swim baits.

"We'll be offering dab/sandcrab combos aboard the Checkmate and Caroline around mid-November," he added.

"The rockcod are still on a great bite, with every trip producing limits of beautiful rockfish and 2-3 keeper lingcod as well," remarked Pete Bruno at Randy's Fishing Trips. "The lingcod we're keeping range from 12 to 20 pounds."

According to Bruno, the fleet is fishing outside of Carmel Bay and from the Highlands to Point Sur. "Mega Baits have been very effective for the bottomfish, but a few anglers continue to do well with squid and shrimp fly rigs," he offered.

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At Baum Lake, fishing remains good in the mornings and evenings. There are good hatches of PMD's and caddis flies for the dry fly enthusiasts, according to Vaughn. Nymph fishermen are doing well with pheasant tails with a flash back and copper johns. Wooly buggers along the weed beds are also picking up fish."

"Panther Martins are doing well, but don't hesitate to try a Kastmaster," said Vaughn. "Bait fishermen using crawlers and/or Power Bait are also nailing trout."

In the Hat Creek Wild Trout area, fly fishermen can still find fishable hatches of PMD's and tricos in the mornings below the riffle. "Nymph fishermen are taking fish using caddis emergers, pheasant tails and copper johns," advised Vaughn. "Evening fishermen are using rusty spinners and caddis patterns."

Upper Hat Creek is yielding good numbers of rainbows for bait fishermen drifting grasshoppers and small crawlers. Lure fishermen casting Rooster tails are also pulling out trout, according to Vaughn.

Rainbow trout fishing in the Pit River Wild Trout Area is a solid prospect for fly fishers using gold-ribbed hare's ear nymphs and black AP's. Anglers are also experiencing some action on dry caddis flies, even with no visible hatch coming off.

The Fall River Wild Trout Stream is seeing a PMD hatch on the upper river in the mornings. "Otherwise, stick with the usual nymphs, pheasant tails and wooly buggers," added Vaughn.

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"Trout fishing is very good right now, with anglers bringing in a lot of big fish caught at Davis Lake," reported Tammy Milby of Gold Rush Sporting Goods. "This week there we haven't seen any trout under 4 pounds weighed in. All of the fish are fat and healthy from foraging heavily throughout the summer months."

According to Milby, anglers are catching limits of rainbows while fishing a threaded night crawler or rainbow glitter Power Bait on a sliding sinker rig in Mallards Cove. "Use an 18 inch leader in deep water for the best success," she tipped. Anglers are also doing well casting cinnamon or olive Wooly Buggers.

Though most of the better trout fishing is from shore at Lake Davis, a few trollers are picking up fish in Catfish Cove on threaded worms fish on downriggers.

Over at Frenchman Lake, anglers are catching limits of rainbows both from shore and boat. "Some nice stringers of trout have been pulled from Frenchman over the last few weeks and the beautiful fall days make catching fish that more pleasurable," said Shirley Wiggin from Wiggin's Trading Post.

The top baits being used to attract fish from shore include worms, Power Bait and small lures. "The trout are coming up to the surface to feed and anglers are getting the fish to bite small Kastmasters and red little Dick Nite lures," she added.

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"There is a great salmon bite yielding kings running 15 to 25 pounds, with a lot of jack salmon showing as well," revealed Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing. "The bite is productive all day long, from the early morning using plugs to the afternoon bouncing roe."

According to Portocarrero, the recent shift in weather conditions has had no impact on the bite. "We expect to see more larger and brighter fish coming up-river from November into December."

Anglers fishing with Bill Divens out of the Salmon King Lodge in Red Bluff have experienced excellent fishing while focusing their efforts north of Bend Bridge on the Sacramento River. "It's been limits everyday of 10-20 pound kings," he noted. "Were catching them drifting roe and pulling T-50 Flatfish," added Divens.

Fishing Guide Mike Bogue rated the salmon fishing at Balls Ferry on the Sacramento River as "excellent", with reports of limits everyday over the past two weeks. "The fish are mainly biting roe now, but were getting them on T055 Flatfish too," explained Bogue. Mike is also fishing a corky to keep the bait from snagging bottom.

"Limits, Limits, Limits," exclaimed Jan Elmore at Hidden Harbor Marina & RV Park. "They're catching fish down south near Redamonti and up-north towards The Wall and Coyote. The fish are hitting both roe and Kwikfish."

"We have a small window of opportunity open for a grand slam fishing trip consisting of salmon, trout and steelhead," offered fishing guide Hank Mautz. For example, on his most recent trip on the Sacramento, Mautz put his two clients into 4 quality salmon (limits), a 4 pound steelhead and two dozen rainbows.

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"The water temperature is now 63 degrees and should go down to 59 degrees after today's storm moves through the region," said Barry Canevaro of the Fish Hookers Sportfishing. "We're bait fishing for stripers at the Middle Grounds and in Montezuma Slough."

Saturday's trip by the Fish 'N' Fool IV returned with 8 stripers to 11 pounds for 4 anglers. "We caught all of the fish on shad," noted Canevaro. Small chrome and blue lures are attracting quality striped bass over 10 pounds on the Sacramento side of the Delta, according to Bobby Barrack of Back To Class Guide Service.

"When the sun's out, use chrome/blue or chrome/black Rat-L-Traps to bring in the bass," tipped Barrack. "If there are low light conditions, you'll experience better results using chartreuse lures. Fishing White shim jigs 1 to 2 feet off the bottom is also a deadly technique to use."

According to Barrack, fishing with top water plugs is "iffy", though you'll most likely catch a big fish.

"The black bass bite is a bit sporadic, but cranking or blading in 6 to 10 feet of water can be productive," said Barrack. "Try fishing crawdad pattern crank baits or shad pattern spinner baits for the best success. Also, fish crawdad imitation plastics along the bottom or in weeds."

Fishing guide Don Paganelli of Paganelli's Bass Fishing Experience reported several good days of striper fishing in the Franks Tract and Big Break areas of the Delta. On Friday, October 15, Paganelli and a client caught and released over 15 stripers to 10 pounds. "We used Pencil Poppers first thing in the morning and Swim Baits and Rat-L-Traps as the bass went deeper," he added.

For a complete Delta Report, click here.

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"The trout are good, but they are actively following bait and can be anywhere," Huth reported. ""From one day to the next, the trout can be in 20 to 60 feet, they just need to follow the bait." Huth said that anglers trolling chrome needlefish could tangle with quality trout once they located them.

Even with stabilizing water levels, the bass bite has been only fair. Huth recommended that anglers stick to main lake areas and if they can stay after dark the fishing gets better.

"During the day small plastic worms are king, but it does get better the first two hours after dark," Huth suggested. "Jigs and larger plastics are accounting for lots of ten to 12 pound limits in those two hours.

Pine Flat is about 20 percent full and surface temperatures range from the mid 60's to low 70's.

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Unfortunately, the recent series of storms dropped to 4 feet of snow in the high country and will probably close Ebbetts Pass for the season. The only way to get to Lake Alpine will be by foot, skis or snowmobiles and the lake may soon freeze over if the weather stays cold. The road into Spicer Reservoir might be shut down also.

Sierra streams and rivers close on November 15th so there is still time to pursue wild trout. Rainbows and Browns are being caught on the North Fork of the Stanislaus by anglers using lures, flies and natural baits like worms and crickets.

Flycasters are having success in the river with prince nymphs, zug bugs and woolies. For those who prefer dries, try hoppers, stimulators, caddis, ants, midges or black gnats. Call ahead if you plan to access the river to make sure the roads are open.

This is the time of year when New Melones turns over and the trout start cruising the shoreline. Bankies can score there all winter with power bait, worms and lures. Flycasters can use woolies or shad imitation streamers and get some action also. The California Department of Fish and Game has recently resumed stocking Rainbow trout at Melones and will probably plant there throughout the winter months.

For Wiza's Sierra's report, CLICK HERE.

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"This place is going off and if you get even decent weather, you should have a sore arm by the end of the day," said Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Guide Service. "Most of the fish will be on the small side by Crowley standards. Five small ones (9-11 inchers) to one slammer (17-22 incher) has been the norm here recently."

Float tubers trolling streamers are having excellent results during the mornings and evenings with perch fry patterns #10-14. (Loebergs, Punk Perch) The fish are spread out this time of year and you will find groups of the larger fish working any remaining weed lines or "strands" in 4-8 feet of water.

The lake continues to drop as the flows on the Lower Owens are at 250 cfs and are forecast to remain here during the month of October. Locate the drop-offs and any sign of remaining weeds and you will find the larger fish.

"I suggest you look at the Hiltons, Sandy Pt., X-mas Bay, Six Bays, Leighton Springs and the area around Mud Island, located west of Alligator Pt. near the floating restroom in the north arm of the lake," he advised. "McGee Bay and the south shoreline have been sporadic."

The chironomid hatch has peaked about 11 am and Loe has had tremendous results using tiger and zebra midges #16-18 dropped below crystal leeches and punk perch patterns #12-14.

The Lower Owens River offers "fair to good" action, said Loe. "The flows have been at 250 cfs for over a week and the water clarity is good with the trout having adjusted to the increase. Wading and crossing is tough in the deeper runs on the wild trout section, but not impossible."

You will see several hatches during the course of each day this time of year with morning mayfly spinner's #20-22, midge's #18-22 and then afternoon caddis #14-16 and tricos #20-22 for surface action when the sun gets over and the shadows on the water.

Pleasant Valley Reservoir trout fishing gets a "fair" rating from Loe. "The mud along the inlet can be pretty tricky here, so use caution if you plan on fishing the river section," he stated. "Perch fry and leech patterns work well this time of year."

For Tom Loe's Sierras Report, click here.

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"Boaters are reporting anywhere from 12 to 60 fish, depending on the angler and the day," said Carla Molino at the Pyramid Lake Store. "The trollers are using spoons and minnow imitation lures, while the jiggers are doing best with Gibbs Minnows, Horizon Pirk Minnows and marabou jigs."

The reason why jigging is so good is because the trout are concentrating on balls of tui chub, she noted.

The shore fishing has also picked up since the weather has cooled. "Most shore anglers are reporting catches of 3 to 12 fish per outing," Molino revealed.

Big fish honors go to Carl and Richard from Auburn, who nailed two cutthroats to 11 lbs. 6 oz. while trolling lures at Pyramid Lake on October 5.

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Captain Yogi of Gravy Sport Fishing is currently running both the Gravy and Huli Cat for Captain Tom Mattusch while he is on a hunting trip. "If we have a small load of six or under, I run my boat. When we get a higher number of passengers, I run the Huli Cat to accommodate everyone," noted Yogi.

In the past two trips out for rockfish, Yogi's passengers nailed limits of assorted rockfish and several lingcod.

"Were catching a mixture of vermilion rockcod to 7 pounds, blacks running 1-3 pounds, five pound browns and a few blues while using shrimp fly rigs with squid strips," he explained. The anglers are also releasing several dozen undersize lingcod.

Captain Yogi has experienced some of his better fishing off Montara near the lighthouse in 70-80 feet of water. "I've also been running down towards Pescadero for limits of rockcod," he added.

Anglers fishing out of Huck Finn Sportfishing returned with full limits of rockfish and several cabezon during recent bottom fishing trips south of the harbor down to Pigeon Point, according to Bill Beckett.

On Sunday, October 17, the five anglers aboard the Queen of Hearts caught their limits of rockfish and one keeper ling. Also, Ankeny Street checked in with 23 limits of assorted rockfish, 3 cabezon and 3 legal lingcod. On the following day, the six-pack boat Que Sera Sera returned with limits of rockfish.