"We have not been seeing a lot of big fish, but anglers are catching good numbers of fish by focusing on deeper water," said Higgins. "Drop shot rigs and spoons are working for the bass, while the crappie will also strike spoons, but are hitting mini jigs and minnows."

Higgins advised anglers to fish the deeper docks that dot the whole lake. He suggested looking for docks that hang over ten feet of water or deeper, looking for balls of bait, and fishing them vertically.

Notable catches on the lake came from two anglers in the last week. Paul Crutcher, a long time Limit Out customer, bagged a 10.1-pound largemouth bass while fishing a heavy jighead loaded with a Yamamoto Hula Grub.

The other notable angler is Tim Madden, another Limit Out customer, who landed a five fish limit that weighed 28.14 pounds on spoons on one day and followed it up with an 18 pound limit the next. His big fish weighed in at eight pounds.

"I made my first crab trip in several weeks on Monday, December 13," said Jason Rossetto, captain of the Lady Irma II. "The seven anglers took limits of crabs while fishing in 100 feet of water off Ten Mile Beach."

"There's not a whole lot going on along the Mendocino Coast other than crabbing," confirmed Jim Martin, West Coast Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA). "However, you can fish for rockfish from shore through December 31."

Steelhead fishing is expected to begin in the Navarro, Garcia and Ten Mile rivers and Alder Creek after the rivers recede from recent storms.

Make sure that you check the Freshwater Sport Fishing California Regulations book before going steelhead fishing on Mendocino County coastal streams.

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"Both the Elk and Sixes are full of king salmon, thanks to all the fresh water bringing in the fish," stated Todd Hannah of the Oregon Angler Guide Service. "We will have a short salmon season this year, due to the low flows we experienced in the first part of the season, although the steelhead fishing is right on target."

Guide Scott Wolfe of The Big-K Guest Ranch has made several drifts down the Sixes River to catch chinook salmon running around 20 pounds. "I've caught most of my fish on roe and shrimp combos, but sardine-wrapped Kwikfish have also been effective," said Wolfe. Scott is averaging 4-5 fish a day while drifting from Edson Creek to the Grange.

On the Elk River, anglers have experienced good fishing from the hatchery down to Iron Head while drifting roe and shrimp. "My largest chinook taken this season weighed over 40 pounds," added Wolfe.

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"The further up a river arm you go, the more you can expect to find muddy water. Stick to the main body of Shasta where water clarity will be more favorable for catching trout," indicated Gary Miralles of Shasta Tackle Company.

Miralles is catching rainbow trout from the surface down to 10 feet while trolling shad and fluorescent patterned Hum Dingers or Cripplures. On his most recent trip, Gary's' clients hooked 10 rainbows and landed 7 fish. "The trout measured 18 inches on average, with our largest fish running 20 inches." The group fished in Packers Bay to catch all their fish.

Those trying for black bass have focused on main body points with reaction baits first thing in the morning, according to Ryan Ng at Phil's Propellers. "Your best bet is to rip or cast white on white blades in 1-5 feet of water off points," he noted.

Once the reaction bite tapers off, Ng suggested fishing worms or jigs at no more than 25 feet deep. "Look for rocky areas to drop down a worm or jig around," he tipped.

Lake Shasta is holding 2,219,000 acre feet of water, 49 percent of capacity, and the lake level is 970 feet in elevation.

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Redtail and barred perch are rewarding anglers fishing off Capitola Wharf and the Monterey Bay State Beaches, according to Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat & Bait. The perch are hitting motor oil grubs, shrimp and pileworms.

Colleen Brown landed a 12 pound halibut while fishing a swim bait from a boat off Capitola, noted Burrell.

Few anglers have been crabbing or fishing for sanddabs because of the harbor closure and the weather. "The crabbing has been best in 180 to 300 feet of water in the bay," said Burrell. "I haven't heard of anybody trying for sanddabs lately."

"The groundswell from the latest storms shut down the perch fishing for a few days, but the water is calming down," said Bill Rawson at Shamrock Charters in Santa Cruz. "Before the storm, anglers were catching good numbers of barred perch while fishing plastic grubs at the Pink House, off the mouth of the San Lorenzo River and Manresa Beach."

The San Lorenzo River was fishable on the morning of December 12 after storms muddied the water for a few days. "A few smaller steelhead to 17 inches are being taken on roe and lures in The Gorge, but I don't expect big numbers of larger fish to show until the beginning of the year," said Rawson.

To launch a private boat 18 feet or under, you can use the hoist launch at Santa Cruz Boat Rentals or Capitola Bait in the meantime. Others will have to launch their boats at Moss Landing or Monterey.

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"The fish being caught at Baum average 10 to 12 inches long, but larger fish to 5 pounds are being landed," said Gene Rodgers at Vaughn's Sporting Goods. "Nightcrawlers and mealworms are producing the top action, but anglers are also hooking fish on a variety of lures."

A sleeper for wild rainbows is Crystal Lake, located right next to Baum. "It's tough fishing because of the clear water, but you can nail fish to 20 inches here if you put in the time," he noted.

"Nightcrawlers are the best baits, while streamers are the top flies." Rodgers noted that fishing is prohibited in the last 200 yards of the lake in the creek inlet to allow the fish to spawn.

For a mixture of rainbows and browns, give Iron Canyon Reservoir a try from the bank. "Anglers are catching browns averaging 12 to 14 inches and going up to 20 inches while fishing Power Bait and worms off the points," advised Rodgers. "Dark colored Wooly Buggers and a variety of nymphs are also working. In addition to the browns, anglers are also landing rainbows going 10 to 12 inches."

Wearing warm clothing is a must this time of year. "The air temperatures in this area were down in the teens before the storm, but the weather has warmed into the high forties and low fifties after the rain and snow moved through," he added.

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"The lake still has some open water near Lunker Point and around the corner from the Dam to the Northeast of the lake," reported Shirley Wiggin from Wiggin's Trading Post.

Scott Love of Reno found a hole of open water off Lunker Point where he landed a limit of rainbow trout running 2-1/2 and 4-1/2 pounds. All of the fish hit crawlers fished off the bottom.

Access around the lake is now limited to four wheel drive vehicles and snowmobiles.

Conditions are still not safe at Lake Davis, where the shoreline is frozen, but the middle of the lake still has open water, noted Tammy Milby at Gold Rush Sporting Goods. "As long as the temperatures remain low, we should see some good ice fishing conditions within two weeks or so," she tipped.

Once the lake freezes over, Milby suggested fishing inflated crawlers or Power Bait for the rainbows at the lake's north end.

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"We're seeing decent numbers of fish, but they just aren't very big," noted Wade McGrath at McGrath's Fishing & Diving Supply. "Most of the fish being caught are in the 2 to 3 pound range."

Anglers are finding success both in the low flow and high flow stretches. The steelhead are falling for Glo Bugs, nightcrawlers and flies.

Steelhead fishing has also been productive in the Live Oak and Shanghai Bend areas of the river, according to Craig Arnold at Star Bait and Tackle in Marysville.

"Big John Enos, fishing guide, reported catching limits of hatchery steelhead over the past week," noted Arnold. "He ended up with fish to 4 pounds while drifting Glo Bugs."

King salmon are still hitting back trolled K-14 Kwikfish in the Feather near Marysville, according to Arnold. Though many of the fish are getting dark as they move into spawning mode, a fresh run of fish has been reported.

The Feather River Fish Hatchery has received 199 adult steelhead to date, compared to 12 fish by the same time last year, according to Steve Brightwell, assistant hatchery manager.

Both the fall and spring chinook spawning seasons are over at the hatchery. The fish hatchery received 15,762 adult fall-run chinooks and 5,536 grilse (jacks) this season, compared to 13,605 adults and 1,352 grilse last year. The spring run this year was 3,630 adults, compared to 8,273 adults last year, an abnormally good year.

"We foresee no problem in meeting our spring run production goal of 1-1/4 million smolts or fall run goal of 7 to 8 million smolts," Brightwell observed.

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For example, Spence Frasher at Rio Vista Bait & Tackle has weighed in an average 2 keeper sturgeon each day and "that's only the fish were seeing," he noted. "The best spot by far is the Powerlines, but Cache Slough and Montezuma Slough are also worth a try."

Frasher also recommended Chain Island near Pittsburg for sturgeon. "The top baits include eel, salmon roe or shrimp baits," explained Frasher.

"Striper fishing is also excellent, though most anglers are mainly targeting sturgeon now," he noted. Good best for bass include Decker Island and under the Rio Vista Bridge. "Bass are being caught just about anywhere in between," he tipped. The bass are falling for mud suckers, shad and shrimp baits.

For a complete Delta Report, click here.

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Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun reported that the majority of anglers were having some fun targeting rainbows. "The majority of the fish are in the top 20 feet of water," said Gilbert. "12 to 13-inch fish are common, and most people are bagging limits by flat line trolling or trolling three to four colors." Gilbert reported that the offering of choice has been mainly nightcrawlers.

The bass bite is slowing down, but most anglers are catching some keeper-size spots and largemouths by using drop shot rigs and jigs until the mid afternoon. After 2:00 the afternoon sun seems to move a few largemouths into the shallows and they may strike crankbaits or spinnerbaits.

The surface temperature at Pine Flat is 54 degrees.

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"There is still some open water on the east side of the lake due to a slight warming trend that is hindering the lake from freezing over completely," remarked Dave Kirby at the Woodfords Store. "Fish the areas between the old boat ramp and the Dam for rainbows averaging 1-1/2 to 2 pounds."

For the most success, Kirby suggested fishing Power Bait or an inflated crawler off the bottom. "Most anglers are catching about 2-3 fish each," he added.

According to Kirby, the road leading into Indian Creek Reservoir is currently being plowed, although you will have to walk in from the gate.

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

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Flows remain stable at 105-110 cfs below the dam at Pleasant Valley Reservoir. "The wading is gravy at this release with exception to the chilly water," said Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Guide Service.

"The baetis hatch is pretty much history until next February," he explained. "The majority of your grabs will come on small midges, both emergers and nymphs #20-24, fished under an indicator or high sticked' in the wild trout section. With the water temperatures cooling to below the 40 degree mark, you will at times find the trout, especially the browns, to be more tentative and lethargic."

Streamer fishing during the winter can provide an excellent presentation alternative of getting into fish on the Lower Owens River. "Our Spruce-a-bu's, Loebergs, Punk Perch, and Crystal Leeches are all dynamite patterns to tie on behind a moderate sinking tip line," he tipped.

Loe and clients are also hooking lots of fish using the "dip and strip" method of streamer fishing from a drift boat. The Kirkland team of Mike and son Darren took their first drift with Loe and hooked well over 40 trout while fishing streamers.

Pleasant Valley Reservoir is yielding good trout fishing. "The freeze tubers that NEED to fish are enjoying typical early winter streamer fishing near the inlet and launch ramp sections of the reservoir" Loe stated. "Good catch and release scores of brown trout are being netted around the 10 foot depth and along the drop-offs on both sides. Loebergs and punk perch rock on the lake this time of year."

Late DFG and Alpers plants of rainbows are beginning to migrate into the inlet section also. Fish the transition water from the river to reservoir as it begins to slow for the denser concentrations of fish, advised Loe.

The Owens River Gorge is only producing "fair" fishing, according to Loe. Currently the optimum times to drop into the gorge will be between 10 and 3 daily. Dry/dropper nymphing with midge patterns #16-20 will get it done most days. Mayfly patterns in sizes #16 to #18 are also good choices.

For Tom Loe's Sierras Report, click here.

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Two anglers from Las Vegas had a great day ice fishing this week. They both took their five fish trout limits, as well as 30 yellow perch, while fishing nightcrawlers and jig/crawler combos out from the State Park.

"The trout were a mixture of rainbows and cuttbows ranging from 2-1/2 to 3 pounds," said Dunn. "They fished over water 8 to 12 feet deep." A sleeper this time of year is trout fishing on the open water spots on the East Fork of the Owyhee River below Wild Horse Dam. "This river has quality rainbows, browns and cuttbows," he tipped. "Nightcrawlers are your best bet, but spinners and flies are also worth a try."

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For example, during the week of December 8-13, Captain James Smith of the California Dawn caught limits of bass to 15 pounds and a few keeper sturgeon. "Fishing is excellent and we have the area all to ourselves," said Smith, speaking of his dad, Jim, on the Happy Hooker.

James started the week off with limits for 12 anglers on Wednesday, December 8. "We also boated a 63 inch sturgeon using salmon roe," he said. On the next day, James and 13 passengers landed limits of stripers while fishing with live bait.

On Saturday, December 11, the 14 anglers fishing with James caught limits of bass to 12 pounds and released 7 shaker sturgeon. James finished the weekend off on Sunday with 27 bass to 13 pounds and a 69 inch sturgeon for 19 people.

Meanwhile, Captain Jim Smith of Mr. Bass Sportfishing was busy boating bass on the Happy Hooker with captain/crew member Chris Smith on Friday and Saturday, also while fishing off Pittsburg in 60 feet of water. "We had about 5 bass short of a boat limit on Friday, with the fish averaging 5-7 pounds and going up to 12 pounds," stated Smith.

Jim rounded out the next trip with a 48 inch sturgeon and 25 bass ranging between 8 and 14 pounds for 18 people.

The Morning Star also found solid sturgeon and bass activity on both Friday and Saturday, according to Captain Gordon Hough. "We fished in San Pablo Bay near China Camp with an assortment of baits," he noted. The group boated one bass per rod and released 7 shaker sturgeon at the boat.

"We had a blast on Saturday when the sturgeon bite really picked up," said Hough. "My group released 13 shaker sturgeon, kept two legal sturgeon and 12 stripers."