"The bass bite has been tough this week, but catfishing has been excellent," explained Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait And Tackle. "There's a catfish tournament with about sixty anglers fishing today and it looks like most of them are all anchored out near Rattlesnake Island."

According to Higgins, the recent spell of warm weather has put the cats on the bite and anglers are taking good numbers of fish soaking crawdads, chicken liver and anchovies in 6 to 20 feet of water. "The largest fish I weighed in this week was right around 19 pounds," he added.

The bass bite has been hot and cold with some days producing solid topwater action and other days nothing at all. "Zara Spooks, Chug Bugs and frogs are the top baits right now," said Higgins. "We're seeing a lot of fish in the 2 to 3 pound class, but not many over 5 pounds."

"I had a couple good trips to Clear Lake week before last," reported Larry Hemphill of Larry Hemphill's Guide and Instruction Service. "I did a day trip with Lee Robertson of Danville and we got a total of 8 fish. Lee's biggest fish was 4 pounds, 1 ounce and I got a 7 pounder. We ended up with a five fish limit for 20 pounds and all of the fish were caught on Senkos."

Hemphill ran two night trips during the week. "I did an afternoon and evening trip with Bob Greneveld of Sunnyvale and we caught a total of 5 fish for about 21 pounds. Bob got a 5 pound, 1 ounce fish on a #194 Senko. The following night, I ended up with 9 fish to 5 pounds. The big fish that night was taken on a Big Dipper Magic Worm."

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"The salmon bite has been up and down this week because of the wind, but there's plenty of fish in the area and we're still averaging about a fish a rod," reported Brandon Van Dine of Anchor Charters. "The Trek II had full limits Friday morning and I brought in full limits on the Lady Irma Friday afternoon. The bite was a little slow over the weekend. We had 8 fish for 12 people Saturday morning and 11 fish for 16 people Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning, we only had 6 fish for 19 people."

According to Van Dine, the fish have been coming in a variety of sizes from barely legal up to the 35 pound class. "A lot of the fish are small keepers up to 10 pounds, but we've also been taking some larger fish every day," he explained. "We had fish to 29 pounds on Saturday, a 29 and a 25 pounder on Friday and a 33 pounder on Wednesday."

The salmon are scattered throughout the area and most of the action has been coming in 50 fathoms of water from the Whistle Buoy to the Mill. "We still haven't settled into our summer weather pattern," said Van Dine. "We're still seeing a lot of spring-like winds. As soon as this weather changes, the salmon bite should really heat up."

Rockfish action has been excellent for a mix of blues and blacks in shallow water. Captain Rick Thornton ran a trip on the Lady Irma the morning of Sunday, June 17 and found easy limits of rockfish off Hardy Creek. "Rick said the bite was red hot and they also had to release 15 ling cod," explained Van Dine. "They were fishing Super Flies in 70 feet of water."

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"The chinook salmon bite at the mouth of the Umpqua has been great for boaters using anchovies and Kwikfish," said Todd Hannah of Oregon Angler Guide Service. "We are also hooking a few chunky coho salmon near Winchester Bay."

The sturgeon fishing has been slow throughout the river system. "We have seen a lot of monster sturgeon jump out of the water, but they are not biting on anything that we throw out," reported Hannah. Dean Peters caught the largest sturgeon of the season on the Umpqua. Dean's monster, measuring 9 feet long, was caught near the mouth of the Umpqua.

The mouth of the Umpqua is also producing a steady crab bite during high tide, according to Hannah.

Smallmouth bass are being caught in large numbers on flies and spinner baits. "We are catching and releasing an average of 50 bass daily on the Umpqua," added Hannah. The Sawyers Rapids area has provided shad fishermen with a consistent bite using chartreuse shad darts and green grubs.

According to Velda Greig of Elkton Bait and Tackle, the shad fishing has been awesome near Sawyers Rapids and behind the grade school. "Anglers are using shad darts with pink and green grubs to land large numbers of quality shad," stated Greig.

"Fishing on the Umpqua has held strong for shad and smallmouth bass anglers." confirmed Guide Terry Jarmain. "The shad are holding tight between Roseburg and Tidewater. Spinner baits have produced a consistent bite for bass anglers fishing near the mouth of the Umpqua."

"The top water bite has been great in producing fat bass up to 21 inches," reported Scott Wolfe from The Big K Guest Ranch and Guide Service. "Anglers are also finding success casting crank baits and plastic worms in purple, blue, or motor oil. The shad are running strong throughout the river, with the average fish weighing 2 pounds and a few 4-5 pounders showing."

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"The trout and bass fishing has been excellent this week," reported Henning Behrens at Wyntoon Resort. "We've seen largemouth to 6-1/2 pounds, smallmouth to 5 pounds and limits of trout being caught at the creek inlets."

According to Behrens, the bass bite has been most productive early in the morning and late in the day. "Most people are using live crickets for the bass," he said. "The top spot has been up at the Ballpark north of Wyntoon."

Trout reports have been very good for anglers fishing from shore near any of the creek inlets. "Most of the fish are pan-sized, but we've seen a few large holdovers up to 4 pounds," added Behrens. "The best baits have been nightcrawlers, salmon eggs and Power Bait.

Trinity Lake is currently 29 feet from full, approximately 80% of capacity.

"The salmon are moving into the river and a few fish are being caught now," reported Tim King of King's Guide Service. "I went out yesterday and hooked one fish, but didn't land it. I did hear of a 22 pounder caught at the Bucktail Hole and another boat fished down in the canyon and they landed 1 fish. I drifted from Steel Bridge Road down to Steiner Flat."

According to King, the river is finally coming into shape. "The flows are dropping and the holes are finally starting to take shape now," he said. "The river should be down to around 500 cfs by the weekend."

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"The halibut bite is holding up, with experienced skiff anglers taking 1 to 2 fish per rod," said Bill Rawson of Shamrock Charters. "The party boats are taking near-limits of shallow water rockfish in the local reefs, along with releasing 25 to 30 lingcod per trip, about half keepers."

A rockfish trip aboard the Wild Wave on Father's Day yielded 3/4 limits of bolina, blue and black rockfish for 20 anglers. On the previous day, the 25 anglers aboard the boat landed near-limits of rockfish and 5 keeper halibut. "They have been catching the halibut on live bait along the beaches," noted Rawson.

On June 19, Joe Stoops of Chartle Sportfishing fished a small spot west of the Lighthouse for halibut. "Our 4 anglers boated 4 halibut to 26 pounds, plus released 6 shorts," said Stoops. "The bait in the bay is scarce and the few good fish are scattered in small groups, making us work hard, but it's worth the effort! The conditions were good with the standard trade winds and a small south swell."

On the previous day, the 4 anglers aboard the boat found great action on halibut today but keeper fish were in short supply. "Our 4 anglers got to keep 2 Halibut to 6 pounds and released 30+ others an inch or less short of the mark," noted Stoops. "Fishing should be great next year as well. We fished the Lighthouse area in 10' to 30' of water."

"Halibut fishing has slowed down, but persistent anglers are still taking some fish," said Kurtis Williams of Capitola Boat and Bait. "Glen Larson of Capitola landed three halibut weighing 25, 14 and 8 pounds while drifting live bait and jigging Fish Traps at the Artificial Reef on June 16. Also, Jeff McKee bagged two halibut weighing 28 and 15 pounds fishing the same area."

Some white seabass are starting to show. Jim Salvino took a 15 pound halibut, two 13 pound seabass and an 8 pound (28 inch) seabass jigging with Fish Traps on June 16.

"Salmon fishing has been very slow the past three weeks," reported Ken Stagnaro of Sea Stag Sportfishing. "We are now booking rockcod/halibut trips. While fishing in shallow water with live bait, we are catching some large halibut and near limits of rockcod."

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"Spin fishermen are using nightcrawlers, Panther Martins and Super Dupers to entice the trout," revealed Steve Vaughn at Vaughn's Sporting Goods. "Fly fishermen are finding the best success tossing out ants and hoppers, sizes #12 - #14."

The Cassel area is also yielding rainbows and some brooks to 15 inches for anglers tossing out nightcrawlers and crickets. Fly fishermen here are using Pale Morning Duns, Callibaetis Cripples and caddis flies to fool the trout.

"The wild trout section of Hat is yielding fine action in the late evening hours," according to Vaughn. "The top fly patterns are Pale Morning Duns, Callibaetis Cripples and Dusty Spinners. The fish here are rainbows averaging 10 to 17 inches."

The wild trout section of the Pit River is also a good bet. Rainbows averaging 10 to 17 inches are falling for wet flies and nymphs, according to Vaughn.

"Trout fishing is slow at Baum Lake, since there's a pelican predation problems there," said Vaughn. "A few smallmouth bass and crappie are also being caught at Lake Britton."

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"It's mainly browns and king salmon right now," reported Reuben Chavez of Lassenview Resort. "Trolling, jigging and drifting bait have all been working well this week."

According to Chavez, the top areas have been the point of the Peninsula, Big Springs and the Dam. "At the point of the Peninsula, try trolling flashers and crawlers 20 to 25 feet deep," he advised. "Drifting bait or jigging has been best at the dam and Big Springs."

At the dam and Big Springs, the top baits have been cut anchovies, nightcrawlers, salmon roe and white mini gitzits. "The key is to cover some water and look for suspended fish on the depth finder," said Chavez. "At the dam, the best action has been in 25 to 40 feet of water. The fish have been a little deeper at Big Springs, maybe 45 to 50 feet deep.

Smallmouth bass action is heating up at Almanor. Anglers are using crickets, plastic worms and crankbaits for fish running 1 to 4 pounds. Look for fish to be holding 10 to 20 feet deep on the rocky points. Early and late in the day, there should be plenty of shallow water action in the Ghoul Swamp area.

Lake Almanor is approximately 12 feet from full.

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"Even with releases of 14,000 cfs from Keswick Dam, we are still catching and releasing between 15 and 20 fish per day, with an average weight of 2-4 pounds." reported Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing. "I have been back trolling chrome/gold F-5 Flatfish during the early morning around Balls Ferry, then switching over to side drifting crickets the rest of the day."

Shad trips are providing anglers with large numbers of fish. "We are seeing up to 50 fish caught and released while using chartreuse or green shad darts with white heads," noted Portocarrero. "Several salmon have been seen; the Sacramento River salmon opener on July 16 should show impressive numbers of salmon caught."

"The trout bite on the Sacramento River from Redding to Anderson is holding strong and continues to provide anglers with big numbers of wild rainbows averaging 15-18 inches," said Mike Bogue, fishing guide. "Three anglers landed 30 rainbows averaging 18 inches on my last trip. We side drifted Glo Bugs and silver/gold F-5 Flatfish to bag these healthy wild rainbows."

The latest trout adventure by Bob Brown of Fish Connection Specialty Guide Service between the Posse Grounds and Bonnieview yielded 17 trout to 6 pounds for 2 anglers. "We fished #50 and #60 Hot Shots, as well as metallic blue and silver Pee Wee Warts on a Ultra Light Team Kokanee rod," said Brown. "We also found success side drifting bait with circle hooks."

According to Gary Manies from Strictly Fishin' Guide Service, the Sacramento River is providing anglers with a steady trout bite on Glo Bugs or F-4 Flatfish. "We are averaging 20-30 fish per day while fishing near Cottonwood," said Manies. On his last trip, Dick and Dorthy caught and released 22 rainbows to 6 pounds.

"The Anderson area is producing large numbers of wild rainbow trout ranging from 12 inches to 3 and 4 pounds," noted guide Hank Mautz. "Fish are being caught while drifting Glo Bugs, crickets, or nightcrawlers. Anglers back trolling have found a steady bite using small #50 Hot Shots or K-4 Kwikfish."

Shad fishing has been excellent, with recent trips producing 50 to 80 fish per day. "I am seeing a lot of big females and the bite has been good not only in the early morning and evening, but even during mid-day," said Mautz.

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Meeka Birring from Freeport Bait, Rio Vista recommended using anchovies and pile worms off Decker Island and in the Mokelumne River. "We are seeing good numbers of fish, but they have all been fairly small, averaging 18-20 inches long," noted Birring.

"Anglers fishing near Brannan Island have found a number of large catfish while throwing out clams and anchovies," said Birring. "The crappie bite has been slow for anglers fishing wax worms and minnows."

"There are still a few keeper sturgeon to be caught in Cache Slough on grass and ghost shrimp, but the fishing pressure is light," added Meeka.

"The sturgeon bite began to slow down last week, anglers found success in landing a few keeper sturgeon this week," said Audie Urbano of Hap's Bait. Ten-year-old Morgan Donovan of San Carlos was fishing grass shrimp with Mario Espinoza of Riverbank over the weekend when he landed a 78 pound sturgeon near the power lines. Mario also hooked a 34 pound sturgeon while using grass shrimp.

Jeff Barker of Elk Grove fooled a 7 pound striped bass with a sardine near Light 24. Steve Bates of Clear Lake also caught two stripers weighing 11 and 3 pounds on shad in Horseshoe Bend.

For a complete Delta Report, click here.

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"I've seen quite a few kokanee and trout come in this week," reported Kerri Hazlewood from Lake Don Pedro Marina. "The kokanee have been down 35 to 60 feet deep and they're hitting anything pink."

King salmon are also showing in catches. Local angler Scott Reiner caught 12 salmon using frozen shad 30 to 80 feet deep in the East Bay. Most of the salmon will run 1-1/2 to 2 pounds, but fish in the 3 to 5 pound class are not uncommon. For trout, troll Triple Teasers, Apexes and Needlefish at 50 to 60 feet deep. Jenkins Hill, Middle Bay, the Power Lines and Woods Creek are all producing fish.

Bass action has been fairly tough during the day, but the big fish action has been excellent at night. According to Hazelwood, several large bass were taken during a recent night tournament. "The Norcal Bass Tournament was held here last weekend," she explained. "Their was five 10 pounders and two 13 pounder landed! A total of 6 fish for 25 pounds took home the prize."

Crappie are still being caught by anglers fishing mini jigs and small minnows throughout the lake. "There was a few nice ones hooked over the weekend by anglers using minnows and white mini jigs," explained Hazelwood."

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Most of the snow has disappeared and the flows are steadily lessening in the streams. The water is extremely cold in the high lakes, so the fish are still shallow.

"At Lake Alpine and Spicer Reservoir," said Allison, "trollers are scoring by top lining with a dodger/worm or spoon combo and the bank fishermen are picking up rainbows with Power Bait and worms. Fly casters are float tubing with floating line and Wooly Buggers or Prince Nymphs. Dry flies like black gnats and mosquitos are working in the early mornings and evenings."

The fish at Spicer are running small and still have tapeworms, but the Alpine trout are big and healthy, according to Allison. Hobart Creek near the boat ramp at Spicer is closed to fishing until July 1. Spicer is quite low and small boats are recommended; launching is from the granite below the ramp.

The road to Union and Utica reservoirs is open and the DFG will be planting Union soon. There are a few holdover rainbows being caught there now. Tasty brown bullheads are also available for worm dunkers at both reservoirs.

"The North Fork of the Stanislaus River and Beaver Creek are receiving regular plants and small spinners are producing lots of trout," she added. "Power Bait and salmon eggs will catch fish near the bridges and crickets or worms are working well further up or downstream."

Steve Mountjoy bagged an 18 inch rainbow out of the North Fork of the Mokelumne at Hermit Valley, a huge fish to come of those small waters in the high country, added Allison.

For Wiza's Tahoe area report, CLICK HERE.

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Night crawlers working near the Pokonobe Lodge are nailing limits. The best action is in the evening.

Gold Kastmasters are fooling 12 to 17 inch trout at Twin Lakes. The area around the outlet has been very good.

Lake Mamie fishermen are catching 3 to 5 fish per outing by using olive matuka flies. Most of the trout are in the 12 to 15 inch class, with a few going over 5 pounds.

The June Lake Loop has been consistently good. Gull Lake has been the top producer. "Shore fishing is great," added Greilich. "Anglers are using rainbow Power Bait from the shore to land limits of 14 to 18 inch bows."

Boaters are trolling night crawlers behind blades and picking up occasional Alpers in the 3 pound range. The reed area has been good.

Silver Lake is excellent for rainbows in the 12 to 15 inch size. Shore anglers are scoring with worms, while boaters are catching good numbers with night crawlers behind blades or dodgers. The evening bite has been strong on green matuka flies.

June Lake is hot around the reed areas. Tubers are nailing easy limits of rainbows with worms.

"Mammoth Creek is producing trout up to 3 pounds," stated Greilich. "Fly fishermen are using wooly buggers in black or bumble bee patterns. Salmon eggs and pink Power Bait are working well."

For the SouthEast Sierras Report, click here.

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"It's already 70 degrees today, but we had three days of snow during the week," reported Dennis Dunn of Wildhorse Resort. "The water temperature went from the mid 60's down to 57 degrees. It's back up to 63 and the fishing has really picked up today."

According to Dunn, trollers are taking near limits to limits of trout, mostly rainbows with a few browns mixed in catches. "They're trolling flashers and crawlers along the west shore for fish running 14 to 20 inches," he said. "For bank fishermen, the best bet is to soak nightcrawlers with a piece of corn or Power Bait at the north end of the lake."

The yellow perch bite is wide open throughout most of the lake with anglers taking big numbers of fish running 8 to 11 inches. "Bring a five gallon bucket because the perch bite is excellent," said Dunn. "The top baits for perch have been a piece of a nightcrawler, a white crappie jig or a small white Flatfish."

Smallmouth bass are starting to show in catches, but all bass have to be released until July 1. Once the season opens, anglers may keep only 1 smallmouth over 15 inches. Dunn said the fish are hitting plastics and crankbaits on the rocky outcroppings.

Wildhorse Lake is approximately 10 feet from full at press time.

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"It's mainly halibut right now and we should start to see some stripers with the stronger tides starting up this week," reported Gary Freedman of the Berkeley Marina. "The salmon fishing is still slow."

On Saturday, June 16, the Drifter brought in 14 halibut to 30 pounds for 20 people. The New Easy Rider managed 26 halibut to 22 pounds and 1 leopard shark for 22 anglers. The Golden Eye ended up with 17 halibut to 25 pounds for 33 anglers.

The New El Dorado III started out the day fishing salmon, then switched over to halibut and managed 8 halibut to 20 pounds, 1 striped bass, 108 rockfish and 8 cabezon for 19 anglers. The El Dorado stuck it out on salmon with no luck, but caught 10 rockfish and 4 halibut to 23 pounds on the way in.

The following day, the New Golden Eye had 12 halibut to 22 pounds for 34 anglers. The Golden Eye 2000 checked in with 22 halibut to 29 pounds for 23 anglers.

The halibut bite remained very good on Tuesday, June 19, when The New Golden Eye finished the day with 31 halibut to 32 pounds for 17 anglers. They also added one 8 lb. bass.

The Eldorado found salmon north of the Gate near Pt. Reyes and Drakes Bay. They ended up with 3 nice fish to 18 pounds for 6 passengers. "It looks like the salmon are starting to move down from Ft. Bragg and into our range. There was a good score out of Bodega Bay so it is starting to look better each day," added Freedman.

"King salmon are right off Bodega Head about a mile or so out from the college. Anglers are catching fish but the boats are not limiting out. These chinooks are running in the 12 to 18 pound class. The weather has been fantastic and the seas calm with gentle breezes showing in the mid afternoon. This is just the beginning of what promises to be a great season," reported Wil of Wil's Fishing Adventures.