"I would say the bass bite has definitely improved this week," reported Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle. "We aren't seeing many big fish right now, but anglers are taking decent numbers of fish running 2 to 4 pounds."

According to Higgins, the latest tournament was won with a five fish limit weighing 23 pounds, all caught on weedless frogs in the south end of the lake.

"The weights went down pretty fast from there, but most of the guys caught decent numbers of fish," he explained. "I fished with John Blair and we caught a total of 12 fish on the day and our best five weighed just over 16 pounds good for third place."

Higgins said he and Blair caught all of their fish on Senkos and Brush Hogs. "We targeted docks from 4 to 15 feet deep in the Red Bud area," he explained. "The bite was very good up until 9:00 am, then it really slowed down for a few hours. By 1:00 pm, they started to hit again and we caught four more fish before weigh-ins."

The catfish bite is finally starting to show signs of life at Clear Lake. "It isn't red hot, but at least we're starting to see some decent numbers of fish averaging 10 to 15 pounds," said Higgins. "The top spots have been Horseshoe, Rattlesnake Island and the mouth of Cache Creek. Try fishing anchovies, dead jumbo minnows and clams."

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"The salmon bite is red hot right now," exclaimed Rick Thornton at Anchor Charters. "I had 38 fish for 14 anglers by 11:00 am this morning and I'm back out on an afternoon trip now and we already have 7 hook-ups with four fish in the box."

According to Thornton, they had several chinooks close to the 30 pound mark the day of this report. "We have at least a half dozen fish over 25 pounds today," he said. "Brandon on the Lady Irma had full limits (30 fish) by 11:30 and Jason on the six pack Easy Diver had limits for 6 anglers by 9:00 am."

"All three boats were fishing off the mouth of Virgin Creek in 30 fathoms," added Thornton. "We're trolling anchovies and hoochies from 20 to 60 pulls deep."

Rockfish action is also red hot off the coast of Fort Bragg. "We're limited to fishing in 120 feet or less now, but the few trips we ran this week produced nice limits of black rockfish and up to 1 lingcod per rod," said Thornton. "The best action has been on bars with a Super Fly teaser."

"The salmon fishing has been excellent this week," confirmed Ashley Diaz at the Noyo Fishing Center. "The fish are showing just outside of the harbor about 3 miles north and a mile offshore."

The Rumblefish scored a total of 30 salmon for 17 anglers the morning of this report and they checked in with 33 salmon (1 shy of limits) for 17 anglers on their previous trip.

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"The salmon action on the Rogue River has been minimal, due to a lack of fish in the river system," indicated Justin Mattair of Rogue Outdoor Store. "We are in between the spring and fall salmon runs, so catching numbers of fish has been difficult. Anglers are picking up the occasional spring chinook while trolling a spinner or an anchovy along the Clay Banks."

King salmon fishing in Rogue River Bay has also been spotty, but the bite should start to turn on by mid-July, noted Mattair. "Around the end of July, we will should seeing summer steelhead in the catches," added Mattair.

Mattair also noted that anglers are nailing redfin surfperch while fishing shrimp baits around the jetty and in the surf.

Virginia McKinney of Jots Resort confirmed the lack of action being experienced by Rogue River salmon anglers. "There have only been a few fish caught between Elephant Rock and Agness," said McKinney.

"On the positive side, the size of the fish being caught is good, averaging 18 pounds," added McKinney. "Anglers are using spinners or anchovies to entice the chinooks."

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"The jig fishermen are finding excellent action," said Sam Miller at the Somes Bar Store. "One angler reported catching 40 fish, while another fisherman reported nailing 15 fish. I'm hearing of many guys catching 6 to 7 fish in an hour."

The hottest set-up is a bright pink jig head with a chartreuse tail. The fly-fishing hasn't been as good as the spin fishing lately, according to Miller. Spring-run chinooks continue to offer solid action on the Klamath. "The Klamath is dropping as the flows come down," said Tim King, fishing guide. "This makes the water temperature rise, so the fish will be looking for cooler water up the Trinity. There are still good numbers of fish being caught around Klamath Glen."

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"Today we fished at New Years Island with a real nice charter," said Mike Baxter, captain of the Wild Wave on June 30. "The weather was bumpy and windy and the swell was up. We worked hard for limits of medium-sized rockfish. We landed a half dozen lings also.

On the day before, the Wild Wave ended up with 8 salmon. "The fish were all slugs; and I am not talking about UCSC students," said Baxter. "These fish were all trophies 20 pounds and up."

The local bite for the private boaters for halibut was a little tougher this weekend, due to the 3 to 4 foot south swell, but the guys "in the know" had 3 to 5 fish per boat.

"The salmon are in the middle of the bay at 36:44 and 122:56," added Baxter. "Look for the dark water and be patient; you will probably pick up a few real nice fish."

On Baxter's previous trip, the anglers caught early limits of rockfish, one lingcod and two quality halibut.

"We had great salmon reports all day on the bay yesterday," said Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine. "The hot salmon spot was on the south side of Moss Landing. We weighed in multiple limits of chinooks in the 15-20 pound range from that area. A few chinooks were also caught right off the can in front of the harbor in 45 feet of water."

The halibut are still coming in from Capitola to Mitchell's. Day Kim did it again with a 31 pound halibut taken at Mitchell's.

"We got one report of an undersized white seabass caught off the kelp beds in Capitola," added Fraser, "but we have received no reports of albacore."

Phil Monk landed a 20 pound halibut while drifting a live anchovy off Lighthouse Point in 40 feet of water, according to Mike Hicks of Capitola Boat and Bait. Anthony Drieho of Capitola caught two halibut weighing 28.5 and 21 pounds tossing Fish Traps from a sea kayak off New Brighton Beach. Shirley Thurston nailed a 7 pound halibut, her first halibut ever, using an live anchovy off Capitola Wharf.

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The Hat Creek Wild Trout Area is yielding good hatches of pale morning duns and caddis flies, along with some rusty spinners. Anglers are also catching and releasing rainbows while using callibaetis cripples. "The fishing is improving, but watch out for the full moon," advised Steve Vaughn at Vaughn's Sporting Goods.

Baum Lake is producing rainbows and browns averaging 10-15 inches, with a few fish over 17 inches. The best baits remain nite crawlers or meal worms, Power Bait and Crave, while the hottest lures are silver/blue Kastmasters and Panther Martins. For flies, use PT's, caddis, baetis, callibaetis cripples and midges. In the Cassel Area. anglers are bagging a mixture of brook and rainbow trout.

"PMD's in size 18, caddis and Adams parachutes in size 16 taking a few fish," he stated. "For nymphing, try pheasant tails in size 16. Callibaetis cripples in a size 16 are taking fish, while little Yellow Stones are showing."

In Upper Hat Creek, bait fishermen are nailing brookies and rainbows while drifting nite crawlers and Roostertails, according to Vaughn.

"Lots of caddis hatches are taking place in the Burney Creek Wild Trout Area, but Humpies and Royal Coachmen are working also," he stated. "Bait and lure fishermen are doing best above the falls using roostertails and Panther Martins, small nite crawlers and crickets."

In the Pit River Wild Trout area, rainbow trout in the 14-17 inch range are hitting. "The best bets are dark nymphs and Copper Johns bounced on the bottom," added Vaughn. "Droppers can also be very effective."

Trout fishing on the Fall River is going strong, according to Paul Voltura at the Pit River Lodge. "The average native rainbow being caught now is 14" to 18"," he stated. "Size #16-#18 Pale Morning Dun Emergers, PT Nymphs and #16 jug bugs are working well, along with #16 and #18 callibaetis and cripples. However, dry fly action has been slow."

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"I just returned from my annual camping trip to Almanor and the bass bite was fantastic," reported Larry Hemphill of Larry Hemphill's Guide and Instruction Service. "My best day was a guide trip with clients Ken Vaughn and John Sylvester from Sparks. We caught a total of 16 smallmouth and our best five fish weighed just over 15 pounds."

According to Hemphill, Ken Vaughn had the hot stick, landing two fish weighing 3 pounds, 2 ounces and 3 pounds, 8 ounces. "We caught the majority of our fish split-shotting morning dawn Magic Worms on rock ledges and rock piles in 12 to 20 feet of water," he added. "I would say most days produced about a 12 fish average with several fish in the 2-1/2 to 3 pound class. We also caught a few on topwater baits and jigs."

"The salmon bite is starting to get hot," reported Lowell Blake of The Sports Nut. "The top baits are white mini gitzits or anchovy tails on a size 2 hook. Most of the salmon are being caught near the dam and Big Springs."

Trout action has been holding steady with trollers bagging quality browns and rainbows in the 2 to 5 pound class off Big Springs. "Troll with Rapalas, crawlers, Needlefish and Speedy Shiners 10 to 25 feet in the early morning," said Blake. "For bank fishermen, the jetties in Prattville and the Hamilton Branch are still the best bet. Fish Kastmasters, crawlers, Power Bait, crickets or meal worms."

For fly fishermen, the hex hatch is taking off along the west shore at press time. Look for a mix of smallmouth and trout to be feeding aggressively during the last two hours of daylight. Trollers can also do well during the hex hatch pulling a Rapala through the feeding frenzy.

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"Most of the fish are in the 12 to 15 inch slot limit," revealed Wade McGrath at McGrath's Fishing & Diving Supply. "But I don't think it's possible not to catch spotted bass now if you're fishing from a boat at Lake Oroville."

The fish are hitting throughout the main body, West Branch, North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork. "Anglers are finding the best action either fishing top water plugs in the morning and evening or drop shotting during the day," said McGrath.

The effective top water lures included Zara Spooks, Ricos and Rebel Pop-Rs. For drop shotting, McGrath suggested fishing pearl and blue Shad Power Worms in 30 feet of water.

Although this is a good time of year to fish for channel catfish in the coves, few anglers have reported trying for the whiskerfish lately. Trout and salmon reports are also nearly nonexistent, according to McGrath.

The water level is now 821 feet in elevation, 79 feet from maximum pool, and the reservoir is 73 percent of capacity.

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"It's been tough trying to get sturgeon to bite, but there are still plenty of fish in the area to be caught," said Diana Canevaro of The Fish Hookers Sportfishing. "For the best results, target the Middle Grounds or Montezuma Slough with your choice of bait."

"I have not run out this week for catfish, but there are good numbers of cats ranging from pan-sized fish to whoppers," stated Canevaro. "The bigger cats tend to hang around the deeper water, while the smaller, pan sized fish are hold in the shallows."

Canevaro suggest using clams, shrimp baits, cut baits, or anchovies for the white and channel catfish. "Productive areas to fish include Nurse Slough and the San Joaquin River," she advised.

"With the striper bite in the Rio Vista area being so slow, anglers are now focusing on catfish and black bass," explained Bill Fallon of Freeport Bait & Tackle. "There are still a few striped bass to be caught, but the fish are scattered and aren't biting."

A few local black bass enthusiasts targeting the Brannan Island area reported solid fishing. The fish are falling for nightcrawlers, plastic worms and top water baits.

"Some monster catfish have caught over the past several days," said Fallon. "Most of the fish are coming out of Brannan Island, but other back sloughs are producing fish as well," noted Fallon. "The whiskerfish are hitting anchovies and worms."

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"The spots are hitting a variety of reaction baits and plastics, with a really good bite during the early morning hours," stated Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis.

The main lake points, the steep drop offs along the Windy Gap area, and up river along the narrows are all good locations to find activity. The fish are holding around the 20 to 30 foot levels.

"Fishermen looking for good action on trout are pursuing 12 to 14 inch rainbows between the 35 to 50 foot levels," advised Gilbert. "Major concentrations are schooled up around the power lines and along the face of the dam. Trollers are using night crawlers behind blades, nasty boy Needlefish and Wedding Rings tipped with worms to score 3 to 4 fish per outing."

Bank anglers are finding 2 to 3 fish per day while soaking yellow Power Bait or inflated night crawlers. The areas around Deer Creek and Sycamore Creek have been good.

There has been some activity for king salmon up to 5 pounds. The fish are very deep, usually right on the bottom, in water 80 to 120 feet deep. Rotary Killers and anchovies are fooling a few fish.

Black bass action has been fair for fish up to 6 pounds. Crawdads are picking up fish around Windy Gap, according to Gilbert.

"Trout fishing on the Kings River below Pine Flat has been good for 12 to 13 inch planters," added Gilbert. "The fish are hitting small spinners in red/gold and salmon eggs."

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"Phil of Woodfords and his fishing buddy caught and released 28 trout in 1-1/2 days of fishing on a hike-in trip to the East Fork," revealed Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station. "Six of the fish were over 20 inches and they hooked nothing under 14 inches. Nine of the fish were browns and the rest rainbows."

The two anglers fished dry flies, such as Humpies and Royal Wulffs, and Wooly Buggers. The river is in great shape, being low and clear now, according to Kirby.

"Alpine County just planted the East Fork and West Fork with 500 pounds of rainbows each," added Kirby.

Blue Lakes have produced excellent shore fishing for anglers using Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers from the bank. Most of the fish are rainbows, with a few brook trout mixed in.

"Tamarack and lower Sunset Lake usually produce some big brookies after the lakes open to fishing," added Kirby. "However, three knowledgeable anglers who fished these lakes didn't report catching anything."

The brood stock Lahontan cutthroats are beginning to bite at Red Lake. The fish are falling or Power Bait and worms. "One local also landed a 2 pound, 1 ounce brook trout near the dam while using a fly," added Kirby.

At Caples Lake, bank anglers tossing out bait are nailing rainbows and browns near the dam and spillway.

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

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"Grant Lake has been incredible. The fish coming out of the lake have been huge. One angler landed a big brown and 3 large rainbows using an Osprey lure. I don't know what an Osprey lure is, but we'll being getting some for sure," exclaimed Jeremy Ross of Ernie's Sporting Goods.

The action on Grant has been mostly limited to trollers for the big fish, but bank anglers are picking up nice limits of bows averaging 12 to 15 inches. Rainbow Power Bait and Sierra Gold are the top baits. The best action has been around the old dam and near the Rush Creek inlet.

Gull Lake has turned on and is kicking out a lot of trout in the 2 to 3 pound class. Drifted night crawlers or pink Power Bait are working well. The area around the reeds is hot.

The Mammoth Lake loop is reporting excellent action at Lake Mary. Several Alper's trout up to 6 pound have fallen for night crawlers or Thomas Buoyant lures in chartreuse or red/gold. The outlet area has been good and the steep drop-off near the marina is kicking out a lot of big fish. Bank action is good along the northern shoreline. Yellow Powerboat or Sierra Gold is the top producers.

Lake George has been heavily planted and is giving out a lot of limits of 12 to 16 inch trout. A few holdovers up to 5 pounds have been caught near the outlet and around the big rock.

Convict Lake is kicking out a lot of trout in the 10 to 15 inch range, but the larger fish have been elusive over the past week. "Anglers are catching lots of limits of DFG catchables, but the largest fish taken this week weighed only 2.03 pounds," said Dave DeSurra at the Convict Lake Resort. However, anglers can expect to see a lot more trophy fish in the coming weeks, due to a plant of Alpers rainbows before the July 4th weekend.

For the SouthEast Sierras Report, click here.

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"The water is still pretty cool and the fish are hitting up until noon. We are seeing a lot of limits and some nice fish up to 3 pounds," reported Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina.

The boat fishermen are finding success by drifting night crawlers, slow trolling crawlers behind blades, or working green Rapalas near the surface. A lot of the action is coming from the surface down to 12 feet. The trout are averaging 13 to 16 inches. The center of the lake and the southern shoreline are the hot areas. "Bank anglers are picking up 3 to 4 fish per outing with rainbow or turbo Power Bait or inflated night crawlers," said Fields. "The action around the southern end of the lake has been very good."

Leading the list of impressive catches was Tom Cattoni of Lake Tahoe. He landed a 3 pound Eagle Lake-strain trout.

Fly fishermen are finding fair action around sundown. The top choices are brown wooly bugger or olive matukas.

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"We head a great weekend of salmon fishing and our live bait trips are also doing well on halibut and stripers," reported Craig Stone of Emeryville Sportfishing. "The salmon are being caught between the N Buoy and Point Reyes. The stripers and halibut are showing inside the bay and along the Marin coast."

On Saturday, June 29, the C-Gull II brought in 30 salmon to 35 pounds for 22 anglers. The New Huck Finn managed 33 salmon to 28 pounds for 20 anglers. The New Salmon Queen landed 42 salmon to 33 pounds for 25 people and the New Seeker checked in with 23 salmon to 25 pounds for 25 anglers.

As for the live bait trips, the Dandy totaled 10 striped bass, 4 halibut and 3 lingcod for 6 anglers. The Rapid Transit nailed 17 halibut to 25 pounds and 7 stripers for 19 anglers. The Captain Hook brought in 14 halibut, 8 lingcod, 27 rockfish and 15 striped bass for 25 people.

The following day, the C-Gull II landed 40 salmon to 36 pounds for 22 anglers. The Rapid Transit checked in with 32 salmon to 31 pounds for 24 anglers and the New Salmon Queen landed 23 salmon to 33 pounds for 26 people. The Dandy managed 10 halibut, 4 lingcod and 1 striper for 6 people. The New Huck Finn brought in 18 halibut and 6 striped bass for 34 anglers and the Captain Hook landed 11 halibut and 7 stripers for 28 people.

Both salmon and live bait potluck trips found excellent action for anglers fishing out of the Berkeley Marina this weekend. The salmon boats are averaging a fish per rod or better and potluck trips produced a two fish per rod average on a mix of halibut and striped bass.

"We're seeing a lot of big salmon in the 20 to 30 pound class right now," reported Chris Nelson of Berkeley Marina Sports Center. "Our live bait trips are also doing well on halibut, stripers and a few rockfish and lingcod when they fish outside the bay."

On Saturday, June 29, the Drifter brought in 18 salmon to 25 pounds for 19 anglers. The Golden Eye managed 10 halibut and 20 striped bass for 29 anglers. The following day, El Dorado landed full limits of salmon to 32 pounds for 24 people. The New Seeker checked in with 23 salmon to 25 pounds for 25 anglers. The Taku ran a rockfish trip that produced limits of lingcod to 11 pounds and 95 rockfish for 19 anglers. The New El Dorado nailed 26 salmon to 32 pounds for 28 anglers. The New El Dorado III brought in 45 salmon to 30 pounds for 30 people and the New Golden Eye managed 36 salmon to 32 pounds for 24 anglers.

"We ran live bait trips inside the bay this weekend and caught good numbers of stripers and halibut," reported Captain Jim Smith of Happy Hooker Sportfishing.

"The majority of the fish are coming off Angel Island, Alcatraz and the Berkeley Flats."

Over the weekend, the Happy Hooker scored a total of 21 halibut and 16 bass to 20 pounds for 22 anglers on Saturday and 24 halibut and 17 bass for 25 anglers on Sunday. The Baywatch had a red hot day on halibut Sunday with a total fish count of 28 halibut and 1 striped bass for 11 anglers.