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Hot-Bites Fishing Report By the Fish Sniffer Staff	April 30, 2008 Updated Regularly

PIT RIVER/LOWER HAT CREEK RAINBOWS... The trout season opener in the Burney area got off to great start on April 26, with anglers reporting the top fishing from the Pit River, Baum Lake and lower Hat Creek.

Fly fishermen nailed rainbows ranging from 10 to 17 inches in the Pit River #3 and #4 sections on opening day. "The salmon fly hatches are starting, so salmon fly nymphs, Prince nymphs, rubber legs and adult stoneflies produced the top fishing," said Steve Vaughn of Vaughn's Sporting Goods. "Spin fishermen are catching quite a few rainbows while using nightcrawlers and Panther Martins in the Pit #4 Reach."

"Trout fishing was pretty darn good at Baum Lake on opening weekend," Vaughn revealed. "Spin fishermen did best on meal worms, nightcrawlers and Kastmasters, while the fly fishers found the top success on midge patterns. The fish caught on the weekend ranged from 8 to 20 inches long."

Serge Kachanov of Sacramento demonstrated his angling prowess by nailing a 19 inch rainbow weighing 3-1/2 pounds while drifting a nightcrawler on April 26.

Lower Hat Creek kicked out wild rainbows in the 10 to 14 inch range for anglers using small nymphs and Wooly Buggers, according to Vaughn.

"Lake Britton smallmouth bass are starting to bite as the water warms," said Vaughn. "Most of the 12 to 15 inch fish are hitting rip baits and Sluggos. The crappie bite should bust loose within 1-1/2 to 2 weeks."

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The Intermountain Area lies between Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen. The elevations range from 3,000' to 5,500' with a few mountains overlooking lava flows, lush farm land, forest, brush land, lakes, rivers and streams. Can you say TROUT? The Intermountain IS California's premier trout fishery. Hat Creek, Fall River, Pit River, Baum Lake, Lava Creek, and Lake Britton are world famous for the size and varieties of their trout. Much of the area is Catch & Release, check your regs. The trophy browns are a fly fisherman's favorite. If you would like to really get away from it all Medicine Lake on the Shasta Lava Flow is a good place to troll for rainbows. You will also find fantastic wild trout fishing in the Pit River around Alturas. The pressure on the fishery is lighter here but there aren't as many places to fish as around Burney and Fall River Mills. The Warner Mountains also offer limited high mountain opportunities.