Latest Issue - Fish Sniffer Magazine | The Fish Sniffer

The Magazine for West Coast Sportsmen!

Powered by
Volume 44 Issue 8 Out Now!

Volume 44 Issue 8 Out Now!

Check out the new Issue of The Fish Sniffer magazine for September 19, 2025

In this issue of The Fish Sniffer, we are looking forward to Fall, the best season of the year for some of us. The Fall is the time when all beings start to prepare for the tough winter season. For Fishing in Northern Californi, that means the trout, salmon, bass, panfish, stripers, catfish and all other species go on the bite to fatten up for the lean winter season Lakes like Eagle, Shasta, New Melones, Folsom and Berryessa and most others will feature some of the best fishing of the year. Striped bass fishing in the Delta will take off for stripers and the Bay and Ocean will see halibut, rockfish and lingcod go on the bite.

The golden mussel problem is still impacting boaters all over the state and has caused major boat launch closures and strict new inspection and quarantine rules several lakes in our area. These rules are starting to change, and some lakes like Oroville and Bullards bar are allowing boaters to launch the same day after an inspection. Be sure to check out the regulations at any lake you want to fish before you go.

All you need to know about fresh and saltwater fishing in Northern California is now available in the new issue of The Fish Sniffer Magazine!

Fish Of The Month
Fish Sniffer Staff profileBy Fish Sniffer Staff

September's Fish of the Month goes to the team at Tahoe Sportfishing!

Limits of Kokanee were the rule for everyone on board during the month of August!

Trout Banner

Staff Tackle

What we're using

Jack Naves

Jack Naves

Jack Naves fished Collins Lake in his 20' North River Seahawk. He caught four rainbow trout and one lightning trout to 4.5 pounds using Edge Mag Pro rods in Cannon downriggers. The rods were teamed with Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 'Kokanee' levelwind reels loaded with FINS 15-pound test braided line with a 50' top shot of Trilene XT 10-pound test clear. He trolled Rapala F-9 Floating Minnows in the 'Hot Steel' color at thirty feet deep.

Paul Kneeland

Paul Kneeland

Paul Kneeland fished Pyramid Lake with John Brassfield of Trucksmart stores in the Fish Sniffer Rogue Jet 21 Coastal. They caught Lahontan cutthroat trout to 21 pounds, using a Berkley 8'6" Buzz Ramsey Air Rod with an Daiwa Lexa line counter reel loaded with 10 lb test P Line. They trolled 4 inch Silver Horde and B-21 spoons in bright chartreuse/orange and yellow/red and 4 inch Doctor Spoons in copper/black behind Vance's Cannonball flashers, trolling off Canon Downriggers at 40 to 70 feet deep and 2.3 mph.

Dan Bacher

Dan Bacher

Dan Bacher fished for rainbow trout at Spicer Reservoir. He used a Berkley Ugly Stick GX2 6' 6" medium action spinning rod, teamed up with a Shakespeare GX235 spinning reel filled with 8 lb. test P-Line CX Premium Fluorocarbon Coated Line. He fished with Berkley Tequila Sunrise Power Bait on a #14 Eagle Claw gold treble hook on a sliding sinker rig.

Hot Bites

San Francisco Bay

Live bait fishing adventures are producing limits of both striped bass and halibut on days when the tides are right. Trips on the ocean just outside the Golden Gate are also yielding both species.

Monterey Bay

Limits of rockfish and some lingcod are being caught in the shallow water reefs along the Monterey and San Cruz County coastline. Shrimp flies, bars, jigs and cut baits are all doing the trick.

Folsom Lake

Mixed limits of king salmon and rainbow trout are being taken on Folsom Lake. Trolling between 50 and 70 feet deep with 360 flashers/hoochie combinations is your best bet.

Lake Berryessa

Fishing is great for rainbows, kokanee, kings and black bass. Bass anglers are using topwater baits and drop shot rigs for spotted, largemouth and spotted bass, while trollers are landing rainbows, kokanee and kings..

Good Bets

Davis Lake

The trout bite at Davis Lake has turned on. Bank anglers are bagging rainbows while using PowerBait and worms. Trollers are finding fish at 18 to 25 feet deep while using copper/red Dick Nites and orange and copper Baby Simon Lures.

Spicer Reservoir

Trollers are catching limits of rainbows, with a few browns mixed in, while trolling spoons and spinners. Shore anglers are also bagging trout while using PowerBait, nightcrawlers and flies under bobbers

Half Moon Bay Rockfish

Anglers are catching limits of rockfish while fishing shallow water with light tackle. Cabezon, browns, canaries, vermilions and lingcod are in the mix

New Melones Lake

The kokanee bite is sizzling. Experienced trollers are bagging limits while employing gold dodgers paired with orange/gold spinners.

Sleepers

American River

Summer striped bass fishing is in full swing. Cast out topwater lures and swimbaits or fly fish with Clouser Minnows in the early morning and evening hours.

Tomales Bay

Boaters trolling with live and dead bait are picking up quality halibut. The first white seabass of the season was weighed in at Lawson’s Landing.

Collins Lake

Trollers are bagging trout while trolling with spoons and Trout Trix Worms at around 30 feet deep. Expect the bass and catfish bites to heat up.

Donne r Lake

Kokanee are active in the mornings, schooling between 25–35 feet. Trolling pink or chartreuse hoochies behind dodgers is producing best.

Coming Soon

Central Valley Rivers

A limited salmon season will open on sections of the Mokelumne, Feather and American rivers, within adjusted seasons and a daily bag limit of one fish. More information:: https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/limited-chinook-sport- fishing-to-reopen-in-3-central-valley-rivers

Point Reyes to Point Sur

Ocean salmon fishing will reopen September 4-7, with a 7,500 Chinook limit. There will be possible additional openings on September 29-30 and into October if quotas remain.

Eagle Lake

The trout bite is decent right now but expected to improve as the water clarity gets better. Anglers are currently having success anchoring over rockpiles and setting flies a foot off the bottom.

Delta Catfish

Expect fishing for white and channel catfish to pick up as the weather heats up. Fishing is best early and late with clams, chicken livers and cut baits.

Latest Reports

Fresh insights from California's premier fishing destinations.
Your source for real-time fishing conditions and expert tips.

Freshwater
Truckee Area Report

Truckee Area Report

Mountain Hardware & Sports profileBy Mountain Hardware & Sports

Truckee Area Lakes Donner Kokanee and Mackinaw, Boca Browns Lead Early Fall Angling Parade TRUCKEE – Donner Lake: Fishing is steady for all species. Kokanee are hanging around 50 feet, while macks ar...

Read More
Saltwater
Monterey Bay Report

Monterey Bay Report

Dan Bacher profileBy Dan Bacher

Monterey Bay Boats Target Halibut, Lingcod and Rockfish SANTA CRUZ – Now that the four-day fall salmon season is over, anglers are back to concentrating on rockfish, lingcod and halibut in the Monter...

Read More
Conservation
Delta Tunnel Opponents Slam Revised budget Plan

Delta Tunnel Opponents Slam Revised budget Plan

Dan Bacher profileBy Dan Bacher

Delta Tunnel opponents slam Gov. Newsom's revised budget plan to fast-track project SACRAMENTO - Sacramento — Governor Gavin Newsom in May announced, as part of his May Budget Revise, a controversia...

Read More