TOP PICKS

FEATHER RIVER, Yuba City-The striped bass bite continued unabated, but the concentration of fish last week was from Verona to Nicolaus. Some say it's mostly a minnow bite, but they're taking big Clouser-type streamers, also. And, WON Staffer Bill Karr fished with CICC Outdoor Adventures and they hammered 40 fish in 3 1/2 hours while trolling Yo-Zuri's with a white grub trailer. Fishing pressure is extremely heavy, and it's important to get to the boat ramp early in order to find a parking spot.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-Striped bass continued on a tear last week. Add Discovery Park to the growing list of hot spots like Miller Park, Bryte's Beach, Garcia Bend and South River Road. Although the river has dropped and the water is clearing a bit, it's still quite off-color and so bass are still only taking bait like pileworms, bloodworms, and sardines.

COLLINS LAKE-The CIFFI Trout Derby was a great success, fielding 153 contestants. The overall big fish was won by a young girl who caught a 7 3/4-pound rainbow while trolling. Lots of limits were caught over the weekend by both trollers and shore anglers. A 9 1/2-pound rainbow was caught by a troller who was pre-fishing for the derby. The lake received three private plants this past week and is scheduled to get three more this week. The pen-raised fish are being released, too. Lincoln Young said that the resort will receive 40,000 to 50,000 fish weighing a total of 30,000 pounds this year.

LAKE BERRYESSA-Work both sides of the main body above Big Island and the banks down to the old Spanish Flats Resort to find bass guarding their beds or fish ready to spawn. Working spinnerbaits around the weed pockets or plastics such as tubes, grubs and Senkos have been good producers. Topwater baits worked slowly can also bring up some nice fish. Look for kokanee in the Narrows by the main lake, Skiers Cove, in the channel, Goat Island and up around the Big Island as the bite is picking up. Kings are ranging anywhere from 14.5 to 18 inches.

GENERAL

NORTH COAST RIVERS

ROGUE RIVER, Lower, Ore.-The springer run just isn't slowing down, except for a few days when the river rises, and action has been almost non-stop for guides, getting 3 to 7 hookups a day on fish to 30 pounds. All the river guides who reported gave glowing reports of the action, and all expect it to only get better through May. WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secrets said the water temperature is still on the cool side at 48.6 degrees. Both he and WON Field Reporter Andy Martin of Wild River Fishing said when the water temperature climbs above 50 degrees we should be getting lots of reports of anglers catching there limit of spring Chinooks in the Gold Beach area. Now's the time to book!

RUSSIAN RIVER-"It seems like it's been 5 years, but the river is finally in shape," said Nick Wheeler of King's Sport and Tackle on Monday. It came into shape on Friday, but most think it's over so there hasn't been much fishing pressure. Wheeler said he has heard of a few downstreamers being caught, and he expects some bluebacks, but no report yet. The hatchery is still getting a fresh fish now and then, he said, but the river focus is on shad, which could begin showing up any day, but are usually in good numbers by the first of May. Put it on your calendar.

SMITH RIVER-Blown out by heavy rains over the weekend.

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork; Glide, Oregon-There have been no reports of winter steelhead being caught. The banks are starting to fill with anglers in the evenings hoping to catch an early spring Chinook. "I have not heard of any being caught this high on the North Umpqua River, but I am sure that before April is over there will be many stories of the one that got away or did you see the 40 pounder that was caught last night," said WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. There have been a few springers caught below the Winchester Dam by back bouncing good roe.

UMPQUA RIVER; Elkton, Oregon-The river is full of boats in the Scott's Creek area and there has been plenty of chatter on the marine radio of spring Chinooks being caught on almost a daily basis. It's starting to sound like this river is going to have a healthy run of fish once again this year. "I have received a report of two springer's being caught while trolling near Mill Creek during the beginning of the week," said WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. The river raised nearly 3 feet on Saturday and most likely will be unfishable for 4-5 days.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER- Flows dropped again, down to 9,000 cfs, and the river continued to be almost devoid of anglers. Discovery Park has been producing some schoolie-sized striped bass on bloodworms, sardines, and anchovies, and, farther upstream, stripers are taking swimbaits, and occasionally a Pencil Popper. Virtually no one is fishing for them, but put in your time, and you might be rewarded with a bright adult steelhead. Your best odds will be upstream from Lower Sunrise Park.

FEATHER RIVER, Oroville-Fly fishers were hooking a very few steelhead in the Low Flow Section, but the bite slowed dramatically from the week before.

FOLSOM LAKE-Bass have been making a major push to the shallows to spawn, and have been aggressively grabbing crankbaits, ripbaits, and soft plastic swimbaits, as well as Senkos rigged wacky-style. Fish flats and in the newly-flooded brush around the main body.

RANCHO SECO LAKE, MATHER LAKE-Nice bass continued to be caught in the shallows of area ponds on wacky-rigged Senkos, crankbaits, swimbaits and ripbaits.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa-Flows have dropped, the water has cleared a bit, and striper fishing has taken off-for bait fishermen anyway. All area ramps except the one at Tisdale are now open.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-The release at Keswick has declined to 6,000 cfs, and trout fishing around Redding was great last week with 30 fish days possible. Some of the fish being hooked are pushing 3 pounds. Try dead-drifting a combination of egg pattern and small nymph under an indicator. If Spin-fishing, drift small Glo-Bugs.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-Hundreds of sun worshippers converged at the confluence at Hwy 49 over the weekend, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station, but not many were anglers. The flows are up, but clear and fishable.

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is at 86-percent capacity. According to Billy Graham at Emerald Cove Marina, there was very light fishing pressure on the spotted bass. The bite has been hit-or-miss as the spots begin their move to the flats to spawn. Plastics and swimbaits have accounted for some good fish at 20 to 30 feet. Trout and kokanee trollers have had continued success in the North Fork. The campgrounds are now open.

CAMP FAR WEST-The lake is full but no longer spilling. The water is still pretty dirty, but starting to clear a bit. The bass are moving back into the coves where drop-shot worms and crankbaits have been producing fish to 4 pounds, according to North Shore Resort.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 99-percent capacity. Lots of boaters were out over the weekend. One boater headed up to the Black's Ravine area and picked up a 16-inch rainbow and a 15 1/2-inch brown while casting a blue/silver Kastmaster.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake is at 86-percent capacity. The Chico Bass Club tournament this past Saturday was won with 16.90 pounds topped by a 5.96-pound spotted bass. This annual fund-raiser generates money to buy largemouth bass for release into the lake. The South Fork was the area reported to be the best during the event. Worms, jigs, and an early reaction bite on ripbaits and spinnerbaits accounted for most of the fish. The coho salmon fishing is still good at the Green Bridge and the dam for trollers working Sling Blade/hoochies at 30 feet.

ROLLINS LAKE-The lake is full and still spilling. The water is still a little muddy, but beginning to clear. The lake was planted by the DFG this past week. The Long Ravine Resort Marina and Outrigger Grill opening was postponed.

SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE-The lake is full and the water color is good. The DFG has made 2 or 3 plants so far this year and fishing has been improving with the weather. Shore anglers have been picking up rainbows on Power Bait near the marina. Trollers seem to do better by the dam.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-The roads are clear and there should be no problems with access. There should be a few holdover trout available for the patient angler.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is full, but the road still has 1 1/2 feet of snow on it making the area inaccessible. Warmer weather this week may improve the access-the camp concessionaires are anxious to get the campgrounds open.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-Some big bass coming off the tule banks on Senkos and swimbaits. Try for steelhead in the channel at Wilbur Road with a nightcrawler under a bobber.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE-Although the bite has still yet to bust open, a decent one continued using live minnows. The fish are concentrated when you find them and are mostly in shallow water, 5 to 8 feet. For artificial bite, the best bet has been to go to the north end and the expansive beds of tules. Pitch plastics like Senkos and Brush Hogs, good colors have been green pumpkin and watermelon colors with any number of flake variations.

UPPER BLUE LAKE- With this weekend's 23rd annual Blue Lake Trout Derby going on at the Narrows Resort, no details were available. But with two recent DFG trout plants, and warming waters, the trolling should be picking up mid-lake. Warmer waters will also encourage bass to head into the shallows for their spawning efforts.

DELTA REGION

SACRAMENTO RIVER side-Waters are receding, and the Power Lines were a good spot for stripers using blood worms and pile worms for bass to 10 pounds. Sturgeon were also taken here and good action for them was found in Montezuma Slough. The Deep Water Channel is clearing and trollers are finding good numbers of striper limits from 5 to 10 pounds in there on deep divers worked close to the banks by the mouth of Miners Slough.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side- Grizzly Island had improved sturgeon action, and for once, on a newly developing incoming tide. Anglers were working in 20 to 30 feet of water with eel and grass shrimp for bait. Meanwhile, the black bass action is heating up. Look for warmer waters in the shallows and back coves. Most of them have still been the smaller males though a few larger females are lurking about.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR-An abundance of bait, warming water temperatures and better water clarity is setting the stage for a great season. Brown trout to 5 pounds are being taken on the east shore, and the rainbow trout is picking up as well. With the shallows warming up, the smallies are also starting to move in to feast on smelt and baby crawdads. One weighing 5 pounds was caught this past week on a Trophy Stick while top lining for brown trout.

BAUM LAKE-Vaughn's Sporting Goods reported unchanged conditions, with good fly fishing possible due to lots of hatches, but fish are still adjusting to the change of weather. Bait and lure fishermen also had difficulty hooking up. Fish should adjust to the sunny skies shortly and hopefully the catching will pick back up then.

BRITTON LAKE-The water has cleared some from the dark mud color of last week, but not enough to tell if the crappie and bluegill are starting to move up yet. A few are trying, but not having any success yet.

IRON CANYON RESERVOIR-There have still been no new reports yet but you can expect it to be muddied up, especially near the inflow of water. Vaughn's Sporting Goods reports that with the previous weather patterns, Pit 5 is the only dependable access.

PIT RIVER-The Fly Shop in Redding reported high flows of 690 cfs still between Pit 4, and 5. Pit 3 is at least down to 350 cfs. The shop only had one report from an angler who caught one rainbow mid week and reported having a tough time because the water was so high and muddy. Hang in there, once the flows decrease, the waters will clear and the bite will pick up.

LAKE SHASTA-Rainbow trout to 16 inches were found in the Sacramento arm in Goose Neck, and Salt Creek, with the creek having a little more bait. It's still early though and as the waters warm up, so will the fish. From the surface down to 20 feet trout were caught on blue and UV patterned Cripplures and Hum Dingers. By the dam and in Dry Creek a few salmon to 2 pounds were found from 20 to 40 feet deep. Big bass have been staging on points early in the day. A 7-in. Ghost Rainbow colored Osprey may find a few big ones, while a worm bite has been producing numbers of smaller at 15 to 25 feet with MF shad colored worms.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City- The releases to the Trinity begin to increase on April 22, and reach 11,000 cfs early in May. There might be a few days of fishable water within the first week after the river starts to rise, but, there isn't much to warrant a trip-mostly steelhead smolts, sea run rainbows and a few downrunner adult steelhead.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam-The release from Iron Gate Dam was still a high 2,980 cfs, at Seiad Valley, and the flow was over 7,000 cfs, and they continue to rise the farther downstream one goes. In other words, the Klamath continued to be too high to fish throughout its length.

Motherlode

AMADOR LAKE-A bonus plant of 1,000 pounds of 1.5-pound Donaldson's trout boosted the action, with many anglers catching and releasing the smaller grade of fish that had to be released to make room at the lake's raising pens. Anglers used purple Power Bait and Kastmasters for the best results. Lots of bluegills in the shallows, and they're willing to nibble a mealworm under a bobber. Bass were still pre-spawn with mostly small males up in the shallows.

CAMANCHE LAKE-Trout fishing remained good for anglers fishing both north and south shore from the bank, Power Bait, Power Eggs and nightcrawlers top offerings. Trollers found fish at Hat Island and upriver with Rapalas. Bass fishing rated good for anglers fishing the rip rap in the main lake with Senkos, worms and rip baits.

DON PEDRO RESERVOIR-Guide Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing said the bite for Friday's clients was good with 14 fish hooked, 10 kept and 4 released. The catch was a mix of king salmon, rainbow trout and kokanee. The kings and some rainbows hit shad fished on downriggers, but the kokanee hit regular kokanee gear, the first Smith has tried for the sockeyes this season.

LAKE McCLURE-Lake level is dropping fast as managers get ready for the spring snowmelt, with a 9-foot loss in the past week and a half. There are still some bass showing in the first 20 feet of water off the bank, but that may change as fish move off due to the rapidly falling water. Trout trollers reported limits on flasher/'crawler combos and Apexes, the buoy line near the dam a top spot.

LAKE McSWAIN-Some changes on the marina management caused some down time, but Merced Irrigation District took over the store and reopened last week with a limited inventory and bait supply. The marina store will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The MID hosted a tagged trout derby and 5 tagged fish were brought in, each netting the lucky angler who caught it $687.40 (one angler caught 2 tagged fish!). Big fish weighed 5.8 pounds, and was worth $200 to a Waterford angler. The $3,000 number one tagged fish wasn't caught, but that fish will be worth $500 for anyone who signed up for the derby who might be lucky enough to catch it before July 1.

LAKE PARDEE-Some more big brown action for trollers fishing Rapalas in the river mouth near the rockwall. The shore action in the Rec Area was great all week, with fish caught at the EBMUD boathouse, launch ramp, Tom Sawyer Island and Rainbow Point on Power Bait and Kastmasters. Water temperature on the surface late last week was 56 degrees.

NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR-Stripers should start stirring with warming water temperatures, but the black bass action is the top bet for anglers fishing the first 15 feet out from the bank with Senkos and tube baits, Whiskey and Bear Creek arms the top areas now.

NEW MELONES RESERVOIR-Guide Gary Burns of Take It To The Limit Guide Service scored the first kokanee limit of the season, trolling pink hoochies behind a silver dodger 20 feet down near the spillway and dam area. The fish measured up to 14 inches. Bass moved up to spawn big time with the full moon, and anglers fishing the 5- to 20-foot zone with jigs, Senkos, worms, spinnerbaits and swimbaits (the smaller ones). Catfish are starting to move around, and anglers soaking cut baits or minnows scored fish to nearly 6 pounds.

TULLOCH RESERVOIR-Great action on planter trout and the occasional holdover. The planters are hitting flasher/'crawlers, small spoons and bead spinners near the surface, but the holdovers like the shad best, fished a little deeper. No reports from bassers, but there is still a lot of bass boat traffic on the lake, so you can bet there is a decent bite going.

North Saltwater

BENICIA-The sturgeon action was excellent right out at the Green Can in front, with several keeper sturgeon brought in, reported Tony Lopez at Benicia Bait and Tackle. "They've even been catching them from shore," said Lopez. Top spots for bank sturgeon action has been Glen Cove, Dillon Point and Eckly Pier. Very few stripers showing in the upper system.

BERKELEY-The boats went on the hunt for king salmon, one going north to Point Reyes, the other south to Pigeon Point. They both scratched some keepers, but found no mother lode of kings. The New El Dorado III was the south running boat, and they had 5 kings for 10, big fish a 14 pounder. The New Easy Rider went north and had 3 kings. The Happy Hooker is mixing up the sturgeon and halibut efforts, doing best right now with the sturgeon, but finding some good striper action while drifting live shiners. "They had 5 keeper sturgeon for 9 anglers on Monday," said deck assistant Dave Marquardt.

BODEGA BAY- Captain Bob Monckton on the Reel-lentless reported hit and miss action on the salmon, his trip on Sunday starting strong but once the fish stopped biting, you couldn't persuade them otherwise. His anglers ended the day with 4 kings topped by a 12 pounder. "We had a 3-way right off the bat and dropped 2, had a double right after, so had our 4 fish by 10 a.m.," said Monckton. "On Saturday, we fished down at Point Reyes, and were into shakers all the time, but only had one keeper." Sunday's effort was straight out at the 290-foot contour.

CROCKETT-Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star finished his sturgeon season with a strong week, with keepers every day, and some monster oversized fish released. "Great action, actually," said Hough. "We fished the Sonoma Creek to Pumphouse area, using ghost and grass shrimp combo platters." After a brief vacation, he'll be focusing on striped bass and halibut from the Loch Lomond Marina.

EMERYVILLE-The only efforts were bay halibut trips on the New Huck Finn, and while bay conditions remained non-halibut like, there were some striped bass and shaker 'buts caught. The action came via trolling, with 3 keeper stripers on Saturday along with a couple undersized halibut and some lost fish, and 2 bass on Sunday. None of the boats ran for salmon. "We need good scores to get the people out, but we need the anglers to get the boats out!" lamented Frank Salazar.

EUREKA-The salt started to come to life with improving conditions. Surfperch was a top bet at Centerville, the mouth of the Eel, and at Elk River Beach in the bay and to the north at Redwood Creek. Sandcrabs, sandworms, blood worms and pile worms all are good bets, but in a pinch, mussels in a netting wrap works great too (like you would wrap roe for steelhead). Minus tides this week will bring out the abalone pickers, and Clam Beach has already produced limits of razor clams.

FORT BRAGG-Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar headed offshore in search of salmon and found some great bait signs at the 315-foot contour about 3 miles west/southwest of the buoy. They put in and hooked up a 13 pounder right away, then boated a 17 pounder. The third pass produced a lost fish and another bite before the action moved on. "There were other boats that caught fish, nothing red hot, but promising," said Thornton.

HALF MOON BAY-Salmon action continued to show promise, with the Queen Of Hearts reporting their best day so far, both in conditions and fish count, on Friday. The 7 anglers on board decked 12 kings, the bite coming at the infamous local hot spot, the Deep Reef. The fish ranged in size up to 14 pounds. .

MARTINEZ-Great sturgeon action with several nice keepers reported from the Ozol Pier area, most on grass shrimp or grass and eel combo baits. Over a period of days, one angler tagged out on sturgeon, then released 3 more keeper sized fish while targeting striped bass there.

POINT SAN PABLO-Captain Frank Miller on the Fury fished for sevengills with 3 anglers who caught 8 sevengills to 30 pounds, the fish coming from Harding Rock and Yellow Bluff. On Sunday, a sturgeon and bass trip found lots of undersized fish, a couple keeper bass, and no sturgeon.

SHELTER COVE-WON subscriber Lonnie Dollarhide fished the Cove Saturday with friends for 5 limits of kings topped by his 22 pounder. The hot set up was a green Rotary Salmon Killer at 50 pulls behind a 2-pound lead on a release. "We were fishing seven miles south of the cove," said Dollarhide.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 83-percent capacity. Boaters are launching from gravel banks along the east side of the lake by the road. Trollers have been picking up some nice rainbows and browns along with 10- to 12-inch kokanees. Rainbows are spawning, so release them!! Fly fishermen are stacked up on the river above the lake.

CAPLES LAKE-According to Caples Lake Resort, there's 3 feet of ice and 6 to 8 feet of snow on the lake-it's just too thick to auger through. The lake won't thaw until late May or early June.

CARSON RIVER (East)-The runoff has flows in the river up and off-color. Both the DFG and Alpine County should make a big trout plant the week of the opener on April 30.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is at 77-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The cable that secures the dock at Honker broke while a crew attempted to install the dock. Now a diver will have to replace the cable which will probably take another couple of weeks. Fishing was been slow for bait anglers and fly fishermen, according to Ed Dillard at Dillard's Guided Fishing. Still plenty of snow on the ground around the lake blocking access beyond Mallard Point.

DONNER LAKE-The lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The lake level is up enough to allow easy launching for trollers. Keith Zenker from Mountain Hardware and Sports trolled a black/silver Broken-back Rebel in 20 to 30 feet of water along the shore and picked up one 20-inch Mackinaw in a morning of fishing. Keith Kerrigan of Sierra Anglers Guide Service caught a 10-pound brown on a Yozuri plug trolled along the bottom at the inlet this past week. Trout trollers have been doing well on planter and holdover rainbows in the shallows on the west end of the lake. Shore anglers have been picking up some trout at the launch ramp and at the disabled dock on Power Bait and nightcrawlers.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-The North Fork is scheduled for a DFG trout plant in anticipation of the general trout season opener next weekend. There will be an opening day trout derby at Caribou Crossroads Resort-$5 entry and lots of prizes.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is at 70-percent capacity. Shore fishing at the dam is still the best bet. Anglers have been doing well using nightcrawlers for trout running 1 to 2 pounds. The roads around the lake are still covered with snow and travel is treacherous at best.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 38-percent capacity. Icy road conditions into the lake, but there might be some open water to allow shore fishing. There's still too much ice for boating.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Good access into the lake on both roads. Fishing has been good for big trout, according to Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort. Victor Babbett at Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported good action on rainbows running 2 1/2 to 7 pounds on black or olive wooly buggers and blood midges fished all around the lake, but especially near the dam. Lure casters have been doing well on Kastmaster spoons.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-The DFG trout plant this past week produced great action for both trollers and shore anglers. One boat with two adults and two young boys limited out on Sunday while trolling flasher/worm combos at the second dam. Shore anglers did best on Power Bait at the first dam.

LAKE TAHOE-Good action on Mackinaws suspended at 180 to 220 feet or along the bottom at 350 to 400 feet deep. If lures alone don't work, add a minnow or nightcrawler. Macks are running from 3 to 8 pounds for Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters and Chuck Self at Chuck's Charter Fishing.

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is at 35-percent capacity. The lake is only ice free at the inlet though the ice on the rest of the lake is too thin for ice fishing. Getting to the inlet is difficult but shore fishermen have been picking up some nice fish.

PYRAMID LAKE-Fishing remained slow for the First Annual Spring Catch-and-Release Tournament that concluded on April 17. First place, a 9 pounder caught by Tim Rhyme at Pelican on a marabou jig. Second place, an 8 1/2 pounder landed by Brannon Wagoner from shore at the South Nets. Third place, Rick Behrens with a 7 1/2-pound cutthroat taken at the North Nets trolling a Flatfish. The junior winner was 14-year old Tyus Millhollin who caught a 4 1/4 pounder from shore. Only 15 fish were weighed in over the two weekends by 80 contestants, leaving 5 prizes unclaimed.

RED LAKE-There's too much ice and snow to dig through to reach the fish.

SILVER LAKE-Ice and snow is just too thick to get through to fish.

TOPAZ LAKE-According to Linda Fields at Topaz Landing Marina, the fishing was very good this past week. Limits and near limits of 1- to 3-pound rainbows were common for anglers trolling or bait fishing at the south end of the lake outside the inlet. Windy conditions can shorten a day of trolling in the afternoon.

TRUCKEE RIVER-The river below Truckee is running high but clear. A sculpin streamer in the softer water was producing rainbows and browns running 18 to 24 inches. The Little Truckee above Boca is wall-to-wall with fly fishermen taking advantage of the spawn for rainbows to 23 inches.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 57-percent capacity. Still lots of snow and ice on the road to the launch off Pea Vine Ridge Road, according to Ken Mathis at Ken's Custom Tackle and Guide Service.

--Western Outdoor News

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