TOP PICKS

BERKELEY - Great week if you like variety and red hot salmon fishing. The Happy Hooker started the week off strong by mooching up a quick 15 limits of salmon on Monday, then the group got to load up on limits of rockfish. Biggest king was a 28 poundlunker. They scored salmon through the week, then switched to stripers on the weekend, finding 26 bass and 8 halibut to 22 pounds for 34 anglers on Saturday's trip. The California Dawn looked after the cow herd, finding several 100-pound plus sevengills, releasing some, keeping some, including a monster 250 pounder caught by a San Francisco angler. Captain Bill Clapp, Bill's Sportfishing, had a great trip Wednesday, taking three anglers out for wideopen salmon action, lots of shakers, and 5 keepers. "We had 30 hookups," said Clapp.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento - Salmon fishing continued to be good, especially around the mouth of the American River. As usual, very few of the fishermen catch almost all of the fish. Probably the most important tip is putting in your hours-afternoons can be just as good as early mornings-and go out at least once with a good guide. You will still have to put in your hours, but at least you will be using the right lures and techniques.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff- Salmon fishing has been excellent with good guides and experienced fishermen scoring frequent limits of bright king salmon. Most of the fish are rangingfrom 6 to 15 pounds, but some larger fish in the 25- to 35-pound class are starting to show. The stretch from Chico seems to be producing best, with one area better than another on any given day-or time. Later in the day can produce more bites at times than early in the morning.

DELTA REGION: SACRAMENTO RIVER side - The salmon slowed as the fish moved on, but every day you still have a chance at a king salmon. You can't catch a fish if you are not on the waterwhen the next school moves through. Silvertrons trolled from Garcia on down to Vieira's Resort and by the Isleton Bridge area had some action. Stripers were also found in the Rio Vista area on mudsuckers. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side- Dillon Point at Benicia State Park and at the end of First Street in Benicia continued to see crowds of anglers. On Tuesdays when the park is closed and anglers have to walk or bike in twomiles, it's less crowded. The number of salmon was down this past week, butanglers can expect the next run of fish to take a break here as this is one of the areas they use to transition from saltwater to the Delta's more brackish waters. Striped bass can also be found in these popular fishing areas. Collinsville and Franks Track were also good for stripers on bullheads.

GENERAL

NORTH COAST RIVERS

COOS RIVER; Coos Bay, Ore. - There are so many salmon being caught on most days, that it would be impossible to estimate how many king's were being harvested. From the North Bend Bridge to Saus Brother's, it has been a traffic jam of angler's on the water, according to WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secret's Guide Service. Spinning plug cut herring is what 98% of the angler's are using. "Just thinking about how great the fishing has been this season puts a smile on my face," he said.

COQUILLE RIVER, Bandon, Ore. - This river is not onlyputting out large catches of Chinook salmon, but the fish are also heavy on the scales, Palmer said. Average weight of one of these fatties is over 20 pound's. Fishing only a couple short miles from the ocean, anglers are catching fishthat entered the river only hours earlier. This is a fun place to fish, with lots of historical scenery that makes an angler wonder what thing's must have been like a short 60 years ago in this drainage.

ROGUE RIVER, Gold Beach, Ore. - WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service, said there are still some nice king's being caught in the bay, and there have been a few hatchery king's being reported over the last week, which means the Indian Creek fish are starting to arrive. These salmon find home in a stream at the upper end of the bay. Angler's from shore can have success fishing for these salmon casting spinner's from the bank next to where Indian Creek enters the Rogue Bay. Guide Bill Divens of Salmonkinglodge.com said he's still doing very well on the bright kings upriver.

ROGUE RIVER, Grant's Pass - Fall kings keep showing up in ever-increasing numbers, and steelhead action is getting good in some stretches of the river. More details next week.

RUSSIAN RIVER - Now that summer water sports are slowingdown some, anglers can actually fish for smallmouth during the day as well as early and late, although it requires a little more weight to get down in the deeper, cooler waters.

UMPQUA RIVER, Reedsport, Ore. - Fishing has slowed down from last week, although there are still some boats that seem to be catching close to limit's for everyone on board. "I am receiving information that indicates that the bite has been mainly at low tide with only a fish or twobeing scratched on the high of the incoming tide," said Curtis Palmer. "Dean Creek area is showing promise for boats that are willing to work the area."

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City - Fishing for spring run Chinook salmon was a challenge once again last week, with almost all of the action occurring very early in the morning and a higher percentage of darker fish showing up. Fresh salmon and steelhead were moving into the lower river on colder water, but hadn't arrived in the upper reaches of the river by the weekend. Flows were back down to 450 cfs.

TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek - Fall run Chinook salmon and steelhead were making a big move into the lower end of the Trinity, spurred by lower water temperatures and temporary higher flows.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam - No salmon have shown up yet, but nice trout and steelhead continued to be caught on nightcrawlers, back-trolled Hot Shots, and streamers swung on flyrods.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen - Fishing on the lower end of the Klamath River continued to be excellent and virtually everyone is catching fish, even bank fishermen. More and morelarger adult salmon are showing, but the majority of fish are still jacks and adults to 10 or 12 pounds.

North Saltwater

BODEGA BAY - The combo trips ruled, with salmon and rockfish limits, and some nice lings landed. The mid-week was strong on the New Sea Angler with 8 salmon to 22 pounds for 11anglers on Wednesday, those 11 anglers also catching limits of rockfish and 2 lingcod. Sunday's trip was a long day, but the 16 anglers on board caught 15 kings to 22 pounds and limits of rockfish, plus one lingcod. The king bite was late that day, so Captain Rick Powers stayed on the bite until after 5 p.m.

EMERYVILLE - Great salmon fishing pretty much all week until Saturday when weather dropped the scores. Several trips resulted in boat limits on kings, especially on the lightly loaded ones. Bottomfishing trips produced limits plus up to one around on the lingcod. There was even some thresher sharks and a barracuda caught. Some of the boats are still targeting halibut and striped bass after rockfish limits, finding a few, like Wednesday on the New Huck Finn when 20 anglers caught rockfish limits, 12 lings, and 5 halibut to 15 pounds.

EUREKA - Ocean boating traffic slowed down with the end of salmon season, but rockfish is still fair game. On Tuesday, Reel Steel ran down to Cape Mendocino and scored limits of rockfish and lingcod. The rockfish were a mix of reds, blacks, coppers, a few blues and quillbacks. Biggest fish was a 24-pound lingcod. On Wednesday, Reel Steel ran a fundraiser trip for the local rotary, scoring limits (70 fish) in an hour and a half. On the Shellback, Captain Phil Glenn also found easy limits of rockfish at the cape. There were also 3 Pacific halibut caught, and more anglers were planning halibut efforts on the weekend.

FORT BRAGG - Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar reported spotty salmon fishing, with good action attimes, but the hot bites died quick making high counts hard to achieve. The top day was Tuesday when the action started off strong with 5 fish in the boat for five anglers by 9 a.m., but the bite shut down and the seemingly sure limitmorning bite fizzled. Big fish that day was a 20 pounder. Reports of drag boats loading up with giant squid has Thornton tempted to make some Humboldt exploratories.

HALF MOON BAY - Still good bottomfishing around the local reefs, with limits of rockfish the rule and some bonus cabezon and lingcod possible. On board the New Gravy, five anglers caught 7 kings on Wednesday, big fish in the 12-pound class.

LOCH LOMOND - Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star said weather was a factor on his trips on Wednesday and Saturday. Wednesday there was no wind and no resulting drift, and on Saturday, there was nothing but wind. "We had 5 halibut and 1 bass on Wednesday, and 7 halibut and 3 bass for nine on Saturday," said Hough.

SAN FRANCISCO - A great week for the salmon fleet with limits or near limits early in the week, then the bite quit on Saturday, mostly due to sudden southerly winds that hampered the fishing. Conditions rebounded on Sunday, and most boats with more than a dozen anglers scored one around,while lightly loaded boats made limits.

SAUSALITO - The Sausalito boats shined onSunday, with 10 limits on the Hog Heaven, that boat the first of the fleet to pull the plug on Sunday morning. The Outer Limits had 10 anglers and 18 fish, so near limits, plus the biggest king of the week, a 32 pounder.

Motherlode

AMADOR LAKE - Bass fishing remained fair for anglers putting in the time. There is a little surface action early and late in the day as the fish chase shad schools, which, by the way, are over the top this year. Crappie and bluegill are hitting for night anglers fishing off the docks. Soaking chicken liver at night tempts the catfish. No trout plants yet, the water is still too warm.

CAMANCHE LAKE - Trout trollers fished 35 to 40 feet down with shad patterned spoons around the dam to Hat Island for fish to 3 pounds. Bass are holding on rocky structure, and Senkos, jigs and worms worked best. Catfish are prowling the shallows late in the day aroundboth recreation area shorelines, picking up nightcrawler and chicken liver baits.

DON PEDRO RESERVOIR - Trolling for trout produced limitswith fish in the 2- to 3-pound class common. The rainbows are scattered between 15 and 65 feet, chasing shad. Bass are starting to suspend with the shad schools, and trout trollers are finding a few bass while trolling.

LAKE McCLURE - On the big fish headlines, a 14-pound catfish was caught then released by a local angler using anchovies in Arnold Bay near the waterfall. Small bass seem to be the rule for anglers using live crawdads, could be the bigger fish are out chasing shad schools.

LAKE McSWAIN - Good action for shore trout anglers, with the brushpile producing good action for anglers using pink Power Eggs. Pink was also the hot color for another angler using bubblegum Power Bait.

LAKE PARDEE - Still planting rainbow trout, giving bank anglers a chance to hook up at least in the period of time right after a plant. Fred Dorman at Lake Pardee Recreation said that cooling temperatures should only enhance the action. Top gear hasn't changed much through the spring-summer-fall season, with blue and silver or silver an chartreuse Kastmasters in quarter ounce sizes working for lure tossers. Bait soakers find action with a sliding sinker rig and Power Bait, the garlic flavor working best. Catfish are another top choice with the eastern and southern shoreline producing for anglers soaking chicken livers.

NEW HOGAN RESERVOIR - The most recent reports indicate more topwater activity as the stripers start working the shad schools and the boater traffic lightens. Lots of small black bass in the shallows, but getting a keeper is tough. Catfish are a good bet for night fishermen targeting the creek arms like Deer and Bear creeks with chicken liver, shad and cut anchovy, mackerel or sardines.

NEW MELONES RESERVOIR - Night fishing for trout is a top bet for anglers using submersible lights, usually fishing the dam area. "Anchor the boat in 60 to 80 feet of water and drop your light down 10 to 20 feet," tipped Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports. Trollers are getting fish also, putting shad pattern lures like Ex-Cel, Apexes, Needlefish and Rapalas down 35 to 60 feet. Bass are chasing shad, but there is so much bait that the bite rates only fair, said Lewis. Topwater baits, jerkbaits, and jigs worked best.

TULLOCH RESERVOIR - As boater traffic slows down, the trout bite improves. Trollers used shad patterned spoons fished two to three colors down, with the morning and evening bites best. The most recent bass reportsindicate a fair bite for anglers fishing the rocky points and dock structures with Senkos and tube baits.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER - Flows are continuing to fluctuate, sometimes being cut in half-from 4,000 cfs to 2,000 cfs-and then doubled, within a 24-hour period. It definitely has negatively impacted the fishing,which had been pretty good. At least it's for a good cause-to facilitate the project to augment spawning gravels which have been depleted over the decades after the building of Nimbus and Folsom Dams. The project is centered on the section of the American flanked on the north at the lower end of Sailor Bar Park, and on the south by the upper end of Upper Sunrise.Park. Fish hate quickly-altered flows, and it definitely has had a negative impact on what has been pretty good fishing for striped bass, salmon and steelhead. Fishermen will fish, and fish will continue to be caught-just not as consistently-until the project ends and releases stabilize at the end of the month. But wading anglers must exercise even more vigilance now than before.

FEATHER RIVER - A few salmon were being taken around Shanghai Bend but fishing still is nothing to write home about, although fishing was a bit better than it had been in the weeks earlier. Fly fishermen continued to score some nice steelhead in the Low Flow Section on nymphs and egg patterns. It's hard to occasionally accidentally hook the plentiful salmon, however. The best approach to avoid wasting a lot of time with them, and also to avoid risking a citation (it's illegal to catch or even appear to targetsalmon in the Low Flow Section to a line approximately 1,000 feet below theOutlet) is to lower the rod tip and break the fish off.

FOLSOM LAKE - Fishing was still quite slow last week, and the outlook is much the same until water temperatures cool significantly. Almost all the action, what little there is of it, has been dartheading and drop-shotting plastic worms either in lighter smelt or darker crawdad-imitating patterns. The key is to use electronics to find concentrations of bait through and over structure.

MCCLOUD RIVER - The upper McCloud above the lake continued to see lots of pressure but continued to produce fish. Smaller trout were being caught on nymphs on the Lower McCloud.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding - Trout fishing continued to be good, and rainbows from 12 inches to 3 pounds were being caught on drifted Glo-Bugs and nightcrawlers, as well as dead drifting caddis- and Mayfly imitating nymphs under floats on the long rod.

UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER - Cool nights are getting longer, and already good fishing is getting even better. Post-Labor Day crowds are diminishing, too, especially in the Dunsmuir area. The stretch below Gibson is continuing to produce some larger rainbows on nymphs dead-drifted under indicators. These are native trout coming out of Lake Shasta.

YUBA RIVER - Trout fishing on the Yuba River continued to be very good, with anglers scoring on caddis and Mayfly nymphsunder indicators, as well as dry flies. Waders can find fish and relative solitude the farther they walk up- and downstream of the Highway 20 Bridge.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE - The topwater action on spooks, poppers and frogs has all gotten better. You still have to cover water to find the active fish feeding on bait, but once you find them, there can be some good action. Senkos, drop-shotting and jigs are also producing. Throwing a 5- to 6-inch swimbait has also been putting some goodfish in the boat for the tournament folks. Catfishing continues to be a good bet with the fish moving into the shallows right before dark. Minnows on a bobber, nightcrawlers or cut bait are all working.

LAKE BERRYESSA - Saturday October 15, Casting For Kids will hold their annual kids fishing event for youth 5 to 16 years old. Boaters are still needed to volunteer for thisevent. If interested contact Jason at 707.966.2111, ext. 143 or send an email to jgjordan@usbr.gov . There are still a few weeks left to get a koke in the channel by Skiers Cove. Some of the best setups have been RMT 5.5-inch dodgers, 3/0 Sep's dodgers with Apexspoons, Uncle Larry's spinners and RMT super squids with herring and garliccorn at a speed of 1.3 to 1.5 on the gps. Find the best bass bite working main body points down to 30 feet using drop-shot rigs with a shad patterned Basstrix minnow or a dark worm like Aarons Magic. The topwater bite slowed with the warm water.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR - Trolling around the dam and along the east shoreline in 40 feet produced trout averaging 2 pounds with Needlefish or Speedy Shiners. Big Spring had rainbows in the back cove, where anglers got hits as they retrieved salmon eggs.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Pressure is very light and the fishing remains tough despite excellent conditions. As PG&E lowers water levels in preparation for the winter, fishing should improve. Worms and floating baits continue to be the most productive. Fly fishermen have been doing so-so. Caddis nymphs, orangebuggers and hoppers have worked the best.

BAUM LAKE - Vaughn's Sporting Goods in Burney reports a cooling trend with highs in the low to mid-80s for the coming week, which should definitely help the fishing, which tapered off during the hot spell. Nightcrawlers and floating baits are still doing well, as are two-toned Kastmasters and Panther Martins. Nymphs of choice are copper Johns in red or pt's. For dries, best luck seems to be with PMD's and callibaetis. Lots of very small midges in white are coming off in largenumbers, try a very pale PMD.

BRITTON LAKE - According to Vaughn's Sporting Goods, little has changed here. The crappie bite is still on, with some nice stringers reported. Try crappie jigs or mealworms for best results around structure. The smallmouth bass also continue to bite.

BURNEY CREEK - Vaughn's Sporting Goods reports no changes in technique here. There's good nymphing at the base of the falls still with green copper Johns. Bait and lure fishermen are still catching trout above the falls.

CASSEL FOREBAY - Rim Rock Ranch reported fishing is still going strong with less pressure since Labor Day. Kastmasters and spoons have been consistently productive and for the bait fishermen floating baits and eggs work best. Crickets don't get tried much in this section but should work well after fish have seen a lot of pressure on other baits. Fly fishing remains good, especially in the late evening. Pressure is usually much lighter by that time as the bait bite has stopped and most fishermen are heading back to camp. Fore Bay pale evening duns, Adams, mosquitoes, and pmd nymphs usually do the trick on fooling these wary trout.

FALL RIVER - According to Vaughn's Sporting Goods in Burney, anglers have been mainly nymphing, but there has also been some dry activity, especially with the sun. There has also been some good dry fly action on PMD's and a few tricos starting to show.

IRON CANYON RESERVOIR - According to The Fly Shop, the fly fishing should be good here since the reservoir turns over cold, trout loving water piped in from McCloud Reservoir. While some lakes and reservoirs are warm and weedy by September, Iron Canyon remains cold and clean. Expect hatches of callibaetis and midges. Bring a Clouser Minnow and a deep 7 sinking line to find the aggressive rainbow and brown trout.

UPPER HAT CREEK - Rim Rock Ranch reports the weather was a bit unsettled but the fishing was very good. DFG continues to make generousplants and with the reduced pressure on the creek, fishing couldn't get much better. A lot of 3- to 4-pound brook trout were being caught on worms and salmon eggs. Catchable limits in the 12- to 16-inch range are common, especially mid-week. Fly fishermen have been doing well all year on crystalbuggers, copper Johns, and flashy nymphs like psycho or wired princes. Topwater action can be tough so most add weight to get down to where the fish are holding.

HAT CREEK (wild trout section) - Vaughn's Sporting Goodsreports nightcrawlers seem to be doing well, but Rooster Tails and other spinners can also result in some decent fish. Salmon eggs and Berkley PowerEggs are also working.

KESWICK RESERVOIR - Greg Dean from The Fly Shop said anglers reported in with good-but demandin-fishing on Keswick. Flows out of Shasta Dam are erratically causing levels to changes near the dam and fluctuate up to 8 feet. Dean has been using sinking lines to find rainbows holding at depths of 10 to 15 feet.

MANZANITA LAKE - Rim Rock Ranch said fishing has been fair to poor as the kayakers are beating the water up during the day. Fishing deeper seems to be more productive and caddis nymphs or damsel nymphs have done okay. Later this month the temperatures will cool down and the kayak activity will come to a stop. Some fantastic pre-winter fishing should return by that point. Remember to check the special regulations on this catch and release lake.

McCLOUD RIVER - The Fly Shop reports the best fishing has been in the morning, slightly tapers off through the afternoon, but as the late afternoon shade reaches over the riffles, runs and pools, the fishing gets better as the day ends. Insect hatches are comprised of caddis and pale evening duns. Sometimes callibaetis will produce some surface feeding in the early afternoon.

PIT RIVER - Fishermen are doing best with black stones, copper Johns in red and birds nest in larger sizes fished on the bottom. There have been good reports from the few fishermen braving the increased flows. Be extremely careful of slippery rocks here. There are road work and improvements along the Pit River. Road closures of two plus hours are possible between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

SHASTA LAKE - Stay above the "no ski" zone in the arms for a few bass early and late in the day. For trout, stay in Packers Bay, by No Name Island or out in front of Digger Bay at depths starting at 25 feet and as the day progresses go down to 45 and 60 feet with white Wiggle Hoochies. The salmon bite has been slow and fish will be deeper and in front of the dam.

TRINITY LAKE - Mike Elster of Mike's fishing Guide Service just caught what may be a new state record for king salmon here weighing 7.5 pounds in the newly introduced category of landlocked king salmon on an Apex. He went back this past weekend and found a 3-, 5- and 6-pound king along with kokes to 13 inches on a watermelon Wiggle Hoochie and watermelon Apex trolling the Papoose arm as fish are getting ready to spawn, in 60 to 75 feet.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER - The river was running low and clear, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station. Anglers who make the effort to hike down to the deeper pools have a good chance at catching some nice rainbows and browns on worms.

BULLARDS BAR - The lake is at 75-percent capacity. The recreational boat traffic was still pretty heavy according to Emerald Cove Marina and not many fishermen have been on the lake. Fishermen are waiting for the waterskiers to leave and for the water to cool down to trigger the fallbite.

CAMP FAR WEST - The lake is at 66-percent capacity. There are lots of islands and shallow hazards showing all around the perimeter of the lake and up in the Bear River arm that require serious attention by boaters-use extreme caution if running at high speed. Fishing has been slow-the last two anglers out reported only catching a fewsmall bass. It needs to cool off to improve the fishing.

COLLINS LAKE - Catfish action has been good for shore anglers and the occasional troller. Catfish running 3 to 7 pounds were weighed in this past week with most caught at the dam, off the campgrounds and near the marina. Chicken livers and worms were the most popular offerings. A few nice cats were taken by trollers working spoons in 35 feet of water for trout. Trout fishing is beginning to improve for shore anglers as the night-time temps begin to drop and the water cools. Shore anglers have beendoing best with Power Bait on a long 4- to 5-foot leader to keep the bait up out of the weeds on the bottom. Some near limits were checked in by trollers using wobblers 35 feet deep in the middle of the lake. The water ski seasonwill end on October 15 and the lake will revert to "fishing only" with a 20 mph speed limit.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR - The lake is at 92-percent capacity. Trollers did very well from Boston Bar to the confluence trolling 10 feet deep with flasher/worm combos for lots of 10- to 14-inch rainbows and a couple of 20-inch browns. Drifting worms off the bottom on a slip bobber was good for 10- to 12-inch rainbows at Buck' Beach, according to Dillon Davis at Skippers Cove Marina.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR - The lake is at 69-percent capacity. The Lewis campground will close on September 18; the remainder of the campgrounds will stay open until at least October 18. Hunters need to remember that French Meadows Reservoir and campgrounds are in a State Game Refuge and firearms cannot be possessed in the refuge-campgrounds included!!

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR - The lake is at 83-percent capacity. According to the Georgetown Ranger Station, strong winds have been keeping trollers off the water. Travelers in the El Dorado Forest need to aware of the many lightning fires that were burning over the weekend with more lightning in the forecast. Check with the Georgetown Ranger Station at 530-333-4312.

LAKE OROVILLE - The lake is at 91-percent capacity and dropping 3 to 6 inches a day. The rapidly dropping water level has the bass suspending off the walls in the North Fork, Slot, and the Middle Fork. Drop-shotting morning dawn and shad worms, or 4-inch Senkos rigged 18 to 24 inches up off the bottom have been productive. Guide Ron Gandolfi reported a decent bite using the Paradise Tackle Company finesse jig in brown/green pumpkin/blue at 5 to 30 feet deep depending on whether there was a mudline and on the depth of the bait. Swimming a jigthrough surface activity was producing fish to 3 pounds. Spinnerbaits thrown into the mudlines was good for 2 to 3 pounders.

ROLLINS LAKE - The lake is at 97-percent capacity. Some rainbows were being caught by shore anglers and trollers at the dam.

SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE - The lake is at87-percent capacity. The marina reported good action for trollers running dodger or flasher/worm combos at the dam. One boater and his son landed 9 rainbows from 12 to 16 inches on a morning trip this past weekend. The bassbite was good along the Cascade Shores area for largemouth and smallmouth bass using jigs and worms. One angler reported catching fish to 4 pounds.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR - The Foresthill Ranger Station announced that the campgrounds will close on October 18. Will Fish Tackle in Auburn reported some action for shore anglers using Power Bait and worms for planter rainbows.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR - The lake is at 95-percent capacity. The DFG planted this past week, but the camp host reported less than spectacular fishing. Some rainbows were being caught following the plant but not at the rate seen after previous plants.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY - The lake is at 96-percent capacity. The lake is being drained at night and refilled during the day causing a big drop in the water temp-15 to 20 degrees in some places since last week. The bass bite shut off for big fish according to Bruce Gibson at the Paradise Tackle Company. On his last trip he only caught 1- to 1 1/2-pound bass on the tule banks. The best bet might be to work the rock banks where there is a chance of finding warmer water due to the sun heating up the rocks. Try adeep diving crankbait or a jig.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BLUE LAKES - Upper Lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week.

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 92-percent capacity. The fish started moving toward the inlet where they can reached by trollers and shore anglers. Browns are moving up to prepare for the spawn, so release the big spawners if you catch one!

CAPLES LAKE - The lake is at 98-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The lake was planted two weeks ago and fishing improved dramatically with rainbows up to 4 pounds caught at Emigrant Cove. With more fish coming this week, anglers can expect good action at the dam, spillway, Wood's Creek, and Emigrant Cove.

CARSON RIVER (East, West) - "Wall to Wall" fish on the Carson, which received another 1800-pound Alpine County plant this pastweekend along with 2750 pounds of DFG planters. Most anglers are picking up a couple of the 3-pound Alpine County fish along with their DFG planters. Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported easy limits for bait and lure fishermen. Fly fishermen are seeing 50 fish days casting Elk Hair Caddis.

DAVIS LAKE - The lake is at 80-percent capacity. Trolling has slowed and Ed Dillard at Dillard's GuidedFishing suggested that boaters try using wooly buggers instead of Dick Nitespoons on the upper end of the lake at Lightning Tree. Fly fishermen have been doing well at Fairview using midge and callibaetis nymph patterns under an indicator.

DONNER LAKE - The lake is at 95-percent capacity. Fish has been slow overall. The trout bite has been hit-or-miss for those fishing off the west ends piers. There are still somekokanee scattered around from 35 to 70 feet deep, but you have to try everything you own to get them to bite consistently. Small macks are deep and catches are sporadic.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON - The DFG planted this past week and everyone was catching limits on worms, crickets, and salmon eggs according to Mike Hanson at the Caribou Crossroads Resort. Butt Valley Reservoir was kicking out limits of 17- to 19-inch rainbows for guide Dick Mason trolling Excel spoons 20 feet deep by the dam.

FRENCHMAN LAKE - The lake is at 83-percent capacity. Wiggins Trading Post reported good trout action for shore anglers and trollers. The shore anglers were doing best on nightcrawlers and marshmallows at the dam, Lunker's Point, CrystalPoint, and Nightcrawler Bay. Trollers were doing well to the right of the dam and off the Big Cove campgrounds on Dick Note spoons and Tasmanian Devils. Local streams were kicking out some nice browns for fly fishermen.

GOLD LAKES BASIN - Bassetts Station reported that all the lakes were planted by the DFG this past week, but only Lower Sardine was scheduled. Fishing was reported to be "awesome" for shore anglers using worms on all the main lake, especially at Lower Sardine.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR - The lake is at 74-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle said that trollers were having a tough time here.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR - Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that few anglers were fishing here because of the heavy planting in the Carson River, though some float tubers had been doing well on rising fish in the evenings with dry flies.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR - The lake is at 82-percent capacity. The most reliable bite has been for shore anglers fishing at the dam or near the inlet with Power Bait and nightcrawlers. The browns should start moving toward the inlet to prepare for spawning soon.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park) - The lake is at 89-percent capacity. Smallmouth bass action improved this past week with anglers reporting a lot of catch-and-release. Jim West of Eldorado Hills caught a 4-pound smallie on a plug in the Narrowsthis past weekend. Trout were still being caught by shore anglers at the first dam on Power Bait.

LAKE TAHOE - Both Big Mack Charters and Chuck's Charter Fishing did well this past week on macks running 3 to 9 pounds. Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters reported that the best action was coming out of 240 to 280 feet of water on Sling Blade/Koke-a-nut or minnow combos. Chuck Self did well running Coyote spoons and Rapalas near the bottom at 180 to 220 feet deep, with some fish suspended at 160 feet. Mike Nielsen clients caught 8 1/2- and 11 1/2-pound mocks trolling big Castaic Trout lures off the Tahoe keys. The kokanee bite has slowed dramatically as the fish are heavy into their spawning metamorphosis.

LOON LAKE - The lake is at 68-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service reported that trollers were stillpicking up limits of mostly rainbows on dodger/worm or grub combos from the top down to 20 feet deep.

PROSSER LAKE - The lake is at 80-percent capacity. The smallmouth bass bite has been much better than thetrout action. Plugs and jigs fished near the dam can produce some nice bass. The best trout action has been very early in the morning near the creek channel.

PYRAMID LAKE - Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters reportedexcellent action on cutthroats while perch fishing with light spinning gear and marabou jigs-his last trip scored 82 trout-all catch-and-release. The new trout season opens on October 1 and Mendes predicted that the opener will be "phenomenal". For info, call Eagle Eye Charters at 775-574-0900.

RED LAKE - Few reports were available. Fishing is so good on the Carson few anglers are stopping here.

SILVER LAKE - The lake is at 87-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. According to the last report from Dale Daneman at Dale's Foothill Guide Service, trolling was still very good for boaters working the shoreline of the lake with dodger or flasher/worm or grub combos.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR - The lake is at 91-percent capacity.Recent DFG plants boosted the bite for shore anglers fishing from the ramp toward the dam. Trolling for kokes is pretty much done for the year. Trollers who want to try for macks need to get 70 to 100 feet deep.

TOPAZ LAKE - The lake is still at 75-percent capacity. The season is winding down and fishing has been very slow-the last two anglers that went out reported no bites. Fishing could improve the last week of September with cooler water-the season ends on September 30.

TRUCKEE RIVER - Fly fishing has been good, especially early in the morning. Nymphing with big golden stoneswith a size 16 or 18 mayfly dropper has been productive. During the day, ifit's hot, try a hopper!! Evenings give way to caddis and little yellow stones. Crayfish patterns have been working for some big fish. The Little Truckee is low and tough-bring your best spot-and-stalk techniques using small mayflies and micro caddis. Fish are rising to hoppers too.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR - The lake is at 77-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Kyle Neeser at Crystal BasinTackle reported that trollers are still picking up limits of bright kokaneerunning dodger/pink hoochies combos 60 to 70 feet deep at the dam. The malekokes are starting to turn-slipping their scales and getting hook jawed.

WEST WALKER RIVER - The West Walker is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Sam Foster at the Toiyabe Motel reported that fishing was "fantastically phenomenal". Bait anglers said the fishing was "criminally easy". Fly fishermen reported catching-and-releasing 25 fish per day and that should improve. The North Mono Chamber of Commerce will be planting 500 pounds of 4-pound average rainbows mid-week this week, and Mono County will be making a 400-pound plant of 3-pound and 1- to 1 1/2-pound Alpers next week, the week of September 18.

- Western Outdoor News

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