Fishing Line: 12/01/11

TOP PICKS

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento - There wasn't much in the way of salmon, but striper fishing wasn't bad for anglers trolling and spooning in the Deep Water Channel and soaking bloodworms sardines and eels around Hood and in Cache and Shag sloughs. Sturgeon fishing is picking up, too, in area sloughs, as well as around Verona.

DELTA REGION: SACRAMENTO RIVER side - Salmon season is over on December 11 in the lower Sacramento Zone from the Highway 113 Bridge near Knights Landing downstream to the Carquinez Bridge. Most of the striper action is still down below, but they are making a move up this way. The sloughs off the Sacramento and Mokelumne rivers have been seeing some action on Rat-L-Traps as well as Blade Runner spoons, after they started chomping on live jumbo minnows. Liberty, Cache and Prospect sloughs were doing well for both stripers and sturgeon.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side - Guide JD Richey reports cooling water temperatures have finally moved stripers out of the bays and mostly into the Delta now. There are fish scattered throughout Mildred, Chain Island, Big Break, Franks Tract, Beaver, Hog and Sycamore sloughs to mention a few. There is a nice topwater bite in the mornings and on overcast days and then anglers are switching to swimbaits and trolling Bombers and Yo-Zuri's. Drifting live minnows is also good. Down near Antioch, there were a few fishing for sturgeon and the action with roe has been pretty solid. Fishing for sturgeon improved after the rain, and bank anglers used ghost shrimp for bait.

LAKE TAHOE - Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters reported "super amazing" trolling for Mackinaws this past weekend. His six clients on Friday kept 11 macks, tagged 9 more, and lost 5 trolling Sling Blade/Koke-a-nut or minnow combos at 200 to 300 feet deep either on the bottom or suspended over 400 feet of water. He landed one tagged fish that had only grown 2 inches in 8 years. On Sunday, two clients kept 4, tagged 9, and lost 4 fish.

CAMANCHE LAKE - Plenty of trout action reported here as the lake is getting rainbow plants on a weekly basis now. Most are running in the 2- to 3-pound range, but there have been some fish over 5 pounds caught. Limits or near-limits have been fairly common. Trout aren't the only game in the lake either. A nice 6-pound catfish was caught in the South Shore Pond by a fisherman soaking anchovies.

GENERAL

CHETCO RIVER, Brookings, Ore. - The reports of huge king salmon being caught on this river are overwhelming this year. "I have to say this has got to be the best year for trophy king's in over a dozen years on this river," according to WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secret's Guide Service. "If catching your personal largest salmon is high on your list of things to do, I suggest putting all your fishing efforts into this river between now and Christmas." Guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing put a client onto a 65-pound king last week.

EEL RIVER, Main stem - Blown out at Fortuna on Sunday, but open to fishing, according to guide Mark Nimitz of Pipe Creek Outfitters. There are salmon in the system and a few steelhead, but fishing for steelies doesn't really get going until Christmas. All catch-and-release.

EEL RIVER, South Fork - Open from low flow closures but it didn't get a lot of rain and while the height is okay, the flow is pretty meager. The first push of king salmon came in, but it's all catch-and-release. Rumors are that it will be a very good salmon run-too bad we can't catch and keep any. No fishing pressure. Steelheading will begin in earnest around Christmas, according to Mark Nimitz of Pipe Creek Outfitters.

ELK RIVER, Port Orford, Ore. - Cold water temps have slowed the king salmon bite, but now's the peak of the season. Salmon have now spread up above the hatchery, so they're throughout the system. Chinook numbers last week were down due to cold water that tempered the bite, according to WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secret's Guide Service.

MAD RIVER - Open from low flow closures. No reports.

REDWOOD CREEK - Open from low flow closures. No reports.

RUSSIAN RIVER - The river got enough rain to bring the river up and blow out the mouth, and some adult steelhead are moving into the river. A push of steelies came in, according to King's Sport and Tackle in Guerneville, and anglers are getting a few halfpounders 1 to 4 pounds, and the occasional adult. There was one 11-pound wild steelhead caught and released on Sunday. Adipose-clipped coho salmon were being caught, and apparently some were mistaking them for steelhead, but they must be released! Two hatchery, fin-clipped steelhead over 16 inches may be kept. Johnson's Beach was good, but now fish are also up to Steelhead Beach. Flows are at 500-600 cfs and conditions are great.

SIXES RIVER, Port Orford, Ore. - Anglers were nailing a single king up to as many as 5 over the weekend, especially when it's dropping and still colored. Plugs along the shallow bank are the best bet, and the float from Edison Park to the Grange is the best, according to Curtis Palmer of River Secret's Guide Service.

SMITH RIVER - Steve Jackson of King's Sport and Tackle on the Russian River in Guerneville was hooked up to a king on the Smith at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday when we called. WON Field Reporter and guide Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service said the river went way up and fishing was still good over the weekend, with a mix of dark and fresh kings in the river.

VANDUZEN RIVER - Open from low flow closures, but no reports.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City - The river went up a bit after the rain but soon dropped back to low and clear conditions Steelhead fishing was good above Junction City on swung and dead-drifted flies and small, backtrolled plugs. Copper Johns and poxy-back hare's ears were two of the more effective flies.

TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek - The South Fork was chocolate brown because of a major mud slide, and so the Trinity was unfishable downstream of the mouth of the South Fork. The river should be clear enough to fish by the end of the week barring another storm, and a new batch of steelhead s should be entering the river.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam - Scott Caldwell of SC Guide Service said river conditions below Iron Gate Dam were very good, and trout and steelhead to about 6 pounds were taking flies, drifted roe and nightcrawlers and backtrolled plugs. He's been catching fish all the way from the hatchery down to the Shasta River.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen - The lower Klamath turned murky from last week's rain and the mud slide on the South Fork of the Trinity. It was clearing and, barring no more rains, could be fishable around Johnson's and Blue Creek by the weekend. Check for weather and water conditions before making a trip.

North Saltwater

BENICIA - Good shoreline action for anglers in the Benicia area targeting striped bass, and one lucky angler even hooked a keeper sturgeon and beached it while fishing with a bullhead under the Benicia Bridge. Tony Lopez at Benicia Bait said the top striper action had been at Middle Grounds, but the bite tapered off over the weekend. He fished for sturgeon up near Roe and Ryer islands recently, he and a buddy releasing 4 keepers, Lopez keeping one 65.75 incher.

BERKELEY - The boats have been loading up on rockfish and crabs, and some trips score lingcod as a bonus. On the Happy Hooker, Saturday's trip with 28 anglers on board produced limits of rockfish and jumbo crab, plus lingcod to 16 pounds, all caught on the Marin Coast.

BODEGA BAY - Crab combos continued to score limits of rockfish and crabs, plus a few lingcod. "We had four days of combo trips," said Captain Bob Monckton on Reel-lentless. "Some days it's real easy and others, you have to work for them." He said he's offering both crab combo trips and crab only trips.

CROCKETT - Captain Gordon Hough reported a tough bite on the Morning Star, Captain Mike Shimel sharing the helm for the holiday weekend. "Big incoming tides and an east wind make for tough fishing, and we had them both on both days we fished," said Hough. While the anglers on board didn't get bass limits (as has been the norm), they did get keeper bass to 14 pounds, plus plenty of action from sharks and rays. The shrimp baits worked best, but bullheads accounted for the biggest fish.

EMERYVILLE - Most of the trips out of Emeryville Sportfishing Center were crab combos, and they produced limits of rockfish and Dungeness. "They fished the Farallon Islands all week until Wednesday, when the weather forced them to fish the Marin Coast," said Craig Stone at the landing. "Most trips found 3 to as many as 9 lingcod, biggest about 12 pounds or so." The New Huck Finn and New Seeker are doing the crab and rockfish combos, and the Captain Hook ran a rockfish only trip on Saturday, finding limits and 3 lings.

EUREKA - WON field reporter Lonnie Dollarhide fished with Captain Phil Glenn on the Shellback, reporting excellent crabbing. "The few pots we had to pull were full," said Dollarhide. "Everyone on board was able to hand pick the ones they wanted." On Sunday, he joined Captain Tim Klassen on Reel Steel, crewing two trips for limits. "WE had to pull a few more pots for limits," said Dollarhide. Looks like the commercial season is still delayed, perhaps as late as January. That bodes well for the sport fishermen, since the added competition from the commercial fleet has impact on the available crab numbers. Currently, there are two charters running crabbing trips, the Shellback, and the Reel Steel.

FORT BRAGG - Crab season has been a boon for sportfishing operators, with Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar reporting great crabbing all week, although Friday and Saturday were slower due to a big swell. "We ran six days this week!" he said. On Saturday, 28 anglers caught crab limits, and on Sunday, 21 anglers took limits. The bag limit here is 10 crabs. Still no sign of Humboldt squid, which might offer a combo option on the currently crab only trips.

HALF MOON BAY - Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat reported great crabbing still, with good quality Dungeness on tap on the crab combos. He said the rockfish are cooperating and limits dominated by blue, olive and yellowtail rockfish making up the catch.

MARTINEZ - Captain Steve Talmadge was back out on Flash Fishing after a fall hiatus chasing elk in Idaho, starting his sturgeon fishing trips in earnest. "We had our first serious sturgeon trip on Saturday, and a first time sturgeon angler caught a 60 incher," said Talmadge. At Martinez Bait and Tackle, Lisa Rezentes said both striped bass and sturgeon were biting. Call ahead to check bait supplies, there have been some shortages.

POINT SAN PABLO - Captain Frank Miller on the Fury said the striper fishing got tough with the east wind that came up. "We got a few bass the last couple days, but we were getting beat up while fishing North Bay," said Miller. His anglers were drifting live anchovies for the stripers, but those trips were likely the last fishing that method. Now, he'll switch to targeting sturgeon and stripers from the anchor. "I've heard good reports for guys fishing strictly for sturgeon around China Camp and Hamilton Flats," said Miller. A sevengill trip on Tuesday produced 5 fish to 65 pounds.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE - Water temperature is running between 51 and 55 degrees around the lake with clarity varying from 2 feet to almost 6 feet. Rattlebaits, swimbaits, ripbaits, and plastic worms will all do the trick when fished in the right areas. The cooperative fish are bunched up in areas with rock in relatively shallow water. The mid lake section is producing for anglers holding their boats in 10 feet of depth. Live bait is also working and will continue to be productive all winter long. For those interested in catfish, live bait has been working very well for fish in the 11- to 17-pound range.

LAKE BERRYESSA - The fishing here for trout, salmon and bass has been outstanding. Guide JD Richey has been posting excellent numbers of rainbows to 20 inches, king salmon to 3 pounds, spotted and smallmouth bass, plus some bonus catfish and brown trout. Everything has been coming on spoons. Find the bait and your find the fish.

LAKE SONOMA - The rains have the land locked steelhead up from the mouths inside the creek channels. Car toppers have been catching trout from 15 to 22 feet top lining small Rapalas, Needlefish and shad trolling flies out of Yorty Creek. Trollers working the main body are catching them as well top lining the same gear. Bass fishing is tough with fish moving to the 25- to 40-foot range. Best bet has been spooning or drop-shotting ledges, on the main body for bass up to 3 pounds. Early morning you have a shot at big fish ripping a Lucky Craft 128 or swimbait.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR - A- Frame has fish rolling in the morning, mostly browns, when the smelt break the surface, work that jig. The east shore in the Lake Cove area was good for anglers using a small Sep's micro flashers with a threaded nightcrawler 24 inches behind it and rigged down around 16 feet. Prior to the plants at Canyon Dam, there was lots of great action for anglers working eggs or roe off the bottom.

BAUM LAKE - Vaughn's Sporting Goods in Burney reports fly fishermen are having great days on midges. Try BWO's, copper Johns in red, callibaetis cripples or pt's. Nightcrawlers, mealworms or floating baits are still doing well, as are lures.

BRITTON LAKE - According to Vaughn's Sporting Goods, the weather has definitely put the bite down and fishing is about over for this year.

EAGLE LAKE - Changing weather scattered the trout again, but trout from 2 1/2 pounds to 3 pounds were taken toplining Jay Fair flies in orange, Jay Fair Special's in cinnamon and a few other colors but this past week it was the Chui chub color in green and white that worked best according to Flying Eagle Guide Service. Bring chains if you are going to launch. The lake closes on Dec. 31.

PIT RIVER - Fishing below Lake Britton dam is now catch and release only until April 28. But elsewhere, anglers are doing best with black stones, copper John's in red and birds nest in larger sizes fished on the bottom. There have been good reports from the few anglers braving the increased flows. Be extremely careful of slippery rocks.

SHASTA LAKE - Look for surface activity, but you will depend on your graphs more now as the bait is moving up and down the water column and all over the lake. Cripplures and Humdingers in silver or UV are doing the trick from Ski Island to the Jones Valley cove on the Pit Arm and in the McCloud arm for trout. The same holds true for bass. They are never in the same place from day to day now and they are schooling up according to sizes. If you find small fish, move, they will all be small. Keep a Hopkins Shorty spoon ready when you go over a bait ball. This has been producing both trout and bass. Senkos or MF in a shad pattern will work all winter.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER - Mostly dark salmon were being caught in Nimbus Basin on long leaders and beads, roe and spinners. Not many fish, salmon or steelhead were being caught downstream of the salmon spawning area closed to fishing. The number of salmon returning to Nimbus Hatchery is well up from the numbers returning last year and the year before, but still well behind numbers returning to the hatchery before the run collapsed. However, it appears that the hatchery will have no trouble meeting its egg quota.

FEATHER RIVER - Salmon fishing continued to be very slow, but some steelhead continued to be caught in the Low Flow Section, especially around Palm Ave. The river below the Outlet down to Gridley also was producing some steelhead to about 4 pounds on drifted Glo-Bugs and nightcrawlers.

FOLSOM LAKE - Trout fishing was just okay last week with some holdover trout and the occasional landlocked king salmon caught by trollers working the main body with Hoochies and Needlefish tipped with corn. Some planter trout were also being caught around Granite Bay with Power Bait and worms fished under bobbers. Bass fishing was slow once again with a few caught drop-shot jig and darthead over concentrations of bait.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Balls Ferry - This was the best place to be for late fall salmon last week, and bright kings to about 16 pounds were being caught in decent numbers, mostly on roe.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding - Trout fishing continued to be outstanding for fly fishers and spin fishermen drifting Glo-Bugs and egg patterns behind spawning salmon. Up to 30 fish a day per boat possible with good anglers aboard. Don't bother using anything other than egg patterns.

YUBA RIVER - Steelhead fishing in the Yuba was very good both above Daguerre Dam and below. Drift between Parks Bar and take out Sycamore Ranch. Or, take a shallow draft aluminum jet boat upstream from Yuba City.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE - The lake is at 44-percent capacity. Good weather this past week and in the forecast for this week has opened up the access to the lake. No 4-wheel drive needed to get to the dam. Bait and lures cast off the dam should be producing a mix of rainbows and browns according to Mountain Hardware and Sports.

CAPLES LAKE - Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported excellent action stripping dark woolly buggers at Wood's Creek, the dam, and the spillway for 12- to 14-inch trout-mostly browns and some rainbows.

CARSON RIVER (East) - Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported that the fishing was fair. One angler reported seeing 20-inch rainbows but they were lethargic and not hitting. After a warm stretch of weather, anglers can expect more aggressive action from groups of smaller trout. Size 18 BWO and PT nymphs are the best producers.

DAVIS LAKE - The lake is at 76-percent capacity. Shore fishing was good at Mallard, Fairview, and Camp 5 for anglers using Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers or casting spinners and Kastmaster spoons. Ed Dillard's brother fished at Mallard and picked up 7 rainbows-two at 19 inches, an 18 incher, and four 16 inchers. Though there is some snow still on the ground, the biggest problem with access is mud. Once the ground thaws later in the day, mud becomes a big issue so 4-wheel drive is pretty much mandatory to get to the hot spots.

DONNER LAKE - No access problems here. Better weather in the forecast for this week should improve the fishing. If the wind comes up, cast spoons from the shore for cruising macks. Some holdover rainbows could be found at the State Park.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON - With the better weather in the forecast, the road to Butt Valley Reservoir should be clear. Try trolling gold/red head spoons or threaded nightcrawlers near the channel on the upper end of the lake below the inlet for big rainbows and a shot at a good brown.

FRENCHMAN LAKE - The lake is at 79-percent capacity. The road to the lake is open but has some icy patches in shady areas that don't get much sun-use caution or better yet, 4-wheel drive. Shore fishing was good this past week at Lunkers Point, Big Cove, Turkey Point, and east of the dam for 1- to 2-pound rainbows. The best baits were Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and marshmallows.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR - The lake is at 68-percent capacity. With little snow falling during the last storms and good weather in the forecast, anglers should have no problem getting to the launching facility. There's little to report, with few anglers out.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR - Todd Sodaro reported that the weather was beautiful and the road to the lake was open. He hadn't heard of anyone fishing here over the holiday weekend, though a long forecast of good weather might make it worth a try this week.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR - According to the Sierra County Sheriff's Department, Jackson Meadows Road from Hwy 89 is open to the lake. Shore fishing should be good at the dam, but few reports have been available according to Mountain Hardware and Sports.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park) - Not much has changed here-shore action was still good for rainbows at the first dam and in the Narrows for anglers using Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Trollers have been picking up some small macks working the channel between the island and the second dam and at the mouth of the Narrows.

LOON LAKE - The lake is at 60-percent capacity. The lake is still accessible from Hwy 50 (Ice House Rd.) though few anglers have been here lately.

PROSSER LAKE - The lake is at 32-percent capacity. Snow and muddy conditions on the road to the dam make 4-wheel drive essential for access. Bait and lures cast off the dam were working for nice rainbows according to Mountain Hardware and Sports.

PYRAMID LAKE - Joe Mendes of Eagle Eye Charters was fishing when WON called Sunday morning and his clients had already landed 12 fish, 17 to 23 inches, on frog FlatFish trolled 20 to 27 feet deep over 35 feet of water at Dago Bay and Howard. Mendes finished up the day with 27 fish to 24 1/2 inches. On Friday, his clients landed 19 fish to 25 inches at the North Nets and Pelican Point. The west central area of the lake is loaded with floating weeds and a good wind is need to clear the water column-wind is forecast for the latter half of this week, so this might take care of the problem.

RED LAKE - Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported that the lake was at least 2/3's frozen-UNSAFE ICE!!!

SILVER LAKE - Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported that fly fishing was excellent for anglers stripping dark woolly buggers at the dam. Shore anglers casting spoons, spinners and bait should all be doing equally as well.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR - The lake is at 88-percent capacity. Casting rainbow trout CD5 or CD7 Rapalas and RBT Krocadile or Kastmaster spoons off the dam in the early morning or all day on overcast or windy days could produce a nice mack, 2 to 6 pounds with an occasional 10 pounder. Calm, slick water days will be tough.

TRUCKEE RIVER - Both the main river and the Little Truckee were fishing very well according to Tahoe Fly fishing Outfitters. The main Truckee has been fishing best near Stateline and into NV with Size 10-12 golden stones, size 16 black Copper Johns, and Size 20-22 midges. The Little Truckee is loaded with spawning browns and good numbers of rainbows have been seen feeding on loose eggs below the active redds. Egg patterns, Size 18-20 BWO's, Size 16 black Copper Johns, and size 20-22 midges and PT's were all working this past week. Warm weather this week should improve the bite.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR - The lake is at 57-percent capacity. The Pea Vine Ridge Road access to the boat launch at the dam should be clear, though 4-wheel drive is always recommended due to icy patches. Not much word on the fishing with few anglers visiting here, though some big macks should be prowling the ledges in deep water.

MOTHERLODE LAKES

AMADOR LAKE - Lake being planted heavily with cuttbows averaging 2 to 3 pounds, along with good numbers of 4 and 5 pounders and some up to 7 and 8 pounds. Limits or near-limits being reported by most fishermen. Broken-back Rapalas and flasher-'crawler rigs have been working for trollers. Casting from shore with Kastmasters or bubble-fly rigs also producing.

DON PEDRO RESERVOIR - Don't expect much company, as fishing pressure is next to none. Best bet, according to Monte Smith with Gold Country Sportfishing, is to target the top 15 feet of water and work the shoreline and backs of coves. He recommends running lead-core line 3 to 6 colors out, using blue and silver lures on bright sunny days or darker lures along with brassy colors when sky is overcast. Expect to do some serious searching through a lot of dead water to find where the fish are.

LAKE MCCLURE - Trout fishing rated excellent by Diana Mello at A-1 Bait Shop in Snelling. She said trollers using flasher-'crawler combos past McClure Point down 10 to 20 feet deep have been doing well. She said trollers have also been getting limits out of the upper arm past Barretts Cove using Excel and 'crawlers. Mello also reported a good bass bite going on around Barretts on crawdads. Anglers have also been picking up some catfish on Power Bait, with a 5 1/2 pounder reported.

LAKE MCSWAIN - Lake still kicking out trout limits. Diana Mellow at A-1 Bait Shop in Snelling said limits have been common for anglers using chartreuse Power Bait and white Power Eggs. Limits have been coming from Hornitas Bridge caught on garlic rainbow Power Bait and trolling has been excellent with 'crawlers and flashers.

NEW MELONES RESERVOIR - Trout continue on a good bite here with lots of limits being taken by lots of shore anglers using Tazmanian Devils, rainbow Kastmasters and pink Power Eggs. John Leichty at Glory Hole Sports in Angels Camp said trollers have been picking up good numbers of fish using Rapalas and cop-car Needlefish at 10 to 25 feet. He also reported some bass action coming on, with a good jig bite producing mainly spots 1 1/2 to 2 pounds.

LAKE PARDEE - Closed for season.

TULLOCH RESERVOIR - Water temperatures have warmed a bit to 56 degrees at the surface. Jane Watson at Lake Tulloch Campground and Marina said trout action has been mostly from 15 feet to the surface. She said the lake is being planted every two weeks. The input of new fish is likely stirring up some hold-over planters from last year since a couple of 4 pounders have been checked in.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER - Very little fishing pressure since the artificial barbless lures and zero catch regulations went into effect.

BULLARDS BAR - The lake is at 69-percent capacity. Jason Kincanon reported that two friends fished here this past week and found very slow bass action-one guy caught 3 spots to 8 inches, the other only one 6 incher. The visibility is at 20-plus feet, which adds to the tough bite. The lake needs to turn over.

CAMP FAR WEST - North Shore Resort reported very slow action on the bass with only smaller fish being caught on worms and jigs.

COLLINS LAKE - The Lake is down 25 feet from full. Everything seems to be hitting. With a big DFG plant this past week, trout fishing was very good around the boat ramp and marina. Luis Osegera of Sacramento caught a 7-pound rainbow while throwing a Kastmaster spoon in the marina. Lots of limits of trout were caught on bait-Power Bait, inflated nightcrawlers, bobber/worm combos. Trollers also did well in front of the marina using Rapalas and Kastmasters. Catfish action was still good with several big cats to 10 1/4 pounds coming in for anglers using worms at the dam and in the marina. Lyle Mc Daniel and Robert Hamilton caught bass to 5 pounds on Fat Gitzits in 20 feet of water.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR - The lake is at 94-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Trollers were doing very well from the marina to Keystone Cove running flasher/worm combos in the top 10 feet-one group of 4 anglers limited out in 2 hours on 8- to 11-inch rainbows, releasing many of the smaller fish.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR - With the better weather, the road should still be open to the lake though very few anglers have been making the trip.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR - According to the Georgetown Ranger Station, the road to the lake is still open though few, if any, anglers have made the trip due to the cold.

LAKE OROVILLE - The lake is at 80-percent capacity. With an Anglers' Choice Pro-Team event coming up, most anglers were keeping quiet about any fishing success. Mike Hanson of Caribou Crossroads Resort said that he heard from some friends that the bite was tough, guide Ron Gandolfi said that the bite was good the last time he fished using a green pumpkin/red flake Senko rigged on a jig head on points in the North Fork and West Branch at 20 to 40 feet deep.

ROLLINS LAKE - According to Casey Reynolds at Long Ravine Resort, trout action was good for shore angers working the dam with Power Bait and nightcrawlers for rainbows running mostly 10 to 12 inches with a few 14 to 16 inchers. Catfish to 8 pounds were still hitting nightcrawlers and chicken livers near the channel in Long Ravine at night.

SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE - Jim Caldwell at Scott's Flat Lake Resort reported pretty good action on 14- to 16-inch rainbows taken by trollers using Rapalas in the mooring area in front of the marina.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR - Very little fishing pressure here making reports hard to come by. There hasn't been a DFG plant here in six weeks.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR - Boaters trolling flasher/worm combos were still picking up planter rainbows, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY - The lake is at 73-percenty capacity-132.2-foot elevation at press time. At this elevation, the bass are in the tules and like jigs and Senkos.

- Western Outdoor News

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