TOP PICKS
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa--Salmon fishing opened last weekend upstream of Knight's Landing to the Red Bluff Dam. The weather was lousy and kept many anglers off the water, but many of those who stuck it out managed to catch their 1-fish limit. Back-trolling Kwikfish produced most of the action.DAVIS, LAKE--Jerry Dollard at Dollard's Sierra Market in Portola reported trollers having 40-plus fish per day fishing the north end of the lake, with fish hitting everything from J.Fair trolling flies to Fire-Tiger Needlefish. Fly casters scoring with olive Hares' Ears, Pheasant Tail Flashbacks and red Copper Johns at Jenkins, Freeman and Mosquito Slough. Bank fishers picking up fish most days at Mallard Cove and Fairview, with worms and Power Bait. Honker boat ramp still open, but 4x4 vehicles are recommended. Water is below the pavement and you're launching on the lake bottom
AMERICAN RIVER--Last weekend's storm helped water temperatures drop below the 60 degrees that is considered suitable for salmon spawning, and the Nimbus Hatchery fish ladder was opened for the first time this season. However, only a tiny fraction of previous year numbers were trying to enter the hatchery, and spawning riffles strangely showed few signs of life. Steelheaders were catching a few halfpounders and the occasionally adult to 5 pounds in Nimbus Basin and below the fishing closure at Ancil Hoffman Park. There was no particular pattern to success. Hardware tossers drifted Mepps spinners, and Kastmasters. Other anglers drifted Glo-Bugs, nightcrawlers and roe.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--The "Main" opened up from the South Fork on down and was still on the low side on Sunday - only 550 cfs. Typically, this time of year there are some kings (they must be released), good-sized halfpounders and the occasional adult steelie.
SMITH RIVER--Low but open on Sunday -- 1,400 cfs (almost 14 feet at the Dr. Fine gauge). Reports of good numbers of fish moving in before the rain suggest that there should be some good fishing here if the water keeps coming up a bit
GENERAL
DELTA REGION: SACRAMENTO RIVER side--Let the games begin! Both stripers and sturgeon are actively biting now. Baits have taken over here, with blood worms leading the way but mudsuckers, minnows, shad, and pile worms are also producing limits, according to Meeka Berring from the Rio Vista Bait and Tackle store. The largest striper reported weighed 31 pounds and was caught under the Rio Vista Bridge on shad. With temperatures down between 56 and 57 degrees, Lucky Strikes Charters said the larger sturgeon are aggressive. All baits are working from Pittsburg up to Rio Vista but roe continues to bring in the larger fish.SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Reporting for the Outdoor Sportsman in Stockton, Chris Chaing said the striper bite has really taken off in the Stockton Port, especially down in the Turning Basin where baits are thick and boils are common. Anglers are finding better success with topwater tackle such as wake baits and catching them "left and right," with stripers running from 8 to 15 pounds being common.
NORTH COAST RIVERS
As of Sunday, most North Coast streams remained closed to fishing but that can change very quickly this time of year. Your best bet is to get updates on the DFG's Low Flow Closure Hotline: (707) 822-3164.CHETCO RIVER--Rising slightly on Sunday, but still governed by the new low flow closure by ODFW that will keep the river closed to all fishing through Nov. 30 if the flows don't come up. The only exception is the lower 3 miles of river, which remain open - and where float fishermen using sand shrimp have been seeing some nice kings. We definitely need more rain - look for some big kings to pour in when it happens! For low flow updates: Call the ODFW in Gold Beach a (541) 247-7605
EEL RIVER, South Fork--Still closed as of Sunday, but that could change this week. Call ahead before making the trip!
MAD RIVER--Decent numbers of kings and steelhead moving through the lower river from Blue Lake on down on Sunday, but the river remained closed to fishing. Keep an eye on the flows and call the DFG's Low Flow Closure Hotline listed above for updates.
