TOP PICKS

AMERICAN RIVER -- The river has closed to fishing upstream of the power lines at Ancil Hoffman Park to Hazel Ave. Bridge between Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, 2010. A few -- very few -- steelhead were being hooked on nymphs under indicators and on the swing, as well as on drifted nightcrawlers, spinners and spoons. The occasional striped bass is being caught along the color line at the mouth of the American. Some salmon are starting to show as they throw themselves against the weir blocking their upstream progress at Nimbus Hatchery.

CAMANCHE LAKE -- Fall trout plants have begun, and the bite has picked up for trollers and for shore anglers fishing the South Shore Trout Pond. Many reports of quality limits came from main lake trollers using Rapalas, Needlefish and Midge Wobblers. In the pond, Power Bait, Kastmasters and bubble-fly combos worked best. Bass fishing is good for anglers using plastic worms and lizards, as well as nightcrawlers. No lunkers, but a good grade of bass to 3-plus pounds were the norm.

DELTA, SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side -- From the banks try anywhere along Highway 160 or the Antioch pier for stripers. Boaters will find them throughout the system and should look for waters with shelves that drop off to 20 feet. Sturgeon numbers were on the rise throughout as well. Broad Slough, Chain Island and by the sheetrock factory (by the Antioch free launch ramp) have been producing shakers but also more keepers. The bluegill bite has taken off as well. Try red worms and wax worms for these panfish.

NORTH COAST RIVERS

CHETCO RIVER -- Salmon are still being caught in the bay, and the upper river is supposed to open up Nov. 7, but whether it stays open or not will depend on how kegged up the kings get, and how much unethical fishing pressure is being put on them, according to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife.

COQUILLE RIVER -- Anglers at the mouth of the Coquille out of Bandon were picking up combos of wild coho and bright king salmon. Fishing from the Lightouse upriver to the bridge on the south side of the river was a producer, as fish were coming on both spinners and cut plug baits. Other areas to try where it seems fish have moved into is the stretch between the town of Coquille and Seven Mile Slough for hatchery kings, spinners seem to out do baits here, according to WON's Field Reporter Dave Pitts.

ROGUE RIVER, Lower -- Kings have moved off the flats in the estuary and are now holding off the mouth of Indian Creek waiting for more rain to get to the hatchery. They're also upriver. The run is slowing down currently.

ROGUE RIVER, Middle -- Fishing for summer steelhead has been fair on the middle section of the Rogue River near Grants Pass, Ore., according to guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. Summer steelhead are holding below spawning fall Chinook salmon, eating salmon eggs. Marint and clients spent a few days fishing the middle river, side-drifting tiny roe clusters, and they scored on ocean caught silver salmon using Pautzke's Borx O Fire (natural color). Anglers can keep hatchery steelhead, which are making up the bulk of the catch right now. Some anglers are drifting single Pautzke salmon eggs with good success. There also are a lot of mallards along the river, creating excellent cast-and-blast opportunities.

RUSSIAN RIVER -- Nothing new to report here. Not enough rain yet to bring anything much in.

SMITH RIVER -- Guide Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service said that fishing on the Smith River is fair with fish being taken at Serena Rd, the Sand Hole and at the Mouth. The river remains closed due to low flows. The fish are being caught using all the traditional tide water and estuary methods, including bobber fishing, sandshrimp, anchovies or roe. Throwing spinners and spoons, trolling Kwikfish and fishing on the bottom with all the above baits using marshmallows or Fishpills to float the bait also work.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen -- It's hard to get reports because so few fishermen are on the water, but a few anglers have been focusing on steelhead between Blue Creek and Johnson's Riffle and hooking a few adults along with some half-pounders on roe, nightcrawlers, and spinners, as well as flies.