TOP PICKS

CARSON RIVER--(East,West)--Both East Carson and West Carson winding up the regular stream season with good fishing. On the East Carson, Todd Sodaro at Carson River Resort said a couple of anglers he saw caught and released upwards of 30 rainbows fishing salmon eggs. Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station in Woodfords said he saw some limit fishing at mid-week. A friend fishing the West Carson caught his limit on salmon eggs, pulling in rainbows up to 2 pounds, and a couple browns. He was fishing at the junction of Highway 88 and Highway 89 in Hope Valley.

BERKELEY--Captain James Smith on the California Dawn reported limits on crabs all week, with good rockfish counts until the weather interfered. On the weekend, outside conditions encouraged halibut effort inside San Francisco Bay, and the anglers on board did surprisingly well with a 20 pounder and a 25 pounder boated, and over one around on the total count for 20 anglers. The best action on big flatties came from Southampton Shoals.

LAKE BERRYESSABass pro and Marine Unlimited manager, Scott Green said the bass bite has been very consistent here with Zara spooks, Ricos, and Gunfish in shad patterns catching smallmouth, spots and largemouth bass from 1 to 3 pounds, with an occasional 6 or 7 pounder. Trolling in the top 10 to 20 feet produced trout to almost 2 pounds in the trout derby put on by Spanish Flat Country Store & Deli. The next one will be on December 13 with individual Adult categories and jackpots for heaviest trout and salmon, plus a Kid's Derby. For further details, call Marcia Ritz at 707-966-1600 or CeCe Short at 707-259-5262.

NOR CAL SALTWATER

BENICIA--While sturgeon tides were anemic, some sturgeon were caught, but the bigger bite came from striped bass. One group of four anglers caught limits to 20 pounds, and a shore angler caught a 29 incher. Bullheads ruled for bass bait, but shore anglers also got bit on pile worms. Sturgeon were less selective, with pile worm/eel combos, grass and ghost shrimp all working.

BODEGA BAY-- Bumpy seas and lighter than normal crab populations slowed combo activity, but the boats finally put some time in mid-week and on the weekend. The low crab counts might be from the big groundswell, but most anglers think that it is just a down year. Bottomfishing remained a good bet, weather permitting. Captain Rick Powers said he's going to switch to giant squid early this year since they've shown up early.

EMERYVILLE--Business was good for the crab combo trips which scored limits of rockfish and crabs for 20-plus anglers through the week until Sunday when the boats were blown out. The C Gull II, New Seeker and New Salmon Queen offered crab and rockfish combos. Some mackerel showed up also. All the combo trips went to the Farallones. The New Huck Finn ran on Saturday on a rockfish only, and brought in the highest ling count of the week with 19 lings to 12 pounds.

EUREKA--Crabbing was very good for the sport guys on the days they could check pots. Most trying reported limits; private boater Dean Antonsen took his crew out for 50 jumbos. John Corbett from the Pro Sport Center gave Trinidad a quick try, putting some hoops down for 20 minutes, pulling up 12 keeper Dungeness and 4 small ones they released. Otherwise, the ocean was way rough, and very little effort on the beaches or jetties. Brant season opened with good success, but birds are heading south. Duck shooting has been slow, but goose hunting good.

FORT BRAGG--Weather was an issue again this week, although some did get out for crabs reporting mixed results; some had limits, others reported less than limits. Captain Randy Thornton on the Telstar put out his pots on Friday, pulling some sample pots that night from a friend's string. His trip out on Saturday produced crab limits, as did Sunday's effort, although a building swell made getting back in the harbor a little hairy. Abalone season is open until Nov. 30.

HALF MOON BAY--The sportfishing fleet is keeping the ocean action exciting with good counts on the bottomfishing trips. A Manteca angler caught a 27-pound lingcod on the Queen Of Hearts. On board the Huli Cat, Captain Tom Mattusch is running crab and bottomfish or crab and squid trips. Saturday's trip produced 21 giant squid and limits of Dungeness crab for passengers and crew.