TOP PICKS

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Striped bass fishing was still pretty good, with some being caught in the Port of Sacramento, and the mouths of the American and Feather rivers. But the best action was occurring downstream below Clarksburg trolling and even on topwater lures. A few sturgeon were starting to show, as well, although it's still a bit early to be targeting them.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa--Catching a salmon in the open stretch between Red Bluff Diversion Dam and Knight's Landing, wasn't a sure thing, but at least 1 ocean fresh king was being put into many boats, and there were even some boats coming back with limits for all on board. Both Kwikfish and spinners were working, with most of the spin fishing action taking place on anchor from Colusa downstream. Most kings weighed between 15 and 25 pounds, but there were a fair number of fish being caught that weighed over 30 pounds.

EMERYVILLE--The combo trips continued to set the pace for crab limits with every trip maxing out. Rockfish numbers were the same, but lingcod counts fluctuated, with the usual count around 2 or 3 per boat, up to 7 per boat. The action came at the Farallon Islands for the bottomfishing, while the pots are scattered between the islands and the Golden Gate.

DELTA: SACRAMENTO RIVER side--Surface plugs like Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks in shad patterns are netting steady limits of stripers averaging 8 to 10 pounds but a few whoppers were also reported. Baits did well at Sandy Beach, Sandy Bar, and the lower Cache Slough. A few sturgeon are also being reported in the deeper waters during the end, slack, and beginning of the tide sets. Move to shallower water during the main portion of the tide set. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side-- Baits like anchovies, shad, and mudsuckers found stripers in the lower San Joaquin as did Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks, and Lucky Craft Sammie's in shad patterns. The topwater bite has been dropping off by 10 a.m. at which point switching over to shad colored swimbaits will produce fish 10-20 feet deep. Try Frank's Tract, False River or Fisherman's Cut.

AMADOR LAKE--Lake level is still low, but the bass fishing rates good, and the trout action is even better with all the heavy planting by lake managers. They have been putting 3,500 to 5,000 pounds of Donaldson's trout in the lake every week. Catch tactics for the trout never change; anglers need to get their offering in the top 2 feet. Power Bait, nightcrawlers filled with air, spoons and mini-jigs all worked. Bass are hitting topwater and worms, with fish to 5 pounds reported. A 20-pound catfish hit for an Ione man, the fish now residing in the store aquarium.

GENERAL

NORTH COAST RIVERS

CHETCO RIVER--Salmon and steelhead are available here, though the river cleared and dropped quickly after Thursday's rain. Anglers fishing Kwikfish and roe found some mostly dark kings from the low water bridge to Social Security Bar and the occasional dimer steelhead. With not much rain the near future, the water will continue to drop out and fishing should get tough.

EEL RIVER--Getting low and froggy over the weekend and not a whole heck of a lot going on. Before this thing cranks up again, we're going to need some rain!

MAD RIVER--The first few steelhead of the year were taken this week by anglers tossing spinners and eggs by the hatchery and the Blue Lake Bridge. There were also some kings around, but they were all pretty dark - and have to be released anyway. Flows were down here over the weekend and not much is going to change until some weather hits.

REDWOOD CREEK--Super low and clear and in desperate need of some precipitation!

RUSSIAN RIVER--A trickle, but there should be some steelies ready to come in if the flows ever come up. Do a rain dance!

SMITH RIVER--The river came up on Thursday but was already low and clear again over the weekend. The king bite has been on the scratchy side mostly, with some dark fish hitting Kwikfish and roe in the early morning hours. Not much rain's in the forecast, so it may be a long, slow week here.