LAKE OROVILLE: Bass fishing remains the top draw, and the first of 7 tournaments took place recently with 9 teams weighing over 13 pounds. Efficiency techniques are the key and working bait fish in depths to 30 feet with a variety of presentations is best. The overall bite has slowed since the storms, but anglers are still catching 10 or more fish per trip. is the top draw as there are a total of 7 tournaments scheduled on the lake over the next month. There is optimism for the upcoming spring for king salmon. The lake rose 7 feet in two weeks to 847.07 feet and 78 percent. The forks are muddy and have debris on the surface.
LAKE SHASTA: Anglers in the Western Outdoor News Bass PRO-AM January 31st-February 2nd saw some nice weights in the bag. Nick Wood won the Pro side with a three-day combined weight of 47.42 pounds and Jake Etcheverry took AAA with a combined weight of 48.46 pounds. Jeff Goodwin reports that the Shasta Lake trout action is very good and he is taking the fish on 5-pound trolling #3-#4 sized Trinidad Optimizers in rainbows and black and whites. Trophy brown trout season is here, and March should be very good. The lake is in excellent condition and the water level has reached about 83 percent.
TRINITY RESERVOIR: There are no current reports. Water levels are still below seasonal averages. We should start seeing some kokanee, but nothing has been reported so far.
AMERICAN RIVER/above Folsom Lake: Water is very stained from recent runoff, particularly in the Middle Fork due to burn scarring from the Mosquito Fire. Flows have dropped from 1388 to 959 cfs at Chili Bar, but they remain high. Because of this, fishing in polluted waters has been limited. The upper river is catch-and-release, artificial, and barbless hook only until the end of May.
AMERICAN RIVER/Sacramento: Steelhead action has been mixed but there is still a decent bite below Nimbus on Little Cleo spoons, roe, soft beads, and double nymphs under a bobber. Water levels peak around 2,570 cfs. but often changes with weather and releases from the dam. Nimbus hatchery will host children’s tours of the hatchery on February 18th. Things are difficult in the town due to poor water conditions.
FEATHER RIVER: There are no current reports. Conditions are good and steelies should be in but seem scattered and in limited numbers. Water levels change. During the week of February 5-9, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife released approximately half of the 445,000 Feather River brood year 2023 hatchery steelhead at Boyd’s Pump boat ramp. The rest will be released the week of February 13-16. There are about 4 fish/book. All fish are cut.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Keswick Reservoir to Red Bluff: The Fly Shop in Redding reports that the river is in relatively good shape above the Bonnyville Bridge but is deteriorating below it. Flows currently hold about 16,000 cfs. and good for drift boats but too high for crossing. Yellow egg patterns, caddis, poopah, Zwings and Bubble backs all work.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa to Tisdale: Difficult conditions due to high water.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro area: Difficult conditions due to high water. The California Salmon and Steelhead Coalition today expressed support for Governor Gavin Newsom’s California Salmon Strategy, released on January 30th. The Coalition, a partnership between California Trout, The Nature Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited, noted that many elements of this plan have been tested by Coalition members and project partners and have proven effective in improving salmon habitat and recovery. . “The Governor’s strategy brings many of the elements that we believe will be effective to restore salmon populations,” said Curtis Knight, Executive Director for California Trout. “Restoring habitat, removing barriers to fish passage, and investing in technology and science.”
The bi-weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best fishing opportunities in the north state.
