Fishing line

Top three picks

Camanche Lake - Another 1,200 pounds of trout (1-pound or better) scheduled for planting this week. The season of plants is producing limits for trollers and good action for the shore-bound. Trollers do best with floating Rapalas (firetiger or black/gold), spoons or Sep’s grubs. Power Bait is top choice for bank anglers, with Chevron Point on the south side and the north boat ramp best for the north side. Bass fishing rated fair to good with fish down 12 to 15 feet around Lancha Plana and the river narrows. Top lures are plastics in smoke or green colors. Some crappie action coming from Causeway Cove, with jumbos to 2.5 pounds reported on live minnows or mini-jigs.

Rancho Seco Lake - One of the better trout bets in the Sacramento area, the lake is loaded with lunker rainbows that weren’t caught during the recent derby, along with lots of fish in the 1- to 2-pound range. Anglers tossing Kastmasters and soaking bait from shore were doing well all around the lake as were anglers trolling small Rapalas and streamers from small boats (no gas motors allowed) and float tubes.

Lake McClure - Trout fishing continued great for anglers dodging the weather fronts and big winds, with the top 20 feet producing the most action for trollers. Flasher/crawler combos, bead spinners and grubs were top bets.

Bass fishing was decent considering the drop in temperatures with small plastic worms, spoons and jigs finding a share of 1- to 2-pound spotted bass in the main body. Points and creek channels were top spots to try.

Other spots

Motherlode - Amador Lake: Water levels are on the rise, with the elevation increasing by 15 feet in two days last weekend. Trout fishing remained consistent with some limits reported and plenty of 2 to 6 pounders showing for anglers fishing Power Bait, Kastmasters or Rapalas within 2 feet of the surface. Bass reported fair with mostly small fish caught on plastics. No recent reports on catfish or crappie.

Don Pedro Reservoir: While weather deterred many anglers last week, trout fishing should be about the same for trollers fishing the top 15 feet of water with Rapalas and bead spinners. Bass fishing rated slow with only small success reported for anglers fishing deep with spoons.

Lake McSwain: A few anglers showed up on the holiday weekend, but the weather kept many away. Still, some success reported from both shore and trolling anglers, with shore anglers using Power Bait and trollers choosing Rapalas and flasher/crawler combos.

New Hogan Reservoir: Dead slow, although increasing water levels should improve the bite.

New Melones Reservoir: Trout fishing remained good for holdovers in the major creek arms as well as for planters at traditional shore access points like Glory Hole Point, Angels Cove and Tuttletown. Trollers found easy limits in the main lake from the 10- to 20-foot zone on Needlefish, spinner/crawler combos, Apexes or frozen shad. Rapalas work best for the occasional big brown. Spooning is becoming more productive for bassers as cooler water temps move the fish deeper. While catfish action has generally been slow, a 9 pounder was caught recently at Tuttletown on chicken liver.

Tulloch Reservoir: Cold temperatures and rainy weather reduced angler effort last week. Still a good bet for both planted and holdover rainbows for trollers, with some action going to the shore anglers fishing with Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers. Trollers find good action on shad, spoons and Rapalas. Bass fishing has been slow with few anglers trying.

Delta region

SACRAMENTO RIVER side: Be mindful of the debris in the water if you want to do some sturgeon fishing, which was the best bet this past week. Roe was the top producer, although shad and ghost shrimp did well also. The Power Lines, Chain Island, Rio Vista Bridge and the mouth of Steamboat Slough took top honors with anglers for sturgeon to 76 pounds. The few stripers that were reported came from the Rio Vista Bridge area as well.

SAN JAOQUIN RIVER side: Discovery Bay continues to give up stripers to 18 pounds on chrome Rat-L-Traps and Stump Jumpers. Look for slow moving black bass with crankbaits in Fire Tiger colors. Don't forget your new license and Delta Enhancement stamp.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY AMERICAN RIVER, Rancho Cordova: Steelheading fishing was mostly tough on the opener, with poor water visibility and fewer fish than in the past couple of years. Fishing wasn't hot anywhere, but there were a few bright spots, relatively speaking, all above the Sunrise Bridge where water wasn't quite as murky and steelies were more concentrated. Greatest success was found in Nimbus Basin. The next productive spot was below the fish hatchery, although the average catch was no better than one fish per 10 anglers. Upper Sunrise also produced a few steelhead to 12 pounds. Most fish were taken on fresh roe, although single eggs, and nymphs fished under indicators caught a few.

Flows were 1,500 cfs, but could increase substantially at any time to maintain the flood pool at Folsom.

FEATHER RIVER: Relatively poor water visibility didn't seem to deter steelheaders from catching some fish over the weekend in the newly opened section of the Low Flow Section between the Highway 70 and hatchery bridges.

Fly fishermen were in the majority both in numbers and in success, doing particularly well on the flat above Bed Rock on red San Juan worms.

FOLSOM LAKE: Few anglers ventured out, inflows to the lake were off-color, and fishing was poor except for a few trout and landlocked salmon in front of the dam where water was clearest.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento: High, muddy flows perked up sturgeon fishing downstream of Sacramento around Freeport, and upstream above the mouth of the Feather River. Jumbo minnows scored striped bass in the Port of Sacramento, but most were too small to keep.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Tisdale: Sturgeon fishing was good last week from Tisdale to Grimes. Flows were dropping by the weekend but were still off-color, and both boaters and bankies were catching fish day and night on ghost shrimp and eels.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding: Flows dropped, and the river was rapidly clearing over the weekend, raising expectations for a newly-arrived run of late fall king salmon to provide good fishing through the last days of the season which ends January 14. Anglers are hoping score some of the giant 50-pound plus kings that typically show up toward the end of the season.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS KLAMATH RIVER, Irongate: Only the upper-most reach of the river right below Irongate Dam was fishable by last weekend, but very few anglers bothered in the lousy weather. This will be the section to try first for trout and steelhead when storm clouds clear.

KLAMATH RIVER, Happy Camp: The river was high, muddy and unfishable.

TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek: The river was too high and muddy to fish from the North Fork downstream.

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City: The river was in good shape, from the standpoint of flows and clarity, but the water was very cold and fish were lethargic. Pulling small plugs and drifting bait worked better than flies last week, yielding a few steelies per outing per boat. Fly fishers were getting a couple on golden stone fly and pheasant tail nymphs.

FOOTHILLS COLLINS LAKE: The lake was murky at the upper end down to the bridge and turned on the catfish bite around the bridge, yielding one pushing almost 16 pounds. The lake was rising and the lake was sufficiently clear in front of the dam enabling trollers to catch a few holdover trout.

OROVILLE LAKE: Only the most diehard of anglers were out last week, and fishing for landlocked coho salmon was poor up in the arms of the lake where flows were off-color. Bass fishing wasn't much better. A few small bass were caught in deeper water jigging and drop-shotting around the main body.

STUMPY MEADOWS: Heavy snows blocked access indefinitely.

North Saltwater BENICIA: Bad weather affected angler numbers, but those willing to brave the elements still caught fish, with one regular and buddies bringing in stripers to 19.5 pounds. Sturgeon was slower with mild tides and bad weather combining to reduce the keeper count to nil.

BERKELEY: While the "fleet" is mostly moored until salmon and live bait, there are a couple boats offering trips here. Targeting sturgeon and striped bass are the California Dawn and Captain James Smith and the Silver Fox with Captain Chris Duba at the helm.

BODEGA BAY: Weather conditions kept most crabbers in, made surf fishing tough, and basically eliminated any reports. When the surf subsides, perch fishing should resume. Also, fishing for rockfish, lingcod, cabezon and greenling is allowed for shore anglers. Be sure to check the new regulations.

CROCKETT: Pretty slow for the Morning Star with only three keeper stripers caught on Saturday, and only one on Sunday. Weather was definitely a factor, with the boat heading up the system to hide from wind on Saturday, those three bass coming from Suisun Bay. On Sunday, San Pablo Bay was the target water, and there was no hiding from the rain.

EMERYVILLE: Closing the crab "season" for the year, the New Seeker went on a crab and sanddab combo last Sunday with the usual banner results including crab limits and dozens of Œdabs per angler. Another trip mid-week produced 20 limits and 919 sanddabs. While the next couple of weeks will be quiet here, trips will be offered late January through March targeting sturgeon and leopard sharks.

EUREKA: Gale warnings subsided to small craft advisory last week, but not until after New Years. As a result, few crabbers made it onto the open ocean, although the bay was an option that produced a few crabs for sport crabbers.

FORT BRAGG: A few of the sportfishing boats are still chasing crabs with the Rumblefish reporting easy limits (at 10 per angler) on trips last week.

Weather was a problem at times, and angler interest the determining factor the rest of the week.

HALF MOON BAY: Crabbing continued for private boaters last week, with limits fairly common, but the size/grade on the smaller side. With the big swell, not much shoreline effort on rockfish, lingcod, etc. which is now open for the shoreline angler.

SAN PABLO BAY: Wind and rain made for tough fishing conditions over the holiday, and tides weren't great for sturgeon. Still, a few fish reported including a couple off of piers in the south end of San Pablo Bay.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO BAY: Herring spawns reported south of Burlingame and around Coyote Point, with plenty of activity on Friday, and more over the weekend.

SUISUN BAY: Tides backed off through last week making for tougher fishing conditions, then the weather blew a twist into the mix and made it even tougher. Still a few sturgeon caught, including a couple oversized fish released from the sandbar area. Another good bet for action was the Martinez Pier where "teenagers" abound, mostly sublegals with a few in the 40-inch category. Striper fishing slowed way down.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS BOCA LAKE: The road is plowed but not to the lake. Snow shoes will get you there but not on the lake as ice fishing is not an option now. Fish the bank by the dam with small lures for light trout action or bait like Power Bait or nightcrawlers.

LAKE DAVIS: New snow and no plowed roads make this lake a better choice in the coming weeks when ice fishing will be available. When the road opens, try the are from Coot Bay to Mallard Cove.

DONNER LAKE: Don't count this lake out as it may surprise you if you think like a fish. The Macks will be schooling baitfish into the coves and at the end of the lake. Try China Cove. Trout action has been light. Best action may be for fly fishing.

FRENCHMAN LAKE: Phone power down so no report but that should tell you something.

GOLD LAKES BASIN: They were grooming trails to the lakes at press time.

Snowmobile access to the lakes should be possible but check with the folks at Bassetts Station to be sure at (530) 862-1297.

JENINSON LAKE (SLY PARK): No reports as access to the lake was closed. Call sly Park Resort to see when it has been plowed at (530) 644-1113.

PYRAMID LAKE: Great bank fishing happening right now with few anglers to share in the large sized cuttrout trout this lake is kicking out. Fish to nine pounds reported from lure anglers using green or orange, as well as fly fishermen.

PROSSER LAKE: Some ice fishing shacks were spotted before the storms hit.

Now you will have to walk in until it is cleared.

STAMPEDE LAKE: Conditions are changing daily but at press time access was available from the Boca-Stampede Road at the south end of the lake where anglers were catching fish to 15 inches on red, green or green/silver lures and Power Bait in orange.

LAKE TAHOE: Strong winds and heavy snow kept anglers off of the water and even the banks as they could not climb through all of the snow to get to the banks. Bank fishing can be great on the east side of the lake, especially when the wind blows in from the west, pushing the bait from the waves back out to the fish. This can be great fishing from a charter boat also as captains are familiar with winter conditions and the Macks are feeding.

LAKE TOPAZ: Despite the bad weather, 74 anglers came out for opening weekend, with eight tagged fish reported. Bank fishing was the most productive way to fish with Rapalas in orange, Power Bait or nightcrawlers.

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SOURCE: Reports provided by Western Outdoor News. Contact via www.wonsubs.com/bee or (800) 290-2929.