Fish report

LAKE OROVILLE: Jamey Sorensen of North Valley Tackle reported the vast majority of the bass are hanging at 25 feet, although there are always some on the bank and others deeper. He was out last week, and based on reports as well, said it’s a finesse pattern and that baits need to be fished very slowly for success. He caught his bass 50-50 on a shaky head worm and drop-shot. Craig Newton of Will Fish Tackle in Auburn said anglers are still chasing landlocked king salmon at Oroville. This time of year he’d focus on looking for bait before he started fishing. Where the bait is, you’ll find the fish, and that’s expected to be up shallow. There’s extensive construction on many of the lake’s launch ramps and access roads that could cause closures, and the Spillway ramp is nearly out of the water.

THERMALITO AFTER BAY: According to Sorensen, this shallow impoundment is very cold, causing the largemouth here to be lethargic and hard to catch. He doesn’t expect it will be worth the effort to fish it until the warmer temperatures of spring arrive.

FEATHER RIVER: Low water has stalled salmon fishing. It is now difficult to access the area open below the Live Oak Diversion Dam. Steelhead fishing is decent in the upper river where anglers can get shore access. Striper fishing is slow on the lower end.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Colusa: Late-fall kings arrived in bigger numbers last week. FlatFish plugs are working best. Most boat launches are difficult to use, with Woodson Bridge too low for jet boats. Drift boaters are catching wild rainbows and hatchery steelhead.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa: Salmon are being caught on anchor at Knights Landing, with FlatFish plugs working best. Some anglers also are using spinners. Striper fishing is slow.

LAKE SHASTA: John Boitano of Phil’s Propeller again said the bass are feeding heavily for winter. Reaction baits such as small swimbaits and blades are producing when the wind blows, which has been often. Otherwise, finesse plastics have been doing the heavy lifting. The bass are moving deeper and are scattered from 20 to 60 feet deep. Those deep-caught bass need special attention and should be immediately released to avoid barotrauma, he added.

TRINITY RIVER: The Upper Trinity is crowded, but fishing well for steelhead. Fishing is slow near Willow Creek. Flows are low. Flows at Lewiston Dam are 291 cfs, while flows at Douglas City are 327 cfs and flows at Junction City are 341 cfs.

AMERICAN RIVER: Drift boaters are catching a few salmon at Gristmill and Harrington on FlatFish plugs, but fishing is slow. Steelhead season opens Jan. 1 above Ancil Hoffman Park. A few half-pounders are being caught in the area open downstream. Flows are down to 1,300 cfs.