Fish report
LAKE OROVILLE: Jamey Sorensen of North Valley Tackle said all of the lake’s ramps are closed with the exception of a 4WD gravel and mud road leading to an unimproved low water launch at Bidwell. The good news is the newly improved launch ramp now under construction at Bidwell is expected to open by the end of the month, perhaps as soon as Christmas week, although that timetable could be delayed by incoming inclement weather. Sorensen was out with a friend on Friday, the last day the improved launch was open, and said it was a good day with some 25 bass all on the shore. They didn’t catch a thing on drop- shot, instead slowly dragging Roboworms, shaky worms and 3-inch swimbaits right up on the bank.
THERMALITO AFTERBAY: 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: Salmon season closes Dec. 16. Steelhead fishing is good where access can be found upriver. Striper fishing is slow near Yuba City, but an occasional keeper and shakers are being caught on cut bait or swimbaits.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Colusa: Salmon fishing closes Dec. 16 below Red Bluff. Fishing was slow amid low water prior to the closure. Trout fishing is good near Red Bluff.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa: Salmon fishing was slow prior to the Dec. 16 closure. Striper fishing is slow.
TRINITY RIVER: Rain arrived over the weekend, and the Trinity was on the rise Sunday night.
The boost in flows is expected to make fishing easier for drift boaters while also drawing in fresh steelhead from the Klamath. Fishing was fair above Junction City last week, despite low, clear, cold water. Flows could be ideal this week as rain rises creeks but the bulk of the water is held back by Trinity Dam.
AMERICAN RIVER: Steelhead season opens above Ancil Hoffman Park on Jan. 1. A few half-pounders and an occasional king are being caught in the open water from Ancil Hoffman to Jibboom Street Bridge.
LAKE SHASTA: John Boitano of Phil’s Propeller said it’s become difficult to catch larger bass, but numbers of smaller fish are available to anglers fishing finesse plastics. There’s a ghost of a reaction bite for swimbaiters and those who work glide baits on main body points. Bass are scattered all the way down to 60 feet, and Boitano urged care in handling deep- caught fish. Release them right away or bleed the air. Trout fishing is good, particularly for trollers, who have been working Optimizer Juniors and full- size Optimers about 150 back on side planers with trolling sinkers. The trout are in the top 20 feet of the water column.