FISH REPORT

FEATHER RIVER: Salmon season closed Dec. 16. Steelhead fishing is good where access can be found upriver. An occasional keeper striper and lots of shakers are being caught on cut bait or swimbaits near Yuba City.

LAKE OROVILLE: Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob’s Guide Service took two trolling trips for king salmon, and after the first trip producing only spotted bass, the second trip was good for 4kings along with a few more than came unbuttoned along with a few bass released on Brad’s Cut Plugs. He said, “The bite isn’t off the hook, but there are a few fish still willing to bite.” The only ramp open is at Bidwell with the lake at 35 percent.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Colusa: A 50-pound striped bass was caught by a client of guide Mike Rassmussen Dec. 21 near Chico. Salmon fishing closed Dec. 16 below Red Bluff. Trout fishing is good near Red Bluff.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa: A few small stripers are being caught on cut bait near Verona. Anglers are awaiting heavy rain to draw in sturgeon from the bay. Salmon season is closed.

AMERICAN RIVER, Sacramento: Steelhead season opens above Ancil Hoffman Park on

Jan. 1. Craig Newton of Will Fish and Tackle visited the area this past weekend, and he reported a number of steelhead along with salmon on the recently redeveloped redds in the currently closed section. The water is low with flows of 1,478 cfs at Fair Oaks.

AMERICAN RIVER, above Folsom: Catch and release barbless hooks only above Folsom. The Middle Fork is best for brown trout as there hasn’t been enough rain to muddy up the water.

LAKE SHASTA: Bass are holding between 25 and 60 feet and falling for a wide variety of plastic finesse baits morning to night according to John Boitano of Phil’s Propeller. However, there are also some in the cuts and in the backs of coves and slinging a Huddleston or other large swimbait at points and rock walls might snag a better model. Trout anglers are catching in the top 20 feet; Optimizers and Optimizer Juniors are lake favorites for trollers. The float and fly also catches them.

TRINITY RIVER: Flows increased near Junction City in the middle of last week but were low and clear again river-wide. Steelhead fishing is fair to good near Lewiston, but slow on the lower end near Willow Creek. Retired guide E.B. Duggan said the lull between the fall run and winter run is on, but new steelhead should arrive soon.