FISH REPORT

LAKE OROVILLE: The launch ramp at the Spillway is inaccessible, but it may be open by Labor Day as the lake continues to drop and a flat spot will emerge. The Wild West Bass Trails moved their Apex event to the Thermolito Afterbay due to the lack of access to the main lake. The lake is no longer operating the hydroelectric turbines for the first time since the inception of the dam in 1961.

FEATHER RIVER: Some salmon are starting to show but the water is low and clear and the bite has been slow. Some steelhead moving into the Outlet Hole. Water levels at Gridley have dropped from are currently down to 1212cfs.

AMERICAN RIVER, Sacramento: The flows dropped once again from 1025to 857cfs at Fair Oaks, and the river is extremely shallow. There is minimal fishing interest with the low water levels combined with hot water. When the salmon arrive late in the season, they will head straight to the base of the dam to find the coldest water available.

AMERICAN RIVER, above Folsom: Continued good trout fishing for fly fishermen and spin casters fishing pool-to-pool in the early mornings, and when the flows are raised during the middle of the day for rafting, the trout become more aggressive with the higher flows. Nightcrawlers or salmon eggs are the best options for the holdover rainbows. Once the flows are ramped up for rafters by

mid-morning, anglers can get stuck on the far side of the river.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Colusa: Salmon scores range at about 2/boat with 4- to 5 takes. The fish are averaging 14-pounds. The Colusa boat ramp is open but water levels at the Colusa Bridge have dropped significantly from 5560 to 5290 cfs. Flows are starting to level out.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa: Some stripers in Sand Cove area, but overall action is limited to the occasional salmon from Freeport north to Verona along with striped bass for those with access to the Port of Sacramento. TRINITY LAKE: The water level is still dropping, but the bass bite has still been very good. Big fish are still being taken and the numbers are still very good. Fish swim baits down baits slow and out to about out to about 30feet and plastics up to 6-inch worms in the 6- to 8- foot range cast from the boat have been best. The lake dropped from 38to 36 percent. The national forest temporary closure until September 6th will limited access to the lake.

LAKE SHASTA: John Boitano of JB’s Guide Service reported that good bass fishing in both the Squaw and Pit arms with shad patterned plastics, deep-diving crankbaits, spoons, or jigs. Plastics, both weighted and non-weighted, have been working best when fished close to the trees and bars that are now visible due to the low water. Be advised though that the water in these areas is extremely low with a lot of hazards that are normally underwater. The Pit Arm above Arbuckle is now down to about a single lane at an idle speed only. Lake fishermen who haven’t given in to the salmon bite are still catching an occasional trout and salmon deep trolling dodger-spoon combos at very slow speeds. The lake has dropped from 29 to 28 percent with the public docks of Centimudi, Sugar Loaf, and Jones Valley remaining open. The Antlers Resort Marina now moved to the Centimudi boat ramp due to low water.