FISH REPORT

LAKE OROVILLE: The launch ramp at the Spillway is inaccessible, but it may be open by Labor Day as the lake The launch ramp at the Spillway remains with the lake continuing to drop to 23 percent. The lake is no longer operating the hydroelectric turbines for the first time since the inception of the dam in 1961.

FEATHER RIVER: Salmon fishing is still slow with only a fish or two here and there. The water levels at Gridley have dropped from 1200 to 1193cfs with just a slight uptick in flow level late in the week. The river is almost stagnant at Gridley, and you can walk across the apron at the Outlet. The flows are expected to hold at 950 through December with 800 cfs from the low flow and 150 cfs from the Thermolito Outlet. SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff

to Colusa: Salmon averages at about 2-3per boat with some limits. Fish are averaging 14-pounds or larger. The bite varies with fluctuations in water flow. Colusa boat ramp is open but water levels at the Colusa Bridge have dropped significantly from 5370to 4780cfs. SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa: Salmon are starting to show between Sand Cove Park and Garcia Bend and upriver from Lovey’s Landing to Colusa. Boats using plugs and roe. Bank anglers using Blue Fox spinners or Flying C’s.. Still not many fish holding.

AMERICAN RIVER, Sacramento: The American is in real trouble due to minimal water releases anticipated starting in October at 515 cfs. The current flows have dropped to 760 cfs at Fair Oaks. There are real questions whether the salmon will be able to survive the low and hot water on their way toward the hatchery.

AMERICAN RIVER, above Folsom:

Heavy smoke and the closure of the national forests have limited access to the Auburn State Park. TRINITY LAKE: Smokey conditions have forced most anglers off the lake. The water level is down to 35 percent. Up until the smoke moved in, the bass bite had been good using swim baits or down baits fished slow and out to about 30 feet or using plastics up to 6-inch worms fished in the 6- to 8-foot range.

LAKE SHASTA: The lake continues to drop, water temperature are high, and the guides have shifted over to river fishing for salmon due to the forest service closure and a temporary hold on guiding on the lake. There are only a few anglers looking for trout in the deep water near the dam. Bass fishing on both the Squaw and Pitt River arms has provided the best action lately. John Boitano at JB’s Bass Fishing reported bass fishing remains good on shad patterns, divers, spoons, and plastics, both weighted and non-weighted fished close to structure. 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. He also reports that there has been a good catfish bite up on the Sac arm near Lakehead and on the Pit near Arbuckle. The lake has dropped from 28 to 27 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.