FISH REPORT

FEATHER RIVER: Salmon are starting to show in the Boyd’s Pump area as well as Gridley but numbers are still low. Very slow at the Outlet Hole with few anglers, few boats and few fish. The water flow is very low. The water flows at Gridley are steady at 1200cfs.

TRINITY LAKE: Fishing reports have been inconsistent due to fire closures. Swimbaits on a slow presentation to 30 feet along with plastic worms from 6to 8feet are productive. With the lake dropping to 33 percent, boaters are advised to launch at the Trinity Center public boat launch.

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 to 675 cfs at Fair Oaks. There are questions whether the salmon will be able to survive the low and hot water on their way toward the hatchery. The salmon run in the American River is traditionally the latest of all of the rivers, and the flows will be low and warm when they arrive.

AMERICAN RIVER/Above Folsom: The area has cleared up, but due to the closure of the national forests, the only access is at the Auburn State Recreation Area. The flows are low in the mornings before releases later in the day for rafters.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Colusa: Salmon numbers still high. with some limits. Salmon

starting to show in Colusa area of the river. Water levels at the Colusa Bridge have dropped from 4676 to 4740 cfs.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa:

Several salmon taken in the vicinity of the Interstate 80bridge on the Yolo side using Flying C’s. The water 74-degree water has slowed action for trollers, and the fish aren’t slowing down until they reach Knight’s Landing

which has seen increased action for those anchoring with Silvertron spinners. LAKE OROVILLE: The launch ramp at the Spillway remains closed as the lake held at 23 percent. It may reopen if the lake continues to drop as the slope will flatten out. The hydroelectric turbines have been shut down for the first time since the inception of the dam in 1961.

LAKE SHASTA: John Boitano of JB’s Guide Service fished Lake Shasta fished the steeper canyons of the main body of the lake

and found some good bass numbers in the 20- to 30foot range with plastics in green pumpkins, watermelon candy, or purple with a 3⁄16 to 1⁄4-ounce head. Hula Grub jigs also in the 1⁄2- to 3⁄4-ounce range are also effective. The key right now is getting the bait down in the water column. He reported that the reaction bait bite is tough right now but that there is a fair early morning topwater bite if you get on ‘em just before dawn. Annual boat permits are now on sale at Bay Bridge. There are only three operable

boats ramps. Bridge Bay is down to a single lane 4 wheel-drive track, Jones Valley resort is now a dirt ramp only with no dock. Centimudi still has 2 paved lanes and is workable for 2-wheel drive. The lake has dropped from 26 to 25 percent, and there are unmarked hazards throughout the lake below the surface.

The weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state.