1. Coastal Mountains
CLEAR LAKE BLACK BASS
Clearlake) Largemouth fishing is shifting into high gear at Clear Lake as the weather cools. Anglers are catching big numbers of bass, as well as some larger fish both day and night.
Larry Hemphill, fishing guide, reported top-notch fishing on his latest trip to Clear lake. “I caught and releasing 25 largemouths to 7 pounds while fishing from 5:30 p.m. to 12:10 p.m.,” said Hemphill. “My five largest fish weighed a total of 26-1/2 pounds. Besides the big fish, I also caught and released bass weighing 5-3/4 and 4 pounds, 13 ounces.”
He enticed his bass while using Piranha Swim Jigs, 10 inch Berkley Power worms and Brush Hogs. He also fooled a couple of largemouths while working crankbaits.
“I experienced the best action fishing at 18 to 40 feet in the Narrows and Clear Lake arm,” he noted. “The fish were most active when the breeze came up on the water.”
The day bite is also very productive at Clear Lake. “Mike Chimera and his fishing partner reported great bass action during a recent trip,” said Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience. “They landed a 25 pound limit, with the top three fish weighing 8, 7 and 5 pounds.”
They reported the top action while using top water lures and Lucky Craft CV 500 lipless crankbaits.
Crappie anglers are finding some nice sized slabs in the waters near No Name Reef and Rocky Point in the Redbud arm and in Jago Bay. Fishing Guide Bob Koch said the crappie go on the bite just as the sun drops behind Mt. Konocti in the late afternoon, reported Bob Rider at Lakeshore Bait and Tackle in Clearlake.
2. North Coast
Smith River Chinooks
(Smith River) The Smith received enough rain to reopen the river on Friday, November 6, producing good salmon action for boaters and bank fishermen. The only drawback was that most of the fish were dark.
“The two anglers fishing with me started at noon,” said Phil Desautels of Smiling Phil’s Guide Service. “We landed 6 fish ranging from 15 to 30 pounds while back bouncing roe from the Walker Hole to Ruby park. Five of the fish was dark and one was bright.”
Before the river openers, anglers caught bright salmon in the 20 to 30 pound range while trolling the Sand Hole in the estuary. Bank fishermen tossing out spinners, Little Cleos and Kastmasters are also nailing chinooks.
“We hooked five and kept two salmon weighing 23 and 18 pounds while fishing the Smith today,” said Dave Castellanos of Cast Guide Service. “We back bounced roe and back trolled Kwikfish for our salmon.”
Over the previous six days, Castellanos reported catching anywhere from 1 to 3 salmon per day while fishing in the estuary.
He also reported salmon success in the Chetco River Estuary from the river mouth to the Highway 101 Bridge on several trips, “We landed 3 salmon weighing 36 pounds, 32 pounds and 12 pounds,” said Castellanos.
3. Oregon:
ROGUERIVER COHO
(Brookings) Salmon are the main attraction for southern Oregon River anglers at this time, with both kings and cohos showing in the catches.
The salmon bite in the Rogue Estuary has shifted toward silvers rather than kings. There are reported to be 100 kings at the Indian Creek Hatchery so far and many fish continue to hold near the mouth of the creek providing action for anglers that are there when the bite is on.
There are still a handful of guides working the estuary and averaging 2 to 3 fish per boat with some kings near the 30 pound mark. Boat pressure overall has been light. Many guides have moved up river and are fishing for moving fish on anchor, or side drifting eggs.
We will see a shift toward the Elk and Sixes Rivers for kings as the rain allows. Currently both of these rivers are low and clear, but holding salmon.
With the Chetco River closed to fishing, the Smith has provided the bulk of in-river fishing locally. Greg Kawaguchi and I caught our limit fishing with guide Jimmy Dean after the rain last week pulling Kwikfish. Our largest fish was 25 pounds.
Over the weekend we fished Bill Divens of Salmon King Lodge of Red Bluff and did well at the Bailey Hole on kings weighing 30 and 34 pounds.
As of this writing the Smith is at 340 cfs and will close to fishing above Rowdy Creek. There are lots of fish in the lower part of the Smith, but it will be crowded and anglers may want to wait for rain to make a run up here.
4. NORTHERN MOUNTAINS
SHASTA LAKE RAINBOWS & KINGS
(Redding) If you dream of hooking fat rainbows or big numbers of feisty bass, set a course for Lake Shasta and you won’t be disappointed.
“I just finished fishing Shasta until spring,” reported Mike Elster of Mike’s Fishing Guide Service. “On my last trip we fished up in the McCloud Arm and the shad were thick. I was using Wiggle Hoochies behind a UV Sling Blade, pearl Apex’s and a shad pattern Cripplure. I had the Apex’s 5 feet down on the downriggers and the Wiggle Hoochie and Cripplure on the surface with about a 200 foot setback.”
“The surface temperature was 63 degrees and it appears the lake has turned over as the fish were scattered at all depths, but it was definitely a surface bite. All the lures and depths I tried produced fish. Two of the rainbows were just over 2 pounds and the rest went between 1 to 1.5 pounds. We ended the day with limits,” said Elster.
Gary Miralles of the Shasta Tackle Company reported similar fishing to that experienced by Elster.
“For trout you want to be working the top 10 feet of water,” said Miralles. “UV Cripplures, Hum Dingers and Wiggle Hoochies are all hooking fish. The key is keep your baits 150 to 200 feet behind the boat when toplining. There are trout scattered all over the lake these days, but you don’t need to go beyond the main body to experience good action.”
Ron Ng at Phil’s Propellers advised bass anglers to concentrate on working plastic worms rigged on darter heads or small swimbaits.
Most of the bass being caught at this time are running 12 to 14 inches in length, with larger fish being absent. Anglers are enjoying fast action while targeting bass suspended off main lake points.
Early and late in the day, there has been some topwater action, but the surface bite has been spotty.
Shasta is currently 127 feet from maximum pool and boat launching isn’t an issue.
At Whiskeytown, brook trout and rainbows are available for anglers trolling Needlefish, Sep’s Pro Secrets and Cripplures, but very few anglers are trying for. Shore anglers that want to catch some of Whiskeytown’s trout are advised to soak standard baits near the powerhouse.
5. Monterey Bay
MONTEREY ROCKFISH/STRIPED BASS
(Monterey) Charter boat operations will be switching over from rockfish trips to sanddab, crab and jumbo squid adventures after November 15. The rockfish action over the weekend of November 7-8 was very tough, due to a large swell of 15 to 20 feet high.
“The 23 anglers fishing aboard the Chubasco on November 8 averaged 2 rockfish and 1 crab each,” said Brian Cutting at Randy’s Fishing Trips. “They fished close to the harbor off Cypress Point.”
A trip by 5 anglers aboard the Chubasco on November 7 also produced difficult fishing, with anglers catching an average of 3 rockfish per rod. The fish were a mixture of blue, yellowtail and olive rockfish.
However, on the last trip the boat was able to make it to Big Sur, the 27 anglers caught limits of quality blue, yellowtail and vermilion rockfish. “We nailed 60 vermilions while using shrimp flies and bars,” said Cutting.
“We weren’t able to go out on crab/rockfish combos on the opening weekend of crab season because of the big swell, “said Chris Arcoleo of Chris’ Fishing Trips. “However, the anglers were able to catch a mixture of blue and yellowtail rockfish off Cypress Point and Point Joe.”
After the rockfish season ends, Arcoleo said the charter boats will begin booking jumbo squid, crab and sanddab fishing adventures out of the wharf.
6.Northeast California
IRON CANYON/BAUM LAKE RAINBOWS & BROWNS
(Burney) Iron Canyon Reservoir is kicking out quality holdover rainbows and a few browns as the water temperature cools.
Shore fishermen are hooking the fish while using Berkley Power Bait, Pautzke salmon eggs, nightcrawlers and Kastmasters. The fish at Iron Canyon range from 10 to 17 inches, with an occasional larger fish, disclosed Steve Vaughn at Vaughn’s Sporting Goods.
Bait anglers using salmon eggs, crawlers and rainbow Power Eggs at Baum Lake are bagging beautiful rainbows averaging 10 to 14 inches and going up to 20 inches. A few brown trout are also spicing up the catches.
“Fly fishermen going to Bam are experiencing the best action on midge patterns, while lure fishermen are tossing out silver/blue and gold Kastmasters,” added Vaughn.
The Pit River is kicking out good numbers of wild rainbows in the 16 to 20 inch range for fly fishermen using October caddis, black A.P. and prince nymph patterns.
The Pit River from Lake Britton to Lake Shasta will remain open to zero kill, barbless hook and artificials only regulations through April 24, 2009.
Upper Hat Creek finally yielded good fishing the final two weeks of the season ending November 15. Anglers nailed 9 to 14 inch rainbows on small nymphs and caddis patterns.
The Fall River also produced many wild rainbows from 10 to 20 inches prior to the stream closure. Fishermen employed pale morning dun, mahogany dun and blue wing olive patterns.
7. Northern Sierra Nevada
DAVIS/FRENCHMAN LAKE RAINBOWS
(Chilcoot) If you want to experience some remarkable fly fishing for trout, heed the advice of fly fishing export Richard Hardy and head over to Lake Davis.
“The Good Old Days are here right now, today,” said Hardy, a Portola resident. “The fly fishing at Lake Davis this fall is nothing less than outstanding. It’s truly remarkable.”
He emphasized, “There are lots of fish and many quality-sized fish from 17 to 20 inches. I fish the lake over a hundred times a year and started fishing Grizzly Creek in Grizzly Valley two years before the lake ever existed. Never have I had better fishing.:
He said that decent fly fishermen can expect twenty or more in a half day of fishing and up to forty if the fish are really grabbing. Midge patterns and snails have slowed down as the fish seem to want something a little larger as the water gets colder. Wiggle nymphs, damsels, sheep creeks, prince nymphs, bird’s nest and buggers all are catching fish.
“I’ve taken out several different friends this month and we often are landing around a hundred fish between the two of us,” he added. “I don’t exaggerate; if anything, I am low on the numbers caught.”
Fishing results have been great not only for fly tossers, but for anglers bait fishing from shore or shallow trolling. Water temperatures are plus or minus 50 degrees.
“There are lots of fish and many quality-sized rainbows from 17 to 20 inches,” said Jerry Dollard at Dollard’s Sierra Market. “The best area for shore fishermen has been Fairview.”
.Shore fishermen and trollers reported top-notch rainbow trout fishing at Frenchman Lake over the past two weeks. Just ask Brian Weber of Fremont, who bagged 5 rainbows from 18 to 20 inches long on his trip to Frenchman.
“He used salmon eggs, marshmallows and orange Power Eggss near the dam,” said Shirley Wiggin at Wiggin’s Trading Post. “The fish hit best at 9:30 a.m.”
Besides the dam, the areas around the ramps and boat docks are excellent spots to bait fish and troll for trout.
8. Sacramento Valley…
REDDING AREA RAINBOWS
(Redding) Traditionally this is the time of the year when the Sacramento River would be bustling with anglers targeting king salmon. This year with salmon largely off limits, crowds are light.
Yet, despite the salmon closure, excellent fishing opportunities are on tap. Wild rainbow trout are on an excellent bite and there are enough fresh run steelhead in the system to keep things very interesting.
“The trout fishing on the Sacramento River between Redding and Red Bluff is very good right now,” reported Jason Thatcher of All River Fishing. “I haven’t been seeing many salmon in the river, so I haven’t been using egg imitations most of the time. The hot fly for me has been a No. 18 caddis nymph imitation.”
“There are fair numbers of steelhead in the river and more will move in with some rain. We’ve been hooking some large hard fighting steelhead, but landing them on the small nymphs we are using is really tough,” continued Thatcher.
Bill Divens of Salmon King Lodge is also offering trout fishing trips on the Sacramento. Divens has been enjoying success while fishing with both fly and conventional tackle. When using spinning gear Divens has been hooking up with small plugs such as Hot Shots and Flatfish.
9. San Joaquin Valley/Mother Lode
NEW MELONES RAINBOWS & CATFISH
(Angels Camp) After a slow period of fishing, the trout action off the bank is beginning to improve at New Melones Reservoir. Anglers are employing green and white Power Eggs, nightcrawlers and other baits to entice the big, bold holdover rainbows, reported Moe Goodman at Glory Hole Sports.
Big fish honors of the week go to Pete York from Valley Springs who landed a 3 lb. 12 oz. rainbow while fishing Power Eggs from shore in Angels Cove on Saturday, November 7. Mark Tipton of Angels Camp also successfully battled three rainbows over 3 pounds while using blue/silver Kastmasters during his latest shore fishing adventures.
Trollers are also nailing holdover rainbows. Greg Branson of Angels Camp caught a 3 lb. 4 oz. rainbow trout while trolling a shad-patterned Lucky Craft lure 40 feet deep near the spillway/dam. Joe Classen also (with his friend Wylie Montgomery) landed a 3 lb. 3 oz. rainbow while fishing with a rainbow-trout patterned Rebel upriver by Camp Nine.
Boaters and shore anglers throughout the lake continue to bag hefty channel catfish. Jay Linker bagged a 10 lb. 4 ounce channel cat and his fishing partner nailed a 10 lb. 14 oz. cat while fishing large minnows from a boat on November 4.
Boaters continue to catch and release lots of bass. “Tom Blue and guide John Chiarpotti landed a 10 lb. 3 oz. largemouth and caught and released numerous other bass while fishing Spro swimbaits,” said Goodman.
The lake level is 132 feet from maximum pool and the surface water temperature is from 64 to 66 degrees.
10. Central Sierra Nevada
INDIAN VALLEY TROUT
(Markleeville) Bank anglers and float tubers going to Indian Creek Reservoir are bagging beautiful rainbow and brown trout as the weather cools in the Alpine County high country. The fish are grabbing a mixture of Power Bait, nightcrawlers, Pautzke salmon eggs, silver Kastmasters and nymphs.
For example, Fred Jones of Grass Valley nailed five rainbows weighing a total of five rainbows weighing a total of 15 pounds while fishing salmon eggs.
Before the stream closure on November 15, Alpine County planted the East Carson with a big load of brown and rainbow trout, according to Todd Sotaro at the Carson River Resort. Ray Munro of San Mateo demonstrated his angling prowess by nailing a 2-1/2 lb. brown and 2-1/2 lb. rainbow while drifting crawlers on the East Carson.
Shore anglers continue to catch a mixture of rainbow, brook and brown trout at Caples Lake. The resort closed in late October and the lodge will reopen around Christmas for their winter season. Caples is a very popular lake for anglers to ice fish during the winter.
11. Southern Sierra Nevada…
OWENS RIVER/PLEASANT VALLEY RAINBOWS & BROWNS
Heavy trout plants and cool night have made for exceptional trout fishing for Eastern Sierra anglers as the general trout season closure looms on November 15.
(June Lake) According to Mark Spieler of the Trout Fly, fishing during the final days of the season has been quite productive for anglers plying June Lake Loop waters.
Silver Lake is one of the most productive destinations. The lake is kicking out big numbers of rainbows, a few browns and some large Alpers trout. The area near the inlet to the north of the boat house has been producing the best results for both fly, lure and bait anglers.
Grant Lake has been producing very good results provided the wind isn’t blowing. The fish are focused on chasing baitfish, so streamer flies, minnow plugs and spoons are the best offerings.
Gull Lake is another solid choice for June Lake Loop anglers. Spin anglers are using standard lures and baits while fly guys are employing streamer rigged with nymph trailers.
June Lake is not the best lake on the loop, but anglers fishing with Power Bait, worms and lures are still busting limits.
(Bishop) Trout guide Nathan Wray reported that trout fishing on the Lower Owens has been good for anglers willing to cover ground. The flows are high so he urged anglers to use caution while wading.
According to Wray, the best action is taking place in the morning for anglers fishing with midges, with blue wing olives entering the mix during the mid morning hours.
At Pleasant Valley Reservoir, trout are being caught near the inlet by anglers using inflated worms, minnow plugs and streamer flies. Most of the fish are rainbows, but some browns are beginning to show too.
High country lakes such as Sabrina are still providing productive action for both fly and conventional tackle anglers.
(Bridgeport) “Bridgeport Reservoir fished well for most of last week,” reported Jim Reid at Ken’s Sporting Goods. “Over the last couple days things have slowed down a little. On the good days guys are hooking fish on streamers and leech imitations. Bait anglers are using Power Bait and worms, while the trollers are using Rapalas and other minnow imitations.”
Twin Lakes are kicking out quality trout everyday. Shore fishing enthusiasts are using Power Bait, worms and Pautzke salmon eggs.
Both the West and East Walker Rivers are producing fish. The brown trout are beginning to spawn, so anglers are urged to handle gently and use all possible care when releasing them.
12. Nevada
PYRAMID LAKE LAHONTAN CUTTHROATS
(Sutcliffe) The weather has been wonderful, the wind has been light and big trout are on tap for Pyramid Lake anglers. Typically few really large fish are caught this early in the season, but this year has been exceptional and several massive fish in the 7 to 15 pound class have shown.
“The fishing has been going very well for everyone,” reported Carla Molino at the Pyramid Lake Store. “Trollers and jiggers are getting lots of trout while fishing from boats, while tossing Kastmasters and other spoons has been very effective for shore anglers.”
“Fly anglers have been encountering the toughest bite, simply because they can get their bait out into the deeper water where most of the fish are holding, but having said that they are hooking trout too. Just not as many as the boaters and the guys casting hardware,” continued Molino.
According to Larry Nuez at Crosby Lodge, reported that big trout continue to fall to lodge anglers.
“The biggest fish to come in over the past week was a 15.2 pounder, but over the first month of the season we’ve seen a lot of fish ranging from 5 to 14 pounds,” related Nuez.
Trollers working out of Crosby Lodge are reporting the best results while pulling Flatfish and Apex Lures in green hues, but spinner and spoons are also producing results.
13. Bays & Ocean
SAN PABLO BAY STRIPERS
(San Rafael) Boaters and shore anglers caught lots of striped bass over the weekend of November 7-8, with many anglers reporting limits of hard-fighting stripers.
For example, the 10 anglers fishing aboard the Predator on November 7 bagged limits of striped bass and two halibut while drifting shiners and mudsuckers between Buoy #5 and Buoy #7. The stripers ranged from just-keepers to 10 pounds, reported Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Live Bait and Tackle.
All of the skiff anglers that Fraser surveyed that day also reported catching limits of stripers.
“The shoreline action is also excellent from the Loch Lomond Marina Levee to China Camp,” observed Fraser. “Shrimp baits, bullheads and mudsuckers are yielding the top action.”
The Codzilla, skippered by Aaron Anfinson, will be booking striped bass, leopard shark, and sturgeon trips out of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco throughout the fall and winter months, according to Erik Anfinson, captain of the Bass Tub.
Delta Reports
East Delta
(Stockton) Striper fishing is hot in the East Delta. Most of the fish are running 3 to 6 pounds, but anglers are catching dozens of fish per day. Largemouth bass have also been on a superb fall bite.
“The last three days, my clients and I have been busting from 40 to 60 stripers per day while plugging,” reported Randy Pringle of The Fishing Instructor Guide Service. “At this time I’m chasing the birds. If the birds are hitting the surface, we go with surface lures, but if the birds are just hovering we go with the subsurface stuff.”
“When the fish are on top Ima Big Sticks and Persuader Pop ‘N’ Walkers are working very well. When the fish are below the surface the number one offering has been a green 3/4 ounce Hopkins Smoothy. Optimum BLT swimbaits have also been working well. BLTs are great swimbaits for stripers because the bait slides up the line after the strike and that means you don’t lose too many baits,” tipped Pringle.
According to Pringle, most of the stripers being landed by his clients run 4 to 6 pounds, but there are some larger fish around too.
On the largemouth fishing scene, Pringle reported solid action.
“You can almost always catch fish out here while working Berkley Chigger Craws or Berkley Hand Poured worms rigged on Zappu heads, but right now, you can boat big numbers of fish on rip baits. The shad are crowding up onto weedy flats and the black bass have been pretty easy to catch on Ima Flit rip baits in shad colors,” related Pringle.
Rio Vista
(Rio Vista) The striped bass bite in the Rio Vista isn’t as good as Delta anglers would like it to be, but limits of stripers to 20 pounds are being caught on a daily basis.
“The striper bite has been pretty good over the past week, with the best action coming for guys fishing with bait,” reported Shawn Peddy at Rio Vista Bait. “There has been anyone one bait that is performing the best. I’ve heard of guys getting bass on pile worms, mudsuckers, grass shrimp, ghost shrimp and shad.”
“The sturgeon bite has been surprisingly good. We’ve weighed in at least 6 keepers over the past week. Grass shrimp and ghost shrimp are the best baits, but anglers are having success with eel and shad too,” added Peddy.
“The striper fishing has been consistent and on some days it’s wide-open,” reported Allison Shawnego at Hap’s Bait. “Bait guys are having the best luck. Shad has been a really good bait and we’ve seen some fish up to 20 pounds that have hit shad. Sturgeon are showing up at a variety of locations including Cache Slough, Decker Island, the Power Lines and near the Rio Vista Bridge. Grass and ghost have been the best baits.”
Kevin Brock of Kevin Brock’s Guide Service has been enjoying limit style striper trolling in the Rio Vista area. “I’ve been getting fish to 9 pounds while pulling deep running P-Line Predators, deep running Rapalas and shallow running Yo-Zuris,” related Brock.
West Delta
(Pittsburg) Striper and sturgeon are providing productive action for anglers soaking bait, but it takes a fair amount of patience to achieve success in most cases.
“The striper bite still hasn’t broken open, but we are catching some pretty good fish,” reported Captain Barry Canevaro of the Fish Hookers Sportfishing. “We’ve been getting fish up to 14 pounds while fishing in water ranging from 15 to 30 feet deep. The bass are on the move between Seal Island and Chain Island, but to fish this area the wind had to be relatively calm or at least blowing in the same direction as the tide. We’ve been getting our fish on both shad and bullheads.”
Sturgeon anglers are achieving a good level of success while fishing grass and ghost shrimp in deep water in the Pittsburg area. The best depth has been from 45 to 55 feet deep.
Quite a few keeper stripers to 26 inches have fallen to anglers fishing shrimp bait for sturgeon. The best strategy for Pittsburg area anglers might be to target sturgeon with shrimp and they will probably pick up one or more keeper stripers incidentally.
Rene Villanueva of Steelie Dan’s Guide Service has been enjoying decent results while trolling and fishing bait for stripers, but he confided that you’ve got to work for your bass on most days.
“We are all hoping the bite will get going soon. I’ve been taking some quality bass while trolling and fishing with fresh shad, but patience is a must because the fish seem to be scattered,” said Villanueva.