Lake Tahoe
Mackinaw Bite Is Hot
We know it feels like it, but it’s not quite summer yet! Spring fishing is excellent right now and Tahoe Sport Fishing is having success in the mornings and afternoons. We are still targeting the Mackinaw (Lake Trout), but we are starting to see the Kokanee Salmon school up. We’re hoping to start targeting them in the beginning of July.
Tahoe Sport Fishing is currently fishing about 80 – 250 and mooching the bottom for the mackinaw. We use live minnows as our bait on all of our fishing charters. Our mackinaws are averaging 3-5 lbs. currently.
SHASTA LAKE
Kokanee Salmon Fishing Hot Spot
SHASTA LAKE – Captain Jeff Goodwin, Jeff Goodwin Fishing, reports, Shasta Lake is turning into a Kokanee salmon fishing hot spot! I’ve seen a lot of fishing boats on Shasta Lake this summer season, probably more than I’ve seen daily in recent years. I think a lot of the unusual boat traffic is the result of Shasta Lake’s new Kokanee salmon fishery. With Whiskeytown Lake yielding small Kokanee so far this season, fishing Shasta Lake this year for Kokanee seems to most like a better choice, I agree. The Kokanee in Shasta Lake have grown considerably since early spring and we’re seeing consistently larger Kokanee on the big lake. Shasta Kokanee have been measured over 18″ already and we have a few more months of growth ahead which could easily push some of this years spawning class of Kokanee into the 20″ range. Most of the Kokanee in Shasta are being caught in the lower end of the lake by the dam and 40-60′ feet deep seems to be a good target depth this past week. We really haven’t started to run traditional kokanee gear just yet and we’re catching them on trout and King salmon gear. The past few days we’re catching more Kokanee than we are trout. That brings even more value to your fishing experience on Shasta Lake this year. Kokanee are sort of a by catch right now and thats ok with us and our clients. Never in the last few decades have the Kokanee been available in Shasta Lake as either a target species or caught incidentally so having them in the lake is a big deal. With the numbers of Kokanee we’re seeing now on our guided Shasta Lake fishing trips, I think it’s time to target them from here on into September for those that are requesting them specifically. This success story is still unfolding so be sure to check back with us right here every week! Thank you!
Rob Hower, avid fisherman, reports that Friday before father’s day weekend the lake is back to 74° and by the next week with the temperatures in the high hundreds should be around 77-78.° Bringing the shad to the main body. It’s right around 119′ to crest. Kokanee and trout fishing has really picked up. They’re right now around the 45-55′ but are going to be going deeper with the water temperature rising. This week we’ve been able to get limits. Though the fish bite has been best in the morning. I have been doing well with all white spoons for both Kokanee and trout between 2.1-2.6 with other colors picking up the rest. We are also getting king’s in the morning although a little bit deeper. Shad are packed in some of the stomachs as well. We are also rolling some baits, but are sometimes difficult to get. Hopefully they’ll be in the Phil’s soon. Gulp minnow baits have been a great substitute.
Pardee/Camanche Lakes
Trollers Land Trout Limits
IONE -. Rainbow trout plants have ended at other Mother Lode lakes until the water cools down in the fall, but Mt. Lassen continues to plant trout in Lake Pardee as long as water temperatures allow.
1000 pounds of Mt. Lassen rainbow trout were planted on Friday, June 11, according to the Pardee Recreation Area.
Two anglers booked a kokanee/trout combo trip with Robbie Dunham of Koke Machine Guide Service on June 17. They caught 10 trout by 9 a.m. while trolling with Speedy Shiners on the main lake at 60 to 80 feet deep.
On the previous day, two anglers fishing with Dunham landed 10 trout by 10 a.m., again while trolling the main lake with Speedy Shiners.
Pardee Marina is now located at Blue Heron and will be open 6 am to 7 pm everyday with all your camping and fishing needs, including an entire fleet of boats, kayaks, peddle boats and canoe rentals.
The Pardee Cafe will be open Friday thru Monday from 8 am to 6 pm for outdoor dining. Also, the Pardee Pool is now open every day from 10 am to 8 pm.
On June 15, Dunham made a trip with two anglers to Lake Camanche. They bagged 10 rainbow trout by 10 a.m. while trolling Speedy Shiners in the main body.
Urban Escape Guide Service also reported limit-style fishing at Lake Camanche on his most recent trip there:
“Today at Lake Camanche I was able to take care of one of America’s finest combat veterans and a long time friend. We got 2 limits by 10 a.m. while running Speedy Shiners down deep, 40-60’ behind 4 FINS dr weights to run straight all day.”
Feather River/Knights Landing-Colusa Area
Salmon Season Set for July 16
YUBA CITY – The salmon season will begin on the Feather and Sacramento Rivers on July 16, 2021, barring any emergency closure by the CDFW in this year of extreme drought.
The Feather from the unimproved boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall to 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp will be open to salmon fishing from July 16 through October 31.
The Feather from 200 yards above Live Oak boat ramp to the mouth. will be open from July 16 through December 16. or purposes of this regulation, the lower boundary is defined as a straight line drawn from the peninsula point on the west bank to the Verona Marine boat ramp.
The Sacramento River from the Red Bluff Diversion Dam to the Highway 113 bridge near Knights Landing will be open to salmon fishing from July 16 through December 16. Note: It is unlawful to take fish 0–250 feet downstream from the overflow side of the Moulton, Colusa and Tisdale Weirs.
The Sacramento River from the Highway 113 bridge near Knights Landing to the Carquinez Bridge (includes Suisun Bay, Grizzly Bay and all tributary sloughs west of Highway 160) opens to salmon fishing from July 16 through December. Note: It is unlawful to take fish 0–250 feet downstream from the overflow side of the Fremont and Sacramento Weirs.
The limit will be 2 Chinook Salmon and 4 Chinook Salmon in possession through these sections of the Feather and Sacramento river.
Meanwhile, the shad and striped bass fishing has slowed down with the heat on the Feather River and the Sacramento River from Colusa to Verona., according to Mike Searcy at Johnson’s Bait and Tackle in Yuba City.
Written By: Dan Bacher
