LAKE OROVILLE: Last week Jamey Sorensen of North Valley Tackle in Oroville said the reopening of the lake underdelivered for bass anglers. After a COVID closure earlier in the year, he recalls “everyone thought they were Kevin VanDam easily catching 100 bass.” Now, no one is catching 100, not even those known for exaggeration. He said anglers are working for their fish, which are holding deep, at approximately 40 feet in the main lake. Sorensen said he found better action up the North Fork where it is only 20 feet deep. He recommends throwing a shaky head, a jig or drop-shot. Some guys were reporting topwater hits but Sorensen didn’t get so much as a blow-up.
FEATHER RIVER: The river is low, but salmon have been abundant the past two weeks. Plugs are working best at first light. A few stripers are being caught near Yuba City, while steelhead have arrived upriver.
THERMALITO AFTERBAY: Jamey Sorensen of North Valley Tackle said by all accounts the Afterbay is off. He attributed it to water operations that have the impoundment rising and draining almost daily. Be aware, there is waterfowling activity at the Afterbay. Open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
TRINITY RIVER: The Upper Trinity fall salmon quota will be met by Oct. 26, CDFW said. Most of the salmon are dark. Steelhead fishing is improving, but anglers face low water. Releases from Lewiston Dam dropped from 450 cfs to 265 cfs.
AMERICAN RIVER: Salmon fishing remains slow. A few kings are being caught near Discovery Park, where boat pressure is heavy. Flows at Fair Oaks are 1,670 cfs.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Colusa: Lots of dark salmon can be seen splashing near Red Bluff and Los Molinos. Anglers are awaiting the late-fall kings in November, which are generally the biggest, brightest salmon of the year.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa: Salmon fishing remains slow, but fish are being caught on jigs and spinners and plugs trolled downstream.
LAKE SHASTA: John Boitano of Phil’s Propeller said Shasta bass continue to deliver. It’s been windy, and that’s only helped the reaction bite. Boitano has been exclusively throwing spinnerbaits and a little topwater. There’s some swimbait action as well. The plastic finesse bite is excellent too. Catfish are still active and some are hitting crankbaits and topwaters. No big news on the trout other than they have to be coming up. The lake is plugged with shad, and those are up top, so the fish should be following. Shasta is down nearly 100 feet, and that means a lot of unmarked hazards. Exercise caution when boating.
The weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state.
