SACRAMENTO RIVER: Guide Justin Thompson reported that action on the Sacramento River in Redding California is lights out with 30 to 50 fish days!! Thompson has been side drifting. The Fly Shop in Redding reported that the lower Sac is fishing extremely well, and fly anglers continue to have multi digit catch days throwing BWO/ Baetis, Bubbleback Caddis, olive and cinnamon Poopahs, other pupa imitations and BP Weiss nymph, Zebra Midges in # 16 & 18, #16 & 18 Olive Hotspots. Action on egg patterns is improving. More steelhead are showing up above Bend. Flows have been on a consistent decline and are currently around 4,000 CFS. but may increase with the upcoming weather.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa to Tisdale: Reports remain light with smaller numbers of fish moving upriver, but it’s still early for any density. Occasionally there will be larger fish posted but most are taken at night by local anglers.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro area: Uncle Larry, at Sacramento Pro-Tackle reported a slow striper bite with mostly shakers holding at the mouth of the Feather and the American. Some resident fish have been reported but numbers are low. The store now has jumbo minnows and is moving some decent amounts of trey baits to anglers fishing the west delta. Rustic Rob Reimers has been on the fish and the areas below Sherman Island are now holding some decent fish. Numbers, quality and consistency have all improved.
LAKE SHASTA: The rainbow trout have moved up from the deep water and are surface feeding on baby shad. Top lining plugs and spoons have been very effective. The Fly Shop in Redding reported that Fly anglers might try sinking lines with JR’s minnows in a shad pattern for bass and #12 Parachute Adams or #18 BWO Comparadun for the trout. Rick Stone reported that the fall bass season is here, and Phil’s Propellers second Team Tournament of the season is underway with some decent bag weights and individual fish to 3 pounds. Check out the Phil’s first annual “Turkey Shoot” bass tournament scheduled for November 30 at Bridge Bay. Entry is $100 with a 95-percent payout.
TRINITY RIVER, WILLOW CREEK: Rain earlier in the week pushed flows to 2,344 cfs on Thursday, but will be on the drop through the Sunday. River conditions should be excellent through the weekend, but more rain is in the forecast for early next week. Flows are predicted to peak at 2,800 cfs Monday evening. Steelhead fishing has been decent for the past couple weeks with lots of half-pounders around, but the numbers are starting to slow down. The daily bag limit for hatchery steelhead is two per day on the Trinity River, with a possession limit of four. Anglers must have a Steelhead Fishing Report and Restoration Card in their possession while fishing for steelhead trout in anadromous waters. Flows Sunday morning were around 1,230 cfs and rising on the Hoopa gauge.
AMERICAN RIVER/Sacramento: River flows are down to 2,050 CFS. and the river is very wade able. Steelhead numbers have improved and should only get better. There have been some decent numbers of fish reported around Sailor Bar.
FEATHER RIVER: Flows below Oroville are holding around 1,700 CFS. and anglers fishing the Outlet are picking up decent numbers of smaller steelhead. Striper action is still slow, but numbers have been improving.
The bi-weekly fishing report, compiled by Western Outdoor News, highlights the best angling opportunities in the north state. Lake Oroville is omitted on this report due to the correspondent being on vacation, and will return to the fish report Dec. 6.