Fish Reports

BURSON – Shore anglers and rental boaters are catching big numbers of black bass, particularly smallmouths, at Pardee Lake as the season nears its end on November 9.

Fishing pressure has been light at Pardee, as the ban on launching private craft continues through the end of the season.

“The bass bite has been hot for those going out,” said John Blim at the Pardee Lake Marina. “Guys in rental boats have reported catching up to 30 bass while using topwater lures, spinnerbaits, and plastics. There are lots of quality smallmouths being caught. The biggest fish reported lately was an 8 lb smallmouth caught from shore a month ago.”

While the 8-pound bass is big news, another angler topped the year’s catfish catches with a 25 lb channel cat caught on a nightcrawler from shore in the middle of the day. Anglers also caught two other catfish weighing 10 and 12 pounds this season.

“The catfish action has been best early and late in the day from shore,” said Blim. “All of the big ones are being caught on nightcrawlers.”

The kokanee bite has recently shut down as the fish move upriver to spawn. However, the kokanee bite was hot for anglers going out in rental boats who brought their own downriggers to clamp onto the boats. While the lake has been known for its small kokanee, fish in the 17-inch range were the norm this season, he noted.

Trout fishing from shore has been slow over the past few weeks due to the warm weather, although fishing for holdover rainbows should improve as the water temperature cools with the onset of fall.

Fishing pressure also remains light at Camanche, due to the closure of the lake to private boats including kayaks. However, that should change with the beginning of rainbow trout plants at the reservoir.

Lake Camanche Recreation Company reported, “The air is cooling, the water is shifting, and you know what that means: trout season is almost here! Get your rods ready, because some of the best fishing of the year is just around the corner.”

The boat ramps at Camanche remain closed through the end of 2025 for launching outside watercraft, although shore fishing, mussel-free rental boats, and camping are still available.

Due to the spread of the golden mussel recently discovered in Northern California, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) will keep boat launches closed to private vessels for the 2025 season. “This decision eliminates one of the primary ways that mussels spread, helping EBMUD keep its commitment to protect the environment and the public water system on behalf of its 1.4 million customers in the East Bay,” the agency said in a press release.

• Dan Bacher

TRUCKEE – The Truckee River is seeing typical fall conditions right now. The upper section of the river is low, but thanks to increased releases out of Boca, the canyon section is flowing around 450 CFS — above average. At 100 CFS, the upper section in town is quite low, but still fishable. When flows get that low, dry fly fishing often becomes better.

This is the time of year when the October Caddis begin their yearly emergence — a fun but short-lived window to throw large caddis patterns at trout eager to maximize calories before winter. The October Caddis adults also serve as a great alternative to the waning grasshopper hatch for dry-dropper setups. Pair them with a zebra midge or BWO nymph a couple feet under the caddis and cover lots of water in search of aggressive fish.

For those looking to maximize odds on this tough and technical river, use an indicator or euro rig and get your flies down quickly with no drag. Fall fly selections like stoneflies (Pat’s Rubberlegs), BWOs (Micro Mays), zebra midges, and size 18 perdigons will all work well — provided you get a perfect drift. Worms, eggs, and October Caddis pupa are also great choices for your larger fly.

Streamer fishing has been improving as cooling water temps make trout more aggressive. Olive, white, black, brown, or yellow streamers all have their moments — presentation and water coverage are key. Trout will usually decide whether to strike the first time they see your fly.

Little Truckee River: Currently flowing around 50 CFS, anglers are strongly encouraged to fish elsewhere, especially as the browns begin their annual migration upstream. This is a 100% wild trout fishery dependent on a successful natural spawn. When water is low, fishing pressure can significantly disrupt spawning activity. While it may still be legal to fish here, ethical restraint is critical to preserving the fishery for future generations.

• Miles Zimmerman, Trout Creek Outfitters

OROVILLE – Anglers are bagging king salmon, rainbow trout, and black bass at Lake Oroville.

“On my last trip, all of the fish were biting, but the king salmon bite is slowing down,” reported Dave Koistinen of DK Guide Service. “The kings were at 85–90 ft, the trout were up around 65 ft, while the bass ranged from 20–60 ft. The fish were caught on a spoon, Cutplug, Glowbug, and white hoochie behind 8” 360 flashers and 8” Slingblades.”

“The surface water temperature was 69 degrees and 54 degrees at 85 feet. Michael Mattia was on the boat,” he concluded.

DWR launched its mandatory invasive mussel inspection program for the Oroville facilities – Lake Oroville, Thermalito Forebay, and Thermalito Afterbay – in May 2025. Inspection and vessel decontamination services remain free. More details about DWR’s mussel inspection program are available at water.ca.gov/mussels.

Launch Ramp Hours:

• Spillway: Daily, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Bidwell Canyon: Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Friday–Sunday, 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Lime Saddle: Monday–Thursday, 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Friday–Sunday, 5 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Loafer Creek/Loafer Point: Daily, 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Thermalito Afterbay (Monument Hill): Daily, 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset

Lake Oroville is holding 1,950,678 acre-feet of water, 57 percent of capacity and 103 percent of average. The lake level is 785.95 feet in elevation.

• Dan Bacher

TRUCKEE –

Donner Lake: Fishing remains solid across species. Kokanee anglers are still finding fish near the west end around 50 feet deep using small spoons and hoochies. Mackinaw are deeper—50 to 150 feet—taking larger plugs and slow-trolled spoons. Shore anglers are picking up rainbows around China Cove and the west-end ramps with worms, PowerBait, and spinners. The bite is best early and late, before boat traffic increases. Donner continues to be one of the steadiest options in the area.

Boca Reservoir: Fishing remains productive for both bank and boat anglers. Surface temps are in the high 50s, keeping trout active near the dam and west-end creek. Trollers working close to shore are finding rainbows and browns, while shore anglers using worms, eggs, or spoons are doing best in the evenings. Kokanee have fully colored and are now off the bite. The reservoir sits around 75% full, allowing for easy access.

Stampede Reservoir: Trout fishing continues to be steady. Rainbows and browns are showing up along the north shore early and late in the day on worms, lures, and PowerBait. Trollers are connecting with suspended fish 40–60 feet down using spoons or Rapalas. Cooler mornings are bringing trout shallower, making early hours most productive. The kokanee season has wrapped up here for the year.

Prosser Creek Reservoir: The reservoir is fishing well and offering a fun mix of bass and trout. The lake sits around 70% full, with surface temps in the low 60s. Bass are holding in coves and biting plastics, jigs, and crankbaits in 10 feet of water. Trout are suspended 20–40 feet down, with trollers finding success on Rapalas and plugs. Shore anglers near the dam are also connecting with worms, eggs, and PowerBait. While not known for large fish, Prosser offers consistent action and a great mix of species.

Jackson Meadows: The boat ramp remains closed, limiting access to shore fishing only. Trout anglers working the dam area are still finding good action using worms, PowerBait, or small spoons. Despite limited access, fishing remains worthwhile for those willing to make the trek.

• Mountain Hardware, Truckee

On Wednesday, October 8, I headed back to Orange County’s famous Santa Ana River Lakes, arriving around five o’clock in the evening for the night session. That gave me six hours to see what was biting. The wind was blowing about seven to eight miles per hour, but my one ounce egg sinker on a Carolina rig still had enough weight to cast cleanly into the lake.

I set up on the right side of the lake, just around the corner from the entrance. My buddy Ceaser joined me for his first ever fishing trip, so I had to show him the ropes. Our bait lineup included shrimp with marshmallows, nightcrawlers, and some mackerel that Ceaser had marinated in garlic.

For the first hour or so there was not much action, so I used the time to teach Ceaser how to cast, set up his rigs, and get comfortable with the basics. After about an hour, the calm broke. My rod’s bite indicator went wild, and the rod bent over hard. The fish felt huge. After a five minute fight, I realized the line had wrapped around the rod tip. The moment I tried to fix it, the line snapped and the fish was gone. We were definitely not happy about that.

Even with that loss, the next three hours made up for it. We barely had time to sit down with all the action coming our way. Most of the fish were hitting mackerel, and by the end of the night I had caught my first ever limit at Santa Ana River Lakes.

As for Ceaser, not bad for a rookie. He landed four catfish, including his personal best at eight pounds. I guess beginner’s luck is real after all.

All the action can be seen on YouTube at FishingWithCisco. Donner Lake: Fishing remains solid across species. Kokanee anglers are still finding fish near the west end around 50 feet deep using small spoons and hoochies. Mackinaw are deeper—50 to 150 feet—taking larger plugs and slow-trolled spoons. Shore anglers are picking up rainbows around China Cove and the west-end ramps with worms, PowerBait, and spinners. The bite is best early and late, before boat traffic increases. Donner continues to be one of the steadiest options in the area.

Boca Reservoir: Fishing remains productive for both bank and boat anglers. Surface temps are in the high 50s, keeping trout active near the dam and west-end creek. Trollers working close to shore are finding rainbows and browns, while shore anglers using worms, eggs, or spoons are doing best in the evenings. Kokanee have fully colored and are now off the bite. The reservoir sits around 75% full, allowing for easy access.

Stampede Reservoir: Trout fishing continues to be steady. Rainbows and browns are showing up along the north shore early and late in the day on worms, lures, and PowerBait. Trollers are connecting with suspended fish 40–60 feet down using spoons or Rapalas. Cooler mornings are bringing trout shallower, making early hours most productive. The kokanee season has wrapped up here for the year.

Prosser Creek Reservoir: The reservoir is fishing well and offering a fun mix of bass and trout. The lake sits around 70% full, with surface temps in the low 60s. Bass are holding in coves and biting plastics, jigs, and crankbaits in 10 feet of water. Trout are suspended 20–40 feet down, with trollers finding success on Rapalas and plugs. Shore anglers near the dam are also connecting with worms, eggs, and PowerBait. While not known for large fish, Prosser offers consistent action and a great mix of species.

Jackson Meadows: The boat ramp remains closed, limiting access to shore fishing only. Trout anglers working the dam area are still finding good action using worms, PowerBait, or small spoons. Despite limited access, fishing remains worthwhile for those willing to make the trek.

• Mountain Hardware, Truckee

🎣 Mid-week Fish Plants for 10/12/2025 - 10/18/2025 Private trout plants kick off, catfish plants wrap up. Hey anglers, here’s your midweek update. 8 additional spots are planting fish, bringing totals to 10,600 lbs. of trout and 2,500 lbs. of catfish across 24 locations. Cooler fall temps continue to keep the bite active statewide — expect strong action as stockings ramp up.

Hey anglers, here’s your midweek update. 12 additional spots are planting fish, bringing totals to 18,000 lbs. of trout across 36 locations. Cooler temps continue to drive strong trout action, with plants nearly doubling from last week’s 12,000 lbs. across 24 locations. Expect fishing conditions to keep improving as fall stocking ramps up statewide. Private plants and county plants are expected to start mid October.

Update for the week of 10/5/2025. Cooler temps mean active trout across California’s lakes and rivers. This week, California is expected to have 12,000 lbs. of trout planted across 24 locations. Anglers can look forward to refreshed waters and better bite potential as stocking continues strong. Expect October to turn up the trout plants as the temps cool down even more. Last week’s total hit 20,400 lbs. of trout and catfish across 30 locations.

Hey anglers, here’s your midweek update. 8 additional spots are planting fish, bringing totals to 16,000 lbs. of trout and 1,900 lbs. of catfish across 27 locations. Cooling fall temps are now really kicking in and will continue to drive trout activity higher, and with private plants ramping up for the season, October is shaping up for strong fishing opportunities.

Update for the week of 9/28/2025. Cooling fall temps have trout feeding up higher across California. You can expect more trout plants as we being October. Many private plants have been taking a break for the month of September, but will kick off major plants as we get closer to Winter. This week, California is expected to have 8,500 lbs of trout and 1,900 lbs of catfish planted across 19 locations.

Hey anglers, here’s your midweek update. 27 additional spots are planting fish, bringing totals to 19,700 lbs. of trout and 4,200 lbs. of catfish across 44 locations. Compared to last week’s 6,500 lbs. of trout and 3,200 lbs. of catfish across 17 locations, this is a big boost in both pounds and planting sites, keeping California waters well-stocked. Temperatures really began to cool across parts of California, so expect to see the trout plants really ramp up as we head into October. Many of the private plants are expected to kick off Fall/Winter plants in October.

Check out the new Issue of The Fish Sniffer magazine for September 19, 2025

In this issue of The Fish Sniffer, we are looking forward to Fall, the best season of the year for some of us. The Fall is the time when all beings start to prepare for the tough winter season. For Fishing in Northern Californi, that means the trout, salmon, bass, panfish, stripers, catfish and all other species go on the bite to fatten up for the lean winter season Lakes like Eagle, Shasta, New Melones, Folsom and Berryessa and most others will feature some of the best fishing of the year. Striped bass fishing in the Delta will take off for stripers and the Bay and Ocean will see halibut, rockfish and lingcod go on the bite.

The golden mussel problem is still impacting boaters all over the state and has caused major boat launch closures and strict new inspection and quarantine rules several lakes in our area. These rules are starting to change, and some lakes like Oroville and Bullards bar are allowing boaters to launch the same day after an inspection. Be sure to check out the regulations at any lake you want to fish before you go.

All you need to know about fresh and saltwater fishing in Northern California is now available in the new issue of The Fish Sniffer Magazine!

Fishing this fall is still going strong up and down the Bay Area coastline! All the usual suspects (halibut, lingcod, rockfish) are readily available. Sandy areas are producing halibut and rocky reefs are good places to target lingcod/rockfish. All can be caught on artificials but I prefer live bait for the best results. Any baitfish in the 6-9” range should get the job done! Targeting depths of 30-70 feet of water will give you a good chance at a nice halibut or lingcod. For anglers with offshore capabilities, albacore and the occasional bluefin tuna have also been caught. However, all those were seemingly on hold for the 4 day salmon season we had in the first week of September. I fished the first day in Half Moon Bay and the fishing was tough. Some got skunked and a few lucky anglers went home with limits. I was lucky enough to get a keeper just inside the green can trolling a Watermelon Apex at 27 pulls with a deep six diver. Video is live on youtube!

The beaches have been alive with action lately! Surf perch are showing up just about everywhere. Most are palm-sized, which makes for some fun on light gear, but we’re still waiting on those bigger models to move in. Bait has been scattered throughout the surf, yet the halibut bite has slowed down with fewer quality fish being caught. Corbina have been stealing the spotlight. Anglers are hooking into fish in the 16 to 20 inch range, especially when working sand crab beds with a Carolina rig and 10 lb test. Mussel has also been effective, but it comes with a tradeoff. It will get the attention of Corbina, Croaker, Bass and Sargo, but it also attracts plenty of bycatch like guitarfish, bat rays, and other surprise catches that can turn your session into an unexpected battle. Sand bass and spotted bay bass, better known as spotties, have also been biting hard. These fish are putting up a solid fight and adding even more variety to the SoCal bite right now. The one pictured here is a beautiful 17-inch sand bass, proof that there are quality fish in the mix if you put in the time. Here’s a tip to keep in mind: target those transition zones where rocks meet sand. Fish are more concentrated in these spots, and there are still some nice spotfin croakers being caught too. After a stretch of hot days in the high 70s and 80s, the coast has started to cool down. With that shift, more Corbina are sliding into the skinny water during tide swings. Keep your eyes on the shallows from low to high tide and you might see them cruising right at your feet. Stay safe, keep fishing, and enjoy what the SoCal surf has to offer. Tight lines, anglers! For more fishing reports, surf action, and tips, check out our page @vividsnares

On September 2nd, I decided to go to Santa Ana River Lakes again in the afternoon to fish for catfish and test my luck. I went for the midday session and that ranges from midday up until 11 PM. It was really hot that day. The sun was super hot out with the temperature being in the 90s, but that didn’t stop me from going up there. The water was still kind of cool to the touch even with the heat, it wasn’t enough to warm up the water as much. From midday up until 7 PM. When it was close to 8 PM, I decided to rebait again using nightcrawlers with marshmallow dipped in hogwild cheese dip bait. I cast as far as I can near the boat dock of the lake and no less than 15 minutes, the rod bent down crazy. The fight was about 5 to 6 minutes, and I managed to land a 5 1/2 pound catfish. After that, the bite kept going for the next three hours. I managed to catch four total that day on a Carolina rig with a 2/0 Circle hook and about a 12-inch leader. The other bait of choice was also shrimp with marshmallow showered in the magic fish water fish attractant, which managed to catch 2 cats that day. Safe to say, as the weather is getting hotter the kitties come out to play at night.

Huge Half Moon Bay Sea Bass   By Joseph Gonzalez     I live in Pacifica and have been fishing for many years out of Half Moon Bay. This year my buddy and I had a fantastic day catching huge white sea bass! Squid showed up a few weeks prior to the catch and there were seiner boats netting them. A few local boats were out trying to catch sea bass during this time with no luck, so everyone left the spot alone for a period of time. What everyone didn’t realize is that these fish primarily feed during the full moon, and the time wasn’t right yet. My boat, a 22 foot Boston Whaler Guardian, had some mechanical issues but was ready 3 days before the full moon,. I started buying all the right tackle to catch these fish at my local tackle shop, but they discouraged me from trying, saying that It was too late and the squid had moved on., I told them I was going to try anyway because I know these fish feed on the moon phase. I invited my buddy Pauly Christiansen who is the only local guy I know who has caught a sea bass in the past. We launched my Whaler and headed out in search of bait. We found the squid out of the mouth of Half Moon Bay, and 5 minutes after we pinned the first live squid on we were hooked up! I fought the fish for 10 minutes on 30lb line and it ended up breaking me off. We weren’t 100% sure it was a White Sea bass but we were still hopeful. 2 hours later another bite, and this one we landed it turned out to be the 67 pounder. It was an epic day of fishing, and Pauly and I caught 4 huge sea bass of 67, 72, 78, and 90 pounds! All caught on live squid and hooked in halfmoon bay. A trip of a lifetime!   Editor’s note: Joseph Gonzalez added that it was a great honor to be in The Fish Sniffer, following up on his grandfather’s cover photo on The Fish Sniffer in November of 1984

Jigging for Late Season Kokanee by Jack Naves In the middle of summer, kokanee roam like grazing cattle over open water feeding on plankton.  Catching them can be as easy as showing up and trolling popular lures like spinners or squids. As summer progresses, the bite gets tougher. Late summer and fall, when kokanee start to resemble miniature crocodiles, most folks give up on chasing them and switch to other pastimes. These pre-spawners can be finicky - catching them on trolling gear can be unpredictable. They will typically form tight schools and stage outside of creeks or rivers where they will spawn later in the fall. So how do you get them to bite? Jigging, or ‘spooning’, is an old school technique that few Northern California anglers employ for kokanee. If you search the web, you will find lots of information from other states like Washington and Oregon, but not much from California. Kokanee are kokanee, so why not try it here? Back in September of 2011, I decided to challenge myself and imposed self-declared a no-trolling rule on a solo trip to Pardee Lake. Though it took me a while, I was able to knock out a limit of smoker-quality kokes and was back on the road before lunchtime. Let’s look at the gear you’ll need to jig up a kokanee limit of your own. Downrigger trolling rods won’t work great for jigging, as they are too limber. Instead, use a fairly stiff medium graphite bass-fishing-type rod that’s six to seven feet long with a fast tip. Spinning reels make it easier to quickly descend the lightweight jigs, while a line-counter baitcasting reel can help to figure out the depth at which you are fishing. I normally just look at my jig on the sonar screen to determine my depth, so spinning gear is my preference. Whether you prefer spinning or casting reels, spool up with 20-pound test braided line. It’s crucial that you use braid so there is no stretch in the line. You need to be able to feel the slightest bite and drive the hook home within a split second! Tie your braid to a swivel and then run a four-foot long 20-pound test fluorocarbon leader to your jig. The stiff leader will help to keep your jig vertical. Tie the leader direct to the lure – using a snap may cause the jig to pivot upside down and snag on the leader line. If you feel an odd flutter on the upstroke, this most likely happened, and it’s time to reel up and fix it. Kokanee jigs are solid lead lures that go by the names of P-Line Laser Minnow, Gibbs Minnow, Crippled Herring, P-Line Kokanantor, and Buzz Bomb. I personally like the two-ounce Buzz Bombs the best. However, it’s a good idea to have a range of sizes so you can switch to a heavier jig if the wind creates too much of a drift. The color of the jig will be your preference. Hot pink, glow-in-the-dark, fluorescent orange, chartreuse, and pearl are popular choices. Once you have your rig tied up, it’s time to hit the lake! Once you are on the water, electronics play a crucial role in finding fish. Look for huge schools of kokanee holding in deep water. I’m not talking about a few scattered fish here and there. You want to see schools that look like giant bait-balls. Usually, they are close to the bottom, but other times they will suspend higher up. It seems like the big schools form better in the late morning or early afternoon. Once you find the fish, it’s bombs away! I’ve found that tipping the hooks with corn is pretty useless, as it rips off immediately when I start jigging. I like to start by smearing some crayfish gel onto the lure – a natural predator of kokanee eggs! Next, I’ll add some kind of target to the hook. I like to cut a small, round, corn-sized section of glow-in-the-dark plastic from a Gitzit or Senko and add it to the hook. Alternatively, you could add a Gulp! Maggot or some kind of commercially available target that won’t come off while jigging. For starters, lower your jig to the top of the kokanee school. You can use a line counter, or what I usually do is just watch the jig going down on the sonar unit. The cool thing about this method is that you can actually see fish rising out of the school to nail your jig! If a fish doesn’t grab it on the way down, stop your lure at the top of the school and start jigging. Jigging employs a yo-yo motion that makes the lure jump up and flutter down in the water column. Start by placing your rod tip a few inches above the waterline. Pop the rod tip up six to twelve inches and then follow the jig back down with your rod tip. It is crucial that you stay in controlled contact with the jig as it falls – don’t let the line go totally slack on the way down. The up motion gets their attention, but they almost always hit the jig on the way down. The strike will be exceptionally light – almost undetectable to beginners. Set the hook at the slightest tick, tap, bump, slack line, or change in feel as the jig falls. You need a fast trigger – at first you will miss a lot of fish. After a few hours of jigging you will start to figure out what a bite feels like. If you don’t get hit, try progressing through the school in five-foot intervals. The fish at the top of the school are usually the more aggressive fish, but the deeper fish will bite as well. One of the toughest parts about jigging is controlling the boat in the wind. An electric motor is almost mandatory, and having a motor that automatically holds your position with ‘spot lock’ is helpful. You need to keep your jigs vertical, so if your lines start drifting out to the side you need to get back on track with your electric motor. If you can’t stay vertical, switch to a heavier jig. When it gets too windy, it’s time to pack away the jigging outfits and start trolling. I recently had the opportunity to fish at New Melones Lake on August 24 with Rj Sanchez of Pine Grove. We located a huge school of kokanee trolling between eighty and ninety feet deep. After boating several nice kokanee, I relayed to Rj it was time to reel up the trolling gear and start jigging. I had marked the school on my GPS, so I proceeded to the location. It suddenly appeared on the sonar screen, so I quickly relayed to Rj to drop his jig while I threw the boat into reverse. By the time I had the boat stopped and started to deploy my jig, Rj was already hooked up! As the boat drifted off the school, I would do a spiral pattern out from the starting point until I found the school again. Within no time, we were limited out and headed back to the dock! This fall when the trolling bite gets tough and the kokanee develop lockjaw, have a couple of jigging rods in your arsenal. When you see big schools on your sonar, try dropping lead to see if they are interested. You’ll be surprised at how addictive it can be.

Photos Photo 1 — Jack with Two Kokanee.jpg These two hook-jawed kokanee slammed a Buzz Bomb jig a New Melones Lake on August 24. The fish were in a huge school right off the bottom at ninety-feet deep when Jack Naves pulled up the trolling gear and descended a spinning outfit loaded with braided line. When late season kokanee get picky, jigging can be an effective way to get them to bite when trolling doesn’t work. Photo by Rj Sanchez, Pine Grove Photo 2 — Kokanee with Jig.jpg Buzz Bomb jigs are great tool to have in your kokanee fishing arsenal. The hot pink jig shown here was modified by the author by adding some glitter. These jigs have a unique design, as they slide vertically up and down the leader and are stopped by a rubber stopper above the hook. The design keeps the hook from flipping over and fouling up on the leader. This is a problem you will have with other jigs if you let the jig fall too fast. Photo by Jack Naves, Fish Sniffer Staff Photo 3 — Spinning Outfit.jpg Light spinning gear like the outfit show above is a good way to target late-season kokanee using jigs. This 30-series spinning reel spooled with braid and teamed up with a graphite bass rod makes for the perfect combo. Ditch the noodle trolling rod and go with a bass-fishing-type setup like this for kokanee jigging success. Photo by Jack Naves, Fish Sniffer Staff Photo 4 — Buzz Bomb.jpg This image illustrates how the author tips his Buzz Bomb jigs with a small cut piece of glow-in-the-dark Gitzit or Senko. The piece is cut to match the size of a kernel of shoe peg corn, but won’t fall off after being jigged like corn will. Late-season kokes are often deep enough so that glow-in-the-dark shows up nicely below the eighty-foot depth. Before descending it, be sure to add your favorite scent to the lure like crawfish gel. Photo by Jack Naves, Fish Sniffer Staff

Catching Multiple Species at Bucks Lake!

By Paul J. Kneeland

John Brassfield of Foresthill and I took a quick trip to Bucks Lake with his truck and boat in late August. We drove up Hwy 162 over the green bridge at Lake Oroville– the road was curvy but smooth and well paved. As we traveled up in the afternoon and saw huge thunder clouds forming – and we were headed right up to them! The drive was through huge areas of burns from the Dixie Fire from a couple years ago, and the burnt remains of all the trees got to be kind of depressing. We arrived at Bucks Lake about 4:30 in the afternoon and got our campsite at a private camp. It was in view of the lake, but surrounded by mostly RVs and trailers. It was a big open site that was easy to pull the boat in and out of . The big thunder bumpers were to the north and east of us and we didn’t get any rain. We took a tour around the lake and saw where the fire came right down to the Mill Creek bay, but the rest of the shoreline was unscathed with no fire scars in view. We had excellent burgers at the Lakeshore Resort on the deck overlooking the lake. We went back to camp and built a small campfire in the pit, and watched the light show from the lightning in the northeast.  As darkness fell, we could see thousands of stars, and saw dozens of satellites floating through the night sky. About midnight I woke up on the cot outside with rain hitting my face. I was under the awning that was on John’s camper shell, so I adjusted closer to the truck, and then the rain stopped and the stars came out again. Tuesday morning, we were up at 5:30, made coffee and broke camp. We launched at Sandy Point on the Mill Creek cove. As we got on the water, we noticed the lake looked kind of murky. Not muddy, but just kind of cloudy like snowmelt or something. Visibility was about 5 to 6 feet. In dark water like that we usually go with bright chartreuse or fluorescent colors. The water temperature was 69 degrees when we started, and up to 70 in early afternoon. Air temperature at day break was a balmy 59 degrees and warmed up to about 80 in the afternoon. We started trolling right out of the ramp, and I immediately got a hit on the “Trout Candy” Hot ticket spoon at 49 feet deep. Just as John was getting the net the trout shook his head and got off. I thought maybe it was a German brown because of the color of the tail I saw as he dove away. Later we caught a couple of small mackinaw, and I decided that was the species that got away. We were using our normal summertime procedure – trolling deep off the downriggers at 2.2 mph over the creek channel. I caught several fish on the “Trout Candy” Hot Ticket and also on the bright yellow/red “Hot Chicks” color of a Speedy Shiner. John did well on a yellow winged Tasmanian devil and watermelon Speedy Shiner.  We were marking dozens of fish on the graph at 30 to 50 feet deep out in the deepest part of the lake and in front of the dam.  We trolled through them time and again, and did catch a few trout. We finally decided they must be schools of kokanee, so we switched to kokanee gear and went through all the marks again. I was using a Vance’s watermelon dodger with a pink Uncle Larry’s spinner and a Paulina Peak orange/UV dodger with an orange micro hootchie. John used a pink dodger and a pink wiggle hootchie. We slowed down to 1.3 to 1.5 mph and got a little frustrated with all the fish on the graph that WEREN’T biting! Finally, I managed to hook a 11 inch kokanee on the micro hootchie. Then 2 more on the same rig. John didn’t get a kokanee, but he did catch 2 absolutely gorgeous rainbows of 2 and 3 pounds on the pink wiggle hootchie setup! Those rainbows were some of the prettiest I have ever seen, covered with black dots down to their bellies and a bright red stripe on the side. We finished the day with 16 trout landed, including 4 mackinaw, 1 German brown and 11 rainbows from 12 to 18 inches. Plus, the final 3 kokanee that went home with me and were on the barbeque that evening. Four different species in one day on one lake is very unusual and lots of fun. A very good trip to one of our favorite lakes.

Cutlines:

Photo 1 – John Brassfield shows off a fat 2 1\2 pound rainbow caught on a pink wiggle hootchie at Bucks Lake Photo by Paul Kneeland, Fish Sniffer staff

Photo 2 – A gorgeously spotted and colored rainbow trout taken trolling at Bucks Lake in late August. Photo by Paul Kneeland, Fish Sniffer staff

Photo 3 – Paul Kneeland with a bright 2 pound rainbow caught on a “Hot Chick” colored Speedy Shiner at Bucks Lake. Photo by John Brassfield, Foresthill.

Victory: Broad Coalition Stops Governor’s Trailer Bills to Fast-Track Delta Tunnel

SACRAMENTO - A broad coalition of Tribes, environmental justice groups, family farmers, fishing groups, conservationists, Delta communities and elected officials celebrated victory in their campaign to stop Governor Gavin Newsom’s trailer bills to fast-track the Delta Tunnel, a project that would destroy the imperiled Sacramento-San Joaquin River ecosystem and Delta communities.

At midnight on Sept. 10, Newsom’s Delta Tunnel trailer bills died after no legislator stepped up to carry them forward because of the massive opposition to the bills.

In a statement, Delta Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) and Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) applauded the defeat of what they called “the governor’s controversial proposal to fast-track the costly and destructive Delta Tunnel Project.”

The proposal that sought to greatly accelerate the construction of a 45-mile-long underground tunnel that could cost upwards of $100 billion through the fragile Delta region is not advancing this year after the Legislature rejected the governor’s plan.

“Defeating the tunnel fast-tracking proposal is a major victory for California and the Delta, and for the communities, farms, and historic resources surrounding the largest estuary on the West Coast. The tunnel project not only would devastate much of the Delta region, but is also unaffordable and unnecessary,” said Sen. McNerney, whose district includes the heart of the Delta region.

“We want to thank Senate and Assembly leadership for protecting the fragile Delta region and the thousands of Californians who called on the Legislature to reject the fast-tracking plan. Assemblywoman Wilson and I stand ready to work with the Legislature and governor on alternatives that will cost far less and will safeguard California’s main water supply system without inflicting major harm to it, such as fortifying Delta levees and increasing water recycling, water efficiency, and groundwater storage,” added McNerney.

“I am relieved to see that the proposed Delta Tunnel trailer bills did not move forward,” Assemblywoman Wilson said. “Once a short-sighted policy, always a short-sighted policy and no amount of money, including the attempted $200 million payoff to Delta communities, can make up for the lasting harm this project would cause. This conversation has gone on for decades, and make no mistake: alongside Senator McNerney and our Delta Caucus partners, we will continue to stand strong and fight for the Delta and the communities who call it home.”

“Last month, the governor renewed his call for the Legislature to approve his fast-tracking plan for the Delta Tunnel Project, even though the plan was not included in this year’s state budget.

“The governor’s proposal released in May would have greatly weakened environmental and judicial review of water plans for Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, while giving the state a blank check to float bonds to pay for the water tunnel,” Wilson concluded.

Restore the Delta also applauded the defeat of the environmentally destructive trailer bills.

“Working in close collaboration with the Delta Caucus, co-chaired by Senator Jerry McNerney and Assemblymember Lori Wilson, and with the leadership of Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, advocates ensured that proposals advanced by Governor Newsom, the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Natural Resources Agency, and the State Water Contractors did not move forward in this legislative session,” according to a statement from Restore the Delta.

“The defeated trailer bills would have stripped Tribes and Delta communities of their ability to participate in CEQA review of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan and would have advanced construction and bonding for the controversial Delta Conveyance Project, including unlimited bonding authority for the Department of Water Resources,” the group stated.

“Delta communities and allies across California stood up to defend clean water, fisheries, local economies, and environmental justice – and we won,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta. “This victory shows that the people of the Delta will not be silenced, and that California’s laws protecting public participation, water quality, and the environment cannot simply be swept aside.”

Barrigan-Parrilla noted that the opposition was “broad and vocal.” Last week, more than 50 organizations from across the state formally opposed the trailer bills, while thousands of Californians sent emails and phone calls to legislators urging them to reject the package.

“This is a victory for transparency, for Tribal inclusion, for Delta farming communities, and for every Californian who depends on healthy rivers and fisheries,” Barrigan-Parrilla added. “We are grateful to legislative leaders who listened and stood with us to uphold California’s water laws. We are grateful to our organizational partners and supporters from throughout California.”

Scott Artis, Executive Director of the Golden State Salmon Association, also weighed in on the defeat of the controversial trailer bills:

“Governor Newsom marked the 175th anniversary of California’s statehood by praising our shared history and future in his State of the State letter. Yet, he was attempting to write salmon, fishing families, and entire coastal communities out of California’s future with his Delta Tunnel and CEQA trailer bills.

“California won’t be the Golden State if it destroys its rivers, silences Tribes, or sacrifices working families for the benefit of a handful of wealthy water contractors. These bills would have done exactly that. They would gut environmental protections, eliminate due process, and lock in a water grab that could finish off already imperiled salmon runs. Make no mistake, both the Delta tunnel and the cynical ‘voluntary agreements’ are an attempt at a massive water grab at the expense of salmon and salmon fishing jobs.

“Our statehood anniversary should be an opportunity to celebrate the people and natural resources that built California. Instead, Governor Newsom is joining the Trump Administration in pushing salmon-killing proposals that threaten to erase an iconic species, cripple an entire fishing industry, and abandon river and coastal communities that depend on salmon.

“Golden State Salmon Association and our partners thank the legislature, and particularly Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas, for rejecting these reckless and cynical trailer bills. Californians deserve solutions that restore rivers, protect jobs, and honor our heritage—not schemes that will be remembered as the moment California turned its back on its people and its salmon.”

Here is what Sierra Club Water Associate Organizer, Layne Fajeau, had to say about the death of the trailer bills:

“We are incredibly proud of the California legislators who stood against the Newsom administration’s attempts to subvert crucial environmental review processes on behalf of powerful water wholesalers and agencies. Senators McNerney, Allen, Blakespear, Assemblywoman Wilson, Senate Pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas, and the entire Delta Legislative Caucus deserve immense praise for standing up for communities and species that depend upon a healthy Delta ecosystem.”

Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, pointed out, “In this day and age, with the current state of things, it is good to see that ‘checks and balances’ and the voice of the people can still prevail. To the fellowship standing on the bridge and shouting, ‘Thou Shalt Not Pass’, and the army of clear minded thinkers supporting them, we say, thank you.”

In a press conference at the State Capitol on Friday, Sept. 5, Malissa Tayaba, the Vice-Chair of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, emphasized the destructive impact the trailer bills would have on California tribes if they had passed.

“The CEQA trailer bill would eliminate the opportunity for analysis and review of tribal cultural impacts in water quality control plans — it is an erasure of the commitments the Governor and the legislature have made to repair relationships with California tribes. CEQA is a critical element to inform policy choices regarding Bay-Delta management. Without CEQA analysis, much of the Delta Reform Act becomes meaningless,” Tayaba said.

“Our people and our region are not a sacrifice zone. We will continue to speak out to protect and maintain our culture,” Tayaba concluded.

If built, the Delta Tunnel would hasten the extinction of Sacramento River spring and winter-run Chinook salmon, Delta and longfin smelt, Central Valley steelhead, green sturgeon and other fish species, according to independent scientists and fish advocates.

The Bay-Delta is now in its worst-ever ecological crisis, due to massive water exports to Big Ag oligarchs and Southern California water brokers, pollution and other factors.

The Delta smelt population has become functionally extinct in the wild. No Delta smelt have been found in the California Fish and Wildlife’s Fall Midwater Trawl Survey in the Delta for the past seven years. Commercial fishing for salmon in California ocean waters has been closed for three years, due to the collapse of Sacramento River and Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon populations.

The tunnel would take even more water out of the Sacramento River before it flows through the Delta, making the ecological crisis worse than it already is.

Fall Salmon Opener Yields Salmon Limits, Fishing for Rockfish Open at All Depths

SAN FRANCISCO – The Marin County Coast was the hot spot for the four day fall ocean salmon season that ran from September 4 to September 7 from Point Reyes to Point Sur.

Cat Kaiser, Vice President of Operations and Engagement for the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA), shared her experiences fishing during the limited opportunity to target salmon this year.

“I fished 3 of the 4 days of the season,” Kaiser said. “Thursday was spent working to help restore these amazing creatures, but being on the water and seeing so many friends out there was the best!”

“As happy as I was to share the opener with everyone out there working hard, doing what we love, and feeling grateful for the chance to fish when we can, it was also a bittersweet reminder of just how precious this resource is and what our fishery could and should be,” stated Kaiser.

“A few scattered days are not a true ‘season,’ and having zero days for the commercial fleet is truly heartbreaking. As the new Vice President of Operations and Engagement for GSSA, I do solemnly swear to work every day toward bringing back a strong, healthy salmon fishery for California,” she added.

Kaiser said she was honored to kick off day one “with my passionate and hard-working friends, Unforgettable Fishing Adventures, and of course my salmon sister Annie Nagel for an episode of Angler West TV.” They departed for the fishing grounds out of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

The 6 people fishing aboard the boat, along with the two crew members, landed 16 salmon, full limits, while trolling with anchovies off Double Point with Captain Virginia Salvador.

“Annie caught the largest fish, a solid 20 pounds,” said Kaiser. “I caught my limit of salmon weighing around 12 pounds each. It was wild going out of the Golden Gate that morning with all those boats to take advantage of the limited season.”

The next trip on Saturday was a GSSA all ladies trip aboard the New Captain Pete out of Half Moon Bay. This trip featured Captain Melinda Dodds and an all-female crew including Maddie Day, who just got her captain’s license, and Meghan Fox.

The fishing had slowed down from its fast pace on Saturday, but the girls landed a 27 lb. king and other hard-fighting Chinooks.

“The great part was that the girls kept great attitudes and energy despite the slower fishing this day and we snacked on delicious food. We had a dance party during a whale show on a flat calm ocean in the sun. We fished in tank tops and Grundens,” Cat noted.

Before this trip, the Anglerettes Fishing Club in San Diego donated stickers, mini-tackle boxes and Fish Fiemd Hair ties scrunchies in cool travel bags with the logo, “Support your local Anglette.”

“It was all about women supporting women from SoCal to NorCal,” Kaiser noted.

The third day was another all-girls trip with 7 women, Captain Virginia Salvador of Unforgettable Fishing Adventures and the deckhand, Brian. Two of the girls, Amanda Brannon and Rosalie, caught their first-ever salmon on this fishing adventure.

“Then the fishing was really slow for hours,” she said. “Most people were struggling. Then I dropped a new bait down at 18 pulls and five seconds hooked the hardest fighting salmon I have ever caught,” she continued.

“It was 25 pounds on the scale, but it felt like a much bigger fish. I got it to the boat at least five times before it took off on another run. It was the most I ever had to finesse a salmon in,” Kaiser explained.

“The 25 pounder was the Hail Mary big fish we needed. After that fishing slowed down again. We did catch a lingcod weighing about 14 pounds while trolling on Sunday along the beach,” she said.

“I was really happy to see women captains and crew following their dreams working hard while creating a happy peaceful vibe through lights out moments to the slowest times,” she said. “The vibe was great both times.”

Now that the four day fall salmon season, is over, anglers aboard private and party boats are fishing the Marin County Coast for lingcod and rockfish.

Boats are catching limits of rockfish, along with good numbers of lingcod. And anglers now will have increased opportunities to catch lingcod and rockfish off the Marin County Coast and throughout the rest of the state’s coastal and offshore waters.

On August 14, 2025, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted emergency changes to the state’s groundfish regulations so that recreational ocean fisheries are no longer constrained by quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger). Fishing opportunities in northern and central California were reduced in 2023 due to low estimated quillback rockfish abundance:

“A new stock assessment completed earlier this summer indicates it is no longer necessary to restrict groundfish fishing to specific depths north of Point Conception in order to avoid quillback rockfish, allowing anglers to take advantage of expansions to open fishing areas. The Commission acted to rapidly change the regulations to allow additional opportunities before summer’s end,” according to the announcement from the CDFW.

Over the last few years, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) collaborated with federal partners, fishing groups, and anglers to gather data and improve scientific knowledge of quillback rockfish off California. The information was crucial in informing the new stock assessment, which indicates the stock is at a healthy level and not overfished.

This finding reverses results from a 2021 stock assessment which relied on very limited data from the California stock. Retention of quillback rockfish, however, remains prohibited in all waters statewide until recommendations for sport and commercial fishery catch limits are developed for California quillback rockfish in conjunction with those for other nearshore groundfish species.

“This action is the result of hard work by a lot of people,” said Tim Klassen, an appointed advisory member for the groundfish sport fishery and a charter boat captain in Eureka. “The Commission and CDFW moved quickly to implement these changes and worked collaboratively with fishermen to achieve a result that protects our fisheries and the people that depend on them. This is what good fishery management looks like.”

With restored access to all-depth fishing for northern and central California, a sub-bag limit for canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) is necessary to keep catches within the federal California recreational harvest guideline for this species.

Therefore, a new two fish sub-bag limit will apply for canary rockfish, statewide. Additionally, vermilion (Sebastes miniatus) and sunset rockfish (Sebastes crocotulus) will be managed together as a species complex, meaning that they are considered the same species for regulatory purposes (e.g., sub-bag limit) due to their nearly indistinguishable appearance.

These changes are intended to roll back restrictions that were put into place to avoid quillback rockfish, which are very rarely seen south of Point Conception.

Anglers should review the Summary of Recreational Groundfish Regulations page for the most up-to-date information before going fishing. If anglers encounter a quillback rockfish, CDFW strongly encourages using a descending device to return it to depth. When fishing in ocean waters from a vessel a landing net is always required, and when fishing for or possessing groundfish, a descending device is required to be carried aboard.

Marin County Coast Facts:

Groundfish Regulations Summary Update:

• Effective August 28, 2025: Recreational regulations allow take of rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in all depths for state waters in the Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Groundfish Management Areas through December 31, 2025. There are temporarily different regulations for rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in federal waters in these Management Areas. Regulations in federal waters may vary by management area. Before fishing, anglers should verify if their planned fishing location is in state or federal waters and what regulations apply in each water area. The state waters boundary line can be viewed on the Ocean Sport Fishing Map: https://cdfw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c00c82e1f32a49e99c747e2411e3439e

Updates to federal regulations are expected in mid-September. Check back frequently for updates to federal regulations.

Charter boats: Sportfishing boats from throughout the Bay Area target salmon, halibut, striped bass, lingcod, rockfish and other species on San Francisco Bay and outside of the Golden Gate during their respective seasons.

Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco: Unforgettable Fishing Adventures (415) 656-656-5318; Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures, (925) 497-717; the Bass Tub, (415) 456-9055; Lovely Martha, (650) 619-6629; Silver Fox Sportfishing, (415) 367-5600; and Flash Sport Fishing Charters, (510) 851-2500.

Berkeley Marina: New Easy Rider, (707) 422-2050; California Dawn, (510) 417-5557; Pacific Dream, (510) 993-4414; Happy Hooker, (510) 223-5388; Hook’d Up Sportfishing, (707) 655-6736; and Goldeneye 2000, (510) 610-0888. For more information, call the Berkeley Marina Sportfishing Center, (510) 849-3333.

Emeryville Sportfishing Center: New Huck Finn, C Gull II, Kingfish, Diamond, Scallywag; Pacific Pearl, Oakland Anglers II, Lady K, Playn Hooky and other boats. For more information, call Fish Emeryville, (510) 652-3403.

Paul’s Staff Tackle 4408   Paul Kneeland fished Bucks Lake with John Brassfield of Foresthill in John’s 18 foot Duckworth.  They caught rainbow trout to 19 inches using a Daiwa North Coast 8 foot ultralight graphite rod with a Okuma Convector low profile line counter reel loaded with 8 lb test Okuma Soft Steel line.. They trolled yellow winged Tasmanian Devils and bright yellow/red Speedy Shiners off the Canon Downriggers at 25 to 60 feet deep and 2.3 mph.

Pyramid Lake Opens October 1st!

We in Northern California are very blessed to live close to what I consider to be the best trout fishing in the world! Pyramid Lake, Nevada, is a world class trout fishery that is the home of the World Record Lahontan Cutthroat trout of 41 pounds. Pyramid is the only habitat in the world for the Cui-ui fish that has been around for over 2 million years. The lake is widely acclaimed as the most beautiful desert lake, and has been attracting fishermen for decades. Pyramid is the largest lake in Nevada, covering over 125,000 acres and with a maximum depth of 350 feet. It is slightly larger than its famous neighbor, Lake Tahoe. It is fed by the Truckee River, which flows out of Lake Tahoe and through the city of Reno, before dumping into the south end of Pyramid Lake. It is located 35 miles north of Reno There are two separate species of Lahontan cutthroat inhabiting the lake, the Pilot Peak strain and the Summit Lake strain. The Pilot Peak strain trout grow extremely fast, feeding on Tui Chubs and Cui-ui, and fish up to 31 pounds have been caught in the last few years. Studies show that they can grow at an astonishing rate of up to 5 pounds per year, with 4 year old fish weighing 20 pounds!  Today, the average size trout is 4 to 7 pounds, and if an angler doesn’t land one over 10 pounds in a day of fishing, he tends to be slightly disappointed! There is no other trout fishery in the world that I know of where an angler would be even a little disappointed with 4 to 9 pound trout! The Trout Season at Pyramid runs from October 1st through June 30th. Bag limit is two fish per day between 17 and 20 inches, or one over 24 inches plus one 17-20 inches. No trout can be kept between 20 and 24 inches.

Pyramid Lake is entirely within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. You don’t need a Nevada fishing license, but you do need a Tribal Permit to recreate on the lake.  For more information, and to buy permits, go to www.pyramidlake.us, or call the Ranger Station at 775-476-1155

Cutline: Photo 1 – Huge Lahontan Cutthroat trout are caught every year from 15 to 30 pounds and more! Photo courtesy of Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.