What's biting across California, newest first.
Anglers are casting small spinners, mini jigs, or bait into the riffles and rocky eddies are landing a mix of rainbow and brown trout within a length range of 10 to 14 inches. The highest concentration of fish is holding in the shaded, well-oxygenated stretches directly below the powerhouse.
Wild rainbow and brown trout are currently highly active on the upper McCloud River near Lower Falls, driven by an accelerating golden stonefly and mayfly hatch. Anglers utilizing dry-dropper rigs or double-dry setups are landing fish within a length range of 9 to 13 inches, with occasional larger brown trout mixed in. The fish are holding tightly in oxygenated pocket water and the deep plunge pools directly below the falls.
Kokanee fishing has been highly productive, with anglers successfully reaching their boat limits. The fish are averaging between 16 and 18 inches in length. The most effective fishing depths have been ranging from 40 feet to 60 feet down.
The river will open to salmon fishing on July 16. Both boaters and bank anglers can expect to battle quality Chinooks while fishing plugs and spinners.
Expect the shad fishing to pick up in the section from Chico to Red Bluff soon. Fishing with shad flies or small jigs with plastic grub tails is very productive.
Brighter colored spoons doing well around Marker 8 and the dam.
Lakes 2 and 4
Speedy shiners working well near the dam.
Bright spoons working well. 2-4 pounders being caught on Trout Candy Spoons
Small trout jig patterns doing well to catch1-3 poundsers, handful for 4+ pounders
Spoons doing well, use smaller spoons and aim to cast in top 10-20’ of water. Use something like a 1.8g bright colored spoon.
Minnow and baby trout pattern jigs doing well from both shoreline and on water. Trout are anywhere 10-35’ deep.
Bug pattern jigs working well, fish are holding anywhere 10-40 ft deep.
Fishing Derby
Trout Tournament
Hatchery Pellets catching 3+ pounders
Hatchery pellet pattern spoons doing well with the calaveras trout being planted here.
Stocked for derby
Heavier Trout Candy Spoons catching 3-4 pounders near south entrance.
Minnow and bait fish pattern jigs doing well, aim along weed lines.
Boat ramp (mid section of the reservoir) and dam area (southern area) are doing well with darker spoons.
Lakes 3 and 7
Brighter colored spoons working well. Aim to get 15-25 feet below. Try Spicy Mango by DFB.
Bug pattern jigs working well. Make sure not to get snagged. Try Made Baits in hopper patterns.
Lower lake is seeing more action. Try Fish Thug Baits Thug Crushers in the larger size.
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