This week, we concentrated our efforts on the south side near Brandy Creek, where Buck and JP had scouted a few days earlier. We started the day running spoons like Thomas Buoyant and Kastmasters in gold/red patterns at 15-20 feet. Trout were scattered but feeding actively in the morning hours, giving us steady action early on. By mid-morning, as the bite slowed, Alina suggested switching to shad rigs and dropping our lines deeper—down to around 25 feet. The adjustment paid off when JP hooked a solid 18-inch rainbow, which turned out to be the best fish of the day. We kept at it, making slight tweaks in depth based on where the fish were holding.
Water Conditions:
Visibility was around 8-10 feet, and we noticed baitfish schooling near submerged structures. James was keeping an eye on the fish finder and pointed out that the trout seemed to be hugging the bait balls as the morning went on. The clear water made for good sight lines, and the trout were holding close to these bait clusters, making our depth adjustments crucial to stay on the fish. Having reliable gear like our Shimano Tekota 401 HG LC and Okuma Convector setups made it easy to dial in precise depth control as we followed the trout deeper.
Techniques & Gear:
We found that spoons worked best early in the morning, with Thomas Buoyant and Kastmasters in gold/red colors getting the most hits at 15-20 feet. Around 10 a.m., James suggested swapping out for shad-patterned rigs and dropping them to 25 feet. With our setups, making those quick adjustments was smooth, and it wasn’t long before we were getting hits again. The Tekota and Convector reels helped us stay dialed in, allowing us to adapt quickly as the trout moved.
Trolling Speed:
We started the day trolling at 1.8-2.0 mph, which seemed to trigger the morning bite. Once we switched to the shad rigs, we slowed down to around 1.5 mph, which kept the rigs in the strike zone longer as the trout were holding lower. Buck kept experimenting with speeds, and he noticed that a slight bump in speed to 1.6 mph occasionally sparked a reaction strike.
Hot Spots:
Brandy Creek was our main focus, particularly near points and drop-offs where baitfish were holding. We also checked out a few spots near Whiskeytown Dam in the afternoon, where we saw some sporadic surface activity, but the action was inconsistent. JP suggested sticking around the creek area, as it continued to produce throughout the day. The trout were holding along the edges of submerged structures, moving in and out of cover to feed, so focusing on these transition areas got us solid hits.
Recommendations:
For anyone heading out this week, early mornings are key for the best action. Start at 15-20 feet with spoons, then switch to shad patterns as the fish move deeper later in the morning. If you’re marking fish but not getting bites, a quick adjustment of 5-10 feet can make a big difference in staying on active trout. Stick to areas with good bait presence, and consider heavier weights if you encounter sudden depth changes. We had to make several adjustments to keep up with the fish, so don’t be afraid to change things up based on where you’re seeing activity.
