12/05/2023 Fishing Report
Trinity River Report
Current conditions as of 12/4
Lewiston flows 300cfs Viz 8ft slight ting
Limekiln 350 Viz 8ft slight ting
Douglas City 400
Junction city above NF Trinity 560 Viz 8ft clear
Burnt Ranch 985 and dropping Viz 6ft milky green
Hoopa 3300 brown/blown
Brian Clemens reports fishing has been off the charts this season and there's no sign of slowing down. The fall fish were tanked up as of yesterday but we just had a few days of light to moderate rain that did bring the river up a bit from the North Fork of the Trinity River up, the major of the rainfall hit the north side of Highway 299 and from North Fork of the Trinity canyon on down. Definitely a weird system but it will definitely bring up some fresh fish. Currently the majority of the fish, fall fish, "WERE tanked up pretty heavy in Junction City and from there you'd see a pod of a handful of fish move up from Junction City through the canyon and started tanking up from Douglas City to the dam. With this storm event we just had, those Junction City fish will finally get a break, move up through on onto Douglas City and to Lewiston, and we will get a nice fresh recirculation of late fall fish and early winter fish from Junction City on down. Water temps have been good to great for this time of year at mid-40 degrees from start to finish. All in all, this made for great fishing, great grabs and lots of bent rods. Look for this river to start fishing a bit slower for numbers but for larger fish and the winter run starts showing up.
With only a couple of days left to book for this steelhead season on the trinity, we recommend booking well in advance. For you swing folks Sept Oct Nov is phenomenal then again come Jan on through till March. Nymphing is pretty much all season long, Sept to March.
Brian’s Top Flies
Rubberlegs Black or Brown size 4-6
Copper John’s Red or Copper size 10-12
Golden Stone Nymphs size 10
Psycho Prince Nymph size 10
Lake Oroville
DWR – Information Recorded Line 530-534-2307
Elevation – 811.50 feet
Ryan Williams reports the winter season is just starting on Lake Oroville. Water temperatures are in the high 50 degrees. There are a ton of big bait balls around, and bass can be found on or around them. Finding the bait is key right now. It makes the difference between a slow day verse a great day. Float-N-Fly has been producing the best; however, we’ve had some good streamer action as well. December is typically the best month for winter bass on Oroville, something to keep in mind.
Ryan’s Top Flies
Thurman’s Float-N-Fly in Shad, Sexy Shad and Chartreuse size 1/16”
12/01/2023 Fishing Report
Lower Sacramento River
11/29/2023
5100cfs Keswick Dam Release
Fishing - Fair
Lance Gray Report - The Lower Sacramento current flows are at 5100cfs. The fishing has been mostly in the afternoon hours. With 1:00pm to 3:00pm your best chance for hook ups. Tim Fox and I have been on numerous drifts from Posse Grounds all the way down to Balls Ferry and we keep experiencing this fishing pattern for the last two to three weeks. We both have had great fly-fishers on our boats – but the fishing has been okay to bad. It just matters on which lucky day you drift. Best walk and wade venue has been at Caldwell Park and at Girven Park access areas.
Top Flies
Fox’s Caddis Poopah Cinnamon Bead Head Size 14
Fox’s Caddis Poopah Cinnamon Size 14
Fox’s Caddis Poopah Bead Head Tan Size 14
Thurman’s Jigged Bird’s Nest Natural Size 12-16
Thurman’s Jigged Bird’s Nest Natural Hot Spot Size 12-16
Lance’s Jigged X-May Brown Hot Spot Size 18-20
Lance’s Jigged X-May Olive Hot Spot Size 18-20
Feather River
11/29/2023
800cfs Low Flow 1814cfs High Flow Oroville Dam Release and Afterbay Release
Fishing Okay – Good
Lance Gray Report - The Feather River has been fishing okay to good, it just matters on the day and the flows. The flows have been fluctuating on a daily basis. Hopefully DWR will get it back to consistent flows. The steelhead have been eating everything from eggs to caddis dry flies. The Low Flow and the High Flow are both fishing good. The Out House Riffle in the Low Flow and Kester Riffle in the High Flow have been the most consistent places to fish.
Top Flies
Fox’s Caddis Poopah Olive Bead Head Size 16
Thurman’s Jigged Bird’s Nest Olive Size 12-16
Lance’s Fireworm Earthworm Size 14
Lance’s Jigged X-May Higa SOS Size 16-18
Lance’s Yuba River Caddis Olive Size 14
Elk Hair Caddis Olive Size 14
Mottleheads Beads Tangerine 8mm
Mottleheads Beads Peachy King 8mm
Lake Almanor
11/29/2023
4,493.9 level feet
Fishing Okay
Lance Gray Report – Lake Almanor is still fishing okay especially in the coves on the West Shore and the Canyondam area. Hamilton Branch is also producing fish. Weather reports for this coming week shows snow and cold temperatures, highs in the lower 40’s. For fishing the coves folks are using float tubes or fishing from the bank. They are all fishing balanced flies underneath an indicator. For Hamilton Branch small mayfly nymphs and midges’ underneath indicators. Brown Trout are heading to the creeks to spawn and soon the fishing and hatches will come to a crawl with the winter freeze. Creeks are closed to all fishing. Hamilton Branch from the bridge down to the lake is considered the lake.
Top Flies
Micro Balanced Leech in Bruised size 14
Thurman’s Balanced Leech Black/Purple size 10
Thurman’s Lil’ Bit Red/Silver size 18
Thurman’s Lil’ Bit Midge Gray size 18
Thurman’s Lil’ Bit Midge Black/Silver size 18
Lance’s Jigged X-May Higa SOS size 16-18
Lance’s Jigged Tiger Midge Red size 18-20
Lance’s Jigged Tiger Midge Black size 18-20
Trinity River
11/29/2023
300cfs Lewiston Lake Release
Fishing Okay – Good
Tim Fox Report - We need a decent storm to dump enough rain to raise the water at least 150 cfs more in Douglas City. There was an early good plug of big fish and lots of little fish that are still in the system but they are getting harder and harder to catch. Spooky and lock jaw due to all of the fishing pressure. There's no stretch any better than anywhere else, so pick your favorite spots!
A good first presentation and drift with a good hook set, don't blow the few opportunities you will have. If we get enough rain, then you can use pretty much any fly and you can catch fish.
Top Flies
Fox’s Caddis Poopah Black size 16
Lance’s Jigged X-May Higa SOS size 16
Thurman’s Jigged Bird’s Nest Black size 14-16
Mottleheads Beads Peachy King 10mm