14 March 22 , 2024 VOL . 43 • ISS . 4

FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PG 13

COLLINS LAKE

picture of a big crappie he caught as well , but with a limit of trout he decided to leave the crappie for another day . Cal Kellogg of fishhuntshoot . com reported solid fishing on his two latest trolling adventures at Collins Lake . On the first trip , the 4 anglers fishing with him landed 17 rainbows to 9 pounds and two big crappie over 12 inches each . “ We trolled with orange Metal Head trolling flies , orange Trout Trix Worms on threaded nightcrawlers at 10 feet deep ,” he noted . On his second trip , four anglers fishing with Kellogg bagged 12 fish total , including 10 trout and two 4 pound spotted bass . The two top trout were a 4.5 lb . rainbow and a 4 lb . lightning trout . They trolled with orange worms and orange trolling flies . “ Due to the wind blowing , we spent 80 percent of our time in the Narrows ,” he noted .

- Ed Palma

EAST BAY LAKES ROUNDUP

Trout Action Still Going Strong

OAKLAND- - Trout action has been pretty good across the East Bay but getting out in decent weather has been a challenge . The Regional Parks District continues with their heavy plants and this week was no exception . Shadow Cliffs , Del Valle , and Contra Loma all received 1,000 pounds each . Combined with previous plants the weather has had more effect on the fisherman than the fish . Looking forward to the next week or so , the weather looks good and there will be plenty of holdovers to be had . If you are a beginning angler , or even an experienced angler who wants to get out and meet some of the staff , some fellow anglers , or just want to brush up on some new techniques , consider signing up for one of the upcoming Park District fishing seminars . The “ Trout Basics ” hands on seminar will be offered

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This lucky angler had an amazing day trolling for King Salmon on Lake Oroville with Barebones Guide Service . They caught and released several fish with the largest one measuring in at 21 inches .

Photo Courtesy of Barebones Guide Service at Lake Chabot on March 22nd from 9-11 , the “ Intermediate Trout ” seminar will be held March 22nd at Lake Chabot from noon-2pm , and the “ Introduction to Saltwater Fishing ” seminar will be offered April 11th . from 9-11 am at Martin Luther King Jr . Regional Shoreline Park , in Oakland . These are hands on events that include some basic instruction followed by time on the water . Equipment is provided . There is a $ 25 fee for adults and a $ 21 fee for kids . Establish an account and get registered at ; ebparks . org . Scroll down to the activities call out , find the event date , get registered and get fishing ! There are different events being held every day , so if fishing isn ’ t your deal , something else offered just might be . Shadow Cliffs received 1000 pounds on Wednesday the 6th and as expected action was solid until thunderstorms and rain rolled in , and the bite shut down . There have been almost weekly plants , and the lake is fat with fish , so take advantage of the good weather this weekend and go fishing ! Andre took an 8- pounder fishing a red Atomic Tube from the shoreline near the ramp . Chuck took a 7-pounder from shore on a red micro spoon . Bri took a nice bass on the 3rd . Contra Loma is fat with fish , but reports remain light . The lake received 1000 pounds on Wednesday the 6th . Action has been mixed but should be good over the

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weekend . Vishu took a 3-plus-pound Lassen on the 7th . and there have been a good number of limits also reported . The bass appear to be moving onto the beds and action should only improve . There was an 8-pounder taken early in the week . Lake Del Valle has been receiving near weekly plants and received another 1,000- pounds on the 6th . Lake conditions have improved considerably . The lake has been brought down and there is more shoreline available . Water quality is still a bit off but getting better every day . The trout action has been good from the East swim beach . Bass action has improved . James Faudeck took a nice 6-pound largemouth and a couple smallies March 5th on a white-chartreuse spinner while boat fishing . Lake Chabot action remains mixed . The water is very high , access is limited but the water quality is fair to good and will settle even more with the stable weather . Check out the You-tube video “ Trolling for trout at Lake Chabot ” at t . davis510 for some pointers . Lake Temescal action has been good . The water is a bit stained but red , orange , chartreuse spoons and grasshopper , brown tubes have all been working . The lake received 1,000-pounds of Lassens last week and then received a bonus plant of 500-pounds of DFG ’ s on the next day . Matt Fernandez took a 7-pound Lassen from shore near the handicap dock . Horseshoe Lake received 750 pounds

of Lassens on the 27th and a previous DFG plant on the 21st . The lake is in great shape but the action has slowed . Shinn , Grau , Rainbow are all slow .

- Chuck Wolf , for EBRPD

Angler ’ s Edge

FEATHER RIVER

Striped Bass Run Begins !

YUBA CITY - The spring striped bass run has begun on the Feather River . The Sacramento River was still too high at press time to be fished from a boat . “ The fishing on the Feather is solid and more people are getting out on the river ,” reported Armando Michalski at Johnson ’ s Bait and Tackle . “ However , the Sacramento is still blown out with high water and floating debris .” Most anglers fishing the Feather are concentrating on the Shanghai Bend and Boyd ’ s Pump areas . “ Shore anglers and boaters are doing best while fishing with live minnows or cut baits including sardines and anchovies .” Most of the fish are schoolie males , but one angler recently weighed in a 30 lb . striper caught on a swimbait on the Feather . The Feather River Fish Hatchery raised approximately 452,000 yearling steelhead trout around 8.5 to 9.5 inches in length for 2024 releases , according to the California Department of Water Resources ( DWR ). Around 7,000 steelhead were released in the Thermalito Afterbay the week of Feb . 12 to support recreational fishing . In addition , 1,011 adult male steelhead were released into the Thermalito Afterbay from December to February after they had been spawned at the hatchery . Hatchery-spawned females were released back to the Feather River . Approximately 445,000 steelhead were released into the Feather River at Boyd ’ s Pump Boat Launch between Feb . 5 and Feb . 13 to meet mitigation requirements . Releasing the young fish further downstream improves their chances of survival . Upstream migrating fish totals between Jan . 1 and Feb . 29 are : 42 fall-run Chinook salmon and 706 steelhead . Due to current higher flows in the low-flow channel of the Feather River , some fish are swimming over the monitoring station and are not counted in upstream migration totals . Total releases to the Feather River amount to 10,000 cfs with 2,500 cfs being routed down the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville . An additional 7,500 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet , located 5 miles downstream from Oroville . Further reductions to flows in the low-flow channel are planned in the coming week . Feather River recreation users are advised to remain alert as river flows are expected to be swift and cold and may change based on projected weather forecasts .

- Dan Bacher

CONTINUED ON PG 15