10 February 28 , 2025 VOL . 44 • ISS . 2

FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PG 9

EAST BAY LAKES

get worse from there . The shoreline to Indian Cove is tight with limited access and most of the shoreline to Racoon Point is inaccessible . Despite the high water , the clarity is fair , and the bite has been decent . Contra Loma has been fishing well with light pressure . There has been a decent trout bite for the occasional fish to 4-pounds . Bass action is starting to improve with a recent 3-pounder taken mid-week , and there is still some slab panfish action . Water conditions are good . Lake Temescal has been suffering . Two weeks ago , action had settled into a solid winter routine . Then the lake blew out . There was a moderate break in the weather and anglers fishing the dirty water were still able to take a few fish . This weekend and into mid-week , the lake blew out again . There are plenty of fish available and once conditions settle , fishing should get hot ! Lake Del Valle is unfishable . The water level has improved but is very dirty and much of the shoreline is littered with debris . It will take some time until things improve at Del Valle . Mid-season techniques do change with the weather and with water conditions . There is an old saying when selecting lures that “ when it ’ s cloudy or the water is dirty , go with dark lures , and when it ’ s bright or clear , go bright .” In translation , dark lures in black , dark blue , or red , contrast with the dirty water and can be seen better by the fish . As the water quality improves , try naturals , or grasshopper , then as water quality gets clear , or the weather improves , start using brighter colors . If your fishing spinners , a larger – louder size may do the trick . Not a rule , but it ’ s a good place to start . Please drop me a line , tell me how you ’ re doing and send me your pictures . Everything helps with these reports and anglers love seeing the pics ! Thanks , Chuck . Ctw1930 @ gmail . com . Or by text at 571-481-8040 .

- Chuck Wolf , EBRPD Angler ’ s Edge

EAGLE LAKE

Eagle Lake Closes February 28th .

It ’ s been a great season at Eagle Lake ! Some of the biggest trout of the year have been caught in January and February . Limits of big Eagle Lake rainbows from 5 to 6 pounds have been available to shore fishermen and trollers . Most shore fishermen are using nightcrawlers in shallow water , and the trollers are using grubs , Needlefish and Thomas Bouyants trolled slow in shallow water as well . Right now there is snow on the

ground , and Pine Creek has been flowing for over a month . There is even water on the boat ramp at Spalding , not real deep , but enough for kayaks and shallow draft boats to launch . Hopefully more rain and snow will keep coming this spring and the launch will open to all boats . Fishing season closes on February 28th , and reopens again for the 2025- 26 season on Memorial Day weekend . If you are interested in renting a cabin at Eagle Lake for the coming season , contact John Hembree at 209-768-5581 .

FEATHER RIVER

DWR Decreases Flood Control Water Releases

OROVILLE – Recent high flows on the Feather have kept steelhead anglers off the water , but fishing should resume when flows go down . The Department of Water Resources ( DWR ) continues federally required flood control releases from Lake Oroville to maintain flood protection for downstream communities . Water is being released through the Hyatt Powerplant for energy production and from Oroville Dam ’ s main spillway . With lessening storms and reduced inflows into Lake Oroville , DWR decreased total Feather River flood control releases to 17,000 cubic feet per second ( cfs ). Releases are subject to change based on ongoing weather conditions , according to the California Department of Water Resources . Flows decreased to 15,000 cfs on Feb . 17 and 14,000 cfs on Feb . 18 . Between October and June , DWR is required to operate Lake Oroville for flood control under federal Water Control Manual guidelines set by the U . S . Army Corps of Engineers . These federal regulations establish a set storage space that is reserved to capture inflows from rain and future snowmelt , while protecting downstream communities from damaging flood events through coordinated releases . To maintain this storage space , DWR is required to release water from Lake Oroville . Releases to the Feather River are coordinated closely with the

One bedroom plus 2 large window beds and a sleeper sofa . Full bathroom and kitchen . Vaulted ceilings and beautiful knotty pine interior . Large outside deck with barbecue . All on a large lot with plenty of boat parking .

Contact John and Linda Hembree for more information and reservations ( 209 ) 768-5581

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U . S . Army Corps of Engineers and other downstream water operators . 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 . The public can track precipitation , snow , reservoir levels , and more at the California Data Exchange Center . The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ ORO . Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan . 1 and Jan . 29 , 2025 were : 23 Fall-run Chinook salmon and 63 Steelhead . Ahead of anticipated increased river flows at the fish monitoring station , monitoring equipment has been removed , which will impact count estimates .

FOLSOM LAKE

King Salmon Bite Improves As Lake Rises

FOLSOM – The king salmon bite is picking up at Folsom Lake , as evidenced by the latest trip to the reservoir by Jerry Lampkin of TNG Motor Sports Guide Service . “ Some nice kings were on the chew today in front of the dam .,” Lampkin reported . They liked the Christine Special Brads cut plug with tuna / bloody tuna oil , behind a white 8 inch pro troll dodger tolled at 2.5 mph , 40-50 ft down . We scored a 19 incher , a 21 , and a 23 + inch 4.4 pounder .” “ Some nice straight tail rainbows were playing too , at 20-25 ft ,” he revealed . “ They liked the GVF Fire Draggin and Apex lures at 1.5-1.7 mph . All but one bleeder , a king , were released to fight another day .” Likewise , Mikey Mullin reported solid action on his most recent trolling adventure at Folsom on the Folsom Lake Fishing Report Facebook Page . “ Jennifer Mullin , Emily Brown and I headed out to Folsom Lake as the forecast looked good and boy , was it ever a super-nice day ,” said Mullin ., “ Emily and Jen are childhood friends and she caught her first fish today . We got 4 kings to the boat using the Glow Bug Topcoat flashers wonder bread combo . We trolled at 1.7 mph with a 60 ’ set back at 25 ’ -45 ’ deep . It took a bit to find them , but we were rewarded for our efforts .” Black bass fishing has been tough lately , but will improve as the water temperature warms up on Folsom . Anglers have been using a variety of offerings , including drop shotting plastics , throwing swimbaits and working jigs . for a mixture of spotted , largemouth and spotted bass . The open launch ramps are Hobie Cove at Brown ’ s Ravine and Granite Bay . The surface water temperature is 45 degrees . Folsom Lake is holding 673,627 acre feet of water , 69 percent of capacity and 143 percent of average .

- Dan Bacher