16 April 25, 2025 VOL. 44 • ISS. 4
FRESHWATER REPORTS:
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EAST BAY LAKES ROUNDUP
Shinn Pond bass action remains very good. Rainbow Lake bass action has also been very good. Lago Los Osos, Kaiser Pond and the other small lakes outside the regional park, have all been productive. Contra Loma remains the place to be if you’ re searching for some great local bass action. The trout bite is solid, but there have been more and more posts showing some great bass. Plastics, underspins and bass spinners fished tight against the weed line are producing. The pre-spawn males are in the shallows, and the larger females are close behind. Despite limited access, there are some very good areas on both sides of the ramp, as well as the shoreline beyond the swimming pool, and along the shoreline to Quail Cove. This can be a good crappie lake and crappie can be taken on the same mini gigs used for trout or with a worm under a bobber. Lake Chabot trout action has been good with spots along the shoreline out to Racoon Point all producing. The bass bite has been good. water conditions are fair but there has been more algae, especially in the marina area. Lake Temescal action has been ok, but generally slow for holdover trout including a lightning or two. The main dock may produce in the morning, but you should shift most of your effort to the opposite side of the lake in the shadows or move down to the last dock before the dam. The bass bite is on! We are incredibly fortunate to have such an abundance of superb trout action so close to our homes here in the bay area. The EBRPD and lake concessionaires do a fantastic job keeping us in fish and the hatcheries set a high bar with the quality and consistency of their deliveries. We still have a few remaining months of the season and have plenty of great action ahead. Enjoy the days to come, be courteous to your fellow anglers, pick up after yourself and go catch a fish! Please send me your pics! Or reach out to me for additional information at email: ctw1930 @ gmail. com, or by text at 571-481-8040.
Chuck Wolf, EBRPD Angler’ s Edge
FEATHER / SACRAMENTO RIVERS
Spring Striper Run In Full Swing
YUBA CITY – Striper fishing on the Feather River is still tough, but fishing on the Sacramento River has been“ wide-open,” reported Brian Willits at Johnson’ s Bait and Tackle.“ Boaters fishing from Colusa to Butte City. are catching limits of
Greg Haney shows off a fat spotted bass caught in the McCloud arm of Shasta Lake.
Photo courtesy of Greg Haney striped bass,” said Willits.“ Drifting minnows, trolling with Yo-Zuri lures and bait fishing are all doing well I haven’ t heard a lot of bank anglers fishing now; the water is still flowing high and a little dirty.”“ On the Feather River, a few guys are catching a few fish here and there – it’ s beginning to look like last year when the fish came into the river later. There was a pretty good bite a couple of weeks ago, but it is, not happening now,” he stated.“ The fish being caught on the Feather are hitting from the mouth of the Bear River to Verona,” said Willits.“ Anglers are using an array of methods: drifting minnows, trolling lures and casting jerk baits and umbrella rigs.” FishKevinBrock. com confirmed the excellent striper action on the Sacramento River:“ Use sardines, anchovies, swim baits, minnows, or trolling plugs with worm tails. It’ s so good right now, from Colusa to the Delta! I fished Colusa and had limits for five people and let several go on my latest trip. We got ours on minnows and swim baits using 1 / 2 oz white leadheads with chartreuse tail.”“ Striper fishing has been pretty good down below Ward’ s Landing,” said Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob’ s Guide Service.“ Today the water is a little dirty, so we’ ve been fishing with cut anchovies and sardines. The fishing was very good yesterday, but it’ s slower today. Most of the fish run from 18 inches to 8 pounds.”
He confirmed the tough fishing on the Feather, noting that the fish aren’ t showing in big numbers in the river yet. Feather River flows are at 2,500 cfs through the City of Oroville with 8,500 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet( Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 11,000 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases daily.
Dan Bacher
FOLSOM LAKE
California State Parks Implements New Boat Launching Requirements for Golden Mussel Prevention
FOLSOM – Effective Monday, April 14, 2025, the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation will require all trailered or motorized vessels launching at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine to participate in a vessel inspection / quarantine program to help prevent the spread of golden mussels, according to a press release from California State Parks: This highly invasive aquatic species was recently identified in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the first known occurrence of golden mussels in North America. Golden mussels pose a significant threat to the ecological health of all waters of the state, its water conveyance systems, infrastructure, and water quality.“ California State Parks is working with the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation and numerous state agencies to take critical steps to prevent golden mussels from infesting Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine,” said Folsom Lake SRA Superintendent Mike Howard.“ We thank boaters for their understanding as we implement the new procedures and are working to make the inspection processes as efficient as possible. These prevention measures are a far better alternative to closing the lakes to vessels or a golden mussel infestation, which would not only cause substantial damage to the ecosystem and fishery but also impact the power generation and water delivery systems at Folsom Dam and Reservoir.” These invasive mussels can also cause significant damage to boats by attaching to hulls and clogging engines, which will lead to increased costs for boat owners. Here are the new requirements: Beginning April 14, Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine will be temporarily closed to all trailered or motorized vessel launching. Vessel owners wishing to launch at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine at Auburn SRA must have their vessels inspected and a quarantine seal( watercraft band) applied for 30 days. During the quarantine, the vessel will not be permitted to launch. Beginning May 14, vessels completing the 30-day quarantine may return to the two lakes, have the seal removed by authorized staff, and be allowed to launch. Boaters wishing to return to the lakes in the future will have the option to have their boat sealed upon exiting the water and will not be required to quarantine thereafter as long as the seal remains intact. All trailered vessels are subject to the inspection, quarantine and seal program. Hand-launched, non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, rowing shells, outrigger canoes and rowboats are not subject to the inspection, quarantine and decontamination requirements. Hand-launched watercraft with electric trolling motors, such as fishing kayaks, are also exempt from these requirements. As part of this new golden mussel prevention program, only handlaunched boats will be permitted on Lake Natoma. Trailered vessels will not be permitted. The existing 5 mph speed limit on Lake Natoma for motorized craft will remain in effect. All boaters, including paddlers and rowers, must arrive with their watercraft clean, drained, and dry.“ Recreational boating is a significant contributor to California’ s economy, and California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways( DBW) is working diligently with allied industry and agency partners to provide outreach and educational information to boaters and waterbody managers on the importance of the Clean,
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