Lake Oroville is inaccessible with no current ramp access, and Clear Lake has a single ramp open at Library Park.
Even with all of the barriers, there are still some viable options for Northern California anglers. Berryessa, Don Pedro, New Melones, Englebright, Whiskeytown, New Hogan and Tulloch remain open for freshwater fishing at elevations below 1000 feet, and the national forests of Stanislaus, Sierra, Sequoia, Inyo, and Los Padres remain open. Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass is now open to Markleville and Lake Alpine has been fishing excellent for holdover and recently-planted rainbow trout. Several forks of the Stanislaus River were planted this past week and this forest remains open. The coast remains relatively free of smoke and many Californians have been fleeing to coastal communities to avoid the hazardous air conditions.
Until rain arrives, and it better arrive this year, there will be limitations throughout Northern California for both fishing and hunting. The state and federal refuges are expected to only receive 40 to 60 percent of water this year for waterfowl, and there will be fallow fields taking place in rice country. In the meantime, outdoor recreation will take some prior planning and the willingness to change plans at the last moment, at least in the near future.
