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Updated October 22, 2026

TRINITY LAKE — John Boitano with Phil’s Propellers in Shasta Lake said “the bite is a bit slow; however, there are fish to be caught.” The best bite is around 25 to 35 feet using plastics moving slowly. Several smaller fish 1.5 to 2 pounds are being caught with an occasional 3 to 4 pounder. The lake is at 67%.

WHISKEYTOWN LAKE — Whiskeytown Lake is being lowered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to its winter pool level which is about 10 feet below full pool to prepare for winter storm runoff and increase safety along the shoreline. The kokanee are beginning to spawn, but there are still bass and trout opportunities.  DFW planted trout in Whiskeytown in August and with fall weather those fish should be on the chew.  The lake is at 98%.

Sacramento Valley Rivers:

AMERICAN RIVER/above Folsom — Not much change here as the best action for holdover rainbow or brown trout are in the deep pools. A stealthy approach is necessary as the pools have also shrunk, and the fish are wary. The flows at Chili Bar dropped again to 317cfs. The Middle Fork, South Fork and their tributaries above Folsom Lake (Placer, El Dorado, Amador, and Alpine Cos.), except Caples Creek) are closed for bait as of September 30.

AMERICAN RIVER /Sacramento — Kailyr Perry with Kailyr’s Guide Service said they are having to work hard with average drifts going 12 miles for 1 to 3 bites. Consensus is it’s still a bit early on the American for king salmon. Shore flossers are having some success working beads over shallow riffles.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, below Keswick — The Fly Shop in Redding reports stable flows and some blustery weather have brought up large pods of salmon to spawn in Redding. Fish egg patterns when you see salmon, all other times the best flies are the BP Weiss Nymph, smaller Olive Hotspot, and sometimes the Rubberlegs. Down around Jelly’s Ferry and downstream you should see some hatchery steelhead showing up, they are grabby and will take a swung fly.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Colusa — The Sacramento River is fishing very well for salmon. Anglers on the bank are catching them on Mepps Flying C Spinner’s. Boat anglers are catching them on 360 cut plugs, Silvertrons, or jigging.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Metro — Alan Fong with Alan Fong Outdoors on YouTube said the Sacramento metro area is fishing really good both early morning and evenings. The 360 cut plug seems to be hot as well as Silvetrons trolled downstream with a spreader and drop weight

North Coast Rivers:

All North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith, and Van Duzen are currently closed to fishing. The Department monitors low flow conditions on Mondays for decision days Tuesday and Wednesday, Wednesday for decision days Thursday and Friday, and Friday for decision days Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and will update this message as needed. Please note that the Department may open waters between regularly scheduled updates in response to changing flow conditions. The department will only close waters on decision days Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays for their respective decision windows.

Anglers are advised to check the Department’s Low Flow Fishing Regulations – North Coast website before deciding to fish in any of these low flow restricted waters, and to clean, drain, and dry all fishing gear to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2027.

SMITH RIVER, Crescent City — Sections currently closed to fishing include the main stem Smith River from the mouth of Rowdy Creek to its confluence with Patrick Creek; the South Fork Smith River from the mouth upstream approximately 1000 ft to the County Road (George Tyron) bridge and Craigs Creek to its confluence with Jones Creek; and the North Fork Smith River from the mouth to its confluence with Stony Creek. Minimum flow: 600 cfs at the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station. Low flow fishing closure began Sept. 1 and will run through April 30. As of Monday, the flows were 190 cfs on the Jed Smith gauge.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen — Fishing pressure has been very light on the Lower Klamath. There aren’t many kings around, but there’s quite a few half pounders along with some adult steelhead. Some coho are starting to make their way in as well as the numbers are starting to rise on the Hoopa weir. Flows were just above 2,500 cfs on the lower river gauge but are forecast to drop slightly early next week as flows are reduced down to the winter base flow of 300 cfs coming from the Trinity. As of Monday, flows were 1,615 cfs at Orleans, and 1,260 cfs further upstream in the Seiad Valley. The recreational fall-run adult salmon quota on the Klamath River below the Highway 96 Bridge near Weitchpec was met as of Sunday, Sept. 13. The lower main stem of the Klamath River below the Highway 96 Bridge will remain open to the harvest of jack salmon (2-year-olds) measuring 23 inches or less. All adult Chinook salmon caught in this reach must be immediately released. Anglers may still target adult Chinook salmon in other reaches of the Klamath Basin, including the main stem of the Klamath River above Weitchpec.

TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek — CDFW has determined the Lower Trinity River adult fall-run Chinook salmon quota was met as of Oct. 16 from the Denny Road Bridge at Hawkins Bar to the confluence with the Klamath River. The reach will remain open, however, to the harvest of jacks (less than or equal to 23 inches). All adult Chinook salmon caught must be immediately released. The Willow Creek area still has decent salmon fishing, but the numbers have started to decline, and the fish are starting to get a little darker. A good number of adult steelhead showed up last week. Flows Monday were down to 568 cfs on the Hoopa gauge as Lewiston Dam releases are back down to 300 cfs.

EEL RIVER, Scotia — The main Eel River is currently closed from its mouth to the to the South Fork due to low flows. Low flows closures began Sept. 1 and will run through April 30. Minimum Flow is 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia. As of Monday, flows were 75 cfs at Scotia and predicted to rise very slightly following rain on Monday night.

RUSSIAN RIVER – The Russian River flows remain at 154 cfs at the Hacienda Bridge near Guerneville. The Sonoma Water Agency is planning to lower summer flows to 70 cfs which are drought flows, and the low flows will make it very difficult for fish passage for Chinook salmon and steelhead in the coming months.  Largemouth and smallmouth bass remain the only game in town. Bait season closed on April 1 with only artificials to be used until November 1. and there hasn’t been much change with the mouth remaining closed. A series of storms is necessary to bust open through the sand for the river to reach the ocean, bringing in salmon and steelhead.

CenCal Lakes:

BASS LAKE — Guide Mike Beighey of Mike’s Bass Lake Fishing Tours reported the lake level is low, but the ramp remains usable. Trolling remains slow, but there are quality holdovers remaining in the lake. Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported a 12-pound limit won the recent Kerman Bass Club tournament with plastic worms on the drop-shot around docks along with a few on topwater. Swimjigs are producing the better cut of bass. A webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of November.

EASTMAN/HENSLEY — Tas Moua of 559 You are only seeing a portion of our reports. Subscribers to our digital and print newspaper enjoy the full spectrum of fishing reports. Print and online subscribers receive the new issue via email on the Tuesday morning of issue weeks, before we post these reports online.
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