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Updated Feb. 14, 2024

COLLINS LAKE — The lake is full and spilling, and a private trout plant is scheduled this week. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will also plant the week of February 16. There are plenty of trout in the lake, but with the heavily stained water, the best action remains in the shallows with Power Bait in 12 to 15 feet of water. The troll bite is very slow in the dirty water, but the high water will lead to outstanding trolling action once the water clears with 4 and 6 feet of visibility.

DAVIS LAKE — The ‘Maybe Ice’ Trout Derby this coming Saturday will feature plenty of open water, but there is around 4 inches of ice near the dam. Ice anglers have been targeting the dam area, but all must be very cautious regarding the thickness of the lake’s ice. The lake rose to 88 percent.

DONNER — It’s freezing, and few boats have been on the water although it is big fish time on the Mackinaw front for those willing to launch on the ice and brave the freezing temperatures. The lake rose from 33 to 51 percent in two weeks.

DON PEDRO — Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing continues score limits of rainbow trout to 3 pounds along with releasing plenty of king salmon to 14 inches. He has been trolling custom shad patterned spoons on side planers or on 3 to 5 colors of lead core, and even the king salmon have been hitting on the shallower lead core. The key is to find working birds as flocks of grebes are feeding heavily on the lake’s shad schools. Bass fishing has been solid with swimbaits in the early mornings or late afternoons along with plastics on a finesse presentation by mid-morning at depths to 60 feet. The new Hover Strolling technique is also productive for boats with Forward Facing Sonar. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake rose 3 feet to 776.78feet in elevation and 70%. As the ongoing status of New Melones is uncertain, Pedro will be very busy in the coming months with nine more tournaments scheduled in February and five in March.

EAGLE LAKE — Heavy inflows from Pine Creek and other inlets are pouring into the lake, and few boaters have been on the water during this period of stormy weather.  scThe Eagle Lake Marina Store is now closed until May 25, 2025.

FOLSOM LAKE — The 5 MPH restriction has been lifted as the lake has risen to 418.75 feet in elevation and 53 percent, but there is debris along with unmarked hazards throughout the lake. There are some massive bait balls in the South Fork, and both trout and king salmon are coming near the dam or the spillway at depths from 25 to 50 feet with Speedy Shiners or similar spoons. Spotted bass are found in the shallows in the mornings before heading deeper by mid-morning. Plastics on the drop-shot, jerkbaits, or crankbaits are effective for spots to nearly 3 pounds. Ramp conditions – http://www.folsomlakemarina.com/Ramps.html. The Brown’s Ravine Hobie Ramp and Granite Bay Stage 1 ramps are open. Due to the presence of IHN in this year’s inland salmon eggs at the hatchery, Folsom will not receive a king salmon plant this spring.

McCLURE LAKE — 74 boats arrived for Saturday’s Best Bass Tournament, and although the winning limit was less than the 20 pounds the previous week, a 16-pound limit remains outstanding for this lake. The bass bite is wide open, and with 1000 pounds of Calaveras Trout Farm rainbows planted two weeks ago, there is a window for trout-patterned swimbaits in the mornings. After the fish move out by mid-morning, the jig bite is excellent along with plastics on a drop-shot or dart head on light 6- to 8-pound fluorocarbon line on spinning rods. The bass will move up in the late afternoons when the water warms up. Trout trolling improved after the recent plant with shad-patterned spoons near the surface on side planers near the dam. The Reel Deal Market and Barrett’s Cove Marina will only be open on Saturdays now from 10 am to 2 pm during the winter months. The lake rose three feet to 806.33 feet in elevation and 64%.

LAKE McSWAIN — 2000 pounds of Calaveras Trout Farm trout were planted last Monday on January 26, and the action was outstanding from the shorelines within a few days of the plant. Limits were the rule at the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina with rainbow glitter Power Bait, garlic Power Bait, Kastmasters, or inflated nightcrawlers. After a few days, the remaining trout started migrating toward the river arm, and bank anglers found their best action near the mouth of the river. Trolling is also effective with red Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger or blade/’crawler combinations in the river arm above the First Fence Line. The lake is at 94 percent.

NEW MELONES — With the 30-day quarantine restrictions, few boats have been working the lake, but both trout and bass action has been tremendous. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service has been putting his clients onto quick limits of rainbow trout running Wee Tad’s in a variety of colors at depths from the surface to 15 feet. The bass have moved off of the banks to depths to 50 feet, but as the weather levels out, they will be returning to the shallows in the mornings and late afternoons. Plastics on the Ned-rig, dart head, or drop-shot along with tubes are working on light line on spinning rods.  Only the Glory Hole launch ramp is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm to obtain a red tag to start a 30-day quarantine period. Boats must be off the water by 4:00 pm to receive a green tag to relaunch without quarantining or decontamination. Bank fishing is allowed. Non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks and paddleboards, may also be subject to inspection. The lake rose to 1041.72 feet in elevation and 79 percent. Initially, there were two bass tournaments scheduled in February and another four in March, but these are being moved to other bodies of water.

LAKE OROVILLE — Bass fishing remains good for numbers with small swimbaits  or the new Blade Runner jig head manufactured for Forward Facing Sonar at depths from 12 to 18 feet. King salmon action is a possibility at depths to 60 feet with white glow hoochies, Brad’s KCP Cut Plugs, or Speedy Shiners behind a TopCoat 360 green flasher. Due to the presence of IHN in this year’s inland salmon eggs at the hatchery, Oroville will not receive a king salmon plant this spring. The lake rose 31 feet within two weeks to 863.72 feet in elevation and 84 percent even though heavy water releases into the Feather River have been in play.

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