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Updated December 22, 2025

LAKE OROVILLE — The spotted bass have gone on a tear with a ‘red hot’ bite remain with jigs in both shallow and deep water. Fog has enveloped the lake over the past several weeks, but it hasn’t stopped the bass from being on the chomp. Joseph Orozco of Bass Union has put his clients onto spotted bass to 4 pounds along with smallmouths to 3 pounds on his Bass Union jigs. Numbers have been outstanding. Rainbow trout and king salmon have been slow, but the rainbows are coming closer to the surface. Boat inspections for golden mussels are required at the North Forebay at Garden Ave and Highway 70 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The Spillway and Loafer Creek ramps close at 6:30 daily with Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle closing at 6:30 pm from Monday through Thursday and at 8:00 pm on Friday through Sunday.  If the boat is wet, a decontamination must occur, and it takes around 10 to 15 minutes depending upon the size of the boat. Owners have the option to have a vessel decontaminated at a DWR-designated decontamination station where they will receive a blue Oroville seal and may launch immediately. The lake dropped 2 feet within the past two weeks to 765.40 feet in elevation and 51%. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of December as major circuits are avoiding the lake due to restrictive fees.

LAKE PARDEE — The lake closed for the season on November 9 and will reopen in mid-February. There is no plan similar to Lake Camanche where private boats will be allowed to launch. The lake is at 92 percent.

PYRAMID LAKE — The unseasonably excellent weather with an extended high pressure system is resulting in a ‘phenomenal’ Lahontan cutthroat trout bite from both the shoreline and from boats. Trollers are finding success in the top 20 feet with Rapalas, spoons, Flatfish, or 3-inch Lyman Lures in frog, white, or silver. Shore anglers are showing up in numbers with flies under an indicator or tossing spoons. Lahontan cutthroat over 20 pounds have been the norm instead of the exception. ]

LAKE SHASTA — LAKE SHASTA — John Boitans, a Pro-staffer at Phil’s Propeller in Redding, reported that the Shasta bass bit is red-hot with dinks galore and some bigs in the mix. Plastics will take fish all day, and the bigs are hitting large swim baits. Stop 3 of the Phil’s Propeller Teams tournament is in the bag. 70 boats competed, with the team of Wyatt Woolery and Rich Richardson ending on top with an impressive #20.30 bag with a #5.47 Big Fish. With options they collected $2,580. 2nd Place was the team of Jason Fookes and Kris Sisto with a 16.88-pound bag with the tournament Big Fish a beautiful 7.42-pound Largemouth earning $2,380 with options. 3rd place was Travis and Bob Starnes with #15.10 bag earning $1,045, 3rd Big Fish went to Su Saeteurn and Roger Vue with a #4.62. Next Tournament is January 11, 2026, at Shasta Lake.

LAKE SONOMA/MENDOCINO — At Sonoma, the Redwood Empire Bass Club’s tournament in December drew 37 boats with the three top limits ranging from 15 to 16 pounds. The overall bite was tough with no specific pattern developed as various techniques produced fish throughout the lake. Fog has enveloped the lake most days. Boat inspections are necessary prior to launching at both lakes with inspections at the Visitor Center or the end of the parking lot near the fish hatchery. Sonoma held at 58% with Mendocino dropping to 41%.

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