16 Oct 23 , 2020 VOL . 39 • ISS . 22
Low Flow , High Expectations …
By Cal Kellogg
FRESHWATER
Catch & Release Fishing !
Hook More & Bigger Fish With Flies ... Sponsored by Kiene ’ s Fly Shop
916-483-1222 • www . Kienesflyshop . com 9550 Micron Ave . Suite B • Sacramento , CA
The Low Flow section of the Feather River is one of those rivers that have stable and wadeable flows and is fishable all year . The Feather River flows out of the Sierra ’ s into the central valley at the town of Oroville , CA which is located a little over an hour north of Sacramento CA on the east side of the valley . At the town of Oroville the river is split into two sections where most of the flow is diverted into Thermalito Afterbay . The remaining flow continues through the original river channel to eventually meet up with diverted flow about eight miles downstream . This section is called the Low Flow Section and because the flows stay low all year , it ’ s always wadeable . It ’ s one of those waters where you can either access it from a well maintained levy road that parallels the river , or float it in a drift boat or other watercraft . Even if you float it , you will probably stop and get out to wade the most productive sections . Because the low flow section consists of long stretches of frog water punctuated by riffles that lie in-between , finding where the Steelhead are , isn ’ t rocket science though it can require that you move from riffle to riffle before you find them . Several runs of Steelhead make their way up the Feather River to the Low Flow section between October and April . In October , the early Steelhead show up to take part in what the locals call the egg bite which refers to the feast to be had if one situates just downstream from a Salmon redd . Looking for shadows downstream from the redds provide a target for fly fishermen swinging or drifting egg patterns by the noses of those early fish . The fish average about 4 to 6 lbs and look like footballs with tails and mouths at opposite ends . After the Salmon spawn is over the Steelhead remain in the river to spawn in January and February . In the spring what is left of the original somewhat smaller indigenous Steelhead , make their spawning run plus there is what are locally called “ Half Pounders ” which are a juvenile Steelhead , that come up to the Low Flow section from the Pacific Coast estuaries to feed on the abundant caddis , stone and mayfly nymphs that get active in the spring . Lots of access is available along the low flow . Boats can be launched at the Riverbend Park ( 39.507010 , -121.576667 ) off of Montgomery Street . The take out ( 39.457059 , -121.629926 ) is 8 mi downstream off of Larkin Rd . where the outlet of the Thermalito Afterbay is located . If you will be in a motor vehicle , Wildlife Area Access Rd follows the Low Flow section from Oro Dam Rd ( Hwy 162 ) along the west side of the river .
Trout ~ Kokanee ~ Salmon ~ Shad
18 Proven Kokanee / Trout Dodgers !
3705
OFFICIAL SPONSOR
240 different size / color combinations !
82 YEARS of Catching TROUT & KOKANEE 100 % Made in the USA
Without a DICK NITE ... You ’ re Not Fishin ’ Right ! www . dicknite . com • fs @ dicknite . com
FRESHWATER REPORTS :
CONTINUED FROM PG 15
ROLLINS LAKE cont .
trout start biting at Rollins ,” related Jason Pleece of Meadow Vista . “ With all the smoke this week and the threat of fire in my region , I haven ’ t gone out . Last week when I visited the lake from my kayak I tried for trout first thing in the morning with zero results and then I started targeting bass .”
“ The bass fishing is pretty decent , but the fish are small . Small crankbaits are the best offering right now , but surface lures work too . The best surface baits are the ones that work quietly like walking baits and Rapala floating minnow plugs . Poppers have been producing very well ,” said Pleece .
“ Historically the trout action at Rollins starts to pick up at some point in October depending on the conditions . We need some cold nights to start driving down the lake ’ s surface temperatures . Some rain would be great , as it would knock down the fire danger a few notches ,” concluded Pleece .
At Scotts the catfish action has been good in the evening on crawlers and liver fished near the dam . There have been no reports of trout being caught at the lake so far this fall .
SACRAMENTO AREA
King Salmon Fishing Improves
SACRAMENTO – While anglers are still having a tough time catching salmon on the Sacramento River in the metropolitan area , the fishing has definitely improved .
“ I ’ m starting to get reports of more salmon being caught around Miller Park and Garcia Bend ,” said Tim
CONTINUED ON PG 17