Northern California is wide open. Lake Berryessa is on fire for trout and kings from the surface down to 30 feet on spoons and stick baits. Collins Lake is giving up limit after limit of rainbows and lightning trout 10 to 30 feet deep on the bubblegum pink Trix Minnow with Trigger Scent. Sacramento River stripers are peaking on minnows, and Don Pedro kings are hitting shad 37 to 73 feet down.
Where is the hottest bite in Northern California this week?
Lake Berryessa. Capt. Nate Kelsch reported the best bite of the year with 15 Eagle Lake trout plus a nice king, running spoons and stick baits and keeping everything from the surface down to 30 feet. Kokanee and kings are becoming more prevalent. He runs Trigger Spoons, Junior Trigger Spoons, and Junior Optimizer spoons fast and clean, smothered in Chrome Killer Scent.
How is Collins Lake fishing?
Wide open. Capt. Cal Kellogg is putting together limit after limit of rainbows and lightning trout, with the biggest trout of the week around 9.5 pounds. He is pulling baits 10 to 30 feet deep at 2 miles per hour, running two baits naked with no flashers or dodgers. Start with the bubblegum pink Trix Worm, then switch to the bubblegum pink Trix Minnow rig with an action disc. Lube every soft plastic with Trigger Scent.
What about the foothill lakes Amador, Comanche, and Pardee?
Lake Amador is still kicking out nice fish up to 10 pounds. Trollers are getting them in the top 20 to 25 feet on Trigger Spoons, Junior Trigger Spoons, and Optimizers with Chrome Killer Scent. Comanche and Pardee are plant-day games with no boats allowed. Fish long leaders with power bait, white power eggs, and crappie jigs right when they plant.
How are the Sacramento River stripers?
Strong but past the peak. The Colusa stretch is fishing well on minnows, though a lot of fish have dropped down toward Nights Landing and Tisdale as flows are cut and water warms. Capt. Jeff Goodwin, Brett Brady, and Kevin Brock all reported quality stripers with fish into the teens and one hooked in the 20-pound class. Minnow is still king.
How is Don Pedro fishing for kings?
Very good. Capt. Monte Smith had a great week of king salmon and rainbows, with a king just under 5 pounds. Fish are coming 37 to 73 feet down, with the best action from 55 to 65 feet on frozen shad fished on a rigged harness. Look for bait and birds. Kokanee are showing up in the coming weeks.
What is happening at Lake Almanor?
Capt. Bryan Roccucci reports a strong spring bug-hatch bite for browns and rainbows. He is running a fast pattern with Trigger Spoons and Junior Optimizers down 15 to 30 feet, and a slow pattern with soft plastics, worms, and night crawlers. Everything is on the table. Do not forget the scent.
Watch the full report
Northern California April 30, 2025 FAQ
Lake Berryessa is on fire for trout, kings, and emerging kokanee, with Collins Lake giving up limits of rainbows and lightning trout.
From the surface down to about 30 feet, on spoons and stick baits.
The bubblegum pink Trix Worm early in the week, shifting to the bubblegum pink Trix Minnow rig with an action disc, all scented with Trigger Scent.
From 10 to 30 feet deep, trolled around 2 miles per hour with no dodgers or flashers.
Good but past the peak on minnows, with fish dropping downstream toward Nights Landing and Tisdale as flows drop.
37 to 73 feet, with the best action 55 to 65 feet on frozen shad fished on a harness.
No. Trigger Spoons, Junior Trigger Spoons, and Optimizers run clean on a fast troll. Dodgers and slow presentations are for kokanee and soft-plastic worm setups.
