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Northern California Weekly Fishing Report | June 5, 2025

Report by Catch America Pro Staff
This weekly roundup gathers reports from the Catch America pro staff of guides fishing waters across Northern California.
What is working right now

Kokanee are the story across Northern California this week. Lake Almanor is firing on the bug hatch with high speed trolled Optimizer Juniors and Trigger Spoons, Shasta and Berryessa are giving up limits on slow trolled dodgers and T-Pex with Chrome Killer corn, and Collins Lake trout are chewing the pink Trix Worm.

Lake Almanor

Capt. Bryan Roccucci reports Almanor is phenomenal on the aquatic bug hatch. He is high speed trolling Optimizer Juniors and Trigger Spoons coated in Brown Town scent from 15 to 35 feet, with rainbows to 5 pounds and browns 4 to 5 pounds. These spoons run clean at fast troll speed.

Stampede and Bullards Bar

Capt. Brett Brady says Stampede is insane for kokanee up the little Truckee arm, 35 to 45 feet, with a small 8 inch class and a bigger group to about 11 inches. Bullards kokanee run 10 to 12 inches for a 10 fish limit, 65 to 85 feet, on pink, orange, and purple. Slow troll kokanee gear and Uncle Larry's lures.

Shasta Lake

Capt. Jeff Goodwin reports Shasta is very good with kokanee limits nearly every trip on 15 inch fish. Best presentations have been slow trolled Catch America 6 inch dodgers in gold and silver, with Optimizer Juniors run behind the divers for rainbows. Rainbows are climbing into the 2 to 3 pound range.

Collins Lake

Capt. Cal Kellogg rates Collins fair with trout spread from the surface to 57 feet. The pink Trix Worm is his number one bait and got a jumbo lightning trout, backed by a pink Trix Minnow and Trigger Scent. Best depth was 30 to 37 feet at about 2 mph, run clean.

Lake Berryessa and Lake Camanche

Capt. Nate Kelsch is smashing kokanee, kings, and trout at Berryessa on T-Pex and Catch America dodgers with Chrome Killer scented corn. At Camanche it is a shore game with boats still closed, so bomb long casts with long leaders and PowerBait to reach cooler, deeper water.

Don Pedro Reservoir

Capt. Monte Smith fished Don Pedro with Cal Kellogg, rolling shad and running kokanee gear. Scattered kokanee and rainbows came on a pink glitter hoochie and his Kokanee Slammer, and a 2.1 pound kokanee ate a Catch America squid bait behind a wiggle disc. In clear water he scaled from 6 inch to 4 inch dodgers to get more bites.

Watch the full report

From the report (Catch America Pro Staff): This is Captain Bryan Roccucci with Big Daddy's Guide Service on Lake Almanor. The aquatic bug hatch is happening all over the lake. We're running Optimizer Juniors, Trigger Spoons, coating them with Brown Town scent, 15 to 35 feet. Captain Jeff Goodwin on Shasta: the kokanee fishing is so good, limits pretty much every trip, best presentations with the Catch America 6 inch dodgers. Cal Kellogg at Collins: number one bait, the pink Trix Worm. Captain Nate at Berryessa: Chrome Killer corn, don't miss out.

Northern California June 5, 2025 FAQ

What is the best kokanee lake in Northern California this week?

Several are strong. Lake Almanor, Shasta Lake, and Lake Berryessa are all producing kokanee, with Stampede and Bullards Bar also going.

What is working at Lake Almanor right now?

High speed trolled Optimizer Juniors and Trigger Spoons in Brown Town scent, 15 to 35 feet.

What is the best trout bait at Collins Lake?

The pink Trix Worm at 30 to 37 feet, run clean at about 2 mph.

How do you fish Lake Camanche this week?

From shore, since boats are closed. Bomb long casts with long leaders and PowerBait to the cooler, deeper water.

What scent are the kokanee guides using?

Many are using scented corn, including Chrome Killer corn at Lake Berryessa.

Who is in this weekly report?

The Catch America pro staff, including Capt. Bryan Roccucci, Capt. Brett Brady, Capt. Jeff Goodwin, Capt. Cal Kellogg, Capt. Nate Kelsch, and Capt. Monte Smith.

Tags: fishing report king salmon kokanee Northern California trout
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