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Lake Berryessa kokanee, trout, scent, and trolling updates.
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Monterey Bay Fishing Report | May 8, 2026
Report by Jeff P. Jeff P. of Linksup Boards ran this early-season Monterey Bay Chinook trip using the Catch America Optimizer. What is working right now King salmon are biting the west edge of the SoCal hole on Monterey Bay in early May. The winning setup was a single Optimizer Size 4 spoon run at 180 feet on the downrigger, trolled about 2.5 mph. The flasher came off and the bare spoon did the work. Water was warm and clear with no anchovy bait, so a bright natural spoon shined. What is biting in Monterey Bay right now?King (Chinook) salmon are the target on the west edge of the SoCal hole. It is early in the season and the bite is slow, with hundreds of boats going empty. Jeff P. still boxed a Chinook on his first troll of the year using the Optimizer Size 4. How deep were the salmon in Monterey Bay?The fish came at 180 feet on the downrigger wire, right at the tip of the SoCal hole. Jeff sent the spoon down 180 feet and hooked up not long after crossing into the hole. Bait was scarce, so covering that deep zone was key. What lure caught the Monterey Bay Chinook?A Catch America Optimizer Size 4 spoon with a single barbless hook. Jeff started behind a chartreuse flasher with no action, then removed the flasher. The bare spoon, described as blinding bright, drew the strike in warm clear water with no anchovies around. What trolling speed worked for Monterey Bay salmon?About 2.5 miles per hour on the downrigger at 180 feet. This is a fast-troll spoon presentation. Jeff let the natural shine and shimmer of the Optimizer do the job rather than relying on an attractor flasher. What was the guide's outlook for Monterey Bay?Jeff expects the salmon to move closer to shore as the season builds and plans to keep running the Optimizer for the rest of the year. This was his first salmon trip, first troll, and first Chinook of the season. Exact water temperature was not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Jeff P.): We just got one salmon in the box and we are real lucky because there's hundreds of people that have zero. And we did it with the Optimizer at 180 feet on the downrigger going about two and a half miles an hour. This water is warm and clear. There's no bait, there's no anchovies. So we're just running the straight Catch America. It didn't take long after I took off that big flasher. Monterey Bay May 8, 2026 FAQ How deep were the salmon caught in Monterey Bay in May 2026?At 180 feet on the downrigger, right at the tip of the SoCal hole. What spoon works for Monterey Bay Chinook?The Optimizer Size 4 with a single barbless hook, run bare without a flasher. Do you need a flasher for Monterey Bay salmon?Not on this trip. Jeff removed the chartreuse flasher and the bare Optimizer spoon triggered the bite in clear water. What trolling speed for Monterey Bay salmon?About 2.5 miles per hour, a fast-troll spoon presentation. Why was the bite slow in Monterey Bay?It was early season with warm, clear water and no anchovy bait, so most of the fleet was not catching. Jeff still landed one. Who caught this Monterey Bay report?Jeff P. of Linksup Boards, fishing with Catch America gear. Shop the Tackle Optimizer Size 4 Trolling Spoon Shop Trolling Spoons
Learn moreKitsap Lake Fishing Report | April 20, 2026
Report by Pete Fisher Pete Fisher fishes Kitsap Lake in Washington and shared this soft-plastic trout report for Catch America. What is working right now Trout are hitting soft plastics on Kitsap Lake in April, with fish marking between 6 and 12 feet. The change that unlocked the bite was a Trix Minnow in bubblegum, which hooked up within five to six minutes. Pete ran a one-ounce sliding sinker 70 feet behind the boat to get the minnow down about seven to eight feet, right in the fish zone. What is biting at Kitsap Lake right now?Trout are the target and they are responding to soft plastics. Pete Fisher marked fish between 6 and 12 feet and got bit within minutes of switching to a Trix Minnow in bubblegum. Soft plastics are effective this time of year on most of the waters he fishes. What depth are the Kitsap Lake trout holding?Pete was marking fish between 6 and 12 feet. He adjusted his setup to run the minnow about seven to eight feet down to reach them. Paying attention to the sonar and adjusting sinker distance put the bait in the strike zone. What lure and color worked on Kitsap Lake?A Trix Minnow soft plastic in the bubblegum color. Pete had been fishing another color, switched to bubblegum, and hooked up five to six minutes later while working into a productive cove near a point. How did Pete rig the Trix Minnow at Kitsap Lake?He ran the minnow behind a one-ounce Gibbs sliding sinker. He started 50 feet behind the boat with no bites, then let it out to 70 feet, which got the bait down about seven to eight feet to the marked fish. Small adjustments made the difference. What was the takeaway from this Kitsap Lake trip?One small change, switching to the bubblegum Trix Minnow and lengthening the sinker distance, produced an instant hookup. Pete stresses watching your marks and making adjustments. Trolling speed and water temperature were not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Pete Fisher): So we're hooked up. I just switched to a bubble gum probably five-six minutes ago and hooked up. There's that Trout Trix Minnow. And there's that trout right there. I put on a Gibbs sliding sinker, one ounce. And I ran that initially 50 feet behind the boat, but we didn't get hit, so I moved that to 70 feet behind the boat. And that probably is getting me about seven or eight feet. I'm marking fish between six and 12. Kitsap Lake April 20, 2026 FAQ What depth are trout holding on Kitsap Lake in April?Pete marked trout between 6 and 12 feet and ran his bait about seven to eight feet down. What is the best color Trix Minnow for Kitsap Lake?Bubblegum was the color that triggered the bite on this trip. How far behind the boat should you run the soft plastic?Pete ran a one-ounce sliding sinker 70 feet behind the boat to reach the fish. What sinker did Pete use at Kitsap Lake?A one-ounce Gibbs sliding sinker ahead of the Trix Minnow. Are soft plastics good for spring trout?Yes. Pete notes soft plastics are effective this time of year on most bodies of water he and his partner fish. What trolling speed did Pete use on Kitsap Lake?A specific trolling speed was not specified in this report. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 3" Trout Soft Bait 5 Pack Shop Trout Soft Plastics
Learn moreSan Francisco Bay Fishing Report | December 9, 2025
Report by Elias Masri Catch America host Elias Masri fished San Francisco Bay out of Alameda with Adam Irino of Die Hard Fishing. What is working right now California halibut are catchable in San Francisco Bay in December 2025, though the peak is summer. Out of Alameda, the crew trolled frozen herring on a three-way swivel rig with an 8 ounce weight at 1.5 to 2 mph, fishing the slack tide. A bend in the herring gives it a spinning roll. The day produced a keeper halibut of 23.5 inches plus a couple of shaker shorts. What is biting in San Francisco Bay right now?California halibut, with a chance at striped bass and the odd shark or ray. Fishing out of Alameda in December is tough because it is past peak season, but the crew boated a keeper 23.5 inch halibut plus a couple of undersized shakers. You can catch halibut year-round with patience. When is the best time to fish for halibut in San Francisco Bay?Around the slack tide, at the tops and bottoms of the tides. Adam Irino targets that window for the best chance. Peak season is the summer months, but halibut are caught year-round through November, December, and January, just in fewer numbers. How do you rig frozen herring for Bay halibut?Use a double-hook rig with a sliding snell. Hook the front hook through the nose of the herring and the back hook an inch or two ahead of the tail. Tighten the sliding snell to put a bend in the bait so it spins when dropped. Tie it to a three-way swivel with a weight on one arm. How do you present the herring in San Francisco Bay?Drop to the bottom and keep it just off, ticking occasionally. The crew trolled 1.5 to 2 mph with an 8 ounce weight and Catch America scent on the bait. The Bay bottom near Alameda is free of rocks, so snags are not a concern. What were the conditions in San Francisco Bay?Excellent weather with light wind and bright skies, launching out of Alameda with views of San Francisco. Fishing was tough because it was late in the halibut season, but the tides cooperated on a plan to fish down to low tide and back up. Watch the full report From the report (Elias Masri): We are going to start trolling a frozen herring, and we give it a little bend so it rolls as we are moving through the water. Generally speaking you want to try and fish around the slack tide. I am trolling with an 8 ounce weight, and we have some Catch America scent on it, going about 1.5 to 2 miles an hour. The peak season for California halibut out here would definitely be the summer months, but you can catch them year-round. San Francisco Bay December 2025 FAQ Can you catch halibut in San Francisco Bay in December?Yes, but it is past peak season, so fish are fewer and tougher. The crew still boated a 23.5 inch keeper. What is the best tide for Bay halibut?The slack tide, at the tops and bottoms of the tides. What bait works for San Francisco Bay halibut?Frozen herring rigged to spin, fished on a three-way swivel with an 8 ounce weight. What trolling speed works for Bay halibut?About 1.5 to 2 miles per hour. When is peak halibut season in San Francisco Bay?The summer months, though halibut are caught year-round. Where did this San Francisco Bay trip launch?Out of Alameda, with a view of the San Francisco skyline. How big was the halibut caught?A keeper of 23.5 inches, along with a couple of undersized shakers. Shop the Tackle Shop All Striped Bass Gear Shop Striped Bass Gear
Learn moreEagle Lake Fishing Report | October 25, 2025
Report by Catch America This Eagle Lake fall fly trolling report comes from the Catch America guide team. The guide is not named in this report. What is working right now Eagle Lake trout are biting steadily in late October 2025 despite hail, rain, and wind. Fish are holding in the top few feet over 20 to 40 feet of open water, not yet in the shallows. Run J-Fair trolling flies on top-line rigs, with hot orange the standout color. A new water-based Fly Spray in Minnow Mayhem keeps marabou fluffing naturally and outfished unscented flies in a same-day test. What is biting at Eagle Lake right now?Trout, and plenty of them. The Catch America crew landed a lot of fish through hail, rain, and wind on their late October trips. Fish are up in the top few feet of the water column, holding over 20 to 40 feet of open water rather than crowding the shallows so far. What depth are the trout holding at Eagle Lake?Right up in the surface few feet, but positioned over 20 to 40 feet of open water. There have not been many fish in the shallows yet. The cooling trend is expected to push trout shallow soon for a classic fall Eagle Lake bite. What flies and colors work at Eagle Lake in fall?J-Fair trolling flies on top-line rigs, with hot orange doing most of the damage. Orange is predominantly a strong color at Eagle Lake. A few fish came on other colors, but the trout clearly wanted orange on this day. What scent is being used on the flies?A new water-based Fly Spray in the Minnow Mayhem formula. Because it is water-based, it does not pack down the marabou like oil-based scents, so the feathers still fluff in the water. In a same-day test, the scented flies outperformed the unscented ones. What is the outlook for Eagle Lake?Strong. The crew is fishing the rest of the week through more funky weather, and the fish are biting with a lot of bent rods. The cooler trend should push trout into the shallows for a traditional fall bite. Only a few guide days remain for late October into early November. Watch the full report From the report (Catch America): We are running the J-Fair trolling flies on the top line rigs. Fish are all up in the top few feet of the surface. We are still out over a little more of the open water, 20 to 40 feet deep water right now. It just felt like an orange day, so running the J-Fair trolling flies, hot orange did most of the damage. Eagle Lake October 2025 FAQ What is the best fly color at Eagle Lake in fall?Hot orange did most of the damage. Orange is predominantly a strong color at Eagle Lake. How deep are the Eagle Lake trout in late October?Up in the top few feet of the surface, holding over 20 to 40 feet of open water. How should I rig for Eagle Lake trout right now?Run J-Fair trolling flies on top-line rigs near the surface. Does scent help on trolling flies at Eagle Lake?Yes. The water-based Minnow Mayhem Fly Spray keeps marabou fluffy and outfished unscented flies in a same-day test. What are Eagle Lake trout feeding on?Tui chub minnows, which is why the minnow-imitating scent and flies are producing. Are the Eagle Lake trout in the shallows yet?Not many. Fish are still over open water, but a cooling trend should push them shallow soon. Who guided this Eagle Lake report?The guide is not named in this report. It comes from the Catch America fall fly trolling trips. Shop the Tackle Shop Trolling Flies Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreCrescent Lake Fishing Report | September 22, 2025
Report by Catch America This Crescent Lake report was filmed for Catch America. The reporting guide was not named in this report. What is working right now Crescent Lake, a 49-acre lake in Pierce County near Gig Harbor, is producing fast limits of planter rainbow trout in late September 2025. Fish the south end in 16 to 22 feet of water. The magic setup was a moon jelly dodger with an Uncle Larry's Double Trouble spinner at 9 feet, plus a Chinook diver at 10 feet trailing a bubblegum Trout Trix Minnow. How is the fishing at Crescent Lake right now?Good for fast limits of planter trout. This 49-acre Pierce County lake near Gig Harbor is a great spot for kids or a quick after-work session in late September 2025. It is stocked, so the fish are not big, but they are plentiful and fun. The lake is open April through Halloween. What depth are the fish holding at Crescent Lake?In 16 to 22 feet of water, all at the south end of the lake. Presentations ran shallower in that column: 9 feet on the downrigger with the spinner and 10 feet on the Chinook diver with the minnow. Once you hook up, the fish tend to hold together. What lures are working at Crescent Lake?The magic combo was a moon jelly dodger teamed with an Uncle Larry's Double Trouble Bloody Tiger spinner. A Chinook diver set at 10 feet trailing a bubblegum Trout Trix Minnow also produced. This lake is usually ripe for soft plastics like Trix Minnows and Trix Worms. How do you catch more fish once you hook up?Do tight circles in that area. The report notes the fish hold together at the south end, so staying in the localized spot produced a significant increase in both the speed and number of fish caught. Keep working that pocket rather than moving on after one bite. Watch the full report From the report (Catch America): What I found today was a combination of a Brad's Moon Jelly Dodger teamed with an Uncle Larry's Double Trouble Bloody Tiger Spinner. That was the magic. I also caught a couple using the Chinook Diver set at 10 feet, and I was trolling a bubblegum Trout Trix Minnow. All the fish came at the south end of the lake and fishing between 16 and 22 feet of water. Once you do hook up, I recommend doing tight circles. Crescent Lake September 22, 2025 FAQ What is biting at Crescent Lake in September 2025?Planter rainbow trout, with fast limits available at this stocked Pierce County lake. What depth are Crescent Lake fish holding?In 16 to 22 feet of water at the south end of the lake. What lures work at Crescent Lake?A moon jelly dodger with an Uncle Larry's Double Trouble spinner, and a Chinook diver trailing a Trout Trix Minnow. How deep were the productive setups run?9 feet on the downrigger with the spinner and 10 feet on the Chinook diver with the minnow. When is Crescent Lake open?From April through Halloween. It closes November 1 with no fishing after. Who reported this Crescent Lake update?The reporting guide was not named in this report. Shop the Tackle Uncle Larry's Double Trouble Spinner Trix Minnows 3 inch - 5 Pack Shop Trout Gear
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