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French Meadows Reservoir Fishing Report | November 2025

Report by Capt. Cal Kellogg Cal Kellogg is a Catch America pro-staff captain who bank fished French Meadows Reservoir with Nate for this report. Shop Cal Kellogg's tackle. What is working right now Bank fishing is on fire at French Meadows Reservoir in November 2025. Cal Kellogg and Nate limited on rainbows and browns fishing bait from a rocky point where shallow flats meet the main channel. The water is a frigid 32 degrees. Vary your cast distance to find the right drop, watch for rising fish, and fish the new Catch America 7 foot 6 inch Spinning Rod Cal designed for trout. What is biting at French Meadows Reservoir right now?Rainbows and browns, and the bite came fast. Cal Kellogg and Nate limited out bank fishing bait from a rocky point. One cast got hit within 10 seconds. Fish were feeding tight to structure where shallow flats meet the main river channel. Where should I bank fish at French Meadows Reservoir?On a point that divides shallow feeding flats from the main channel, near submerged stumps and rock. French Meadows was a logged meadow before it was dammed on the Middle Fork of the American River tributaries, so structure is everywhere. Trout patrol these edges hunting forage. What is the key bank fishing tip at French Meadows?Vary your cast distance to find the productive drop. Nate got bit on a longer 8-second drop when a 4-second drop nearby was slower. Watch for rising fish and move to them. Nate spotted four fish rise 20 feet away, cast over, and hooked a brown two minutes later. What rod is Cal using at French Meadows?The new Catch America Spinning Rod, a 7 foot 6 inch fiberglass, medium-action rod Cal designed for bank fishing trout. Its soft cork grips, forgiving tip, and stout mid-section cushion the fight while giving enough backbone to control a 6 to 10-pound trout. What are the conditions at French Meadows Reservoir?Cold. The water is about 32 degrees, so the fish are cold-water hungry and fry up as excellent eating. Expect snaggy rock, so work fish out carefully rather than breaking off, and use a high, tight line to track the bite like a strike indicator. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Cal Kellogg): Nate just threw that rod in, guys. He literally had that out there for 10 seconds and it was getting hit. That water is about 32 degrees. We got a beautiful rainbow, big old male, long, lean, getting ready for winter. We saw some fish rising over here, so I decided to make a little cast, and there she was, a beautiful brown. French Meadows Reservoir November 2025 FAQ What is biting at French Meadows Reservoir in November 2025?Rainbows and browns on bait, with a fast bank bite off a rocky point. What is the water temperature at French Meadows Reservoir?About 32 degrees. Where should I fish from the bank at French Meadows?A point dividing shallow flats from the main channel, near stumps and rock structure. What is the best bank fishing tip at French Meadows?Vary cast distance to find the right drop, and move to rising fish. What rod does Cal Kellogg recommend for bank fishing trout?The Catch America 7 foot 6 inch fiberglass medium-action Spinning Rod he designed. Why is French Meadows so full of structure?It was a logged meadow before being dammed, leaving stumps and rock throughout. What river feeds French Meadows Reservoir?Tributaries of the Middle Fork of the American River. Shop the Tackle Catch America 7 foot 6 inch Spinning Rod Shop Cal Kellogg's Tackle Shop Trout Gear

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French Meadows Reservoir Fishing Report | September 29, 2025

Report by Capt. Cal Kellogg Cal Kellogg is a veteran Northern California trout and striper guide and a Catch America captain. Shop Cal Kellogg's tackle. What is working right now The fall trout bite is underway at French Meadows Reservoir in late September 2025. Capt. Cal Kellogg smoked full limits off the bank by 10 a.m., with trout cruising just beyond the drop-off. Fish PowerBait or worms and scent them with Power Powder or Trigger Scent. Work the structure and do not cast too far. How is the fishing at French Meadows Reservoir?On fire. Capt. Cal Kellogg went up two days before this late September 2025 report and smoked them from the bank, landing full limits of trout by 10 a.m. The fall trout bite is underway in the Sierras, with fish cruising right out beyond the drop-off. How do you bank fish French Meadows right now?Set up and work the structure. Cal drops baits just beyond the drop-off where the trout cruise, and stresses you should not cast out too far. Get comfortable and fish the near structure. He had full limits before mid-morning doing exactly that. What bait and scent work at French Meadows?Bring PowerBait and worms, and add scent. Cal recommends Power Powder and Trigger Scent to boost your bank presentation. That simple setup put full limits of French Meadows trout on the bank for him fast. When is the best time to fish the fall trout bite?Now. Cal says the fall trout bite is underway across the Sierras and calls it epic. Cooler nights push the fish to feed, so get to your favorite high-mountain lake, set up on the structure beyond the drop-off, and you should have a smile on your face. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Cal Kellogg): I went up to French Meadows Reservoir two days ago and I absolutely smoked them while fishing off the bank. The fall trout bite is underway in the Sierras. They were cruising right out beyond the drop-off. I had full limits of trout by 10 a.m. If you're a bank fisherman, get some PowerBait, get some worms, get some Power Powder, get some trigger scent, work the structure, don't cast out too far. French Meadows Reservoir September 29, 2025 FAQ What is biting at French Meadows Reservoir in September 2025?Rainbow trout on a strong fall bank bite, per Capt. Cal Kellogg. Where are the trout holding at French Meadows?Cruising just beyond the drop-off, within reach of bank anglers. What bait works from the bank at French Meadows?PowerBait and worms, scented with Power Powder or Trigger Scent. How far should I cast at French Meadows?Not too far. Cal says work the near structure rather than casting way out. How fast can you limit at French Meadows right now?Cal had full limits of trout by 10 a.m. fishing off the bank. Is the Sierra fall trout bite on?Yes. Cal says the fall trout bite is underway and epic across the high country. Shop the Tackle Power Powder by Cal Kellogg Trigger Scent UV Gel by Cal Kellogg Shop Kellogg's Tackle Shop Trout Gear

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French Meadows Reservoir Fishing Report | June 16

French Meadows Reservoir Fishing Report | June 16

French Meadows Reservoir fishing report with newer report routing and trout trolling tackle links.

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