Reports From The Water

Haven Lake Fishing Report | August 11, 2025

Kitsap Lake Fishing Report | August 11, 2025

Condition: Water temperature around 69–71°F, overcast, lots of weed growth on the north end of the lake.Tip: Launch from City of Bremerton Park or the nearby county launch. Use Moon Jelly – red herringbone pattern, Trout Trix Minnow – Bubble Gum, T-Pex, Pinhead Spoon, and Trigger Spoon Junior – Frog Pattern for best results. Tried presentations include Max Spinners and Soft Plastics. Focus on the south end for bites; bigger trout appear later in the year.

Don Pedro Fishing Report | August 11, 2025

Stampede Fishing Report | August 11, 2025

Lake Oroville Fishing Report | August 11, 2025

Wishon Reservoir Fishing Report | August 11, 2025

Report by Max Gross Max Gross is part of the Catch America team and reports on the high-country lakes above Fresno. What is working right now Wishon Reservoir is on fire for numbers, with 30 to 40 pan-sized rainbows, 12 to 16 inches, per trip. Nearby Courtright is holding bigger fish, so run lead lines of three to four colors or a downrigger with Uncle Larry's Hoochies or Trix Trigger Squids on an action disc. Max also runs his new anise-based WD80 scent. Start early to beat the heat and crowds. What is biting at Wishon Reservoir right now?Rainbow trout, and the bite is non-stop. Max Gross of Catch America is getting 30 to 40 fish almost every trip, though they are pan-sized rainbows around 12 to 16 inches. He has not found browns there this year. Bigger fish are reportedly up at nearby Courtright. What lures are working at Wishon and Courtright?Hoochies are hot at Courtright. Max recommends Uncle Larry's Hoochies and bigger squids, plus the Trix Trigger Squids fished with an action disc on top, which he says makes all the difference. Whether you run a dodger changes the combination. How should you rig at Courtright Lake?Run lead lines of three colors, maybe four, or throw a downrigger. Pull Uncle Larry's Hoochies or Trix Trigger Squids with an action disc. Max has had good luck on browns with the bigger squids. Dodgers are optional depending on your setup. What scent is Max using?His own new WD80 scent, an anise-based UV gel he built for the Central Valley. Between the color, UV, stickiness, and anise scent, he calls it a killer, and notes anglers plan to use it for salmon since anise is in salmon mixes too. What is the outlook for the Fresno high country?Max recommends heading up the mountain to Wishon and Courtright to escape the 100-plus degree heat and the crowds on the lower lakes. Start early to beat both. Depths and trolling speeds were not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Max Gross): Wishon and Courtright, as far as the bite goes, it is on, it is non-stop. 30 or 40 fish, almost guaranteed. They're all pan-sized rainbows, 12 to 16 inches. If you're going to go to Courtright, lead lines, three colors, maybe even four. Hoochies from Uncle Larry's, check out the Trix Trigger Squids with an action disc on top. Wishon Reservoir August 11, 2025 FAQ How is the Wishon Reservoir trout bite?Non-stop for numbers, with 30 to 40 pan-sized rainbows, 12 to 16 inches, per trip. Where are the bigger fish, Wishon or Courtright?Courtright is reportedly holding the more sizable fish this year. What lures work at Courtright Lake?Uncle Larry's Hoochies, bigger squids, and Trix Trigger Squids with an action disc. How should you rig at Courtright?Lead lines of three to four colors or a downrigger, with dodgers optional. What is WD80 scent?Max Gross's new anise-based UV gel scent built for Central Valley fishing. What is the main challenge fishing Fresno-area lakes now?Extreme heat over 100 degrees and crowds on the lower lakes, so head to the upper lakes early. Shop the Tackle Uncle Larry's Hoochies Trix Squids WD80 UV Gel Shop Trout Gear

Lake Berryessa Fishing Report | August 11, 2025

Report by Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) Nate Kelsch runs Big Nate's Guide Service on Lake Berryessa and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)'s tackle. What is working right now Lake Berryessa kokanee fishing is phenomenal in mid-August 2025, with fish over 19 inches pushing 2.5 to 3 pounds. Slow-troll a 6-inch offset dodger with a T-Pex from 50 to 100 feet deep. For trout, fast-troll Trigger Spoons and Trigger Spoon Juniors 30 to 50 feet down at 2.3 to 3 mph. Kings are showing but still inconsistent. What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?Kokanee are the main event and running big, over 19 inches and 2.5 to 3 pounds. Capt. Nate Kelsch says the fishing is phenomenal. King salmon are showing, with some days producing four to eight hookups and other days none, because the bait is still high in the water column. How deep are Berryessa kokanee holding in August?Nate is finding nice, big kokanee from 50 feet all the way down to 95 or even 100 feet. Look over structure and open water above the river channels. Run a 6-inch offset dodger with a T-Pex to reach them. What lures work for Berryessa kokanee and trout?For kokanee, the same Catch America setup keeps producing, a 6-inch offset dodger with a T-Pex, and all colors are working. For trout, Nate runs Trigger Spoons and Trigger Spoon Juniors 30 to 50 feet down. What trolling speed for Berryessa trout?Nate fast-trolls Trigger Spoons and Trigger Spoon Juniors between 2.3 and 3 mph for trout right now. Kokanee come on the slower dodger and T-Pex presentation, so keep the two techniques separate. What is the outlook for Lake Berryessa?Nate expects to start smashing kings within about a month once the bait drops down the column. Kokanee should stay strong. He also noted the Chrome Killer scent is now available in a UV gel. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): Fishing is phenomenal at Berryessa still. Kokanee up to over 19 inches, we are talking about two and a half, three-pound fish. The kokanee are coming on the same Catch America setups, our 6-inch offset dodgers with our T-Pexes. All colors are working, I would say 50 feet all the way down to 95, even 100 feet. Trout fishing is still great, running Trigger Spoons and Trigger Spoon Juniors between 2.3 on up to 3 miles an hour. Lake Berryessa August 11, 2025 FAQ How big are Lake Berryessa kokanee in August 2025?Over 19 inches, roughly 2.5 to 3 pounds, per Capt. Nate Kelsch. What depth are Berryessa kokanee holding?From 50 feet down to 95 or even 100 feet, over structure and river channels. What is the best kokanee setup at Berryessa?A 6-inch offset dodger with a T-Pex, with all colors working. How do you target Berryessa trout right now?Fast-troll Trigger Spoons and Trigger Spoon Juniors 30 to 50 feet down at 2.3 to 3 mph. Are king salmon biting at Berryessa?They are showing but inconsistent, from zero to eight hookups a day, because the bait is still high in the column. Is Chrome Killer scent available as a gel?Yes. Nate says the Chrome Killer scent is now available in a UV gel in addition to the oil. Shop the Tackle Trolling Dodger 6 inch T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Trigger Spoon Junior Trigger Spoon Chrome Killer UV Gel by Big Nate Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear

Lake Almanor Fishing Report | August 4, 2025

Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service on Lake Almanor and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Lake Almanor trout are keyed on pond smelt in early August 2025, holding 30 to 45 feet on the downriggers along the east basin. Match the hatch with soft plastic Trout Trix Minnows and grubs scented with Brown Town. Browns pushed close to 10 pounds and rainbows topped 6. What is biting at Lake Almanor right now?Rainbow and brown trout are feeding hard on pond smelt across the east basin and the eastern side of the peninsula. Capt. Bryan Roccucci landed browns just short of 10 pounds and rainbows over 6 pounds this week, with 4 and 5 pound fish not uncommon.What depth are the trout holding at Lake Almanor?Run your baits on downriggers from 30 to 45 feet, adjusting to the water you are fishing. The trout are chasing pond smelt in that band, so get down into the cooler water where the fish and the bait are stacked together.What lures are working at Lake Almanor in August?Match the hatch with minnow imitations. Bryan is running soft plastic grubs and Trout Trix Minnows scented with a minnow-based Brown Town scent to push scent through the water column. Specific colors were not called out in this report.How is Bryan rigging and presenting at Lake Almanor?Slow-troll minnow-imitating soft plastics on downriggers set 30 to 45 feet down, right where the smelt-eating trout are holding. Scent everything with Brown Town for extra draw. These are minnow-eating fish, so give them minnow-imitating presentations and keep them in the strike zone.What is the outlook for Lake Almanor?Bryan expects the summertime bite to continue through August as the trout keep hunting deeper, cooler water while waiting for the fall cool-down. Water temps are in the low 70s, around 71 degrees, with calm mornings and occasional afternoon breezes or thundershowers.Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): We're running a lot of soft plastics, both soft plastic grubs and the Trout Trix minnows. We're scenting those up with a minnow-based scent called Brown Town. Running those baits down on the downriggers anywhere from about 30 to about 45 feet right now. This week, we've seen browns to just short of 10 pounds and rainbows over 6 pounds.Lake Almanor August 4, 2025 FAQWhat depth should I fish at Lake Almanor in August?Downriggers from 30 to 45 feet, matching the depth to the water you are fishing and the pond smelt schools the trout are chasing.What are the trout eating at Lake Almanor?Large schools of pond smelt. Match the hatch with minnow-imitating soft plastics like grubs and Trout Trix Minnows.How big are the trout at Lake Almanor right now?Browns to just short of 10 pounds (a 9.5 pound fish) and rainbows over 6 pounds, with 4 and 5 pound fish common.What is the water temperature at Lake Almanor?Surface temps are in the low 70s, about 71 degrees, with a warming trend, calm mornings, and afternoon breezes.What scent works for Lake Almanor trout?A minnow-based scent. Bryan uses Brown Town to put scent in the water for the smelt-eating trout to follow.Where are the fish holding on Lake Almanor?In the east basin, along the east shore, and the eastern side of the peninsula where the pond smelt are schooling.Who guides Lake Almanor for Catch America?Capt. Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 3 inch - Trout Soft Bait - 5 Pack Brown Town Scent by Bryan Roccucci Shop Capt. Bryan's Tackle Shop Trout Gear

San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | August 4, 2025

Report by Capt. Roger George Roger George runs Roger George Guide Service and reports on San Luis Reservoir striper fishing for Catch America. What is working right now San Luis Reservoir has stabilized around 36 percent full and stripers are settling in. Fish are suspended and scattered from 30 feet in shallow water out to 50 and 60 feet and deeper. The key is finding active fish and working them with trolling, spooning, jigging, or casting. Roger George landed a 41 inch, 34-plus pound striper on this trip. What is biting at San Luis Reservoir right now?Stripers, and the standout was a 41 inch fish weighing 34-plus pounds, nearly 35. Capt. Roger George rates the overall bite three to four out of ten. The lake has stabilized near 36 percent full, which is helping fish pattern up, though many remain inactive after the long drawdown. What depth are the stripers at San Luis Reservoir?Fish are suspended and scattered. Roger found them in water as shallow as 30 feet, out to 50 and 60 feet, and farther and deeper. There is no single depth, so keep looking for the active fish rather than fishing every mark you see. What techniques work at San Luis Reservoir?Trolling, spooning, jigging, casting to shore, and ripbaits can all produce. The main lake is the better bet right now. If fish are not biting, they probably will not, so come back later when they fire up. Finding active fish is the critical factor. How do you handle big stripers at San Luis Reservoir?Roger uses a Seaqualizer to release big fish safely from deep water. It clips to the downrigger line and the fish's mouth, then pops open at a chosen depth of 30, 50, or 70 feet so the fish swims away. A great way to conserve big fish. What is the outlook for San Luis Reservoir?With the lake stable at 36 percent and a little water moving in and out each day, fish are getting more active. It was a grind most of the day, with bites picking up around noon. Roger rates it three to four out of ten. Specific lure colors were not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Roger George): The lake level has started to stabilize at about 36 percent. Those fish are from down lower all the way up to the surface. I found fish in shallower water, 30 feet, all the way out 50, 60, and then out farther, deeper. It was a 41-inch striper that weighed 34-plus pounds. We used the Seaqualizer to put it down. San Luis Reservoir August 4, 2025 FAQ How full is San Luis Reservoir in early August?It has stabilized at about 36 percent, with a little water coming in and going out each day. What depth are San Luis stripers holding?They are suspended and scattered from about 30 feet in shallow water out to 50, 60 feet and deeper. What was the biggest fish caught?A 41 inch striper that weighed 34-plus pounds, almost 35 pounds. What is the best way to fish San Luis right now?Find active fish first, then work them with trolling, spooning, jigging, casting, or ripbaits on the main lake. How do you safely release deep-water stripers?Use a Seaqualizer descending device clipped to your downrigger line to return big fish to depth. How does Roger rate the San Luis bite?About a three to four out of ten right now. Shop the Tackle Shop Striped Bass Tackle Shop Striped Bass Gear