Fishing Report: Cal Kellogg - Collins Lake

Fishing Report: Cal Kellogg - Collins Lake

Catch America – Fishing Report

Location & Conditions
Body of Water: Collins Lake
City / Region: Browns Valley, CA
Date of Report: May 19, 2025
Weather Conditions: Windy with stable temperatures; earlier in the week had calm, warmer conditions
Water Temperature: 67–68°F
Water Clarity: Not specified
Water Level / Flow: Not specified

Fishing Overview

Overall Fishing Rating (1–5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Fair to Good)

Target Species: Rainbow Trout, Lightning Trout

Most Active Depth Range: 17–25 ft, with some fish marked at 40–50 ft

Most Effective Presentation: Trolling

Best Time of Day: Not specified

Successful Lures or Baits Used:

  • #1 Bait: Pink Bubblegum Trout Tricks Minnow with Trigger scent
  • Spoons starting to produce:
  1. Orange Trigger Spoon Junior
  2. Trinidad Tackle Popped Eye Spoons

Other Techniques That Worked:

  • Trolling at 1.8–2.3 mph (ideal speed: 2.0 mph)
  • Using a variety of divers and recently added downriggers

Notable Catches:

  • One standout Lightning Trout caught at 20 ft, weighing 4.5–5 lbs

Guide’s Tips & Notes

Advice for This Week:

  • Fish are present but not super active—focus on trolling with scented baits to trigger bites.
  • Spoons are starting to produce, so it’s worth giving them some run time in your spread.
  • Keep your trolling speed dialed in around 2.0 mph for the best action.

Changes You’re Seeing:

  • Trout activity is sluggish despite good numbers in the lake.
  • Presence of immature threadfin shad may be influencing feeding behavior, although none found in stomachs yet.
  • Water temperatures are beginning to rise, and fish are gradually moving deeper.

Predictions for Next Week:

  • Expect the deeper bite to improve as the water warms up—downriggers will become more essential.
  • Spoon bite likely to get stronger, so be ready to swap out baits and experiment with colors.

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