Feather River Fishing Report
Report Updated Feb. 6, 2010
A FEW STRIPERS & NO STEELIES
There were a few stripers taken around Verona and Shanghai last week, but nothing too exciting just yet. Upstream, the steelhead “run” has been bleak.
Our man on the creek, Craig Bentley, gives us the scoop from upriver :
Thursday night’s 2 inches of rain didn’t add any color to the water on the Feather and visibility is holding steady at 2 to 3 feet. No new reports of any adult steelhead being hooked or even seen on the river this past week.
One local angler reported catching three small fish while fly fishing, on small beadhead Flashback Pheasant Tail nymphs and a San Juan Worm pattern. He said his biggest went about 2 pounds and all three fish were wild, showing color and were very lethargic. No small wonder there…This mornings water temp was a chilly 44 degrees.
Local DWR/DFG biologists are saying the steelhead run could be late and we should see some more adults before the end of February. A few more anglers were seen fishing on the Low flow, but nobody reported cating any fish below Hwy.162. Jump on those honey-do’s!
Trusted Guides
Current & Forecasted Flow
Take a closer look…this slick graph shows you current river flow, height and projected flows, which will help you plan upcoming trips. Keep in mind steelhead and salmon fishing is best as a river is on the drop — and typically tough when a stream’s on the rise.
Current Weather
Feather River Map
About the Feather River
After flowing out of the base of Oroville Dam, the lower Feather River twists and winds its way approximately 50 miles from the town of Oroville to its confluence with the Sacramento River at Verona.
Throughout the year, the river sees runs of striped bass and American shad in the spring, along with fall and spring-run steelhead and sturgeon (mainly in high water years). Prolific king salmon runs, however, really put the Feather on the map and though currently in a down cycle, the river is home to both spring and fall-runs. There’s also a sneaky population of smallmouth bass that’s almost completely ignored by anglers. The fish don’t get huge, but there are lots of ‘em.
Catching Feather Smallies
One Strange Day on the Feather
Basic Shad Techniques
Species of the Feather River
Fall Chinook
The Feather will be closed to all salmon fishing in 2009. For more info: DFG Fishing Regulations
Striped Bass
American Shad
Steelhead
Photos from the Feather:
The infamous Outlet Hole
Going Bendo at the Pump Hole in the Orovile Wildlife Area
The confluence of the Sacramento and Feather rivers at Verona.
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