Placer County

The kokanee bite is just starting to show, but it's been all about the big macks over the last few weeks. Guides are reporting daily client trips yielding 10+ pound Mackinaw, typically targeting them in 60 feet of water on the north shore. The south shore has been hit-or-miss, with the macks far more scattered and deeper.

With summer recreational boaters dominating much of the lake by late morning, your best bet for Folsom is either early morning or late evening. Trollers are still catching king salmon and rainbow trout, with earlier in the day being better.

Bass action has tapered slightly as the spring spawn has ended. Slowing down with soft plastics (Senkos, Ned rigs) has been best for numbers. However, the early morning reaction bite is producing bigger fish. Crank baits or topwater lures have been very effective before sunrise.

Water levels are at 91% of capacity.

Spring at Folsom continues to be a multi-species paradise for anglers. Bass action is still hot for both quantity and quality. Everything from crankbaits to soft plastics to jigs are working. A few reported bigger fish were caught on jigs near rocky areas.

The King salmon bite continues as well, with trollers either using speedy shiners or white hoochies and dodgers in 50-75 feet of water. Both the north and south ends have fish.

Bigger holdover rainbows are also being caught as they target shad schools around the lake. Spoons in 20-30 feet have been hot.

Mackinaw action continues to be hot on both the north and south shore. The same strategy from our last report remains successful, although fish are moving shallower. Continue to drift live minnows, but reduce your depth to around 120 feet. Anglers are targeting even shallower areas on the south shore and reporting bigger bites. Jigging larger spoons has been successful.

A lot going on for fishermen at Folsom. The bass remain extremely active and shallow. Everything is catching them. Reaction approach in the morning and evening (crankbaits + spinnerbaits) and finesse mid-day (plastics, dropshots).

Trout are still being caught, primarily near the surface with spoon-type lures. But the Kings are really starting to ramp up, especially on the south end. Speedy Shiners and white hoochies have been hot.

Now's the time for giant Mackinaw. Water and weather conditions have been perfect. Water temps remain chilly but the sky's been clear with plenty of sun. Drifters with live minnows are targeting 150-190 feet, while trollers have been successful upwards of 40 feet. Both techniques are getting decent numbers with 10+ pounders being not uncommon.