Northern California Rigging & Regulations A VISUAL TECHNICAL GUIDE FOR REDDING, ANDERSON & SURROUNDING WATERS Part 1: Core Rig Configurations Part 2: Primary Target Species Rainbow Trout / Steelhead: Found in highly oxygenated fast current riffles (creeks) and deep thermal lake channels. Kokanee Salmon: Landlocked lake salmon. Inhabit open, deep icy water columns during warm months. Chinook (King) Salmon: Anadromous river system fish. Hold in deep pools and heavy river bends during major seasonal runs. Spotted & Smallmouth Bass: Relish structural cover. Hug steep rocky drop-offs, boulder piles, and sunken wood. Largemouth Bass: Prefer warmer, sluggish water. Seek dense weed beds, flooded timber, and shallow tules. 1. Spinner Setup Active Retrieval Best For: Covering large areas of water efficiently and triggering reaction strikes. Main Line: 10 lb High-Vis Braid Terminal: Size 10 Barrel Swivel Leader: 2-3 ft of 8 lb Fluorocarbon Lure: 1/8 oz Acme Kastmaster, Rooster Tail, or Panther Martin (Size 6) • • • • 2. PowerBait Setup Bottom / Passive Best For: Suspending bait perfectly above bottom vegetation in calm waters and lakes. Weight: 1/4 oz Sliding Egg Weight on main line Terminal: Size 10 Barrel Swivel Leader: 3-3.5 ft of 6 lb Fluorocarbon Hook/Bait: Size 4 Advantage Bead Hook wrapped with floating dough or eggs • • • • 3. Bobber Setup Visual Drift Best For: Suspending bait at highly precise depths, especially effective on breezy days. Float: Fixed Trout Float with rubber tubing Terminal: Size 10 Barrel Swivel Leader: 3 ft of 8 lb Fluorocarbon Hook/Jig: 1/32 oz Mustad Jig Head / bait hook tipped with nightcrawler or micro worm • • • • 4. Twitching Jig Setup Technical / Active Best For: Heavy structure (logs, boulders). Mimics sculpins and local baitfish. Main Line: 10 lb High-Vis Braid Terminal: Line-to-Leader Swivel connection Lure: Sync Series Jig (1/8 oz shallow / 1/4 oz deep) Colors: Darker profiles (All-black, black/red) • • • • • • • • • Page 1 Part 3: Location Guide & Local Regulations 1. Battle Creek Optimized Setup: Spinner Setup (Fast moving current, requires efficient water coverage). Regulations: Strict anadromous rules. No retention of salmon . Sections near Coleman National Fish Hatchery feature seasonal closures and strict barbless hooks only mandates during the fall. 2. Whiskeytown Lake Optimized Setup: PowerBait / Bobber (Shoreline) or Deep Twitching Jig (Boat drop-offs). Regulations: National Recreation Area rules apply. No live fin bait allowed . Lake is open year-round, but tributary streams are highly seasonal (Last Saturday in April through Nov 15). Clear Creek below the dam is strictly catch- and-release. 3. Sacramento River (Redding to Anderson Stretch) Optimized Setup: Bobber Setup (with artificial drift worms) or Spinner Setup across current seams. Regulations: Blue Ribbon wild trout water. From Keswick Dam down to Deschutes Bridge: Artificial lures with barbless hooks only! No natural bait or traditional PowerBait dough allowed. Wild trout must be carefully released. 4. Keswick Reservoir Optimized Setup: Spinner Setup (Long distance casting to reach central cold-water channels). Regulations: Governed under standard Sierra District Inland Lake rules. Unlike the river directly below it, barbed hooks and natural live bait are legal . Standard daily bag limit of 5 trout. 5. Anderson River Park Pond / Kapusta Pond Optimized Setup: PowerBait Setup (Excellent static bottom setup for stocked rainbow trout). Regulations: Standard inland district rules. Barbed hooks and scented baits are fully legal. Daily bag limit of 5 trout. Note: Anglers 16 and older must possess a valid CA Sport Fishing License. Steelhead Report Cards are mandatory when fishing anadromous waters. Page 2