Salmon season is on, rock cod season is on and trout season opens next week. It’s a good time to be an angler. Plenty of choices with the promise of success are waiting. Here are this week’s Best Bites.

OCEAN rockfish: Rockfishing season opened Wednesday above Pigeon Point. Rough weather stymied efforts out of Pillar Point but there is no reason to believe fishing won’t be excellent. Ling cod limit has been liberalized and raised to 3 fish because of abundance. When the wind stops, this is a great bet.

LAKE ALMANOR trout, smallmouth: Surface temps approach 55 degrees by midday and clarity is up to 13 feet. The hatches have ramped right back up after that snow and cold wind last week. East Peninsula, Rec. 1 to A-Frame has been very good. We had limits of rainbows and browns before noon and a few got off too. The bite was light early and the fish were small, about 14 to 16 inches. As we got a little deeper into the morning the bite really went off and each successive fish was bigger than the last. Even the Smallies are happening. Bass boats are working Catfish Beach, North Shore Campground, and Gould Swamp. Right now the whole lake can produce. Fish are active as insect protein combined with warming water have increased their metabolism 10x. Doug Neal: (530) 258-6732 http://www.almanorfishingadventures.com

LAKE AMADOR trout/bass: Lightning trout were planted last week and the results are being realized. Trout are in the top 10 feet. Power Eggs, Rapalas work well. Best spot is between the dam and spillway. Trollers use flashers/nightcrawlers 10 feet below the surface. There is good baitfishing in the creek arms. Bass are in the shallows and spawning. Big fish of the week was a 6.56 pound trout caught with a Mepp’s spinner by Maddie Kent of Ferndale. (209) 274-4739

CLEAR LAKE bass: Spawn is on. There is a morning window for reaction baits. It’s sight fishing after that. On sunny days target docks and use Senkos. Otherwise, hit the beds. Clear Lake Outdoors (707) 262-5852

LAKE McSWAIN trout: Trout bite has been good since last weekend’s derby. Two tons of trout were planted for the event and most are still in the water. Winning fish was an 8.49 pounder caught by Isaac Ortiz of Hemet. Trollers are getting better results than shore anglers. Tomahawks are the top lure. Orange and yellow Power Bait also is productive. Catfish bite has started. Go toward the brush pile and the dam. (209) 354-2963

SANTA MARGARITA LAKE bass, catfish: Bass bite has turned on and catfish action is solid. Spinner baits or jigs get bass from the shoreline to 15 feet deep. A lot of bass in the 3 to 5 pound range are being caught from both ends of the lake. (805) 438-1522

TOPAZ LAKE smallmouth: Smallmouth bass bite is very good. A good number of 3 to 4 pounders are being caught-and-released. Action is on the southeast side of the lake. Trout bite is so-so although a good number of 3 to 4 pounders have been weighed in over the last two weeks. Rainbows are being caught by trollers in the center of the lake. Topaz Landing (775) 266-3550, Topaz Lodge (775) 266-3338

DELTA striped bass: West bank and Decker Island are attracting striped bass trollers. Bait fishing is good near the Rio Vista Bridge and Sandy Beach. Most are in the low- to mid-20 inch class but larger stripers are starting to show. Hap’s Bait (707) 374-2372

SAN PABLO BAY striped bass: Bass fishing continuing to be excellent. Halibut bite has slowed because of poor tides. Bass bite is good all over. Anchor with shrimp baits near the pumphouse or drift at the Berkeley Flats. Point Pinole and China Camp both are good spots. Some bass are larger than 10 pounds. Loch Lomond Marina (415) 456-0321