It’s all about the salmon this week as the season opens Thursday. Expectations always are high for opening day and there is no way to predict how the opener will go. At the same time, the opener in no way predicts the quality of the coming season. Salmon run will get going in late August and grow from there. Questions surrounding the fishery will be water temperatures and water flows. Stay tuned. Other than that, the potluck fishing being enjoyed by San Francisco Bay anglers has been incredible. Limits of stripers, limits of cod, scattering of halibut and this has been going on for weeks with no sign of slow down. There’s always more and that follows in this week’s Best Bites:

LAKE ALMANOR trout: Hamilton Branch is stacked with trout and anglers are shoulder-to-shoulder casting to trout stacked belly to back and gill to gill. Aquatic insect hatches are about done with just a few hatches popping off. Best bite has been early, then slows after 9:00 am.

CLEAR LAKE bass: There’s a very good top water bite. Frogs and buzz baits get quality bass. Weeds are against the shore so there is plenty of clear water. Deeper water in the south end is worth exploring with jigs and deep-diving crank baits. Chatter baits work on both ends of the lake. A lot of 2 to 5 pound fish. Occasional 7-8 pounder. Clear Lake Outdoors (707) 262-5852

EAGLE LAKE trout: Tui chubs are hatching and trout are chasing them. The trout have been as high as 14 feet and as deep as 24 feet. It’s really been all about trolling as the baitfish and trout are on the move chasing the minnows.

JUNE LAKE LOOP trout: All four lakes – Grant, Silver, Gull and June are producing very good fishing. First time all four are producing well this season. Best action is at first daylight. All four lakes were planted this week. June Lake Marina (760) 648-7726; Gull Lake Marina (760) 648-7539; Silver Lake (760) 648-7525

MAMMOTH LAKES trout: Trout fishing in the Mammoth Basin continues to be excellent with Mary and George being the best, by far. Trout larger than five pounds aren’t unusual. Mice tails are the top bait. Best time to fish is in the evening. Mornings are OK, but evenings have been outstanding. Rick’s Sport Center (760) 934-3416

SACRAMENTO RIVER shad (Chico to Los Molinos): Bet you didn’t expect this one. Male shad – large schools of them – are feeding on small mayflies in the morning from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. There are shad from Los Molinos to Ord Bend. There are also reports of shad catches as far north as Anderson and south in Colusa. Seems male shad will hang around in low water years. Fish First (530) 343-8300

SAN FRANCISCO BAY potluck: Big party boats are scattered throughout San Francisco Bay and all are scoring stripers. South Tower, Red Rocks, Raccoon Straits and Yellow Bluff all have been productive spots. Live shiners or anchovies will get stripers. Halibut bite will pick up next week when minus tides go away. Boats are slipping outside the Gate for limits of rock fish. Hi’s Tackle Box (650) 588-1200; Loch Lomond Marina (415) 456-0321 Sole Man Sportfishing (510) 703-4148