The first week of May brings a break in the wind and warm temps. Just the ingredients necessary to turn on the trout and bass bites. Best freshwater fishing is going to be enjoyed during the early season so make haste. Here are this week’s Best Bites:

LAKE ALMANOR trout, smallmouth bass: Water temps are 51 in the morning and 57.5 by mid-day. Clarity is 13 feet. Best Bite has been after 9:30, 10:00 am, after that a rhythm starts to develop. Aquatic insect hatches dominate the food chain. Trout and smallmouth bass are gorging. Doug Neal: (530) 258-6732 http://www.almanorfishingadventures.com

BULLARDS BAR spotted bass: A plant of kokanee went in to the lake near the dam and that tupically triggers a week-long feeding frenzy by the spotted bass. Water temperature is 64 degrees. Bass are in the top 15 feet of water. Emerald Cove Resort & Marina (530) 692-3200

CROWLEY LAKE trout: Fishing has been very good for those who know how. Trollers working the surface down to three colors with fire tiger or orange Needlefish are getting trout over deeper water. Sandy Point toward McGee is a good stretch. A lot of anglers score with Power Bait in 15 feet of water. Some scored drifting and casting Thomas Buoyants. Guide Mickey Baron (760) 937-3245; Crowley Lake Fish Camp (760) 935-4301

LAFAYETTE RESERVOIR trout, bass, catfish: Fishing has been great. Trout are being brought in on everything from Power Bait to worms and a variety of lures. Bass are biting plastics with RoboWorms being the go-to bait. Catfish are biting the usual chicken liver and mackerel. The south end is the best spot for trout and catfish. (925) 284-9669

McCLOUD RIVER trout: After a mud slide last fall ruined the final weeks of the season here last year, water conditions now are excellent. March browns, caddis and a few PMDs are coming off and the dry fly fishing should be great. L:ooks to be a great spring season on this river. The Fly Shop (530) 222-3555; www.jacktrout.com

DELTA striped bass: A solid striper bite is being enjoyed on the San Joaquin side and the Sacramento side near Rio Vista. Drifting with live jumbo minnows is productive near West Island and Broad Slough. A lot of 6 to 10 pounders are being hooked.
Near Rio Vista, the West Bank is the hot spot for trollers pulling P-Line Predators, Yozuries of Rat-l-Traps. Bait fishing success is spread. It’s been OK at the bridge, Sandy Beach and Decker Island. A lot of stripers are in the 22 to 24 inch range. Larger fish range toward 28 inches. Sturgeon bite has been slow. . Gotcha Bait & Tackle (925) 706-7400, Hap’s Bait (707) 374-2372