I'm heading for California next week...ain't been there in 25 years how's the fishing? The feather used to be pretty good...
Doing a job in Benecia then headed north to WA to see my kids and grandkids..maybe some fly fishing along the way...
Depending on how long the job is, the other guys have given some good advice. If you head north on I5, then you'll go right past the Sacramento in the Redding/Anderson area. Once you get up around Mt Shasta , a bit of poking around near Dunsmuir, McCloud, Burney, Hat Creek, Mt Shasta City might find you some smaller streams to fish. Long time ago I went out of Mt Shasta City to the west, and up the west fork of the Sacramento if I recall. I drove right to the stream and had the enjoyment of small mountain water fishing. That was over 20 years ago, so I have no idea what it's like now, but might be worth checking out if you're looking for small water stuff.
Should you decide to go up the coast on 101, Clear lake for bass as someone mentioned. Russian river for smallmouth maybe? Further up there may be some early steelhead runs, but, if the regs are still the same, check closely as some rivers were only open certain days. The lagoons in Humboldt County offer some fishing for coastal cutthroat, and on calm days you might even be able to get salty in Trinidad bay.
Not sure about the Smith being open or if the steelies are in yet, but it's a very pretty river right nearthe Oregon border.
Good luck,
Geno
