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8 Aug 31 - Sept 7 , 2018
FRESHWATER
VOL . 37 • ISS . 19
ALMANOR / BUCKS LAKE
Bucks Lake Offers Limit Style Kokanee Action
CHESTER - “ Right now , at Bucks Lake it is all about the kokanee ,” reported Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy ’ s Guide Service . “ The bite has been fantastic and it has been limits to near limits depending on the group size . The kokanee limit at Bucks is 10 fish per day , so we have been coming off the lake with 30 to 50 kokanee each plus losing some and releasing a few rainbows that have been whacking the Paulina Peak Kokanee rigs , that ’ s a busy morning of fishing .”
“ The size of the kokanee this year at bucks has also been impressive , they are currently running a fat 13 to 16 inches . The action is hot , the size is good and whether you like sockeyes grilled , smoked or canned now is a great time to come to Bucks and get after them ,” said Roccucci .
“ Brookies and ‘ bows are biting good as well at Bucks right now , both on the troll or drifting bait on ultra-light spinning gear . The smoke from the NorCal fires , while visible from Bucks , has not been nearly as bad as other locations around the state ,” Roccucci concluded .
At Lake Almanor the trout fishing remains good for rainbows and a few brown that average 3 to 4 pounds . The trout are feeding on aquatic insects near the bottom . A threaded and slow trolled one inch section of worm will draw strikes .
Bass anglers are hooking a few fish on soft plastics , but the best action is coming for anglers probing water that ranges from 15 to 25 feet deep with live crickets . A few trout are being picked up using this method too .
LAKE AMADOR
Catfish Roam The Shoreline in Evenings
IONE – The morning , evening and
Bucks Lake Lake Almanor Davis Lake Eagle Lake Lake Tahoe night hours are the prime time to target catfish at Lake Amador in the late summer .
Anglers are bagging cats ranging from 4 to 17 pounds while soaking mackerel , nightcrawlers and other baits . The boat docks , RV Park and Carson Creek Arm are among the better areas for the channel cats .
“ Black bass are biting also ,” said Elizabeth Lockhart of the Lake Amador Resort . “ We ’ re seeing good numbers of fish in the 3 to 4 lb . range , but not a lot of big lunkers . Plastics like Senkos are yielding the top action ,” stated Lockhart .
A lot of bluegill are showing along the docks , trees and structure . Redworms crawlers , and crappie jigs top the list of baits .
On August 25-26 , Lake Amador Resort will sponsor its annual Moonlight Team Bass Tournament from 7 p . m . to 7 a . m . The sign in starts at 4 p . m . There will be a barbecue at 5:00 p . m .
The event will cost $ 174 per team , including entry fees . There is 80 percent payback for the prize money .
For more information on both events , call Lake Amador ( 209 ) 274-274-4739 .
The lake is currently 15 feet from maximum pool .
AMERICAN BASIN
Hell Hole Kokanee Hitting
AUBURN – Hell Hole Reservoir is the top spot for anglers to hook kokanee in the American River watershed this season .
“ Boaters using downriggers are landing kokanee in the 12 to 14 inch range ,” said
Craig Newton at
Now Booking Bucks Lake Trout & Kokanee and Almanor trophy trout !
Captain Bryan Roccucci www . BigDaddyFishing . com
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GREAT FISHING AT CAPLES LAKE !
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Ken Salvi caught this 4 lb , 24 inch German brown in July 2017 near Emigrant Creek . For information , call ( 209 ) -258-8888
CAPLES LAKE RESORT P . O . Box 88 , Kirkwood , Ca 95646
www . capleslakeresort . com
3713
3712
Willfish Tackle . “ The fish are hitting Gus ’ spinner bugs and other lures , tipped with white corn , behind dodgers at up to 90 feet deep .”
Union Valley Reservoir is producing some kokanee , but the fishing is disappointing compared to previous seasons .
“ Four of us caught 14 kokanee on a recent trip to Union Valley ,” said Alan Fong of the Fisherman ’ s Warehouse . “ Most of the fish were in the 12 to 13 inch range , while two
Great Fishing for Rainbows , Browns and Lake Trout !
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measured between 7 and 18 inches long . We didn ’ t seen any schools of kokanee on the graph .”
Fong and his fellow anglers trolled with pink and purple hoochies , tipped with white corn , behind Shasta Tackle Slingblades at 45 to 55 feet deep .
Fuller Lake off of Bowman Lakes Road is a good bet for rainbow trout and an occasional brown . “ Boaters are picking up rainbows to 15 inches while using nightcrawlers behind flashers ,” said Newton . “ A few browns to 18 inches are also available .”
- Dan Bacher
AMERICAN RIVER
Striped Bass Are Top Prospect Until Kings Arrive
SACRAMENTO – Until the fall run of king salmon arrives on the lower American this September , striped bass will remain the main quarry of anglers fishing the river
Daryl Carter of Sacramento , a regular partner with his wife Terese on the NorCal Trout Angler ’ s Challenge , landed an 8 lb . striped bass while fishing a live Sacramento pike-minnow this month on the lower American from their boat .
“ The day started out great , with a beautiful sunrise , 2 male deer watching us fish an 8 lb striped bass ,” Carter explained .
Anglers tossing out top water baits such as Zara Spooks and Pencil Poppers early and late in the day are also picking up a few stripers on the lower American , but salmon action has been very slow , reported Alan Fong , manager of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse in Sacramento . Stripers are available throughout the river from below the Nimbus Fish Hatchery to the mouth at Discovery Park .
Tracie Connors landed this huge salmon while fishing the American River during the first week of the salmon season .
Photo courtesy of FISHSNIFFER . COM .
From August 14 to August 16 , the Bureau of Reclamation ramped down flows on the American River from 4,000 cfs to 3,100 cfs for the purposes of “ reduced Delta needs ,” said Peggy Manza of Reclamation .
- Dan Bacher
BULLARDS BAR / ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIRS
Two Sizes of Kokanee Reward Trollers
SMARTVILLE - Boaters are hooking limits of kokanee in two different size classes at Bullards Bar Reservoir as the fish began to transition into spawning mode .
“ There are still the 12 to 14 inch size fish you can find in the main body off Garden Point and the lake ’ s west end ,” said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle . “ These fish are holding at 55 to 65 feet deep . They ’ re hitting hoochies and Brad ’ s Cut Plugs behind dodgers .”
“ Then there is a larger class of fish going 16 to 17 inches in the Yuba River arm up by the upper buoy ,” he said “ These fish are staging to spawn and are in shallower water than the 12 to 14 inch fish . Boaters are hooking them while using pink hoochies , tipped with white corn , behind dodgers .”
Spotted bass are also on the bite . “ One customer reported that he and his fishing partner caught and released around
50 bass , but none were bigger than 3
Continued on Pg 10