Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3803 Jan 17- Feb 1 2019 | Page 14

12 FRESHWATER Jan 17 - Feb 1, 2019 FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 8 DON PEDRO cont. patterned spoons at a fast speed on lead core line near the surface. “I was out with three clients this week, and we ended up with 13 rainbows, releasing some smaller fish with plenty of hits with no stick,” said Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing. “These fish are fighting like crazy in the cold water, and we are running either my custom medium-sized shad patterned spoons or Speedy Shiners on a fast-troll at 2.5 to 3 mph on 3.5 to 4 colors of lead core.” “The water is very clear, and the trout can see a long way. Since the water temperature is still warm at 55 degrees, fast-trolling remains effective, but once the water temperatures drop into the low fifties, you will have to switch to grubs or similar presentations on a slow troll.,” he advised. Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook Fishing said the bass are finally moving into shallower water from 10 to 30 feet into the creek channels, and the quality is improving. “The lake is getting better for size along with numbers, and jigs in crawdad patterns are working best for us. Steve Cardoza and I were out on Saturday, and we put in a 22-pound limit of solid bass with no large kicker fish. The largest concentration of bass remains in deep water, but these are mostly smaller spotted bass. The deep fish can be taken on plastics on a drop-shot on light line,” Cook concluded. EAST DELTA Striped Bass On Hiatus – Largemouth Bass Holding Tight to Weeds STOCKTON - The weather in the East Delta has been cold and dry for the past few weeks, and warm rain is needed to move in some fresh striped bass. The inner portions of the Delta have been devoid of numbers of linesides while largemouth bass are holding tight to the warmer water found near weed cover. Rain was on the way with a storm expected during the first weekend of the new year, and the warmer water will be a blessing for both species of bass. There has been some heavy wind over the past weeks in addition to clear and cold conditions, and the gusts have the effect of cooling down the water as well as muddying up the clarity, but the dirtier water will warm up faster in the long run. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said, “It wasn’t as difficult this past week, but there if there are striped bass in the east Delta, I am not finding them. Birds have been absent, and it has been difficult to find any bait.” “Fortunately, the largemouth bass have been willing to bite, but you have to slow way down and keep your bait in the strike zone as long as possible. I have been using baits with scent such as the Berkley Bottom Hopper with Max Scent on a Zappu head, and the key is to let the bait sit and just rotate your wrist left or right every once in a while. The movement of your wrist will move the rod and eventually VOL.38 • ISS. 3 move the bait slightly. When you feel a twitch, you have to set the hook as the fish are only moving slightly with the bait,” Pringle tipped. “The other option is a ripbait on a very slow presentation, and we have been scoring with the ima Flit 120 in American Shad or Olive Herring, but you just have to twitch the bait, not drag it. Just twitching the bait every once in a while will make the bait move left or right, and you have to be on your toes and set hook when you feel the tick. 7 to 20 bass to 3 pounds is possible, but the big fish are only feeding once every four to five days in the cold water. You also have to find weeds with slightly moving current,” he stated. Striped bass fishing is best in the western edge of the San Joaquin River, and Mike Pipkins of Gotcha The spotted bass bite is on at Folsom Lake. This husky fish Bait in Antioch said, “Live was fooled with a drop shot rig during a recent outing with mudsuckers have been the master bass guide Don Paganelli. Photo courtesy of PAGANELLI’S BASS FISHING EXPERIENCE, best bait for striped bass, Sacramento. and we are selling loads of mudsuckers. West Island has been a good location, been scarce. and the smaller mudsuckers are working Anglers caught some steelhead on best.” the opener while drifting Glo Bugs, “What happens once the water cools nightcrawlers and flies, according to is that the big striped bass do not want Jamie Sorensen at North Valley Tackle in a large bait since their metabolism and Oroville. digestion slows in the cold water, so “The Feather River Fish Hatchery has the small baits work best. Every year, I counted 1,227 adult steelhead to date,” have fishermen come in and want the said Anna Kastner, hatchery manager. largest mudsuckers possible, but I try “The average size of the fish is 2 to 5 and educate them that the smaller baits pounds, although a few larger fish to 7 are the most effective right now.,” said pounds are showing.” Pipkins. The daily bag limit is 2 hatchery trout or “There have been sturgeon taken in hatchery steelhead in combination. front of the River View Pier in Antioch Fishermen are picking up some schoolie with grass shrimp or ghost shrimp, and striped bass while using anchovies, the quality of grass shrimp has been sardines and swimbaits below Star excellent.” Bend, but the bite is by no means red - Dave Hurley hot. Boaters are also hooking a few sturgeon while tossing out ghost shrimp at the mouth of the Bear River, reported Aaron Searcy at Star Bait and Tackle in FEATHER RIVER Marysville. Steelhead Season Opens In Stretch Below Hatchery The Tinsley family paid Collins Lake a visit this December and loaded up on rainbow trout. Photo courtesy of the COLLINS LAKE RECREATION AREA, Oregon House. PETER T’S OROVILLE – The section of the Feather River from the Table Mountain bicycle bridge to Highway 70 Fishing Guide Service TROUT-SALMON-KOKANEE Sierra Foothill & Central Valley Lakes [phone] Planning to Get on the Water in 2019? Check Out a Small Fishing Boat in Booth No. B2736 at ISE A Small Fishing Boat…The name says it all. If you are interested in a new nimble fishing machine, drop by the ASFB booth at the Sacramento ISE Show and see what they have to offer! ASFB Marine is fami- ly-owned and operated and conveniently located in Sacra- mento, CA. ASFB Marine can provide Now Booking American River Steelhead and Folsom Lake Trout Drift Boat Trips Custom 23’ Rogue Jet Cpt. 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