Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3813 June 7-21 2019 | Page 6

4 June 7 - 21, 2019 FRESHWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 13 FRESHWATER REPORTS ALMANOR Trout & Kings Battle Anglers! CHESTER - “The spring fling continues here at Lake Almanor,” exclaimed Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service. “Beautiful days, light winds, warming waters, big bug hatches and lots of bent rods. That’s what we’ve been seeing.” “Recent trips are still producing the Almanor Trifecta of ‘bows, browns and king salmon. Most of the fish in the lake are focused on the aquatic bug hatches taking place all over the lake, and while the fish are full, the hatches tend to draw numbers of fish into them. More fish more hook ups, and it is really just getting started,” said Roccucci. “Water temps are running from the mid 50’s to low 60’s depending on time and location of the lake and have the fish just about at every level. Most of our fish are coming in the top 15 feet of the water column and are extremely hot due to the high level of bug protein being consumed. Fast trolling has produced most of our action, however slowing things down if the conditions are right can also yield fantastic results,” Roccucci advised. “Some of these strikes are mind blowing, with fish getting 50 to 70 feet of line off the reel on their initial run. You would think they would be tired by the time they get close, but nothing could be further from the truth, with most digging in trying to get under the boat and generally going some form of crazy before being slid into the net. This is light tackle fishing at its finest, hotter than average fish fought on the lightest gear on the boat,” Roccucci concluded. LAKE AMADOR Downrigger Trollers Reel in Trout IONE – The trout plants are done for the spring, due to high water temperatures, but anglers fishing at 25 to 30 feet deep are still landing rainbow, cuttbow and lightning trout at Lake Amador. “One group of anglers did well on trout while fishing PowerBait and nightcrawlers from shore off the dam,” said Elizabeth Lockhart at the Lake Amador Resort. “Boaters are also picking up trout while trolling Rapalas under downriggers.” Channel catfish in the 5 to 10 lb. range are beginning to show in the coves. Join us for a unique experience that will keep your family coming back year after year! Docks and Boat Slips Available RV Sites • Cabins • Tent Sites Free WiFi • Rec Room • Grocery Store • Gas • Diesel • LPG • Laundry www.EagleLakeandRV.com Corner of The Strand and Palmetto Way Spalding, California 3809 Anglers are tossing out chicken livers, anchovies and mackerel for the cats. “Boaters are also catching and releasing good numbers of largemouth bass,” she said. “Fishermen are using nightcrawlers, Senkos and jigs in the Jackson Creek and Mountain Springs arms of the lake.” Shore anglers and boaters are also landing bluegill and crappie around docks, brush and other structure. Use minnows and Mini Jigs for the crappie and redworms and minicrawlers for the bluegill. The lake is completely full again after the May storms. - Dan Bacher management for May storm events,” said Peggy Manza, Reclamation spokesperson. The shad are now showing from the mouth at Wes traveled to Lake Almanor and landed this huge rainbow trout on May 17. The fish was released after the photo. Photo courtesy of BIG DADDY’S GUIDE SERVICE, Quincy. AMERICAN BASIN Hell Hole Produces Kokanee, Macks AUBURN– Before the latest storms, boaters were beginning to pick up some kokanee salmon and mackinaw trout at Hell Hole Reservoir. “One customer reported catching a bunch of kokanee salmon and a few mackinaws while it was snowing on a recent trip,” said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle. “The kokanee hit hoochies, tipped with white corn, behind dodgers. The mackinaw averaged 3 to 4 pounds.” “Another fisherman reported catching rainbows in the 15 to 18-inch range while top line trolling near the dam,” said Newton. Trollers should use nightcrawlers behind dodgers, Rapalas and an array of spoons to hook the rainbows. Hell Hole is near full and the boat ramp is in the water. Access to Hell Hole from Georgetown is currently closed because of a slide, so anglers will have to get there via the road from Auburn. Newton hasn’t heard of any anglers fishing at Sugar Pine or French Meadows lately. - Dan Bacher Discovery Park up to Ancil Hoffman Park, reported Uncle Larry Barnes at Sacramento Pro Tackle. Two of the top spots to pursue shad are Gristmill and Harrington’s Access. “1/32 oz jigheads with pink tails are traditionally the favorite on the American, but jigheads up to 1/8 ounces should work with the higher flows,” said Barnes. “The shad fishing is wide open at Gristmill,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman’s Warehouse. “One friend caught and released a bunch of shad while throwing a split tail grub on a small jighead. Most of the fish are males, but some females are showing also.” Craig Newton of Willfish Bait and Tackle reported catching two keeper stripers measuring 24 and 21 inches, along with releasing four shakers, while throwing swimbaits on his latest trip on the American River. He was fishing from his boat between Howe Avenue and the Capital City Freeway Bridge (Cal Expo). Discovery Park and other areas on the American River Parkway are now open. - Dan Bacher temperature at Berryessa is dropping, just like it is supposed to in the fall,” said Larry Hemphill, fishing guide. “Oh wait - this is the spring!! Yes, the water temperature has dropped from a 74-degree reading last week to 68 today. And it was stormy today – I left after 2 hours. I will re- schedule the trip.” “However, I took Clara Ricabal to Berryessa and we found outstanding fishing,” said Hemphill. “Maybe a pre- storm bite. We found a school of bait - and bass that bit for hours! I even caught a smallmouth an ounce or two under 4 lbs. All 3 species were active and feeding. I’m really not sure what our biggest 5 weighed, probably between 15 and 16 lbs. It was a great bite and it lasted for hours! That is rare.” “Today the school had thinned out and AMERICAN RIVER were not very active. With the incoming Shore Anglers Battle storm, I thought it would be better. Water American Shad was flat today, but windy yesterday for the whole trip,” he stated. SACRAMENTO – The Bureau of “Shad crankbaits, salt and pepper Reclamation has raised water releases Yamamoto grubs, Keitech 4.3 inch from Nimbus Dam to 10,000 cfs, drawing swimbaits, and drop-shotting were the in big numbers of shad into the American BERRYESSA LAKE keys to our success yesterday. It was fun River for anglers to pursue. Wide Open Bass Bite Before to have a wide open bite again, in spite “Flows will remain at 10,000 cfs until of the wind. But wind is often the key to a Storms further notice to provide for storage good bite in clear water,” he tipped. WINTERS – The “Lost several fish I’m sure because of storms that moved the smaller hooks used for the swimbaits. through California The bass seemed to be hitting the baits have made the on the run - vicious hits yesterday! The water temperature hooking percentage is always lower on jump up and down that kind of bite. It was FUN though,” he at Lake Berryessa – concluded. and have made the Fishing Guide Service After a productive kokanee trip to bass fishing bounce Berryessa, Kristy Carpentier reported TROUT-SALMON-KOKANEE up and down. tough fishing on the latest trip to the lake Sierra Foothill & Central Valley Lakes “The surface by her and husband [phone] Capt. Peter T Mike. E-MAIL: [email protected] 3803 “We didn’t get on the water until 9:30. AM,” Salmon • Striper • Trout • Kokanee she said. “We fished the main island for kokanee and then fast trolled for trout. Sadly, our net never got wet. We missed three hits. • Stripers At the boat launch Mike talked to a lady • Oroville who said they caught Kings 16 fish, a mixed bag of June 8 & 9, 2019 kokes and trout. So I am guessing we were • Stampede fishing in the wrong Must pre-register • Call for details! Kokanee area. Next time I think we will move around the 40800 Highway 88, Pioneer, CA 95666 [phone] • [phone] lake to find out where www.bearrivercampground.com www.fishbarebones.com the fish are.” 3811 3807 PETER T’S FISHING DERBY! $1000 in Prize Money [phone]