( 209 ) 295-4868 40800 Highway 88 , Pioneer , CA 95666 www . bearrivercampground . com
FRESHWATER
12 May 25 - June 8 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 12
FRESHWATER REPORTS :
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DEL VALLE RESERVOIR cont .
schools of shad fry danced around the docks and shorelines trying to evade hungry predators . “
“ Fish breaking at the surface could be heard from all around . Excited to start my day with so much activity going on , I decided to try my luck at some top water action ! After a few casts with a Whopper Plopper , a bass exploded on it , but missed the bait . I quickly threw a Senko back into the swirl and hooked up quickly with a nice pound and half small mouth bass ,” Cooper recalled .
“ As I worked my way along only minutes later , another bass busted at it 10 feet from the boat . Missing the bait once again , I switched rods and let the Senko slowly fall into the swirl left behind . After a few seconds my line started to run away as a 3 lb . 6 oz . largemouth took the easy meal ,” he said .
“ As the day went on and wind began to blow , I focused on current breaks . Whether if it was from points or structure , these breaks created ambush spots for hungry fish . As the Plopper speeds along , I like to slightly pause it for a split second where I think the attack will happen . This quick stop and go triggered 3 other bass bites in the exact location I was expecting them ,” he noted .
Trout fishing is also going strong . For example , James Goss , of Modesto caught a 3 lb . trout at Swallow Bay using Pink Flicker Shad . Gustavo Gonzalez from Hayward bagged 5 rainbows while fishing from the shore in the narrows with a variety of Mice Tails .
June 9 & 10 , 2018 $ 1000 in Prize Money
Must pre-register • Call for details !
( 209 ) 295-4868 40800 Highway 88 , Pioneer , CA 95666 www . bearrivercampground . com
3711
FISHING DERBY !
Kenny and Bill landed 8 catfish , topped by a 17 lb . channel cat . They caught these fish using chicken livers near the dam about 40 ’ deep . The park district stocked Del Valle with 750 pounds of rainbows the week of May 14 .
EAST DELTA
Solid Striped Bass Bite Despite Consistent Wind
STOCKTON - The San Joaquin side of the Delta has been outstanding for striped bass trolling over the past few weeks despite consistent high winds .
James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service has left the friendly confines of Korth ’ s Pirates Lair at the mouth of the Mokelumne after a two month stay , but he was able to find consistent action for striped bass within those months . He ended up on a high note with a 26-pound striped bass on a penultimate trip trolling Yozuri Crystal Minnows from Eddo ’ s upriver to the Old River Flats .
Clyde Wands , shallow trolling expert , stayed on the San Joaquin near Spindrift on Tuesday due to the high winds limiting access to the Sacramento River , and he said , “ We had a good day with 8 stripers to 10 pounds released , and a few of the females were spawned out . There are still plenty of fish out here , but there weren ’ t many boats trying .”
Randy Pringle , the Fishing Instructor , said , “ Many fishermen are complaining about the poor bite , but the weather conditions are a month overdue . We had all our weather when the fish were spawning , and this changed everything . You have to slow down right now and use scent to get the bass to move . A ‘ deadstick ’ presentation is necessary , and you have to slow down . I have been scoring with the Berkley Max Scent D-Worm , Power Worm , or General in earth tones since the scent is a big advantage .” Mike Pipkins of Gotha Bait in Antioch reported Holland Tract , Discovery Bay , and Orwood Marina are good locations for crappie or red ear perch with mini jigs along with wax worms . He said , “ Stripers are all over with keepers to 28 inches off of the Antioch Fishing Pier . A pair of keeper sturgeon and an 8-pound largemouth bass were also landed off of the pier this week .”
This angler took a May 1 Delta fishing trip with the team at Tight Lines Guide Service and scored a limit of very nice stripers .
Photo courtesy of TIGHT LINES GUIDE SERVICE , Loomis .
Luther Thompson of H and R Bait in Stockton reported good striped bass fishing in the main San Joaquin River near Windmill Cove with fresh shad . They are receiving 35 pounds of fresh shad every other day . Crappie are taken at Tiki Lagun near the boat dock , Bacon Island Road , and Whiskey Slough with medium minnows
- Dave Hurley
FEATHER RIVER
Striper Action Best Near Nicolaus
YUBA CITY – Fishing pressure for striped bass on the Feather River slowed down after the Department of Water Resources reduced combined flows below the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet to only 1050 cfs , but anglers are still picking lots of stripers in the Nicolaus area .
“ Tim Boggs , two other anglers and I caught our limits of stripers on our latest trip from Verona up to Beer Can Beach ,” said Mel Gillette at Elkhorn Outdoors . “ We were back to the shop by 10 a . m . We caught our limits of fish , ranging from 18 to 22 inches , while drifting jumbo minnows .”
“ The striped bass fishing is still good on the Feather , but there are not as many fish as there were earlier because many of the fish have spawned and left ,” said Bob Boucke of Yuba City . “ The best area to drift minnows now is Beer Can Beache .”
Meanwhile , shad fishing has busted loose on the Feather River , as it normally does this time of year as the weather heats up .
“ Shore anglers and boaters are hooking shad at the mouth of the Yuba River and Shanghai Bend ,” said Boucke . “ They are using an array of shad jigs and flies .”
- Dan Bacher
FOLSOM LAKE
Trollers Connect With Planters , Holdover Rainbows
GRANITE BAY- Trollers working the warming waters of Folsom Lake are finding decent fishing for a mixture of recently planted rainbows and larger holdover trout .
“ Fishermen are reporting the top action while trolling with white and white / black hoochies at 25 to 35 feet deep ,” said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle . “ The
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EAGLE LAKE Anglers Ready For May 26 Opener !
Decent late winter conditions created much needed inflow into Eagle Lake . While the lake continues to be lower than anglers and locals alike would prefer , the level is stable and boat launching will not be a problem in the south basin .
Fishing at the Eagle was outstanding last season with an abundance of big rainbows showing during the fall months . Those fish will be even bigger this year and they should be hungry come the May 26 opener .
Eagle Lake RV Park is open for business , and will be offering boat slip rentals at Spalding again this year . They offer a full service park , including comfortable cabins , tent sites , full hook up RV sites , a fully stocked store , Free Wi-Fi , and more . Call early for reservations , especially if you want to reserve a boat slip . Call ( 530 ) 825- 3133 or go to www . eaglelakeandrv . com .
Heritage Land Company in Spalding offers a huge selection of cabin rentals that start at only $ 60 per night , and they offer everything from a studio to a magnificent 4 bedroom home . They also have a large inventory of vacation homes for sale , all at very reasonable prices . Call Dave Leroy for information and reservations at ( 530 ) 825-2131 or go to www . eaglelakeheritage . com .
If you would like to learn how to catch trout at Eagle Lake , the best thing to do is hire a knowledgeable guide . Cliff Spediacci of Hook & Ladder Guide Service lives in Spalding and has been fishing the lake for years . Contact him at ( 530 ) 250-5996 or go to www . hookandladderguideservice . com .
Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy ’ s Guide Service has been fishing the lakes of Northern California for over 20 years , and specializes in the big Eagle Lake rainbows . Call him at ( 530 ) 283-4103 or see www . bigdaddyfishing . com