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12 Aug 17 - 31 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 18
FRESHWATER REPORTS :
CONTINUED FROM PG 4
AMERICAN RIVER
Salmon Fishing Pressure Remains Light
SACRAMENTO – High releases of 5,000 cfs below Nimbus Dam on the lower American River are drawing a few king salmon into the system , but most salmon anglers are concentrating on the Sacramento River below the mouth of the American at Discovery Park .
Nimbus Basin is no longer open to fishing – so the anglers that fished the basin this time of year for salmon for many years have gone elsewhere to fish .
“ All of the salmon action I ’ ve heard has been out of Discovery Park ,” said Dennis Pfanner of Sacramento Pro Fishing . “ I haven ’ t heard of anybody targeting the lower American .”
The shad season is winding down on the American , although anglers can probably catch a few fish while using darts and flies in the Sailor Bar and Sunrise areas .
Striper fishing on the American is spotty , with few anglers trying at this time . Anglers targeting stripers should throw big swimbaits , Zara Spooks , Pencil Poppers and other lures early and late in the day from Sailor Bar to Howe Avenue .
- Dan Bacher
BERRYESSA LAKE
Target Evening Bass During Hot Weather
NAPA - The water temperature is very high on Lake Berryessa , with surface water temperatures ranging from 84 to 92 degrees on the latest trip that Larry Hemphill , fishing guide , made to the reservoir .
“ The water temperature at Markley Cove at 6 pm was 92 degrees - on the surface !
Salmon • Trout • Kokanee
• Trout
• Bass
• Crappie
• Bluegill
• Catfish
FRESHWATER
Big largemouth bass are on the bite at Lake Camanche . This monster was landed on July 14 . Photo courtesy of the LAKE CAMANCHE RECREATION AREA , Lake Camanche
When we quit at 1 am it had dropped to 84 ,” said Hemphill .
“ I guided another pro athlete for an afternoon / night trip . Mr . Moody played for the Oakland Raiders during the Tom Flores era - early 80 ’ s . He wanted to learn more about fishing artificial lures . We mostly used Robo Worms until dark and then 7 ” Power Worms after dark ,” said Hemphill .
“ About an hour after dark , he hooked into a good one . I stood there with the net for several minutes , finally netting a bass that never seen to end . Couldn ’ t believe what we saw in our headlights as she came out of the net . The longest spotted bass I think I have ever seen - but not skinny ! She went 4 lbs . Pretty good for July ! Don ’ t think he willneed minnows now , as he had a good limit around 14 + lbs . We tried topwater lures but it was just too hot ,” he noted .
Besides seeing 2 eagles , Hemphill saw something that he had never seen before in the summer at Berryessa .
“ As we headed up past Big Island around 7 pm , I never saw or heard a single boat north of the island the whole time we were
• Stampede Kokanee
• Oroville Kings
• Now Booking Sacramento River Fall Salmon !
Largest Trout Stocking Program North of Sacramento
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3713 www . collinslake . com P . O . Box 300 . Oregon House . California 95962 3718 there . That was a first for me . The fire damaged trees were a sad thing to see in the narrows . I guess I could say that the slow night bite didn ’ t surprise me . The bite died around midnight as the quarter moon set ,” he noted .
Berryessa rainbow trout action is “ fair ,” with anglers reporting catching just 2 to 3 fish per trip , said Joe Rubio at Sweeney ’ s Sports in Napa . The good news is that the fish are quality ones averaging 2 to 3 pounds and 16 to 20 inches long .
“ Most guys are trolling at 50 feet deep with Speedy Shiners , Rainbow Runners and nightcrawlers behind flashers ,” Rubio tipped . “ The trout are scattered throughout the lake from the dam to Putah Creek .”
Channel catfish action is very good . “ Guys are doing best fishing the north and west ends of the lake around Oak Shores and Spanish Flat ,” explained Rubio . “ Fishermen are tossing out dough baits , anchovies ,, clams , nightcrawlers chicken liver , shad and other baits . One guy showed me photos of two fish weighing 20 and 16 pounds that he caught , but most of the cats weigh 6 to 8 pounds .”
BULLARDS BAR / ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIRS
Fast Kokanee Action Continues
SMARTVILLE - Boaters fishing Bullards Bar Reservoir are bagging 10 fish limits of kokanee – and the fish are getting bigger .
“ Trollers are picking up more kokanee in the 13 to 15 inch range at Bullards Bar ,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse . “ A couple of customers launched their boat at Dark Day and had their limits by the time they trolled to the other side of the lake .”
He said they landed their kokanee while trolling pink hoochies , tipped with white corn , behind
Great Fishing for Rainbows , Browns and Lake Trout !
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( 209 ) 295-4868 40800 Highway 88 , Pioneer , CA 95666 www . bearrivercampground . com
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dodgers at 35 to 55 feet deep .
“ The spotted bass fishing has been slow ,” noted Fong . “ Anglers have been catching a lot of small bass from 10 to 14 inches long while using Senkos and shakey heads .”
Bullards Bar is holding 730,7629 feet of water , 76 percent of capacity and 96 percent of average .
At Englebright Reservoir , anglers continue to target rainbows while bait fishing with PowerBait and nightcrawlers or trolling with spoons , spinners and nightcrawlers behind dodgers .
Englebright is holding 68,747acre feet of water , 98 percent of capacity and 104 percent of average .
- Dan Bacher
CAMANCHE LAKE
Topwater Enthusiasts Battle Morning Bass
BURSON - Fishing for most continues to be slow for most at Camanche due to sizzling temperatures and recreational boaters , but savvy bass anglers have been experiencing some top-notch top water action at the reservoir .
“ A couple of friends found great top water fishing while using Zara Spooks and Whopper Stoppers in shad patterns on their latest trip to the lake ,” reported Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse in Sacramento . “ They targeted island tops from early in the morning to 2 pm .”
“ You should be able to get an 18 pound , five fish limit of mixed spotted and largemouth bass while fishing top water lures ,” he tipped .
Water temperatures were reported between 79-81 degrees , according to Terry of the Lake Camanche Recreation Area .
Downrigger trollers are still picking up rainbows in deep water . Robbie Dunham of ‘ Koke Machine ’ Guide Service has been catching limits of rainbows while trolling with Speedy Shiners in the main river channel near the dam at depths to 45 feet in the
CONTINUED ON PG 11
Now Booking Klamath River Spring Kings !
Cpt . Jerry Lampkin – 25 years of experience fishing Salmon , Steelhead , Stripers , Trout & landlocked Kings on the Feather , Sacramento , American Rivers and Folsom Lake
Custom 23 ’ Rogue Jet
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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
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