Call for Best Dates – ( 530 ) 370-1001
8 Aug 17 - 31 , 2018
FRESHWATER
VOL . 37 • ISS . 18
ALMANOR / BUCKS LAKE
Trout , Kings and Kokanee Tangle with Anglers
CHESTER - “ It ’ s tough to choose between Almanor and Bucks right now . I ’ ve been fishing at both lakes and the action has been outstanding ,” reported Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy ’ s Guide Service .
“ At Almanor most of the fish being caught are rainbows , but there are some browns around too . The rainbows average about 3 pounds and much bigger fish are available . We are getting them slow trolling 1 inch pieces of threaded night crawler right along the bottom ,” reported Roccucci .
Fish Sniffer reader Troy Reason of Chico hit Lake Almanor last week and caught a couple quality fish .
“ I set up near the springs on the eastern side of the lake to mooch crickets and worms . The worm drew a blank , but I hooked two fish on the crickets . One was a 4.4 pound rainbow and the other fish was a 3.88 pound king salmon . I never get a limit of trout at Almanor , but the fish that I do hook are pretty darn nice ,” exclaimed Reason . Shore anglers haven ’ t been catching
Bucks Lake Lake Almanor Davis Lake Eagle Lake Lake Tahoe
FRESHWATER REPORTS
many trout at Almanor since the near shore water is fairly warm . Bass fishing has been fair for anglers fishing live crickets drifted beneath clear plastic bobbers .
“ At Bucks Lake , the kokanee bite has been good to really good depending on the day . The basic kokanee is running 12 to 13 inches , but there are a few 14 inchers showing up . We ’ ve been getting our fish with Paulina Peak dodgers teamed with hoochies ,” tipped Roccucci .
LAKE AMADOR
Jose Aguilar Wins Catfish Derby with 9.8 Pounder
IONE – Jose Aguilar won first place in the annual catfish derby at Lake Amador on July 27 by landing a channel cat weighing 9.8 pounds . He won a total of $ 1600 in cash , reported Elizabeth Lockhart of the Lake Amador Resort .
Matt James placed second in the event with a 9.3 lb . channel catfish . He won $ 1000 , “ He said he was catching catfish all night ,” said Lockhart .
“ A total of 162 people fished in the derby ,” said Lockhart . “ Most anglers didn ’ t weigh in fish because they
Now Booking Bucks Lake Trout & Kokanee and Almanor trophy trout !
Captain Bryan Roccucci www . BigDaddyFishing . com
Call for Best Dates – ( 530 ) 370-1001
LAKE AMADOR Trout Planted Weekly !
• Cafe • RV Park • Waterslide
• Campground • Disc Golf
• General Store
Cafe Now Open ! - Serving Friday , Saturday & Sundays 209-274-4739
7500 Lake Amador Dr ., Ione , CA 95640
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3712 didn ’ t think the fish were big enough to place in the event .”
Catfish continue to offer the best action at the reservoir . “ Bass fishermen report catching and releasing a lot of catfish while fishing swimbaits and plastics along the shoreline in the evenings ,” she said “ They report seeing the catfish chasing bluegill along the shoreline .”
Fishermen targeting the cats are experiencing the top action while tossing out mackerel , anchovies and nightcrawlers in the back of the lake , Jackson Creek and near the RV Park . While fish to 17 pounds are available , most are in the 6 to 10 lb . range . “ Bluegill are showing everywhere on the lake off structure , including the boat docks ,” she added .
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 11 feet from maximum pool .
AMERICAN BASIN
Union Valley Kokanee Go On Bite
AUBURN – Boaters are bagging good numbers of kokanee salmon at Union Valley Reservoir , though there are no big
The Fish Sniffer staff , publisher Paul Kneeland and I join all the residents of California in extending our thoughts and prayers to folks impacted by the wildfires raging up and down the state . We hope for a swift end to the fires , the loss of life and the loss of property . Some of the fires have hit in the heart of Fish Sniffer country near popular fisheries like Clear Lake , Lake Berryessa , Whiskeytown Reservoir , Lake Shasta , the Sacramento River in Redding and Eagle Lake . We ’ ve got friends , guides , clients , readers and subscribers at all those locations and we ’ ve been seeing a lot of scary images on Facebook posted on the pages of folks near the path of the fires . When I decided to draft this note , I asked my fellow editor , Dan Bacher for his official statement on the fires dotting the state and he responded with these eloquent words . “ The Carr Wildfire has been one of the most devastating to ever hit California ,” said Dan . “ Nearly 1,000 buildings , including both homes and businesses , have been destroyed and six people have been confirmed dead in the 99,000-acre , 155 square mile fire that has raged through the Whiskeytown Reservoir area , Redding , Keswick and other Shasta County communities over the past week . The fire leveled the town of Keswick , home to 450 people . Besides forcing 38,000 people to flee their homes , the fire has also forced big numbers of deer and other wildlife , as well as domestic animals , to leave their homes .” “ Our hearts go out to all of the people displaced by the Carr Wildfire and the many other fires raging throughout California , we support all efforts by
Ryder caught this dandy trout while trolling at Lake Almanor on August 1 .
Photo courtesy of BIG DADDY ’ S GUIDE SERVICE , Quincy .
concentrations of fish . “ Three of us caught 14 kokanee on a recent trip to Union Valley ,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse . “ We trolled from 6 a . m to 11 a . m . Two of the fish measured 17 and 18 inches long , while the rest were in the 12 to 13 inch range . We didn ’ t see any concentrations of fish – just a fish here and there .”
They used pink and purple hoochies , tipped with white corn , behind Shasta Tackle Slingblades at 45 to 55 feet deep .
Boaters are finding “ pretty good ” fishing at Hell Hole Reservoir for kokanee ranging from 12 to 14 inches long , according to Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle in Auburn . Your best bet is to troll with hoochies , tipped with white corn , behind dodgers , on downrigger set-ups .
Newton hasn ’ t heard any reports on the rainbow and brown trout fishing at French Meadows Reservoir lately .
- Dan Bacher
CONTINUED ON PG 8
A Note to The People in Fish Sniffer Country Impacted by Wildfires …
fire officials and local , state and federal officials and community members to save the lives and property of people displaced by this tragic event . A huge round of applause goes out to all of the firefighters and staff from CDF and other agencies out there risking their lives on the front lines to contain and put out the fires – and we support all efforts to rebuild the communities displaced by these tragic events ,” said Bacher . In closing I ’ d like to give special thank you to all of the firemen , support staff and law enforcement officers that are out on the fire lines . You folks do an amazing job , managing a seemingly unmanageable situation . I cannot imagine trying to put out a fire in the state ’ s tinder dry , super steep and rugged canyons , but you folks make it happen , risking life and limb in the process . Finally , I know we have several incarcerated subscribers that work out of various conservation camps as inmate firefighters , such as the men at Ishi Conservation Camp No . 18 in Tehama County . These men are serving time and paying their debt to society . It ’ s hard to think of a more noble , selfless and brave way of paying that debt than by working on the fires lines !
- Cal Kellogg