Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3818 August 16-30 | Page 6

4 FRESHWATER August 16-30, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 18 FRESHWATER REPORTS ALMANOR/BUCKS LAKES Bucks Boots Out Kokanee, While Big ‘Bows Bite At Almanor CHESTER - Northern Sierra anglers have a couple exciting options to choose from. For pure fun and excitement, Bucks Lake is the place to go and kokanee are the species to target. On the other hand, if you are interested in big fish Almanor is the spot. Rainbows to 6 pounds continue to show for patient anglers trolling threaded worms and soft baits just off the bottom in 25 to 30 feet of water. “The fishing is wide open at Bucks Lake right now. In fact, it’s so good I’ve been running two trips per day at times and getting limits of kokanee in the morning and in the afternoon,” exclaimed Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service. “We’ve been using Paulina Peak blades and hoochies to get the salmon. Occasionally we’ve been picking up a mackinaw or a rainbow while chasing kokanee,” said Roccucci. “At Almanor the bite just keeps on going. It’s slower than it was this spring, but we continue to get jumbo rainbows that can weigh as much as 6 pounds while slow trolling worms and other offerings near the bottom. I’m really looking forward to the fall season at Almanor. There are a lot of big fish in the lake that have spent the summer feeding in deep water areas. When those fish come back up to the surface when the water temperature drops things are going to get very exciting,” Roccucci predicted. in the 5 to 15 lb. range, said Lockhart. Anglers are hooking the fish while soaking mackerel, chicken liver and nightcrawlers around the corners of the dam. “Bass anglers are reporting catching and releasing largemouths, especially around Doney Cove and Jackson Creek, but they haven’t reported what lures they’re using.” The annual moonlighter bass tournament is set for Saturday, August 10 at 7 p.m. to Sunday, August 11, at 7 a.m. The sign in starts at 4 p.m. and the barbecue will start at 5 p.m. on August 10. The cost is $175 per team, including the entry fees. There is a 80 percent payback in prize money. For more information, call [phone], - Dan Bacher AMERICAN BASIN Jiggers Nail Mackinaw at Hell Hole AUBURN – Boaters working jigs in deep water are picking up mackinaw up to 6 pounds and larger while fishing deep water at Hell Hole Reservoir, located on the Rubicon River. “Anglers are seeing the best action while jigging with 1 oz. P-Line Laser Minnows in black/silver and blue/silver at 90 feet deep in the main body,” said Mike Cunningham at Willfish Bait and Tackle. For kokanee salmon up to 14 inches, anglers should troll with pink hoochies, tipped with white corn, behind dodgers at 35 to 40 feet deep. For German browns and rainbows, anglers should toss out Rapalas early and LAKE AMADOR late in the day in the upper lake. French Meadows is worth a shot Bluegill Bend Light Rods for rainbows and browns. Troll with IONE – If you just want to hook fish nightcrawlers behind flashers or dodgers at Lake Amador, fishing light tackle for or with Rapalas in the Middle Fork of the bluegill is at the top of the angling menu. American River inlet. Bait anglers should “We seeing lots of bluegill now,” said find the best rainbow and brown action Elizabeth Lockhart at the Lake Amador while tossing out nightcrawlers, PowerBait Resort. “The sunfish are hitting all over and Rapalas in the same area. the lake, particularly around brush and The Middle Fork of the American River and structure.” at Rucky Chucky is a solid prospect for Fishermen are employing redworms, quality wild rainbows and browns. “One golden grubs, mealworms and mini- angler showed me a photo of a beautiful crawlers under bobbers to hook the bluegill. Other sunfish available at Amador 8 lb. rainbow that he caught and released at Rucky Chucky while tossing out a include crappie and redear sunfish. Rooster Tail spinner,” said Cunningham. Channel catfish are also offering decent Rainbow trout plants are boosting the fishing at Amador. Most of the fish are trout fishing in the Crystal Basin this summer. SMUD is coordinating six separate trout plantings from June through August. Union Valley, the largest of the three Captain Bryan Roccucci reservoirs, will get 10,000 pounds; Ice House, 8,750 pounds; and, Loon Now Booking Bucks Lake Bucks Lake Lake Almanor Trout & Kokanee Davis Lake and Almanor Eagle Lake trophy trout! Lake Tahoe www.BigDaddyFishing.com Call for Best Dates – [phone] Isabella was out at Lake Berryessa this July tossing a Senko at the mouth of Putah Creek when this big ‘ol bass decided to strike. Photo courtesy of DUANCE JANG, Sacramento. Lake, 6,250 pounds. The fish provided by SMUD will come from Mount Lassen Trout Farms of Payne’s Creek. The company also stocks SMUD’s Rancho Seco Lake, which annually hosts the very popular Trout Derby. AMERICAN RIVER Stripers Offer Best Bet Until Salmon Picks Up 916-308-3228 3817 LAKE AMADOR •Cabins •Campground •Restaurant & Bar •Fishing Boat Rentals Call for Information and Reservations 3614 3807 markmorrisonfishingguideservice.com [phone] 40800 Highway 88, Pioneer, CA 95666 www.bearrivercampground.com Trout Planted Seasonally! • Cafe • RV Park • Waterslide • Campground • Disc Golf • General Store Cafe Open Seasonally On Friday, Saturday & Sundays www.fishbarebones.com WINTERS – Larry Hemphill, fishing guide, reported top-notch bass fishing while finishing a guide trip with an angler that he had to postpone from May during one of the many heavy spring rain days. “In 2 hours we were soaked thru and thru. We were glad we did reschedule, as the night bite was pretty good last night and the full moon rise was stunning,” said Hemphill. “I never get tired of that on Berryessa or Clear Lake!!” “We only hooked one real big one - right at total darkness (no moon yet). I thought he had her hooked good but she came off - big fish!! We fished until 1 am and found the bite to be steady most of the time. All were smaller bass of all 3 species - maybe up to 2-3/4 lbs. The toads were fast asleep!” “I was happy that the bite did hold up most of the trip – there was lots of action from 1 to 2-1/2 pounders. Most bites were from 10 to 20 feet; we didn’t hook any deeper bass. Drop-shotting worked best before dark – the MM111 color as strong,” stated Hemphill. “We did get a fair topwater bite at dusk. It was best just before total dark. Continued on Pg 7 [email protected] Great Fishing for Rainbows, Browns and Lake Trout! [phone] • [phone] Take Your Pick of Black Bass or Kokanee Salmon SACRAMENTO – Fishing pressure has been very light on the American River, with few anglers trying since the opening day of salmon season. Stripers are worth a shot in the deeper holes on the river. Toss out Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks and other topwater lures early and late in the day or fish crawdad tails, jumbo minnows or live pike minnows during the day. Fly fishing with Clouser Minnows can also be very productive. The American from the U.S. Geological Survey gauging station cable crossing about 300 yards downstream from the Nimbus Hatchery fish rack site to the mouth at Discovery Park is now open to salmon fishing. The bag limit is two Chinook salmon per day, with a total of four fish in possession. Expect the salmon fishing to pick up on the American by mid to late September when the fall Chinook run moves Mark Morrison fishing Guide Service into the river. The Bureau of Salmon, Stripers, Trout, American Shad Reclamation water releases to the 1-6 people - Full day trips American River Fishing gear supplied below Nimbus Dam continue to be 3,500 Sacramento, American and Feather rivers cfs. - Dan Bacher Salmon • Striper • Trout • Kokanee • Stripers • Oroville Kings • Stampede Kokanee BERRYESSA LAKE 209-274 -4739 7500 Lake Amador Dr., Ione, CA 95640 WWW.LAKEAMADOR.COM