Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3819 Aug 30-Sep 13 | Page 6

4 FRESHWATER Aug 30 - Sept 13, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 19 FRESHWATER REPORTS LAKE ALMANOR Summer Trout Bite Sizzles! CHESTER- “It is hard to believe it is already the end of July. The past two months have been a whirlwind of fantastic fishing here at Lake Almanor,” exclaimed Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service. “We have continued to stay on good numbers of quality fish by following the bite and the food sources all around Almanor. The fish were feeding heavily on the aquatic bugs which hatch at various locations around the lake. The hex fly hatch started slow then came on strong and is now all but over. There are still a few hatching as we have been seeing small areas with shucks and dead larva floating on the surface, but the bulk of the hatch is over,” disclosed Roccucci. “The hex flies, as usual, drew large numbers of fish in to areas and adjacent to areas where the hatch was happening. Now with the largest of the hatches winding down, and the water warming to the mid 70’s the fish have been transitioning to deeper cooler water and starting to feed on their other favorite food source, pond smelt,” said Roccucci. “We have been fishing areas along the east shore and the peninsula that tend to hold bait and fish. During the recent trips the catch has been mostly made up of rainbows from 2 to over 5 pounds with a few browns from 3 to 10 lbs. We released Fish Eagle Lake! The Fish ARE BACK! Now booking, Sept, Oct, and Nov. TIM NOXON [phone] 3818 facebook: Fish Traveler Join us for a unique experience that will keep your family coming back year after year! Nick Welton and Bobby Yabumoto Win Moonlighter Bass Tournament IONE – Nick Welton and Bobby Yabumoto took first place in the Moonlighter Bass Tournament at Lake Amador with 10 fish weighing 35.40 pounds. They also caught the big fish, a 9.15 lb. largemouth. The second through fifth winners were: 2nd Derek Dalton / Thomas Dodd 24.40 3rd Kevin Lincomfelt / Willie Lincomfelt 23.85 4th Paul Dasonville / Shawn Dasonville 23.45 5th Kevin Smith / Dale Burkett 22.40. The 24 teams fished all night long with dark colored Senkos, Robo Worms and jigs are effective. Channel catfish and bluegill continue to bite at Amador. Fish mackerel, chicken liver and nightcrawlers in the coves in the evening for the cats – and fish mealworms, redworms or mini-crawlers off the docks and around structure and brush for the bluegill. The lake is 11 feet full, a great water level for this time of year. Target Stripers Until Salmon Arrive SACRAMENTO – You can expect very little fishing pressure on the American River until the salmon arrive in force by mid to late September. Striped bass fishing is slow, but it is the best bet now. Toss out Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks and other top water lures early and late in the day or fish crawdad tails, jumbo minnows or live pike minnows Continued on Pg 7 BERRYESSA LAKE Quality, Not Quantity, for Black Bass Bait & Tackle UNCLE LARRY’S LURES Time after Time, the most successful Trout & Kokanee Spinners! Use the best, catch the best and the biggest! RV Sites • Cabins • Tent Sites Free WiFi • Rec Room • Grocery Store • Gas • Diesel • LPG • Laundry www.EagleLakeandRV.com 3809 of Sacramento Pro Tackle, who reported that a couple fishing for catfish on the clam bed between the Sixteenth Street Bridge and the railroad trestle Steve Ruminski of Vacaville shows off a bridge hooked huge 34-inch catfish that he hooked while a sturgeon trolling for kokanee this July. estimated to be Photo by PAUL KNEELAND, Fish Sniffer Staff. around 5 feet long. “They didn’t catch any catfish,” reported Barnes. and another “About a month ago, anglers reported largemouth just hooking some post-spawned stripers in the under 6 lbs. were boated. The two night 7 to 12 lb. range while bait fishing in the fish hit the usual 7 inch black Berkley lower American, but I haven’t heard any Power Worm.” reports on any action lately,” he added. “Our best five were close to 20 lbs. The American from the U.S. Geological Quality bass fishing but not quantity this Survey gauging station cable crossing trip. We saw lots of fish on the meter from about 300 yards downstream from the 20 to 40 feet, assuming many were bas,” Nimbus Hatchery fish rack site to the he stated. mouth at Discovery Park is now open to “Topwater lures didn’t work with the salmon fishing. Expect the salmon fishing sudden heat. It was strange to catch one to pick up on the American by mid to late of the big largemouths during the first 10 September when the fall Chinook run minutes of the trip on a hot evening. We moves into the river were fishing evening shadows on a deep The Bureau of Reclamation water wall. Overall, I really think the sudden releases to the American River below hot days that were late this year might Nimbus Dam continue to be 3,500 cfs. have the bass a little disoriented,” said - Dan Bacher Hemphill. “Even after a few hours of dark, the fish were not active as they were on my WINTERS – Larry Hemphill, fishing guide, took a friend out for a short evening/night trip 3816 on Lake Berryessa. Unfortunately, the bite was very slow - probably because of Visit The Mother Lode Region’s Official Fishing Tackle the heat, Headquarters Today For All Of your Inland Fishing Needs! “We did catch a good largemouth WIDE SELECTION • GREAT PRICES • YOU SAVE! about 8 pm that HOOKD4LIFE.COM went 5-1/2 lbs.,” said RODS • REELS • LINE • FROGS • SWIMBAITS • JIGS BAIT • HOOKS • SPINNERS • TERMINAL Hemphill. “We caught TACKLE • HARDBAITS • SOFT PLASTICS • SPECIALS • CLOSEOUTS & MUCH MORE! a few in the 2 – 2-1/2 lb range. After dark Visit us on your way to: Camanche, Pardee, Amador, Rancho Seco, New Melones And More ! a 3 lb. spotted bass [phone] 106 East Main Street, Ione, CA 95640 Docks and Boat Slips Available Corner of The Strand and Palmetto Way Spalding, California during the day. Fly fishing with Clouser Minnows can also be very productive. The most exciting report is from Uncle Larry Barnes LAKE AMADOR AMERICAN RIVER CALL FOR DETAILS AND RESERVATIONS. email: [email protected] a 10 yesterday. There are a few larger salmon in the mix from time to time as well. Look for the action to continue as we are now reaping the rewards of the fantastic winter with higher water levels and a good flow of cold water still entering the lake,” Roccucci asserted. “There are still a few dates open during the month of August. Don’t miss out on this exciting summer time fishery, contact us today to reserve your dates,” Roccucci advised in closing. www.unclelarryslures.com [phone] 3813 MADE IN THE USA Great Fishing for Rainbows, Browns and Lake Trout! •Cabins •Campground •Restaurant & Bar •Fishing Boat Rentals Call for Information and Reservations 3614 [phone] 40800 Highway 88, Pioneer, CA 95666 www.bearrivercampground.com Salmon • Striper • Trout • Kokanee • Stripers • Oroville Kings • Stampede Kokanee [phone] • [phone] www.fishbarebones.com 3807