Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3821 Sept 27, 2019 | Page 6

4 Sept 27 - Oct 11, 2019 FRESHWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 21 FRESHWATER REPORTS ALMANOR Crowds Gone, Trout Bite Rolls Forward! CHESTER- “Well we have made it past the official end of the summer season, the Labor Day weekend,” related Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service. “This is a fantastic time of year to be fishing Lake Almanor, as you are likely to still have great weather solid fishing and not many people, it’s a magical thing.” “On recent trips, we have been seeing a good grade of the lake’s rainbow trout with an occasional brown showing. The fish have been running 3 pounds and up with the larger ones in the 5 to 6-pound class. There are a few quality king salmon being caught on the lake as well, but we have been concentrating on other areas of the lake in the west basin where the numbers of rainbows are higher as they feed on large schools of the pond smelt,” Roccucci disclosed. “Looking forward, as things begin to cool and the days get shorter, the options and possibilities of where and how to target these fish multiply substantially. It is full steam ahead as we head into the fall 3817 season,” Roccucci said. “Eagle Lake trips start in a few short weeks, and this year as in years past we will be splitting the fall season fishing both Eagle and Almanor. Eagle saw a pretty good bump in the water level this year due to a good winter and it is shaping up to be a pretty exciting fall season up there. Dates are still available in October and November for both light tackle trolling as well as fly casting trips, but they are starting to fill. Don’t miss your chance to do battle with these hot rainbows in the shallows,” Roccucci concluded. LAKE AMADOR Channel Catfish and Black Bass Offer Top Fishing IONE – If you want to catch fish at Lake Amador now, your top prospects remain catfish, black bass and bluegill. “The catfish are averaging between 5 and 10 pounds,” reported Elizabeth Lockhart at the Lake Amador Resort. “Anglers are fishing with nightcrawlers, anchovies and chicken livers at the campground, the corners of the dam and near the Mark Morrison fishing Guide Service clubhouse in the main body.” Salmon, Stripers, Trout, American Shad One angler landed 1-6 people - Full day trips two catfish weighing 6 and 8 pounds Fishing gear supplied during a recent fishing venture at Sacramento, American and Feather rivers the campground. “Bass averaging 916-308-3228 2 to 3 pounds [email protected] and going up to 5 pounds are being markmorrisonfishingguideservice.com reported by bass anglers,” said Lockhart. “They are hooking them on an array of lures off the points and in the coves.” “Bluegill are showing everywhere on the lake along the shoreline,” said Lockhart. “These panfish are hitting redworms, mini- www.unclelarryslures.com crawlers, meal worms and other baits.” Lockhart expects the lake’s on site MADE IN THE USA fish hatchery to UNCLE LARRY’S LURES Time after Time, the most successful Trout & Kokanee Spinners! Use the best, catch the best and the biggest! [phone] 3813 start planting trout during mid to late October, depending upon when the water is cool enough to begin planting. The water level is only 17 feet from full, a great lake level for this time of year. AMERICAN BASIN Hell Hole Kokanee Fishing Enters Tail Stretch AUBURN – Kokanee salmon were still biting at press time on Hell Hole Reservoir, though the fish were beginning to “turn,” with the males developing kypes, as the fish get ready to spawn. “The water district lowered the water level, but you can still launch a boat,” said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle. “Anglers are picking up kokanee ranging from 12 to 14 inches while trolling hoochies and spinners, tipped with white corn.” Newton said the fishing for German browns and rainbows on Hell Hole and French Meadows reservoirs should perk up as the water temperatures cool down. Troll with Rapalas and other stick baits along the shore for the top action. SMUD’s trout plants in the Union Valley, Ice House and Loon lakes are over for the season. The plants took place from June through August. Union Valley, the largest of the three reservoirs, received 10,000 pounds; Ice House, 8,750 pounds; and, Loon Lake, 6,250 pounds. The fish provided by SMUD 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. - Dan Bacher AMERICAN RIVER Anglers Are Waiting For Salmon Push SACRAMENTO – Although king salmon fishing remains tough 3816 on the American River, that should all change when the fall run of Chinook Visit The Mother Lode Region’s Official Fishing Tackle salmon moves into the Headquarters Today For All Of your Inland Fishing Needs! system. In preparation for WIDE SELECTION • GREAT PRICES • YOU SAVE! the salmon spawning HOOKD4LIFE.COM season at Nimbus Fish RODS • REELS • LINE • FROGS • SWIMBAITS • JIGS BAIT • HOOKS • SPINNERS • TERMINAL Hatchery, CDFW staff TACKLE • HARDBAITS • SOFT PLASTICS • SPECIALS • CLOSEOUTS & MUCH MORE! installed the fish picket on September 9. The Visit us on your way to: Camanche, Pardee, Amador, Rancho Seco, New Melones And More ! Bureau of Reclamation [phone] 106 East Main Street, Ione, CA 95640 reduced Nimbus Dam Docks and Boat Slips Available www.EagleLakeandRV.com Corner of The Strand and Palmetto Way Spalding, California 3809 Trout Planted Seasonally! • Cafe • RV Park • Waterslide • Campground • Disc Golf • General Store Cafe Open Seasonally On Friday, Saturday & Sundays RV Sites • Cabins • Tent Sites Free WiFi • Rec Room • Grocery Store • Gas • Diesel • LPG • Laundry LAKE AMADOR 209-274 -4739 7500 Lake Amador Dr., Ione, CA 95640 WWW.LAKEAMADOR.COM releases from 3,000 cfs to 1,000 cfs on September 9. After the picket was installed, Reclamation ramped the flows back up to 2,700 cfs. The release will be maintained at 2,700 cfs “until further notice,” said Peggy Manza, Reclamation spokesperson. “The salmon fishing is slow on the American,” reported Alan Fong of Fishermen’s Warehouse. However, Fong noted that some shore anglers have reported catching salmon in the 8 to 30 lb. range while tossing out Flying C and other spinners at the mouth at Discovery Park. Uncle Larry Barnes of Sacramento Pro Tackle said fishermen are picking up an “occasional salmon” while drift fishing in Continued on Pg 7 Bait & Tackle Join us for a unique experience that will keep your family coming back year after year! This young man caught his first ever fish when this Shasta Lake rainbow decided to smash a Mack’s Lure Wiggle Hoochie. Photo courtesy of LES FERNANDES, Fish On Charters. 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