Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3904 Feb 1-14 | Page 21

SHASTA LAKE
Jan 31 - Feb 14, 2020
FRESHWATER
VOL.39 • ISS. 4
cont.
Shasta’s rainbows are holding near the
surface, but they tend to be scattered and
on the move. As a result, it takes some
searching to find productive areas.
Anglers moving quickly and working
the top 25 feet are going the best. Shad
pattern spoons, flies and plugs all draw
strikes when willing fish are encountered.
Both the Sacramento and McCloud
Arms are producing rainbows. The
average rainbow goes 14 inches to about
3 pounds. Browns can go much larger,
but they’ve been few and far between
recently.
19
Steelhead Prospects Improve
with Arrival of Storms
SMITH RIVER – Fishing prospects
are improving on the Smith and Chetco
rivers with the arrival of big winter
storms on the North Coast.
“We have finally got some well needed
rain and lots of it.,” said Phil Desautels
of Phil’s Smiling Salmon Guide Service.
“Both rivers are as high as they have
been all season. The fish are coming.”
“I am hearing some of the best reports
from the Smith that I have heard in
a few years and the plunkers in the
Lower Chetco are catching them on
a daily basis. The rain forecast is
lightening up and we are going to have
great conditions next week. I still have
January openings so give me a call and
let’s go fishing,” he advised.
SMITH/CHETCO RIVERS
“We have been
getting a few days
in here and there
in between the
storms and the
fishing has been
EST. 1953
pretty consistent,”
Lake Tahoe’s
reported Mario
Largest Fishing Fleet
Gomez of Ironhead
year-round fishing
Guide Service.
“There have been
a bunch of fish
Half & Full Day Charters
moving into the
coastal rivers and
single fisherman
it looks like this
to large families
weekend we should
& private parties
be able to find
We supply everything
fishable water in a
you need to fish!
few of our preferred
locations.”
“We have been
Mackinaw
2 to 4
Kokanee Salmon seeing
fish a day with a
Rainbow Trout
few other missed
opportunities side
Brown Trout
drifting. I have
also seen a ton of
Call or Book Online [phone]
fish caught by the
plunkers this last
tahoesportfishing.com|@tahoesportfishing
week, so it should
TAHOE
SPORTFISHING
Trout fishing is off to a bang in 2020 at Lake Camanche. This trophy 9.14 pound rainbow was
landed on January 2.
Photo courtesy of the LAKE CAMANCHE RECREATION COMPANY, Lake Camanche.
be game on as soon as your favorite river
turns green,” he concluded.
- Dan Bacher
SUTTER MARINE IS YOUR DEALER FOR
Boats
TAHOE
Anglers Battle Macks Between
Snow Storms
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE- Occasional
storms have been pushing over the Sierra
crest dropping snow in the Tahoe Basin.
Between the storms the weather has been
amazing with dazzling blue skies and
crisp temperatures.
Anglers that visit the big lake have been
finding solid mackinaw action on Tahoe.
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters
has been fishing frequently and limits
visit
have been landed during most outings.
Minnows and dodgers have been Gene’s
staple offering trolled from 110 to 220
feet deep. The fish are averaging 3 to 6
pounds.
Gene has also been pulling stick baits
for the occasional larger fish. Gene
advises pulling offerings just fast enough
to give them action and keep your speeds
erratic enough to make the lures and
baits stop and surge every now and then.
This seems to trigger reaction strikes
from fish following the gear.
The team at Tahoe Sportfishing have
been hitting the lake regularly for both
half day and full day trips. Mackinaw
limits have been the rule with fish ranging
up to and beyond the 6-pound mark.
Minnows teamed with flashers have been
tempting most of the strikes.
If you’d like to experience winter on
Tahoe in comfort, give the folks at Tahoe
Sportfishing a call
now to secure
your spot (530)
541-5448 or check
them out online at
tahoesportfishing.
com
LAKE
CAMANCHE
World-Class Trout & Bass Fishing,
year round!
TRINITY
RIVER
G-3 Gator Tough 20’ Center Console
Complete package with welded tunnel hull, front and rear
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CALL FOR
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SUTTER MARINE, INC.
3904
We Offer A COMPLETE
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[phone]
380 Garden Hwy.• Yuba City, Calif.
2 for 1
CAMPING
Mid Week Camping Special!
Your 2nd Night is FREE!
CALL 866.763.5121
Camp one
night at
Lake Camanche
and receive
your second night free. Offer must be
redeemed by calling [phone] and
mentioning promo code FS14 at the time
of booking. offer not redeemeable online.
Not valid on weekend, holidays, full hook-up RV sites
or for cottage stays. Supplemental fees may apply.
LAKE CAMANCHE’S AMENITIES
• Guaranteed Weekly Fish plants
(OCT. - MAY)
• Boat Rentals
• Lodging Available
• Stores, Cafe & Marina Grill
• Courtesy Launch Ramps on
both North & South Shores
• RV Sites w/ Full Hookups
(LONG & SHORT TERM)
Low
Salmon and
Steelhead
Numbers
Disappoint
Anglers
LEWISTON -
Low numbers of
fall-run Chinook
salmon returned
to the Trinity River
Fish Hatchery
in 2019, while
the number of
steelhead coming
back to date is
3805
www.CamancheRecreation.com
CONTINUED ON
PG 23