FRESHWATER
16 March 26 , 2021 VOL . 40 • ISS . 6
FRESHWATER REPORTS :
CONTINUED FROM PG 13
EASTERN SIERRA cont .
isolated to the upper elevations above 8,000 feet . All areas are accessible for winter fishing by vehicle , with the exceptions of the canyon section of Hot Creek . In the Bishop area , the Lower Owens River has been fishing very well with dry flies , nymphs , and small streamers . The Wild Trout section is at a nice level for wading and the water is beginning to clear up . The afternoon hatches are starting to happen daily in the afternoons , and the caddis hatch has started to make an appearance . The drift boating has been fun for accessing those hard to reach and less pressured areas of the river . Small streamers and nymphs have been getting the job done . With the water clearing up we have been going down to lighter line and smaller indicators . The fish will become spookier in shallower and clear water so best approaches are from downstream of them while fishing . The Upper Owens River is open access now for driving with a few soft spots of mud still lying around . You may need 4WD in some areas to get through the muddy zones . The fish are now relocating and moving around quite a bit . Some are heading back to the lake and will take advantage of the BWO hatch in the afternoons . Dry fly fishing for trophy rainbows is not uncommon to see this time of year . During other times of the day the fish are deeper and feeding on midges , assassins , pheasant tails , and san juan worms . You can find these patterns on our website www . sierradrifters . com Hot Creek is fishing well in both areas , and a short hike into the canyon sections will get you away from people . Smaller midges and nymphs in sizes # 18 - 22 are best .
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Adam caught his personal best Cutbow that weighed in at a monstrous 14.7 pounds . He was trolling a Yozuri Shad Minnow around 20 feet deep with 6 lb . test line .
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In the afternoon switch to dry flies like Elk Hair Caddis # 18 , BWO # 16 , and Paramidge # 22 for some topwater action . The East Walker is closed to fishing through April 24th .
- Sierra Drifters Guide Service – Doug Rodricks
EEL RIVER
South Fork Produces Wild Steelies During Storm
MIRANDA – The South Fork of the Eel River produced solid catch and release fishing on the day before the river blew out again . “ Jerry Lampkin of TNG Motro Sports Guide Service , Jim Palma and I hooked and released a total of three steelhead during a trip on the south Fork from Miranda to Weott ,” said Craig Newton of Willfish Tackle . “ We hooked all of the fish while dragging salmon roe . One fish weighed 8 pounds and the other two were in the 5 to 6 pound range .” They were planning to go fishing the next day , but the river blew out because of heavy rain . “ It poured all day long while we fished ,” Newton noted . As of March 7 , only 153 steelhead and 65 chinook salmon have made the 150 mile journey all the way on the main Eel River to the dams in the Eel River headwaters . Learn more about the fish , the dams , and our vision for their future at http :// eelriver . org .
FEATHER RIVER
Lure Tosser Catches and Releases 44 Lb . Striper
SACRAMENTO – Whether the striper fishing on the Feather River is good or not now depends on who you talk to . “ There ’ s a good amount of people who are catching fish – and also others who are not catching them ,” said Aaron Searcy at Johnson ’ s Bait in Yuba City .” The fish are scattered , so when you get into them , anglers can hook 10 to 12 of them on a trip .” Most of the stripers are schoolies in the 18 to 26 inch range , but larger fish are being taken also . “ Brian Willits , who works in the store , was out with his brother-inlaw around East Nicolaus from 8:00 p . m . until 4:30 a . m ., one night ,” said Searcy . “ In spite of not getting a strike until midnight , they caught and released two trophy stripers weighing 26 and 44 pounds while throwing out G-Ratt ’ s Sneaky Pete glide baits .” Because of the shallow water conditions , the best action is being reported by shore anglers throwing glide baits , Bomber Long As and other topwater baits on the river from Star Bend to Verona , reported Searcy . However , anglers tossing pileworms from Beer Can Beach to the mouth at Verona are picking up some stripers also .
- Dan Bacher
FOLSOM LAKE
King Salmon Keep Coming In
FOLSOM – King salmon , along with a few holdover rainbow trout , are rewarding boaters trolling at Folsom Lake . “ Neighbors Mike Peckham and Steve Burgess joined us for a blustery day on Folsom ,” said Jerry Lampkin of TNG Motor Sports Guide Service . “ The lake is still producing nice kings to 20 inches , and a few nice rainbows . Rainbows are liking crawlers behind watermelon Sideckick dodgers . Kings are still preferring a white glow hoochie behind a glow crush dodger down at 40 + feet .” Craig Newton at Willfish Tackle confirmed the decent salmon and trout fishing at Folsom . “ Kings in the 15 to 20 inch range , along with holdover rainbows to 18 inches , are hitting at Folsom Lake ,” said Newton . “ The kings are biting hoochies , tipped with anchovy strips , at 35 to 50 feet deep , while the rainbows are grabbing nightcrawlers behind dodgers .’ Black bass fishing is busting loose at Folsom . “ The fish are hitting a little of everything , including crankbaits , spinnerbaits , drop shot rigs and tubes ,” said Don Paganelli of Paganelli ’ s Bass Fishing Experience . “ Most of the fish are spotted bass , with some smallmouths and largemouths mixed in . Fish to 4 pounds are being caught on the top 20 feet of water on the North Fork and elsewhere on the lake .”