Up-To-Date and Published Locally ... By Sportsmen ... For Sportsmen !
Suisun Bay Map Feature
MADE IN U . S . A
See Page 16
39 Years Serving Sportsmen
Vol . 40 - ISS . 7
Our 39th Year
Since 1982
“ The Magazine for West Coast Sportsmen !” INSIDE
Area Reports
The Rockfish Opener Produced Great Weather and Family Fun
T he day was finally here for us anglers on the Central Coast of California . April 1 , 2021 marked opening day for Rockfish season . In the days leading up to the opener the marine forecast looked very promising for beautiful conditions , the weather was slated to be warm , the perfect kick-off for the season . As I arrived at Patriot Sportfishing in Morro Bay I was greeted with familiar faces . The fishing community is such a wonderful group . Anglers from all different walks and stages of life convene on a boat to catch fish , tell stories and enjoy the mighty ocean . One of the things I enjoy is how willing everyone is to help those around them with tips , sharing tackle and what is working that day to catch these fish .
WHAT ’ S HOT by Amy Wellenkamp
While I waited for more anglers to arrive , I noticed several families with school-age kids signing in . It is spring break for several schools , and I enjoyed seeing these kids get out on the ocean . Some for the very first time . When it was time to board the Avenger and head out to the fishing grounds , deckhands Bailey Pikea and Meghan Fox got everyone situated and tied up . They made sure all anglers knew how to use the gear before we stopped to fish . Giving instructions on how to keep their lines tight , thumb on the reel as they let line out to keep from birds nesting , to make sure they get their gear to the bottom where the fish are , and what it feels like when a fish takes the bait . These instructions are so important for first time anglers to have the best
James and his daughters Avery , age 9 , and Elyse , age 7 , of Moraga , California pictured with Elyse ’ s jackpot catch . Congratulations Elyse !
Photo Courtesy of Amy Wellenkamp
CONTINUED ON PG 25
Enjoy The Struggle Right Now The Fish Are Coming !
My favorite time to fish striped bass on the delta is definitely the fall but the spring striper run comes in a close second . The reason I enjoy fishing the fall more than the spring is because I think that the fall fish are in the delta to feed on the schools of shad . The spring fish are primarily moving through the delta up to the river systems to spawn . In the fall it is easy to figure out patterns and where the fish are located . In the spring , the fish are moving fast and they may be in one spot for one day and gone the next . I was out on the delta a few weeks ago and I found the fishing to be tough . Really tough actually . My son and I covered a bunch of water and stopped at several proven productive spots . I thought the tough fishing was because a cold front just passed that included rain and even hail . On this day , we only caught two fish and lost a couple as well . After that trip , I figured I needed to spend some time on the water and figure out what these fish we doing and where most of the fish were holding . I use to joke and say I knew where the fish were sleeping , eating , having coffee , and socializing throughout the day . During those times I was spending a lot of time on the water and I was in tune with what the fish were doing . That has not been the case for the last couple of years since my days on the water have been limited . I was excited when my schedule was going to allow me to spend a couple days on the delta . The great thing is
GONE FISHING by Ernie Marlan
that it was going to be back to back days . This is so important because the tides and weather conditions were going to be similar on these two days . My hope was that I would just find the fish on the first day and I would have two full days of great fishing . The first day of my two day trip I had really good tides . I like a lot of water moving and it was a pretty big tide . A slight breeze with the wind about 8-10 miles per hour and a little cloud cover . The water temperature was about 58 degrees . Text book conditions in my opinion . Of course , I started throwing topwater baits on a huge flat that had some good current moving on it . I was confident and everything seemed to be lining up to be a good day . I covered this flat really well and I only got one blow up on the topwater bait . It was a largemouth bass that probably weighed in around the 2 ½ - 3 pound range . It wasn ’ t the species I was looking for but it was a fish on the boat and it helped my confidence .
CONTINUED ON PG 13
April 9 , 2021
FRESHWATER REPORTS Lake Almanor - Clear Lake ............................. 14-15 Collins Lake - Lake Del Valle ............................... 18
Eastern Sierra - New Melones Lake ............... 20-21 Lake Oroville - Trinity River ............................. 22-23
SALTWATER REPORTS Bodega Bay - Monterey Bay .............................. 26-27 Baja Roundup ........................................................... 28
FEATURES
Where ... When ... How ...
GO FOR IT : Staff ........................................................ 4 TROUT AND KOKANEE JOURNAL ...................... 6-10 HOW-TO : Tyler Andersen ........................................... 11 MAP FEATURE : Dan Bacher ................................ 16-17 CATCH & RELEASE - FLY FISHING : Tyler Andersen ... 23 SPOTLIGHT ON CONSERVATION : Dan Bacher ....... 24
STAFF TACKLE
What We ’ re Using
Ernie Marlan - fished the California Delta for striped bass . He used a Quantum Smoke HD teamed up with a Quantum Inshore casting rod . He threw a variety of lures that included topwater baits , glide baits , swimbaits , and spoons . He caught a few schoolie sized stripers and the most productive lure was a Livingston FlatSide 50 in Spring Craw color .
Paul Kneeland - fished Camanche Reservoir with Gary Caruso of Auburn in the Fish Sniffer 21 ’ Rogue Jet Coastal . They caught rainbow trout to 24 inches and 5.25 pounds using an Daiwa 8 foot DXS composite rod with a Abu Garcia Kokanee Special levelwind reel loaded with 8 lb test Yozuri Hybrid line .. They trolled Speedy Shiner spoons in silver / red lightning bolt with Pro Cure Trophy Trout Baitwax off the Canon Downriggers at 24 to 50 feet deep and 2.7 mph .
Dan Bacher - fished for rainbow trout at Sugar Pine Reservoir . He used a Berkley Ugly Stick GX2 6 ’ 6 ” medium action spinning rod , teamed up with a Shakespeare GX235 spinning reel filled with 6 lb . test P-Line CX Premium Fluorocarbon Coated Line . He fished with rainbow Berkley PowerBait , nightcrawlers and 2 / 5 oz . gold / red stripe Little Cleos .