Fish Sniffer Magazine Issue 4021 | Page 15

November 26 , 2021

15

FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PG 13

RIO VISTA cont .

in the South Delta while drifting minnows , but that bite has turned off . Sturgeon fishing has been up and down also in the West Delta now . Captains Zack Medinas and Virginia Salvador of Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures experienced top-notch sturgeon fishing the Middle Grounds near Pittsburg during a recent trip . The two caught and released 5 sturgeon , including 2 in the 40 to 60 inch slot and 3 undersized fish , while fishing with salmon roe .

Since then , the sturgeon action has slowed down . “ Sturgeon fishing was tough on Sunday , although we were able to land one along with losing either a big slot or just oversized sturgeon ,” said Medinas . “ We caught and released five sturgeon including two slot-limit sturgeon on Saturday . On Veteran ’ s Day , veteran Eric Douglas of Richmond fought a huge oversized sturgeon that we kept in the water .” “ The sturgeon are spreading out , and you can find small groups in most of the normal locations . Roe / Ryer Island was a top spot over the weekend .” Information : ( 925 ) 497-7171 .

- Dan Bacher

PYRAMID LAKE

More Big Fish Expected as the Water Cools

Pyramid Lake is transitioning to the winter pattern at the lake cools . The big trout are still spread out , but more and more fish are cruising the shoreline . Flyfishing and casting spoons from the southern beaches is improving . The weather has been very nice and the fishing is good . Trollers are doing well from Warrior Point all the way down to the mouth of the Truckee River . Most folks are trolling with Silver Horde spoons , Yakima Bait Mag Lips , and Lyman Lures in bright colors at 2.5 to

3.0 mph . The fish are hitting from the surface down to about 40 feet deep while using leadcore and downriggers . The traditional method of slow trolling with large Flatfish is also very productive , especially in shallower water when you want to keep your bait right on the bottom . Most boaters are catching 10 to 20 fish per day , with several at the 10 pound or above mark . Pyramid Lake lodge reported a 23 pound cutthroat was checked in this week . The lake should be producing more and more big fish as the water cools off .

4016

45 Miles North of Sacramento

SACRAMENTO AREA / AMERICAN RIVER

Metro Anglers Working Hard for Late Fall Kings

SACRAMENTO – Boaters and bank anglers are catching a few late fall Chinook salmon on the Sacramento River , but the overall action lately has been tough . Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob ’ s Guide Service and Jimmy Downs had a great day when they landed 3 salmon weighing 18 , 16 and 8 pounds while trolling with Brad ’ s Cut Plugs behind flashers from Discovery Park to Garcia Bend . However , the trolling bite has slowed down since then and Reimers is planning to switch to targeting Chinooks from the metropolitan area to the Sacramento River near the Knights Landing Bridge . James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service reported hooking 4 and landing 1 salmon during his latest trolling adventure in the metro area on November 16 . “ It was an interesting day today ,” said

17 Station Sporting Clay Course !

100 Rounds Sporting Clays

Only $ 37 1000 Rounds

Sporting Clays Only $ 345

Company or Corporate shoots available at reasonable prices !

Pheasant Season Open On Sept . 25th , So Book Early For Best Dates And Rates !

Netzel . “ We were not marking much but that ’ s pretty typical of this year . I started out with 4 different

This lucky angler was fishing with James Netzel when he put this quality salmon on the deck . Brad ’ s Cut Plugs and Superbaits have been doing the trick for Captain James .

Photo Courtesy of Tightlines Guide Service

bumper and leader lengths as I always do . The fish will tell me what they want - then I ’ ll change them all .” “ I used 2 Pro Troll ProChip flashers and 2 Brad ’ s new 360 evolution flashers ,” he tipped . “ We hooked up onto the second hole for a harder thump than the ProTrolls . We hooked nothing most of the day until I tried the hard thump of the third hole and immediately got bit .” “ I changed the other Brad s 360 to # 3 hole and got bit . Now the only way to get ProTrolls to thump harder is to shorten the bumper , so I went from a 32 ” down to a 24 ”. We got bit again as we were netting our first and only fish , so they wanted a hard thump today .” “ We went 1 for 4 hook-ups , which is not very good odds , but we did get a nice buck into the boat . Three fish hit the Rotten Banana cut plug and one hit the twisted sister superbait . All of our bites came on the incoming tide trolling at 2.6-2.8 gps speed , slower than normal . The water clarity still is very stained but I like that better than the clear water we had all during the fall run . There was very little debris , a

( 530 ) 246-8457 • www . mikebogue . com Book Early for Best Dates

• Salmon

• Steelhead

• Trout

3603

4014 welcome sight .” On the American River , bank anglers are hooking a few steelhead in the 4 to 6 pound range while using salmon roe at River Bend Park . Fishermen are also hooking a few king salmon while backtrolling plugs in the Gristmill area , reported Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle in Auburn .

- Dan Bacher

TRINITY RIVER

Anglers Focus on Steelhead

SACRAMENTO – Anglers have met the quotas for both the Upper Trinity River and Lower Trinity River adult Chinook salmon , but anglers can continue to fish for jack salmon less than or equal to 23 inches and steelhead . This is traditionally one of the best times to target steelhead on both the Trinity and Klamath rivers with bait , spoons , spinners and flies from the bank and boats . The Upper Trinity River quota was set at 11:59 p . m . on Sunday , October 24 . That triggered the closure of the adult fall-run Chinook salmon fishery on the Trinity River from the Old Lewiston Bridge to the Highway 299 West Bridge at Cedar Flat . The Lower Trinity River quota was met as of 11:59 p . m . on Sunday , October 31 . This triggered the closure of the adult fall-run Chinook salmon fishery on the Trinity River from the Denny Road Bridge at Hawkins Bar to the confluence with the Klamath River . Both sectors will remain open for fishing and the harvest of jack ( twoyear-old ) Chinook salmon less than or equal to 23 inches and steelhead . All adult Chinook salmon caught must be immediately released and reported on the angler ’ s North Coast Salmon Report Card . Following the closure of the Lower Trinity River sector , adult Chinook salmon harvest will be closed throughout the Klamath-Trinity basin . However , some subsectors may re-open if CDFW ’ s Iron Gate Fish Hatchery and / or Trinity River Hatchery reach egg take goals . Subsequent press releases will be issued should these re-openings take place . Anglers may monitor the quota status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling the information hotline at ( 800 ) 564-6479 . For more information regarding Klamath River fishing regulations , please consult the 2021-2022 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations at wildlife . ca . gov / regulations .