16 Sept 11, 2020
FRESHWATER
VOL.39 • ISS. 19
FRESHWATER REPORTS:
CONTINUED FROM PG 12
CLEAR LAKE cont.
Guercio of Tom’s Guide Service
didn’t catch any fish in the early
morning hours. However, around
11 a.m. they went to a rockpile
where the bass went on a “fast
and furious” bite, according to
McDaniel.
They didn’t have much time to
fish there, because McDaniel had
a meeting to go to. “We caught
8 bass to 3-1/2 pounds in 45
minutes ,after hooking no fish all
morning, while dragging Senkos
and using drop shot rigs,” he
stated. “I also got one fish on a
baby Brush Hog. We fished at 20
to 25 feet deep.”
Catfish action is also going
strong; bass anglers are picking
up quite a few cats off the
rockpiles.
“The crappie fishing is tough,”
he stated. “The crappie are
suspended in deep water during
the hot weather. However, some
anglers reported catching some
crappie around Konotyee.”
- Dan Bacher
Anthony took a family camping trip to Lake Camanche this summer and scored this
impressive largemouth.
Photo courtesy of JOSE BLANCO, Stockton.
COLLINS
LAKE
Trout Until
Daybreak
and
Catfish at
Night
OREGON
HOUSE
- July heat
has brought in
the catfish with
quite a few big
whiskerfish
caught in the
last three
weeks.
We would be
remiss if we
didn’t include
Cristiano Calvo
of Vacaville
who hooked,
landed and
“handed”
a 12 lb. 1
oz. monster
catfish on a
nightcrawler
under the glow
of a green
crappie lamp
just after sunset near the main marina.
He ran it up to the store for a quick
picture then returned and released it in the
lake where it swam back to the depths.
Watch your toes folks!
Topping the list were Greg and Joe from
Folsom who reeled in among others an
8.7 lb. cat on anchovy.
They weren’t the only ones; the same
day Wes Bachman of Rocklin nailed a 7l
b. catfish in the small draw near campsite
#408 using a nightcrawler. Cruz had also
dropped a nightcrawler in to catch his 6.5
lb. cat. Joel Shelton of Point Reyes caught
that’s fish’s twin, another 6.5 lb. catfish,
again on a nightcrawler, fishing from the
rental dock.
Tyler Gleeson of Valencia broke the
trend of catching cats on worms, using a
more traditional hunk of cheese from the
shore by #124. He hooked himself a 5 lb
.fish. Jack Brunton caught two 5 pound
cats up by the bridge using PowerBait and
Bryce Brunton a caught 4 pounder on a
nightcrawler.
Catfish aside, Alyssa and Spencer had
good luck over the weekend catching
multiple trout, quite a few crappie, a
reported 3.25 lb. bass and a couple
bluegill another day, all caught from the
marina using garlic marshmallows.
Trout at Collins this time of year are
CONTINUED ON PG 17
outlook – 15-foot seas, 45 mph winds with
gusts to 70 mph the following day. In 30
years at Elfin Cove, he had never seen a
storm like this one in August – November
maybe, but not August!
That night, safely and securely
ensconced in our warm floating room, we
heard the wind and
rain pound the roof
and felt a gentle roll
that was like a lullaby
to put us to sleep!
The next morning,
after getting fully
outfitted in Grundens
rain gear and rubber
boots, we boarded our
boat for the day. It
was a 34-foot Bahia
Cruiser catamaran,
powered by twin
300 hp Mercury
outboards. It had a
full cabin with heater,
enclosed head, and
lots of fishing room
in the stern. The
fishing gear was all extreme quality,
with both large and small Avet Reels for
salmon and halibut, mounted on custom
and Shimano composite rods.
Captain Warren Howe was excited to be
taking us out on the first day, in spite of
the weather. He is a former San Francisco
bay skipper, and knew all about The Fish
Sniffer. He said they had been killing the
Fish Sniffer publisher Paul Kneeland and
Captain Warren Howe with 125 lb halibut.
Photo by BRIDGET LOONEY, Colfax.
GONE FISHING continued from page 1
silver and king salmon on the outside
all week, but because of the weather, we
wouldn’t be fishing out there today. We
headed east and set up for halibut in a nice
secluded bay. The weather was raging
outside, but where we were it was raining
with a breeze, but nothing bad.
We put out 4
rods – 2 with strips
of salmon, and 2
with whole salmon
heads on size 20/0
hooks!
We took turns
and Bridget lost the
first one we had in
just a few minutes
of waiting. Then
Mary and Ken
each hooked and
landed beautiful
Halibut of about
50 pounds. Then
it was my turn. A
rod on the port side
dipped, and Mike
grabbed it, set the
hook and handed it to me. It felt heavy for
a moment, then started ripping line off the
tight drag and 100 lb. test braided line!
I just held on for what seemed and
eternity, and the large fish finally slowed
down. I started working him up --- lift
the rod, and reel down to gain line. He
took 2 more runs near the bottom, then
just became a heavy weight as I slowly
winched him to the surface. As he came in
sight, Warren and the mate Jonathan both
exclaimed “that’s a beauty!”
They gaffed and harpooned the big fish,
and it was all they could do to heave him
over the side into the boat – a monster (to
me) 125-pound halibut!
The weather finally improved on our
third day and we were able to go outside
to fish for salmon with Captain Donny
and first mate Dylan. We were using the
smaller Avet reels with 60 lb. braid with
25 feet of 30 lb. mono leader, with green
and red 10-inch flashers followed by green
and white hootchies and Ace Hi Flies.
Several boats were around us, and we all
limited out with 6 salmon per angler by
about 11 am. The silvers were beautiful,
feisty fish from 6 to 12 pounds, with
a couple pushing 15. We headed back
inshore to fish for halibut and rockfish. We
stopped at a rockfish “hole” about 75 feet
Ken Kneeland and Mary Mihm with four fat
silver salmon caught trolling out of Eagle
Charters, Elfin Cove Alaska.
Photo by PAUL KNEELAND, Fish Sniffer Staff.
deep, and with jigs and shrimp
fly rigs on the salmon rods, we
had our combined limit of 20
rockfish in about 30 minutes!
Our last day we went back
outside to try for some kings.
We put out 4 rods and caught
several pink salmon and
silvers in the first few minutes.
Then the rod with a naked gold
spoon went off and Warren
grabbed the rod as the drag
was screaming and handed it
to Mary – she grabbed the rod
and held on for dear life! She
gamely fought the big salmon
for several minutes. Jonathan
grabbed the net and his eyes
bulged when he saw the size of the fish!
He netted a fat 41-inch, 37-pound king! I
don’t know who was more excited, Mary
or the crew! Later at the lodge when
it was weighed, we learned it was the
second biggest king of the season!
We had a
tremendous
time at Eagle
Charters Lodge.
All the crew
and staff were
very friendly
and extremely
helpful. And
you could
tell they were
having a
wonderful time
living in the
beauty of Elfin
Cove for the
summer. And
the fishing was
tremendous.
The mark of a
quality lodge
and quality
fishery, is when
you can’t fish
where the
guides want to
go because of
weather, and
you still catch
lots of fish!
I heartily
recommend
Eagle Charters
visit
LAKE CAMANCHE
World-Class Trout & Bass Fishing, year round!
2 for 1
CAMPING
Camp one
night at
Lake Camanche
and receive
your second night free. Offer must be
redeemed by calling (866) 763-5121 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.
Beautiful Eagle Charters Lodge in Elfin Cove, Alaska
Photo by Paul Kneeland, Fish Sniffer Staf
for anyone who wants to experience the
splendor of the Inland Passage, catch fish
until your arms get sore, and relax in a
beautiful, comfortable lodge in the wilderness.
Contact them at (360)606-5600 and
see them at www.eaglecharters.com
Mid Week Camping Special!
Your 2nd Night is FREE!
CALL 866.763.5121
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)
www.CamancheRecreation.com
3805