20 Sept 11, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 19
Spotlight On Kayak Fishing...
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in Citrus Heights, CA
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Hobie Bass Open
Series To Visit
The Hobie Bass Open Series (B.O.S.) is headed to the California Delta, and kayak
fishing’s top competitors couldn’t be more thrilled. With over 100 square miles of
outstanding largemouth bass habitat falling within the tourney boundaries, participants
will enjoy plenty of access and ample territory to seek out and connect with their quarry.
“We are really excited to bring the Hobie B.O.S. to the West Coast,” says Tournament
Director, A.J. McWhorter. “This is prime frogging water, so we could see a lot of exciting
surface action. The river is also tidally influenced, and we’ll have a new moon pulling on
the current. That should put the fish on the feed. Add this area’s reputation for producing
trophy bass and I think there’s potential for some real explosive action. It’s a terrific place
to compete – and to try for that lunker of a lifetime.”
Indeed, the Cali Delta is loaded with the kind of water, weeds and structure that spur
bigmouth growth in terms of both quality and quantity. Its dense weed mats are ideal for
frogging, hard structure such as docks, bulkheads and marina facilities provide shade
and edges where trophies often lurk, tidal currents move baitfish around, and tullies (tall
reeds) line the banks in many areas. Whether you enjoy working the surface and watching
big bass smash your lures, punching weeds, tossing creature baits, or ripping chatterbaits
across the flats, there are significant stretches here to compliment your strengths.
“I can’t wait to get this Hobie B.O.S. underway,” says Michael Lavoie of Mather, California.
“I love to work around rocks, flats and sunken islands, and all three of these are spread
liberally across these waters. Wherever you put in here, you’ll find productive pockets if you
poke around and explore a little bit. In fact, at many launch sites, potential bassin’ hot spots
should be obvious.”
Lavoie, a veteran tournament angler with numerous top-ten finishes to his credit, notes
that Cali Delta bass are supreme opportunists that often rely on tidal influence to work as a
conveyor belt carrying food to their doorstep. “There’s definitely a pecking order to this with
the biggest fish occupying the most advantageous spots,” he reveals. “They’ll push out the
smaller fish in doing so, which means you can often pull out the lunkers before the squirts
move in on your baits. So, cull the big ones and quickly move on if the size begins to slip.”
First time Hobie B.O.S. competitor Kathy Stiles-Holmes, of Bethel Island, California.,
is also stoked to get this competition going. A frequent high finisher in local online tournaments,
Stiles-Homes is looking for her first live-tourney win. “I’m really hoping for a good
showing in this event,” she reveals, “especially since I live right on the water here. I have two
identical Hobie PA12 kayaks with 360 Mirage Drives and Kick-Up Fins ready to go. One is
right in my backyard where I can quickly slip it into the water, the other is on my truck. I’m
definitely ready for battle.”
Stiles-Holmes says she signed-up for the California Delta B.O.S. within days after it was
first announced. “I’ve long been a big Hobie fan,” she reveals, “and I’ve heard nothing but
good things from other competitors about how smoothly run and well organized these events
tend to be. There are so many big names that compete in this series and I want to be part of
that. As much as the competition, I’m looking forward to the camaraderie between participants,
and to learning and improving my game as I watch and interact with the rest of the
field.”
Stiles-Holmes notes that while chatterbaits, frogs and punch baits are popular offerings
across the California Delta region, her favorite bait on these fabled waters is a five-inch Gary
Yamamoto Senko worm. “I’ve caught a lot of big bass on that lure,” she confides. “Mostly,
I fish it around hard structure. To that end, I’ll cast around large marinas, docks, and up tight
to the walls near locks. The wind often blows out of the west here, so work your way up into
a sluiceway that runs north and south if you need to tuck out of the breeze. That should put a
wall on the west side to serve as a buffer.”
Both Lavoie and Stiles-Holmes are hoping their Hobie ‘yaks will give them an edge on
their home waters. Lavoie counts on the stability of his PA14 with Kick-Up Fins to allow him
to stand and achieve powerfully solid hooksets while punching tullies and thick weed mats.
Stiles-Holmes, meanwhile, depends on the maneuverability and hands-free operation of her
PA12 360s to negotiate currents, hold position on productive pieces, and squeeze into and out
of tight corners - all while being able to cast and retrieve at the same time.
Given the current situation in California and, for that matter, the entire country, this Hobie
B.O.S. event will be completely contactless. All meetings will be virtual, with no requirements
for anglers to gather. As with all Hobie B.O.S. events, it will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines
and institute a variety of tournament protocols to safeguard its participants and the local
community. In short, the entire experience will be tailored to comply with any rules in effect
where the competition is taking place.
“All in all, this should be a really exciting event,” sums up Lavoie, a power fisherman who
mostly throws walking topwater lures, chatterbaits and jerk shads. “We’ve got some competitors
here that really know these waters well, so I’m betting it will take a 97- to 98-inch total
to win this tournament. To finish in the money, anglers are going to have to pull some very
respectable fish. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.”
“McWhorter agrees. “With the level of competition and the amount of local knowledge in
this tournament, plus the reputation of the California Delta for producing trophy-class fish, this
should be one heck of a show. In addition to battling for substantial cash prizes, the top three
non-qualified anglers for this November’s Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Knoxville,
Tennessee will make the cut, plus we’ll be distributing valuable points for Angler of The Year
(AOY) throughout the field. There’s a lot on the line here, and some really big hitters are
already signed-up but, as always, you’ve got to prove yourself on the water.”
That means the Hobie B.O.S. California Delta title is still anyone’s to claim.
FRESHWATER REPORTS:
CONTINUED FROM PG 19
KLAMATH/TRINITY RIVERS cont.
the adult size now being greater than
23 inches total length (previously 22
inches). Bag limits will remain the same
as 2019, with a two-fish daily bag limit,
with no more than one fish over 23 inches
(such as one adult and one jack). The
possession limit remains the same at six
fish, with no more than three fish over 23
inches (effectively three daily bag limits).
The in-river recreational adult fall
Chinook salmon quota is divided among
four sectors in the Klamath River basin:
KLAMATH RIVER
1. 3,500 feet downstream of Iron Gate
Dam downstream to the Highway 96
bridge – 220 fish.
2. Highway 96 bridge downstream to the
mouth of the Klamath River – 648 fish.
There is a sub-area closure at the mouth
of the Klamath River when 15 percent of
the basin allocation has been harvested –
194 fish harvested below the Highway 101
bridge triggers this closure.
TRINITY RIVER
1. Old Lewiston Bridge to Highway 299
West bridge at Cedar Flat – 214 fish.
2. Denny Road bridge downstream to
the confluence with Klamath River – 214
fish.
Please see the 2020-2021 California
Freshwater Sportfishing Regulations and
2020-2021 California Supplement Sport
Fishing Regulations for more information.
Additionally, anglers can obtain
information on Klamath Basin regulations
and fall Chinook salmon quota updates by
calling the Klamath-Trinity fishing hotline
at (800) 564-6479.
KNIGHTS LANDING/
COLUSA
Catfish On Night Prowl
RIO LINDA – With water temperatures
heating up to 73
degrees on the
Sacramento River at
Verona, the salmon
fishing continues to
be very tough.
‘I’ve heard
scattered reports
of salmon being
caught, but I haven’t
seen any weighed in
the shop,” said Tim
Boggs at Elkhorn
Outdoors. “The
water temperature
upriver at Woodson
Bridge is 60
degrees, so I advise
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(510) 223-1661 (925) 426-0197
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(209) 772-1472 (209) 748-2318
LAKE DEL VALLE TEMPORARILY CLOSED
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All other boat rental terms and conditions still apply.Offer subject to boat rental availability. Offer expires on 12/31/2020 and is not valid with any other coupon/discount with any other coupon/discount.
3919
experienced anglers with jet boats to go
upriver for a better chance of catching
salmon.’
If you just want to catch fish, targeting
CONTINUED ON PG 21
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