VOL.39 • ISS. 19
FRESHWATER
Sept 11, 2020
23
SACRAMENTO AREA cont.
the American River fish to begin showing.”
Until the salmon arrive, he
recommended catfishing at night in the
Sutter Bypass near O’Bannion Road.
Shore anglers should toss out mackerel
and cut baits for 2 to 5 lb. channel catfish.
Fishing for catfish in the Port of
Sacramento and Sacramento Deep Water
Ship Channel is also worth a shot. Use
the same baits you would in the bypass.
- Dan Bacher
SAN LUIS RESERVOIR
Fire Closes Lake Temporarily
SACRAMENTO – Access to the lake
was closed over the weekend due to the
massive SCU Lightning Complex Fire,
but before the closure, Mickey Clements
of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill
reported an improved trolling bite in deep
water, but the topwater bite has slowed.
The lake held at 45 percent. Boating is
available from 6:00 a.m. until sunset, and
the park closes at 10:00 p.m.
Access to the O’Neill Forebay was
closed over the weekend due to the huge
SCU Lightning Complex Fire, but before
the closure, Mickey Clements of Coyote
Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported a
Captain Sammy has been putting his clients on
limits of kokanee while fishing Lake Tahoe, but there
have been some very nice trout in the mix too.
Photo courtesy of TAHOE SPORTFISHING, South Lake
Tahoe.
3722
TAHOE
SPORTFISHING
EST. 1953
Lake Tahoe’s
Largest Fishing Fleet
year-round fishing
Half & Full Day Charters
single fisherman
to large families
& private parties
We supply everything
you need to fish!
Mackinaw
Kokanee Salmon
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Call or Book Online (530) 541-5448
tahoesportfishing.com|@tahoesportfishing
good topwater bite with a larger grade of
lineside from the big schools working the
surface. The Sixth Sense Mad Dog 150
in bone along with Evergreen’s Shower
Blows, big Duo Realis topwater lures, and
large Zara Spooks are all working.
- Dave Hurley
SAN PABLO RESERVOIR
Catfish, Trout Dominate Late
Summer Catches
EL SOBRANtTE – If you want to catch
fish at San Pablo Reservoir, channel
catfish and rainbow trout remain the
best options, due to heavy plants of both
species.
Since June 15, the Rocky Mountain
Recreation Company has planted 9,600
pounds of Tsai Enterprises catfish in the
lake, according to Marcella Shoemaker.
7,300 pounds of Mt. Lassen rainbow trout,
2,600 pounds of Mt. Lassen Lightning
Trout and 2,500 pounds of CDFW trout
have also gone into the lake.
Due to the heat wave, they did not plant
any fish the week of August 17.
Damien, Dylan, Maylin Reyes and
Alisha Navarro from American Canyon
had a great day when they bagged a total
of 8 channel catfish across from the boat
launch.
Jack Martens of Pleasant Hill caught
a whopper trout while trolling about
100 yards out from his boat on a
recent trip to the lake.
Fishing for black bass is also worth
a try. For example, Raymond Lopez
caught and released a hefty spotted
bass on one windy morning.
Shoreline fishing, private boat
launching and boat rentals are now
allowed. All kayaks, canoes and
inflatables must be launched at the
boat launch only. No boat launching
is available at the Main Recreation
Area.
The playground, fish cleaning
tables and BBQs are closed. Picnic
tables and grass areas are closed
also.
A deluxe motor boat rental, with
four persons maximum allowed,
costs $130.00 for all day. A one day
advance reservation is needed.
The lake level is dropping rapidly
and the surface water temperature
was 76 degrees at press time.
- Dan Bacher
LAKE SONOMA
Trolling Adventure Yields
Landlocked Steelhead,
Spots and Smallmouths
CLOVERDALE - After two years
not fishing the
lake, Rich Crispi
of TW Guide
Service reported
an excellent day
of fishing on Lake
Sonoma with
clients. “I get so
many calls for
guiding Berryessa
that Sonoma just
got overlooked,”
said Crispi.
“We fished the
main body of the
lake and picked
up 12 landlocked
steelhead and
8 bass mixed
between spots
and bulldogging
smallies,” :he
explained. “The
steelhead ran from
14 inches to 21
inches. up to about
2 .75 lbs.”
“The fish we
The kokanee bite is on at Lake Tahoe. These folks limited out during an early August trolling
trip.
Photo courtesy of TAHOE SPORTFISHING, South Lake Tahoe.
caught were RELEASED.....I like to
promote the catch and release on these
fish because they spawn on the own.
They reproduce naturally so you got to
protect the resource. It’s a 2 fish limit per
person, it’s not worth the harvest, not like
Berryessa.”
“We hooked the fish from 40 to 65 ft.
Copper and gold lures were on fire till
about 10a m then they slowed up. We
trolled at 3.0 mph with RMT shad serpent
spoons in gold yellow, orange custom and
all pink custom. It’s an awesome fishery,”
:Crispi concluded.
- Dan Bacher
STAMPEDE/BOCA
RESERVOIRS
Downrigger Trollers Bag
Scrappy Kokes
TRUCKEE – Both Boca and Stampede
reservoirs are kicking out kokanee at this
time.
“We crushed ‘em at Boca today with
boat limits in 4 hours,” said James Netzel
of Tight Lines Guide Service after a
successful trip to Boca. “The Paulina
Peak Tackle watermelon hoochie and
watermelon spinner is all I’m using right
now. I’m trolling them behind the P Lite
gold and copper crush glow dodgers at.9
mph and 20-35’ deep.”
On a later trip to Boca, Netzel reported,
“We lost quite a few kokanee today at
Boca but then I realized, this was a John
Halseth trip. Lol. A few more boats were
out today but that didn’t bother the bite.
The Paulina Peak Tackle watermelon
hoochie topped the watermelon spinner
today when pulled behind a gold or
copper crush glow p Lite dodger.”
He emphasized that a four wheel drive
is a must to launch a boat at Bocas. “We
are launching off the lake’s east side, The
ramp is far from being wet.”
He also reported lots of kokanee on
a recent trip to Stampede. “We had a
full boat today at Stampede and boy did
the kids never run out of questions. The
Paulina Peak Tackle’s watermelon spinner
is still top producer behind P-Lite dodgers
in gold crush glow and copper crush glow.
They were troopers today, earning a free
hat by holding a kokanee by their teeth!!! I
didn’t think they’d do it.”
TAHOE
Kokes, Macks and Trout
Tangle with Trollers!
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - Lake Tahoe
continues to kick out both kokanee and
mackinaw at a fast pace along with some
bonus trout. Most anglers visiting the lake
these days are scoring easy limits.
The team at Tahoe Sportfishing has
been devoting time to both mackinaw and
kokanee fishing.
While pulling minnows teamed with
flashers, limits and near limits of macks
are hitting the deck. Most of the fish are
in the 3 to 6-pound class, but models in
the 7 to 8-pound range are showing up
frequently.
On the salmon fishing front the average
fish is about 12 inches long and they are
plentiful. Spinners and hoochies are all
you need to hook the salmon. As with any
other California kokanee destination, you’ll
want to tip your offerings with shoe peg
corn. The south end has been best for
kokanee.
The team at Tahoe Sportfishing has
some of the best skippers on Lake Tahoe.
The Tahoe Sportfishing boasts a fleet of
8 boats that range from 30 to 45 feet in
length. The boats are safe and the crews
are well trained, so you’ll be able to relax
and fight fish!
Both morning and afternoon trips are
available and both open load fishing and
private charters are available.
If you’d like experience Lake Tahoe at its
best, give the folks at Tahoe Sportfishing
a call now to secure your spot (530)
541-5448 or check them out online at
tahoesportfishing.com
WEST DELTA
Variety Is the Word for Delta
Sticks!
PITTSBURG - For anglers that want
to hook up in the West Delta, catfish are
your best bet. If you don’t mind rolling
the dice, there are stripers and sturgeon
available, but the bite for both species has
been spotty.
For catfish, anglers are working river
bends that offer current and water that
ranges from 10 to 20 feet deep. The top
baits are clams, worms, cut anchovies
and strips of mackerel fillet. For the best
results anglers are advised to fish during
the evening and nighttime hours, but with
patience catfish can be caught throughout
the day.
The occasional keeper sturgeon is
being caught in the Sacramento between
Pittsburg and Rio Vista by anglers’ night
fishing along the edge of the channel.
Salmon roe is the best bait, but you’ll want
some eel and shrimp too.
The best striped bass action is taking
place around the tide change. Trollers are
scoring schoolie size fish that range from
14 to 22 inches. Bait anglers are catching
keepers too, but they have to
sort through lots of undersize
bass to get a limit.
For trollers, Yo-Zuri
Crystal minnows in
clown and red/white
have been working well.
Bait anglers are
hooking up with
shad, anchovies and
sardine fillets.