FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PG 15

EAGLE LAKE cont .

Nest , and off Christy Campground all produced . Trolling depths ranged from just under the surface early in the morning to as deep as 25 feet later in the day .

The surface temperature is creeping up fairly quickly and the fish are not staying long in the shallows . For those trolling the shallows , you ’ ll have to be there early and move to deeper water as the bright sun hits and warms the water .

We have been trolling flies in the morning then moving to deeper water and down rigging at 12-25 feet in 40-45 feet of water . The bite has been very good .

Cooler weather is expected next week . I hope to spend more productive time back in shallow water . As the weather and water cool , the fish should move back into shallower water to feed .

The fish we boxed this weekend ranged from 2.5 lbs to 3.25 lbs . We released many fish that are last year ’ s planters that are around 16 inches .

If you want to book a guided trip , give me a call .

Whether you are fishing with me or not , don ’ t hesitate to call me if you have questions about the fishing or accommodations at Eagle Lake . We will answer your questions and give you a current report on what ’ s going on .

- Tim Noxon , Fishtraveler Guide Service , Eagle Lake , CA

FEATHER RIVER / KNIGHTS LANDING-COLUSA

American Shad Dominate Feather Angling Scene

YUBA CITY – American shad offer the most productive fishing on the Feather River from the rock dam to Shanghai Bend , reported Jacob Dobyns at Johnson ’ s Bait and Tackle .

“ Anglers are hooking the shad while tossing out shad darts and plastic grubs in chartreuse and pink ,” said Dobyns . “ There are not a long of boaters going out now because of the low water conditions on the river ,, so most anglers are fishing from shore or wading .”

Striper fishermen are experiencing the top action on the Feather in the stretch from Nicholas to Verona .

“ Your best bet is to use cut bait , including sardines and anchovies , during the day and to throw top water lures at night ,” advised Dobyns . “ One of the top lures is a red / white or rainbow pattern Cotton Cordell . One angler also reported throwing a River2Sea Bubble Walker . The fish being hooked at night are bigger , with some in the 10 to 20 lb . range reported .”

On the Sacramento River , the stretch from Colusa to Ward ’ s Landing is yielding the top striper fishing . “ Boaters are nailing the fish at night while trolling with F-198 Rapalas ,” he stated . “ Top water lures and glide baits are also producing some stripers .”

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Tyson Fechter of Petaluma with a 3 1 / 4lb Eagle Lake Trout caught trolling a fly on opening day , 5 / 29 / 21 . Photo Courtesy of Fish Traveler Guide Service .

FOLSOM LAKE

Trollers Lay Into Chinooks and Rainbows

FOLSOM – Boaters continue to experience surprisingly good king salmon and rainbow trout action at Folsom Lake .

“ A couple of my customers reported a productive day of fishing at Folsom Lake over the holiday weekend ,” said Craig Newton of Willfish Bait and Tackle . “ The landed a total of 14 fish , including 4 kings to 20 inches and 10 rainbows to 18 inches long .”

“ They trolled with Speedy Shiners ,” he noted . “ The rainbows hit at 25 to 35 feet deep , while the kings hit at 50 to 70 feet deep .”

Don Paganelli of Paganelli ’ s Bass Fishing Experience reports decent bass fishing at Folsom Lake .

“ There ’ s a top water bite first thing in the morning and then again in the evening ,” he tipped . “ The rest of the day you should throw out plastics and swimbaits in 5 to 20 feet of water .”

The low water ramp at Brown ’ s Ravine is the only open launch ramp at Folsom now . The speed limit on the entire lake is 5 miles per hour .

Folsom Lake is now holding 360,850 acre feet of water , 37 percent of capacity and 44 percent of average .

- Dan Bacher

KLAMATH RIVER

As Massive Juvenile Fish Kill Continues , Karuk Tribe Declares State of Emergency

ORLEANS - In response to record low precipitation in the Klamath Basin , the Karuk Tribe has declared a state of emergency . This emergency declaration acknowledges the reality that climate change is upon us , and the dangers that it poses to rivers , forests , wildlife and communities .

Hydrological conditions in the Klamath River Basin are the worst in modern history , although in recent years this has become an all-too-common refrain .

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Brooklyn Blasdel caught this brown trout on a midge fly while fishing with Hans Grotewold .

Photo Courtesy of Hans Grotewold

Ecosystems and economies all along the California / Oregon border are strained to their breaking point . A massive fish kill is currently underway in the Klamath River that could result in losing an entire generation of salmon .

“ Our monitoring traps are full of dead juvenile salmon . The few fish still alive are infected with disease . It ’ s a catastrophic blow to the fishery and Karuk culture ,” said Toz Soto , Fisheries Program Manager for the Karuk Tribe .

The disease-causing parasite Ceratonova shasta ( C . shasta ) has been linked to Klamath salmon declines for decades . A complex of dams in the mid- Klamath disrupt natural flow patterns and cause warmer than normal water temperatures . This creates an ideal habitat for the parasite to flourish downstream of the dams . However ; these dams don ’ t control how much water is in the Klamath River , that ’ s a function of how the Bureau of Reclamation ( BOR ) manages irrigation diversions from Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon , 50 miles upstream .

The current BOR operations plan calls for “ flushing flows ” to scour the river channel and dilute parasites during disease outbreaks . This year , historically low inflows to Upper Klamath Lake led BOR to rule out a flushing flow to the river . “ BOR ’ s decision to not provide flushing flows is allowing a massive juvenile fish kill to take place . Over 95 % of sampled fish are infected . We have to keep as much water in the river as possible to allow some fish to survive ,” continued Soto .

Officials have made drought declarations in the Klamath Basin in 8 out of the last 12 years . The Karuk Tribe says this year ’ s crisis is not an aberrant weather pattern but reflects a change in climate . “ It ’ s time to face the reality of climate change which means we must change how we manage the Klamath ’ s water resources ,” noted Karuk Chairman Russell ‘ Buster ’ Attebery . “ We need long term solutions to adapt to this new climate immediately , or it will be the end for salmon and the cultures that depend on them .”

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Tribal officials have asked congress provide disaster relief funds to all affected communities to address economic hardship , and ecological breakdown . In order to protect as many fish as possible , the Karuk Tribe urges state and federal agencies to broker temporary water transactions to keep critical stream reaches wet , but also point to long term solutions to recover fisheries and make the ecosystem resilient in the fact of climate change .

Some relief for salmon is on the horizon . An agreement is in place to remove the lower four Klamath River dams in 2023 . The dams offer no irrigation diversions or flood protection and the parent company Berkshire Energy has agreed to removal . “ Dam removal will improve water quality , disrupt the habitat for disease vectors , and allow salmon to access historic spawning grounds ,” says Attebery . “ We are praying the fish can hang on until then .”

- Karuk Tribe

LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR

Shore Anglers Reel In Rainbows , Stripers and Catfish

BYRON – Bank anglers continue to catch rainbows , along with some stripers and catfish , while fishing with PowerBait , nightcrawlers and other offerings in the South Cove , the dock near the marina and Cowboy Cove .

Just ask Anthony Qiu , who landed five rainbows during his latest trip to the reservoir . On a previous trip , Qiu and his buddy caught 9 trout , two stripers and two channel catfish .

Trollers using nightcrawlers behind dodgers , Speedy Shiners and other lures are also nailing quality trout when fishermen are able to get out in rental boats .

Stripers are also providing solid action at Los Vaqueros . Most keeper stripers being caught by rental boaters and boaters are in the 18-22 inch range . Your best bet for the stripers is to bait fish with anchovies , troll with Rapalas or other plugs or to cast out trout pattern swimbaits and top water lures .

Want to target catfish ? Chicken liver and anchovies are the top baits and South Cove , Cowboy Cove and Oak Point are among the better spots .

The water level is currently at 126,000 acre feet . The water clarity has been good except for windy days .

If you are looking to rent a boat it is always a good idea to call ahead to check current wind conditions . Remember ; rental boats are first come first serve . Weekends and some weekdays sell out quickly . For more information , call 925-371-2628 .

Continued on Pg 21

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