Fish Sniffer Magazine Volume 41 Issue 12 | Page 6

6 July 8 , 2022 VOL . 41 • ISS . 11

LAKE ALMANOR

Shad Imitation Lures Are Nailing Fish

CHESTER - Fishing conditions have been ideal the past week with daytime highs in the high eighties , overnight lows in the high forties with mild winds . Temperatures will remain unchanged for the next seven days , we will see winds early in the week . Water level is 4482.36 ’, up slightly from last year on the same date , water temperatures are hovering around the seventy-degree mark . The hex hatch is winding down as fish are switching their diet towards pond smelt . The rocky edges of Almanor are loaded with smelt , you can see them on top of the water on calm days in the early am and we are beginning to mark large balls of smelt in deeper water . Fish and fowl of all species are feasting on these tender little morsels . There are a number of smelt imitations on the market including plastics , flies and hardware and you can pick your favorite method to fish them , local favorites include gulps at one mph , Arctic Fox trolling flies @ 1.7-2 mph , Cop Car hardware at 2.5 mph and Silver / black F-5 Rapala ’ s all work . As always crawlers at one mph will produce fish . Big Springs , Dorado , Rec # 1 , Big Cove , and the Peninsula have been favorites for fishermen this past week . The bite has been good early , shutting off around ten or eleven . Hamilton Branch is your best shot at quality fish from shore . The bite slowed for the guys on anchor this past week . AFA ’ s annual Family Picnic is scheduled for Saturday July 30th seating will be limited and we will NOT be selling tickets at the door . Please purchase your tickets in advance if you would like to support AFA and enjoy a family barbecue at beautiful Rec # 1 .

- Quail Lodge Lake Almanor Lodging & Guide Service

Salmon • Trout • Kokanee • Striper

it ’ s all about fishing

Brett Brady

USCG licensed bonded & insured

SACRAMENTO AREA / AMERICAN RIVER / FEATHER RIVER

Boaters Nail Big Kings at Discovery Park on Opening Day

SACRAMENTO – Boaters were treated to a big surprise on the opening day of the salmon season on the Sacramento River at Discovery Park when they caught good numbers of bright kings . “ They creamed them at the mouth of the American ,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse . “ Over 30 fish were caught on opening day . Most boats reported catching fish on the opener . Austin Wilson , one of the managers here , and his buddy caught two salmon weighing 22 and 14 pounds while fishing at the mouth of the river on opening morning ,” “ They and others caught their fish while anchor fishing with Kwikfish ,” said Fong . “ The fish caught were really bright , goodlooking fish .” Cold water releases of 4,480 cfs from Nimbus Dam on the American River had obviously caused the salmon to pause at the mouth of their journey up the Sacramento River . On the other hand , shore fishing with spinners for salmon was slow at Sand Cove Park , according to

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Stacy Barawed was using a bone colored Berkley Choppo on a private fishing pond when she landed this hefty bass .

Photo Courtesy of Stacy Barawed

Uncle Larry Barnes at Sacramento Pro Tackle . He noted that anglers reported catching bluegill on

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4111 chicken liver , of all things , while fishing bait in the slow water there . Salmon fishing on the Feather River below the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet was tough , although a few fish were caught . “ The water temperature came up from 63 degrees to 68 degrees in in just two days , so the fish were sluggish from the water temperature going up so quickly ,” said Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob ’ s Guide Service . “ Twelve-yearold Brian landed one salmon weighing 16 pounds , 4 ounces while fishing with a Rob ’ s Dragon Glow # 16 Brad ’; s Kilerfish with me on the opener . We also experienced one other hook-up .” “ The CDFW creel census survey staff that came by said that we were lucky – our fish was the the fifth fish checked in opening day ,” Reimers stated . Tin Boggs at Elkhorn Outdoors noted that the Verona boat ramp is out of the water and anglers are putting their boats in at the Elkhorn or Knights Landing ramps . Although he didn ’ t hear of any salmon success on opening day , he said anglers are catching lots of channel catfish while using crawdads and G & S dip baits from shore at Knights Landing .

- Dan Bacher

LAKE AMADOR

Big Channel Cats Offer Top Sport

BURSON – Fishing pressure at Lake Amador has been very light since trout plants ended for the season this spring . Right now the best option for anglers is to pursue catfish . For example , Matthew Sul from San Jose who caught a whopper 14 lb . catfish outside of Cat Cove during a recent trip to Amador .

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CONTINUED ON PG 7

GREAT Fishing for : Trout • Kokanee • Catfish Large & Smallmouth Bass Crappie • Bluegill • Sunfish

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