8 September 30 , 2022 VOL . 41 • ISS . 16

LAKE ALMANOR

The Weather Change Slows the Bite

CHESTER - Fall is finally in the air ; we are expecting cooler weather and rain for the next three days with overnight temperatures dipping into the thirties . Rainfall totals are expected to range between one and two inches at lake level , Mount Lassen could see its first snow of the year as well . We can only hope that this is the beginning of a wet winter . This coming weekend will be a beautiful fall weekend with temperatures warming back into the high seventies . Lake level continues to drop , we are currently sitting at 4476.42 , last year on the same date Almanor was at 4477.74 ( we are down 1.3 ’ from last year ). Based upon previous years , we can expect water level to drop through at least the middle of October before we see a steady increase . In 2021 the season low of 4474.80 was reached on 10 / 21 before lake levels began their seasonal increase . The bite remains tough as water temps drop and fish sense the weather change . What little bite there is happens early and ends quickly . With dropping water temps ’ fish have begun their seasonal migration throughout the lake . We should see them settling down and resume gorging on this year ’ s prolific pond smelt hatch . Big Springs has been the go-to spot , with boats fishing from Hamilton Branch to Big Cove . Slow trolling crawlers and plastics are the preferred method with a few boats fast trolling hardware , as is typical this time of year , boats on anchor are catching fish over Big Springs . Hamilton Branch will remain the go to for bank fishermen until we see some significant changes in water temperatures . - Quail Lodge Lake Almanor Lodging & Guide Service

LAKE AMADOR

Find the Shad , Find the Bass

IONE – If you want to catch largemouth bass at Lake Amador now , the key is to look for shad schools and boils . Where you find the shad , you ’ ll find the bass . “ Your best bet for the bass is to fish flukes , jerk baits and Rat-L- Traps in threadfin shad patterns ,” advised Lee Lockhart at the Lake Amador Resort . “ You can also catch catfish when using these lures , since the catfish feed on shad too .” Lockhart is planning to begin trout plants from the lake ’ s hatchery in October when the water temperature cools down enough for the trout to thrive . “ We ’ ll begin our plants with Amador Golds ,

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followed by cutbows and rainbows ,” he said . Few anglers have been out fishing lately for bass , catfish , bluegill , crappie or redear sunfish . “ If you like solitude , you ’ ll find it at Amador now ,” he stated . One angler landed a 12 lb . channel catfish on a recent trip to the lake . Anglers wanting to target catfish should toss out chicken liver , nightcrawlers , mackerel , shad and other baits . The lake is currently 30 feet from full and one boat ramp lane is in operation . Lockhart said the water temperature is around 76 degrees .

- Dan Bacher

AMERICAN RIVER / SACRAMENTO AREA

Anglers Working Hard for Kings

SACRAMENTO – This is the time year when the main run of fall Chinook salmon returns to the American River , but fishing has been very slow in the metropolitan area over the past couple of weeks . “ On Sunday , I fished the mouth of the American ,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse . “ There were 20 boats , three seal iions and no salmon caught while I was there .” “ We then went up to the Elkhorn Recreation Area upriver and also hooked nothing . I jigged with my homemade jigs and Denise used Blade Runner spoons . The water temperature is still warm , 73 degrees .,” he added . Before the rain , Austin Wilson , manager at Fisherman ’ s Warehouse , and two other

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Richard Ogawa was tossing a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 110 on the California Delta when he caught this healthy bass . Photo Courtesy of James Matsuoka

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