6 June 23 , 2023 VOL . 42 • ISS . 9

FRESHwater reports

LAKE ALMANOR

Trout Cooperating For Fly Anglers and Trollers

Chester - While Bailey Creek and the Super Ditch still have water flowing , they have both slowed to a trickle . Volume through both Hamilton Branch and the North Fork of the Feather has also slowed to a more seasonal level . Lake level continues to rise , currently sitting at 4492.61 , a little more than eight feet higher than last year on the same date . Water temperatures remain in the mid-sixties , clarity fluctuates throughout the lake . For you fly anglers the Hex Hatch is just getting started along the west shore . I spoke with Lance Gray of Lance Gray & Company , and they are finally seeing Hex activity . Fish are already keying in on both Hex larvae and emerging flies . Afternoon winds have made for challenging conditions . The Hexagina Hatch on Almanor is like none other , when conditions are right , you can see literally thousands of bugs emerging at dusk with rainbows , browns , bass , bats , ducks , grebes , and geese feasting on these tender morsels . Trollers continue to target fish on the west side of the lake with Red Bank receiving the majority of the pressure . Slow trolling crawlers , king worms and plastics off the bottom have been producing fish . As the Hex Hatch improves along the west shore trollers will begin targeting fish from Flag Island to the tip of Almanor West . Shore fishermen continue to target fish at the Super Ditch where it enters Almanor , off the Causeway and Hamilton Branch . As water temperature increases fishing at the Branch will improve . Crickets , crawlers , power bait and hardware will all catch fish . We are going to see a cooling trend this week with Mondays high not reaching sixty degrees , winds will be a problem early in the week . Highways 70 & 89 have had restrictions and closures check with Caltrans before traveling both . 36 has minimal delays . Canyon Dam and Almanor West USFS ramps are open . The high water is creating lots of navigational hazards and while the thermometer says otherwise summer is here . Patience is mandatory at the ramp and on the water .

- Deb & John , Quail Lodge Lake Almanor Guide

LAKE AMADOR

Channel Catfish Begin Biting

IONE - The catfish bite at Lake Amador has picked up with the warmer water temperatures , while trout continue to be caught by bank anglers and shore fishermen . Just ask Larry McPherson , who caught a stringer of six quality channel catfish while bait fishing out by the spillway , Anglers pursuing catfish should use chicken liver , mackerel , anchovies , nightcrawlers and other offerings for bait . Trout plants are over until the surface water temperature cools

down in mid to late October , but trout continue to be caught by anglers at 15 to 30 feet deep . The last plant of the spring was on May 17 , when the resort stocked 11000 pounds of Cutbows and trophy Golds , along with a few Blues , in the reservoir , according to Lee Lockhart of the Lake Amador Resort Shore anglers are tossing out PowerBait and nightcrawlers for the trout , while boaters are trolling with Speedy Shiners , Needlefish and other spoons or nightcrawlers behind flashers . Nik Cardenas , owner of F & B Baits in Merced , caught some trout on the Spillway side one day and a few more on the Dry Camp Point the next day . All of the fish were caught on F & B spoons and trout tails plus a few on Corn PowerBait . Victor and Junior Kraft were camping on the Dry Camp point when they landed 8 trout using orange

on Highway 88 at Carson Pass

For information , call ( 209 ) -258-8888

www . capleslakeresort . com

PowerBait . Shawn and his dad Matthew Sheridan came out again to do some trout fishing and caught a big one this time , a Cutbow weighing 11.7 lbs . Four-year-old Shawn Sheridan was fishing with his dad and grandpa when he caught a nice Cutbow while using rainbow PowerBait from their campsite . Finally , Michael Falls from

Pine Grove used nightcrawlers off of the dock to catch a quality 5.44 lb . Cutbow . - Dan Bacher

4209

AMERICAN RIVER / SACRAMENTO AREA

American Shad Fishing Heats Up

SACRAMENTO – Shad fishing has improved on the lower American River with the warmer weather and lower flows . Releases from Nimbus Dam were 6,593 cfs at press time . Anglers are catching and releasing a lot of shad throughout the lower river , including Sunrise , Harrington ’ s Access and below Watt Avenue . “ Anglers are doing best while fishing chartreuse grubs on 1 inch jig heads ,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse . “ The guys from the store are doing well while getting out on the river after work .” “ The word from the guides is that the shad are spread out from the Sailor Bar boat ramp down to Harrington Access ,” according to the report from Kiene ’ s Fly Shop . “ There is no word on Paradise

Beach or Watt Avenue yet . The other side of the river at Gristmill hasn ’ t been producing and also heard that the guys fishing upper Rossmoor ( upstream from the 2nd tower ) were doing well .”

“ Additionally I heard that the north side of the river at Sunrise had fish too . Because of high flows , the fish are probably concentrated in the slower water near shore . I you can find flat water that is moving about walking

speed , you will find fish ,” the report concluded . The CDFW ’ s Fishing in the City Program is now planting Sacramento Area park ponds with channel catfish . The program will be conducting beginner clinics for ages 5 to adult at the following locations : Saturday July 1 , 8 a . m . - 12 p . m .,

Continued on Pg 7

TROUT

• SALmON CATFISH LARGEMOUTH • TROUT BASS

• STRIPED BASS

The New Marina

• CATFISH Building & Boat Rentals

• LARGEmOUTH NOW OPEN BASS !!!!

$ 25 boat rentals every

Los Vaqueros Recreation Co . Monday

9990 Los Vaqueros Rd . thru Friday

Byron , CA , 94514

( non holidays )

www . NORCALFISHING . COm A Contra Costa Water District Facility

4005 2907