8 July 14 , 2023 VOL . 42 • ISS . 10

Freshwater reports :

Continued from pg 7

Davis Lake

Shore Anglers , Boaters Target Trout and Bass

PORTOLA – Both bank anglers and boat fishermen are hooking rainbow trout and largemouth bass at Lake Davis . Meanwhile , the lake is recovering from a die off of adult bullhead catfish , apparently spurred by a bacteria that lives in the mud . Mike Moyles of Reno won first place in the J & J ’ s Grizzly Store and Camping Resort Trout Derby in June by catching a rainbow trout weighing 3 pounds and measuring 21-1 / 4 onches long . He was trolling lures when he hooked the fish . Bruce Frazier of Reno placed second with a 3 lb . rainbow measuring 20-3 / 4 inches long . Leslie Cochran of Reno placed third with a 3 lb . rainbow measuring 20-1 / 2 inches long . Emma Quintana won first place in the kids division with a rainbow weighing 2 pounds , 12 ounces and measuring 20 inches . She landed her fish while bait fishing from the bank , as did the other youth winners . Jackson Williams of Silver Springs NV placed second with a trout weighing . 1 pound , 10 ounces and measuring 15-1 / 2 inches . Henry Routon of Gridley placed third with an 11 oz . trout measuring 12-1 / 2 inches . Bank fishing has picked up at the lake in recent days . “ A bank angler came in with a limit of quality rainbow trout after fishing with nightcrawlers at Mallard Cove this morning ,” said Jeannie Graham at the resort . “ His biggest fish was 23 inches long , while the others measured 19 to 20 inches .” Trollers are also catching good numbers of trout . Ed Dillard at Dillard ’ s Guided Fishing reported an average of 10 trout per day on recent trips . “ We are now trolling with orange Baby Simon lures at 15 to 20 feet ,” said Dillard .. “ The surface water temperature is now is up to 74 degrees in the afternoon .” Bass fishing enthusiasts are doing well on largemouths in the 3 to 4 lb . range , according to Graham . Shore anglers and boaters are throwing out Slobber Knockers and soft plastics in crawdad colors such as watermelon and green pumpkin . Bret Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service reported topnotch fishing for rainbows averaging 13 to 14 inches and going up to 16 inches on his most recent trip to Davis . “ We trolled Needlefish , firetiger Dick Nites and nightcrawlers behind dodgers from the north end of island to lightning tree ,” he noted . Brady witnessed about a dozen dead brown bullhead catfish in Hooker Bay and more dead catfish floating around the boat dock . Other anglers also reported dead catfish around the lake . Apparently , the catfish – all adults - died from an infection caused by a bacteria in the lake mud . It doesn ’ t appear that any other species have been impacted , only the bullheads . I have contacted the CDFW regional fishery biologist and will publish the results of their investigation of the die-off as soon as it becomes available . Davis Lake is holding 79,034 acre feet of water , 95 percent of capacity and 131 percent of average .

- Dan Bacher

Don Pedro / New Melones Lakes

Kokanee , Kings and Rainbows Reward Trollers

LA GRANGE – Boaters trolling with kokanee gear at Don Pedro Lake are bagging a mixture of kokanee salmon , king salmon and rainbow trout , according to Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing . On his latest trip to Don Pedro , the 4 anglers fishing with Smith landed 3 kokanee in the 15 to 17 inch range and 5 rainbows to 18 inches . “ We also lost five kokanee ,” said Smith . “ In addition , one salmon we hooked bit the lure off .” “ The fishing isn ’ t wide-open . You have to work for the fish ,” said Smith . “ We caught the fish all on kokanee gear , Apex lures and hoochies behind dodgers at 40 to 60 feet deep .” On a previous trip , two anglers fishing with Smith landed limits of kokanee , including two

Continued on Pg 9

TROUT

• SALmON CATFISH LARGEMOUTH • TROUT BASS

• STRIPED BASS

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( non holidays )

www . NORCALFISHING . COm A Contra Costa Water District Facility

4005 2907

Salmon • Trout • Kokanee • Striper

it ’ s all about NOW BOOKING fishing

Brett Brady

USCG licensed bonded & insured

( 530 ) 272-7137 • ( 530 ) 263-4451 www . fishbarebones . com 4207

Beautiful and cozy cabin for rent in the Spalding Tract of Eagle Lake

One bedroom plus 2 large window beds and a sleeper sofa . Full bathroom and kitchen . Vaulted ceilings and beautiful knotty pine interior . Large outside deck with barbeque . All on a large lot with plenty of boat parking . See it online at www . sierradesertproperties . com / listings / 686-990-hickory-way /

These two anglers were on their annual friends fishing trip with Chris Ditter on Lake Tahoe when they landed these mackinaw that they kept for fish tacos .

Photo Courtesy of Chris Ditter

Contact Sierra Desert Properties for more information and reservations ( 530 ) 250-7146