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MADE IN U . S . A
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41 Years Serving Sportsmen
Vol . 42 - ISS . 12
Our 40th Year
Since 1982
“ The Magazine for West Coast Sportsmen !” INSIDE
Area Reports
All You Want Fishing on AA Swimbaits !
B erkeley- Another Phenix Rods and Optimum Baits Trip on the California Dawn II is in the books . As usual , there was no shortage of fish slaying and camaraderie on July 25th . To start the morning , captain James Smith had us working 100 feet or less for monster lingcod , brown rockfish and several cabezon . After the morning tide change , we moved into ultra shallow water targeting wash rocks and sporadic kelp where we bagged a plethora of different groundfish including grass , black , china and gophers . But also in the mix were more lingcod and cabezon . We used four and five inch AA Worms Bad Bubba Shads and Shad Tails in various colors for the majority of our catches , while the cabezon and lingcod took the larger sized five to eight inch models of the same baits . Once we achieved limits of bottom fish for the anglers and crew , we moved to sandier pastures where we targeted halibut . It wasn ’ t long
I t has been several years since I have seen a significant number of stripers on the California Delta in July . Historically , stripers started to show up in the delta in July and by August there were good numbers of fish in the system . By September , the fall striper run was in full swing . When I say full swing , I mean there were schools of shad everywhere , birds were diving , and huge numbers of stripers were in the system . It wasn ’ t uncommon to catch and release a 100 stripers a day . Let ’ s be honest , I haven ’ t seen before our group began hooking quality halibut on four and five inch AA Worms Bad Bubba
a lot of shad in the system for years . I remember when I use to do striper seminars , I would say that you could leave your fish finders at home in the fall because the birds would show you where the bait was located , and the stripers were there feeding on the shad . Unfortunately , the bait has been absent for several years and in my opinion the fall striper run has been a bust for the last five years . I have been accustomed to finding fish in most spots and catching a fish here and one there until you found a huge group of them and then it went wide-open . That hasn ’ t happened for the last several years . There wasn ’ t a lot of
Roland Aspiras , Fish Sniffer Staffer , holds up a nice cabezon that he caught while fishing the Phenix Rods and Optimum Baits Sponsored Trip aboard the California Dawn .
Photo Courtesy of Roland Aspiras
Shads and Shad Tails in white , baitfish and anchovy patterns . On the day : 33 limits of lingcod to 25 pounds , 33 limits of rockfish , 27 halibut to 22 pounds , 15 cabezon to 10 pounds . It ’ s worth noting that in addition to limits of lingcod , we caught and released well over 250 keeper sized lingcod in an attempt to pick and choose the grade we took home . Absolute insanity ! A big thank you goes out to Vince Borges with Phenix Rods and all the Phenix Rods pros on board , all of whom are great human beings and excellent anglers . Many of the pro anglers on board are also tournament bass anglers like JP Gano , Angelo Alorro and Alex Sanchez . Another thank you goes out to Matt Paino and Jeff Clough from AA
Stripers Are Stacking Up In The Delta
GONE FISHING by Ernie Marlan
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WHAT ’ S HOT by Roland Aspiras
CONTINUED ON PG 19
Huge numbers of schoolie sized stripers are in the California Delta . The fall striper run is shaping up to be epic .
Photo Courtesy of Amy Wellenkamp
August 11 , 2023
FRESHWATER REPORTS Lake Amador - Lake Berryessa ................................ 6 Bullards Bar Lake - Lake Camanche .......................... 7 Collins Lake - Del Valle Reservoir .............................. 8 Eagle Lake - Ebbetts Pass Region ............................. 9
Folsom Lake ........................................................ 12 Los Vaqueros Reservoir ...................................... 14 Lake Oroville - Rio Vista / Delta ............................. 15 Shasta Lake - Stampede Reservoir ..................... 16 Lake Tahoe - Sacramento / Feather Rivers ........... 17 Truckee / Little Truckee Rivers .............................. 18
SALTWATER REPORTS Bodega Bay - Fisherman ’ s Wharf / Berkeley ......... 21 Half Moon Bay - Monterey Bay ............................... 22 Monterey Bay ........................................................... 23
FEATURES
Where ... When ... How ...
GO FOR IT : Staff ........................................................ 4 MAP FEATURE : Dan Bacher ................................ 10-11 SPOTLIGHT ON CONSERVATION : Dan Bacher ....... 20
STAFF TACKLE
What We ’ re Using
Ernie Marlan used a Lew ’ s Elite TLE610MH 10-20lb rod team up with an Elite Ti reel spooled up with 30lb braid and a 16lb fluorocarbon leader while fishing for stripers on the delta . He caught fish while using topwater , swimbaits , lipless crankbaits , and spoons .
Paul Kneeland fished Stampede Reservoir with Brian Garcia of Alta in the Fish Sniffer 21 ’ Rogue Jet Coastal . They caught limits of kokanee to 13 inches using a 7 ’ 6 ” Lamiglas Fish Sniffer Special graphite triggerstick with an Daiwa Tatula low profile Level wind reel loaded with 6 lb test P Line . They trolled with Paulina Peak and Vance ’ s dodgers in silver / pink and watermelon followed by Silver Horde mini hootchies in pearl white and pink off the Canon Downriggers at 25 to 45 feet deep at 1.3 mph .
Dan Bacher Dan Bacher fished for rainbow trout at White Pines Lake in the Ebbetts Pass Region . He used a Berkley Ugly Stick GX2 6 ’ 6 ” medium action spinning rod , teamed up with a Shakespeare GX235 spinning reel filled with 8 lb . test P-Line CX Premium Fluorocarbon Coated Line . He fished with Berkley Tequila Sunrise Power Bait on a # 14 Eagle Claw gold treble hook on a sliding sinker rig .