6 February 9 , 2024 VOL . 43 • ISS . 2

Lake Amador

Trophy Trout Lead Winter Catches

IONE -- Lake Amador is a regular producer of the largest trout in Northern California . Fish up to 12.64 pounds , raised in the lake ’ s onsite hatchery , have been landed by anglers fishing the Mother Lode lake over the past few weeks . “ We made it out on the lake to release another 1000 lbs . of trout near the Dam yesterday . We even let a bunch go at the launch ramp . now that the water level is rising ,” : reported Lee Lockhart at the Lake Amador Resort . “ There were a good mix of Cutbows and Golds in there plus a few Blues .” “ Keep that bait shallow ,” he advised . “ The fish are running in the top 5 ’ and stick with the smallest bait possible to get the best results .’ The lake level is 16 from full , the surface water temperature is 57 degrees , the water clarity is 6 ’ and the Oxygen level is 9.8 mg / L Anglers landed a bunch of hefty trout at the lake lately . Chelsea Zine from Alberta caught a tank of a Cutbow weighing 9.56 pounds while using PowerBait near the Carson arm cove . Kris Pettitt caught a monster cutbow that tipped the scale at 12.92 pounds . He hooked it on a Bobby Garland original shad jig from a kayak . Aaron Sepulveda from Concord caught a whopper of a Cutbow weighing in at 12.64 pounds while using a Mouse Tail . James Curry bagged an 8.17 lb . Cutbow while fishing a firetiger Rapala at the mouth of Carson Arm cove . Finally , Kenny Hunt came out from Sonoma and hooked into a whopper trout weighing 9.44 pounds near campsite 39 on Power Eggs .

- Dan Bacher

Lake Berryessa

Boaters Nail Hefty Trout , Bass

SACRAMENTO - Lake Berryessa continues to a premier destination for fat , healthy rainbow trout . Just ask Nate Kelsch , who had an awesome group of guys on Berryessa on a “ seek and destroy mission .” “ I informed them of the slow fishing just 2 days prior and said it is a toss-up - they said let ’ s go for it and I think they were all happy they did ,” stated Kelsch . “ Sean , Ron , Willie , Raymond and Parjeet ended their day going 13 fish for 18 hookups and filled the bag up with some Donkeys !’ “ After only getting 4 hookups all day last Friday , I was chomping at the bit to get back out and handle business ,” he stated . “ It was still a grind , but after thinking about what I could change , I came up with a game plan and it worked out .” “ The fish are extremely scattered throughout the lake and at depths from just below the surface to 45 ft ,”

he revealed . “ No certain depth was better than another . You have to put your time in and change setups , depths , speeds and locations often if you want to be successful .” “ Power trolling spoons at 3.1 to 3.7mph caught us our bounty today , and remember as I always say , Speed Kills . This is not limit style fishing right now , but there are gorgeous fish to be had , so if you ’ d like to get in on this action or head out to Camanche , Amador , Pardee ( when it opens ), Collins or Bullards Bar , the time is now !.” Bass fishing has been productive for anglers using drop shot rigs on Lake Berryessa . “ It was the first time out with drop shot technique for my client ,” said Don Paganelli of Paganelli ’ s Bass Fishing Experience . “ We scored some nice fish and lost a few but that ’ s fishing ! It was a great day with great clients on Berryessa .”. Lake Berryessa is holding 1,294,925 acre feet of water , 81 percent of capacity and 103 percent of average .

- Dan Bacher

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On your way to : Anderson , Calero , Coyote & San Luis 5 miles south of San Jose South on 101 , exit at Bernal Road West , South on Monterey Road ( 408 ) 463 – 0711 www . coyotebait . com

Bullards Bar / Englebright Lakes

Trollers Bag Kokanee Limits

DOBBINS – Angling pressure at Bullard ’ s Bar Reservoir continues to be very light for kokanee salmon , rainbow trout and spotted bass ., but the kokanee fishing remains good for the few going out . Trollers have been catching the kokanee while trolling with Kokanee Cut Plugs and spinners behind dodgers at 50 to 645 fee deep . Expect to hook kokanee in the 10 to 13 inch range . Bullards Bar is holding 669,091 acre-feet of water , 72 percent of capacity and 110 percent of average . Few anglers have been on the water at Englebright Reservoir fishing for trout . However , this is generally a great time of year to hook rainbows and an occasional brown while trolling with Rapalas , Needlefish , Cripplures and nightcrawlers behind dodgers .

Continued on Pg 7

Chelsea Zine , from Alberta , was using PowerBait near Carson Arm Cove on Lake Amador when she landed this monster .

Photo Courtesy of Lake Amador Resort

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Salmon • Trout • Kokanee • Striper

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Brett Brady

USCG licensed bonded & insured

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

You can contact the Pyramid Lake Ranger Station at ( 775 ) 476-1155 for more information on our beautiful lake .

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