Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3803 Jan 17- Feb 1 2019 | Page 23

Jan 17 - Feb 1, 2019 FRESHWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 3 FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 19 SHASTA LAKE Big Trout Available for Hard Working Trollers BRIDGE BAY- The good news for Shasta Lake trouters is that there are rainbows to 5 pounds and browns to 7 plus pounds on the prowl. The bad news is that you’ve got to work hard for your hook ups. “I spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s fishing Shasta Lake from my Jackson kayak,” reported Bill Twain of Rancho Cordova. “I spent a couple nights camping on the lake and the rest of the time I stayed in a motel in Redding. The bass fishing was off the hook, while the trout fishing was challenging.” “I’d hit the lake a couple weeks before and nailed a bunch of spotted bass while slow trolling Gulp! Minnows. On my last trip, I was determined to get into some trout. I started out trolling Rapalas, Kastmasters and Needlefish without results. I didn’t hook my first trout until I slowed down my troll,” he stated. “My best lures were an all-white Arctic Fox fly and a per white Flatfish. I trolled these lures in the top 5 feet from 1 to 1.5 mph. I got fish in the main body and the McCloud River Arm. My biggest trout was a 25.5 inch brown. My top rainbows measured just short of 20 inches. In all I landed 17 trout. 14 of them were rainbows,” said Twain. “To hook bass all I had to do was work around rock structure in 15 to 30 feet of water, drop shotting Gulp! Minnows and vertical jigging with a half-ounce Kastmasters. I caught several dozen spotted bass with a few largemouths mixed in. The biggest bass measured just over 15 inches,” Twain concluded. Shasta is currently holding steady at 100 feet from maximum pool and the surface temperature is in the middle 50’s depending on the area. SMITH/CHETCO RIVERS Big Push of Steelhead Expected SMITH RIVER- The New Year arrived with low, clear and challenging fishing conditions on the Smith and Chetco rivers, but a storm that arrived at press time is expected to draw more fish into the rivers. “The fishing has been pretty slow in both the Smith and Chetco, due to the low and clear water conditions,” said Come visit LAKE SHASTA at Lakehead on the Sacramento River arm Phil Desautels of Phil’s Smiling Salmon Guide Service. “There are not a whole lot of steelhead in the river systems yet.” “A couple of days ago a ball of fish moved into the Smith and the guides who were there reported catching to 1 to 3 per boat,” said Desautels. “The fish ranged from 6 to 12 pounds. However, the next day they didn’t catch anything because the fish had moved on.” There are still a few bright salmon left in the rivers. For example, Desautels hooked and landed a 7 lb. chrome bright king on the Chetco during his latest venture while drifting a yarn/Fish Pill combination. “I expect that after this next 4 day storm that is in the forecast the fishing will get really good on both rivers. We still have a handful of openings left in January and February,” Desautels concluded. - Dan Bacher TRINITY RIVER/LAKE Steelhead Surge Into River WEAVERVILLE - Steelhead continue to move up the Trinity River, offering hard battles for anglers willing to fish in the low, clear and cold water conditions. A total of 847 adult steelhead have been trapped at the Trinity River Fish Hatchery in Lewiston to date. A total of 2,049 adult steelhead returned to the facility in all of 2017. “Most of the fishing pressure in concentrated in the upper section of river from Lewiston to Douglas City,” reported Tim Brady of Trinity Outdoors. “There aren’t many people fishing in the stretch from Douglas City down to Big Bar.” Fishing guides and anglers continue to report catching wild and hatchery steelhead while fishing roe, jigs and nightcrawlers under a float and flies, including Rubber Legs and golden stone patterns. Fish to 8 pounds are showing. As usual, Trinity River entered the new year with very few people trying for smallmouth and largemouth bass, rainbow trout and king salmon in the cold weather. Trinity Lake is holding 1,459,233 acre feet of water, 60 percent of capacity and 89 percent of average. - Dan Bacher WEST DELTA Sturgeon Action In High Gear Despite Cool Water Temps LAKE TAHOE Cold Weather Doesn’t Keep Tahoe Sportfishing Team From Hooking Up! The sturgeon bite is hot in Suisun Bay for anglers fishing salmon roe and eel. This fish was caught during a bait soaking session with Captain Hayden Mullins. Photo courtesy of DRAGON SPORTFISHING, Pittsburg. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The weather has been cold and breezy at times and there have been periods of snow, but none of this has kept the Tahoe Sportfishing Team from hooking an assortment of dandy Lake Tahoe mackinaw. The bite has been outstanding for winter anglers fishing with Tahoe Sportfishing skippers. The top fish are running up to about 10 pounds and keepers in the 3 to 6 pound range have been plentiful. A variety of offerings have been hooking the fish, but nothing has been working as well as minnows teamed with flashers and other types of blades. If you’d like to kick off the 2019 fishing season with some great memories and a sack full of tasty mackinaw fillets consider jumping aboard one of Tahoe Sportfishing’s vessels. Trips depart from both the Ski Run Marina and Zephyr Cove Marina. Both private and public charters are available as are afternoon and morning trips. The boats are comfortable, the crews are talented and the macks are waiting for you. To book your Lake Tahoe adventure or for more information, give the Tahoe Sportfishing a call at (530) 541-5448. Mickey Daniels of Mickey’s Big Mack Charters has been taking clients out on his charter boat that features a fully enclosed, heated cabin. Mickey’s clients have been hooking several fish per outing while pulling Kok-A-Nuts, Sting Kings and other lures. The fish are running from 3 to 7 pounds in most cases. His clients have been keeping some fish for the table. The rest are tagged and released. To hit the water with Tahoe legend, Captain Mickey Daniels, give him a ring at (530) 546-4444. Fish Lake Tahoe! • Fully equipped cabins with decks overlooking the lake • Free Boat slips at private dock • Gameroom, volleyball, pool, horseshoes and more! (530)238-2575 www.tsasdiresort.us Great Food & drinks, newly remodeled bar, outdoor patio, lots of fun! (530)962-3050 3204 PITTSBURG- “The sturgeon bite is outstanding right now. We are getting several keepers per trip and we’ve had some good stripers on too,” exclaimed Captain Hayden Mullins of Dragon Sportfishing. “We had one striper over 30 pounds this week and a couple in the high teens. Those fish are coming on big live and dead baits. The sturgeon are hitting salmon roe and eel. We are just sticking to the basics and it’s working for us. Find the marks, put out the baits, execute the bites and reel them in. I love it when things work out as planned,” quipped Mullins. For a shot at a limit of keeper size stripers, cut baits are working well. Filleted shad and chicken livers are the top offerings, but sardine fillets work too. With the water now hovering around 50 there has been very little trolling action. Anglers vertical jigging with spoons have had some good success, when a concentration of fish is located. Cold water catfish action has been solid for patient anglers that want a change of pace. Top catfish baits are chunked anchovies and night crawlers. PYRAMID LAKE MOBILE HOME FOR RENT! 5 hours DaiLy Trips 90 $ All Gear Provided (800) 877–1462 • Discounts for Cash • • Large or Small Groups • Group Discounts • Gift Certificates Over 50 Years Experience on The Lake P.O. Box 488 Carnelian Bay, CA 96140 3705 21 (530)546–4444 E-mail: bigmack-2@att.net • www.mickeysbigmack.com ONLY $150 PER NIGHT! Large 2 bedroom completely remodeled mobile home sleeps up to 5 in separate beds, fully equipped kitchen, living room and large porch. Close to convenience store and 10 minutes to the boat ramp. Lots of boat parking — Dogs Welcome! Call or text Jaay at (775)742-0362 3802