Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3804 Feb 1-15 2019 | Page 19

Feb 1-15, 2019 FRESHWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 4 FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 12 QUARRY LAKES cont. two rainbows weighing 7 and 8 pounds on Fisherman’s Row while throwing out red and gold spoons and rainbow PowerBait. Brianna G. also had a good day of fishing when she successfully battled a beautiful rainbow trout on a red and gold spoon while fishing on Fisherman’s Row. Dan T. from Tustin caught a five-pound, 8-ounce trout from the backside of Horseshoe while using PowerBait. Dexter M. from Union City caught a five-and-a- half pound trout from a kayak while tossing out a Cordell lure. Ten-year-old Carter J. caught a five-pound trout from Fisherman’s Row, using rainbow garlic PowerBait. Robert T. from These guys paid Lake Don Pedro a visit the day after Christmas and enjoyed some very productive rainbow trout fishing. Hayward caught a five-pound Photo courtesy of GOLD COUNTRY SPORTFISHING, Oakdale. trout from the Peninsula, using PowerBait. Jack A. from Hayward hooked and released seven trout - the largest rockymountainrec.com/lake-facilities/ RANCHO SECO LAKE weighing seven pounds - fishing from listing/rancho-seco-recreational-area a boat. Johnny S. from Santa Clara Trout Action Gets Good Anglers are hooking trout while caught a five-and-a-quarter pound trout tossing out PowerBait, worms, HERALD – Rainbow trout plants are in from Fisherman’s Row, using rainbow Kastmasters, jigs and spinners from full swing at Rancho Seco Lake. Many PowerBait. both shore and boats, according to anglers are hooking up their limits right Alanacio M. from Fremont caught a five Dena Oneto of the Rocky Mountain after a plant and one to two fish per rod in pound trout from the old boat ramp, using Recreation Company. between plants. rainbow PowerBait., Jose Carrillo from Florida-strain largemouth bass, redear The last plant of 500 pounds of San Jose caught four trout - for a total sunfish, crappie and bluegill are also catchable rainbows by Mt. Lassen went in weight of 18.4 pounds - from the back of available for anglers on the lake. on January 14. That plant will be followed the peninsula while fishing PowerBait and Rancho Seco Recreational Area by another 500 pounds of catchable Mice Tails. is a 400-acre park overflowing with rainbows the week of January 28. Note that the use of lead fishing tackle recreational opportunities including The next three plants of 500 pounds of is prohibited at Quarry Lakes. You can camping, boating, fishing, swimming catchable rainbows will go into the lake exchange lead tackle at the kiosk in a “1 and wildlife viewing. The 160-acre lake the weeks of February 11, February 25 for 1” trade for stainless steel weights. is fed by the Folsom South Canal and and March 11. is a great year-round day or overnight To see the plant schedule, go to: https:// Lake Amador’s has planted a total of 12,400 pounds of trout from mid-October to present. “We’re currently stocking a mixture of Bonneville cuttbows, a cross between a Bonneville cutthroat and rainbow trout; Donaldson cuttbows, with heavy steelhead genetics; rainbow trout; and Lightning Trout,” said Lockhart. Lake Amador boasts an ambitious trout planting program from October through Memorial Day weekend (weather permitting). I once caught a five fish limit of rainbow trout, in addition to releasing numerous other fish, off the dock at Amador in the late spring while tossing out golden grubs. It was one of the most beautiful limits of trout I have ever caught at a California lake. Each fish was square tailed and silvery like a fresh-run steelhead and ranged from 3-1/2 to 4 pounds. In fact, a friend I showed the fish thought I had just gone to the American River and chided me for “keeping over my limit.” I told him the fish were not American steelhead, but rainbows from Amador. He was shocked. The hard fight that Amador’s own hatch- ery-raised trout have historically provided anglers, along with their beautiful fins and colors, are due to the unique strains of fish grown here and the conditions they are raised in. First, the hatchery raises the fish in tanks 5 to 6 feet deep, rather than 18 inches deep like other hatcheries, making for better growing conditions. Second, when the fish reach the age of 8 months and are taken out of the raceways, they are raised in 7 octagonal tanks with a constant current running through them. Swimming in the current forces the fish to become strong and healthy. Third, the resort uses top quality continued from page 1 “EWOS” food to raise their fish. Since it includes krill and sardines, it helped give the fish’s flesh their unique pinkish orange color. Fourth, the lake management keeps the amount of fish in the hatchery at a lower density than the state and other hatcheries, so the fish display squared, rather than rounded, tails. Fifth, the quality of the fish they raised also has to do the unique strains of fish they raise. While they first spawned fish from brood stock, they began buying eggs because it was less expensive. “We raised kick-ass fish that fought like hell,” said Lockhart. “However, because costs to raise fish have tripled, we aren’t going to be able to raise 100,000 fish per year like we used to.” But trout isn’t the only fish you can catch at Amador. You can pursue Florida-strain/ northern strain hybrid largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish. A sleeper trophy carp popula- tion inhabits the lake, with carp up to 50 pounds landed by anglers. Threadfin provide abundant forage for bass, catfish and crappie in the impoundment. Fishing pressure is currently light at the reservoir with the windy and rainy weather, but those getting out are hooking quality trout. Anglers are hooking the trout while fishing Berkley Mice Tails, Power Eggs and nightcrawlers. The top spots include off the campground, in the Carson Creek arm, below the Club Call for Best House and in the corners of the dam. A family owned and operated business since 1972, Lake Amador Resort is located in the beautiful oak-studded foothills of the Sierra Nevada only one hour from Sacramento and Stockton, and only two hours from anywhere in the Bay Area, The 1300 acre facility offers a heavily stocked 400 acre lake, with updated dual lane boat launch and a large fishing dock for shore anglers. The facility also features a huge campground with hot showers, flush toilets and large shady oak trees as well as a full hookup RV Park. F In addition to fishing and camping, you can enjoy two 18 hole disc golf courses, cool off at the 1 acre sand beach Swim Pond with a big waterslide, while the children can enjoy the playground. The scenic landscape also hosts hiking, biking and bird watching in the fall through spring. The Lake Amador Clubhouse offers free Wifi, a pool table, horse shoes, foosball and TV. The Clubhouse features a beer bar, as well as The Tackle Box Café, where you can eat a delicious breakfast and lunch. For more information, call: Lake Amador, 209) 274-4739, http://lakea- mador.com Lake Almanor Now Booking Lake Almanor Eagle Lake Rainbows and Lake Davis Browns! Bucks Lake Captain Bryan Roccucci Lake Tahoe www.BigDaddyFishing.com Dates – (530) 370-1001 GONE FISHING 17 getaway located in California’s Central Valley, just 25 miles from downtown Sacramento. For more information, call 209- 748-2318, or visit: http://www. rockymountainrec.com/lakes/lake-rancho- seco.htm or https://www.smud.org/en/ about-smud/community/recreational- areas/rancho-seco-lake.htm - Dan Bacher REDDING/RED BLUFF Rainbows Bite When River Isn’t Blown Out REDDING - With cold temperatures, frequent rain and variable water conditions few anglers are fishing the Sacramento River these days. Anglers that have hit the river between storms are reporting very good action on wild rainbow trout. Guides that are fishing report 15 to 25 fish per day. Some guides are using fly gear, while others are working with spinning rods. Mike Bogue of Mike Bogue’s Guide Service is offering conventional tackle trips on the river for anglers interested in fooling trout with crankbaits, glow bugs, Pautzke salmon eggs and Pautzke cured roe. When working the shallower runs and riffles, Bogue utilizes back trolled crankbaits to cover the water. He probes the deeper water areas with bait and glow bugs. These deep water areas are seldom hit by the fly guys and the action can be very good as a result. As of press time the river was flowing at 5,000 cfs and the clarity was good. If you’d like a crack at some wild rainbows in the Redding area, give Robert Weese of Northern California Guide Service or Mike Bogue of Mike Bogue’s Guide Service a call. They are two of the best sticks on the river and will work hard to get you fish. To contact Weese, call (530) 755-7196. To reach Mike Bogue, dial (530) 246-8457. RIO VISTA Crappie Offer Alternative to Stripers SACRAMENTO – Striped bass fishing has slowed down with the cold water temperatures on both the Sacramento and San Joaquin River sides of the Delta, but crappie are biting in the North Delta. Alan Fong of the Fishermen’s Warehouse in Sacramento searched the Mokelumne River for stripers on his CONTINUED ON PG 18 Come visit LAKE SHASTA at Lakehead on the Sacramento River arm • 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 3705