Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3811 May 10-24 2019 | Page 19

FRESHWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 11 FOLSOM LAKE cont. The Commission heard from CDFW “We didn’t get any that projections for big ones, just planters.” Chinook salmon said Lampkin. “A couple fisheries are of weeks ago we were looking better than landing rainbows from 18 last year. In May, to 19 to inches long. We the Commission were getting four or five will consider per day.” increasing bag and The biggest limit possession limits weighed in during the on the Klamath event was five rainbows and Trinity rivers going 8 pounds. “I didn’t to a three fish bag see any salmon caught limit with no more in the event, although I than two adults did hook a 12 inch king and nine fish on my previous trip,” he possession limit disclosed. with no more than Bass continue to be six adults. on the move at Folsom. The public may The fish can be found keep track of the anywhere from five quota status of to twenty feet down. The water has cleared and big lightning trout are on the bite at Lake Amador! Anglers are catching Photo courtesy of LAKE AMADOR CAFÉ, Lake Amador. open and closed sections of the them on an array of Klamath and Trinity smaller-sized plastic lures rivers by calling the information hotline at such as swimbaits, drop shot worms and on spring Chinook Salmon on the Klamath (800) 564-6479. even tubes, according to Don Paganelli of and Trinity rivers. Spring Chinook Salmon Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience. became a candidate for listing under Folsom Lake is holding 854,972 acre CESA at the Commission’s February feet of water, 88 percent of capacity and meeting, when emergency regulations 120 percent of average. The lake level is were adopted that closed salmon fishing 454.76 feet above sea level, 11.34 feet NEW MELONES LAKE on the Klamath and Trinity rivers until from maximum pool. August 15. Target Spring Bass with - Dan Bacher Since February, CDFW held several Finesse Baits! meetings with the public, fishing interests, ANGELS CAMP – If you want to hook affected counties and CESA petitioners to black bass, now is a good time to head to evaluate whether a fishery could happen New Melones Reservoir. KLAMATH/TRINITY RIVERS that would protect the salmon, allow “New Melones bass fishing has been fishing, and provide some economic relief Spring Chinook Fishing great,” said John Liechty of Xperience to citizens and counties in the affected Opens July 1 Fishing. “The bite has been changing area. The Commission voted to reopen SACRAMENTO – The Fish and Game fishing on July 1 in both the lower Klamath daily and we have been adapting to high Commission at its April meeting voted and upper Trinity rivers with a one fish bag winds, rain and blue skies. Under certain conditions the fish can be found plastered unanimously to open a short-term fishery limit and two fish possession limit. did not take long before Ian hooked up, landed and released the first fish of the day, a scrappy 20” fish. We continued to drift and the bite remained steady. Little did I know, that things were about to change. “Reel up the bait rods and get your spoons in the water,” shouted Captain visit WHAT’S HOT Jeff. I looked over to the graph and it was lit up with ravaging stripers from top to bottom. I grabbed my trusty spoon rod and sent my 1 3/4oz Morning Dawn Blade Runner down to the school. My spoon did not even have time to hit the bottom and I was hooked up. Almost instantaneously Tony was into a good LAKE CAMANCHE World-Class Trout & Bass Fishing, year round! 2 for 1 CAMPING Mid Week Camping Special! Your 2nd Night is FREE! CALL 866.763.5121 Camp one night at Lake Camanche and receive your second night free. Offer must be redeemed by calling (866) 763-5121 and mentioning promo code FS14 at the time of booking. offer not redeemeable online. Not valid on weekend, holidays, full hook-up RV sites or for cottage stays. Supplemental fees may apply. LAKE CAMANCHE’S AMENITIES • Guaranteed Weekly Fish plants (OCT. - MAY) • Boat Rentals • Lodging Available • Stores, Cafe & Marina Grill • Courtesy Launch Ramps on both North & South Shores • RV Sites w/ Full Hookups (LONG & SHORT TERM) 3805 www.CamancheRecreation.com May 10 - 24, 2019 17 to the shoreline and our bites are coming quick. Other days a deeper retrieve is necessary to trigger strikes.” “Day in and day out the finesse tactics are reliable. Fishing a variety of soft plastics on an assortment of rigging methods will put fish in the boat,” he tipped. “The shakeyhead, NED rig and nail rig are among the top producers. And, with the water clarity being clear some translucent greens and natural colors are the ticket. For those in search of big bites on big baits the swimbaits are still effective. It may take many casts but we have seen and hooked some impressive big bait fish lately. The topwater bite is coming on, but is yet to break wide-open.“ “Anglers on New Melones trolling for trout are having the best luck in Angels Cove, “reported Gene Hildebrand of Glory Hole Sports. “A variety of lures, including Rapalas and Speedy Shiners, and rolling shad have spawned a bite. Troy Hornbeck landed two quality rainbow and brown trout while angling for bass.” Shari Siewert of Dorrington, brought in a nice rainbow weighing 4.12 pounds that she caught on a nightcrawler/ flasher combo near the surface in Angels Cove. “Kokanee are slow to start this year,” noted Hildebrand. “Warmer weather is coming. It should spur a plankton bloom on the lake, kicking off the kokanee bite.” “The crappie bite is just off the hook here at Melones,,” said Hildebrand. “Many anglers care coming in to pick up live minnows for bait.” However, the biggest fish reported at New Melones over the past couple of weeks was a catfish. Mark from Murphys was fishing near the 49 Bridge in the afternoon when he landed and 11 lb..10 oz. channel catfish. New Melones Reservoir’s current lake CONTINUED ON PG 20 Continued from page 1 fish as well and then it was Ian’s turn. After a spirited fight, I had a schoolie striper in the boat. This was the type of spoon action that I was looking for For the remainder of the tide the action was frenetic. In short order, we had caught and released over 50 fish. Captain Jeff challenged us to hit triple digits and once he did that, it was game on. Each time the action slowed or we lost contact with the school, Captain Jeff would relocate them and the action would resume. Just shy of our goal, the tide stopped and so did the fish. Captain Jeff made the decision to run to another area where the tide was running. When we arrived, it was apparent this was a popular location as there were many boats in the vicinity. After several drifts and just a few bites, Captain Jeff made a run to a new area, hoping to find a new school of fish. Ian Rigler was pretty happy after this Again, we started out drifting live handsome striper blasted his homemade spoon. minnows, however the action was Photo by MARK FONG, Fish Sniffer Staff. sporadic at best. Not satisfied with the way things were going Captain Jeff fired up the twin Mercury Outboards strong run, pulling drag and using the and began searching the area for signs current to its advantage. I knew this was of activity. “The tide should be getting the best fish of the day. I got the fish close right,” he said as he stopped on a small to the boat and it surged away again. group of fish he marked on the electronics. Light tackle fishing is so much fun and I I dropped my spoon and on the second was enjoying every moment of the fight. pump it was fish on. The fish made a After a spirited battle, Captain Jeff slid the net under a beautiful 7lb bass that was released after a few photos. Tony and Ian were enjoying the fast- paced action as well and soon Captain Jeff joined in on the fun. The afternoon just flew by and in short order it was time to call it a day. And what a day it was, we caught and released over 200 stripers, with half of them being over the 18” mark. To book a trip with Soo Hoo Sport- fishing, please call Captain Jeff at (925) 899-4045 or visit his website at www. When you see a sonar screen crammed with soohoosportfishing.com. You can also stripers like this, you know the action is going follow Soo Hoo Sportfishing on Facebook to be fast and furious. Photo by MARK FONG, Fish Sniffer Staff. or Instagram.