Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3817 August 2- 16 2019 | Page 15

NEW MELONES LAKE cont. were the day previously. The action was much faster than the day before, and we boxed our last two for limits on a double, losing only one fish all day. Speedy Shiners between 25 and 35 feet are the hot set ups.” “The day before I took out an 84-years young client, and he wanted to see what he was doing wrong. He told me, ‘I learned more today than I have in the last five years, and this is one of my greatest trips ever,’ as we scored limits of rainbows before 1:00 p.m. along with a 14-inch kokanee. We trolled with Speedy Shiners from the Marina to just past Deer Island.” The kokanee bite has yet to emerge. However, Dunham and others anglers predict a great 2020 kokanee season at Pardee. The lake remains at 100 percent of capacity. - Dave Hurley silver have been hot colors. Hoochies are also working behind a Sling Blade, and the kokanee come up around mid- morning to feed on the surface as the water temperature is 80 degrees on the surface.” Steve Wirfs of Ripon and Jeff Boyle of Bass Pro Shops in Manteca found two limits of kokanee to 16.5 inches running Apex lures or hoochies at depths from 39 to 51 feet. - Dave Hurley OROVILLE LAKE/ THERMALITO AFTERBAY Chinook Salmon Limits the Rule OROVILLE – While most anglers are focusing on salmon fishing on the Feather and Sacramento rivers, anglers are picking up bright landlocked kings on Lake Oroville. “On my most recent trip on Lake Oroville, three anglers fishing with me bagged limits of salmon from 40 to 70 feet deep out of the Bidwell Canyon Marina,” said Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob’s Guide Service. “We trolled with Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plugs in the Christine Special. The fish averaged 16 to 18 inches long; we didn’t catch any larger holdovers.” Mike Cunningham of Willfish Bait and Tackle in Auburn confirmed the excellent salmon fishing at Oroville. “Trollers are doing well on salmon while using black and white Speedy Shiners,” said Cunningham. Lake Oroville is holding 3,397,362 acre feet of water, 96 percent of capacity and 115 percent of average. The lake level is 891 feet in elevation, nine feet from full. Anglers continue to catch and release largemouth bass at the Thermalito Afterbay. The winners of the latest turkey shoot at the afterbay were: first, Chris Layton, 18”; and second, Joe Orozco, 17- 3/4, according to North Valley Tackle and Pro Shop.. - Dan Bacher PARDEE LAKE Mount Lassen Now Planting Rainbows Every Week IONE - The Rocky Mountain Recreation Company announced that a new supplier, Mount Lassen Fish Hatchery, will now be planting rainbow trout at Pardee Lake. The first plant of 2000 pounds went in on Tuesday, July 16, and then 1000 pounds RANCHO SECO LAKE Captain David Hammond has been putting his clients on some big bad summer stripers while trolling the West Delta. Photo courtesy of DELTA PRO FISHING, Elk Grove. will be planted each week through the end of the of the season. Lake Pardee is the only Mother Lode lake featuring weekly trout plants during the summer, due to the relatively cold water temperatures. Robbie Dunham of Koke Machine Guide Service has been concentrating on trout at the lake – and found top-notch action on two consecutive days this past week. “After finding great fishing on a recent trip, I took out my wife, Kim, the following day, and after launching at 5:45 a.m., we had the lines within 15 minutes and had fish on,” said Dunham. “We worked the North Arm for a few passes, and then made the trip up the river arm where they Best Selection — Best Service — Best Prices 3720 (916) Aug 2 - 16, 2019 FRESHWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 17 ROCKLIN 773-7333 6455 PACIFIC ST. AUBURN (530) 888-7825 11844 ATWOOD RD www.trucksmart.com Summer Anglers Target Bass, Crappie and Redear Sunfish HERALD – The surface water temperature at Rancho Seco Lake is now too warm to plant rainbow trout, but plants will resume this fall during the week of October 28 when 500 pounds of trophy rainbows will be stocked in Rancho Seco. To see the plant schedule, go to: https:// rockymountainrec.com/lake-facilities/ listing/rancho-seco-recreational-area. A total of 6500 pounds of trout will have been planted by the end of this year. Florida-strain largemouth bass, redear 13 sunfish, crappie and bluegill are now available for anglers on the lake. Anglers nail the bass while using Huddleston and other rainbow trout swimbaits, Senkos, swimbaits, plastic worms, spinnerbaits and jigs. For redear sunfish, crappie and bluegill, anglers should fish small jigs, redworms and mealworms around structure and weedbeds. Rancho Seco Recreational Area is a 400-acre park overflowing with recreational opportunities including camping, boating, fishing, swimming and wildlife viewing. The 160-acre lake is fed by the Folsom South Canal and is a great year-round day or overnight getaway located in California’s Central Valley, just 25 miles from downtown Sacramento. For more information, call 209-748-2318. - Dan Bacher REDDING/RED BLUFF Productive Salmon Opener Points To Red Hot Fall Fishing! REDDING - During the opening week of the salmon season some anglers scored over a fish per rod. Other guys hooked plenty of fish, but failed to land them. Some sticks just plain struggled to get on fish that were willing to strike. River conditions are excellent with ample flows and plenty of cold water and there are plenty of salmon around. All in all things look good for anglers fishing between Corning and Red Bluff. With big numbers of salmon showing beyond the Golden Gate, it looks as if the month of September will provide epic action for Sac Valley River anglers. Until the fall salmon run really begins to rage, the trout fishing in the Sacramento remains a viable option with fishing ranging from good to outstanding depending on the day. Both fly anglers and conventional tackle guys are hooking up. If you want to be in a position to score some Sac River chrome when the fishing gets hot this September, it’s wise to book your spot early. Both Robert Weese and Mike Bogue are top sticks when it comes to putting anglers on big bad kings. CONTINUED ON PG 17