Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3817 August 2- 16 2019 | Page 17

To Chico Reasons given by fishermen for the tough fishing include the full moon, hot weather, higher flows this summer that allowed the fish to move quickly past places such as Discovery Park at the mouth of the American and Verona at the mouth of the Feather; and the fact that most salmon are still out in the ocean. The ocean continues to produce the top salmon fishing in northern Cali- fornia. For example, fourteen anglers venturing aboard the New Easy Rider out of Berkeley landed limits of chinooks to 17 pounds on their latest trip. The anglers trolled with anchovies outside of the Golden Gate. A projected return of 379,600 spawning Sacramento River fall-run Chinook Salmon to Central Valley rivers has allowed fishery managers to return to a two salmon daily limit with four salmon in possession, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Last year, due to forecasted lower salmon returns, anglers fishing the Feather, American and Sacramento rivers were only allowed a one fish bag limit with two fish in possession. The Feather River contributes a large percentage of the salmon that return to the Sacramento River Basin. In 2018, the Feather River Basin, including the Yuba River, supplied 52 percent - 76,209 - of the total fall run chinooks returning to the Sacramento River, including 48,882 to natural area fish and 27,327 hatchery fish. The 76,209 included 61,783 adults and 14,426 jacks (two-year olds). “Last year my clients caught 120 Riv er Diversion Dam Oroville Forebay Fish Barrier Dam Nelson Avenue CHP r Rive ther Fea Grand Avenue Grand Avenue Tres Vias rd ery tgom Mon et Stre e Dam Blvd. vill ro t Rd dot an Wy Oro Dam Blvd. Richvale Hwy Oroville Munincipal Airport Thermalito Afterbay Butte City Hwy kin Wild Life Area Dredger Tailings Rd r La W Hamilton Rd E Hamilton Rd E. Rio Bonito Palermo Rd To Gridley East Biggs Rd Biggs E. Hwy Biggs Vance Avenue Location: The lower Feather River, the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, runs from below Oroville Dam to its junction with the Feather River at Verona. The river’s main stem is about 71 miles long. This river from Yuba City/Marysville to Verona is characterized by riffles, sandbars, long flats and some deep holes. Seasons: The salmon season is open from July 16 through Oct. 31 in the Feather River from the unim- proved boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall to 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp. The section from 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp to the mouth is open from July 16 through Dec. 16. For purposes of this regulation, the lower boundary is defined as a straight line drawn from the peninsula point on the west bank to the Verona Marine boat ramp. More information: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/File- Handler.ashx?DocumentID=169262&inline Boat ramps: Public launching is available at the unimproved boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall, Live Oak boat ramp, Yuba City boat ramp, Riverfront Park in Marysville, Star Bend in Marysville, Boyd’s Pump and the Verona Marina. For more infor- mation about boat launching or camping at the Verona Marina, call 916-927-8387. Fishing Guides: Guides are available for king salmon, striped bass, steelhead and shad fishing during the different seasons. Guides include Rustic Rob of Rustic Rob’s Guide Service, 530-632-0051; Robert Weese of Northern California Guide Service, 530-755 7196; Bret Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service 530-272-7137 or 530-263-4451, Manuel Saldana, Jr. of MSJ Fishing Guide Service, 530-301-7455, James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service, 888-975-0990; and Kevin Brock of Kevin Brock’s Guide Service 800-995-5543. Bait and Tackle Stores: Johnson’s Bait and Tackle, Yuba City, 530-674-1912; North Valley Tackle and Pro Shop, Oroville, 530-712-9356; and Elkhorn Outdoors, Rio Linda, 916-991-5298. To Chico, Paradise & Quincy Feather River Facts 15 Aug 2 - 16, 2019 MAP FEATURE VOL.38 • ISS. 17 Palermo Feather River & Oroville Wildlife Area Butte County Feather River Notes; King Salmon – The Feather River is of one the state’s premier salmon rivers. Shore anglers can catch the salmon on spinners, roe and other offerings, while boaters back troll, troll and anchor fish with Brad’s Killer Fish, Flatfish, Kwikfish and other plugs and spinners. Boondoggling and side drifting with roe from a boat and jigging with spoons is also productive. The salmon season this year is open from July 16 through Oct. 31 in the Feather River from the unimproved boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall to 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp. The section from 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp to the mouth is open from July 16 through Dec. 16. For purposes of this regulation, the lower boundary is defined as a straight line drawn from the peninsula point on the west bank to the Verona Marine boat ramp. Steelhead – Although steelhead can be hooked year round, fishing is best in the fall, winter and early spring months. Shore anglers and boaters hook steelhead on an array of Glo Bugs, salmon roe, spinners, spoons and flies. Striped Bass - Fishing is best for these hard-fighting fish during the spring when the fish move upriver to spawn, but stripers can be caught year round. Drifting jumbo minnows, anchor fishing with sardines, pileworms and bloodworms, tossing out top water lures and swimbaits and fly fishing with Clouser Minnows are all effective. Channel Catfish – There is a good population of catfish found throughout the river. Fish chicken livers, mackerel, anchovies and dough baits. American Shad – The shad move into the river from mid to late April through July. Small jigs with grub tails and shad flies yield the most consistent fishing. Smallmouth Bass – Anglers experience the top action while tossing out crawdad crankbaits, Senkos, jigs and plastic worms. fish during the season,” said Reimers In addition to salmon, the Feather Feather. The river also hosts small- who focused on fishing the Feather also has a great steelhead population. mouth, spotted and largemouth bass, River in the 2018 salmon season. “I The hatchery trapped a total of 1,049 channel catfish, American shad, and in concentrated on the stretch below the males and 839 females this year, high water years, white sturgeon. The Aafterbay early in the season and then 1988 steelhead total. The total eggs Feather is truly a world class fishery. focused on fishing the Yuba City areas they collected is 1.1 million, more You can expect salmon fishing on later in the season.” than enough to meet their production the Feather River, as well as on the Some years the fishing is so good on of 450,000 steelhead smolts for the Sacramento, American and Mokelumne the Feather River that the guides will Feather River. They also had enough rivers, to heat up as the season proceeds book afternoon trips for salmon also. eggs to stock the Thermalito Afterbay forward and the fish begin to move For example, after five anglers and I with over 10,000 steelhead. inside the Golden Gate to make their limited out while fishing the Feather In addition, the hatchery also released long journey up the Central Valley below the Thermalito Aftrebay outlet steelhead kelts (spawned out adult rivers to spawn. With the excellent with Robert Weese of Northern Cali- males) into the Sacramento at Verona fishing we have seen from Morro Bay fornia Guide Service in a trip in 2016, and into the Thermalito Afterbay, with to Bodega Bay at different times this we got in before noon with limits of 50 percent of the fish going into each season, a good number of salmon are good-sized salmon and two anglers spot. expected to surge into the rivers in the went out on an afternoon trip with But stripers, salmon and steelhead next few months. Weese. The couple limited out on are not the only fish found in the salmon also. Boaters use an array of techniques on the Feather, including side drifting with roe, boon doggling with roe and anchor fishing and back trolling with Brad’s Killer Fish, Brad’s Cut Plugs, Flatfish and other lures. Other anglers jjg with Gibbs Minnows, P-Line Lazer Minnows and other spoons. Shore anglers find the best action while tossing out Mepps Flying C and Blue Fox spinners, casting spoons and drifting These fishermen bagged these Chinooks while fishing on the Feather River with guide Kevin Brock on July 16. salmon roe. Photo courtesy of FISHKEVINBROCK.COM