Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3817 August 2- 16 2019 | Page 6

4 FRESHWATER Aug 2 - 16, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 17 FRESHWATER REPORTS ALMANOR/BUCKS LAKES Bucks Lake Offers Mixed Bag Action, While Almanor Boots Out ‘Bows! QUINCY - Bucks Lake has hit its summer stride and is producing a full menu of trout, macks and kokanee salmon. The trout fishing is starting to wind down at Almanor, but big rainbows are still on tap. At Buck’s Lake trollers are focusing on kokanee that range from 12 to 13 inches, but there have been some bonus macks showing up too. Most of the macks are 2 to 6 pounders, but bigger fish are always possible. Pansize brook, brown and rainbow trout are in the mix too. “We’ve been having a lot of fun running Paulina Peak dodgers teamed with pink micro hoochies and other lures for the kokanee salmon at Bucks. The Paulina Peak gear is working well. I really like their dodgers,” said Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service. Trout fishing got off to a late start at Lake Almanor this spring and as a result the summer slowdown has been slow in coming. While it’s true that the fishing isn’t as good as it was a month ago, anglers are still finding solid big rainbow action while trolling deep water. Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service has been slow trolling threaded night crawlers near the bottom in 25 to 35 feet or water for rainbows that average over 3 pounds and top out at over 5. The trout are feeding on aquatic insects, but enough of them are willing to grab a worm to keep things very interesting. Smallmouth fishing at the lake is slow overall, but anglers mooching crickets around rocky structure have been able to tempt bass up to about 3 pounds. Late in the evening there has been some topwater action for anglers working small poppers along deep water points. LAKE AMADOR Catfish and Bass Lead Summer Angling Parade IONE – Channel catfish offer the most consistent action at Lake Amador this summer, now that the water temperature has warned up into the seventies.. Anglers are hooking the fish while soaking mackerel, chicken liver and nightcrawlers around the corners of the dam. The fish are big ones averaging 5 to 10 pounds each, reported Sheree Rose at the Lake Amador Resort. One angler recently left a carcass on the dock after filleting a catfish that we estimate to have weighed around 25 pounds. Bluegill offer plenty of light tackle action for young and old anglers alike. Fishermen are tossing out mealworms, golden grubs and mini-crawlers under bobbers around brush, structure and docks. The Carson Creek arm is one of the better places to target them. Black bass round out the angling options at the lake Boaters are using an array of plastic worms, jigs, Senkos and other lures for largemouths to 5 pounds. The water level is eight feet from full and the boat ramp facilities are in full operation. The annual moonlighter bass tournament is set for Saturday, August 10 at 7 p.m. to Sunday, August 11, at 7 a.m. For more information, call (209) 274-4739, - Dan Bacher AMERICAN RIVER Metro Anglers Target Stripers and Shad AMERICAN BASIN Kokanee Bite In Full Swing at Hell Hole AUBURN – If you want to catch a limit of kokanee salmon in the American River watershed, Hell Hole Reservoir on the Rubicon River is a prime destination now. “Trollers are doing well on kokanee in the 13 to 14 inch range on Hell Hole,” said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle. “They trolled pink hoochies, tipped with white corn, behind dodgers at 35 to 40 feet deep.” “Boaters are also hooking mackinaw SUPERSTITIOUSLURES@GMAIL.COM to 6 pounds while fishing dodgers and SUPERSTITIOUSLURES.COM worms at the lake,” 3809 said Newton. “In the upper lake, anglers tossing out Rapalas are catching a few rainbows and browns.” Anglers are picking up mostly rainbows, a mixture Captain Bryan Roccucci of planters and holdovers, in the Middle Fork inlet ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? Trout Planted Seasonally! • Cafe • RV Park • Waterslide • Campground • Disc Golf • General Store Cafe Open Seasonally On Friday, Saturday & Sundays 209-274 -4739 7500 Lake Amador Dr., Ione, CA 95640 WWW.LAKEAMADOR.COM Now Booking Bucks Lake Bucks Lake Lake Almanor Trout & Kokanee Davis Lake and Almanor Eagle Lake trophy trout! Lake Tahoe www.BigDaddyFishing.com Call for Best Dates – (530) 370-1001 LAKE AMADOR of French Meadows Reservoir, added Newton. If you want to go stream fishing for wild rainbows and browns, Newton recommended tossing out Panther Martin spinners and Kastmasters in the Middle Fork of the American River. Rainbow trout plants are boosting the trout fishing in the Crystal Basin this summer. SMUD is coordinating six separate trout plantings from June through August. Union Valley, the largest of the three reservoirs, will get 10,000 pounds; Ice House, 8,750 pounds; and, Loon Lake, 6,250 pounds. The fish provided by SMUD will come from Mount Lassen Trout Farms of Payne’s Creek. The company also stocks SMUD’s Rancho Seco Lake, which annually hosts the very popular Trout Derby. Big smiles and big macks…That’s been the scene for folks fishing with the Tahoe Sportfishing Team this summer. This jumbo fish was landed on June 25. Photo courtesy of TAHOE SPORT- FISHING, South Lake Tahoe. flows on the American River from 4,000 to 3,500 cfs, for the purpose of “storage conservation,” on July 18, said Reclamation spokesperson Peggy Manza. - Dan Bacher SACRAMENTO – Anglers reported catching very few king salmon either in the mouth of the American or in the lower river itself on opening day, July 16, and BERRYESSA LAKE since. Drop Shot Enthusiasts Battle The American from the U.S. Geological Survey gauging station cable crossing Three Bass Species about 300 yards downstream from the WINTERS – Experienced bass Nimbus Hatchery fish rack site to the fishermen continue to catch and release mouth at Discovery Park is now open large numbers of largemouth, smallmouth to salmon fishing. The bag limit is two and spotted bass at Lake Berryessa. Chinook salmon per day, with a total of “Three bass anglers out on my latest four fish in possession. trip at Berryessa caught and released 20 American shad are still your best bet, bass while drop shotting with me,” said even though the fishing has slowed Don Paganell of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing as the shad run enters its tail stretch. Experience. “We landed a mixture of Anglers should throw out 1/16 and 1/32 oz smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass jigheads with chartreuse and champagne to 3 pounds while using Robo Worms in grub tails for the shad in the Sunrise and Aaron’s Magic and Morning Dawn colors Sailor Bar areas. Fishermen are using in 15 to 20 feet of water in the lake’s main both bobbers and split shot to get their body.” lures out. The kokanee salmon fishing is still going Stripers are also worth a shot in the Continued on Pg 7 deeper holes on the river. Toss out Pencil 3816 Poppers, Zara Spooks and other topwater lures early Visit The Mother Lode Region’s Official Fishing Tackle and late in the day Headquarters Today For All Of your Inland Fishing Needs! or fish crawdad tails, jumbo minnows or WIDE SELECTION • GREAT PRICES • YOU SAVE! live pike minnows HOOKD4LIFE.COM during the day. RODS • REELS • LINE • FROGS • SWIMBAITS • JIGS BAIT • HOOKS • SPINNERS • TERMINAL The Bureau TACKLE • HARDBAITS • SOFT PLASTICS • SPECIALS • CLOSEOUTS & MUCH MORE! of Reclamation reduced water Visit us on your way to: Camanche, Pardee, Amador, Rancho Seco, New Melones And More ! (209) 790-5100 106 East Main Street, Ione, CA 95640 Bait & Tackle Salmon • Striper • Trout • Kokanee Great Fishing for Rainbows, Browns and Lake Trout! •Cabins •Campground •Restaurant & Bar •Fishing Boat Rentals Call for Information and Reservations 3614 (209)295-4868 40800 Highway 88, Pioneer, CA 95666 www.bearrivercampground.com • Stripers • Oroville Kings • Stampede Kokanee (530) 272-7137 • (530) 263-4451 www.fishbarebones.com 3807