Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 2723 Oct 26-Nov 9 | Page 21

VOL.37 • ISS. 23 Freshwater Oct 26 - Nov 9, 2018 The lower Klamath below the Highway 96 Bridge at Weitchpec is closed to the take of adult salmon, but remains open to the harvest of jack (two-year-old) Chinook salmon (22 inches or less). All adult Chinook salmon caught must be immediately released and reported on the angler’s report card. Anglers may monitor the quota status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling the information hotline at (800) 564-6479. – Dan Bacher Colusa/Knights Landing 38 Lb. King Tops River Catches COLUSA – Reginald Roos landed the biggest salmon weighed in this season at Elkhorn Outdoors, a beautiful 38 pounder. Roos was fishing a Silvertron spinner while anchored up in his boat near the Verona Marina docks, reported Tim Boggs of Elkhorn Outdoors. “He also landed two fish weighing 22 and 25 pounds on his previous trips to Verona,” said Boggs. “The salmon fishing at Verona remains good, with a couple of slow days mixed in.” Boggs made a trip with one angler in his jet boat from Verona to the hole at Beer Can Beach on the Feather. “We caught two kings weighing 20 and 15 pounds while trolling Silvertron spinners,” he explained. This trip up from Verona is only recommended in a jet boat skippered by an experienced captain. “Because of the low flows, the water was really skinny,” he noted. Boggs hasn’t heard a lot about the catfish action lately, but he’s seeing a surprising number of stripers that came up from the Delta with the higher flows on the Sacramento River this summer and fall. “Anglers are catching quite a few stripers in the 4 to 6 lb. range while bait fishing in the Verona and Knights Landing areas,” he added. Gou Yang used anchovies to hook this mixed stringer of stripers and catfish at Los Vaqueros Reservoir on September 20. The fish were caught in Howden Cove. Photo courtesy of the LOS VAQUEROS RECREATION AREA, Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Mount Lassen stocked the lake with 2,000 pounds of trout the week of October 1 and another 2,000 pounds the week of October 8. “Twenty percent of the fish planted are in the 10 to 15 pound range,” said Mark Goodall of the Los Vaqueros Marina. Although anglers haven’t reported catching any of the trophy trout yet, fishermen are picking up fish in the 1 to 4 lb. range. “The surface water temperature has cooled down and bank anglers and boaters are both landing trout,” noted Goodall. “Shore anglers are experiencing the best success fishing Los Vaqueros with neon green garlic and rainbow PowerBait in the South Cove.” Reservoir Stripers are also providing solid Trout to 15 Pounds Planted action. “I caught and released some stripers in the 18 to 20 inch range while BYRON – Every time you go fishing fishing anchovies from a rental boat,” at Los Vaqueros Reservoir you have a said Goodall. chance of catching rainbow trout in the No big stripers have been reported 10 to 15 lb. range. since J.P. Path caught and Now Booking for Fall Run King Salmon released a 16 Feather • Sacramento • American lb. striper that grabbed a smaller Rivers! striper that he was reeling in as he fished off one of the docks. Catfish are also Custom 23’ Rogue Jet 3621 rewarding anglers Salmon • Steelhead • Stripers • Book Now For Best Dates! tossing out shad, anchovies and T.N.G. Motor Sports Guide Ser vice chicken liver. www.tngmotorsports.com Pro Guide Jerry Lampkin -- 25 years experience! The biggest cat weighed in lately went 7-1/2 pounds. The water level is currently at 150,000 (530) 320-0994 Fish Lake Tahoe! 3204 New Melones Lake Big Catfish Break Lines HERALD - The fall/winter turnover New Melones has begun with cooler weather temperatures dropping lake surface water temperatures. “There have been several anglers pre fishing for the catfish contest telling tales of breaking lines while trying to land the big cats on the lake,” said Gene Hildebrand of Glory Hole Sports. “Make sure your spooled up with some fresh line, minimum 10 lb. to 30 lb. test.” “Debbie Shaw of Sonora found the bite to be the best doing some early morning angling at 4:30 am, landing a 7lb. 4oz. cat. She was using anchovies with bloody tuna/ garlic stink bait,” said Hildebrand. Scott McCarthy of Sonora hooked a large rainbow trout (no weight given) on Melones. McCarthy landed the beauty at 9 am, at a 50 ft. depth trolling an Excel lure with no dodger or flasher. “An end to the busy summer recreational boating season brings good news to anglers coming to fish bass on New Melones Lake,” said Hildebrand. “Shad patterned swimbaits and fall weather go hand in hand, so be prepared. Plastic flukes should also be 90 $ All Gear Provided (800) 877–1462 • Discounts for Cash • • Large or Small Groups • Group Discounts • Gift Certificates Over 50 Years Experience on The Lake Carnelian Bay, CA 96140 (530)546–4444 E-mail: bigmack-2@att.net • www.mickeysbigmack.com rigged and ready.” “Bill Lewellen and myself were on Melones this last weekend, hooking the bass using jigs and Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm/Green Pumpkin fishing rocky structure,” advised Hildebrand. John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service advised bass anglers, “As the weather begins to cool we anxiously await the fall bass fishing. The bite throughout the summer was strong and we had many great days on the water. The fish will begin to transition into fall-like patterns and begin to feed heavily on shad. As the water temperatures cool, the bass should become very active all throughout the day.” “The next few months are some of my favorite months to target bass. The fish have been scattered from deep to shallow and it is best to keep an open mind and cover all depths until you have located some feeding fish. We have been catching many fish on shad and crawdad patterns. Reaction baits are starting to produce many quality bites. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and small swimbaits can be used to cover water,” he tipped. “ “Slower moving finesse techniques are always a good choice, especially once a school of fish is found. Try using a dropshot to catch suspended bass and a shakeyhead to catch the fish scouring the bottom,” Liechty concluded. Crappie fishing is slow, but not at a standstill. Anglers are reporting landing crappie in the marina cove. New Melones Lake level is currently at 1031.90 feet above sea level. Oroville Lake/ Thermalito Afterbay Target Afterbay for Landlocked Steelhead OROVILLE – If you want to catch hard-fighting landlocked steelhead, give the Thermalito Afterbay a try. The Feather River Fish Hatchery stocked over 231,682 steelhead in a variety of size ranges in the winter and spring of 2018, according to Penny Crawshaw, hatchery manager 2. These fish have grown over the spring, summer and fall - and are expected to produce great fishing in the coming months. Over the past month, bank anglers have reported hooking some steelhead in the 15 inch class while fishing nightcrawlers under bobbers in the afterbay. The top areas to fish are the channel between the forebay and afterbay and along Highway 162, according to Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob’s Guide Service. Reimers plans to start trolling with nightrcrawlers and flashers, along Fish Pyramid Lake and Stay in Comfort! Salmon • Trout • Kokanee 5 hours DaiLy Trips P.O. Box 488 acre feet. With the cooler days and windy weather the water temperature is floating between 64 and 66 degrees depending on the time of day. If you are looking to rent a boat, contact the Marina ahead of time to check current wind conditions at (925) 371-2628. 19 • Stampede Kokanee • Oroville Kings • Now Booking Sacramento River Fall Salmon! 3713 Home of the WORLD RECORD Lahontan Cutthroat! •Lodging•General Store•Bar & Grill •Gift Shop •Gas •Gaming•Fishing Supplies •Boat Storage •Campground•Special Events and More! Accommodations for Large or Small Groups Call Early for Reservations! Crosby Lodge (775)476-0400 www.crosbylodge.net