Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3611 May 12-26, 2017 | Page 23
VOL.36 • ISS. 11
21
May 12-26, 2017
FRESHWATER
WHAT’S
HOT Pg 1
Continued from
I’d taken tours around the
lake and hiked the mountains
surrounding it, but I’d never
fished there…
Naturally I was pretty excit-
ed. Paul fishes Pyramid a good
deal, seduced by the idea of
landing a 20 plus pound trout.
his
When I asked him what I
trout
should bring in terms of tackle
season I’m
he basically told me to think
going to try
big and related that we’d be
something I haven’t done
trolling from 2.5 to 3.5 miles
before, but have always had
per hour most likely.
on my mind.
A few days ago, I was
With these clues in mind
When
I
was
a
youngster
ordering some Panther
I grabbed a box of salmon
I had an old-time fishing
Martin Spinners. Basically,
spoons from Silver Horde,
book written by Ray Berg-
I was re-supplying with my
some ½ ounce Hum Dingers
man.
Ray
was
the
fishing
beloved black/yellow spot
and a few Sling Blade Dodg-
editor
of
Outdoor
Life
spinners in the 1/8 and ¼
ers.
Magazine in the 1940’s. The
ounce sizes, but then I spot-
After a predawn drive
book was called “Fishing
ted some beautiful metallic
from Colfax, California, over
With
Ray
Bergman”
and
I
finish spinners from the De-
Donner Summit and into
read
it
multiple
times.
luxe Regular “Brass Body”
Nevada we found ourselves on
In one of the passages
line of spinners.
the shoreline of the big lake,
Ray
talks
about
fishing
spin-
Long story short, there
just after dawn. The breeze
Cal Kellogg caught this limit of quality Delta stripers
ners
for
stream
trout
and
the
are
now a selection of all
was blowing and the forecast
while trolling a red head/white body deep running
utility
of
metallic
colored
brass, chrome and copper
called for it to strengthen
Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow this April.
spinners. He outlined when
colored spinners in my trout
throughout the day, so we
Photo by JACK NAVES, Fish Sniffer Staff
he’d use chrome, copper
gear.
wasted no time getting the
and
brass
colored
offerings.
The first chance I get I’m
boat prepped and dumping it
fish of the day.
During
bright
conditions
going to show them to some
into the lake.
While we didn’t get one of the jumbo trout
when the water was clear
trout and see what the fish
As we motored north from the
Pyramid is famous for producing, I felt the trip
he
recommended
chrome.
think!
launch ramp amid dozens of fly an-
was a great introduction to the lake and I’ll cer-
During
low
light
periods,
If you’re interested in
glers atop ladders, I saw two of them
tainly be back out there next fall. I really want to
he
opted
for
brass
and
if
the
getting back to basics and
hook up, so I was chomping at the
try my hand at hiking and casting spoons from
water was stained he leaned
would like to check out
bit to put the gear into the water.
the bank amidst the stark desert backdrop.
toward
copper,
but
confided
some dandy looking me-
Paul put two rods out. On one he
A few days later and I was back on the water
that
these
were
guidelines
tallic finish spinners, visit
toplined a magnum size Tasmanian
in the West Delta with Fish Sniffer field ed-
rather
than
hard
and
fast
Panther Martin online at
Devil. On the other rod, he snapped
itor Jack Naves. Stripers were the target and
rules.
panthermartin.com.
on a 4.75 inch Silver Horde/Gold
we were fishing aboard Jack’s beautiful North
-by Cal Kellogg
Star Topcat spoon in a watermelon
River.
pattern and sent it down 25 feet on
After launching at Brannan Island we started
the downrigger.
the day fishing chicken livers off the anchor
I went with a watermelon pattern
along the West
Silver Horde/Gold Star Kingfisher
Bank in the Sac-
Lite spoon fished using an Abu Gar-
ramento River.
cia line counter reel and a Vance’s
We had a fair
Tackle trout rod. I dropped the
amount of action
spoon down 15 feet on the downrig-
and caught several
ger.
shakers and one
Paul set a course for Windless
quality keeper,
Bay, but we didn’t get far before
but there was a lot
the Tasmanian Devil got hit hard.
of debris coming
Paul fought the trout expertly and
down the system
presently I was looking at a Pyramid
including some
Lake cutthroat up close. The fish
Rancho Seco
giant logs.
was gorgeous with awesome colors.
Recreational Area
When the outgo-
It measured 23 inches long. After
ing tide started to
Rancho Seco Recreational Area is located 25 miles south of
quickly releasing it, we were back
die, we pulled our
Sacramento at 14960 Twin Cities Road in Herald, CA.
on the troll.
gear and headed
As the morning went on the Tas-
Sacramento
back through 3
Open year round with RV sites,
Vicinity Map
manian Devil produced the lion’s
Mile Slough. Our
waterfront campsites and BBQ’s. You
share of the fish, but then around
Cl
plan was to spend
can rent electric and row boats, kayaks,
Park
10:30 our spoons started producing.
Entrance
the afternoon troll-
and
paddle
boards
for
more
water
fun!
Paul caught several 16 to 19 inch-
ing the sand shoals
Clay
ers on his Topcat spoons, while I
• Pitch a tent
• Wet a line
N
in the San Joaquin
Herald
Twin Cities Rd.
started hooking up consistently with
Rancho Seco
with Yo-Zuri deep
• Launch a boat
• Take a swim
Recreational Area
a chrome and blue ½ ounce Hum
running Crystal
• Have a picnic
• Hike a trail
Dinger pulled behind a 6 inch red
From Sacramento, take Highway 99 South to the Highway 104 exit.
Minnows.
Go East on Highway 104, 15 miles, to the Rancho Seco Park exit.
UV Sling Blade.
After looking
Visit smud.org/RanchoSeco or
By the time we called it a day,
around for a few
call 1-800-416-6992.
we’d landed at least two dozen
minutes Jack
trout. Our smallest fish was about 14
found a bar he
inches, but most were over 18, with
liked. While he
Park Operator
Paul’s 23 incher being the largest
©SMUD 0520-17
ALL THAT GLITTERS:
SPINNER SELECTION
FOR TROUT
T
Stay and play!
80
99
1-5
104
CONTINUED ON PAGE 29