Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3615 July 7-21 2017 | Page 15

FRESHWATER VOL.36 • ISS. 15 NEW MELONES LAKE Trout Go Deeper With Hot Weather ANGELS CAMP - The lake is 22 feet from full with the lake setting at 1065.50 feet above sea level. The main lake has a surface temperature of about 79 degrees and a little cooler up river. There is still some debris floating around, so be a cautious boater out there, advised Gene Hildebrand of Glory Hole Sports. The trout have been going deeper in the water column. Trolling for the rainbows s between 45 and 60 ft. would put you in the target area. “We are still getting reports of limits being caught by the 49 Bridge and between the two bridges,” said Hildebrand.. “Anglers are fishing with kokanee set-ups, including pink Apex lures andpink glow hoochies, tipped with garlic shoe peg corn, behind dodgers scented with Pro-Cure,” Last week Vance Staplin of Vance’s Tackle fished New Melones for kokanee. He reported landing one koke, and having two more at the boat before losing them. Pink/chartreuse glow hoochies with a blue dodger worked best for him. “With the hot weather upon us, look for early morning and late in the evening for some great bass fishing. Using topwater baits from River to Sea has been productive, Whopper Ploppers, Bubble Poppers with a trailer can produce a explosive hit. Have a arsenal of weapons to use while out bassin, POP-R plugs from Rebel and X-RAP by Rapala have some extreme action. You can retrieve these slow with pauses, or rip it across the surface like a fleeing shad,” Hildebrand said. Brock Graham landed an estimated 6.5-7 lb bass while fishing a black and blue flake Senko. NORTH DELTA Smallmouth Bass Bite Gets Going WALNIUT GROVE - The Sacramento- San Joaquin River Delta is known mainly as a quality largemouth bass fishery, but it also supports a superb smallmouth bass population, particularly in its northern reaches. Boaters are hooking scrappy smallmouths in the Mokelumne River above Wimpy’s Marina and in Steamboat, Sutter and Miner sloughs. The fish average around 1 pound each, but go up to 4 pounds. Your best bet is to fish early and late in the day with crayfish pattern crankbaits to imitate the crayfish that the fish are feeding upon “Some anglers are also using Senkos, Trick Worms and 3/8 oz. jigs,” reported Dan Mathisen of Dan’s Delta Outdoors in Oakley. The hot striper fishing that he and others experienced recently while throwing lures has tapered off with the heat, but anglers continue to hook striped bass on bait at Sherman Island and Big Break. “Fishing for largemouths with plastic frogs is improving in Franks Tract and Fishermans Cut with the hot weather,” he noted. “Target open water shade pockets.” LAKE OROVILLE Spotted Bass Scatter As Water Level Drops Great Fishing for Rainbows, Browns and Lake Trout! Call for Information and Reservations (209)295-4868 40800 Highway 88, Pioneer, CA 95666 www.bearrivercampground.com OROVILLE – Spotted bass are still providing the top fishing at Lake Oroville, as the king salmon fishing is tough. UNCLE LARRY’S LURES Simply the best Kokanee Spinners for over 20 years. Always part of a winning kokanee tackle box! Use the best, catch the best and the biggest! www.unclelarryslures.com 831-755-5720 3112 3609 MADE IN THE USA Fish Lake Tahoe! 3204 5 hours DaiLy Trips 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 P.O. Box 488 Carnelian Bay, CA 96140 (530)546–4444 E-mail: bigmack-2@att.net • www.mickeysbigmack.com 15 “ I took two young men to Oroville for a morning of bass fishing,” reported Larry Hemphill, fishing guide. “One was a good high school fisherman and the other gentleman really hadn’t fished before. We went up the middle fork and found the bite to be ok, but not great.” “I was impressed that each of them caught a decent spotted bass - one at over 17 inches and one about 16-1/2 inches. However, in spite of their nice length, they were very skinny. I know they had just spawned, but I thought they were too thin.” “I just had the guys using Robo Worms Texas rigged, because we were fishing too much rock to drop-shot. We used about 3 or 4 colors, with morning dawn and MM111 the best colors. Most bites were from 10 to 20 feet deep,” he observed. Hemphill noted, “It was just amazing to see the lake drawn down so fast in such a short period of time.” “There are many other baits we could have used, but I knew the worms would work well for them. Bass still seem to be scattered all over the place in The topwater action has been good in the East Delta spite of the dropping water. Our recently. This angler was fishing with Don Paganelli when quality bass were always a little this beautiful fish came up to strike. deeper than the smaller ones. Photo courtesy of PAGANELLI’S BASS FISHING The water color is excellent - just EXPERIENCE, Sacramento. right up the middle fork. The bald red banks - points - seemed to hold the better fish, he concluded. Lake Oroville is holding 2,336,44 acre feet 3513 of water. - Dan Bacher CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 Salmon • Trout • Kokanee •Cabins •Campground •Restaurant & Bar •Fishing Boat Rentals 3614 July 7 - 21, 2017 • Stampede Kokanee • Jackson Meadows Rainbows • Now Booking Sacramento River Fall Salmon! 3614 Nestled between Los Vaqueros Los Vaqueros Brentwood Reservoir Reservoir and Livermore off Vasco Road Nestled between Brentwood and Livermore off Vasco Road Now Catching First STRIPED Time Anglers BASS Welcome! 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