Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3616 July 21- August 4 2017 | Page 12

FRESHWATER

12 July 21 - August 4 , 2017 VOL . 36 • ISS . 16

GONE FISHING Continued from Pg 1

dates . The lake has been deemed pike free , and the state is trying like hell to turn Davis Lake back into the blue ribbon fishery it once was .
We had some good fishing up there ; catching a lot of spunky rainbows to about 2 pounds and 18 inches or thereabouts . It was fun stuff , but something was definitely missing . There were no brutes in the mix . The fish , although healthy , just didn ’ t have the same Davis Lake panache I was used to seeing .
I lost interest in Davis Lake after that summer . It was an also-ran kind of deal . I ’ d hear of guys up there ice fishing catching a bunch of fish in the 2-3 pound range , but that was seemingly about as big as they were getting . In the fall of 2016 things started to change . I began hearing about some real slabs being caught ; a lot of 3-5 pound fish . It was even rumored that rainbows to 6 pounds were showing in the catch . Could it be ?
This spring the rumors continued to persist . I have no idea if the tumultuous and extremely wet winter of 2016-2017 allowed for any ice fishing , but I do know for a fact that some big rainbows were caught this spring .
There was also something very different in the way locals were talking about Davis Lake . In the years after the poisoning of the pike , guys seemed to overhype the lake . “ Yeah , it ’ s awesome . We caught a bunch of fish up there .”
I ’ d reply , “ Any size ?” The answer would always be the same , “ Nah , not really . A lot of 14-16 inch fish … nice fish .” They seemed almost too eager to dispense with the good news .
Of course , my Spidey Senses were tingling . Beware of fishermen bearing gifts or something like that . However , this spring things really changed . I ’ d hear tales
This beautiful Lake Davis rainbow jumped all over a small gold Kastmaster .
Photo by MIKE MCNEILLY , Fish Sniffer Staff . of so and so catching some really nice rainbows somewhere , and nobody seemed to want to divulge the location .
I ’ d also hear the story of old what ’ s his nose catching a 5 pound rainbow from the lake , and my mind would automatically go into skeptical and critical fisherman mode . I ’ m quick to doubt until someone I trust dishes the real dirt . Eventually , the big fish news was verified , and I had to make a trip .
I think I missed the hottest action of the spring , but I was able to mop up a few of the crumbs on a recent fishing adventure . I didn ’ t head out with super high hopes . I ’ ve become jaded and callused from a lifetime of fishing disappointment .
It ’ s easier to be pleasantly surprised than let down hard . The driftboat needed to get wet . It never left my driveway this winter with all the rain on the coast and blown out rivers .
The leadcore rods were loaded up , and my favorite selection of Davis Lake tiny trout lures were gathered . Davis Lake ’ s rainbows are notoriously “ buggy fish ” making a living off of eating mayflies , damselflies , snails and probably scuds ( the latter is deduced from their orange meat .)
What they don ’ t really eat are minnows . This was explained to me by a professor acquaintance of mine from UNR . Therefore , don ’ t bring the Rapalas , but they definitely like little tiny Dick Nite spoons and Needlefish . For years the hot lure at Davis has been a Red Headed Wee Dick Nite . Allow me to translate : the smallest size Dick Nite spoon with a red butt or head and a gold body .
In the last paragraph , I referred to the fish as crumbs . In actuality , the fish were more like biscuits than crumbs . They were big brawling 21-22 ” rainbows in the 3.5-4 pound range . They cut bright orange like an ocean salmon .
Their fins were as full as a Smith River steelhead ’ s . They fought like bucking broncos . I didn ’ t light them up . It was a slow and steady grind with each fish being a nice pay day .
The satisfaction each of those healthy and mature fish brought , along with the knowledge that the next one could be twice as large , caused me to ponder and reflect . “ It ’ s really back . This is the lake I remember . This is the way it should be .”
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These young ladies were fishing at Collins Lake in late June when they teamed up to battle this heavy rainbow trout .
Photo courtesy of the COLLINS LAKE RECREATION AREA , Oregon House .
FRESHWATER REPORTS :
CONTINUED FROM PG 9
EAGLE LAKE
Anglers Land Limits Of Rainbows
SPALDING - The fishing has gone from fair to red hot at Eagle Lake . In the last issue of the Fish Sniffer we reported that some anglers were scoring limits and most were averaging about a fish per rod .
What a difference two weeks makes ! These days most anglers are rounding up limits of Eagle Lake rainbows while working the lake ’ s southern basin .
The lake has transitioned into a summer mode at this point and the surface temperature is well above 70 degrees in most areas . As a result , the trout have dropped down in the water column .
The best fishing is taking place in depths that range from 20 to 35 feet deep . Top performing lures include Thomas Buoyants , Phoebe ’ s , Needlefish and Mack ’ s Wedding Rings . Gold and orange or red color combinations are working the best . Sep ’ s Grubs and small Rapalas are also drawing some strikes .
Most of the fish are currently being caught by trollers , but bait anglers using slip bobbers should see and uptick in the fishing soon .
The average trout is running about 2 to 2.5 pounds , but rainbows pushing 4 pounds are possible .
If you ’ re planning a trip to Eagle Lake and would like to take your RV , get in contact with the team at the Eagle Lake RV Park and ask them about the Fish Sniffer Special !
EAST DELTA
Top Water Bass Bite Begins On San Joaquin
OAKLEY - Largemouth bass remain the top species on the San Joaquin side of the Delta as striped bass have mostly vacated for cooler waters .
Dan Mathisen of Dan ’ s Delta Outdoors in Oakley has been giving instructional session on using frogs in preparation for the upcoming Snag Proof Open out of Russo ’ s Marina , and he has been finding action by customizing the Pro Z frog .
Alan Fong of the Fishermen ’ s Warehouse in Sacramento confirmed the top water bite with the bass holding in the weeds , and he said , “ The punch bite should be coming soon .”
Neil Simpson of Lodi said , “ We ’ ve been catching bass on just about everything , but there haven ’ t been any large fish . The best I have landed recently are two 4 pounders with one on a River2Sea Whopper Plopper and one punching a Sweet Beaver . The water temperature is back down in the mid-70 ’ s after rising into the upper 80 ’ s in a lot of places from the recent heat water . There are loads of recreational boaters on the water during the holiday weekend .”
H and R Bait in Stockton reported decent striper fishing from the banks along Inland Drive , Eight Mile Road , and Whiskey Slough with frozen shad or anchovies . Bluegill fishing is decent with red worms in the sloughs . Fresh shad is not available .
- Dave Hurley
Yo-Zuri . com
JOSEPH TUTELIAN - Yo-Zuri Pro Staff
3616
EASTERN SIERRA
Mid-Summer Trouters Score !
BRIDGEPORT - “ Bridgeport Reservoir is fishing excellent from boats and though it ’ s a bit tougher from the shore , there are still some fish being caught that way as