Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3622 Oct. 13-27, 2017 | Page 23

ROLLINS / SCOTTS FLAT LAKE

First Browns Of Fall Show!

COLFAX- There is a chill in the air in the foothills and the first snow of the season fell on the high country just the other day. This being the case, it comes as no surprise the first few brown trout of the fall season have shown up at both Rollins Lake and Scotts Flat Reservoir.

“ I was working the Goose Neck in the Bear River Arm at Rollins two days ago for bass. I caught several bass but I also landed a very nice 23 inch brown trout. The brown really surprised me,” exclaimed Jason Pleece of Meadow Vista.“ I was working a 3 inch silver and black floating Rapala by ripping it under the surface and then allowing it to float back up. The plug was on its way back to the surface in water that was about 4 feet deep when the brown rushed the lure. First I saw a flash and then I felt weight. Once I got the fish to the boat I revived it and released it.”

“ The bass fishing seems to be improving at Rollins. I’ m getting about a dozen fish per outing, mainly on reaction baits like poppers, crankbaits and Rapalas. The biggest bass I caught this week when about 2.25 pounds. It was a spotted bass. While I did get that one brown, I think we are still a few weeks away from good trolling,” said Pleece.

“ I’ ve been putting in some time up at Scotts Flat and it’ s been slow going for trout overall, but my dad and I did get a pair of browns this week,” reported Mark Biggs of Grass Valley.“ They were both under 14 inches and they

both grabbed threaded night crawlers trolled behind a set of Sep’ s willow leaf micro flashers. We also caught several smallmouth bass to about 2 pounds on the same set up. While the trout weren’ t very impressive in terms of size, it was good to see them. I can’ t wait for the trout fishing to really take off at Scotts. The lake isn’ t as good as it was 10 plus years ago, but there are still some good browns in there.”

SACRAMENTO AREA

Salmon Fishing Picks Up In Metro Region

SACRAMENTO- Salmon fishing has definitely improved in the metropolitan area with the arrival of cooler water temperatures and more fish from the ocean.

‘ The fishermen are picking up more salmon at the mouth of the American, the I Street Bridge, the pioneer bridge and Freeport,” said Dennis Pfanner at Sacrameto Pro Tackle.“ The fall run is getting there; maybe we’ ll see a half decent run. Anglers have weighed in a half dozen salmon ranging from 10 to 14 pounds in our shop in the past week. Most are being caught by boaters using Flatfish and spinners; I haven’ t heard of many fish caught from the bank.”

On one trip, two anglers fishing with James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service landed three bright Chinooks ranging from 7 to 16 pounds while trolling with“ black jack” colored Brad’ s Cut Pugs behind

These anglers hit the Feather River with master guide Robert Weese this September and rounded up limits of kings that ranged from 12 to 35 pounds.

Photo courtesy of NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GUIDE SERVICE, Red Bluff.

Pro-Troll Flashers from the Tower Bridge down to Garcia Bend.

On his next trip, two anglers out with Netzel bagged 2 kings to 14 pounds. The water temperature was 62 degrees.

Netzel will give a salmon fishing seminar on October 11 for the California Striped Bass Association, Isleton Chapter, at the Veteran’ s Hall. 610 St. Francis Way, Rio Vista, 94571. Dinner($ 15) begins at 6 pm, followed by the meeting and seminar at 7 pm. Information:( 916) 777-6498.

Monte Smith of Gold Country Sprotfishing reported good fishing on his first river trip of the season.“ Anglers landed 3 salmon ranging from 10 to 15 pounds while trolling Brad’ s Cut plugs form miller park to Garcia Bend. Two of the fish were fresh and one was starting to get some color.”

- Dan Bacher

SAN PABLO RESERVOIR

Spotted Bass Lead Early Fall Catches

SANTA CLARA VALLEY LAKES

Largemouth Bass, Channel Cats Pace Autumn Angling

COYOTE- Bass anglers continue to find action on reaction baits and finesse, while others chase catfish.

Dragging jigs at both Calero and Anderson were the top recommended method for chasing bass this week, according to Andrew Yeh at Coyote Bait and Tackle, though other methods were also working

“ You can catch a couple in the morning on topwater at Calero, but I’ d throw something that you can drag out there. Anderson just closed to boating so the bank guys are doing pretty good. You can catch a couple on topwater and jerkbaits in the morning, but besides that you can get them on a drop shot,” Yeh tipped.

“ At Coyote I heard they were doing pretty good dragging around a carolina rig. I guess the water cooled down a bit so they’ re fishing a little slower,” he added.

Both Uvas and Chesbro were kicking out catfish.“ Both of them are still kicking out a few catfish. Try mackerel,( chicken) liver, or stink baits,” he related.

- Roland Aspiras

SHASTA / WHISKEYTOWN LAKE

Go Deep For Shasta Trout

REDDING- Both rainbows and the occasional brown have been cooperating with anglers plying the waters of Lake Shasta. The key to success when it comes

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JAYCO EXCLUSIVE DEALER

American Built by the Amish

EL SOBRANTE- The surface water temperature at San Pablo Reservoir has cooled down to 69.7 degrees, but the water needs to go down more before the rainbow trout go on the bite. Black bass, crappie and crappie will continue to provide the top fishing at San Pablo until the trout begin hitting.

Jerell McKinney of Rodeo, a Rocky Mountain employee, caught and released a 5.23 lb. spotted bass while fishing on his break in front of the main recreation area, reported Marcella Shoemaker of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company. Anglers are tossing out Berkley plastic worms in watermelon candy and black oil with a Gamakatsue offset shank hook for a mixture of spotted and largemouth bass.

Target the crappie with redworms, Crappie Nibbles or Atomic Teasers around docks and structure. The catfish will hit mackerel, chicken liver, anchovies and nightcrawlers in the coves early and late in the day.

The Lake Level is 309.2 feet above sea level. The lake management didn’ t plant any fish, either catfish or trout, over the past couple of weeks.

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The king salmon bite has been great for anglers trolling the Sacramento River with Monte Smith. These fish were caught on September 23.

Photo courtesy of GOLD COUNTRY SPORTFISHING, Oakdale.