Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3623 Oct. 17- Nov. 10 2017 | Page 10

8 FRESHWATER Oct. 27 - Nov. 10, 2017 FRESHWATER REPORTS: American River is improving as more fish move into the lower river. “We landed three salmon on my latest AMERICAN BASIN cont. trolling trip on the American above the the 12 to 24 inch range while trolling jointed Upper Dredger Hole while using glow in the Rapala Fat Raps in red crawdad patterns dark M-2 Flatfish and pink and pearl K-15 along the bottom at French Meadows, Kwikfish,” reported Uncle Larry Barnes of reported Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Sacramento Pro Tackle. “I landed two fish Tackle. weighing 18 and 27-1/2 pounds while Ernie Shore fishing should also be picking up Hallett landed one weighing 9-1/2 pounds.’ at French Meadows. Anglers can pick up The Nimbus Hatchery Fish Ladder on the rainbows and browns while tossing out American River opened Monday, Oct. 9 at PowerBait, nightcrawlers and Rapalas in 10:45 a.m. the river inlet and near the dam. The ladder is opening unusually early “The same guys hooking fish at French in the season to accommodate the arrival Meadows are also catching browns and of returning adult fall-run Chinook salmon rainbows at Hell Hole Reservoir while using that hatched in the Coleman National Fish the same method,” said Newton. Hatchery (CNFH) in Battle Creek in 2014, For great wild rainbow and brown fishing, according to the CDFW. Eggs from fall- Newton recommended fishing Panther run Chinook salmon that stray to Nimbus Martins and Kastmasters in the Middle Fork Hatchery will be returned to CNFH to of the American above Ruck-A-Chucky. ensure a healthy population of these fish “‘One customer’s daughter landed a 3 lb. for commercial, recreational and ecological brown there,” he said. purposes. For the third consecutive summer, SMUD “These fish were born at the height of and the California Department of Fish and the drought in 2014,” said Jay Rowan, Wildlife (CDFW) stocked rainbow trout in California Department of Fish and Wildlife three Crystal Basin reservoirs. There are (CDFW) North Central Region Senior still plenty of these fish swimming round in Environmental Scientist. “They were these lakes for anglers to catch; now that trucked to the Delta as fry and released fall has arrived. near Rio Vista and the San Pablo Bay as Union Valley received the largest number part of a massive effort to improve their of fish, 10,000 pounds, as it’s the largest chances for survival in a year of poor river of the three reservoirs. Ice House received conditions.” 8,750 pounds and Loon Lake received Returning now as adults, many of these 6,250 pounds. The stocked trout average 1 salmon will stray into the American River to 2 pounds each. and not return to their home waters to spawn. The lack of returning fish will make it extremely difficult for the CNFH to reach their goal of producing 12 million fall-run AMERICAN RIVER Chinook salmon this fall to release in the waters below Lake Shasta. Fish Hatchery Ladder Opens CDFW is partnering with the U.S. Fish Early For Salmon and Wildlife Service (USFWS), with the SACRAMENTO - Fishing on the lower support of the Bureau of Reclamation, to collect eggs at Nimbus Fish The Lake is UP and the Hatchery to assist Spalding Ramp and Slips are OPEN! CNFH in meeting The BEST Rainbow Trout Fishing in California!! its production goals and maintaining a stable salmon population on Battle Creek and the upper Sacramento River. FULLY FURNISHED CABINS 3612 When the salmon reach Nimbus • Full Service Grocery • Fishing Supplies Hatchery, staff will separate out the fish • Recreation Center • Liquor & Fuel that have had their • Playground • Laundromat adipose fin removed, • Satellite TV indicating that they FULL HOOK-UP RV SITES carry a tiny coded CONTINUED FROM P