14 Oct. 27- Nov. 10, 2017

VOL. 36 • ISS. 23

FRESHWATER REPORTS:

CONTINUED FROM PG 13

FEATHER RIVER

Excellent Salmon Fishing Continues

OROVILLE- Salmon fishing on the Feather River has been red hot for several weeks and the bite continues to roll forward as of press time. Some of the fish being caught at this point are dark, but the majority are quality chromers.

“ I’ m still fishing the Feather River. The bite has been excellent and I think it will hold up for a while longer,” reported Robert Weese of Northern California Guide Service.“ The water is 56 degrees, which is perfect. Occasionally we’ ll get a dark fish, but most of them are chrome bright. Our smallest fish run about 10 pounds. An average fish goes 15 to 20 and there are some jumbos being caught too. My daughter got a 35 a few days ago.”

“ Two weeks ago I was fishing roe exclusively. I’ m still getting the majority of our fish on eggs, but I’ ve been running plugs early with a good level of success,” added Weese.

Vince Borges of Phenix Rods recently hit the Feather and enjoyed excellent results.

“ We limited out on salmon in just a couple hours while fishing up near the outlet,” said Borges.“ Everybody seems to be scoring limits and the majority of the fish I saw were pretty nice with just a handful of dark fish mixed in.”

The upper section of the Feather River above Live Oak closed to salmon fishing on October 15, but the lower river from Live Oak to Verona is still opening to salmon fishing.

Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob’ s Guide

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Service reported good salmon fishing on his latest trips before the upper section of river closed.

“ We caught 2 to 4 bright fish in the 8 to 18 lb. range each day we fished the Gridley area. We hooked salmon while boondoggling roe, but also while back trolling with Brad’ s Killer Fish in the Dragonfly pattern,” said Reimers.

KLAMATH RIVER

Fly Fishermen Battle Steellhead

SACRAMENTO – While Fall Chinook salmon fishing is closed from August 15 through December 31 on the Klamath River from the mouth up to below the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery, anglers are finding some excellent steelhead action.

“ From the mouth to the Iron Gate Dam, the steelhead are in on the Klamath River,” reported Jack Trout of Jack Trout International Fly Fishing.“ On my latest trip on the mid section of the Klamath, we hooked up 8 steelhead, landing 3, while using copper john and pupae patterns and swinging skull head streamers in the stretch between Brown Bear and Sarah Totten.”

The steelhead weighed 2 to 5 pounds each. All of the fish were wild, according to Trout.

Guide Mario Gomez has been doing well on steelhead while both fly fishing and spin fishing in the Happy Camp area of the Klamath, Trout reported.

“ It’ s a way better year for steelhead this season than last year,” he added.

LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR

Plants Boost Trout Catch Rates

Scotts Flat Lake Recreation Area is the gateway to the Tahoe National Forest. At an elevation of 3,000 feet, the lake is an ideal headquarters for a complete vacation and family fun!

BYRON- Trout fishing received a boost from recent rainbow plants at Los Vaqueros Reservoir.

“ We have planted 3,000 pounds of trout over the past two weeks, and expect to plant again this week,” said Erik Demmunik of the Los Vaqueros Marina.“ The fish are

This hefty Shasta Lake brown trout smashed a Humdinger trolled behind a Sling Blade dodger on October 1.

Photo courtesy of JEFF GOODWIN’ S GUIDE SERVICE, Redding.

being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as past the Rock Wall. The baits of choice for shore anglers are garlic-scented PowerBaits, nightcrawlers or Kastmaster lures. A 6.94 pound trout was caught in South Cove by an angler using PowerBait.”

“ Striper fishing is mixed with fewer shakers showing up but more medium to large fish being caught,” he said.“ The top areas are the pier by the Marina and from Oak Point south towards South Cove.”

Demmunik advised,“ Striper boils have slowed some, but are still being seen here and there. Early morning is the best time to find the boils all around the lake. If you happen across a boil, top water lures are doing a good job catching fish. From shore, cut anchovies or shad is the bait of choice.”

Few anglers have reported hooking channel catfish or largemouth bass lately.

The reservoir is currently storing 150,200 acre-feet, 94 percent of its 160,000 acrefoot capacity. Pumping has stopped. Water levels will slowly drop due to evaporation and absorption. The water temperature is between 65 and 67 degrees.

If you are looking to rent a boat, it is a good idea to call ahead to check current wind conditions at( 925) 371-2628 or check online here for weather conditions updated hourly.

NEW MELONES LAKE

Angler Shatters New Melones Rainbow Trout Record

ANGELS CAMP- Ken Hopper of Sonora brought in the new lake record rainbow trout from New Melones Lake weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces, on October 4, 2017.

Hopper was trolling a Cripplure in silver / scales pattern outside Carson Cove around 10:00 am at 55’ deep, according to Gene Hildebrand at Glory Hole Sports.

This fish eclipses the previous rainbow trout record of 8 pounds, 2 ounces, caught by John Gray on a chrome / blue Excel lure on September 7, 2012. The lake brown’ s trout record remains 13 pounds, 14 ounces, set in December of 2011.

The trout action has tapered off, but the fish being landed are big, robust ones averaging 3-1 / 2 to 4-1 / 2 pounds and going up to 6 pounds.

“ The trout are moving up in the water

CONTINUED ON PG 18

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