VOL . 36 • ISS . 25

Top lures included Rapalas Speedy Shiners , Hum Dingers , Ex-Cels , Slimfish and Kastmasters .

Spotted bass are abundant and feeding enthusiastically . Look for the bass to be holding off main lake points . Most of the day they are 15 to 30 feet deep , but they move shallower early and late in the day .

Drop shot rigs and jigging spoons are providing the most consistent success , but crankbaits and even topwater lures will draw some strikes when the light level is low . The average bass runs about 2 pounds , but larger fish are in the mix .

As of press time Lake Shasta was about 55 feet from the top and boat launching was in full swing at most major ramps .

SOUTHERN OREGON ROUNDUP

Salmon Fishing Ranges From Slow To Fair ...

ROSEBERG - According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife , river salmon action has slowed on some systems , while other drainages offer fair king salmon fishing .

Angler effort has slowed down for salmon fishing on the Coos estuary . Anglers are still having some success catching Chinook salmon trolling on the Coos River . The salmon bite seems to be the best around high tide . Bank anglers are catching

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Top 50 adult finishers in each tournament are eligible for a chance to win the Grand Raffle Prize : A New aluminum boat , trailer and electric trolling motor package !

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Top 25 youth finishers in each tournament are eligible for a chance to win the Grand Raffle Prize : A SEA EAGLE FRAMELESS PONTOON BOAT !

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common occurrence with inferior leader line when you ’ re applying so much force to turn a fish . Seaguar STS Salmon & Trout / Steelhead leaders offer up 30 % more knot strength to nip slipped ties in the bud . So go ahead , pull that fish out of the logjam and into your net where it belongs .

But look beyond STS ’ s toughness and you ’ ll still find it ’ s amazingly thin , producing the most natural of presentations , offering the invisibility that only a 100 % fluorocarbon line can do . And this fluoro ’ s density allows it to sink quickly , perfect for getting your offering into the strike zone at the beginning of your drift or retrieve , which is vital in situations where you ’ re fishing short runs .

2018 TOURNAMENT DATES

• FEB . 3th ................ San Pablo Dam Res .

• March 3rd ............ Lake Pardee

• APRIL 7th ............. Collins Lake

• APRIL 28th ........... Lake Amador

• OCT . 13th ............. Lake Pardee

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Nov . 24 - Dec . 8 , 2017

STS Salmon and Trout / Steelhead leaders are offered in a dozen different pound tests , from 4 pound to 50 to meet every salmon , trout and steelhead angler ’ s needs . And unlike other fluorocarbon leaders , STS Salmon and Trout / Steelhead is spooled in 100-yard lengths , so you can freshen leaders often without the worry of running out .

The Basic Bank Fishing Presentation …

Bank fishing is a highly effective method and the same basic approach taken when bank fish will also work from a boat . The first thing to keep in mind when approaching a perspective piece of steelhead water is to stay back from the bank and try to maintain a low profile . Steelhead often hold right next to the bank and are very wary of danger approaching from above when they are holding

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in shallow water .

The basic presentation consists of casting the rig up stream at a 45 degree angle . Once the rig sinks , reel in most of the slack until there in only a slight belly in the line . Then follow the rigs progress downstream with the tip of the rod . Once the line tightens and the rig begins to swing across the current slowly reel it

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Steelhead are basically rainbow trout and as such they can be quite skittish especially when the water is exceptionally clear . You can maximize your metalhead hookups by employing fluorocarbon leader material .

Photo courtesy of STEELHEAD WEST , Portland .

in and cast again . As the rig drifts you should feel a series of taps as it drifts across the bottom . If you ’ re not feeling the bottom , put on a heavier weight . A strike is most often signaled by a series of sharp taps or the line simply stopping . At first every “ tick ” will feel like a bite , but with a some experience you ’ ll be able to distinguish the bottom from a bite with little difficulty .

Fish each piece of water thoroughly before moving on . It is wise to begin fishing the water closest to the bank first and then progressively lengthen your casts until the whole stretch has been covered . Using a systematic approach like this ensures any fish holding in a given stretch will see the bait and it also limits the number of fish that are spooked . Remember each stretch has the potential of holding multiple fish . The last thing you want to do is begin by hooking a steelhead out in mid-stream only to spook two or three potential strikers holding closer to the bank as you battle the fish .

There are a wide range of lures and baits that steelhead will hit some of the time . Roe teamed with a puff ball has proven to be the most consistently productive offering over the long haul .

Photo courtesy of STEELHEAD WEST , Portland .

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