Now Planting TROUT BY THE THOUSANDS Through Spring!
Extraordinary Fishing
• Cafe
• Boat Rentals
• Call Today!
12 Feb 2- 16, 2018 Nor Cal Trout Anglers Challenge VOL. 37 • ISS. 04
For most of my fishing career when it came to plugging for trout with minnow plugs whether fishing a lake or river, I considered myself a Rapala man. If I wanted a floater I went with a traditional
San Pablo Dam Reservoir The Bay Area’ s # 1Trophy Trout And Bass Lake
510-223-1661 7301 San Pablo Dam Road El Sobrante, Ca 95803 WWW. ROCKYMOUNTAINREC. COM
3405
FISHING WITH
®
ROOSTER TAIL SPINNERS IS EASY AND PRODUCTIVE
Now Planting TROUT BY THE THOUSANDS Through Spring!
Stocked With: TROUT BASS • CATFISH • CRAPPIE • BLUEGILL
Extraordinary Fishing
• Cafe
• Boat Rentals
• Call Today!
CAST AND RETRIEVE
Without a doubt, the most popular way to fish a Rooster Tail is to employ the cast-and-retrieve method. It’ s so easy, just tie a Rooster Tail on the end of your line, cast into a lake or stream and reel / retrieve your spinner back to you.
In lakes, most anglers searching for fish, cast-and-retrieve spinners while working their way along the shoreline or from a drifting boat.
The most common method used in rivers is to cast your Rooster Tail out, across and slightly upstream; allow it to sink near bottom while reeling up any slack line, then pulling back on your rod tip slightly, causing the blade to start its spin before beginning a slow retrieve. The current will sweep your spinner downstream as you reel it back. Once your spinner swings in near shore, it’ s time to reel in and cast again.
Choose different colored Rooster Tails for changing light and water conditions. If one color is not working try a different color.
Spring Frog
Yo-Zuri Minnow Baits Entice Big Trout
Bleeding Frog
For more tips and videos on how to fish Rooster Tails go to yakimabait. com
Rapala balsa wood minnow and if I wanted a suspending bait, I’ d tie on a Rapala Husky Jerk.
Over the past few years I’ ve started relying more and more on offerings from
OFFICIAL SPONSOR
FISH • PICNIC HIKE • EXPLORE!
Yo-Zuri. Sure my tackle kit still sports Rapalas, but the contingent of Yo-Zuri’ s seems to grow every season.
Yo-Zuri is known for turning out some of the highest quality hard plastic baits available for everything from bluegill to blue marlin.
For trout fishing I find three models particularly interesting, the Pin’ s minnow series, L Minnow series and Yo-Zuri / Duel Hardcore Shad series.
Floating Pin’ s Minnows are shallow runners that feature a very tight hard wiggling action. These plugs are very aerodynamic and cast long distances with ease. I have some in the 2-inch size and several in the 2 3 / 4-inch size.
Moving on, the L Minnow is a sinking bait. It has a chunkier body than the Pin’ s Minnow and since they are heavier they cast even better. The wobble on these baits is wider and I suspect that they give on more vibration. Since they sink you can count them down and probe deeper pools by Cal Kellogg
and runs than you can with a Pin’ s minnow or floating Rapala. I’ ve got L Minnows in both the 1 3 / 4 inch and 2 5 / 8 inch sizes.
The Hardcore Shad is a diving / suspending bait that is best known as a bass tempter. I’ ve got a few of these in the 2-inch size specifically for working deep slow flowing pools in rivers and deep near shore water in lakes. For triggering strikes from large fish, all these baits are fished in the same super aggressive manner. You don’ t want to toss them out and crank them back. Instead fire them up and across the current, start the retrieve and then punctuate it with lots of pauses and hard rips.
You really can’ t be too aggressive or move the bait too quickly. Think about that cat chasing the yarn. He can get after it way faster then you can move it away. You’ re trying to do the same thing with the trout. Trigger that predatory instinct and make them pounce!
For more information about Yo-Zuri’ s entire line of high quality baits and gear, visit them online at Yo-Zuri. Com.
Check Out The Cousins Tackle CPX Rod Lineup
Since their debut last season, Cousins Tackle CPX Saltwater Rods have taking Northern California by storm. Designed for the West Coast Angler by master rod builder Wade Cunningham, each CPX rod is performance tuned using specifically engineered moderate action blanks created to fish in concert with today’ s high tech non stretch super braids. Whether you are targeting salmon off the Marin Coastline or white seabass in the waters of Southern California, there is a CPX built for the way you fish. Constructed with high performance composite blanks, Fuji Aluminum Oxide Guides and Graphite Reel Seats hand wrapped cork tape, each CPX rod is handmade in the USA and finished with three coats of UV Resistant slow cure finish and carries a 3-year warranty with Cousins Tackle Factory Service Plan. Cousins Tackle Factory Rep, Tony Andreini, checked in to lend his insight into a few of the most popular models in the Nor Cal market. CPX 799 – 7’ 9” Med & Hvy Bait-“ This is the perfect all around rod for Nor Cal saltwater anglers. It is a great sturgeon rod. In addition, it is well suited for live bait, rock fishing and salmon trolling.” CPX 804 – 8’ Light Bait-“ The 804 excels as a live bait rod for stripers and
by Mark Fong
halibut. If you are fishing shallow water locations like the Berkeley Flats or the Alameda Rockwall with 4 to 8 ounces of weight, this is the rod for you. Don’ t overlook this rod for fly lining live anchovies either.” CPX 806 – 8’ Light Bait-“ This is a spectacular salmon trolling rod. Private boaters who troll the flats for halibut also really like this rod. It will troll anything from 8 ounce all the way up to 2.5lbs.” CPX 809F – 8’ Med & Hvy Bait-“ The 809F is an ideal all around rockfish and lingcod rod. It’ s great for 6 to 8 ounces swimbaits and for jigging irons. If you like to trap rig, this rod will handle that too.” To learn more about the entire Cousins Tackle lineup of fresh and saltwater rods, visit their website at www. cousinstacklestore. com.