4 Feb 2 - 16 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 04

AMADOR LAKE

Shore Anglers Nail Trout

IONE – After getting rain and more winter weather , the rainbow trout are in the top few feet of water and close to shore at Lake Amador . Night crawlers , PowerBait and Eggs are producing the top action .

“ Moving around the shore line has been the key for shore anglers ,” advised Elizabeth

January

JACKSON RANCHERIA HOTEL AND CASINO PRESENTS MCKENNA FAITH IN CONCERT January 27 , 2018 - Jackson Rancheria is featuring a performance from McKenna Faith in concert . For more information , call the casino at ( 800 ) 822-9466 .

QUAIL SEASON CLOSES January 28 , 2018 - The quail season closes state wide for both mountain and valley quail . For more information , check out the California DFW website at www . dfg . ca . gov .

February

NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT AT SAN PABLO RESERVOIR February 3 , 2018- The NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament Tour will kick off the season at San Pablo Reservoir . If you love trout fishing , you ’ ll want to participate in these low cost events Boaters and bank anglers are welcome . There will be cash prizes , gear raffles and lots of family fun ! For more information or to sign up , call ( 916 ) 768-0938 .

March

NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT AT LAKE PARDEE March 3 , 2018 - The NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament Tour will visit Lake Pardee . If you love trout fishing , you ’ ll want to participate in this low cost event . There will be cash prizes , gear raffles and lots of family fun ! For more information or to sign up , call ( 916 ) 768-0938 .

KOKANEE POWER 20TH ANNIVESARY FUND RAISING BANQUET March 3 , 2018 - If you love kokanee fishing you ’ ll want to attend the annual Kokanee Power Banquet to fund kokanee and trout enhancement while having a great time and enjoying excellent food . The event is being held at 300 J Street in Sacramento . The doors open at 5 and dinner is at 7pm . For more information call , ( 916 ) 985-4943 .

Lockhart of the Lake Amador Resort . “ Reports of bait fishing the shoreline in the back of the lake have been well .”

Jeremy and Sarah from Stockton caught their limits while fishing from a rental boat by 11:45 am on January 14 . White Power Eggs , shallow and close to shore , were the ticket .

“ We are now only 20 ’ from full and still on the rise ! The water clarity is not bad from the recent storm activity , looking at it now and

PUBLIC SEMINARS AND EVENTS

March continued

Free Bulletin Board - Just Send Us The Info

I can see about 3-4 ’ down ,” she stated .

The Fish Sniffer Magazine and Angler ’ s Press will hold their NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge at April 28 .

Lake Amador has planted a total 15 , 250 pounds of rainbow trout since October . In January to date , they have planted over 3,100 pounds .

For more information on Lake Amador , go to : https :// www . facebook . com / LakeAmador95640 /

Brought To You By

Fisherman ’ s Warehouse

SACRAMENTO BOAT SHOW March 8-11 , 2018 - Cal Expo - Thursday and Friday 11-8 pm , Saturday 10 am - 8 pm , Sunday 10 am - 6 pm For more information , contact sacramentoboatshow . com , 916-372- 4239 .

SANTA ROSA FISHING TACKLE AND DUCK DECOY SHOW March 9 and 10 , 2018 - This is the place to go for antiques , collectables , new and used tackle and much much more . The event will take place at 1351 Maple Ave in Santa Rosa . For more information , call ( 707 ) 539-3662 .

RENO BOAT AND RECREATION SHOW March 16-18 , 2018 - Every outdoor sports and recreation enthusiast will appreciate the Reno Boat & Recreation Expo . It boasts the latest outdoor gear and accessories , adventure and travel , boats , rv ’ s , camp trailers and more . The event will be held at the Reno Convention Center . For more information call ( 775 ) 885-2222 .

JACKSON RANCHERIA HOTEL AND CASINO PRESENTS JONNY LANG IN CONCERT March 16 , 2018 - Jackson Rancheria is featuring a performance from Jonny Lang in concert . For more information , call the casino at ( 800 ) 822-9466 .

FUTURE PRO LAKE BERRYESSA RESERVOIR BASS TOURNAMENT March 31 , 2018 - Be part of the west coast ’ s hottest bass fishing circuit by signing up for this Future Pro event . For more information , call Vince Harris at ( 916 ) 768-0938 .

Send us the details on your upcoming seminar , club meeting , tournament or other event Please allow for a 4 week lead time for printing deadlines - must be received by Friday two weeks prior to publication date Send to : THE FISH SNIFFER , 8421 Auburn Blvd # 231 , Citrus Heights , CA 95610

At Fisherman ’ s Warehouse you ’ ll find our staff are experienced anglers who are here to provide you with expert advice and customer service . Your tackle is here -- all at the Best Prices !

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AMERICAN BASIN

French Meadows Rainbows , Browns Hit Before Storm

AUBURN – Before the last snow storm arrived , anglers were experiencing surprisingly good rainbow and brown trout action at French Meadows Reservoir for this time of year . Normally the reservoir would be inaccessible in January because of snow and ice blocking the road to it , but that wasn ’ t the case until low snow arrived in the Sierra Nevada on January 18 .

“ One customer did well while bank fishing with worms near the dam ,” said Craig Newton of Willfish Bait and Tackle . “ He said he caught and released a ‘ ton of rainbows .’”

“ Another guy reported solid action on browns in the 16 to 20 inch range while trolling with crawdad pattern Shad Raps in the top 25 feet of water ,” noted Newton . “ They were really chunky fish , judging from his photos .”

Trout fishing reports from Union Valley , Ice House and Loon lakes have been scarce lately , but there should be still be fish available from rainbow trout plants made by SMUD and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife ( CDFW ) in the three Crystal Basin reservoirs in the summer of 2017 .

Union Valley received 10,000 pounds , Ice House received 8,750 pounds and Loon Lake received 6,250 pounds . The stocked trout average 1 to 2 pounds each .

AMERICAN RIVER

Steelhead Action Remains Tough

SACRAMENTO - Fishing pressure on the American River has dwindled in the weeks since the opening of the upper section of river on January 1 . Anglers putting in the hours are

Tyler Peoples of Ceres landed two trout over 6 pounds while fishing Lake Chabot on December 28 . Photo courtesy of the LAKE CHABOT MARINA ,

Lake Chabot .

hooking an occasional steelhead while fishing plugs , Little Cleos , salmon roe , nightcrawlers and other offerings throughout the length of the river .

Steelhead continue to move into the Nimbus Fish Hatchery . The facility has trapped a total of 310 steelhead , including 270 Eel Riverstrain and 40 combined Central Valley and Coleman Hatchery strain , and 7 half pounders this season . That compares to 190 Eel River-strain adults and 12 half pounders last season by the same date .

“ Our three-year-old fish are back – we ’ re not really seeing the two-year-olds like we did this year ,” said Gary Novak , hatchery manager . “ We spawned 30 pairs of steelhead yesterday .”

The hatchery staff has taken a total of 568,000 eggs to date . “ We like to collect over 1 million eggs so we are able to produce 430,000 yearlings ,” said Novak . “ Unless there is some major unforeseen disaster , we should make our egg goal this year .”

Current water releases to the American below Nimbus Dam are 2,000 cfs .

- Dan Bacher

CONTINUED ON PG 7

Now Booking Lake Almanor Rainbows and Browns !

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