FRESHWATER REPORTS:

CONTINUED FROM PG 10

DAVIS LAKE cont.

accessible by a 2wd vehicle; there is some snow( melting rapidly) as you go down the access roads. Honker Cove boat ramp has snow and ice on it, but the cove has thawed as is ice free. There is some unsafe, very thin ice in the dam area with several open water areas.”

Lake Davis is holding 70,142 acre feet of water, 85 percent of capacity and 119 percent of average.

- Dan Bacher

DEL VALLE RESERVOIR

Trout Limits The Rule!

LIVERMORE – Anglers are enjoying spring-like weather and excellent trout fishing on Lake Del Valle.

“ The weather has been favorable for trout fishing this past week,” said Cody McGarry of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company.“ People are limiting out from shore again on rainbow trout. Mouse Tails and any type of PowerBait or Power Eggs with garlic are your best baits.”

Jay Beal of San Jose led the catches with an 8 lb. rainbow. Other successful anglers include, Phabian Warren of

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This angler and his fishing partner teamed up and landed this incredible rainbow trout during a January outing at Collins Lake.

Photo courtesy of THE COLLINS LAKE RECREATION AREA, Oregon House.

Livermore, who caught a trout weighing 5.5 lbs., and Daryl Hill of San Jose, who also landed a rainbow weighing 5.5 lbs.

Anglers also reported catching several stripers over the weekend, noted McGarry.

There is an abundance of big, hefty rainbow trout at Lake Del Valle, due to heavy plants by the East Bay Regional Park District and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife( CDFW). The latest park district plant of 750 pounds of rainbows and the last CFW plant of 1,000 pounds went into the lake the week of January 29.

EAST DELTA

Early Spring Weather Creates Active Conditions For Largemouth Bass

STOCKTON- All the signs of an early spring were revealed this week, and the unseasonably warm temperatures have led to more active largemouth

Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said,“ Mother Nature is making these days wars, and

we are 65 to 70 degrees. The fish are thinking,‘ Holy

Smokes, spring is early.’ We have added the Max Scent from Berkley to our arsenal of the ima Flit ripbait and the Rock N’ Vibe Suspend, and this been doing really, really well for us on a tungsten head. We are using the Bearded Chigger Craw which has a skirt on it, and since it has so much scent, we are able flip it up near the banks on a Texas-rig. Areas I am looking for are around weeds as the fish are starting to migrate to the spawning grounds. They aren’ t spawning, but they are moving to the secondary staging points around weeds so they can‘ belly up to the bar’ in order to feed. They are feeding on food that is found in the weeds, and some better than average fish in the 5- to 7-pound range are starting to show up. The Berkley General and Flat Dog are also working for us. I am not even targeting striped bass in the San Joaquin anymore, but the largemouth bite is getting better and better. All is good in the‘ hood in the San Joaquin-Delta.”

Dan Mathisen of Dan’ s Delta Outdoors in Oakley said,“ I was only out for a few hours over the weekend for 3 bass to 12 pounds working Brass N’ Glass in the grass in 6 to 10 feet of water. The key is slowing down and tickling the grass. There is also a jig bite. We also landed

5 legal stripers in the 21-inch range on the high tide in Frank’ s Tract with vibrating jigs.”

Steve Santucci of Steve Santucci’ s Fly Fishing Guide Service said,“ Delta fishing is really good and seems to be improving with each time out. There are more fish and the average fish are larger. We must have a fresh run of fish that have come up from the bay. The fresh stripers seem to hit harder and are much more aggressive. We are catching them on large Clouser minnows and using both fast sinking and intermediate lines.”

Johnny Tran of New Romeo’ s Bait and Tackle in Freeport reported a solid bluegill biteoff of Eight Mile Road west of Stockton with red worms or jumbo red worms on a drop-shot rig.

- Dave Hurley

EASTERN SIERRA

Storms & Variable Conditions Impact Trout Fishing Success

BISHOP-“ A couple of mild winter storms came through the region, but only dropped any measurable precipitation at the highest of elevations,” reported Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Guide Service.“ Another storm was forecast for the coming week, but it looks to be mostly rain. We are keeping an eye on the following weekend for the possibility of a decent snow storm. This one will be much colder and could bring over a foot of snow to the upper elevations.”

“ The East Walker River is holding at a nice winter release. Fish are once again spread all over the river. The upper Owens River has experienced a major increase in flows. Fishing may improve here if they drop again or some new fish move in,” said Loe.

“ Hot Creek is stuck at low winter flows. Some decent afternoon hatches are providing some dry fly opportunities. Middle Owens River fishing good. Flows are holding at 98 and the water clarity is great. The Wild Trout section and Pleasant Valley Reservoir have been decent. Try dry dropper rigs with small patterns # 18-22 in the wadeable sections, while full sink lines can dredge up some trophy sized fish in the reservoir,” Loe tipped.

CONTINUED ON PG 14

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