16 Feb 16- Mar 2, 2018 VOL. 37 • ISS. 05

San Pablo is in great shape for fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth and spotted bass, channel catfish and sunfish this year. Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.

season on February 3 with superb fishing and unseasonably warm, sunny weather at San Pablo Reservoir, nestled in the green, rolling hills of El Sobrante in the East Bay.

It was quite a contrast with last year, when anglers braved cold, wet and windy conditions at the lake. Many anglers reported catching their limits of trout while using an array of offerings.

The event, presented by Gone Fishin’ Marine and sponsored by Angler’ s Press and the Fish Sniffer magazine, drew 242 total participants. A total of 113 adults and 28 kids brought fish to the weigh in table.

“ We are overwhelmed and very thankful for the support we have received from both our sponsoring partners and participants, and it is clear that this series is helping to bring individuals, families and youth together- in one place, to enjoy a great weekend of outdoor fun,” noted Vince Harris, president of Angler’ s Press Outdoors, the promoting organization that created the NorCal Trout Angler’ s Challenge Series, and has been its host for the past 5 years.“ We are looking forward to another fantastic year.”

The fishing success anglers reported was a combination of prime water conditions and heavy rainbow trout plants. The lake is full and the water clarity is” awesome“ at San Pablo, according to Marcella Shoemaker of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company.

“ We planted 8,000 pounds of rainbow trout in the lake for the February 2 opener and the February 3 NTAC tournament,” said Shoemaker.

Rain Bipat of Fairfield won first place in the adult division of the event by catching a 5.61 lb. rainbow while tossing out PowerBait.

“ We rented a boat, drove to a spot and then fished bait,” he said.“ My wife, Sunita, and I both landed our limits.”

Bipat, a newcomer to the NTAC, took home a beautiful first place trophy – as well as a nice cash prize to commemorate his efforts. Ted Jocson, from Super Duper Outdoors on youtube. com, finished in second place with a rainbow weighing

5.05 pounds. He landed the huge fish while fishing a spinnerbait from his kayak.

Jerry Barksdale, a previous first place winner in the event, finished in third place with a beautiful 3.33 lb. rainbow.

“ I caught that fish on a Mouse Tail,” said Barksdale.“ The fishing was very good – I limited out.”

The fourth through tenth place winners were:( 4) Dave Bixler, 2.63;

Jerry Barksdale, a previous first place winner, finished in third place in the NTAC division of the NTAC event at San Pablo with this beautiful 3.33 lb. rainbow.

Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.

( 5) Hao Nguyen, 2.62;( 6) Luis Cabrera, 2.58;( 7) Benny Cazar, 2.23;( 8) Jane Wenger, 2.22;( 9) Erin Baldanzi, 2.11, and( 10) Pete Mateo, 2.05.

Adrink Chernak won first place in the youth division of the tournament with a 2.14 lb. rainbow, while Lana Manaout placed second with a 2.5 lb. rainbow.

The third through tenth place winners in the youth division were( 3) Owen Schaub, 1.9;( 4) Karissa Ventosa, 1.74;( 5) Crystal Nguyen, 1.71;( 6) Brianna Gutierrez, 1.63;( 7) Angel Blanco, 1.56;( 8) Nathan Agtang, 1.53;( 9) Ian Mahoney, 1.46; and( 10) Mikayla Smith, 1.46.

Brett Chernak, weighed in a fish that only went. 31 pounds. But he was not distraught, as his fish – small though it was, garnered him the events“ smallest trout award” – presented by the event’ s sponsoring partners- that consisted of a premium Daiwa rod / reel combo, Gamakatsu hooks, P-Line monofilament, and Rooster Tail brand lures, explained Vince Harris.

Craig Smith of Olivehurst won a Yakima Rooster Tail tackle pack and $ 100 in cash for catching his fish on a Rooster Tail spinner.

The NTAC series heads next to EBMUD’ s Lake Pardee, located in the Mother Lode near Ione, on March 3.

San Pablo Reservoir is stocked regularly with rainbow trout in the fall, winter and spring and channel catfish during the summer. Largemouth and spotted bass,

Lana and Jay Manaot display the limits of fat rainbow trout that they caught at San Pablo Reservoir during the NTAC event on February 3.

Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.

crappie, redear sunfish, bluegill and even a sleeper population of white sturgeon are available also.

The lake is best known for the trophy trout it has produced over the years. Stephen D. caught the lake record rainbow trout of 21 pounds, 12.8 ounces on April 18, 2001 while soaking chartreuse Power Bait off Oak Point.

While trout are the most popular species at San Pablo Reservoir, the lake also has good populations of channel catfish, spotted bass, largemouth bass and sunfish. Most of the cats taken at San Pablo are in the 1-1 / 2 to 5 lb. range, but monster cats roam the lake’ s waters. Mario Nova set the lake record with a 40 lb. 4 oz. catfish caught on June 18, 2016. He caught the fish on 6 lb. test and released it back into the lake.