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FRESHWATER
8 April 27 - May 11 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 10
ALMANOR
Browns , Rainbows and Kings Battle Anglers
CHESTER - “ Spring time is rolling in here at Lake Almanor , and if April showers bring May flowers then we are going to have a bunch next month ,” quipped Captain Bryan Rocccucci of Big Daddy ’ s Guide Service .
“ Currently we are catching multiple species around the lake including browns to 7.5 pounds , rainbows to 5.5 pounds , kings salmon to 3.2 pounds , and even some pretty nice smallmouth bass up to 4 pounds . Many areas of the
FRESHWATER REPORTS
lake are holding fish and in order to stay on them we are covering a bunch of water , as the fish cruise the lake in search of food ,” disclosed Roccucci .
“ The water temperatures are still cool mainly in the mid 40s and subject to change as we have a storm moving into Northern California . Cool temperatures mean fish are shallow , and this is the time of year to intercept some fantastic fish on shallow gear . It is simply amazing how hard these fish crush the plugs . Look for this shallow spring bite to continue and at some point I ’ m sure we will get back to a more traditional
spring time pattern and warming temps ,” said Roccucci .
Shore anglers are picking up a few trout while fishing near Canyon Dam , but overall the shore bite has been slow as a result of the cold water temperature . Look for the bank action to improve once the
water inches up to the 50 degree mark .
Fish Sniffer writer Marisa Escareno caught and released this huge carp during a recent fishing mission to Clear Lake !
Photo courtesy of FISHSNIFFER . COM .
April
PUBLIC SEMINARS AND EVENTS
BULLETIN BOARD
FUTURE PRO CLEAR LAKE BASS TOURNAMENT April 21 , 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 .
NORCAL GUIDES & SPORTSMENS ASSOCIATION PRSENTS STRIPED BASS DERBY April 21 , 2018 – First place prize is $ 1500 and second place prize is $ 1000 . The weigh-in will take place at Rocco ’ s on the River , 3249 Butte Slough Road , Colusa , CA 95932 , north parking lot 1 to 3 p . m . For more information , call ( 530 ) 923-9440 .
KOKANEE POWER PRESENTS THE PINE FLAT RESERVOIR TEAM DERBY April 21 , 2018 - Big kokanee and awesome prizes will be up for grabs ! For more information , call Gary Coe : ( 916 ) 985-4943 .
JACKSON RANCHERIA HOTEL AND CASINO PRESENTS FOGHAT IN CONCERT April 21 , 2018- Jackson Rancheria is featuring a performance from Foghat in concert . For more information , call the casino at ( 800 ) 822-9466
NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT AT LAKE AMADOR April 28 , 2018 - The NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament Tour will visit Lake Amador . 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 .
PROJECT KOKANEE COLLINS LAKE TEAM TROUT DERBY Saturday , April 28 , 2018 . 1st prize $ 300 — paid down to 15th place . Raffles , awards and Fun . For more information , call ( 209 ) 810-9603 or go to www . ciffi . org
May
Free Bulletin Board - Just Send Us The Info
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Fisherman ’ s Warehouse
FUTURE PRO LAKE CAMANCHE BASS TOURNAMENT
May 5 , 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
KOKANEE POWER PRESENTS THE LAKE SHASTA TEAM CLASSIC May 5-6 , 2018 - Big trout and salmon , awesome prizes and a free dinner ! For more information , call Gary Coe : ( 916 ) 985-4943 .
JACKSON RANCHERIA HOTEL AND CASINO PRESENTS AMBROSIA IN CONCERT May 20 , 2018 - Jackson Rancheria is featuring a performance from Ambrosia in concert . For more information call the casino at ( 800 ) 822-9466
June
KOKANEE POWER PRESENTS THE WHISKEYTOWN LAKE TEAM CLASSIC June 9 , 2018 - Big trout and salmon , awesome prizes and a free dinner ! For more information , call Gary Coe : ( 916 ) 985-4943
July
KOKANEE POWER PRESENTS THE PARDEE RESERVOIR TEAM DERBY July 14 , 2018- Big kokanee and awesome prizes will be up for grabs ! For more information , call Gary Coe : ( 916 ) 985-4943 .
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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AMADOR LAKE
Trout Reward Shore Anglers , Boaters
IONE – The Lake Amador Resort continues to plant trout every week , with a total of over 30,000 pounds going into the lake since fall trout plants began in October . The latest plant of 1200 pounds of trout featured some of the popular Lighting trout , a yellow-golden -colored rainbow trout hybrid .
“ Fishing for trout is pretty good ,” said Lee Lockhart of the Lake Amador Resort . “ Shore anglers are doing best fishing PowerBait in spillway cove and elsewhere on the lake . Boaters are catching fish while trolling brokenback Rapalas and other lures behind big flashers . Drifting PowerBait from a boat is also effective from a boat .”
“ The water clarity is about 5 foot of visibility ; it ’ s not as bad after the latest storms as it was with the first big storm ,” he said .
The lake is completely full and spilling over the spillway . Successful anglers include Ron Brown , who caught his limit of shore from shore with yellow PowerBait .
Lake Almanor Eagle Lake Lake Davis Bucks Lake Lake Tahoe
AMERICAN RIVER
High Flows Should Bring Shad into River
SACRAMENTO - Before releases to the lower American River below Nimbus Dam went up to 25,000 cfs after the recent “ Pineapple Express ” storms , anglers were picking up some stripers in the lower American above Discovery Park
Shore anglers reported hooking stripers averaging 16 to 20 inches while fishing sardines and pileworms from under the Interstate Five Bridge to Cal Expo .
On April 8 , the Bureau of Reclamation reduced releases below Nimbus Dam to 20,000 cfs because of “ decreasing inflows ,” reported Liz Kitech of Reclamation . Then from April 9 through April 17 , the Bureau ramped down flows from 20,000 to 5,000 cfs .
The high flows should bring increasing numbers of shad and striped bass into the lower American . Expect the shad fishing to shift into high gear by Cinco de Mayo during the first week in May . Fish Teeny Rounders , small jigs , shad flies and other offerings in chartreuse , red , white and yellow combinations for the feisty members of the herring family .
- Dan Bacher
CONTINUED ON PG 7
Now Booking Lake Almanor Rainbows and Browns !
Captain Bryan Roccucci www . BigDaddyFishing . com
Call for Best Dates – ( 530 ) 370-1001
Coyote Bait & Tackle
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