Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3711 May 11-25 2018 | Page 16

16 FRESHWATER May 11 - 22, 2018 VOL.37 • ISS. 11 FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 4 AMERICAN RIVER cont. numbers of shad by around May 5. The Bureau of Reclamation ramped down Nimbus Dam releases from 5,000 cfs to 2,500 cfs between April 18 and April 23 to “conserve storage,” reported Peggy Manza, Reclamation spokesperson. Then the Bureau ramped down flows to 2,000 cfs again between April 27 and April 28. Expect more anglers to hit the river with the lower flows. “I haven’t heard of many anglers fishing the American lately,” said Dennis Pfanner at Sacramento Pro Tackle. “Shad fishing in the river is best in May and June.” The high flows should have prodded good numbers of shad and striped bass to move into the lower American already. 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 BERRYESSA LAKE Target Bait Balls for Trout Success NAPA - Want to hook some quality rainbow trout in the 2 to 4 pound range? Then target the bait balls while trolling at Lake Berryessa. “Some anglers are reporting 1 to 2 fish, while others are reporting limits,” advised Chad Hole at Sweeney’s Sports. “The key is to find the bait balls and troll through them with large spoons, including Krocodiles, Speedy Shiners, Needlefish, Kastmasters and Apex lures, in silver/blue, silver and watermelon colors.” “The fish are hitting anywhere from 10 to 35 feet deep,” said Hole. “They’re showing in a variety of areas, including the Narrows, Skier’s Cove, the dam, Putah Creek and Pope Creek. Some occasional king salmon are showing in the catches also.” The bass fishing is wide-open, with the fish in pre-spawn and spawning mode in the shallows throughout the lake. Anglers are hooking a mixture of smallmouth, spotted and largemouth bass. “The fish range from 2 to 3 feet up 20 feet deep. Some fish are spawning while others are staging to move up, Hole explained. “Anglers are hooking the fish using an Brandon, Sean, Jeff and Dominic limited out on trout to 5.4 pounds while fishing at Lake Amador on April 22. Photo courtesy of the LAKE AMADOR CAFÉ, Lake Amador. array of methods, including using drop shot rigs, tossing out Senkos, working crankbaits and throwing top water lures. The fish can be found all over the lake – in the eastside flats and trees, the Narrows, Putah and Pope Creeks and elsewh