VOL. 37 • ISS. 16 July 20- Aug 3, 2018

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Freshwater reports:

Continued from pg 4

American River cont.

the American is still spotty, with few anglers trying at this time. Anglers targeting stripers should throw big swimbaits, Zara Spooks, Pencil Poppers and other lures early and late in the day from Sailor Bar to Howe Avenue.

The Bureau of Reclamation increased water releases to the American River below Nimbus Dam from 4,500 to 5,000 cfs on July 2 for“ Delta needs,” according to Peggy Manza, Reclamation spokesperson.

- Dan Bacher

Lake Berryessa

Bass Go On Night Bite

WINTERS- Larry Hemphill, fishing guide, made his first guided late afternoon / night trip this year one night before the full moon at Lake Berryessa.

“ It was not the night I would have preferred, as we were greeted by another cool front with a fair amount of south wind,” said Hemphill.“ We fished the narrows and some of the main body. In spite of the weather, the bite was fairly good the whole trip- lots of very shallow bass.

“ The pressure was off me right at dark as my father-son team became a team- hooked 2 bass at the SAME time- seconds apart,” he stated.“ Luckily, the black light was on. Wound up putting both largemouth in the net in back to back swipes!! Lifted them in the boat – barely. They were about 9-1 / 2 lbs. combined! Dad’ s went 6 lbs. 2 oz. and son’ s – 3-1 / 4 lbs. That’ s the way to start their first night trip!!

“ The rest of the night was good except for a few more quality bass they lost. The wind let up some around midnight and the bite improved. We caught several bass right on the bank after that. It was a good trip, especially seeing two bass over 6 lbs. for back to back guide trips.”

He noted that his clients gave the topwater bite a good shot, using buzzbaits.“ With the cold wind, it was slow for them. They did have one or two good blow-ups, one a good bass,” he said.

“ Had it been a nice evening, I think they would have done well. After dark it was fun to do a night trip in my new Z521. We fished a few different baits, but the 7” Berkley Power worm again was the best bait.

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This angler caught several handsome bass including this quality largemouth while fishing Lake Berryessa with Don Paganelli on June 25.

Photo courtesy of PAGANELLI’ S BASS FISHING EXPERIENCE, Sacramento.

The water temperature was 77-81 degrees and the water clarity was stained, with 2-4 foot visibility.

Trout fishing on the lake has slowed down as the fish move into the water column, reported Jose Rubio at Sweeney’ s Sports in Napa.

“ The fish are scattered all of the lake,” said Rubio.“ The range in depth from 25 to 50 feet, but most are showing at 40 to 50 foot. Trollers are doing best on big profile lures like chrome Speedy Shiners, though smaller baits like Rainbow Runners behind flashers are producing fish also.”

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Salmon • Trout • Kokanee

He advised getting out early in the morning and starting in the south end of the lake near the dam and the Narrows. Most fish range from 2 to 4 pounds.

- Dan Bacher

Bullards Bar / Englebright Reservoirs

Target Deeper Water For Bigger Kokes

• Stampede Kokanee

• Oroville Kings

• Now Booking Sacramento River Fall Salmon!

SMARTVILLE- Boaters continue to experience top-notch kokanee salmon fishing at Bullards Bar Reservoir while

3713 trolling an array of lures, although the fishing pressure has dwindled with the heavy summer recreational boating traffic.

“ Kokanee action is pretty decent,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman’ s Warehouse.“ You need to search around to find the larger 12 to 14 inch fish. The fish are showing down to 50 feet deep.”

Anglers are finding the top success while trolling pink Micro Hoochies and other lures, tipped with white corn, behind Sling Blades and other dodgers. Good areas to target include Emerald Cove, Willow Creek and the Dark Day area.

Bullards Bar is holding 796,117 feet of water, 82 percent of capacity and 97 percent of average.

At Englebright Reservoir, anglers continue to target rainbows while bait fishing with PowerBait and nightcrawlers or trolling with spoons, spinners and nightcrawlers behind dodgers.

Englebright is holding 67,280 acre feet of water, 96 percent of capacity and 100 percent of average.

- Dan Bacher

Lake Camanche

Largemouths, Spots Hit Early and Late

BURSON – Recreational boating has taken center stage at low elevation Lake Camanche, particularly after the arrival of the Independence Day holiday, but there is a window in the early mornings for largemouth and spotted bass along with rainbow trout.

Beau Courtroul of the Lake Camanche Recreation Company said,“ I continue to get on the lake very early to throw my custom crankbaits in various color patterns, and the action isn’ t bad for largemouth and spotted bass. Once the jet skiers hit the water, I am off, but I am sure that you could get them during the day with plastics on the drop-shot or Senkos. I think I could probably catch them on crankbaits all day long, but the boat

CONTINUED ON PG 8

on Highway 88 at Carson Pass

Ken Salvi caught this 4 lb, 24 inch German brown in July 2017 near Emigrant Creek. For information, call( 209)-258-8888

www. capleslakeresort. com

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