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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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

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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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