Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3802 Jan 4-18 | Page 16

FRESHWATER January 4-18, 2019 FRESHWATER REPORTS: sassy Eagle Lake rainbows, you better hit the road soon before the seasonal closure ends the action until next May. CONTINUED FROM PG 13 EAGLE LAKE cont. as if solid fishing will be in full force until the lake closes to angling on December 31. Few anglers are fishing at this time, but those that do hit the lake are experiencing fast action while working the south basin. You can fish just about anywhere down south and round up a limit. Some of the best action is taking place near the springs below the Eagle’s Nest, Camp Ronald McDonald and Shrimp Island. Trollers are experiencing better action than shore anglers, but shore guys are having little problem catching limits from the Gallatin jetty and other locations while tossing out worms and PowerBait. Trollers are scoring with orange spoons and plugs, rigged worms, grubs and flies. In terms of colors for the grubs and flies both earth tones and the bright stuff is working. Most of the rainbow are gravitating toward the shoreline at this point. Almost all the hook ups are taking place from the surface to 5 feet deep. If you enjoy fly fishing, by all means beach your boat or kayak and work the shoreline while wading 1 to 2 feet deep. This approach works for gear anglers tossing spoons and small plugs too! If you would like to battle some big Lake Almanor Bucks Lake Lake Davis Lake Tahoe Eagle Lake EAST DELTA Cold and Clear Water Create Challenging Fishing Conditions STOCKTON - The San Joaquin-Delta is in dire need of fresh water flow, and the rainstorm anticipated for Christmas Eve is desperately needed. The water in the San Joaquin is extremely clear, and both the bait and the striped bass have moved out to other locations. In addition, the colder water temperatures in the clear water has led to the weed growth dying and breaking up, leaving fewer forage and hiding locations for largemouth bass. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said, “The Delta needs another stirring up as we had a good bite going on the San Joaquin River, but the fish have moved with the weather change of bright sunshine and cold temperatures. The birds and bait are now absent, and I spent Tuesday looking for schools of striped bass in the crystal-clear water of the San Joaquin River. We ended up with two striped bass for our efforts, and the fish have moved on, perhaps north to the Port of Sacramento, further up river, or south into Discovery Bay. The shad normally head into Discovery Bay as the water is warmer at this time of year, and the stripers go in there are get confused, taking a few weeks to find their way out of the maze that is Discovery Bay.” See us at the Sacramento ISE Show Booth #3434 - ask abou Show Special Prices t on trips in 2019! (530)370-1001 www.BigDaddyFishing.com CAPTAIN BRYAN ROCCUCCI Salmon • Trout • Kokanee • Stampede Kokanee • Oroville Kings • Now Booking Sacramento River Fall Salmon! 3713 Nestled between Los Vaqueros Los Vaqueros Brentwood Reservoir Reservoir and Livermore off Vasco Road Nestled between Brentwood and Livermore off Vasco Road Now Catching First STRIPED Time Anglers BASS Welcome! Beautiful TROUT Spring Wild Flowers CATFISH • SALmON • TROUT LARGEMOUTH BASS • STRIPED BASS The New Marina • Building CATFISH & Boat Rentals • NOW LARGEmOUTH BASS OPEN!!!! (925) 371-2628 Los Vaqueros Recreation Co. 9990 Los Vaqueros Rd. Byron, CA, 94514 “With the striped bass absent, largemouth bass are the top species, and you have to slow way down as the fish do not want to chase in the cold water. The ima Flit 120 in shad patterns on a dead stick presentation is one lure of choice, but you have to focus on areas with weeds moving in the current. The weeds create warm, and the bass want to hang around the warmest areas. There will be four or five bass holding in one weed patch as the fish are congregating with fewer weeds due to the vegetation dying in the cold water,” he tipped. “Staying in the strike zone is key, and I will cast out the rip bait, reel down three or four times, and then making it pop – not pulling the lure, but twitching it my moving your wrist. This will make the lure move 6 to 8 inches. The other method is a Berkley Bottom Hopper or General Max Scent plastic on a Zappu head with light line. Light line is very important in the clear water. We haven’t had enough weather to muddy it up yet,” he concluded. The colder water is expected to bring an end to fresh shad in area bait shops soon, but H and R Lonis took a trip to Lake Amador on December 10 and Bait in Stockton continues tempted these catfish weighing 16.26 and 22.09 pounds to receive fresh shad. - Dave Hurley while fishing with night crawlers in Doney Bay. CONTINUED ON PG 20 $25 boat rentals every Monday thru Friday (non holidays) 2907 3125 Photo courtesy of THE LAKE AMADOR CAFÉ, Lake Amador. For Trophy Trout In The High Mountains, Call Bryan Roccucci Of Big Daddy’s Guide Service B ig Daddy’s Guide Service specializes in year- round light tackle trout fishing adventures on Lake Almanor, Lake Tahoe, Eagle Lake, Bucks Lake, Lake Davis, and others by special booking. These lakes represent Northern California’s most prolific trophy trout producing waters. Your host and professional guide Capt. Bryan Roccucci offers fishing trips that are as educational as they are fun and custom tailored to your individual needs. Based out of Quincy California at the Northern end of the Sierras, and surrounded by the Plumas National Forest, Bryan is centrally located to these lakes and others in Plumas, Lassen and Sierra Counties. The ability to fish multiple lakes throughout the year allows Bryan to put you on the water during prime times for the best bites. With many years of experi- ence on these waters; Bryan has the knowledge and the top quality equipment to put you on the fish. “My goal is to provide you with the best light- tackle fishing experience possible. Whether you want to fill limits, hunt trophies, or catch and release, each trip is custom and personally designed to fit your needs. Should you decide to take some fish home for dinner, your catch will be cleaned and packed ready for your ice chest. Come take a trip and see what these beautiful lakes have to offer,” related Roccucci. If you’d like to learn more about Big Daddy Guide Service and Captain Roccucci, you can drop by Booth No. 3434 at the 2019 Sacra- mento ISE Show or you can check him out online at www.bigdaddyfishing. com. NOW OPEN! 3706 Marine Electronics Sales • Service • Installation Sunny’s www.NORCALFISHING.COm A Contra Costa Water District Facility VOL.38 • ISS. 2 Electric Marine ONE DAY SERVICE on Installations with appointment (916) 487-3868 *Trolling Motors *Fishfinders *GPS *VHF Radios *Radar *Batteries and Chargers Under New Management GREAT Fishing for: Trout • Kokanee • Catfish Large & Smallmouth Bass Crappie • Bluegill • Sunfish 14 Store • Campsites/RV sites Marina • Boat Launch New Boat & Motor Rental Fleet Call for Information & Reservations Largest Service Center in the West! (800) 416-6992 4900 Stony Creek Rd. Ione www.rockymountainrec.com