Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3822 Oct 11-25 | Page 21

Oct 11 - 25, 2019 FRESHWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 22 19 FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 15 EAST DELTA Top Water Lure Produces 31 Lb. Striper LIVERMORE –George Wight of Antioch, one of the charter members of the California Striped Bass Association in 1974, caught and released a 31-pound striped bass on a topwater lure on Wednesday, September 25. After losing my first hook up, I didn’t think I would get hit again, but there is nothing like landing a big fish on a topwater lure. I had to work to revive the fish, but she swam after fine after a few minutes,” said Wight. The wind was blowing hard on Thursday, and the pros and amateurs in the Costa FLW Delta event had to fight the wind but Blake Dyer of Walnut Creek held the first day lead in the 3-day tournament with a limit at 27.3 pounds followed by Jason Borofka of Salinas at 25.8, and Mike Birch of Oakley at 21.5. The wind was not kind, and it is expected to blow again on Friday. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said, “The key to the Delta right now is to downsize in order to catch numbers. Many fishermen are doing what they want to do and going after large fish, but choosing this option will only work for one or two larger bass. The Delta bass are very susceptible to weather changes, and the transition from 100 to 60 degrees has a dramatic effect on the largemouth bass. “I have been downsizing to 8-pound test line on spinning rods with plastics in natural patterns on a Zappu head. The Berkley Bottom Hopper or heavy weight General are working best with Max Scent, and it is best to target rockwalls with weed clumps or voids. Chatterbaits or crankbaits are also effective, and you can find the better fish on the outside edges of the weed lines,” stated Pringle. Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors is looking forward to targeting large striped bass in the Delta with topwater plugs or the Optimum Double AA swimbait in shad patterns, and he said, “My next six guide trips are for striped bass, and the shad is schooling up in the 69/70-degree water. I am going to start throwing hollow belly swimbaits in shad patterns such as the Double AA paddletail. Some anglers have been finding them in the morning on topwater lures, but I was out with Joey Gamez on my last trip, and we didn’t get out until the afternoon so we were sticking with swimbaits. The bass are starting to school up. For largemouth bass, with the hot temperatures earlier this week, you can still punch the weeds.” - Dave Hurley EASTERN SIERRA Expectations Run High For A Great Fall Nestled between Los Vaqueros Los Vaqueros Brentwood Reservoir Reservoir and Livermore off Vasco Road Nestled between Brentwood and Livermore off Vasco Road First Time Anglers Welcome! Beautiful Spring Wild Flowers (925) 371-2628 FEATHER RIVER Fish Hatchery Ladder Opens As Salmon Move Into River OROVILLE – The fish ladder at the California Jeb Bunker landed and released this huge 8 plus pound Department of Fish and largemouth while fishing Clear Lake on September 15. Photo courtesy of JEB BUNKER, Sacramento. Wildlife’s Feather River Hatchery opened on September 16, signaling the start of the Chinook salmon deeper water. Bait anglers did the best spawning season on the Feather River. with inflated crawlers and garlic PowerBait Anglers are catching increasing while the trolling seemed to be the best numbers of salmon while fishing roe and with small Rapalas and night crawlers.” plugs below the Themalito Afterbay Outlet “The Twins are also still a little bit hit and while anchor fishing with Brad’s and miss but some anglers are reporting Killerfish, Silverton spinners and other some really good days with some fish lures in the Yuba City and Nicolas areas, also going nearly 6 pounds. The best “CDFW hatchery workers took more reports we’ve received have come from fly than a half-million eggs during the first anglers fishing sinking lines and stripping week alone in an effort to ensure the streamers like seal buggers, mini leeches successful spawning of the returning and soft hackles. I was told yesterday salmon,” according to the CDFW. “The that the kokanee are starting to stage to salmon run will continue until mid- spawn near the inlets, this typically will November. Hatchery operations, popular bring trout into the neighborhood for some with the public and numerous school easy meals,” he stated. groups, will take place every Monday “There have been some good fish CONTINUED ON PG 20 caught by anglers trolling Thomas Bupyants and captain Rapalas as well JAMES as some fish NETZEL being caught with Full Time PowerBait, Mice Guide Tails, inflated “I’ll make you a better Hooker!” crawlers and pinched crawlers. As with the other waters in the area, as the temperatures drop, the fishing should just keep getting better,” said Reid. 3615 “The West Walker $50 OFF has kicked out for some good fish Veterans! this week, now that WWW.FISHTIGHTLINES.COM BRIDGEPORT - There are some good trout being caught in Bridgeport area waters, but overall the action has been fair at best. The fishing is expected to ramp up soon when overnight temperatures drop bringing surface temperatures down. “Bridgeport Reservoir was a little hit and miss this week with some anglers reporting some decent numbers of Now Catching fish up to nearly 6 pounds while other STRIPED BASS anglers struggled TROUT to get more than CATFISH just a few fish each • SALmON • TROUT LARGEMOUTH BASS day,” reported Jim Reid at Ken’s • STRIPED BASS The New Marina Sporting Goods in • Building CATFISH Bridgeport. & Boat Rentals “There are still a • NOW LARGEmOUTH BASS OPEN!!!! few Sacramento perch being $25 boat caught on the rentals troll while most of every the rainbows are Monday Los Vaqueros Recreation Co. being caught up thru Friday 9990 Los Vaqueros Rd. in the channels in (non holidays) Byron, CA, 94514 Buckeye Bay and www.NORCALFISHING.COm off of Rainbow Point in a little 2907 A Contra Costa Water District Facility 3125 it is being stocked every other week the fishing has improved. Fly anglers are getting into some fish with hopper/dropper rigs, as well as drifting small buggers and attractor nymphs on the bottom. There have been been some good fish caught by anglers fishing with Panther Martins and Rooster Tails and drifting crawlers, eggs and Power Eggs has been productive too. The water is low and clear, so you’ll need to try to be sneaky so as not to spook those fish,” Reid concluded. Now booking Sacramento River SALMON! 888-975-0990 3810 Under New Management GREAT Fishing for: Trout • Kokanee • Catfish Large & Smallmouth Bass Crappie • Bluegill • Sunfish Store • Campsites/RV sites Marina • Boat Launch New Boat & Motor Rental Fleet Call for Information & Reservations (800) 416-6992 3819 4900 Stony Creek Rd. Ione www.rockymountainrec.com