Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3822 Oct 11-25 | Page 6

4 FRESHWATER Oct 11 - 25, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 22 FRESHWATER REPORTS Robert hit the waters of Lake Tahoe with the Tahoe Sportfishing team in mid-September and rounded up this colorful brown trout. Photo courtesy of TAHOE SPORTFISHING, South Lake Tahoe. LAKE AMADOR LAKE ALMANOR Water Cools, Trout Bite Strengthens Anglers Gear Up for Fall Trout Plants CHESTER - Schools of pond smelt are forming up, the water temperature is declining and the trout are starting their fall feeding binge. There are a few browns and kings in the mix, but the dominant species is definitely rainbow trout. The ‘bows average 3 pounds and range all the way up to 6 plus. “We’ve had good action all summer and things are starting to improve now that summer conditions are giving way to fall,” reported Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service. “Up until this week we were concentrating on pulling slow moving baits, but this week the trout have become more active and we’ve been able to mix in some faster trolling with spoons.” “Once the trout move to the surface we are in for some really thrilling action. We use light gear and when you hook those big rainbows just below the surface you never know if they are to go on a hard run, dive, jump or explore all three options as they try to toss the hook,” said Roccucci. “Today I’m actually up at Eagle Lake. The bite is pretty much wide open here on trolling flies. We’ve had a lot of hits and some epic battles today. I’ll be splitting my time between Almanor and Eagle for the rest of the fall. Once the fish move onto shoreline structure at Eagle, I’ll be running some late fall fly fishing trips. During those trips, we actually beach the boat and fish from the shoreline while wading shallow water,” Roccucci concluded. IONE – Shore and boat anglers are getting ready for the trout planting season at Lake Amador. The on-site fish hatchery at the reservoir has plenty of Lightning Trout, Donaldson rainbows and Amador cuttbows in the troughs. You can expect the trout plants to begin by the end of October, with the exact time depending upon when the surface water temperature becomes cool enough to safely plant trout. The lake is in great shape for this time of year, being only 25 feet from maximum pool. The boat launching facilities are in full operation. Fishing pressure slowed down during the recent hot spell, but expect the action to pick up with the cooler fall weather that we are experiencing now. For light tackle action, your top prospect is to fish for bluegill with redworms, mealworms, mini-crawlers and waxworms off the docks and structure around the lake. Fishing for black bass and channel catfish is also a solid prospect. - Dan Bacher AMERICAN BASIN Trollers Battle Kokanee In Season’s Final Stretch action. SMUD’s trout plants in the Union Valley, Ice House and Loon lakes are over for the season. The plants took place from June through August. There are still plenty of holdover rainbows in the lakes for anglers to catch from shore with PowerBait and nightcrawlers or from a boat with trolled worms, spinners, spoons and Rapalas. Union Valley, the largest of the three reservoirs, received 10,000 pounds; Ice House, 8,750 pounds; and, Loon Lake, 6,250 pounds. The fish provided by SMUD come from Mount Lassen Trout Farms of Payne’s Creek. The company also stocks SMUD’s Rancho Seco Lake, which annually hosts the very popular Trout Derby. - Dan Bacher AUBURN – There isn’t much time left to catch kokanee at Hell Hole Reservoir as the season nears its end, but at press time boaters were still hooking the kokanee. “Fishermen are still catching limits of kokanee in the 12 to 14 inch range down by the Power House,” said Craig Newton of Willfish Bait and Tackle. “The males are starting to get hook jaws, but they are not turning color yet. Boaters are trolling with hoochies, tipped with white corn, behind dodgers in deep water.” Fishing for German browns and mackinaws should improve on Hell Hole, while fishing for browns and rainbows should pick up at Meadows as AMERICAN RIVER www.unclelarryslures.com French water temperatures Salmon Begin to Show cool this fall. Troll SACRAMENTO – As is usual for with Rapalas and this time of year, king salmon are now other stick baits along MADE IN THE USA the shore for the top beginning to move into the American River 3813 from the mouth at Discovery Park to Sailor Bar. 3816 “One angler reported catching two salmon while Visit The Mother Lode Region’s Official Fishing Tackle fishing Flying C Headquarters Today For All Of your Inland Fishing Needs! spinners from shore in the Sunrise area,” WIDE SELECTION • GREAT PRICES • YOU SAVE! said Tim Boggs at Elkhorn Oudoor HOOKD4LIFE.COM Join us for a unique experience Sports. “Another RODS • REELS • LINE • FROGS • SWIMBAITS • JIGS BAIT • HOOKS • SPINNERS • TERMINAL fisherman, Sheldon TACKLE • HARDBAITS • SOFT PLASTICS • SPECIALS • CLOSEOUTS & MUCH MORE! that will keep Bisbee, landed your family Visit us on your way to: Camanche, Pardee, Amador, Rancho Seco, New Melones And More ! a 20 lb. salmon while fishing from coming back (209) 790-5100 106 East Main Street, Ione, CA 95640 UNCLE LARRY’S LURES Time after Time, the most successful Trout & Kokanee Spinners! Use the best, catch the best and the biggest! (209)609-7034 Bait & Tackle year after year! Docks and Boat Slips Available www.EagleLakeandRV.com Corner of The Strand and Palmetto Way Spalding, California 3809 Trout Planted Seasonally! • Cafe • RV Park • Waterslide • Campground • Disc Golf • General Store Cafe Open Seasonally On Friday, Saturday & Sundays RV Sites • Cabins • Tent Sites Free WiFi • Rec Room • Grocery Store • Gas • Diesel • LPG • Laundry LAKE AMADOR 209-274 -4739 7500 Lake Amador Dr., Ione, CA 95640 WWW.LAKEAMADOR.COM a boat above Discovery Park. He also lost another fish right next to the boat.” On September 25, the Bureau of Reclamation reduced water releases from Nimbus Dam into the American River from 2,100 cfs to 1,700 cfs to “facilitate in-stream spawning gravel enhancement work,” said Peggy Manza at Reclamation. “Due to the in-stream gravel work, the AFO gage is not reading correctly. Until the gravel work is complete and AFO is recalibrated, please operate to the NAT gage for releases to the American River,” she said. For striped bass, toss out Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks and other top water lures early and late in the day or fish crawdad tails, jumbo minnows or live pike minnows during the day. Fly fishing with Clouser Minnows can also be very productive. - Dan Bacher BERRYESSA LAKE Bassers Bag Quality Smallmouths, Largemouths and Spots WINTERS – Larry Hemphill, fishing guide, took his first-ever clients from Iowa, who wanted to fish Lake Berryessa while they were in the area. “It was a wonderful husband/wife couple who has been traveling around the country. She read - he fished. I always wish the fishing would be tip-top for out-of- state visitors. Actually - it wasn’t bad,” said Hemphill. “If Berryessa wouldn’t go dead-flat calm in the fall afternoons, the morning bite Continued on Pg 7 Salmon • Striper • Trout • Kokanee • Stripers • Oroville Kings • Stampede Kokanee (530) 272-7137 • (530) 263-4451 www.fishbarebones.com 3807