Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3823 Oct 25-Nov 8 | Page 29

Oct 25 - Nov 8, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 23 27 Pyramid Lake Trout Action Is Underway! I f you haven’t noticed, Pyramid The action is often hot, and the fish Lake is getting a ton of ink these will range from 2-20 pounds. You read that correctly, “20 Pounds.” days. I’m one of the guys who can’t Huge trout that fight like Chinook stop writing about it. If you are sick salmon will be caught. of reading about Pyramid Pretty much anybody that Lake, and you’re wondering pays their dues will catch if this lake is just a bunch at least a couple trout over of over-rated hype, then the ten-pound mark during you must make the trip and an early season trip, and sample it for yourself. a few lucky anglers will This is the world’s best encounter a true behemoth cutthroat trout fishery, and that will tip the scales in there’s really nothing else the 20-25 pound range. Not even close to it. Not only is to mention, it will “get old” it the world’s best cutthroat catching tons of 18-23” trout fishery, but it’s also shakers. one of the all-around best A good sonar unit is the fishing destinations on the by key to vertical jigging with entire globe. Chances are if you’re reading this, you live Mike McNeilly spoons like the P-Line Laser Minnow. Another within driving distance, and you owe it to yourself to fish this gem. good option is to look for schools of Tui Chubs balled up on the surface Pyramid Lake’s season started on and cast a ¾ ounce chrome or gold October 1. Early in the season boat Kastmaster into the fracas. fishermen catch 95% of the fish for Cast the spoon into the school and the first month and a half or so. The let it flutter down, if the line ticks, a first week will be nothing short of a trout has eaten the spoon; reel down blood-bath. If you’ve ever watched a and slam the hook. Don’t get compla- Youtube video of guys poke-poling tuna, that’s kind of what it will be like cent on the hook-set. The next fish that eats could be a Chinook size trout. if you find the right conditions of Tui All your tackle needs to be in top Chubs (the lake’s dominant baitfish) order. If knots or leaders are frayed, and hungry trout feeding on them. These trout will be circling the chubs avoid complacency and re-tie. Bent hooks should be replaced with new like aquatic wolves; just looking to ones. Don’t get cheap on the hooks pull a weak or injured chub from the either. Premium Gamakatsu and herd. One to two ounce P-Line Laser Owner hooks will hook and land more Minnows in chrome with a green or fish, and the extra cost is a small price blue back will be absolutely irresist- to pay. Leaders should be on the stout ible to these bruisers. FISH SNIFFER COUNTRY SUTTER MARINE IS YOUR DEALER FOR Boats side. 15 pound Maxima Ultragreen or 17-20- pound test Fluoro- carbon is a good choice. Trollers also catch plenty Mitch Rolston landed this impressive 12-pound Pyramid Lake cutthroat in of fish, early October while camping at the lake. and the Photo courtesy of ERIC VANDAGRIFF, Foresthill. opening month of the season is a great time for lazy for a few seconds and let the 4-6 oz. trolling to pay off. Without a doubt, sinker slowly drag the lure back to the more big fish are caught at Pyramid bottom. Lake by trollers diligently working the Cutthroat are notorious followers, bottom structure than any other gear and this rising and falling of the lure fishing method. with speed-ups and slow-downs draws Fly fishermen probably catch more strikes from otherwise suspicious fish. big fish than anybody, but that’s Plus, this method works best with the another article entirely. The larger rod in hand, and its way more inter- Pilot Peak variety of fish don’t seem to active than just mindlessly trolling be as structure oriented as the smaller with a lure on a downrigger. Not that I Summit Lake fish that are also found don’t do my share of brainless trolling, in the lake. as I am occasionally known to just The Pilots are more likely than shut my brain off and drag lures from the Summits to be found in 80 feet time to time. of water suspended 50 feet down If you’ve been longing to catch a pestering balled up schools of Tui salmon sized trout, the fall of 2019 at Chubs. This makes them a very Pyramid Lake is probably your best forgiving target for casual trollers that shot in the entire country or maybe the just put a rod down 50 feet and drag world at doing so. a lure such as a 4” Lyman or an Apex New Easy Rider Sportfishing around. It really can be that simple for the first month or so of the season. Departures from Berkeley Marina As the water cools, the baitfish will disperse, and the casual troller will 3712 see declining scores, but early in the season laziness pays off. Once the baitfish disperse, it’s more important to bang your lures against bottom structure such as downrigger ball N ow B ookiNg eating tufa rocks. SALMoN, HALiBUT, BASS Of course, working the bottom in LiVE BAiT TRiPS October will definitely catch plenty of fish as well. A great way to slowly Rock & Ling Cod and Sturgeon work the bottom is to put a U20 Reservations & Information Flatfish on a three-way rig just like (707)422-2050 you’d use for salmon trolling on the captainjgallia@neweasyrider.com Sacramento River. I even like to use www.neweasyrider.com a spreader bar as it keeps my leader from tangling with the sinker dropper line. I like to run the Flatfish back about 4-5’ from my Located just 35 miles north of Reno, spreader bar, and Pyramid Lake is home to some of the I like to feel my best sport fishing on earth. Discover sinker tap bottom all that Pyramid Lake has to offer. at least once every 30 or so seconds. I really like utilizing this method from a tiller drive boat as kicking the outboard in and out of gear is important in maintaining bottom contact. I like to put the boat in gear and troll forward for 10 or so Discover Pyramid Lake Online at: seconds. This will www.pyramidelake.us cause the lure to rise off the bottom. Follow us on Twitter and “like’ us on Facebook I then like to throw 3822 the boat in neutral Discover Pyramid Lake 2019 Gator Tough 17’ Center Console Complete package with welded tunnel hull, front and rear casting decks, center console steering, windshield and grab rail, bow livewell, Lockable storage, Yamaha 90/65 four stroke jet, galvanized trailer and more! CALL FOR HOT FALL PRICES! SUTTER MARINE, INC. 3823 We Offer A COMPLETE Service Department Featuring Factory Certified Technicians (530) 673-6250 380 Garden Hwy.• Yuba City, Calif.