Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3824 Nov 8-22 | Page 10

8 FRESHWATER Nov 8 - 22, 2019, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 24 Catch & Release Fishing! Hook More & Bigger Fish With Flies... Sponsored by Kiene’s Fly Shop 916-483-1222 • www.Kienesflyshop.com 9550 Micron Ave. Suite B • Sacramento, CA The Lower Sacramento: Big ‘Bows & Bonus Steelhead! By Cal Kellogg The upper reaches of the lower Sacramento River below Shasta Dam is much different than the upper river above the lake. Not only is this section of river much larger, having combined with the waters of the McCloud River and Pit River, it also boasts more and larger trout than the upper section. The Sacramento River from the town of Redding downstream for a distance of 30 plus miles is one of the west’s premier tailwater trout fisheries boasting big broad shouldered wild rainbows that average 14 to 16 inches and range up to 24 inches or more. Despite the outstanding trout fishing the Sacramento provides the river has main- tained a sleeper status, with a distinct minority of the trout fishing community being aware of the river’s prowess as a producer of trophy rainbows. Since the Sacramento is one of the state’s largest rivers, combined with the fact that most trout anglers have a real zest for colorful wild rainbows, particularly wild ‘bows that grow large, it’s legiti- mate to ask why the lower river remains under the radar of so many trout anglers. After all, the upper river is widely known for the excellent fishing it offers? A factor that maintains the river’s “sleeper status” is that the incredible trout fishing the lower river offers is a fairly new development. With Sacramento River salmon numbers declining in the ‘90’s the DFW took action. Believing that salmon production would be better if the water in the Sacra- mento below Shasta Dam was colder and more consistent in temperature, a tempera- ture control device was installed at Shasta Dam. The result is that the river below the dam now maintains an average temperature of 56 degrees all year long. The manipulation of the water temperature helped salmon produc- tion, but also proved to be a boon for both the Sacramento’s trout and the aquatic insects they feed upon. Current estimates assert that the river bed now sustains a population of 2,500 insects per square foot. With the availability of all these insects combined with the roe from salmon, suckers and other fish it is little wonder that the Sacramento’s FRESHWATER REPORTS: trout plants of 1000 pounds each and will continue to receive large plants each week through November. Trout activity has increased, especially COLLINS LAKE cont. in the top 20 feet, so they are likely new of September, the fishing improved in plants. PowerBait from the shore has October after Collins Lake received the been productive. Additionally, we have first fall trout plant of 1000 pounds. seen a few larger trout caught trolling Planters will eventually head down to down around 35 ft, but these are the cooler water, but typically you can still minority. find quite a few patrolling the shorelines Emma from Brentwood reeled a 1.35 lb. the first few days after a plant, especially rainbow trout on Pink PowerBait. The next as the surface temperature continues to day, along with Lany and Kylie, she came drop – since we’re on a weekly schedule I back up with a second trout also caught expect to see shore fishing pick up quite a on pink PowerBait. bit now through Thanksgiving. Jeff and Terry reported catching a few The surface temperature is now trout daily from the shoreline down in dropping pretty quickly as the lake front of campsite #220 using mostly white prepares to turn. We’ve received two fall Power Balls. They said they’re catching enough for dinner and a few to share with their neighbors. Mike Knee landed Trout • Mackinaw a limit of rainbow Kokanee • Salmon trout on October 19 while shore Bright, Durable, Unique fishing, while Jeff Clement bagged two rainbows. There are still Glass Lures Handmade In Northern California several catfish caught each www.shallowglasslures.com being week. Brian Bender CONTINUED FROM PG 7 S h ow a ll G laSS l ur eS 3810 (530) 386-8064 trout are so fat and healthy. The year around tempera- ture consistency of the river is the so called “icing on the cake” when it comes to the size of the fish. Most anglers utilize fly gear when fishing the lower Sacramento, but spinning tackle can be used too. Since the river’s wild rainbows spend most of their time gobbling aquatic nymphs and salmon eggs, fly guys spend their time drifting multiple fly leaders sporting both nymphs and egg imitations beneath strike indicators. Except in the winter, the flows are generally too high for wade fishing so drifting in some kind of watercraft is necessary. The river, particularly between the Posse Grounds (put in) near downtown Redding and the Bonnieview Park (take out), has so many drift boats competing for the best slots that going it alone in a personal watercraft is extremely difficult. If you do it without a guide you pretty much need to float that section in a two-man watercraft so one can row while the other fishes. The Lower Sac steelhead runs start in late September and run into February of the following year. This early run happens for one specific reason, “the egg drop” that results from spawning Salmon. Every time you have salmon coming into the system you will usually find steelhead and resident Rainbow Trout holding just downstream. The fall run of salmon is the largest run of fish on the river. The colder months that range from November through February seem to be the best for Steelhead and they sometimes outnumber the resident rainbow trout popula- tion. Trying to identify them from the local natives is hard to do even for the experience dguides. The winter is when big fish, both Steelhead and local Rainbows come out to play. Salmon on redds draw large groups of hungry fish eager to eat and become reckless in their feeding habit simply do to the fact they seem to be frantic to eat as many eggs as possible. bagged a 10.5 pounder fishing near the dam with worms. Troy Hoepner from Oroville caught three cats weighing 10, 8 and 5 pounds fish while using Lil’ Smokey sausages right out in front of campsite #484. There have been a few bass caught as well, mostly under 15lbs using lures in shallow water. It’s a beautiful time of year to go camping– on the weekdays we have lots of availability even for hookup sites and near the high water line. Give us a call at 530-692-1600. - Robert Palma Brian Bender paid Collins Lake a visit last week and successfully battled this husky catfish. Photo courtesy of the COLLINS LAKE RECREATION AREA, Oregon House. DAVIS LAKE Rainbow Trout Fishing Busts Loose PORTOLA – Trout fishing is “phenomenal” now at Lake Davis, with all methods, including shore fishing, trolling and fly fishing producing limits of rainbow trout, said Jeanne Graham at the J &J Grizzly Store and Campground. The fish are a mixture of the 6,000 pounds of trout stocked in September, including 2,000 pounds of Eagle Lake strain trout, and quality holdovers. “Shore anglers are catching limits of rainbows, plus releasing fish, in Mallard Cove and Coot Bay,” said Graham. “The surface water temperature is 53 to 54 Continued on Pg 9