Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3824 Nov 8-22 | Page 13

Nov 8 - 22, 2019 FRESHWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 24 11 FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 9 EAST DELTA FOLSOM LAKE cont. of Optimum Baits to target largemouth and striped bass during a film session this week, and we found stripers to 5 pounds along with largemouth bass to 7 pounds on the ima Little Stick along with the Rock N’Vibe Suspend. The key was matching the shad as we couldn’t get bit on the red crawdad pattern until we switched over to the shad pattern. The ima Flit 120 bite is ‘Off the Chain,’ as we are working them off of the outside weedline for multiple hookups for both striped and largemouth bass as they are mixed in chasing shad. The most important aspect is to pause the lure as the longer the pause, the more effective the presentation will be. The water is very clear, and the larger grade of bass will be holding under structure or found in low-light conditions on topwater in the mornings. Anything with a shad pattern along with translucent body is working, and top patterns are Olive Herring or Sexy Minnow. We also worked the bottom with the Berkley Bottom Hopper or Flat Dog in earth tones on a Zappu head, and once again, the key is to keep it in the strike zone as long as possible.” Striped bass continue to move into the San Joaquin-Delta in increased numbers, and a variety of techniques are finding success for the linesides. Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor said, “We have continued to score limits of striped bass every day on the San Joaquin side, and we have used a number of different methods between drifting live jumbo minnows, plugging with glide baits or swimbaits, fly fishing with Clowsers, or spooning with shad-patterned lures. The grass varies by location, and it is important to find clear water as the ‘witch’s hair’ has been horrendous. We had doubles and triples all day long on Thursday using jumbo minnows as they wouldn’t bite a spoon. The previous day, we had found a solid spoon bite.” - Dave Hurley EASTERN SIERRA Excellent Trout Fishing Erupts with Dropping Water Temperatures! BISHOP- “After another cooler period with wind and some cooler temperatures, we are looking ahead to another warm up and dry weather for the coming weeks,” reported Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Guide Service. “We have been staying busy this fall as our happy customers come up to fish during their favorite time of year in the eastern sierra. The aspen trees in the high elevations have started dropping their leaves already as the couple of cold snaps we’ve had got them going early. There are Bass Action Is Up and Down The fall bite is on at Eagle Lake. This handsome rainbow was caught during an October 2 trolling adventure. Photo courtesy of FISH TRAVELER GUIDE SERVICE, Spalding. still plenty of fall colors to see though, as most of the trees at middle elevations are still turning color. Most areas are in full fall mode now with water levels settling down and colder water temperatures moving the fish toward the tributaries.” “It’s a very consistent bite at Crowley, but locations have been changing from week to week. Water temperatures are dropping quickly, as the cold nights begin to push the warm water to the lake bottom. The weed beds are here to stay this year, which has provided everlasting shelter for the vulnerable perch fry and callibaetis mayflies. Midges fished under the indicator have been our most successful methods this month. Varying your depth and colors will keep you on the fish throughout the day. Some fish will only bite if you have the right position on them with your boat or float tube. The 7 – 16′ depth has been the best for most locations. There are still fish in McGee Bay, but most of our fishing has taken place at the north end of the lake,” Loe disclosed. “The East Walker has dropped some more today, thus concentrating more fish in deeper water. Work the deep slow pools well, as they are holding some good numbers right now. The cold snap will definitely put some larger models on the bite in the next few days. Don’t get complacent went it comes to adjusting your indicator and how much weight you are using. There are times when the fish won’t touch your flies if they aren’t close enough to the bottom. Cover suspected fish holding zones thoroughly, as some of the bigs want your flies right in front of their faces. Medium size streamers are • Trout • Bass • Crappie • Bluegill • Catfish FEATHER RIVER Yuba City Area Yields Quality Chinooks YUBA CITY – Anglers are experiencing solid fishing most days on the Feather River, with an occasional slower day mixed in. “The fishing has been pretty good up until today when we didn’t hook any fish while anchor fishing with plugs in the Yuba City area,” disclosed Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob’s Guide Service. “On the three trips we made before today, we landed limits on two out of the three.” The first trip produced four salmon for two guys on the Brad’s Killer Fish. “No one colored plug today got them, with the dragon glow, double glow and dragon fly all producing fish,” said Reimers. The following trip yielded 3 fish out of 5 hook-ups for 3 passengers. “It took about 30 seconds for the double glow to strike,” he noted. On the following trip, one woman hooked 8 salmon, landing her two fish limit, while anchor fishing with Brad’s Killer Fish. “The first salmon we landed was a 10 second fish,” said Reimers. “I had just put the rod in the holder and the double glow Brad’s Killer Fish struck again.” Combined releases to the Feather River below the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet are now 2,450 cfs. - Dan Bacher COYOTE BAIT & TACKLE’S FREE SHIPPING On JACKALL TACKLE STOCKING STUFFERS Orders Over $50 POMPADOUR GANTAREL JR A Must Have For Each Angler On Your List! Largest Trout Stocking Program North of Sacramento Lakefront RV Camping great flies to pull through the lanes and pools currently,” Loe related. Call for Reservations 800-286-0576 www.collinslake.com P.O. Box 300 . Oregon House . California 95962 3824 Provokes Deadly Strikes And Is The Best Swimbait Gift Ever! TN LIPLESS CRANKBAIT FIRECRACKER BUZZBAIT VISIT US ONLINE AND REEL IN A GREAT GIFT IDEA! UNWRAP A GREAT DEAL ON ALL COLORS IN STOCK! Coyote Bait & Tackle SHOP US ONLINE TODAY! 5 miles south of San Jose South on 101, exit at Bernal Road West, South on Monterey Road (408) 463-0711 • WWW.COYOTEBAIT.COM Some shipping restrictions apply. See store for details. 3824 SACRAMENTO – The black bass fishing has been up and down at Lake Berryessa, with good fishing on one trip followed by slow fishing on the next trip. Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience made a short afternoon trip that produced a total of 12 bass for him and his cousin on Folsom. They caught and released a mixture of largemouth and spotted bass, along with one smallmouth, ranging from 1-1/2 to 2 pounds. “We fished with drop shot rigs with Robo Worms in the Aaron’s Magic and Morning Dawn colors at 25 feet deep in the main body of the lake,” advised Paganelli. However, on the next trip, the bass fishing was very tough. “The two of us used the same methods that we used on the previous trip to Folsom – drop shotting with Robo Worms – but we didn’t get a bite,” said Paganelli. “We tried fishing the South Fork and the North Fork; there was a 2 foot chop on the main body.” “One difference between the two trips was the wind and the cloud cover in the morning,” he revealed. “We marked fish and we marked a lot of bait, but we couldn’t get anything to bite.” The cooler fall weather we are now seeing should result in improved fishing for rainbow trout and king salmon, as well as for black bass. When the lake undergoes its annual fall turn over, shore fishing should become as productive for trout and salmon as fishing from a boat when the fish move into the shallows to feed on pond smelt and threadfin shad. Trollers should employ nightcrawlers behind dodgers, Speedy Shiners and other lures, while bank fishermen should toss out PowerBait, minnows and nightcrawlers for trout and salmon. Folsom Lake is holding 643,320 -cre feet of water, 66 percent of capacity and 124 percent of average. The water level is 433.27 feet in elevation. - Dan Bacher KLAMATH/TRINITY RIVERS Upper River Kicks Out Salmon and Steelhead HORNBROOK – The majority of anglers and guides continue to concentrate on fishing the upper section of the Klamath River below the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery for steelhead and salmon. After the salmon fishing tapers off, anglers will then focus on steelhead in this section of river. Phil Desautels of Phil’s Smiling Salmon Guide Service reported catching king salmon on the upper Klamath from below the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery to the Klamathon Bridge. Anglers are hooking the fish while back bouncing salmon roe in the holes and runs. He will depart from the Klamath after the salmon begin to spawn and then will head to the Smith River and Chetco River estuaries to begin salmon fishing. Hopefully, a good rain will arrive to push the big Chinooks to move upriver on both rivers. The basin in-river recreational quota is 7,637 adult Chinook Salmon for 2019. At press time, the CDFW had reported the quota on the lower Klamath River from Highway 96 to the Klamathon is not likely to be met this year. Just under 65 percent of the quota had been met, and 1,346 adults remained in the quota. Fishing efforts on the lower river were minimal. For more information call the Klamath- Trinity River hotline at (800) 564-6479. On the Trinity, the Trinity River Hatchery was on their break between spawning spring and fall Chinook at press time. The Willow Creek Weir has trapped 1,465 Chinook salmon, including 819 adults and 646 grilse, this year to date. Last year’s count was 1592 adults, including 1,341 adults and 251 grilse. The coho salmon weir count was 69 CONTINUED ON PG 12