Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3902 Jan 3-17 | Page 21

19 Jan 3-17, 2020 FRESHWATER VOL.39 • ISS. 2 FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 14 DAVIS LAKE cont. “We have snow on the ground, although not a lot,” said Jim Graham at the J&J Grizzly Store and Camping Resort. “There is no ice on the lake at this time. Anglers using four-wheel drive could probably make it to the launch ramps, but I haven’t heard of any trying.” During a break between storms, anglers were throwing out PowerBait and worms in Mallard Cove and Coot Bay. There are plenty of trout in the lake for the ice fishing season. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently stocked another 5,000 pounds of rainbow trout in Lake Davis, continuing to boost catch rates on the reservoir. These fish follow the 6,000 pounds of trout stocked in September, including 2,000 pounds of Eagle Lake trout. Lake Davis is holding 64,578 acre feet of water, 78 percent of capacity and 113 percent of average. - Dan Bacher DEL VALLE RESERVOIR Trout, Catfish and Stripers Dominate Winter Fishing Scene LA GRANGE – Fishing at Lake Del Valle has been very good over the past couple of weeks for rainbow trout, catfish and stripers. The trout are hitting Rapalas, green/ orange Kastmasters, chartreuse Mice Tails, gold Kastmasters, firetiger Panther Martins, rainbow PowerBait and nightcrawlers. Use anchovies and clams for the stripers and sardines for the catfish. Hot spots for fishing are across from the Marina, Lowers Narrows, Venados Group Site, Badger Cove, Swallow Bay and Dam. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing has slowed down as the fish go into deeper water, “The surface the water is cold, now and they like warm water, which is in deeper water,” said Jack Forzano of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company. “Crappie and panfish can also be caught near trees and rocks,” said Forzano. “Use red worms or night crawlers for the panfish. The water level is really low at the moment; there is now east beach. “ “The water is murky, with about 2-foot visibility near the marina. Once you get past the Lower Narrows it clears up and DON PEDRO LAKE Bassers Target Largemouths with Swimbaits and Jigs LA GRANGE – The American Bass Association Mother Lode division held an event on Don Pedro on December 7, - and only fourteen teams showed up to fish the event. The low numbers of participants has been attributed to the quality of teams participating as all of the competitors are considered to be the best in the region. The team of Alex Niapas and Jason Remmers came in 2nd at 18.18 pounds with Niapas scoring three largemouth bass in the 5-pound range on Hawg Hunter swimbaits. T he team of Bryan Cox and Kevin Davidson took first at 18.43 pounds with a big fish at 8.81 so it appears that the swimbait bite is The bass bite is on at Lake Berryessa. This feisty smallmouth was improving. caught during a November trip with Don Paganelli. John Liechty of Photo courtesy of PAGANELLI’S BASS FISHING EXPERIENCE, Sacramento. Xperience Fishing Guide Service teamed with Rob Betsch of Mokelumne Hill came in 6th it is about a 10-foot visibility. The water at 12.40 pounds, and Liechty said, “We surface temperature is 56 degrees,” he prefished on Friday in blue skies for 15 stated/. pounds, and during the tournament, I Catherine Lytle from Livermore caught a lost the largest bass I have ever dropped 3.25 lb. Lightning Trout measuring 19.25 during a tournament as a largemouth in inches in the Narrows while using large the 10-pound range jumped and came night crawlers. unbuttoned off of my swimbait. I did land a Sal Herrera from San Leandro caught 6.60-pound bass on a swimbait during the a 3.05 lbs. Lightning Trout in the Narrows tournament, and Rob put in a 6 pounder while soaking Sherbet PowerBait. the day before on a drop-shot.” Bob Hargrove from Livermore caught The swimbait bite must be improving a 10.30 lb. striper in the Upper Narrows as the five boats in Saturday’s American while fishing with sardines. Bass Association event found swimbait Kenny Ku from Livermore caught a fish to 8.18 pounds, but the best action 7.35 ls. striper at the Dam while using remains with jigs at depths from 20 to 40 Sardines. feet. Few trout and king salmon reports, Jared Watanabe from Tracy caught but the remaining rainbows in the lake a trout across from the Marina on pink should be moving closer and closer to Power Eggs and a green Power Worm. the surface. The lake rose slightly to 79 percent. - Dave Hurley Nestled between Los Vaqueros Los Vaqueros Brentwood Reservoir Reservoir and Livermore (925) 371-2628 Los Vaqueros Recreation Co. 9990 Los Vaqueros Rd. Byron, CA, 94514 GREAT Fishing for: Trout • Kokanee • Catfish Large & Smallmouth Bass Crappie • Bluegill • Sunfish $25 boat rentals every Monday thru Friday (non holidays) www.NORCALFISHING.COm A Contra Costa Water District Facility 2907 3125 CONTINUED ON PG 20 Custom 23’ Rogue Jet 3826 Cpt. Jerry Lampkin – 25 years of experience fishing Salmon, Steelhead, Stripers, Trout & landlocked Kings on the Feather, Sacramento, American Rivers and Folsom Lake Reopens On Feb. 13, 2020 CATFISH • SALmON • TROUT LARGEMOUTH BASS • STRIPED BASS The New Marina • Building CATFISH & Boat Rentals • NOW LARGEmOUTH BASS OPEN!!!! STOCKTON - The San Joaquin Delta has remained fairly clear in the back sloughs and main river channel, but the striped bass haven’t been migrating to the warmer waters in the South Delta for the past few years. Traditionally, at this time of year by mid-December, the striped bass bite in Discovery Bay has been excellent, but it has been severely lacking. However, more and more linesides are starting to make their move into the San Joaquin system. Dan Mathisen of Dan’s Delta Outdoors said, “Those targeting largemouth bass have been flipping or lightly punching through the dark weed mats, and there have been a few striped bass showing up on the San Joaquin side. The stripers have moved out of Liberty in the north Delta, and they are either up river or moving into the clearer waters of the San Joaquin, Sturgeon have been taken around Three Mile Island on the San Joaquin.” In the San Joaquin River, Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, launched out of Ladd’s Marina in Stockton this week and he said, “We didn’t see any birds working on the main San Joaquin as the terns, egrets, and seagulls were absent. Normally, you would see the birds sitting on the banks waiting for the tide to change for the stripers to push up bait.” “My client landed a striper on his first cast on topwater on the ima Big Stick, but this was the only one we hit on the surface. The tides were not optimal with a slow outgoing tide and a big incoming tide, and there was no bait in the main river. We tried a number of locations, but we did find success in one spot with the Bad Bubba Shad swimbait for around 25 stripers with three triples and several doubles.” “The key is the speed of the retrieve and twisting your wrist and not your elbow will give the lure the action of a wounded baitfish. Many times the stripers will follow up the lure, but they won’t strike, but if you give the illusion that the bait is injured, the stripers can’t help but strike. This school of stripers was in the 5-6-pound range with linesides around 22 to 27 inches. I plan on launching out of B and W Resort on the Mokelumne later in the week and plan on heading west since I believe the majority of stripers are holding on the western edge of the San Joaquin system around Eddo’s, Sherman Island, and the Antioch Bridge.” - Dave Hurley Drift Boat Trips Now Catching First STRIPED Time Anglers BASS Welcome! 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