Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3903 Jan 17-31 2020 | Page 21
VOL.39 • ISS. 3
guy fishing with me, Bill, kept one 7
lb. hatchery steelhead and released 7
hatchery half pounders in the 14 to 17
inch class. I don’t know where these half
pounders are coming from.”
“We fished from the Forks down to
Ruby Park with yarn and red fish pills,” he
added. “There haven’t been many people
fishing the rivers, but the interest should
pick up now that we have begun the New
Year. A couple of storms are headed our
way over the next couple of weeks.”
- Dan Bacher
SANTA CLARA VALLEY LAKES/SAN
LUIS RESERVOIR cont.
For catfish, Mesa suggested fishing
anchovies, mackerel and worms from the
bank at Uvas and Chesbro reservoirs.
- Dan Bacher
SHASTA LAKE
Winter Bassers Prosper, While
Trout Action Continues to
Improve
TAHOE
Lake Trout Provide Consistent
Action for Winter Anglers
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE- Winter is off to
a great start in the Tahoe Basin. Storms
have blanketed the basin in snow and
skiers and snowboarders are rejoicing.
On the fishing front the mackinaw action
has been very good for keeper and larger
macks, while pressure has ranged from
light to very light.
Tory Curreri caught this dandy striper during a recent trolling mission in the Petaluma River.
Photo courtesy of FISHSNIFFER.COM.
to 50 feet of water. 4 to 6 inch worms are
the number one offering, but spider grubs
and jigging spoons are working too. The
average bass is a 1 to 2-pound spot. Up
to 25 bass per day are possible.
Shasta has a reputation for booting
out big bass during the dead of winter.
Medium size trout pattern glide baits and
swimbaits worked parallel to the bank is
the approach if you want a trophy caliber
bass.
As of press time Shasta was holding
at about 50 feet from maximum pool and
multiple boat launching options were
available.
SMITH/CHETCO RIVERS
CONTINUED ON PG 21
Adult Steelhead Show on
Smith
PORTOLA – Adult
steelhead have just
started showing
on the Smith and
Chetco rivers.
“Up to now
it’s been a half
pounder show,”
said Phil Desautels
of Phil’s Smiling
Salnon Guide
Service. “On
my latest trip on
the Smith, the
Lightning trout have been planted at Lake Chabot and they are on the
chomp. This monster was landed on December 8.
Photo courtesy of the LAKE CHABOT MARINA, Lake Chabot.
TAHOE
SPORTFISHING
EST. 1953
Lake Tahoe’s
Largest Fishing Fleet
year-round fishing
Half & Full Day Charters
single fisherman
to large families
& private parties
We supply everything
you need to fish!
Mackinaw
Kokanee Salmon
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
REDDING- Christmas is over and we’ve
marched into 2020. Mid-winter fishing
pressure is currently pretty light at most
waters including Lake Shasta. Anglers
that do get out onto the big lake are
hooking up. Bass action has been good
and trout fishing continues to improve with
dropping water temperatures.
Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin’s Guide
Service, reported a big brown several
days ago while fishing the McCloud River
Arm. Goodwin has been run well up the
arms to find the colder water he prefers
to fish. He confided that the surface
temperature is around 55 degrees overall
and that the best winter fishing typically
doesn’t kick in until the temperature drops
below the middle 50’s.
If you want to catch trout at Shasta right
now, shad pattern hardware will take
rainbows in the top 20 feet of the water
column for trollers that stay on the move.
For a shot at a big brown, break out the
large minnow plugs and spoons. Pull them
fast, work the structure and be patient.
Bass are active through the day, but
the best fishing is taking place during the
middle of the day. Look for the fish in 25
19
Jan 17-31, 2020
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