Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3905 Feb 14-28 | Page 13

Feb 14 - 28, 2020 FRESHWATER VOL.39 • ISS. 5 CAMANCHE LAKE South Shore Pond Delivers Trout Limits BURSON – January provided overall good fishing at Lake Camanche, with a 14.2 lb. largemouth bass and a 9.14 lb. rainbow trout highlighting the catches during the first week of the month.. Now that February has arrived, the South Shore Trout Pond is producing the most consistent fishing for shore anglers in the Lake Camanche Recreation Area. Anglers are using an array of offerings for the rainbows, including PowerBait, Mice Tails, Rooster Tails, Kastmasters and other lures. Mario Castillo reported that he and his two fishing buddies caught “easy limits” of rainbows during their latest trip to the South Pond. “The North Shore Cove has been a good hot spot for shore fishing for trout also,” according to the Lake Camanche Recreation Company. “Trolling for trout on the main lake by Hat Island and the dam has resulted in some good-size catches. We have started seeing some crappie action by Hat Island.” For maximum success, boaters should troll fast with Speedy Shiners or slow troll with plastic grubs in an array of colors. If the trolling is tough, bait fishing with PowerBait, other dough baits and nightcrawlers is a solid option. Weekly plants of rainbow trout continue at Camanche. Mt. Lassen planted 3600 pounds of rainbows split between the South Shore Pond, South Shore Ramp and North Shore Ramp on January 30. The previous plant featured 1200 pounds of Mt. Lassen rainbows and lightning trout split between the South Shore Marina and the South Shore Pond. For black bass, anglers should fish drop shot rigs, tubes and jigs in the Narrows. Crappie fishing is best by Hat Island. Lake Camanche is holding 296,150 acre feet of water, 71 percent of capacity and 120 percent of average. The lake level is currently 218.4 feet in elevation. - Dan Bacher NOW BOOKING Jay and Cole rounded up these husky trout while pulling Rapalas at Lake Amador on January 6. Photo courtesy of LAKE AMADOR CAFÉ, Lake Amador. CLEAR LAKE Minnow Drifters Nail Quality Largemouths CLEARLAKE – Boaters drifting live minnows are hooking up big largemouth bass, although lure tossers are also catching fish at Clear Lake. The two anglers fishing with Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience found solid largemouth action while drifting live jumbo minnows on his latest venture to the lake. “We caught and released a total of 10 largemouths,” said Paganelli. “The fish averaged 4 pounds each and the top fish weighed 7 pounds. We fished the lower section of the lake from Rattlesnake Island South.” “The fish hit the minnows at 12 feet deep under bobbers,” he noted. “Other anglers fishing a variety of lures also reported good fishing in the morning. 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The water temperature was in the low fifties.” Anglers drifting live minnows for largemouths are also catching big channel catfish averaging 10 to 14 pounds each. Crappie fishing has been “up and down” at Clear Lake, according to Uncle Larry Barnes at Sacramento Pro Tackle. “The guys buying minnows from me said the fishing off the docks slowed down on their last trip to Clear Lake,” said Barnes. “However, boaters are still finding them while fishing deep water.” - Dan Bacher 3807 For more information about Boating, Camping & Recreation Visit WWW.ROCKYMOUNTAINREC.COM All other boat rental terms and conditions still apply.Offer subject to boat rental availability. Offer expires on 12/31/2020 and is not valid with any other coupon/discount with any other coupon/discount. 11 the weather dice to chase a trout. Under the waves the bite can waver from a post shower frenzy to sunshiny stillness in just hours. Still, if you’ve staked out the right patch of shore and cast your line at the right time there are hits to be had. Just about every time I suppose that fishing is slow I’ll hear about a big trout or some guy who caught a limit. January has been no exception- generally fishing has been slower than spring and fall months but there have still been some notable catches, among them Mark Kushnir, who landed a 4.5 lb. and 3.25 lb. trout using worms down by the dam; Tony and Carol, who caught three including a 6 pound fish using Kastmasters; Hayden Sampley from Live Oak who landed a huge 9-3/4 lb. trout out in front of the beach using yellow corn PowerBait.; Justin & Don Davenport from Roseville, who used orange PowerBait and pink Mice Tails in the same area to hook four nice trout. And John Welch of Oroville caught four on PowerBait by the dam. Now I would say that it’s hit or miss depending on the day but Channing Venegas is proving otherwise. He’s been up here four different days in the two weeks usually with a friend. He seems to catch trout no matter the conditions- and we’re not talking about small fish. I posted his 8.2 and 5.3 pound fish on our Facebook page back alongside Hayden Sampley’s 9.75 lb. monster. More recently, Channing caught an 8 lb rainbow floating a worms/cheese PowerBait combo - and Channing’s friend Arii Gomez landed a 9.1lb beauty floating a worm from the beach. While it’s no spring frenzy, there are moments around sunrise when you can see trout bobbing on the surprisingly still clear surface. The lake is up to 23 ft from full with morning surface temperatures flirting around 50F. There are some beautiful days left in winter. This weekend looks like calm winds mostly overcast and no rain until Sunday evening. I can’t guarantee good weather for catching but at least it looks like a few good days for those who are casting. - Ed Palma DAVIS LAKE Ice Fishing Enthusiasts Bag Big Rainbows During Derby PORTOLA – John and Kelly Pato held their tenth and last ice winter fishing derby on February 1, 2020 on Davis Lake benefiting the American Cancer Society. Over the 10 years, they raised a total of $26,000 for the society. A total of 91 people competed in the event and 30 people weighed in fish, according to the Patos. The fishing was fair during the event. Anglers vied for first, second and third place in the derby. A combination of length and weight on any one fish determined the score. Justin Jensen of Reno won first place with a 23 inch rainbow weighing 3.09 pounds. He won a 4 foot tall trophy and $200. Blake Pato of Portola finished in second place with a 23 inch rainbow weighing 3 pounds. He won a 3 foot tall trophy and $125. William Cary of Portola finished in third place with a 22 inch rainbow weighing 2.9 pounds. He won a 1-1/2 foot trophy and $75. Before the derby, one angler nailed a 4-1/2 lb. rainbow while fishing Power Bait through the ice, reported Jeanne Graham at the J&J Grizzly Store and Campground. The ice was 6 inches thick at press time. Remember that the ice is not officially monitored. It is up to you to decide if it is safe or not, Graham emphasized. Lake Davis is holding 63,640 acre feet of water, 77 percent of capacity and 109 percent of average. - Dan Bacher CONTINUED ON PG 12