Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3905 Feb 14-28 | Page 19

FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 12 NEW MELONES LAKE Bass Begin Stirring As Water Temperature Rises ANGELS CAMP - The bass bite has improved considerably within a week as the water temperatures are starting to climb to 55 degrees in some sections of the lake. Trout fishing remains a challenge with only a few large rainbows taken on big plugs as the rainbows remain out in open water. John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service said, “The bass action is more like the wintertime bite right now, and there are signs of pre-spawn. There are some bass still in deep water, but many of the bass are up and doing what they are supposed to do right now. We have been averaging between 20 and 40 bass per day, and we put in a 19-pound bag of spotted bass only this week with two over 4 pounds and the remainder in the 3-pound range.” “We also had a 17.5-pound bag on Friday, and my clients have been landing all of the bass. Plastics on a Ned-rig, shakey head, or drop-shot at depths from 15 to 35 feet have been our best techniques, and we also are working bait balls in the 50/60-foot range in 90- to 120- feet of water,” he stated. “There have been some tremendous schools of shad in open water, and ½-ounce P-Line Laser Minnows spoons on a spinning rod along with 2.5-inch flukes on a drop-shot are working. It takes some coaxing to get these fish to bite, and it is not just a matter of dropping your spoon down there. I have been watching the bass come up with the plugs. spoon when I bring it up and The Angels Cove launch ramp is closed, then follow it when I free-spool it and the fish cleaning station remains back down to the shad school,” closed at Angels Cove with water line he continued. breaks interfering with operations.” ‘You have to create a frenzy New Melones is holding at 83 percent of to get them to bite. I bring capacity. it up around 15 feet before - Dave Hurley releasing it back down. The drop-shot technique is just to leave it around the school and let it work itself. The shad have finally gotten off of the bottom OROVILLE LAKE in 300 feet of water and are balling up in shallower water. Trollers Battle Chunky The water temperature has Chinooks been in the 52/53-degree range OROVILLE – Lake Oroville continues in the mornings and up to 54/55 to be an angler’s best bet for catching big, degrees in certain parts of the bold chinooks in Northern California. lake in the afternoons,” Liechty “Oroville is producing big chinooks in concluded. the 3-1/2 to 4 lb. range for boaters trolling January through March is at 50 to 70 feet deep,” said Craig Newton generally the best time for large at Willfish Bait and Tackle in Auburn. spotted and largemouth bass “The top set ups are hoochie/dodger at New Melones, and there combinations in silver/pearl and black/ is some limited action for the pearl.” larger fish. Forrest Brazelton of Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob’s Guide Jamestown caught and released Service reported slower king salmon a 9.45-pound largemouth bass action on his latest trip to Lake Oroville, this week, and this is the first close to double-digit largemouth CONTINUED ON PG 19 reported in quite a Mark Morrison fishing Guide Service while. Trout Salmon, Stripers, Trout, American Shad fishing NOW BOOKING STRIPER TRIPS remains slow with 1-6 people - Full day trips only a Fishing gear supplied few larger rainbows Sacramento, American and Feather rivers Yekam used a crappie jig to fool this huge trout during landed per a recent outing to Los Vaqueros Reservoir. week with BOOK EARLY 916-308-3228 Photo courtesy of the LOS VAQUEROS RECREATION spoons AREA, Livermore. R BEST DATES! FO markmor14@gmail.com or large 3904 S Hook More BIG Bass With Pro-Cure wimbaits, more specifically ultra-realistic soft plastic trout imitating swimbaits, have been the go to tool for trophy bass enthusiasts for many years now. A lot of guys that are new to the swimbait game assume that as long as a bait looks and acts like a trout, the bass will hit it. Guess again! “I think one thing a lot of guys overlook is bait preparation,” disclosed Norcal trophy bass specialist Russ Graves. “If you pull a soft plastic trout bait out of the package and start fishing it. You won’t have much luck because new baits have a strong plastic smell. Before you go fishing you’ve got to get that plastic scent off your bait. When I get a new bait, I soak it in fish oil for a few days. Then I take it out of the fish oil wipe it off and soak it for a few more days in my favorite scent. When I’m fishing, I put scent on my baits regularly. You can’t have too much scent”. I fished with Russ several years ago and noted that he’d apply Pro-Cure rainbow trout gel to his lure every dozen casts or so. He only caught one fish while I was with him, but that 6 pounder completely engulfed the big swimbait. I think the Pro-Cure had something to do 3826 ONE DAY SERVICE on Installations with appointment (916) 487-3868 *Trolling Motors *Fishfinders *GPS *VHF Radios *Radar *Batteries and Chargers markmorrisonfishingguideservice.com Fish Lake Tahoe! 3204 5 hours DaiLy Trips 90 $ All Gear Provided (800) 877–1462 • Discounts for Cash • • Large or Small Groups • Group Discounts • Gift Certificates Over 50 Years Experience on The Lake P.O. Box 488 Carnelian Bay, CA 96140 (530)546–4444 E-mail: bigmack-2@att.net • www.mickeysbigmack.com Nestled between Los Vaqueros Los Vaqueros Brentwood Reservoir Reservoir and Livermore off Vasco Road Nestled between Brentwood and Livermore off Vasco Road Now Catching Reopens On Feb. 13, 2020 GREAT Fishing for: Trout • Kokanee • Catfish Large & Smallmouth Bass Crappie • Bluegill • Sunfish Sunny’s by Cal Kellogg with that. Clearly the bass was convinced that the “trout” was real. Other Pro-Cure Scents For Bassers Depending on what sort of presentations you are making Pro-Cure offers a Super Gel that will help to make you bait even more attractive and realistic. For soft plastics and jigs anise/craw is a real favorite. It’s made with whole crawfish combined with a dash of anise, bass love it and so do other species including salmon, steelhead and panfish. When you break out the baitfish pattern crankbaits or small soft plastic swimbaits, try lubing them up with either minnow or threadfin shad Pro-Cure. If the water is stained and you are really looking to put out a scent bomb, don’t overlook Pro-Cure’s garlic minnow and garlic craw scents. In terms of scents that are of interest to bassers, I’ve just scratched the surface. To learn more about Pro-Cure’s full line of scents and products visit them online at www. pro-cure. com. Marine Electronics Sales • Service • Installation Electric Marine 17 Feb 14 - 28, 2020 FRESHWATER VOL.39 • ISS. 5 Largest Service Center in the West! Store • Campsites/RV sites Marina • Boat Launch New Boat & Motor Rental Fleet Call for Information & Reservations (800) 416-6992 4900 Stony Creek Rd. Ione www.rockymountainrec.com First STRIPED Time Anglers BASS Welcome! 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