Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3906 Feb 28- Mar 13 | Page 16
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Feb 28-Mar 13, 2020
MAP FEATURE
VOL.39 • ISS. 6
San Pablo Reservoir in El Sobrante features excellent shore and boat fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel
catfish and crappie.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.
San Pablo Reservoir Opens with Great Weather and Trout Fishing
A
total of 180 adults and 40 youth
entered in the NorCal Trout
Angler’s Challenge (NTAC) event season
opener at EBMUD’s San Pablo Reservoir
on Saturday, February 8, the day after the
lake opened to fishing this season. The
weather and fishing were both superb.
“This eighth annual season opener for
the NTAC was perhaps the best we’ve
ever had,” noted Vince Harris, president
of Angler’s Press Outdoors, the orga-
nization that created the NorCal Trout
Angler’s Challenge series. “So many
quality fish were caught by so many
anglers that we almost lost count.”
“We are making some significant
changes to the NTAC series this year,
including a more efficient check-in
system, upgraded custom trophies for
both the youth and adult divisions, as well
a more contingency prizes for participants
to win....stay tuned,” he concluded.
The line for the weigh-ins was the
longest that I’ve seen in any NTAC
event, since so many anglers caught
fish that day.
Kim Sidvers of Jackson won first
place in the adult division with an
8.22-pound rainbow, She landed
the hefty fish while trolling
spoons and grubs with Tom
Wolfenberger.
“I’ve fished the Trout Anglers
Challenge events for four years,”
said Sidvers. “I won third place in
one of the April tournaments
at Collins Lake, but this
is the first time
I’ve ever placed
first.”
Luke
Tyman
placed
second
with a
7.18-
pound rainbow that he hooked on
PowerBait fished on a drop shot rig on the
west bank of the lake.
“This was the first time I’ve ever been
trout fishing, the first time I’ve ever been
to San Pablo Reservoir and the first derby
or tournament I’ve ever entered,” said
Tyman. “I was fishing with five buddies
and my father. I used a bass rod with a
bass set-u;.
Jessie Pardilla of Daly City placed third
with a 5.43-pound rainbow that he fooled
with a Trout Magnet lure – a plastic grub
on a 1/64th ounce jighead.
The fourth through tenth place winners
were: (4) Mike Urbani, 4.93; (5) Jeff
Turpin, 4.88; (6) Gregory Romer, 4.7; (7)
Todd Keels, 4.65; (8) Jon Zielinksi, 4.63;
(9) Robert Dzambik, 4.27; and (10) John
Saechao, 4.05.
Fourteen-year-old Arkantos Ly of
Sacramento won first place in the youth
division with a 4.24-pound rainbow. He
landed the big fish while
fishing yellow PowerBait
from shore with his
13-year-old brother,
Jubei, his mom, Pang,
and his dad, Furuseth.
His brother also
landed a 1.23-pound
trout, finishing in
18th place in the
youth division.
Angel Blanco placed
second in the
youth
division
with a
3.99-
pound.
trout,
while
Joey Hill Jr. placed
third with a 2.64 lb.
rainbow.
The fourth through
tenth place youth
winners were (4) Lana
Manaoat, 2.61; (5)
Jon Zerinski, 2.48; (6)
Adrian Diaz, 2.05; (7)
Aniya Tinsley, 2.04;
(8) Ryder Peterson,
1.88; (9) Dominic
Compaglia, 1.83; and
(10) Damian Fuentes,
1.82.
David Sauceda
captured the smallest
fish category with his
.85 pound trout.
Kim Sidvers of Jackson won first place in the adult division of the
Finally, Tisha Tinley San Pablo NTAC with an 8.22-pound rainbow, She landed the hefty
won $100 and a tackle fish while trolling spoons and grubs with Tom Wolfenberger.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.
box full of Rooster Tail
spinners for using
Warehouse, Will Fish Tackle, Sunny’s
their spinners at the event.
Electric Marine, Apex Lures. Berkley
A total of 8,000 pounds of Mt. Lassen
Fishing, Yo-Zuri, Thomas Fishing Lures,
trout were planted prior to the opener,
Turner’s Outdoorsman, Luhr Jensen.,
including 6,000 pounds of rainbows
Rapala and Dick Nitee. For more informa-
at the boat launch on February 3 and
tion, call 916) 768-0938.
2,000 pounds of rainbows at the Marina
San Pablo Reservoir is stocked regularly
on February 4, according to Marcella
with rainbow trout in the fall, winter and
Shoemaker at the Rocky Mountain Recre-
spring and channel catfish during the
ation Company.
summer. Largemouth and spotted bass,
In addition to the great fishing on
crappie, redear sunfish, bluegill and even
Saturday, anglers also landed large
a sleeper population of white sturgeon are
numbers of trout on Friday and Sunday of
available also.
opening weekend.
The lake is best known for the trophy
“This year’s opening weekend was
trout it has produced over the years.
awesome - lots of fish were caught.
Stephen D. caught the lake record rainbow
PowerBait, Mice Tails and a variety of
trout of 21 pounds, 12.8 ounces on April
lures in bright colors are your best bets,”
18, 2001 while soaking chartreuse Power
Shoemaker said.
Bait off Oak Point.
The lake level was 303.4 feet in
While trout are the most popular species
elevation and the surface water tempera-
at San Pablo Reservoir, the lake also
ture was 53 degrees.
has good populations of channel catfish,
The NTAC is presented by Angler’s
spotted bass, largemouth bass and sunfish.
Press Outdoors and hosted by Gone
Most of the cats taken at San Pablo are
Fishin’ Marine, Lasher Elk Grove, the
in the 1-1/2 to 5 lb. range, but monster
Fish Sniffer magazine and
cats roam the lake’s waters. Mario Nova
Daiwa. Sponsors include
set the lake record with a 40 lb. 4 oz.
Silver Horde, Mack’s Lures,
catfish caught on June 18, 2016. He
Yakima Baits. Fisherman’s
caught the fish on 6 lb. test and released it
back into the lake.
Fourteen-year-old Arkantos Ly
In recent years, the hard-fighting spotted
of Sacramento won first place
in the youth division of the
bass has become more common in the
NTAC at San Pablo Reservoir
catches at San Pablo, making the reservoir
with a 4.24-pound rainbow
the only one in the Bay Area with a popu-
Photo by CAL KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff.