Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3906 Feb 28- Mar 13 | Page 16

14 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.