Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3908 Mar 27- Apr 10 | Page 6

4 Freshwater Mar 27-Apr 10, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 8 Freshwater Reports Spring Fishing Gets Going! CHESTER - “Spring has sprung, or has it, here at Lake Almanor. Calm warming waters with sunny days and mild afternoons sure might have you thinking that. In fact, about the only clue that it still might be winter is the cool morning temperatures ranging in the mid to high 20’s and the fairly cool water temperatures still hovering in the upper 30’s getting as high as the low 40’s at the surface under flat sunny conditions,” reported Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service. “The fish have been actively feeding on Almanor’s pond smelt population. Recent trips have produced good numbers of a mix of browns and ‘bows from 2 to nearly 9 pounds, with the vast majority of the fish falling in the 3 to 4-pound range,” Roccucci exclaimed. “The bite has been lighting up at various areas around the lake as the hungry trout push up and gorge themselves on the bait fish. We have been hooking fish at places like the East Shore, Hamilton Branch and both sides of the peninsula on a variety of minnow imitating baits,” said Roccucci. “This is pretty much textbook winter fish activity, fish spread out hunting food all over the lake and feeding basically from the surface to the bottom depending on the location. This is the beginning of what is sure to be another fantastic trophy trout season here at Lake Almanor,” Roccucci predicted. “Now is a great time to take advantage of the unseasonably nice weather and get in on some of the best winter trout fishing northern California has to offer, limited dates are available. Don’t miss your chance, contact us today (530) 370-1001,” Roccucci concluded. Lake Amador Glen Poole and Justin Lee Win Trout Derby IONE – Lake Amador completed their annual trout derby on Saturday, March 8th with big crowds in the Tackle Box Café. It was the culmination of a derby that started in November and featured 300 tagged trout. On the final day of the derby, all anglers bringing in a tagged fish are eligible for the top prize of $500, and Glen Poole, who landed his tagged trout on Power Eggs on February 1st took home one of the first place prizes while the other went to regular angler Justin Lee with a tagged LAKE AMADOR trout landed on a lure on January 31st. Lee fishes the lake four or five times per week. Another 1000 pounds of Lake Amador cutbows and “Amador Golds” were released into the lake this week between the dam and the Blue Docks, and the action has been steady for those off of the banks while trolling has been “up and down’ despite the clear water. Robbie Dunham of Koke Machine Guide Service was on Lake Amador on a recent trip with John Stockton, and he said, “We trolled grubs in the morning for two huge largemouth bass over 5 pounds that were released before switching over to Speedy Shiners at 10:00 a.m. from the surface to 20 feet.” “We stuck it out until 4:00 p.m. because every time we were ready to call it a day, a trout pounded the spoons. We landed six cutbows, keeping four to 4 pounds. We didn’t see many nets flying from boats, but the bank anglers were scoring,” said Dunham The concessionaires are contemplating changes in the format of the derby for next year with more cash prizes as opposed to two larger prizes and moving the dates from January to April. Cat Cove has been a solid area for bank anglers with five fishermen scoring limits within two hours with Mice Tails or trout dough bait. Big cutbows continue to be landed on a regular basis with Steve Carlotta of San Jose scoring an 11-pound cutbow this week. - Dave Hurley American River Anglers Gear Up for Shad RANCHO CORDOVA – The steelhead season is winding down as anglers get ready for the spring shad run. With the unusually warm weather, the shad may begin showing in the river earlier than normal. Few anglers have been out steelhead fishing lately. However, anglers should find some decent fishing for some late-run steelhead and half pounders while fishing nightcrawlers, beads, jigs and spinners throughout the system. Nimbus Fish Hatchery has finished spawning steelhead this year. The number of fish spawned this season is down significantly from last year. The hatchery trapped 712 adult steelhead and 73 half pounders this year, reported Gary Novak, hatchery manager. That compares to 2628 adults and 73 half pounders last year. Fortunately, the hatchery was able to collect 800,000 steelhead eggs, more than enough to produce 430,000 Ron Hufford was pretty happy after he landed this big king salmon while trolling Lake Oroville in late February. Photo courtesy of RON HUFFORD, Nevada City yearlings to release into the river. The Bureau of Reclamation has reduced releases from Nimbus Dam to the American down to 1,750 cfs. - Dan Bacher • Cafe • RV Park • Waterslide • Campground • Disc Golf • General Store Cafe Open Seasonally On Friday, Saturday & Sundays Black Bass Move Into Shallow Water NAPA – Black bass are moving into shallow water as the go on the annual pre-spawn bite at Lake Berryessa. “The fish are showing anywhere from 3 to 40 feet deep, but most can be found in the 5 to 20 foot depths,” said Chad Hole at Sweeney’s Sports. “Most guys are using drop shot rigs, Neko rigs, Senkos and other finesse tactics. However, a few anglers are spooning. The water temperature is ranging from 56 to 60 degrees.” A mixture of smallmouth, spotted and largemouth bass are being caught. There aren’t many anglers using reaction baits at this time, although they are definitely worth a try. Rainbow trout fishing is “sporadic,” but the fish being caught include good number of quality rainbows in the 3 to 4 lb. range, along with the planters, noted Hole. The fish are scattered all over the lake from the dam to Putah Creek at 25 to 30 feet deep. Anglers are trolling with minnows, RMT squid and Hum Dingers. “Crappie fishing is picking up on the end in the trees in the flats,” said Hole. “Anglers are using crappie jigs and live minnows in Cappel Cove and Putah Creek.” - Dan Bacher Furnished Cabins from $60 per night or $360 per week 209-274 -4739 Awesome • Trout Fishing • Hiking • Biking • Relaxing 7500 Lake Amador Dr., Ione, CA 95640 WWW.LAKEAMADOR.COM Trollers Lay Into Scrappy Kokanee Berryessa Lake EAGLE LAKE CABIN RENTALS Trout Planted Seasonally! Bullards Bar/ Englebright Reservoirs Lake Almanor Lake Davis Bucks Lake Eagle Lake DOBBINS – The kokanee salmon bonanza continues at Bullards Bar Reservoir. “Anglers continue to catch limits of 10 to 12 inch kokanee at Bullards Bar,” said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle in Auburn. “Anglers are hooking the most fish in Willow Creek and off the south side of Garden Point. Boaters are trolling at 40 to 60 feet deep with orange and pink hoochies, tipped with white corn, behind dodgers.” Bullards Bar is holding 640,319 acre feet of water, 68 percent of capacity and 102 ercent of average. Trout fishing reports from Englebright Reservoir remain few and far between. Anglers interested in hooking rainbow and brown trout should troll Rapalas, Speedy Shiners or nightcrawlers behind dodgers in the river arm and near the marina. Englebright Reservoir is holding 67,740 acre feet of water, 97 percent of capacity and 102 percent of average. - Dan Bacher Camanche Lake Trollers Find Up and Down Trout Action BURSON - 1800 pounds of Mt. Lassen Hatchery rainbows were released into the Continued on Pg 7 Now Booking Lake Almanor Rainbows and Browns! Captain Bryan Roccucci www.BigDaddyFishing.com Call for Best Dates – (530) 370-1001 Bait & Tackle 3816 Visit The Mother Lode Region’s Official Fishing Tackle Headquarters Today For All Of your Inland Fishing Needs! WIDE SELECTION • GREAT PRICES • YOU SAVE! ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? SUPERSTITIOUSLURES@GMAIL.COM SUPERSTITIOUSLURES.COM 3809 Rentals — Real Estate — Lots & Land For Reservations and info: (530)825-2131 www.eaglelakeheritage.com HOOKD4LIFE.COM RODS • REELS • LINE • FROGS • SWIMBAITS • JIGS BAIT • HOOKS • SPINNERS • TERMINAL TACKLE • HARDBAITS • SOFT PLASTICS • SPECIALS • CLOSEOUTS & MUCH MORE! Visit us on your way to: Camanche, Pardee, Amador, Rancho Seco, New Melones And More ! (209) 790-5100 106 East Main Street, Ione, CA 95640 Almanor