Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3622 Oct. 13-27, 2017 | Page 23

VOL . 36 • ISS . 22

FRESHWATER

Oct . 13 - 27 , 2017
21
ROLLINS / SCOTTS FLAT LAKE
First Browns Of Fall Show !
COLFAX - There is a chill in the air in the foothills and the first snow of the season fell on the high country just the other day . This being the case , it comes as no surprise the first few brown trout of the fall season have shown up at both Rollins Lake and Scotts Flat Reservoir .
“ I was working the Goose Neck in the Bear River Arm at Rollins two days ago for bass . I caught several bass but I also landed a very nice 23 inch brown trout . The brown really surprised me ,” exclaimed Jason Pleece of Meadow Vista . “ I was working a 3 inch silver and black floating Rapala by ripping it under the surface and then allowing it to float back up . The plug was on its way back to the surface in water that was about 4 feet deep when the brown rushed the lure . First I saw a flash and then I felt weight . Once I got the fish to the boat I revived it and released it .”
“ The bass fishing seems to be improving at Rollins . I ’ m getting about a dozen fish per outing , mainly on reaction baits like poppers , crankbaits and Rapalas . The biggest bass I caught this week when about 2.25 pounds . It was a spotted bass . While I did get that one brown , I think we are still a few weeks away from good trolling ,” said Pleece .
“ I ’ ve been putting in some time up at Scotts Flat and it ’ s been slow going for trout overall , but my dad and I did get a pair of browns this week ,” reported Mark Biggs of Grass Valley . “ They were both under 14 inches and they
both grabbed threaded night crawlers trolled behind a set of Sep ’ s willow leaf micro flashers . We also caught several smallmouth bass to about 2 pounds on the same set up . While the trout weren ’ t very impressive in terms of size , it was good to see them . I can ’ t wait for the trout fishing to really take off at Scotts . The lake isn ’ t as good as it was 10 plus years ago , but there are still some good browns in there .”
SACRAMENTO AREA
Salmon Fishing Picks Up In Metro Region
SACRAMENTO - Salmon fishing has definitely improved in the metropolitan area with the arrival of cooler water temperatures and more fish from the ocean .
‘ The fishermen are picking up more salmon at the mouth of the American , the I Street Bridge , the pioneer bridge and Freeport ,” said Dennis Pfanner at Sacrameto Pro Tackle . “ The fall run is getting there ; maybe we ’ ll see a half decent run . Anglers have weighed in a half dozen salmon ranging from 10 to 14 pounds in our shop in the past week . Most are being caught by boaters using Flatfish and spinners ; I haven ’ t heard of many fish caught from the bank .”
On one trip , two anglers fishing with James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service landed three bright Chinooks ranging from 7 to 16 pounds while trolling with “ black jack ” colored Brad ’ s Cut Pugs behind
These anglers hit the Feather River with master guide Robert Weese this September and rounded up limits of kings that ranged from 12 to 35 pounds .
Photo courtesy of NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GUIDE SERVICE , Red Bluff .
Pro-Troll Flashers from the Tower Bridge down to Garcia Bend .
On his next trip , two anglers out with Netzel bagged 2 kings to 14 pounds . The water temperature was 62 degrees .
Netzel will give a salmon fishing seminar on October 11 for the California Striped Bass Association , Isleton Chapter , at the Veteran ’ s Hall . 610 St . Francis Way , Rio Vista , 94571 . Dinner ($ 15 ) begins at 6 pm , followed by the meeting and seminar at 7 pm . Information : ( 916 ) 777-6498 .
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sprotfishing reported good fishing on his first river trip of the season . “ Anglers landed 3 salmon ranging from 10 to 15 pounds while trolling Brad ’ s Cut plugs form miller park to Garcia Bend . Two of the fish were fresh and one was starting to get some color .”
- Dan Bacher
SAN PABLO RESERVOIR
Spotted Bass Lead Early Fall Catches
SANTA CLARA VALLEY LAKES
Largemouth Bass , Channel Cats Pace Autumn Angling
COYOTE - Bass anglers continue to find action on reaction baits and finesse , while others chase catfish .
Dragging jigs at both Calero and Anderson were the top recommended method for chasing bass this week , according to Andrew Yeh at Coyote Bait and Tackle , though other methods were also working
“ You can catch a couple in the morning on topwater at Calero , but I ’ d throw something that you can drag out there . Anderson just closed to boating so the bank guys are doing pretty good . You can catch a couple on topwater and jerkbaits in the morning , but besides that you can get them on a drop shot ,” Yeh tipped .
“ At Coyote I heard they were doing pretty good dragging around a carolina rig . I guess the water cooled down a bit so they ’ re fishing a little slower ,” he added .
Both Uvas and Chesbro were kicking out catfish . “ Both of them are still kicking out a few catfish . Try mackerel , ( chicken ) liver , or stink baits ,” he related .
- Roland Aspiras
SHASTA / WHISKEYTOWN LAKE
Go Deep For Shasta Trout
REDDING - Both rainbows and the occasional brown have been cooperating with anglers plying the waters of Lake Shasta . The key to success when it comes
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

RV SALES & SERVICE

JAYCO EXCLUSIVE DEALER

New RVs from $ 10,995

American Built by the Amish

www . RVsOfSac . com

1051 El Camino Avenue | Sacramento ( 877 ) 332-1769

EL SOBRANTE - The surface water temperature at San Pablo Reservoir has cooled down to 69.7 degrees , but the water needs to go down more before the rainbow trout go on the bite . Black bass , crappie and crappie will continue to provide the top fishing at San Pablo until the trout begin hitting .
Jerell McKinney of Rodeo , a Rocky Mountain employee , caught and released a 5.23 lb . spotted bass while fishing on his break in front of the main recreation area , reported Marcella Shoemaker of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company . Anglers are tossing out Berkley plastic worms in watermelon candy and black oil with a Gamakatsue offset shank hook for a mixture of spotted and largemouth bass .
Target the crappie with redworms , Crappie Nibbles or Atomic Teasers around docks and structure . The catfish will hit mackerel , chicken liver , anchovies and nightcrawlers in the coves early and late in the day .
The Lake Level is 309.2 feet above sea level . The lake management didn ’ t plant any fish , either catfish or trout , over the past couple of weeks .
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
The king salmon bite has been great for anglers trolling the Sacramento River with Monte Smith . These fish were caught on September 23 .
Photo courtesy of GOLD COUNTRY SPORTFISHING , Oakdale .