Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3705 Feb 16- Mar 2, 2018 | Page 16

14 Feb 16 - Mar 2 , 2018

FRESHWATER

VOL . 37 • ISS . 05

FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PG 13

FEATHER RIVER / THERMALITO AFTERBAY

Landlocked Steelhead Plants Continue In Thermalito Afterbay

OROVILLE – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife continues its program of stocking up to 150,000 Feather River steelhead into the Thermalito Afterbay this year .

“ We stocked two loads amounting to 30,000 steelhead , weighing 6 to the pound , into the afterbay this week ,” said Penny Crawshaw at the Feather River Fish Hatchery . “ That ’ s in addition to the 45,000 steelhead , weighing around 7 to 9 to the pound , that we have already planted . These are all put-and-grow fish .

“ We will also stock another 50,000 put and take ( catchable ) fish , weighing 1 to 2 fish per pound , around March 1 ,” she added .

The big numbers of steelhead on hand are a result of the hatchery taking extra eggs last year during the Oroville Dam Spillway crisis . “ We were told to save as many eggs as could in case we had any problems .

Los Vaqueros Reservoir

We saved almost 700,000 eggs , thanks to the pumping system that was installed ,” said Crawshaw .

They will also plant 500,000 steelhead smolts at 4 to the pound in the Feather River this winter .

Large numbers of adult steelhead continue to return to the hatchery . “ We ’ ve trapped over 1500 fish to date ,” she stated . “ We now have around 1.9 million steelhead eggs , way more than we need .”

“ We are returning the spawned hatchery females and wild fish back into the Feather River ,” she added . “ We are putting the kelts ( spawned males ) in the river at Verona and in the Thermalito Afterbay . We are doing that to prevent them from keep returning to the hatchery after being spawned . If you catch one of these fish , they have acoustic tags on them to return .”

She said the steelhead fishing – and fishing pressure – below the fish hatchery has slowed down lately . “ There are some stripers beginning to show in the lower river ,” Crawshaw added .

FOLSOM LAKE

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These happy trollers pulled in full limits of kokanee salmon while fishing Whiskeytown Reservoir with Paulina Peak Tackle this January .

Photo courtesy of PAULINA PEAK TACKLE , Reno .

picking up a mixture of planted rainbows , holdover rainbows and king salmon on Folsom Lake .

“ Some boaters have been catching rainbows while trolling with small silver spoons at 5 to 20 feet deep in the South Fork ,” disclosed Dennis Pfanner of Sacramento Pro Tackle . “ A few kings are also hitting rolled threadfin shad near the dam .”

“ The fishing isn ’ t red hot , but anglers are picking up some quality fish ,” noted Pfanner . “ Fishermen are catching holdovers in the 1-1 / 2 to 2 lb . range , along with some 10 to 12 inch planters .”

Captain James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service went

the past two decades the organization has grown in both size and influence .

Today Kokanee Power is a non-profit organization of volunteers & members dedicated to the enhancement of California and Oregon inland kokanee , trout and salmon fisheries .

Kokanee Power , in part , provides assistance to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and other fisheries enhancement organizations in their ongoing efforts to keep these fish in public waters .

KP also promotes inland fisheries enhancement through various net pen projects such as those at Collins , Lake Almanor , New Melones , and Shasta Lake , support of hatchery programs , education through scholarships & grants , and sportsmanship through various fishing derbies and tournaments .

Kokanee Power ’ s membership of more than 1200 men and women volunteer their time , money and enthusiasm to accomplish this task and make California ’ s freshwater fishing better for everyone !

A Few Words From Gary Coe , Kokanee Power President

When I set out to put together a piece about Kokanee Power ’ s 20th Anniversary I picked up the phone and reached out to Gary Coe , KP ’ s longstanding president for a few comments .

“ I ’ m so proud to be part of this organization ,” exclaimed Coe . “ We are a conservation organization , we are committed to enhancing California scouting for trout with Captain Big Al Edzel on February 1 . They landed 2 limits of planter rainbows while trolling Speedy Shiners at 2.7 mph .

Jerry Lampkin of TNG Motor Sports Guide Service and Craig Newton reported spotty trout and salmon fishing on their last trip to Folsom .

“ We landed one 15 inch king and one planter rainbow , along with losing a couple of other fish , while trolling near the dam ,” said Lampkin . “ The rainbow hit a nightcrawler behind a watermelon Sidekick and the king hit a white hoochies behind a UVF dodger .”

For bass , boaters should drop shot with finesse baits including

WHAT ’ S HOT Continued from page 1

fisheries and we also work with California communities , supporting things like kids fishing events and providing scholarships at the community college level . At the end of the day we are fishermen dedicated to improving fisheries and California communities at a grass roots level .”

“ Everything starts with money and time . Without dollars and man hours you can ’ t accomplish anything . We ’ ve raised more than half a million dollars since 2006 and over $ 750,000 over our 20 year lifespan . Our volunteers have invested many thousands of hours , raising funds and working in the field on projects like fish pens and kokanee egg collection ,” said Coe .

“ Today we are involved in 20 fish pen rearing projects across northern and central California . We are projecting our fish food bill to be about $ 20,000 this year and we are shooting to help raise around 70,000 trout . When the fish go into the pens they are mainly standard issue planter rainbows , but when they are released up to a year later they ’ ve grown into incredible 2 to 4 pound trout that are fully acclimated to the lake . These big hard fighting fish are a great boost to the lakes where they are released ,” Coe asserted .

“ If you aren ’ t a member of

Robo Worms and Kitech baits in 15 to 20 feet of water . Shore anglers are also hooking some bass whle throwing Robo Worms and nightcrawlers on 3 foot leaders as far as they can while walking to the right of the Granite Bay launch ramp .

Folsom Lake is holding 583,707 acre-feet of water , 60 percent of capacity and 116percent of average . The water level is 426.60 feet in elevation .

- Dan Bacher

LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR

Rainbows , Stripers Dominate Catches

BYRON – Rainbow trout and striped bass continue to lead the winter angling parade at Los Vaqueros Reservoir , but some catfish are also being caught by anglers .

” With our continuing plants , trout have become our most caught fish followed by stripers ,” said Brian deMunnik of the Los Vaqueros Marina . “ Catfish are also being caught in good numbers .”

There was a 2000 pound CDFW plant on January 25 . There was also a 1000 pound Mt Lassen plant on January 26 , as well as another Mt . Lassen plant of 1000 pounds on February 1 .

Trout are being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as past the Rock Wall . The baits of choice for shore anglers are garlic scented PowerBaits , nightcrawlers or Kastmasters .

Trolling with Rapalas has been reported as good to great in some

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Kokanee Power , I urge you to check us out . Your investment in dues will be spent enhancing the state ’ s fishing opportunities and celebrating the great sport of fishing . And as part of the organization you ’ ll be hanging out with some pretty awesome folks . Our derbies provide lots of family fun and camaraderie at some of the state ’ s best trout and landlocked salmon fishing destinations . Join us , let ’ s fish and have some fun while pushing forward the sport of fishing ,” said Coe .

The Kokanee Power Annual Banquet Slated For March 3

Food , fun , raffles , fishing talk and more is what you can expect to find if you attend Kokanee Power ’ s big 20th Anniversary Banquet Extravaganza !

This year the event will be held at Holiday Inn Sacramento near the Downtown Arena at 300 J Street .

The cost for dinner is $ 65 per person and 10 person tables are available for $ 600 . Cocktails will be served at 5pm and dinner kicks off at 7 .

We ’ ve already reserved the Team Fish Sniffer table and we hope to see you at the dinner .

To reserve your spot , go online and visit , kokaneepower . org .