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16 Feb 16 - Mar 2 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 05
San Pablo is in great shape for fishing for rainbow trout , largemouth and spotted bass , channel catfish and sunfish this year . Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
Trout Fishing Hot At San Pablo Reservoir NTAC
The NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge ( NTAC ) tour kicked off the 2018
season on February 3 with superb fishing and unseasonably warm , sunny weather at San Pablo Reservoir , nestled in the green , rolling hills of El Sobrante in the East Bay .
It was quite a contrast with last year , when anglers braved cold , wet and windy conditions at the lake . Many anglers reported catching their limits of trout while using an array of offerings .
The event , presented by Gone Fishin ’ Marine and sponsored by Angler ’ s Press and the Fish Sniffer magazine , drew 242 total participants . A total of 113 adults and 28 kids brought fish to the weigh in table .
“ We are overwhelmed and very thankful for the support we have received from both our sponsoring partners and participants , and it is clear that this series is helping to bring individuals , families and youth together - in one place , to enjoy a great weekend of outdoor fun ,” noted Vince Harris , president of Angler ’ s Press Outdoors , the promoting organization that created the NorCal Trout Angler ’ s Challenge Series , and has been its host for the past 5 years . “ We are looking forward to another fantastic year .”
The fishing success anglers reported was a combination of prime water conditions and heavy rainbow trout plants . The lake is full and the water clarity is ” awesome “ at San Pablo , according to Marcella Shoemaker of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company .
“ We planted 8,000 pounds of rainbow trout in the lake for the February 2 opener and the February 3 NTAC tournament ,” said Shoemaker .
Rain Bipat of Fairfield won first place in the adult division of the event by catching a 5.61 lb . rainbow while tossing out PowerBait .
“ We rented a boat , drove to a spot and then fished bait ,” he said . “ My wife , Sunita , and I both landed our limits .”
Bipat , a newcomer to the NTAC , took home a beautiful first place trophy – as well as a nice cash prize to commemorate his efforts . Ted Jocson , from Super Duper Outdoors on youtube . com , finished in second place with a rainbow weighing
5.05 pounds . He landed the huge fish while fishing a spinnerbait from his kayak .
Jerry Barksdale , a previous first place winner in the event , finished in third place with a beautiful 3.33 lb . rainbow .
“ I caught that fish on a Mouse Tail ,” said Barksdale . “ The fishing was very good – I limited out .”
The fourth through tenth place winners were : ( 4 ) Dave Bixler , 2.63 ;
Jerry Barksdale , a previous first place winner , finished in third place in the NTAC division of the NTAC event at San Pablo with this beautiful 3.33 lb . rainbow .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
( 5 ) Hao Nguyen , 2.62 ; ( 6 ) Luis Cabrera , 2.58 ; ( 7 ) Benny Cazar , 2.23 ; ( 8 ) Jane Wenger , 2.22 ; ( 9 ) Erin Baldanzi , 2.11 , and ( 10 ) Pete Mateo , 2.05 .
Adrink Chernak won first place in the youth division of the tournament with a 2.14 lb . rainbow , while Lana Manaout placed second with a 2.5 lb . rainbow .
The third through tenth place winners in the youth division were ( 3 ) Owen Schaub , 1.9 ; ( 4 ) Karissa Ventosa , 1.74 ; ( 5 ) Crystal Nguyen , 1.71 ; ( 6 ) Brianna Gutierrez , 1.63 ; ( 7 ) Angel Blanco , 1.56 ; ( 8 ) Nathan Agtang , 1.53 ; ( 9 ) Ian Mahoney , 1.46 ; and ( 10 ) Mikayla Smith , 1.46 .
Brett Chernak , weighed in a fish that only went . 31 pounds . But he was not distraught , as his fish – small though it was , garnered him the events “ smallest trout award ” – presented by the event ’ s sponsoring partners - that consisted of a premium Daiwa rod / reel combo , Gamakatsu hooks , P-Line monofilament , and Rooster Tail brand lures , explained Vince Harris .
Craig Smith of Olivehurst won a Yakima Rooster Tail tackle pack and $ 100 in cash for catching his fish on a Rooster Tail spinner .
The NTAC series heads next to EBMUD ’ s Lake Pardee , located in the Mother Lode near Ione , on March 3 .
San Pablo Reservoir is stocked regularly with rainbow trout in the fall , winter and spring and channel catfish during the summer . Largemouth and spotted bass ,
Lana and Jay Manaot display the limits of fat rainbow trout that they caught at San Pablo Reservoir during the NTAC event on February 3 .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
crappie , redear sunfish , bluegill and even a sleeper population of white sturgeon are available also .
The lake is best known for the trophy trout it has produced over the years . Stephen D . caught the lake record rainbow trout of 21 pounds , 12.8 ounces on April 18 , 2001 while soaking chartreuse Power Bait off Oak Point .
While trout are the most popular species at San Pablo Reservoir , the lake also has good populations of channel catfish , spotted bass , largemouth bass and sunfish . Most of the cats taken at San Pablo are in the 1-1 / 2 to 5 lb . range , but monster cats roam the lake ’ s waters . Mario Nova set the lake record with a 40 lb . 4 oz . catfish caught on June 18 , 2016 . He caught the fish on 6 lb . test and released it back into the lake .