8 August 21,, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 18
FRESHWATER REPORTS
ALMANOR
Trout Bite in Deep Water for
Late Summer Anglers
CHESTER- Our summer weather
pattern continues here in Plumas County,
we received some afternoon thunderstorm
storms his past week with close to an inch
of rain recorded in the Prattville area.
We will see cooler temps this week with
highs reaching the mid 80’s and overnight
lows dropping into the high 40’s. Water
temps continue to hover around the mid
seventy mark, clarity is unchanged at
15-18’ and we saw a one foot drop in lake
level in July.
Fishing is unchanged as fishermen
continue to target trout in deeper water.
Slow trolling crawlers and plastics at 1
mph off the bottom is the top choice. Start
your day in the popular haunts, Rec #1
to Big Cove, Big Springs, Rec #2 to the
Peninsula and off the East shore early
and get off the water by noon when the
bite dies.
Boats on anchor are picking up a few
fish over springs drifting crickets, king
worms, crawlers and the cricket/meal
worm combo.
Hamilton branch remains your best
chance to catch fish from shore, crickets,
crawlers and power bait work well at the
branch. Bass fishing pressure remains
light.
All roads leading to Almanor are open
with delays up to 20 minutes on highway
36. Crews are still mopping up the Hog
fire and crews are fighting the Stump fire
around Mineral-John Crotty, Quail Lodge
& The Lake Almanor Fishing Association.
Big Daddy’s Guide Service specializes
in year-round light tackle trout fishing
adventures on Lake Almanor.
In an effort to bring new people into the
outdoor sports Bryan caters to clients of
all skill levels, and as the future of the
sport, beginners and children are always
welcome.
“My goal is to provide you with the best
light-tackle fishing experience possible.
Whether you want to fill limits, hunt
trophies, or catch and release, each trip
is custom and personally designed to fit
your needs. Should you decide to take
some fish home for dinner, your catch will
be cleaned and packed ready for your
ice chest. Come take a trip and see what
Almanor has to offer,” related Roccucci.
AMADOR LAKE
Channel Cats on
Nocturnal Prowl
IONE – Fishing pressure has
been very light at Lake Amador
his August, as it is normally this
time of year. Channel catfish
and bluegill are providing the top
fishing.
“The biggest cat caught over
the past couple of weeks weighed
11 pounds,” reported Sheree at
the Lake Amador Resort. “Anglers
fishing around the lake at
night are catching channel
cats while throwing out
chicken liver, anchovies,
mackerel, nightcrawlers
and other baits.”
The resort stocked
1200 pounds of catfish in
June and there are lots of
wild and holdover catfish
in Amador.
Children are having
fun catching bluegill
while using redworms,
nighcrawlers and other
bait around the docks
and shoreline.
Trout plants will not
start until late October.
The holdover trout are
hugging the bottom in
the coldest water at the
reservoir and virtually
nobody targets them this
time of year.
For largemouth bass,
anglers should throw
black and purple plastic
worms and jigs on
moonlit nights off the points.
The Tackle Box Café is open, but the
swim pond is closed. The resort is open
for fully self-contained trailers, RV’s, and
tent camping by reservation only.
- Dan Bacher
AMERICAN BASIN LAKES
Kokanee, Mackinaw Lead Hell
Hole Festival of Angling
AUBURN – Hell Hole Reservoir is a
solid prospect for late summer mackinaw
trout and
kokanee
salmon
action.
visit
LAKE CAMANCHE
World-Class Trout & Bass Fishing, year round!
2 for 1
CAMPING
Camp one
night at
Lake Camanche
and receive
your second night free. Offer must be
redeemed by calling (866) 763-5121 and
mentioning promo code FS14 at the time
of booking. offer not redeemeable online.
Not valid on weekend, holidays, full hook-up RV sites
or for cottage stays. Supplemental fees may apply.
Mid Week Camping Special!
Your 2nd Night is FREE!
CALL 866.763.5121
LAKE CAMANCHE’S AMENITIES
• Guaranteed Weekly Fish plants
(OCT. - MAY)
• Boat Rentals
• Lodging Available
• Stores, Cafe & Marina Grill
• Courtesy Launch Ramps on
both North & South Shores
• RV Sites w/ Full Hookups
(LONG & SHORT TERM)
www.CamancheRecreation.com
3805
FRESHWATER
“Boaters
are bagging
• Trout
• Bass
• Crappie
• Bluegill
• Catfish
Largest Trout Stocking Program
North of Sacramento
Lakefront
RV
Camping
mackinaw ranging from 2 to 6 pounds
while trolling Rapalas and other plugs
near the bottom,” said Craig Newton at
Willfish Bait and Tackle. Mackinaws up to
15 pounds are always a possibility here.
“The kokanee are good-sized, averaging
13 to 15 inches, although fishing is
spotty,” said Newton. “Anglers are picking
up the salmon while trolling with hoochies,
tipped with white corn, and other lures
behind dodgers at 40 to 60 feet deep.
Trollers continue to work nightcrawlers
behind dodgers and Rapalas for
rainbows and browns at French Meadows
Reservoir. The rainbows are mostly in
the 12 to 15 inch range, while the browns
go 2 to 3 pounds and up to 5 pounds,
according to Newton.
From June into August, SMUD has
been stocking 25,000 pounds of fish at
Union Valley, Loon Lake and Ice House
reservoirs in El Dorado County.
SMUD has scheduled six separate trout
Call for Reservations
800-286-0576
www.collinslake.com
P.O. Box 300 . Oregon House . California 95962 3818
David caught this
chunky king
while fishing at
Folsom Lake
on July 29.
Photo courtesy
of DAVID
CASAL,
Sacramento.
plantings in Crystal Basin reservoirs.
The largest of the three reservoirs, Union
Valley, will get 9,400 pounds; Loon Lake,
8,100 pounds; and Ice House, 7,500
pounds. Mount Lassen Trout Farms of
Payne’s Creek will deliver the fish. The
company also stocks SMUD’s Rancho
Seco Lake, which annually hosts a
very popular trout derby attended by
anglers from Sacramento, Galt, Lodi and
Stockton.
- Dan Bacher
AMERICAN RIVER
Salmon and Striper Fishing
Remains Tough
SACRAMENTO – The Bureau of
Reclamation reduced water releases from
Nimbus Dam to the American River from
3,500 cfs to 3,000 cfs on July 26 and 27
for “Delta Needs,” reported Peggy
Manza, Reclamation spokesperson.
Salmon fishing in both the mouth
of the American River and the lower
river continues to be very slow. Bank
anglers and boaters have reported
very few salmon from the mouth up
the river to Sailor Bar.
The action should improve in
September as the weather cools
down and the fall run begins to make
its way up river from the ocean.
River fishing for salmon should be
good this year, based on the limitstyle
fishing that trollers have been
seeing outside of the Golden Gate
and off Bodega Bay.
The American River opened
to Chinook salmon fishing on
July 16, 2020 from the U.S.
Geological Survey gauging station
cable crossing about 300 yards
downstream from the Nimbus
Hatchery fish rack site to the mouth
of the river at Discovery Park. The
daily bag limit is two salmon and the
possession limit is four salmon
Striper fishing on the American
Continued on Pg 10