Fish Sniffer Issue 3920 | Page 18

VOL.39 • ISS. 20 FRESHWATER Sept 25, 2020 19 FRESHWATER REPORTS: CONTINUED FROM PG 18 RIO VISTA cont. place teams in the event. Rob Ridge and Michael Mason won first place with their 11.49-pound bag. Second place honors went to Kris Sisto and Eric Taylor with 11.47 pounds. The tournament’s big fish was a 5.37-pound largemouth caught by Dante Parel and the second biggest fish was a 4.02-pound bass caught by Rob Ridge to anchor his winning bag. Striper fishing was superb on the west bank of the Sacramento River below Rio Vista near the power lines over the Labor Day weekend. Experienced anglers reported catching “easy limits” of stripers while trolling Yu-Zuri lures in the morning, said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle. The end of the outgoing tide, slack tide and start of the incoming were the prime times to fish. Newton and his friend, Frank, caught and released six keeper stripers and 7 shakers on his latest trolling adventure on the West Bank near the power lines. “We trolled with deep-diving Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows in chartreuse,” said Newton. “The keepers ranged in size from 3-1/2 to 5 pounds.” - Dan Bacher RANCHO SECO RESERVOIR Panfish, Bass and Catfish Provide Top Action HERALD - Rancho Seco Recreational Area is a 400-acre park overflowing with recreational opportunities including camping, boating, fishing, swimming and wildlife viewing. The 160-acre lake is fed by the Folsom South Canal and is a great year-round day or overnight getaway located in California’s Central Valley, just 25 miles from downtown Sacramento. Fishermen going to the lake at this time are targeting warm water species including largemouth bass, redear sunfish, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish. Rainbow trout are planted in the winter and spring. “As we navigate through the COVID-19 We’re open for fishing! Big smiles, blue skies and hard fighting trout. That was the scene at Lake Tahoe on August 31. Photo courtesy of TAHOE SPORTFISHING, South Lake Tahoe pandemic together, we continue to make ongoing changes to restrictions at our Rancho Seco Recreational Area to comply with the Sacramento County Public Health Officers new Public Health Order effective July 14, 2020 at 11:59 PMT to reduce the risks for the public and the park operators employees, we’re taking the following measures,” according to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Park hours have been restored to seasonal standard 7 AM – 6 PM (Monday – Sunday). Social distancing rules are in effect and no groups larger than 10 may congregate in the park. A maximum of 200 day use vehicles is allowed into the facility at a time to limit crowding and promote proper social distancing. The park will close once this number is reached. Maintain 6 ft. between you and those around you. Group gatherings larger than 10 are not permitted. Restrooms are open. Beach access is restricted to maintain social distancing on weekend. Tent camping is restricted to 65% capacity. Permitted activities include hiking. fishing, kayaking/boating (Boat rentals are available), a dog park and pcnicking (BBQ). swimming (restricted to 250 in the water at once), and tent camping. RV sites are active with reservations. For the latest information on fishing and recreation at the reservoir, call the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company at (209) 748-2318.. For up-to-date park hours, guidelines and restrictions, visit smud.org/Rancho Seco or call 1-800-416-6992. - Dan Bacher ROLLINS/SCOTTS FLAT Small Black Bass Crush Surface Lures COLFAX- Trout will start hitting at Rollins and Scotts Flat Lakes once water temperatures come down. Until then the best option is bass fishimg. The bass bite is currently decent for anglers tossing reaction baits including topwater baits. “I’ve been smoking the bass on small poppers at Rollins Lake. The problem has been that most of them are running 12 inches or less,” related Jason Pleece of Meadow Vista. “Most of the bass are spots, but I’m still getting smallmouths too. I also got a largemouth last week. I’ve gotten a few of them at Rollins over the years but not too many.” Fly anglers fishing the Bear River below Rollins Lake are hooking a mix of rainbows and browns. The evening hours are best for tossing a variety of small dry flies. The average trout goes 8 to 10 inches, but fish to 2 pounds are possible. At Scotts Flat a few folks are targeting bass, but most are focused on catfish. For the bass anglers are tossing crankbaits, walking baits and soft plastics. Catfish are biting pretty well for folks fishing in the campground and along the dam at Scotts. Liver and worms are the top baits, but mackerel or even hotdog chunks will work. The best time for catfish is in the evening hours and after dark, but you can get them during daylight hours too. SACRAMENTO AREA Sacramento Kings Begin to Trickle In SACRAMENTO – Before the record heat wave baked the Sacramento and Bay Areas, anglers were starting to catch more salmon from in the Sacramento River from Walnut Grove to Discovery Park. “Anglers caught bright king salmon at both below the Freeport Bridge and Clarksburg,” said Reggie Birring at the Freeport Market. “Boaters trolled with Brad’s Cut Plugs and Silvertron spinners, while anglers hooked fish on Silvertron Rocket, Mepps Flying C and Blue Fox spinners in silver chartreuse.” One angler, Peter, landed a 15 lb. salmon while tossing a Silvertron Rocket off the bank at Freeport. Steve Cuellar landed a shiny 20 lb. right king while trolling the Sacramento near Walnut Grove. Jsson Cano and two other anglers teamed up to land 3 Chinooks to 22 pounds while trolling Brad’s Cut Plugs behind flashers at Freeport. “The top spots to target stripers are in the Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel or the Sacramento below Rio Vista,” said Birring. “Some anglers are tossing out lures or swimbaits while others are using pileworms, sardines and other cut baits for the stripers.” “Ten salmon were reported caught by boaters from Discovery Park to the I Street Bridge yesterday,” said Dennis Pfanner at Sacramento Pro Tackle at CONTINUED ON PG 21 Rancho Seco Recreational Area Anglers cast a line in our lake and plan your next fishing trip to Rancho Seco Recreational Area. The park’s 160-acre lake is a popular fishing location and sports largemouth bass, rainbow trout and bluegill. We’re open year-round for outdoor recreation in Sacramento County. For up-to-date park hours, guidelines and restrictions, visit smud.org/RanchoSeco or call 1-800-416-6992. 0764-20 ® A trademark of Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Rancho Seco Recreational Area is located 25 miles south of Sacramento at 14960 Twin Cities Road in Herald, CA. 80 N From Sacramento, take Highway 99 South to the Highway 104 exit. Go East on Highway 104, 15 miles, to the Rancho Seco Park exit. Park Operator 1-5 Sacramento 99 Twin Cities Rd. 104 Vicinity Map Herald Clay Clay Station Rd. Park Entrance Rancho Seco Recreational Area • Trout • Bass • Crappie • Bluegill • Catfish Largest Trout Stocking Program North of Sacramento Lakefront RV Camping Call for Reservations & Park Guidelines 800-286-0576 www.collinslake.com P.O. Box 300 . Oregon House . California 95962 3919