Family Recreation Park
( 209 ) 295-4868 40800 Highway 88 , Pioneer , CA 95666 www . bearrivercampground . com
10 July 21 - August 4 , 2017 VOL . 36 • ISS . 16
HOW TO By Cal Kellogg continued from page 5
lure into this zone , you can use steel line , sinker releases teamed with heavy weights and various types of divers , but in today ’ s terms most of these methods are makeshift at best or downright obsolete . These days , entry level downriggers are cheap and largely fool proof . Not only will they effectively get your gear into the strike zone , but they also allow you to utilize light tackle so you get to enjoy fighting your fish .
Most hardcore trout trollers utilize electric downriggers , but that is just a matter of convenience . If you want to keep costs down , pick up a set of inexpensive manual crank downriggers . They work just as well as the electrics at a fraction of the cost . Once you ’ ve got downriggers and the associated mounts you ’ ll need to add a pair of 8-pound downrigger weights and some trout weight downrigger releases . Scotty , Vance ’ s Tackle , Shasta Tackle and Sep ’ s Pro Fishing all produce excellent downrigger releases for the trout angler .
The basic rigging of a downrigger works like this . The ball is attached to the snap on the end of the downrigger cable . The line release can be attached to the downrigger ball or attached to the cable above the ball via a clip . After spooling your offering out behind the boat , your fishing line is attached to the line release and the downrigger ball is lowered to the desired depth .
Both conventional bait casting reels and spinning reels will work for downrigger fishing , bait casters work the best since you can leave the reel out of gear and thumb the spool as the downrigger weight is lowered . This process in more
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complicated with a spinning reel . Once the downrigger weight reaches the desired level put the reel in gear , place the rod in the rod holder and reel in enough slack to put a bend in the rod . Light flexible rods are best for downrigger fishing . The rod should be matched with a reel spooled with 8 or 10 pound test monofilament .
In terms of lures and end tackle , you ’ ll need a collection of baitfish imitating spoons , such as Cripplures , Hum Dingers , Sep ’ s Pro Secrets , Excels or Needlefish and a few 4 to 6 inch dodgers . The mainline from you rod is attached to the dodger and 30 inches of 8 pound test fluorocarbon leader material is attached to the rear of the dodger . The lure of your choice is attached to the leader via a loop knot or a tiny snap . Using a loop knot or snap allows the lure to move freely and draws more strikes than a similar lure attached via a standard knot .
Dodgers come in various makes and colors and confidence plays a big role in the dodger anglers choose . My current favorite is a 6 inch green UV Shasta Tackle Sling Blade , but other successful anglers are equally as passionate about dodgers from Sep ’ s and Vance ’ s .
When targeting trout stacked in the thermocline I generally troll my lures about 100 feet behind the downrigger ball . Some guys like a shorter line , but I think keeping the bait away from the ball results in more strikes .
I believe that trout and salmon look up to feed , so I run my lures just above the level at which I ’ m marking the densest concentration of fish . Since trout in the thermocline are usually free strikers I start out trolling from 2 to 2.5 miles per hour and only slow down if I
have to .
As you troll keep an eye on your rod tip . At times a hooked trout won ’ t pop your line out of the downrigger clip . If you see any tell tale taps , pop the line out of the clip and more often than not you ’ ll find that you have a fish on the line .
The material I ’ ve presented here represents the bare bones basics of summer trout trolling . Use this information and you ’ ll catch plenty of fish . As you gain more experience your approach will become more sophisticated and your confidence level will soar !
FRESHWATER REPORTS :
CONTINUED FROM PG 4
CLEAR LAKE cont . baits .”
Crappie are still available , but anglers need to search to find concentrations of them around shaded docks . “ They ’ re not in the backs of coves now ,” said Brabec .
Mike Carpentier caught his personal best landlocked king to date while trolling Lake Berryessa in late June .
Photo courtesy of KRISTY CARPENTIER , Walnut Creek .
COLLINS LAKE
Catfish & Crappie Biting Big Time
OREGON HOUSE - Like channel catfish and crappie ? Well , now is a good time to head to Collins Lake .
The lake is in great shape this summer , being only 5 feet from full , and the surface water temperature is 76 degrees .
“ Catfish and crappie are biting ,” reported Shelly Groce at the Collins Lake Resort . “ So the 100 degree weather didn ’ t stop those diehard fishermen - the hotter temperatures brought out the crappie , bluegill and catfish .”
“ Using live bait and / or chicken liver will get you a catfish almost every time . The live bait works best on the crappie or bluegill ,” she tipped .
Big fish honors go to Jaden Feriera , who landed a 10.6 lb catfish using chicken liver , and Cnad Bartlett of Brentwood , who caught a 9-1 / 2 lb . catfish while using a spinner from his kayak near the swim area .
Gregory Wance landed a 6-1 / 2 lb catfish soaking red worms on the shoreline , while James and Christine of Oroville caught a 6 lb catfish , reported Groce .
“ Owen Joseph , a local boy who loves to fish , caught a 3-1 / 2 lb bass using crawdads by the dock ,” she said . “ Mark and Dave Zaski landed some crappie and bass using minnows on the lake ’ s east side .”
Trout are also biting in deeper water . Randy Wyatt nailed a 6-3 / 4 lb trout while trolling with a red lure . Belle and Joe of Vacaville caught 2 trout and 1 crappie trolling with Kastmaster lures .
Abbi and Bella Orteza of Auburn caught a trout just over 7 lbs trolling in the middle of the lake . Ricky and Hector of San Jose bagged a 5-3 / 4 lb trout using a Triple Teazer lure , also in middle of the lake .
COLUSA / KNIGHTS LANDING
Anglers Get Ready For July 16 Salmon Opener
COLUSA - Few anglers have been fishing on the Sacramento River but that will change when the salmon season opens on July 16 , 2017 .
“ A few guys are fishing for stripers from Princeton to Meridian with sardines during the day ,” said Pat Kittle of Kittle ’ s Outdoors . “ Most of the fish are shakers , with a few keepers mixed in .”
“ For the larger fish , it ’ s best to fish swimbaits and top water lures off the gravel bars at dusk and dawn ,” he noted .
Kittle is getting ready for the salmon opener and hopes it ’ s a good one . “ I was relaxing in Stinson Beach over the weekend and saw a couple of guys trolling close to shore catch four salmon up to 20 pounds ,” he noted .
He hasn ’ t heard any word on the catfish action in the river and local sloughs lately .
- Dan Bacher
CONTRA LOMA RESERVOIR
Channel Cats Munching Baits
ANTIOCH - Catfish action is in full swing for anglers fishing from boats and shore . The park district is stocking the lake
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( 209 ) 295-4868 40800 Highway 88 , Pioneer , CA 95666 www . bearrivercampground . com