20 July 21 - August 4 , 2017 VOL . 36 • ISS . 16

FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

STAMPEDE / BOCA RESERVOIRS

Hot Kokanee Bite Continues

TRUCKEE – Experienced trollers continue to experience top-notch kokanee salmon action at Stampede Reservoir , while the fishing remains tough at Boca .

“ We ’ re still seeing 50 fish days on most trips at Stampede ,” reported James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service . “ Sunday ’ s adventure produced limits of kokanee for four anglers by 10 am . The fish averaged 13 to 14 inches , with the top fish measuring 16 inches .”

“ We trolled at 30 to 40 feet deep with Radical Glow pink plankton and orange plankton hoochies , tipped with white shoepeg corn , behind Rocky Mountain Tackle dodgers ,” he explained . “ We started near the launch ramp and trolled toward the islands .”

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“ The fishing the following day was a little slower ,” said Netzel . “ Danny Lloyd and I caught limits of kokanee salmon by 11 am . There were 3 times during the morning when the bite slowed down . Danny also landed an 18 inch cutthroat trout .”

- by Dan Bacher

TAHOE

Mack Fishing Consistent , Kokanee Should Show Soon !

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - Gene St . Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters reports very consistent limit style mackinaw fishing at Lake Tahoe .

“ Most of the fish we are landing fall in the 2 to 6 pound class , but we ’ ve had several fish in the double digits too . The fish we clean are full of crawfish , shrimp and kokanee salmon ,” said St . Denis .

According to St . Denis , minnows are still the top offering , but Flatfish in chrome and white patterns are hooking fish as are a variety of minnow plugs . Prime depths range from 100 to 220 feet depending on the spot and the day . Use your sonar to located the fish and then work them until they start hitting .

Sugar Pine Point , Dollar Point , CalNeva Point and the south shore shelves have all been giving up fish for St . Denis .

Fish Sniffer Field Editor Jack Naves recently spent some time at the north end of Lake Tahoe and enjoyed reeling in limits of mackinaw most days while mooching live minnows in deep water .

Mickey Daniels of Mickey ’ s Big Mack Charters has been enjoying solid action at the north end of the lake . Mickey ’ s clients have been hooking mackinaw up to 7 pounds . Some fish are being kept for the table while the others are tagged and released .

Mickey hooks his fish on a variety of offerings including Shasta Tackle Kok-A- Nuts teamed with Sling Blade Dodgers .

Kokanee reports have been few and far between at Tahoe , but the bite should kick into gear soon at the lake ’ s south end ..

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Andrew Marlan nailed this husky striper while plugging the West Delta in late June .

Photo courtesy of ERNIE MARLAN , Fish Sniffer Staff .

TRINITY LAKE

Feisty Kokanee Excite Trollers

WEAVERVILLE – Boaters continue to battle feisty kokanee salmon in the 12 to 13-1 / 2 inch range on Trinity Lake , along with an occasional landlocked king salmon .

“ Anglers are using pink Wiggle Hoochies , Apex lures and other lures , tipped with white shoepeg corn , at 50 to 60 feet deep ,” said Tim Brady of Trinity Outdoors . “ The best areas are near the dam and at the mouths of Papoose and Buckeye creeks .”

Bank anglers and boaters fishing in the

mouths of the tributaries , including the East Fork , Stewarts Fork , Swift Creek and Upper Trinity , continue to land rainbow trout . They ’ re tossing out marshmallows , nightcrawlers , PowerBait , Kastmasters , spinners and other offerings for the trout .

“ The bass fishing continues to hold its own at Trinity Lake , but the fish have moved into their summer pattern ” said Brady . “ You can catch smallmouth and largemouth bass on top water lures and crankbaits early and late in the day . During the day , it ’ s best to use Senkos

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Trinity Lake is holding 2,217,789 feet of water , 91 percent of capacity and 106 percent of average at press time .

WEST DELTA

Trollers And Bait Anglers Continue Tempting Stripers

BRANNAN ISLAND - There are still plenty of stripers in the West Delta . Anglers are catching mainly schoolie size fish , but 10 to 12 pounders are available too .

For trollers the area near Rio Vista has been the best bet . Both Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows and P-Line Angry Eyes are drawing strikes . Skilled trollers have been getting limits daily .

“ My wife Jillian and I took a bait fishing trip on the Sacramento River on July 1 and ended up anchored at the Power Lines with our rods baited with live mudsuckers and sardine fillets ,” reported Martin Jordan of Sacramento . “ We caught several shaker stripers and two small keepers on the sardines and were considering moving when the mudsucker got hit . My wife let the fish run for 10 seconds or so and then set the hook . It turned out to be a 14.5 pound striper . It was the biggest bass she ’ s landed yet .”

Bait fishing has been providing solid results for anglers fishing from just below the Power Lines up to Rio Vista . Sardines , mudsuckers , anchovies and shad are all working . Quality fish are available , but you ’ ll likely have to go through several shakers to get a keeper .

The sturgeon bite has been good to very good for West Delta anglers but fishing pressure has been light . For example , Andy Doudna went out a couple days ago on an afternoon trip and landed an 80 inch fish and a slot size keeper .

Top sturgeon baits at this time include eel , ghost shrimp and salmon roe . The best sturgeon fishing is taking place in deep water .

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