Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3618 August 18- September 4 2017 | Page 23

VOL . 36 • ISS . 18

FRESHWATER
Aug . 18 - Sept . 1 , 2017
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the main stem Walker , there are heavy diversions for agriculture , and the combined flow is reduced to about 500 CFS . These values are anywhere from 2x normal to 10x normal depending on the location .
It is uncommon for much water to be in the Lower Walker River in late summer . Regardless , this is the first time this season that the Walker system has been anything less than dangerous to wade . However , in the lower river where flows are 10x of normal , conditions may still be hazardous . NDOW recently stocked the East Fork in Lyon County with 5617 brown trout .
Lastly , the Truckee River is in prime condition with flows around 350 CFS in the Reno area . The tuber and rafter crowds are hitting the downtown section of the river hard during the middle of the day . Fishing is best early or late in the day for fly fishermen drifting stonefly and caddis patterns . Gear fishermen are having success with everything from night crawlers and salmon eggs to spinners , spoons and plugs .
On all three of these river systems there is opportunity for a larger than average trout . These fish typically fall to fly fishermen dead drifting nymphs or crayfish patterns . Gear anglers have success targeting these fish with F-7 to F-11 Rapala ’ s in natural colors
like silver / black , gold / black and rainbow or brown trout patterns . Live crawdads are yet another good bet for trophy fish .
- Mike McNeilly
LAKE OROVILLE
Bass Fishing Still Your Best Bet
YUBA CITY – King salmon fishing has been dead on Lake Oroville since the Oroville Dam spillway disaster began this February . It appears that most of the salmon were washed over the spillway during the high releases this winter and spring .
Bass fishing is a much better bet . “ Manny Nevarez , who works in our store , took second place in the recent Yuba-Sutter Fishing Club Tournament ,” said Bob Boucke at Johnson ’ s Bait and Tackle . “ He used chatterbaits to catch his limit of bass .”
“ Anglers are catching and releasing a ton of small spotted bass , along with an occasional largemouth in the 3 to 4 pound range ,” Boucke noted . Expect to hook plenty of “ spots ” in the 12 to 14

Summer Subscription

Special
inch range .
The surface water temperature is 80 to 81 degrees , so fish 30 to 35 feet or deeper during the day . Use drop shot rigs with Robo Worms in morning dawn and MM111 patterns and tubes for the top action .
Lime Saddle Marina , Bidwell Canyon and Loafer Creek launch ramps are all open now .
Lake Oroville is holding 2,111,246 acre feet of water , 60 percent of capacity , 82 percent of average . The lake level is 792.77 feet in elevation , 107.23 feet from full .
LAKE PARDEE
Huge Trout Grace Stringers
SACRAMENTO – Kokanee salmon fishing at Lake Pardee slowed down during the latest heat wave .
“ Two experienced trollers , Big Al and Rick , reported catching only one kokanee on their last trip ,” reported Alan Fong at Fisherman ’ s Warehouse .
Fishing pressure also slowed down in the heat . “ We ’ ve been seeing around 5 boats fishing each day ,” noted Brad Hoyt at Pardee Lake Recreation .
There are some big rainbows available on the lake , though . Mel Larson landed a 7.81 lb . rainbow while
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Legendary lure manufacturer and guide Gary Miralles used a Sling Blade teamed with a hoochie to temp this big rainbow while trolling North Carolina ’ s Lake Nantahala this July .
Photo courtesy of SHASTA TACKLE / MACKS LURE .
using white and lemon line Power Eggs from his boat in Mel ’ s Cove , noted Hoyt .
The first Calaveras Fish Farm plant of rainbow trout of the season went in on Friday , July 21 .
Bank anglers should fish early in the morning with PowerBait and nightcrawlers in the deep water near Stony Creek Spillway and Rainbow Point .
Kokanee fishermen have been landing trout , so Kaitlin McCloskey , also of Pardee Lake Recreation , recommended trolling with hoochies , spinners and Needlefish in bright and shiny colors first and then switching to Needlefish and Rapalas .
The best area to find kokanee is in the mouth of the river all of the way to the south end . Troll around 20 feet and shallower in the morning and 30 to 45 feet mid day .
Black bass fishing is going strong for the few anglers going out . Devin MacKay caught and released two largemouth bass weighing 3.8 and 5.1 pounds while using shad patterned swim baits .
Pardee is currently 100 percent of capacity .
- Dan Bacher
REDDING / RED BLUFF
Kings Trickle Up Sacramento
REDDING - Salmon fishing remains slow on the northern reaches of the Sacramento River , but the action has improved over the past two weeks .
“ I ’ ve run a few trips in recent days for both salmon and trout ,” reported Robert Weese of Northern California Guide Service . “ There aren ’ t a lot of salmon in the Sacramento River yet , but we ’ ve been catching some fish here and there . My best day so far produced 3

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