FRESHWATER REPORTS :

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AMERICAN BASIN cont . Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle . “ However , I haven ’ t heard any word on bank fishing for rainbows and browns at French Meadows lately .”

Trollers are also picking up some browns in the 3 to 4 lb . class at Hell Hole Reservoir , though the fishing has slowed down from what it was earlier this spring .

The hottest fishing at the lake is for kokanee . “ They ’ re not big , but they are easily caught ,” said Newton . “ Boaters are picking up kokanee averaging 12 inches long while trolling 20 to 25 feet deep with hoochies , tipped with white corn , behind Sling Blades .”

On the Middle Fork of the American above the confluence , anglers are reporting hooking rainbows and browns in the 16 to 18 inch range while tossing out Panther Martins .

- Dan Bacher

AMERICAN RIVER

Target Shad Early and Late

SACRAMENTO – Shad fishing continues to be productive on American River from Discovery Park to Sailor Bar , with both bank anglers and boaters hooking the scrappy members of the herring family . Fishermen are experiencing the top action in the evening right before dark and early in the morning , reported Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse .

“ My brother , Don , has been experiencing good action at Harington ’ s Access while fishing both flies and grubs ,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse . “ He reports hooking 15 to 30 fish per trip .”

Other good spots to fish for shad include Howe Avenue , Watt Avenue , Gristmill , Goethe Park , Ancil Hoffman Park , Rossmoor Bar , El Manto , Sunrise and Sailor Bar .

Some big stripers should move into the American to feed on the shad . Throw big swimbaits , Zara Spooks , Pencil Poppers and other lures early and late in the day for the stripers .

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Salmon • Trout • Kokanee

9 am I was near the end of the cast , getting the popper close to the boat . The water just exploded in front of us - a violent blowup !! It took a while but I got the 3 lb . + spotted bass in the boat ,” he noted .

“ We had action most of the trip with one of the clients - a good angler - having a great day in addition to his big smallie . They dropshotted most of the time , using 2 or 3 colors of Robo worms . Our best 5 were only about 13 + pounds - post spawn weight ,” Hemphill explained . “ Bass are moving around in deeper water now , but some still are shallow until the sun gets higher . Shade pockets are holding some bass too . Our main hot spots were points and weed-bed edges . Senkos worked well on the edges ,” he stated .

The surface temperature is now up to 75 degrees . “ I think the summer pattern is beginning to take hold – a good morning bite until around 10 am , a slow period , and then another bite from noon until 1:30 - 2 pm . After 2 pm , the bite just shut down , and will most days in the summer ,” he concluded .

Anglers continue to experience top-notch fishing for rainbow trout while trolling at Berryessa ..

“ We had a productive day on Berryessa ,” said Kristy Carpentier , who was trolling with her husband , Mike . “ We caught our limits of trout to 20 inches by noon - and lost a few as well . We also landed a bonus crappie and bass that were released . We fished the main lake at 30-40 ’ using Speedy Shiners , Gvf Lures spoons and even got one on a spoon gifted to me from my relative Marit

With the annual hex hatch underway there are some big rainbows up for grabs at Lake Almanor . This awesome ‘ bow was caught in late May .

Photo courtesy of BIG DADDY ’ S GUIDE SERVICE , Quincy .

to the American River below Nimbus Dam remain at 3,500 cfs .

BERRYESSA LAKE

Bass and Trout Action Is Excellent

NAPA - Larry Hemphill , fishing guide , reported solid black bass action on his latest trip to Lake Berryessa .

“ A guide trip at Berryessa on a Saturday in June ? Well , the trip was great and pleasure boaters weren ’ t a big deal . We started in the narrows and finished at the very south end of the lake . The bite was pretty good all day until 2 pm . We hooked several quality bass , landing some and losing some ,” said Hemphill .

“ One of the fellows landed a beautiful post-spawn smallmouth a bit over 3-1 / 4 lbs - Again - I tried to get the topwater bite going for them , missing two small blowups . About

• Stampede Kokanee

• Oroville Kings

• Now Booking Sacramento River Fall Salmon !

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“ We left as the lake lice encroached upon us . Besides that . it was so hot we were boiling ,” she quipped . - Dan Bacher

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BULLARDS BAR / ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIRS

Boaters Battle Kokanee Salmon

SMARTVILLE - The kokanee salmon fishing at Bullards Bar Reservoir hasn ’ t missed a beat since the beginning of June .

“ On my latest trip to the lake , Bob Bradbury and I caught two limits of kokanee ,” said Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob ’ s Guide Service . “ Most fish were 10 to 11 inches long , with an occasional larger fish in the 13 to 14 inch class .”

They trolled with Brad ’ s Cut Plugs at 35 feet deep in the Dark Day area . “ We lost several bigger fish ,” said Reimers . “ We took home 20 kokanee , but must have lost 30 .”

Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle in Auburn also reported top-notch kokanee fishing on his latest two trolling adventures at Bullards Bar .

“ We landed limits of fish while trolling hoochies and Needlefish , tipped with white corn ,” said Newton . “ We were off the lake by noon .”

Bullards Bar is holding 913,219 acre feet of water , 95 percent of capacity and 113 percent of average .

At Englebright Reservoir , anglers are targeting rainbows while bait fishing with PowerBait and nightcrawlers or trolling with spoons , spinners and nightcrawlers behind dodgers .

Englebright is holding 65,844 acre feet of water , 94 percent of capacity and 98 percent of average .

- Dan Bacher

CAMANCHE LAKE

Experienced Trollers Bag Trout Limits

BURSON - Triple-digit temperatures have hit the Central Valley , and the recreational boating at Lake Camanche as well as other Mother Lode lakes is taking over the water after 11:00 a . m .

The Camanche Recreation Company ceased trout plants a few weeks ago , but there are still plenty of holdover rainbows remaining in the lake . Robbie Dunham of ‘ Koke Machine ’ Guide Service was out on the lake four times this week with clients , and they limited on every trip before 11:00 a . m . Dunham said ,

“ I have been fortunate to limit out on CONTINUED ON PG 8

on Highway 88 at Carson Pass

Ken Salvi caught this 4 lb , 24 inch German brown in July 2017 near Emigrant Creek . For information , call ( 209 ) -258-8888

www . capleslakeresort . com

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