SEPTEMBER 29TH & 30TH , 2018
FRESHWATER
10 Sept 14 - 28 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 20
FRESHWATER REPORTS :
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LAKE BERRYESSA cont .
were bending over . We ended up catching eight trout to
22 ”, three bass and one crappie . We lost another four or five trout as well .”
“ The best depth was 26-38 ’,’ Carpentier advised . “ Gvf Lures , Rapalas , and Kastmasters did the damage . These Eagle lake strain trout are just so bright , clean and fun to fish for !”
BULLARDS BAR / ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIRS
Kokanee Move into Spawning Pattern
SMARTVILLE - Anglers are still catching limits of kokanee at Bullards Bar Reservoir as the fish move into spawning mode , but anglers have to work harder and longer for their fish .
“ A couple of customers reported catching their limits of kokanee measuring 12 to 15 inches long ,” said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle . “ The fish are starting to turn as they get ready to spawn . The anglers trolled with pink and orange hoochies behind dodgers at 20 to 60 feet deep above Garden Point .”
“ Your best bet is troll with pink hoochies , tipped with white corn , behind Sling Blades and other dodgers ,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse . “ One customer reported catching his fish straight out of the Dark Day launch ramp .
The fish average 14 to 15 inches long .”
Fishing for quality spotted bass continues to be tough at Bullards Bar . Boaters are catching a lot of small bass in the 10 to 14 inch class while tossing out shakey heads and Senkos .
Bullards Bar is holding 661,694 feet of water , 68 percent of capacity and 99 percent of average .
Englebright is holding 66,226 acre feet of water , 95 percent of capacity and 103 percent of average .
- Dan Bacher
Kristy Carpentier holds up an incredible 21 inch Lake Berryessa rainbow that she fooled on August 26 .
Photo courtesy of MIKE CARPENTIER , Concord .
CAMANCHE RESERVOIR
Recreational Boaters Rule
BURSON – Recreational boating continues to dominate at the lake , but this will change after the final blow out of the summer – this weekend ’ s Labor Day Holiday .
SEPTEMBER 29TH & 30TH , 2018
Bass fishing remains slow with plastics on the drop-shot the top technique at depths to 35 feet . Few trollers are trying for holdover rainbows , but they are still available in the main river channel with heavy spoons on a fast-troll at depths to 55 feet .
There is no gasoline available at either marina at the present time as a leak was detected in the North Shore Marina , resulting in shutting off the pump to avoid contamination of the lake . In the interim period of time until the lake drops enough to repair the pipe , there is no gasoline available .
The Mokelumne River and Camanche Reservoir Cleanup is Saturday , September 15 , 2018 , from 8:30 a . m . until noon with a free BBQ immediately following at Camanche South Shore . EBMUD will provide latex gloves , trash bags , and trash pickers .
The lake is at 85 percent . - Dave Hurley
CLEAR LAKE
Target Grass Mats for Largemouths
CLEARLAKE – The top water bite for largemouth bass has tapered off at Clear Lake , although anglers are still picking up good numbers of fish .
“ Your top prospect for bass at this time is to find the grass mats around the lake and to fish spinnerbaits and chatter baits ,” said Mae Erceg of Clear Lake Outdoors . “ The fish are hitting best in 2 to 5 feet of water .”
“ The north end has some good grass mats to target ,” she advised . “ One angler reported catching a 9 pounder between the state and the county parks during a recent kayak tournament . The biggest fish in the event hit on drop shot rigs and creature baits at 8 to 12 feet deep .”
Catfish action has improved lately , with one 12 pounder reported by a bass angler using a drop shot rig . Anglers targeting the cats are employing frozen anchovies and other cut baits off the State Park and in the Lucerne Harbor area .
Most of the crappie showing now are small ones being caught on jigs and small swimbaits on the lake ’ s south end .
- Dan Bacher
COLLINS LAKE
Smoke Clears and the Trout Are Back
OREGON HOUSE – After a rough 2 weeks I ’ m happy to report that the haze is finally off the horizon , the smoke has cleared and for the last three days it ’ s been bright beautiful blue skies . While our hearts and prayers are with the folks in crisis because of all the wild fires we are at least grateful to be breathing clean air again .
The water is also clean and clear and as the surface temps finally start to drop the trout bite is easing back into action . Hailey Olsen from Napa was trolling mid-lake where she nailed three trout including a 4-1 / 2-pound rainbow . She was joined by Jada Stine , Lisa & Nick and Jordan Freeman who made their catches trolling Needlefish around the same area , at depths about 30 feet .
If you ’ re not trolling , fishing off the dam is a good second option , where Brian Bauer caught his trout on Powerbait , Kenny & Jordan Shultz caught 3 on Power Worms and Dale Hadley caught four pounder on a Kastmaster .
The catfish catch is still good but they ’ re not quite as ravenous as last month when we saw half a dozen snap at chicken
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MILPITAS 111 Ranch Dr . ( 510 ) 824-7200
Dr . Al took a trip to Lake Del Valle on August 21 and nailed this dandy smallmouth bass .
Photo courtesy of LAKE DEL VALLE MARINA , Lake Del Valle .