Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3820 Sept 13-27 | Page 22

20
FRESHWATER
Sept 13-27, 2019
FRESHWATER REPORTS:
35 to 40 bass to 4.7 pounds, and
normally, we will have between
80 and 100 bass on these moonlit
trips,” he concluded.
Melones has dropped to 86
percent of capacity.
- Dave Hurley
CONTINUED FROM PG 19
NEW MELONES LAKE
VOL.38 • ISS. 20
cont.
interest has slowed in the past few weeks.
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport
Fishing will be wrapping up his kokanee
season this week, and he said, “It’s getting
tougher as we worked hard for 8 kokanee
in the triple-digit temperatures on our
last trip. The surface temperature is 80.8
degrees, and the kokanee have dropped
to between 70 and 95 feet. Apex lures and
hoochies behind Sling Blade or similar
dodgers remain the best bets, and only
one of the kokanee had a hooked nose
with his outer skin turning color. However,
the meat was still bright orange.”
“We saw big schools of shad on the
surface, and the bass were chasing
the bait. There are also big schools of
kokanee down deep, but there were only
6 boats on the water, which is a sign that
interest has really waned,” Smith noted.
With kokanee holding tight to structure,
anglers are starting to jig for kokanee
at depths from 80 to 100 feet with Buzz
Bombs or similar lighter spoons.
Bass fishing has slowed down at New
Melones. “From what I am used to, it has
been a slow go, as the bass are scattered
both shallow and deep and feeding only
during a small window,” said John Liechty
of Xperience Guide Service. “You have
to work for bites right now, and although
there are fish to be caught, it has been a
grind. The bass are lethargic as there is
an algae bloom in the river arm with the
water a greenish tinge. Plastics on the
drop-shot, Ned rig, or Neko rig are good
option, but there are some big fish to 4.5
pounds on glide baits.
“My last all-night trip produced only
schools at 100 feet from the
river channel up to the orange
ball at Deer Island since there
could be some big kokanee in
these schools.”
Catfish are the best
option from the banks at
night with chicken livers or
nightcrawlers. Bass fishermen
are heading up the river arm
in the early mornings or late
afternoons with deep-diving
crankbaits or plastics on the
drop-shot. The lake is at 98
percent of capacity.
- Dave Hurley
OROVILLE LAKE/
THERMALITO
AFTERBAY
Afterbay Kicks Out Big
Largemouths
OROVILLE – The Tuesday night
series at the Thermalito Afterbay
QUARRY LAKES/
ended with the biggest largemouth
bass of the summer.
SHADOW CLIFFS
Harley Matney Sr. caught a giant
RESERVOIR
largemouth measuring 24” and
weighing almost 8 pounds. Ryan
Trout Plants Slated to
Friend took second place with a nice
Begin
19 1/4” fish, according to Jamey
FREMONT – Very few
Sorensen at North Valley Tackle and
anglers have reported any
Pro Shop.
fishing success for rainbow
Boaters continue to nail limits of
trout or channel catfish at
landlocked king salmon at Oroville.
Horseshoe Lake, located in
“Two of my customers landed 10
the Quarry Lakes Regional
salmon averaging 16 to 17 inches
Recreation Area.
long on their latest trolling adventure
However, that should all
at Oroville,” said Craig Newton at
change when the East Bay
Ryan battled this big bad ‘bow while trolling at Lake Almanor on
Willfish Bait and Tackle in Auburn.
Regional Park District begins
“They pulled glow hoochies, tipped September 1.
Photo courtesy of BIG DADDY’S GUIDE SERVICE, Chester. its trout plants the week of
with white corn,, behind dodgers.
September 9-13. Mount
They trolled from Bidwell Point to
Lassen Fish Hatchery will
the dam and also by the Bidwell
stock 750 pounds of rainbow trout the
Canyon Bridge at 45 to 55 feet deep,” said ramp lanes to increase access. The area
week of September 9-13.
Newton.
also includes the trailhead to a network
Meanwhile, a few anglers are catching
The Department of Water Resources’
of multi-use trails for hikers, bikers and
catfish while soaking mackerel, chicken
recently reopened the Spillway Boat
equestrians.
liver and shrimp baits from shore. P.
Ramp area on Lake
Lake Oroville is holding 2,734,465 acre
Simpson of Fremont caught an eight-and-
Oroville three days
feet of water, 77 percent of capacity and
a-quarter pound catfish while fishing with
per week.
115 percent of average. The lake level is
shrimp from the Peninsula Point, reported
From now on,
844.44 in elevation.
the Spillway Boat
- Dan Bacher Joe Sullivan of the East Bay Regional
Park District.
Ramp area will be
Note that the use of lead fishing tackle
open to the public
[phone]
[phone]
is prohibited at Quarry Lakes. You can
Friday through
exchange lead tackle at the kiosk in a “1
Sunday from 5
for 1” trade for stainless steel weights.
a.m. to 11 p.m.
It’s the same situation at Shadow
PARDEE LAKE
The Boat Ramp
Cliffs Lake, with slow fishing reported for
area will remain
Mount Lassen Trout Plants
[phone]
[phone]
catfish, rainbow trout and largemouth
closed Monday
Continue
bass. Fishing will perk up when the park
through
Thursday
[phone]
IONE – A 1000 pound plant of rainbows district makes the first plant of the year
as construction
of 500 pounds of rainbows the week of
Offer valid on all boat rentals Monday - Friday
from 1 to 3 pounds were released into the
activities continue.
September 9-13.
For more information about Boating, Camping & Recreation
lake this week, bringing the season total
The Spillway Boat
Visit WWW.ROCKYMOUNTAINREC.COM
Big fish honors go to Romy, who caught
to over 35,000 pounds. The best action is
Ramp is the largest
All other boat rental terms and conditions still apply.Offer subject to boat rental availability. Offer expires on 12/31/2019 and is not valid with any other coupon/discount with any other coupon/discount.
an eight-pound catfish from the First
in the river arm with Rapalas or spoons at
boat ramp facility at
Dock. The only other reported catch was
depths to 40 feet.
Lake Oroville with
3816
by a young angler who landed a huge
Robbie Dunham of Koke Machine
two stages of multi-
bluegill.
lane boat ramps and Fishng reported good trout action with all
of the plants over the past year.
a total of 20 launch
CONTINUED ON PG 22
“The trout here are in really good shape
lanes depending
with few copepods,”
on lake levels.
he noted. “I will be
DWR has repaved
out this week to
the parking lot and
• Salmon
Book Early for portions of the boat see what is in the
• Steelhead
Best Dates
• Trout
20% OFF ALL-DAY BOAT RENTALS AT
SAN PABLO
RESERVOIR SHADOW
CLIFFS LAKE
LAKE
DEL VALLE LAKE
RANCHO SECO
LAKE PARDEE
Fish the Sacramento River with
Mike Bogue’s Guide Service
[phone] • www.mikebogue.com
Nestled between
Los Vaqueros
Los Vaqueros
Brentwood
Reservoir Reservoir
and Livermore
off Vasco Road
3603
3810
Nestled between Brentwood
and Livermore off Vasco Road
Now Catching
NOW BOOKING Sacramento River SALMON
Professional Guide Dan Ponciano
GREAT Fishing for:
Trout • Kokanee • Catfish
Large & Smallmouth Bass
Crappie • Bluegill • Sunfish
Call
Now for
Best
Dates!
Call Dan for a
Great Salmon Trip
Under New Management
24’ North River sled
G Loomis Rods • Shimano Reels
[phone]
Also Specializing in Columbia River Sturgeon Trips
www.columbiariverfishing.com
3816
Store • Campsites/RV sites
Marina • Boat Launch
New Boat & Motor Rental Fleet
Call for Information & Reservations
[phone]
4900 Stony Creek Rd. Ione
www.rockymountainrec.com
First STRIPED
Time Anglers BASS
Welcome!
Beautiful TROUT
Spring Wild Flowers
CATFISH
• SALmON • TROUT
LARGEMOUTH
BASS
• STRIPED BASS
The New Marina
• Building
CATFISH
& Boat Rentals
• NOW
LARGEmOUTH
BASS
OPEN!!!!
[phone]
Los Vaqueros Recreation Co.
9990 Los Vaqueros Rd.
Byron, CA, 94514
$25 boat
rentals
every
Monday
thru Friday
(non holidays)
www.NORCALFISHING.COm
A Contra Costa Water District Facility
2907
3125