Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3823 Oct 25-Nov 8 | Page 17

FRESHWATER
VOL.38 • ISS. 23
LAKE DON PEDRO
Dan Mathisen of Dan Mathisen
Outdoors out of Bethel Island reported
small striped bass are showing up around
Bethel Island, but he said, “The larger
fish are still out on the western edges in
Broad Slough, Honker Bay, and Sherman
Lake. There have been some large fish
caught and released on the outgoing tide
on the western edge, but the window is
very small. Our Dan Mathisen Outdoors
Tournament of Champions is October
12/13th out of Russo’s Marina, and our
Delta Fall Classic will be on November
9th. “
- Dave Hurley
cont.
Exeter. Once you are on the fish, you
have to keep their interest and they will
bite as long as they are excited. If you
have a lull, they will go off the bite, and
you will have to stir them up again.,” Cook
added.
The lake dropped from 85 to 83 percent
of capacity. A fundraiser tournament for
Autism Speaks will occur on November
2nd with a 50% payback – contact
Michaela Schimgdall at [phone].
- Dave Hurley

EAGLE LAKE
Bad Weather Equals Good
Things for Eagle Lake
Anglers!
Megan traveled to Collins Lake recently and boated this incredible rainbow trout while
fishing near the dam.
Photo courtesy of the COLLINS LAKE RECREATION AREA, Oregon House.
SPAULDING - “Until Friday, 9/27 the
weather was just too nice, with daytime
temps in 60’s and night time temps in the
40’s. Surface water temp was 63 degrees.
Friday night the weather changed to
winter-like conditions with a low temp in
mid 20’s along with wind and rain/snow
showers. This weather pattern continued
through Monday, 9/30,” reported Tim
Noxon of Fish Traveler Guide Service.
“Guess what? The Eagle Lake Trout
moved into shallow water and went on a
decent bite. Most boats are now catching
limits or near limits. The fish are running
2 1/2 to 3 1/2 lbs. We passed on fishing
Sat, 9/28 due to weather. We had limits
Sunday and Monday 9/29 and 9/30. We
are fishing in water 8-20 feet deep and
trolling our baits from the surface down
to 6 feet deep. Hot baits for us include
Rapalas, trolling flies, and grubs. We have
been trolling in the southern basin from
the Gallatin launch ramp up to Eagle’s
Nest,” said Noxon.
Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s
Guide Service has been splitting his time
between Almanor and Eagle Lake.
“We’ve been playing around with both
flies and grubs at Eagle and the fishing is
getting really good. We’ve been landing
hard fighting rainbows that range up to
3 plus pounds. For us the bite has been
ranging from good to very good. One
day we had 15 hookups before 9 in the
morning. That day the trout were right
on the surface and really keying in on
our trolling flies. With both Eagle Lake
and Almanor going off, it’s been hard to
choose the best destination on any given
day, “Roccucci exclaimed.
To book a trip with Bryan Roccucci give
him a call at [phone]. If you’d like
to battle some Eagle Lake rainbows with
Tim Noxon he can be reached at (916)
201-4648.
If you plan on taking your RV to Eagle
Lake this fall be sure to ask the folks at
the Eagle Lake RV Park about the Fish
Sniffer special.
No RV, no problem! Dave at Heritage
Land has a full menu of rental cabins
available both large and small. Heck
you can even the Fish Sniffer’s Paul
Kneeland’s rustic Spalding cabin.
largemouth bass remains punching the
weeds as the weather in the Central
Valley has continued to be relatively hot,
but the transition towards fall is clearly on
its way.
Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor,
said, “The key is to slow everything down,
and if you are going to use plastics, those
with scent are working best. The ima Flit
120 ripbait bite has been red hot, but
you have to keep it in the strike zone by
creating long pauses in between subtle
movements. If the bass are there, they
will eventually blow up on the bait, but
they don’t want things quick. The ima
Little Stick topwater lure is also working,
but you have to work it slow. The bass
are starting to stack up on the outside of
the weed lines. If you are using plastics,
Berkley Max Scent products are working
best on the Hit Worm, D-Worm, and
Bottom Hopper in earth tones, but once
again, you have to work it slow.”
Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors
was on the Delta for a short stint this past
week, and he said, “With the hot weather,
it is still a punch bite for largemouths to
5 pounds, and we are also picking up
some decent fish on frogs.” Borges will
be focusing on topwater and swimbait
casting trips for striped bass throughout
the coming months.
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EASTERN SIERRA
Things Get Exciting for
Trouters!
BISHOP - “Fall is here, and man, has
the fishing been phenomenal in almost
all locations,” exclaimed Tom Loe of
Sierra Drifters Guide Service. “The Upper
Owens, East Walker, Hot Creek, Crowley
Lake, Bridgeport Reservoir and San
Joaquin River have been producing big
time. After some exceptional fall weather,
the forecast going into the week is calling
for some wind, colder temps, and possible
snow.”
“This should only improve fishing as
it will start to put the fish into fall mode.
Most inlets and creek channels are now
loaded with fish as they begin to fatten up
for the coming winter. Don’t be afraid to go
with bigger patterns this time of year, as
the trophy fish are on the hunt. The leaves
on the trees in the upper elevations are
already turning, and using flies with bright
colors can produce that fish of a lifetime,”
tipped Loe.
“Fishing is really off the hook at Crowley,
as some of the best days of the season
are upon us. Huge numbers of trout have
packed themselves in the creek channels
and flats of the mud to feed on anything
and everything they can. Streamer fishing
is going strong this time of year as the fish
have a variety of different sized perch to
choose from. We are seeing consistent
steady action all day long, from morning
until dark. The weed beds are still thick
around the lake and should continue to
hold till the end of the boat season this
year with plenty of water still in the lake.
All species of trout have now fallen into a
thicker concentration in the shallow and
deeper water areas. Midge hatches are
on the rise and the algae has bloomed but
has not been any kind of a bite killer this
year,” Loe related.
“Big fish have been coming out to play
on the East Walker as the river has settled
into an excellent flow rate of 227 cfs.
There are big fish showing up in all areas
of the river. They are spread out from the
dam all the way past the “mile section”.
For those in “the know”, some of the
usual hot spots are holding, big time! Use
enough weight to get your offerings at the
right depth, and don’t be afraid to adjust
the indicator, weight combination, and flies
frequently,” Loe tipped.
CONTINUED ON PG 19
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